More books to read before they hit theaters

After my first post about five books turning into upcoming movies (see original post here), I decided to write about a few more books turning into upcoming movies. I know I always want to read the book before the movie, so here's your chance to do the same.

Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy #1 by Richelle Mead)
After Twilight series finished, I guess the movie industry wants to cash in on the YA vampire fad. Look for lots of teenage drama--like gossip and backstabbing, and a touch of action. It hits theaters Valentine's Day.

Heaven is for Real (by Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent)
Based on a true story where a young boy died, went to heaven, then came back. Over the years, he offered insights to what he saw there. The book is a fascinating, quick read. It should be interesting to see how they make this into the movie.  Comes out Easter 2014.

The Fault in Our Stars (by John Green)

Though I generally love paranormal stories, there were so many positive reviews and comments for TFIOS, that I picked up the audiobook to read (orlisten to) it. Yes, it a serious subject matter (kids with cancer), but it is also a love story that will resonate with many readers and movie goers. Look for it in theaters June 6th. Movie Trailer hasn't been released yet, but here's the publisher's book trailer:

 

 

 Mokingjay (Hunger Games #3 by Suzanne Collins)

The Hunger Games was good, but Catching Fire was much better. The cinematography was steadier than the first book The script was very close to the book, in fact, some dialogue was the exact dialogue from the book. With the popularity of these two movies, you know Mockingjay will have to meet some high expectations. I guess that's why they are splitting Collins' third book into two different movies. Look for Mockingjay part 1 to hit theaters on November 21, 2014! Since the trailer isn't out, please enjoy the book trailer.

 



 

 

BONUS TRAILER:

In my previous post, the Divergent movie trailer hadn't been released. I linked to the book trailer. Now that the movie trailer is out, I thought I'd include it in this post. Can't wait to see it this March!



 

Let me introduce... Audio books

I've had several friends ask about audio books. Some have never listened to one, and others might have tried but didn't like it. For audio books, the narrator is extremely important and can make or break an author's work. I advise listeners to listen to at least the first CD before deciding if a book isn't for you. Sometimes it takes that long to get acclimated to a narrator's voice/style/tone. For those of you who would like to try one out (Check out your local library!), here are some I  recommend:

For kids and family:

Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan  (Narrator: Jesse Bernstein)
Fans of Greek mythology will enjoy this series about demigods. Even if you've seen the movies, still listen to the books, because they have completely different plots. Narrator Jesse Bernstein has a lot of enthusiasm and will be able to capture and keep your attention.

#Action #Adventure #Quests

Kane Chronicles series by Rick Riordan (Narrators: Kevin R. Free & Katherine Kellgren)
This series has the same author as the Percy Jackson series, but this time readers learn about Egyptian gods and the magicians that call on the gods. The main characters are a brother and sister, so there are two narrators. Both do a phenomenal job. They have tons of enthusiasm and give various dialects for the different characters.

#Action #Adventure #Magic

Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling (Narrator: Jim Dale)
This would be a perfect series for your first audio book especially if you are a fan of the original books and/or movies. Narrator Jim Dale does a phenomenal job giving voices to all the different characters. (I love when he does Delores Umbridge in book 5!)

#Magic #Adventure

For teens and young adults:

The Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld (Narrator: Carine Montbertrand)
Westerfeld creates a futuristic dystopian society. It was my first dystopian novel that I read (or well, um, listened to), so it took me a while to accept the world and narrator. Now, I think she is the perfect voice for Westerfeld's main character, Tally. Carine Montbertrand does a great job channeling her inner teen. She gets Westerfeld's lingo down that is introduced in the second book. By the end of the series, I felt sad that I wouldn't get to hear her read any more for this character/series.

 #Post Apocalyptic #dramatic #dystopian

The Chaos Walking series by Patrick Ness (Narrator: Nick Podehl)
I have a confession. The only reason I lasted so long in this series was because of narrator Nick Podehl. The story was unique, but Nick Podehl's animated narration made it much better. I love the twang to his voice too. Now, when I hear him narrate any other story, all I can think of is him yelling "Viola"! (Listen to the book, and you'll be thinking the same thing!)

