Fated (Soul Seekers #1) - Alyson Noel

Daire had just turned 16 and the visions she's been having for years become more frequent and more real. Her single mother has no idea how to help her, and the two are left with two options.  Either institutionalize Daire to get her "hallucinations" under control, or send her to her father's mother's house in Enchantment, New Mexico. Her grandmother claims to know about Daire's visions, and that she can help control them. Daire soon comes to find out that she is a Soul Seeker, and trying to outrun her fate is impossible. The story goes to discover more about Daire's family's history and what Daire's destiny as a Soul Seeker means for her. You also are trying to figure out how two twin brothers, Cade & Dace, will affect Daire's fate.

The story took a little bit of time for me to get into, but after about 50 pages I was hooked.  There are a lot of different elements to the story that I didn't quite expect. All of the characters have a lot of development, and there still seems to be so much more to figure out. I felt myself emotionally connecting to the story. The descriptions really pull you in.  I think the most interesting part of the story to me is the relationship between Daire, Cade, & Dace.  There is an interesting dynamic to the three, and I'm sure there is a lot that will be discovered in later books about just how complicated their connection is.

I liked how the ending of the book wrapped up the story line/conflict that was the main focus of this particular book, but it set it up really well for another conflict to arise (I'm assuming the basis of the second book). It made me excited to read the next book in the series, to see what happens next. I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

Up Next: Echo (Soul Seekers #2) - Alyson Noel

The Darlings in Love (The Darlings #2) - Melissa Kantor

Second book in the series, The Darlings in Love picks up at the start of the spring semester of freshman year.  There was a bit of a time gap between where the previous book ended and where this one began, but the author was quick to fill you in on anything that happened in that time.  I liked how the storylines from the first book were continued into the second book, but they weren't repetitive. The author really built on the foundation from the first book to create new conflicts in the second.

I particularly related to Jane's character in this book. I felt that the things she dealt with were the most realistic, or that more people could relate to.  The other 2 characters got a bit melodramatic in this one (although they are freshmen in high school, so that could be why). This book ended with several loose ends (or what I perceived to be loose ends).  Also, based on what the characters have done in the past, I felt that the ending wasn't exactly in line with what those characters would do.  I'm hoping that there will be another book in this series (which would justify the ending).  If not, then I think this will be the first time I'm disappointed in Melissa Kantor's writing.  I didn't enjoy this book quite as much as the first one, so I'd give it 3.5 stars out of 5.

Up Next:  Fated (Soul Seekers #1) - Alyson Noel

The Darlings Are Forever (The Darlings #1) - Melissa Kantor

I've read a number of books by Melissa Kantor, but it's been quite a while since I've picked up one of her books.  I saw this one (and its sequel) when I was browsing the shelves of my local library and decided it would be a good read.  I have to say, it was a good decision.  It went by pretty quickly, but it was a very good book.

It's about 3 best friends (Victoria, Natalya, and Jane) who have been best friends for a long time and have always gone to the same school.  Now that they are starting high school, they are all 3 going their separate ways.  The book follows the three as the venture out on their own, forge new friendships, take on new adventures, all while trying to maintain their friendship.  Their motto for their group is to "Do what you're scared of doing".  I love how this was applied throughout the story. I also enjoyed how the characters were developed in a realistic way.  I could relate to each of the characters in some way, and it made it easier to relate to all of the things they were going through.

While I knew that there was already a sequel, I enjoyed the ending of the book.  It wrapped up most of the loose ends from the story, but I could tell that it was leaving it open for another book to follow.  I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.  I look forward to reading the next book in the series!

Up Next:  The Darlings in Love (The Darlings #2) - Melissa Kantor

Winds of Salem (Beauchamp Family #3) - Melissa de la Cruz

Third and final (as far as I know) book in the Beauchamp Family series.  This book picks up right after Freya has been pulled back to Salem in the 1600s during the heat of the Salem Witch trials.  Her family is trying to figure out how to get her back, since the portals of time seemed to close up right after she left.  Also, we see the conclusion of the story of how Freddie's trident got stolen, who destroyed the Bofrir bridge, and who was behind the entire plot all along.

I enjoyed how most of the loose ends throughout the series were tied up in this book.  The only part that I wasn't completely satisfied with was the resolution of the Freya/Balder/Loki love triangle.  I feel like this story line was focused on quite a bit in each of the novels, so I was expecting a better resolution in the final book.  I appreciated the twist in Freddie's story and the decisions made with Ingrid's story.  I was even happy about Joanna & Norman's fate. I'm still irked about Freya's story. It's almost as though the author couldn't decide what to do, so she left it very vague.  If you can't tell from my other posts, one of my pet peeves in books is when the ending goes unresolved.  I understand some people enjoy the vague endings, letting their imaginations run wild imagining the possibilities of what could happen to the characters in the future.  I am not one of those people.  A little room for interpretation is fine, it's inevitable in every work of fiction. But if you're going to have a major story line throughout a series, please do me (and I'm sure quite a few others) the favor of resolving that story line.

