Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz

Spellbound
Spellbound 1
Author: Cara Lynn Shultz
Pages: 324 pgs
Genre: YA, Paranormal
Release Date: June 28th 2011
Review Source: Netgalley

I heard a lot of good things about this book and was so excited to get an egalley of it. Cara's debut novel is bound to grab your attention.

Emma decides to make a fresh start and moves to New York to live with her aunt. Life before wasn't easy and Emma just wants to put that behind her, and she does... at least until she meets Brendan Salinger.

He's beautiful and smart and the guy every girl wants but can't have, even Emma. They have an instant connection and Emma feels safe with him. But when he starts giving her the cold shoulder, she isn't really sure how to handle that. More than that though, Emma discovers a story that could have a potentially terrifying ending, for her and Brendan. There are consequences to their love than either of them could have imagined, deadly consequences.

I enjoyed this story from the very start. Emma was such a fun character that was thrust into a world she didn't understand or want to know. Even though she'd experienced some bad things, she didn't let that change her and I really appreciated that. Going from the simple life she'd had with her mom to the Upper East Side of Manhattan was a big enough change, and I loved reading how she dealt with it all.

The relationship between Emma and Brendan was also one of the best parts for me. Yes they had an instant draw to each other, but they didn't just fall into each others arms and ride off into the sunset either. Cara built up to them getting to know each other and figuring out what was attracting them to one another. The story of their past was amazingly put together.

I don't want to give too much away, because it's just so much better if you read it for yourself, but I was definitely captured by this story. I loved Cara Lynn's writing style and the characters she created. It'll be a long wait for the second book in this series, Spellcaster, but I'll definitely be excited to get my hands on it.

So for more updates from the author you can check out her blog http://caralynnshultz.wordpress.com/ or follow her on Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/CaraLynnShultz.

Passion by Lauren Kate

Passion
Fallen 3
Author: Lauren Kate
Pages: 420 pgs
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Release Date: June 14th 2011
Review Source: Purchased

This review might contain spoilers if you have not read the first two books in the Fallen Series. Please proceed with caution.

I was so excited for this book to come out in the Fallen series. The world and story Lauren Kate created is wonderful and the third installment did not disappoint.

Luce goes on a journey through the Announcers to better understand her relationship with Daniel. They've been in love through the ages, and she's desperate to make things work in the present. But she needs help. So what better way to figure it out than to witness it herself.

While Luce is traveling further and further back, those she left behind are anxious to bring her home. Including Daniel. And with trouble brewing that none of them could fathom, it might already be too late. Will Luce and Daniel, with the help of the other Fallen and Nephilim on their side, be able to prevent the worst danger yet?

I've been in love with the series from the very beginning. Even though some may be annoyed by the slow pace, I've enjoyed the suspense. Lauren has done a phenomenal job of building things up to this point, and I can only hope we'll get all our answers soon.

This most recent book definitely answered a lot of questions (not all, but quite a few) and has set the stage for the finale. Learning more about Daniel was the highlight for me, though. Being able to witness his love and devotion to Luce throughout the centuries through not only her eyes, but Daniel's as well made me like him a lot more. Because up until this point we saw Daniel tell her of their past, but he kept so many things from her. He was more of a frustrating character than anything else.

Luce and Daniel's struggle has been great and I loved seeing the different times and ways they came together in history. The research along that Lauren must of have done for this must have taken so much time. Thank you for doing that and giving us the wonderful sneak peeks into Luce and Daniel's romance Lauren!

And now I will sit and wait as patiently as I can for Rapture, the final book in the Fallen series *twiddles thumbs and whistles* Okay, not so patiently. And to keep up with more from the author you can check out her website http://laurenkatebooks.net/ or follow her on Twitter http://twitter.com/laurenkatebooks.

Friday Finds and New Reads

Friday Finds and New Reads


This is where I talk about new books that really stand out to me or sound unique, and what new books I have to read or will be getting soon.

It's been awhile since I've posted anything for this, and I'm sorry about that. But I've got a few interesting finds and some new reads that I hope you guys will enjoy.

First off we have Struck by Jennifer Bosworth:

Summary: Mia Price is a lightning addict.