#New Planet #dramatic

For adults:

The Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich  (Narrator: Lorelei King)
This is another series I highly recommend for new audio book listeners. I actually got my husband hooked on this series. You don't have to read the series in order, so make sure you get the ones narrated by Lorelei King. The first few books in the series had a different narrator, but Loreli King does a better job with the different character voices.  I love how she voices the characters of Lula and Ranger!

#comedic #romantic #mystery

The Charley Davidson series by Darynda Jones (Narrator: Lorelei King)
For fans who love the Stephanie Plum series and also love paranormal  elements, then the Charley Davidson series is perfect for you. The narrator is the same as the Stephanie Plum series. (Yeah, Lorelei King is that good. She makes the list twice!) She has the enthusiasm and energy to make a great story even better. Plus, Darynda Jones' characters and plot are fun to read/listen to.

#comedic #romantic #mystery #paranormal

The Cheshire Red Reports series by Cherie Priest  (Narrator: Natalie Ross)
I love narrator Natalie Ross in this series. Her voice is a bit deeper than some narrators, and it totally fits Cherie Priest's main character. It's low and can be seductive in the right situations. Only bad thing, there are only two books so far. Hopefully there will be more. There were enough items left undone in the plot to warrant more books.

#Vampire #mystery

Adela Arthur and The Creator's Clock

By Judyann McCole

About the book:
Whom Ever This May Concern:

I wish I could tell you the contents of this book were purely fictional. That I, Adela Arthur, was just a normal sixteen year old from Portland and that dragons, giants, elves and mermaids were just myths. I wish these were legends shared from crazy old grandparents to crazy old grandparents around campfires. After all, that is what I used to believe.

I never would have thought they lived on the other side of our mirrors in a world called Cielieu. But they do…

I never would have thought there were humans, better known as Volsin that lived among them with the ability to create light from a single thought. But there are…

I never would have thought I was one of them… But I am…

I am the last Arthur and I was brought to the human world after a Volsin, filled with greed, began to strip the light from our kind.

The human world was supposed to be a safe haven… but he’s found us and the only way to stop him is to go back to Cielieu and begin training as a student in the Elpida Castle of Light.


Like I said I wish the contents of this book were purely fictional and not my life…

ADELA ARTHUR

Release date: July 26th 2013
Purchase: Amazon | B&N

Review:
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book has gotten a lot of controversy.  People are upset because it has a lot of similarities with that of Harry Potter.  If you go into the story knowing that, then it is more enjoyable than if you are blindsided by it.

Some similarities in McCole's book:

Her World

There is a magical world, Cielieu, in addition to the real world. There's a school in the new world that teaches students how to use their light (It's not magic, but light. Light does the same thing that magic would do though.) At this school there are four houses. There are many mythical creatures that live in Cielieu. 

Her People

There's a bad guy in the world that is attacking and killing the people. Everyone is afraid of the bad guy and don't like to say his name. The bad guy can get into Adela's mind, so she must learn to block it. Adela is supposed to be one of the only people who can stop the him, so everyone in Cielieu is fascinated with her. 

See the connections? There are more similarities, but I'll let you discover those when you read the book. Now, some of the good differences.

I like the "light" concept instead of magic. The people use it casually-- to get around, to assist with needs, or just because they feel like it. There are so many possibilities that the characters can use this for.

Adela forms a love/hate relationship with a guy. He's a member of a different house than Adela. McCole creates good chemistry between them and Adela's interactions with him are enjoyable to read.

Adela was raised by her grandfather in a loving environment.  He's supposedly blind, but readers (and Adela) soon find out the truth of what he is. Nice twist!

The beginning of the book has a bit of action. It's where we see the first traces of magic in the real world and where we find out the background info of what happened to Adela's parents. Adela finds out a bit of her heritage and wants to know what they died to protect. It was a great start to the book.