Another thing I particularly enjoyed about Winds of Salem was that it was partially set in Salem during the witch trials.  I liked that historical fact was mixed in with the fiction writing.  I liked that there was a bit of a different perspective given to the whole affair (or at least a different perspective from what I've heard/read).  It was interesting to have the book go back and forth from 1692 to the present day, so you could see how all of the story lines were unfolding in relation to one another.

If you've read the other 2 books in the series, then this book is a must-read.  If you haven't read the other books in the series, I suggest you read them! It's a well-written series, with a very interesting plot line. It has the elements of fantasy, magic, love, friendship, and family.  I give this particular book 3.5 stars out of 5, but I would give the series as a whole 4.5 stars out of 5. Definitely worth reading!

Up Next:  The Darlings Are Forever (The Darlings #1) - Melissa Kantor

Wayfarer (Faery Rebels #2) - R.J. Anderson

It has been a while since I read the first book in this series, so it took me a little bit to get back into the storyline.  Wayfarer picks up quite a while after the first Faery Rebels book ended (about 14 years later).  This book focused on another one of the faeries from the Oak (Linden), and her quest to help out her fellow faeries by regaining their magic.

What I particularly enjoyed about this book was that it included some of the main characters from the first book, but also introduced/developed new characters that were particular to this storyline.  Like the first book, Wayfarer focused on the interactions between humans and faeries. The difference (that I found to be interesting) was that this book got deeper into the relationships between faeries and humans, and showed more of their dependence on one another.  Wayfarer had more action, more relationships, and the ending was set up well for the next book in the series.

In Wayfarer you get to see Linden develop and grow into a more mature faery.  You also get to meet several new groups of faeries that weren't present in the first book.  This book was hard to put down, and I am very eager to read the next book in the series (Arrow). I give Wayfarer 4 out of 5 stars.

Up Next:  Winds of Salem (Beauchamp Family #3) by Melissa de la Cruz

Sweet 16 - Kate Brian

I should start this by saying I am a HUGE fan of Kate Brian.  I've read a majority of the books she has written.  I'm usually very impressed with her writing and how she can make a seemingly predictable teen/YA novel turn into something more.  I feel that Sweet 16 was no exception to that.

Sweet 16 is about a spoiled girl throwing her Sweet 16 birthday party, and starts out by showing you what a spoiled brat she really is.  The story goes on to talk about her party until the main character (Teagan) falls down a flight of stairs.  The story goes on in a Christmas Carol-like quality, teaching Teagan lessons about who she is and how her decisions affect her future and those around her.  There were a few unpredictable twists that kept the story interesting.

The way Teagan's character was developed was mostly believable, and even though you hated her at times you could still relate to her.  The family dynamic that was established made you sympathize with the characters, and I found it to be a good addition to the main storyline.

This book was another hit for Kate Brian.  I would give it 4 out of 5 stars (the only reason I didn't give it 5 is because I have seen some others by Kate Brian that were even better than this one).  Another quick read, but definitely worth it.

Up Next:  Wayfarer (Faery Rebels #2) by R.J. Anderson

Reality Check - Jen Calonita

This story is about 4 best friends living in a small town who get picked to have their own reality TV show.  The main character, Charlie, is meant to be the "star" of the show.  However, her friend Brooke wants the spotlight to herself so she can get out of their small town.  The other two friends, Hallie & Kieran, are what I consider "accessory" characters.  They're not developed quite as much, but they still add to the story.  The girls all think the reality show will be fun, and a good way to earn money for college.  But of course, reality TV isn't what they think it will be and it takes its toll on their friendship.

The characters were easy to relate to.  The group had a pretty typical composition:  the ringleader, the spotlight stealer, the boy crazy one, and the boring one.  Each girl fit her stereotype, and stuck with it throughout the entire book.  I appreciated that the characters stayed true to themselves, whether that was good or bad.

While I found most of the plot to be predictable, I still enjoyed the story.   I also liked how the author ended the book.   It tied up the loose ends of the story, but it did so in a believable way.  This type of book (dealing with friends/fame) has been pretty popular, especially since there are so many reality shows out there.  This one was on par with most of the other ones I've read.  I wouldn't say there was anything particularly spectacular about it, but still a good read.  I give it 3 1/2 stars out of 5.

Up Next:  Sweet 16 by Kate Brian

Easy - Tammara Webber

I've been sitting here for a while trying to figure out how to start this blog post.  I wanted to write this as soon as I finished the book so I could be sure I captured all of my emotions about the book when they were at their strongest.  Now that I'm actually trying to write, it's proving difficult.

This book really hit home for me.  From the characters to the plot, there were so many things that I could personally relate to.  There were several times I found myself feeling as though the story was written for me.  Obviously, I know that is not true.  But it's uncanny sometimes how a book writteen by someone you've never met before can capture so exactly what you're thinking and feeling. 

This book was so hard to put down.  Even when I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about it.  Thinking about what would happen, how the characters would react, how I would react.  This book housed some issues that a lot of people like to pretend don't exist, issues that fall under the category of "that could never happen to me".  I applaud Webber for putting it out there, letting people see how damaging certain human interactions can be.