She’s been struck so many times she’s lost count. She can’t sleep, she’s covered in veiny red “lightning scars,” and repeated strikes have even stopped her heart on occasion. Still, Mia can’t resist a storm.

That's why Los Angeles, where it never rains, is the perfect place for her to find peace . . . until a massive earthquake devastates the city.

Now Mia finds herself struggling to hold her family together in a strange and terrifying new version of Los Angeles. The beaches have become massive tent cities populated by millions of homeless. Downtown is a wasteland, where a traveling party moves to a different empty building each night, the attendees drawn to the destruction by a magnetic force they cannot deny.

The blind prophet of a doomsday cult called the Church of Light, who predicted the earthquake with frightening accuracy, says a storm is coming to usher in the end of days, and only his Followers will be saved. Mia’s traumatized mom has become obsessed with the Church of Light, while her younger brother Parker is desperate to join a second doomsday cult called the Seekers. But Mia is the one both cults need.

The Seekers are recruiting people with an energy-based power they call the “Spark,” and Mia has it stronger than most. They claim the false prophet of the Church of Light will bring about the end of the world, and they are the only ones who can stand against him.

But without Mia on their side, they will fail.

Mia’s lightning addiction is both the key to saving the world . . . and destroying it.

I am completely intrigued by this book. I can't really explain why, but I think this summary just says it all. And the cover is amazing, too.

And we also have Crewel by Gennifer Albin:

Summary: Incapable. Awkward. Artless.

That’s what the other girls whisper behind her back. But sixteen year-old Adelice Lewys has a secret: she wants to fail.

Gifted with the ability to weave time with matter, she’s exactly what the Guild is looking for, and in the world of Arras, being chosen as a Spinster is everything a girl could want. It means privilege, eternal beauty, and being something other than a secretary. It also means the power to embroider the very fabric of life. But if controlling what people eat, where they live and how many children they have is the price of having it all, Adelice isn’t interested.

Not that her feelings matter, because she slipped and wove a moment at testing, and they’re coming for her—tonight.

Now she has one hour to eat her mom’s overcooked pot roast. One hour to listen to her sister’s academy gossip and laugh at her Dad’s stupid jokes. One hour to pretend everything’s okay. And one hour to escape.

Because once you become a Spinster, there’s no turning back.

 

This obviously doesn't have a cover yet, but who cares. The description is more than enough. I can't wait to get my hands on a copy of this.

And for some of the new reads I've gotten:

Blog Tour: After Obsession by Carrie Jones and Steven Wedel

After Obsession

Author: Carrie Jones and Steven Wedel
Pages: 320 pgs
Genre: YA, Paranormal
Release Date: September 13th 2011
Review Source: Bloomsbury USA Childrens ARC

After Obsession is a debut collaboration between Carrie Jones and Steven Wedel, but certainly isn't their first work as authors. I was definitely surprised by this story and in the end I think that was a good thing.

Strange things are happening in the small town Aimee Avery lives in and when her best friend's cousin Alan moves in, they become even more difficult to ignore. No one acts like themselves and the only person Aimee can seem to trust is Alan.

They both have secrets they don't want anyone else to know about, secrets that bring the two of them closer together. Secrets that will help them fight the thing that's making everybody crazy, including Aimee's best friend and Alan's cousin, Courtney.

One of the things I really like about this story was that Carrie wrote Aimee's character and Steven wrote Alan's. So, obviously, you could see the differences in how the story was told, but they each brought something great to that character. And the subtlety of how they grew and changed throughout the story was very well done.

Changes around the town are slowly mentioned. People are meaner, fights are happening and school and at work. Things are just different and no one can understand why. It's not heavily focused on, but it's mentioned throughout, adding to the already strange things that Alan and Aimee witness.

This also wasn't a typical possession story, using more of the Navajo teachings to deal with it. I liked that it was different. It's a little dark, a little romantic, a little bit of everything for readers and offers an interesting story. Even the connection that Aimee and Alan have is more than a typical story would offer. The secrets that they carry and the danger around town adding to it.

There's so much more to it than the summary gives you and I don't want to give that away. It wasn't what I was expecting at first, which I'm happy about. Each character had a strong voice and added a little something extra to the story.