After the dramatic opening chapter, the next chapter has the main character turning 16. She is given a car and drives herself to school-- no DMV trip to get her license or any adult supervision. In fact the DMV wasn't even mentioned in the days following Adela's birthday. Yes, this is a minor thing, but someone should have edited that or handled that detail. Luckily, when she enters Cielieu, that stops becoming an issue.

As I mentioned at the beginning of the review, this has Harry Potter similarities. Tweens, teens, and adults can enjoy it. If you enjoyed the concept of Harry Potter, then give Adlea Author and the Creator's Clock a try.


About author Judyann:
Judyann is a lover of Books, Florence + Machine, The color Teal, Asian Food, Chocolate, Pandas, and The Rain. She's also a fan of writing in odd places like in bathtubs, under staircases, in a tree, or maybe zoo.

Judyann was born in Montreal, Canada and a few years later her parents moved home to the States where she's currently attending College.

Find Judyann: Website  Twitter @judyannmccole

Tempest

By Julie Cross

Tempest seems to be a polarizing book. Either you love it or you hate it. In order to love it, readers need to accept Cross’ time travel rules. Forget what you know of time travel and go into this book with an open mind.

The book opens with Jackson doing a time travel experiment to prove to his friend and science geek, Adam, that what he does in the past doesn’t influence the present time. The theory is shown true until several days later when Jackson is ambushed by several mysterious people, his girlfriend Holly is fatally shot, and Jackson actually “jumps” two years into the past. Now he must figure out how to get back to his present time and save Holly from getting killed. Along the way, he uncovers killer secrets and lies that his father kept while raising Jackson.

So, Jackson can go into the past, do whatever he wants, and come back to the future with little or no repercussions. How is that possible? Well, you find out in the middle of the book that ***SPOILER: Jackson is a half-breed. His mom was a time-traveler and his dad was human, so when he jumps he can half jump (with his body still in the present and mind in the past) or full jump (his body and mind change times) END SPOILER*** This revelation can allow readers to understand the reason why Jackson can’t change things in the past when he jumps on most occasions. It is a somewhat believable explanation.

Cross creates an interesting plot line that has several twist turns and bumps along the way. It is complex but not overly complicated to follow. It keeps readers guessing who the “good guys” are. Even at the end, it is still a little unclear as to if Jackson can truly trust his dad and his organization. The ending is a tear jerker though. Readers might want to bring some Kleenex for the last few chapters.

My biggest complaint is that Jackson jumped back to the present time too easily. He learns about the various branches of time and how he could possibly jump to the present time but on another branch where his actions did affect the future. When he did get back to the current time, he jumped on the correct timeline without any detours. It seems that if he was struggling with his ability and he only fully jumped once, then it would be more difficult to find the correct timeline he was trying to get to.

Vortex is the next book in the series, and I'm looking forward to reading it. There are still enough questions left unanswered in the book to make me interested in the sequel—especially the young girl who shows Jackson a possible desolate future and says that there are people trying to make that future a reality. So many questions surround her background.

The book reminds me of the movie Jumper mixed with a touch of The Butterfly Effect. For readers that enjoy suspense, intrigue, romance, and of course sci-fi, then Tempest might be a good read for you. Just remember to keep an open mind!

Under the Never Sky

By Veronica Rossi

In The Death Shop there are many ways to die. The trick is surviving. And if you’ve grown up without being exposed to the outside elements, there’s no hope–unless you find someone to help guide you…

After an accident that gets Aria kicked out of the enclosed city of Reverie, she is thrown out into the outside world known as The Death Shop and left for dead. She soon runs into Perry, a “savage” who helps her survive and navigate the wild. Perry wants to use Aria to get back his nephew who was taken by Aria’s people, the “dwellers”. The two ultimately want to get back to Reverie, but they have to learn to rely on each other before that can happen. Can two people from opposite worlds trust each other to achieve their goals?