The characters were developed so well, I thought I personally knew them.  While certain elements of the plot were predictable, there were still elements that I didn't figure out (more along the lines of how something happened rather than what was actually going to happen). The emotions from this book were quite powerful, such that I found myself crying at various parts.  I'm sure that not every reader will have that sort of an emotional response (certain things affect people differently), but I think every reader will be able to appreciate the depth of emotion that comes with a story like this one.

I've never read a book by Tammara Webber before, but I will most definitely be seeking her books out in the future.  She has earned a spot on my "Authors To Watch" list (if you'd like the list for suggestions, just let me know).  After this book, however, I think I will need to read something a little less emotionally involved (back to the girly fluff, I guess). 

Up next on the blog:  Reality Check by Jen Calonita

Theodora Twist - Melissa Senate

Theodora Twist by Melissa Senate

This is the first book I've read by Melissa Senate, and I was relatively  happy with the results.  Unfortunately though, this is another one of those books where I felt that the ending didn't quite live up to expectations. 

The story is about a young, spoiled, misbehaved teen star who goes back to high school in her hometown for a month.  The purpose of her trip is for a reality series to show that she is "just a normal girl".  She ends up rooming with an old friend of hers, and the story goes from there.  It's told from the perspective of Theodora (the star) & Emily (her friend).

Switching the point of view every few chapters was a great addition to the story.  I enjoyed seeing several events from different perspectives.  The development of the friendship between Theodora & Emily was well done, especially in a short period of time (the book is only about 200 pages). 

The only thing that I didn't love about the book, as mentioned above, was the ending.  It wasn't a "bad" ending, it just left something to be desired.  It was a bit rushed and didn't fully resolve a few of the main elements of the story.  It was more like the author glossed over how things ended to avoid having to figure out how the ending really would have worked out.

This is another girly book, geared more towards teens & young adults.  There is some romance, family issues, and an emphasis on friendship.  Overall I would recommend this book to others if you're looking for a nice, quick read.

Sleepaway Girls - Jen Calonita

Sleepaway Girls by Jen Calonita

You will come to find over time that I tend to enjoy fluffy, girly books.  This book is no exception.  Sleepaway Girls is about a group of girls who are Counselors in Training at a summer camp in New York.  Of course, it has the "mean girls" that are hell bent on ruining the other girls' fun and the cute boys adding some romantic drama.

I loved the characters in the book, all of them had some quality that I could relate to.  While the plot line was pretty predictable, it was still a fun read.  The plot moved along at a good pace and I was never bored.  There's not a whole lot else to say about the book, it's not exactly the type of literature that uses a lot of foreshadowing or symbolism. However, it was hard to put down (I finished in under 3 days).

If you're looking for a fast, fun story about summer camp and girlfriends, then you will really enjoy this book.

The Almost Moon - Alice Sebold

So the first book I read in 2014 was The Almost Moon by Alice Sebold.  I was pretty excited to read this book because I read The Lovely Bones in high school (and reread it a couple years ago) and absolutely loved it.  The writing and descriptions in The Lovely Bones were so beautiful, and I was expecting to see that same level in The Almost Moon.  I hate to say that I was somewhat disappointed. 

This was a book where I didn't feel connected to the characters.  The whole time I was reading, I felt separated from them.  It wasn't a book that I stayed up late to read because I couldn't stand to put it down.  It was more of a book that I continued to read because I hoped that there would be something later on that would really grip my attention. Unfortunately, that never happened.  There was a pretty decent build up near the end of the book, but then the actual ending fell flat in my opinion.  I'm one of those people that I enjoy when stand-alone books have a sense of closure at the end.  I can appreciate when the author leaves something to the imagination, lets you come up with your own conclusion.  But with this book, I felt like the author didn't give you much to go on. I literally flipped the page several times looking to see if there was more writing somewhere, some sort of guidance as to what the heck just happened.

I also felt that some of the characters in the book lacked development.  You would think that the main character, Helen (whose perspective the story is told from) would have the most development.  You see her thoughts, her memories.  But at the end of the novel I still didn't really understand her.  Her two daughters are also poorly developed.  It seemed that the Sebold was trying to make them a more important part of the story, but they were thrown into the book in such random ways that it left me confused.  The character that was developed the best was Helen's mother, who isn't even alive for most of the book (this fact is written in the synopsis located on the book itself, so not really a spoiler). 

I give this novel 2 out of 5 stars.  The story of The Almost Moon is not a pretty one, so if you're planning to read it don't expect a feel-good story.  It looks at some of the not-so-pretty aspects of human nature.  If you're planning to read an Alice Sebold novel, I would go for The Lovely Bones instead of The Almost Moon any day of the week.

Until next time!

Welcome!

Hey everyone!  I created this blog so I could have somewhere to write out my thoughts/musings/reviews of all the books I read.  I should start out by saying, reading is one of my favorite pasttimes.  It always has been.  I use books as a way to experience and feel new things (hence the title of the blog).  I'm hoping that this blog will inspire people to broaden their literary horizons, whether that's reading a book for the first time in 2 years or maybe trying out a new genre or author. 

If you've read any of the books I post about, please add your comments.  I'd love to hear what you think of them.  Also, if you have any book recommendations I am always happy to hear them. 

Hope you enjoy!