Shattered Memories Giveaway

I just wanted to do a quick post about a pretty awesome giveaway. Kayla over at Shattered Memories Reviews is having 100 Followers Giveaway and there are some pretty awesome books to choose from. So click on the image above and check it out!

A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies

A Beautiful Dark
A Beautiful Dark Trilogy 1
Author: Jocelyn Davies
Pages: 320 pgs
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Release Date: September 27th 2011
Review Source: HarperTeen ARC

I was immediately intrigued by this from reading the summary. It didn't give very much away at all and I wanted to know just what this was going to be about. And I'm so glad I got to read an early copy of Jocelyn's debut novel!

On the night of Skye's seventeenth birthday, two very interesting guys are thrust into her life. With her small circle of friends, Skye finds it strange to let the new guys in, especially since they are complete opposites.

Asher and Devin both appeal to Skye in different ways, frustrating and pulling her in closer. But they are both keeping something from her. When she learns the secret they are hiding involves her, everything that she'd thought was true is turned upside down. It all comes down to the choice she makes, a decision with consequences more far reaching than any of them knew.

Skye was definitely a fun character to get to know. Her life had always been pretty easy with great friends, college on the horizon, and skiing, life was pretty easy for her. She never questioned why she could do most things easily, that's just how it was for her. Until Asher and Devin came along.

They were the two characters that I really loved getting to know. While Asher was more of the fun, spontaneous, go with the flow type of guy, Devin was more reserved and quiet. Complete opposites in every way. They also both bring out different sides of Skye, affect her in different ways.

We only get a small portion of the story so far. Skye is introduced to a new world and has to learn what her place will be in it, but there is so much more to the story than we've had a chance to see yet. And I loved that I still got the high school, teenage girl feelings from her amidst the seriousness that her life became.

I don't want to give anything away, but I'll just say that this is definitely one story that you don't want to miss. Jocelyn did an absolutely amazing job with the world she created and the characters. And there's a pretty killer cliffhanger at the end that will guarantee you'll want the second book in her trilogy. I, for one, can't wait to get my hands on it!

A Beautiful Dark has a little bit of everything and a fantastic mythology that I really enjoyed. One of my favorite debuts that I've read so far.

So to learn more about this author and this amazing trilogy you can check out her website http://www.jocelyndavies.com/ or follow her Twitter http://www.twitter.com/jocelyndavies.

Eve by Anna Carey

Eve
The Eve Trilogy 1
Author: Anna Carey
Pages: 322 pgs
Genre: YA, Dystopian
Release Date: October 4th 2011
Review Source: HarperTeen ARC

Eve is the first book in Anna Carey's new dystopian trilogy, one that is sure to pull on your heart strings. And if that isn't enough, just take a look at this beautiful cover.

On the evening before Eve's school graduation, she learns the truth about what's waiting for them beyond the walls. A terrible disease wiped out the population, making the need to repopulate even more pressing. But Eve had no idea what that really meant.

So armed with a bag and the name of an area to go to that will keep her safe, Eve heads out on a terrifying journey. She has to learn how to survive, and to trust the one person she'd been taught to fear. A boy.

The cover and summary of this book were what first intrigued me to read this, and I'm so glad that I did. It isn't that much different from the society we have now or that much farther in the future, but the world Anna created is fascinating.

Eve went from the safe and protected environment to a scary and dangerous world that she knew nothing about. And trusting her well being to a group of men, that she'd been taught to fear, was such a huge step. Her growth and strength throughout the story really add to her character.

I loved watched the relationship between Eve and Caleb grow. Neither of them were looking for the other, but how they viewed things changed once they did. They were very much kids in a world that should have been protecting them.

Until it got closer to the end it didn't feel like a typical dystopian story to me, which I really appreciated it. Now I'm waiting (not so patiently) for the second book in this trilogy to find out what happens next. We only get a small picture of Eve's story and I'm anxious for what's to come. Anna gave her readers a great love story, one that's sure to tug and your heart strings and leave you wanting more.

To learn more about the author and keep up to date on what else she's writing, you can check out her website http://www.annacareybooks.com/ or follow her on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/AnnaCareyBooks.