It takes a while for the story to get going. Aria has to be kicked out of her home before the action can happen. Once she crosses paths in the wild with Perry, the story really takes off. Together the two must survive ether storms with hungry cannibals after them and outrun wild wolves.

This will make an amazing movie that both sexes would enjoy. (oh yes, the film rights have been optioned by Warner Brothers) There’s battles with knives and archers that create action for guys while Aria and Perry’s relationship is the love story that ladies swoon over. Together it is the perfect date story/movie/book.

I love how Rossi made her main characters complete opposites of each other. One sheltered, the other raised in the wild; one is chatty, the other is quiet; one is a singer, the other is a hunter; one has sharp hearing, the other has sharp sight. It creates a large barrier each character must overcome before starting to like the other and puts a new meaning to opposites attract.

I highly recommend this book to teens and adults alike. If you enjoyed the Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld, then you will definitely enjoy Under the Never Sky. There are lots of similarities between society and the wild in both books. I will definitely finish this series and look forward to picking up the second book, Through the Ever Night, that’s due to release January 2013!

Curious for more? Check out the book trailer below and I know you’ll be running out to pick up the book as soon as possible. I mean seriously, this is the best book trailer I’ve ever seen!

Black Hole Sun

By David Macinnis Gill

Before I start my review, let me say that this is the first sci-fi book I have read that is set in space–although the setting is actually on Mars. Generally that is not my favorite genre, but Gill’s book has opened my eyes to the amazing stories that I have been missing.

With that in mind, Black Hole Sun is a very fresh, original story. It is a tale of one adventure/escapade that the main character, Durango, and his crew go on. Durango is a Regulator which is like soldier that anyone can hire, sort of. He is hired by some miners and assembles a crew. The result is a story about their fast-paced, action-packed mission.

Throughout the story David Macinnis Gill introduces readers to a new set of vocabulary/lingo. Because Mars was settled by Earthlings, words and phrases from various languages are used. Although that was enjoyable, readers who aren’t near the internet or other reference materials to translate the words/phrases, miss out on the meaning. That’s why the ability to use context clues is a must in this book. Gill doesn’t explain what all of the words/phrases mean after he uses them, so it can seem pure gibberish to some readers. Readers might can figure out a word or two from context clues, but might not understand entire phrases.

All in all, this book was very enjoyable and I look forward to Gill’s second book in the series, Invisible Sun. If you enjoy military strategy mixed with interesting battles and you want an adventure that is “out of this world,” then you will enjoy this book!

Demon Derby Cover Reveal

Title: DEMON DERBY

Author: Carrie Harris

Publisher: Random House

Genre: Paranormal

Age Group: Young Adult

Expected release: March 2014

Add on GOODREADS


Book description

Casey kicked cancer’s ass. Now a demon wants to kick hers. . . .

Casey hates being known as the girl who survived cancer. She wants people to treat her like her old self, fearless and strong. And after a creepy encounter with a crazy guy in an alley, Casey is all about reclaiming her power.

So when she has a chance to try out for the Apocalypsies roller derby team, she jumps on it. Being a derby girl would prove that she doesn’t need anybody’s pity. It doesn’t hurt that Michael, the team manager, is almost unnaturally hot. Which makes sense when Casey finds out that he’s not even human.

Michael’s got a secret: he trains demon hunters. That crazy guy in the alley? Demon. And the fact that Casey went head to head with evil and lived makes her a threat to demonkind. Casey thought she’d already fought and won the battle of her lifetime. But it’s only beginning. . . .

From Carrie Harris, author of Bad Taste in Boys and Bad Hair Day, comes a knockout new read for anyone facing their own demons—inside and out.

About Author Carrie Harris

Carrie Harris is the author of BAD TASTE IN BOYS and BAD HAIR DAY. Her husband is a cancer survivor and a ninja doctor, and her three kids are already in training to fight evil someday. She collects monster-themed clothing, is physically incapable of being serious for more than five minutes at a time, and isn’t a derby girl…yet.

Carrie Harris | Twitter | Facebook

Death, Doom and Detention (Darklight #2)

By Darynda Jones

The normal part of Lorelei MacAlister’s life didn’t just slip away quietly the day Jared Kovach came to town. Nope. The normal part of her life shattered. It exploded. It burst into a gazillion shards of fleeting light.

It went out with a bang.

Goodbye normal.

Hello dark and eerie.
While her best friend, Brooklyn, is focusing all of her energy on helping Lorelei hone her abilities, Lorelei is dealing with the reality that Satan’s second in command has taken up residence inside her body. Oh, and the fact that she has a crush on the Angel of Death. But what a beautiful death it is. If those weren’t bad enough, something sinister has come to town and it wants nothing more than to hear Lorelei’s dying breath as it strangles it out of her. Thank goodness the gang has a supernatural champion. But what happens when the only being who can save them switches sides midstream? How can a group of misfits capture one of the most powerful beings ever created? And will they find out how to bring Jared back to them before it’s too late?

Review:
A lot of time the second book in a trilogy can be a let down. The first book introduces readers to the characters and the world while the third book contains the climax of the series. Second books tend to be transition books and a bit of a let down.  Luckily Darynda Jones didn't follow suit. Instead she adds momentum while continuing to build the plot for the third book. Basically, this is the delicious appetizer before the main course!

Though this is the second book in the series, readers can enjoy it without the first book. It can be a stand alone story, but why enjoy one slice of cake when you can eat the whole thing! Jones continually fills in the gaps if the characters reference something from the first book. If you want the whole back story, then definitely check out book one, Death and the Girl Next Door. Scratch that. Check out book one whether or not you want the back story. I doubt you will be disappointed, and best of all, no calories will need to be consumed!

I love that Lorelei has guts. Sure she has people around her (two hot guys in particular) that try to protect her, but she doesn't just accept that. Lorelei is a modern teenage girl and wants her independence. She doesn't want to cower, but rather she wants to stand up and defend herself (or run) from danger. She doesn't want to hide and let the bad guys come to her. She wants to go out and bait them and then let her super-powered boy toys handle the rest.  Many teen novels have girls that become useless when they like a boy, so this one really stands out. I love the girl power!

Jones does a good job bringing the sarcasm and wit that's found in her Charley Davidson series to her new Young Adult audience. I love some of the statements Lorelei made throughout the book.  Some of them even had me laughing out loud. This helps readers to better connect with her characters and makes them seem very realistic.

If you enjoy paranormal action along with mystery and a touch of romance, then you are really going to enjoy  Death, Doom and Detention. And don't forget to checkout book three Death, and the Girl He Loves when it comes out October 8, 2013.

PURCHASE DD&D: Amazon Barnes & Noble and Audible

Giveaway:
Check out the contest below to win a copy of the book!

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Want More?  Check out this excerpt from the book

FUZZY EDGES

“Is this class ever going to end?”

My best friend, Brooklyn, draped her upper body across her
desk in a dramatic reenactment of Desdemona’s death in Othello.
She buried her face in a tangle of arms and long black hair for
effect. It was quite moving. And while I appreciated her freedom
to express her misgivings about the most boring class since
multi-celled organisms first crawled onto dry land, I wondered
about her timing.

“Miss Prather,” our Government teacher, Mr. Gonzales, said,
his voice like a sharp crack in the silence of study time.

Brooklyn jerked upright in surprise. She glanced around as
our classmates snickered, either politely into their hands or more
rudely outright.

“Is there something you’d like to share with the class?”

She turned toward Mr. Gonzales and asked, “Did I say that
out loud?”

The class erupted in laughter as Mr. G’s mouth formed a long
narrow line across his face. As though a miracle from heaven,
the bell rang and Brooklyn couldn’t scramble out of her seat fast
enough. She practically sprinted from the room. I followed at a
slower pace, smiling meekly as I walked past Mr. G’s desk.
Brooklyn stood waiting for me in the hall, her face still frozen
in surprise.

“That was funny,” I said, tugging her alongside me. She fell
in line as we wound through the crush of students, fighting our
way to PE. I wasn’t sure why. I didn’t particularly enjoy having
my many faults and numerous shortcomings put on display for
all to see, so why I would fight to get there was beyond me.

“No, really.” She tucked an arm through mine. “I didn’t mean
to say that out loud.”

I couldn’t help but smile despite the weight on my chest, a
weight that seemed to be endless. “Which is why that was funny.”
I did that a lot lately. Smiled. It was easier than explaining
why I wasn’t.

“You don’t get it,” she said. “This is exactly what I’ve been
talking about. Everything is weird ever since . . . you know.”

I did know. Ever since Jared Kovach came to town. Ever
since he’d saved my life after a huge green delivery truck
slammed into me. Ever since we’d found out he was the Angel
of Death and he had been sent not to save my life but to take it.
To tweak the timing. To take me sooner than nature— or a huge
green delivery truck— had intended.

And ever since I found out I’d been possessed by a demon
when I was six years old.

Still, that wasn’t the worst part of that day all those years ago.
The worst part was the fact that my parents were gone. Vanished
in a whirlwind when some guy— we still had no idea who—
opened the gates of hell. And I’d led them straight to it. The fact
that a demon—Malak-Tuke, to be exact, Lucifer’s second in command—
escaped from his fiery pit and decided to crash at my
place was just the icing on the cake. But I didn’t know any of
this until two months ago.

I’d been living with my grandparents since the disappearance,
but my semi- normal existence changed forever when I was
knocked into the street by a skateboarder and hit by that truck.
That near- death experience taught me a valuable lesson:
Never get hit by a huge green delivery truck if I can help it. But
if I hadn’t, if my life hadn’t almost ended that day, then Jared
Kovach would not have been sent. And oddly enough, Jared Kovach
was definitely worth the risk.

The events that followed were both terrifying and life changing.
I learned that there really was a heaven and a hell. That
there really were angels and demons. That I was a prophet, the
last prophet in a long line of incredible women, descended from
a powerful woman named Arabeth. And I’d learned that I had a
demon inside me, that I’d had him inside me for years.

Even Jared had never seen anything like it. Most people possessed
by evil spirits were lucky to survive. People possessed by
demons— a rarity, from what I’d been told— never survived more
than a month. Ever. And yet here I stood. As possessed as a girl
with a demon inside her could be.

And, yes, things had been weird.

About Author Darynda Jones:

NYTimes and USA Today Bestselling Author Darynda Jones has won numerous awards for her work, including a prestigious Golden Heart®, a Rebecca, two Hold Medallions, a RITA ®, and a Daphne du Maurier, and she has received stellar reviews from dozens of publications including starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly, Booklist, and the Library Journal. As a born storyteller, Darynda grew up spinning tales of dashing damsels and heroes in distress for any unfortunate soul who happened by, annoying man and beast alike, and she is ever so grateful for the opportunity to carry on that tradition. She currently has two series with St. Martin’s Press: The Charley Davidson Series and the Darklight Trilogy. She lives in the Land of Enchantment, also known as New Mexico, with her husband of almost 30 years and two beautiful sons, the Mighty, Mighty Jones Boys. She can be found at www.daryndajones.com.

Silver-White (The Great North Woods Pack #1)

Hey everyone.  Interested in something new to read? Check out Silver-White by Shawn Underhill.  Right now it is 99 cent on Amazon.  Check out what it is about below!

“The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep.”

~ Robert Frost

*Evie’s family has been holding out on her …

Big time.

On an unexpected visit to her grandparents’ house in New Hampshire’s secluded North Woods, the sixteen-year-old literally runs into the truth of the long-hidden family secrets, and finds herself thrust without warning into the clandestine world of the Great North Pack—a wild and exhilarating world of rugged beauty, heart-pounding adventures, and long nights running under a sea of stars … but as she’s set to discover, a world also fraught with potential dangers lurking in the shadows.

About the author Shawn Underhill:

Shawn is a part-time writer from New Hampshire, where he spends his free time hiking in the mountains, camping, racing dirt bikes, or anything else that keeps him outdoors. Dogs are his very favorite people. He is also the author of the novel All Things Different.

Goodreads   Facebook  Purchase: Only 99cents

Twitter: shawnunder

GIVEAWAY

There is a $75.00 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway.  Click the Rafflecopter link below. 

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Want a sneak peak?  Check out this except from the book!

Her head was turned up to the sky, her ears pricked, waiting for the next lines. But instead of the next line of a melancholy song, she heard next a sound far too close for comfort. From directly behind her a sudden swishing sound sent her spinning on her heels. As she whirled and faced the house, a bright shape flashed into her line of sight. It was her grandfather, robed in white, suddenly standing just this side of the glass door.

“It’s time,” he said in a low, serious tone.

“N—now?” Evie stuttered. He had appeared so quickly, and her nerves were so on edge, that he had startled her.

“Now,” he answered coolly. “Do you understand how young birds learn to fly?”

“What?” she gasped.

“Do as I say.”

“Do what?” Evie began, but before she could form the words her grandfather was gone.

In one fluid motion he had stepped from his robe, dropped in height, lightened in color, spread in width, and in a blink transformed into a massive white wolf; Evie felt his great weight creaking the deck boards. Slightly smaller than the wolf of her dream, this wolf too had eyes that absorbed all of the night’s small light and reflected it in stormy pools of green. With sides swelling from his first deep breaths of the night, he stared into her with those piercing eyes. A deep rumble started low in his belly.



Praise for Silver-White 
"Simply put, this book was amazing. I've read more fantasy novels than I can count, but this one is certainly one of the best. The emotions portrayed throughout the book manifest in the reader, and the imagery is beautiful. The heroine isn't some wishy-washy pansy that screams at everything, and the focus of the story isn't on some unbelievably beautiful teenage girl who suddenly becomes the biggest, baddest member of her species falling in love with some big, bad, sexy member of her newfound species. It's about a girl becoming something she never knew existed, finding her place within the pack family she values more than ever before, and an age-old feud that threatens everything she loves. The story is fast-paced and gripping, and the purely wild emotions the heroine feels when with her pack come up off the pages and make the reader smile."
-Morgan-Leigh, Amazon reviewer

Starters

By Lissa Price

After reading the synopsis of Starters, I was very intrigued. It has such an original idea that I chose the audiobook version of it. Sometimes audioboks really enhance an author’s work and help to make it more memorable. The Starters narrator, however, definitely hurt Price’s brilliant story. The narrator offered inflection but lacked enthusiasm and it made it difficult to connect with Callie. I was tempted to not finish it, but fortunately I got a copy of the hardback version and thoroughly enjoyed the second half of her book.

In Price’s world, technology has advanced so the rich elderly people, called Enders, can “rent” teenage bodies so that they can enjoy youthful activities. The teens, called “Starters” who elect to rent their bodies have a chip implanted so the Enders can control their bodies while the Starters sleep through it.

After her parents died in the Spore Wars, Callie Woodland is doing everything she can to survive on the streets while taking care of Tyler, her younger sick brother, and avoiding the marshals who want to institutionalize orphaned street kids. The opportunity to “loan” her body to Prime Destinations for Enders’ pleasures comes with the promise of a large payday that Callie can use to take care of Tyler. During her third “rental” something goes wrong with the chip and Callie wakes up in the life of wealth and privilege. She soon learns that her Ender renter has decided to commit murder in Callie’s body. Can Callie stop this plan? And is Prime Destinations all that it appears to be?

Price creates a unique environment where an entire generation has been wiped out by the Spore Wars. I would have liked a little more background information on that war, but the story is still complete without it.

Readers will easily understand the dilemmas Callie is forced into. She’s constantly caught between a rock and a hard place with no clear direction as to what is right and wrong. She wants to stop a murder, but what’s the best way to do that when you don’t have control over your body all the time?

In addition to figuring out what to do, Callie must also decide who to trust. Price does a brilliant job throwing readers off. People who seem to be the bad guys just might be the good guys. And close confidants might not be exactly who they say they are. Readers who are good at guessing plot twists, might have a challenge figuring out all of the surprises Price has in store.

Lissa Price delivers a brilliant story that is filled with mystery, suspense, action and a hint of romance. Teens and adults alike can enjoy this dystopian sci-fi. Readers who liked Skinned by Robin Wasserman will thoroughly enjoy Starters.

I look forward to seeing where Price takes the story in her second book, Enders, which is due to come out in 2013.

Interested in more? Check out the Starters book trailer!

Divergent

By Veronica Roth

I’ve wanted to read this book for a while. Once I finally got it and cracked open the cover, I absolutely could not put it down. Roth does not lollygag around setting up the storyline, but plunges readers right into it, and once you’re in it, hang on because you are in for a wild ride!

For 16 year old Beatrice “Tris” Prior, selecting a faction will be the most important decision of her life. After her aptitude test comes back inconclusive—thereby secretly labeling her a “divergent”—she now must choose to stay with her family in the Abnegation (the selfless) faction or completely turn her back on them by choosing another faction: Erudite (the intelligent) or Dauntless (the courageous). Her decision pushes her to her physical and mental limits, and will have readers questioning whether she will make it through the faction’s initiation process.

I love that the ending of Divergent was not what I was expecting. I expected it to end right after we see if Tris passes initiation or becomes factionless. Both would position the character to make interesting decisions affecting the leaders of the dystopian society—fight them from the outside or fight them from the inside. Instead, Roth completely threw me off guard by setting up events that will resonate throughout the second and third book in the series. I didn’t see it coming and that was a thrilling surprise.

Because this is Roth’s debut novel, she initially struggles with explaining the setup of her dystopian society and doesn’t provide a detailed history of how we moved from the society we are in present day, to her faction system. I think that information would have really helped to flesh out the beginning of the story. However, Roth soon gets into a writing groove that keeps readers eager to find out what comes next.

Divergent isn’t a rainbows and butterflies type of story, but a raw, smack-you-in-the-face mix of fighting, strategizing, plotting, and backstabbing. Tris gets knocked down and has to get back up again and face her fears in order to try and make it through initiation. This is a combination of Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games that meets Ally Condie’s Matched. It is a book where even though I checked it out from the library, I have gone out and bought it and the second book, Insurgent, just so I can pass it to family and friends so they can read. Needless to day, I highly recommend it and am not surprised that Summit Entertainment is in the process of producing the movie!

Want more? Here is the book trailer.

Die for Me

By Amy Plum

This book is an absolute Must Read! Amy Plum’s style of writing quickly draws readers into the story and makes it difficult to put the book down. She creates an air of mystery around Vincent and his crew and throws in some action at the end.

 Basically, Kate Mercier and her sister come to Paris to live with their grandmother after their parents die in a car accident. Kate can’t seem to get over their deaths, and escapes mostly into books. While reading at a café one day, she meets Vincent. After several brief encounters, the two begin to see each other. After seeing one of Vincent’s friends die and running into him a few days later, Kate runs to Vincent’s house only to find him dead. It is then that she learns about revenants and their enemies the Numa.

I loved the original concept with a new species of paranormal creatures. Plum has definitely done the prep work to answer all the questions readers have when introduced to a paranormal creature. She has answered the important questions of “how they are created,” “what special abilities do they have,” “how do they die,” “how come society has never heard of revenants,” and many others. Her thoroughness definitely pays off in the story.

This story touches many different types of genres and readers. There is action, mystery, paranormal (of course), and even a little romance, so I encourage readers to pick this book up. You will not be disappointed.

The sequel, UNTIL I DIE, is already out and I can’t wait to get my hands on it! This book reminds me of Lauren Kate’s FALLEN series only better, so if you enjoyed that, then you will probably enjoy DIE FOR ME.