Reviews: Beastly and the Lonely Hearts Club

I've read a few more books toward the YA Challenge for 2011.

Book 5/12

Title: Beastly by Alex Finn

Summary:  I am a beast.

A beast!

Not quite wolf or bear, gorilla or dog but a horrible new creature who walks upright. I am a monster.

You think I'm talking fairy tales? No way. The place is New York City. The time is now. It's no deformity, no disease. And I'll, stay this way forever ruined unless I can break the spell.

Yes, the spell, the one the witch in my English class cast on me. Why did she turn me into a beast who hides by day and prowls by night? I'll tell you. I'll tell you how I used to be Kyle Kingsbury, the guy you wished you were, with money, perfect looks, and the perfect life. And then, I'll tell you how I became perfectly...beastly.

My Review:  It was okay is really all I can think to say about this book. I like the idea of going inside the Beast's (Kyle/Adrian) head and seeing the journey he's on. But it all felt slightly off. I can't really explain it, but I didn't feel like I was with the character as he went through the loss of his identity (evil as it was), the sullen and lonely times, and learning to be better. And everything with Lindy just seemed too easy. I do realize it's based on a fairy tale, but still.

It wasn't bad and it might be amazing for some readers, there was just something that left me feeling disconnected and not really caring about how things turned out for the characters.

Overall:  2 stars

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Book 6/12

Title: The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg

Summary:  Love is all you need...or is it? Penny's about to find out in this wonderful debut.

Penny is sick of boys and sick of dating. So she vows - no more. It's a personal choice...and, of course, soon everyone wants to know about it. And a few other girls are inspired. A movement is born; The Lonely Hearts Club (named after the band from Sgt. Pepper). Penny is suddenly known for her nondating ways...which is too bad, because there's this certain boy she can't help but like...

My Review:  This was a cute quick read. I loved the use of the Beatles lyrics and the way the book was sectioned off based on various Beatles songs - so fitting for the character. I think Penny Lane Bloom is a great character and I love her journey to figure out who she is as a person all brought on from heartache and the formation of a club that takes off. I really love that by the end she, with help from her friends, realizes that it's all about balance. I wish I was that smart when I was sixteen.

Quick, fun read. No surprises, no big plot, mostly just an interesting journey for an interesting character. My favorite kind of book when done right.

Overall:  4 stars

Review: Crescendo

I've been spending most of my free time writing or reading, but not updating about what I read.  Makes partaking in these challenges a bit precarious, but I'm working on it.

Book 4/12 for the 2011 Young Adult Challenge

Title: Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

Summary:  Nora Grey's life is still far from perfect. Surviving an attempt on her life wasn't pleasant, but atleast she got a guardian angel out of it: a mysterious, magnetic, gorgeous guardian angel. But, despite his role in her life, Patch has been acting anything but angelic. He's more elusive than ever and even worse, he's started spending time with Nora's arch-enemy, Marcie Millar.

Nora would have hardly noticed Scott Parnell, an old family friend who has moved back to town, if Path hadnt been acting so distant. Even with Scott's totally infuriating attitude Nora finds herself drawn to him - despite her lingering feeling that he's hiding something.

Haunted by images of her murdered father, and questioning whether her nephilim bloodline has anything to do with his death, Nora puts herself increasingly in dangerous situations as she desperatly searches for answers. But maybe some things are better left buried, because the truth could destroy everything - and everyone - she trusts.

My review:  I loved this book from beginning to end. My only complaint was the cliffhanger at the very end, which left me wanting more right this second.

The story picks up not long after Hush, Hush with Nora and Patch together, but with the Archangels watching them closely (as he's her guardian angel), and slowly unravels from there. There is a lot going on in this book with Nora, her relationship with Patch, her father's murder, and so much more, but it all fits together wonderfully.

I continue to love the characters and the story as it unfolds and I'm completely engrossed in Nora and Patch and what happens next.

This was definitely a couldn't put it down read. I read the whole book in one sitting, not willing to put it down (ah, thank goodness for a lazy Sunday).

Overall: 5 stars

Reviews: Halo & The Dark Divine

Despite the fact that I haven't been posting my reviews like I should, I have been reading.  Most of the writing I've been doing on my computer has been on my current project.  I'm working on being better with time management.  I'm play catch-up over the next few days.

Both these books are for the 2011 Young Adult Challenge, where I stated I would read 12 books.

Book 2/12

Title: Halo by Alexandra Adornetto

Summary:  Nothing much happens in the sleepy town of Venus Cove. But everything changes when three angels are sent from Heaven to protect the town against the gathering forces of darkness: Gabriel, the warrior; Ivy, the healer; and Bethany, a teenage girl who is the least experienced of the trio. They work hard to conceal their true identity and, most of all, their wings. 

But the mission is threatened when the youngest angel, Bethany, is sent to high school and falls in love with the handsome school captain, Xavier Woods. Will she defy the laws of Heaven by loving him? Things come to a head when the angels realize they are not the only supernatural power in Venus Cove. There′s a new kid in town and he′s charming, seductive and deadly. Worst of all, he′s after Beth.

My Review:  (There are spoilers for this review!)

I'm not sure that I can accurately, let alone eloquently, explain my feelings for this book. We have an angel in human form for a main character and I'm assuming that's why the novel is filled with so much exposition and description. So much focus on it. At first it really annoyed me, until I was able to see that as the main character is experiencing her first trip to earth maybe that is how it would be.  That said,  I ended up skimming large portions of exposition where it seemed to serve no purpose to the plot.

The romance was okay. It falls into the same box of issues that I have with Twilight. I enjoy it, but I think as an adult, I can't buy into the true-love-perfect-relationship-soul-mate, where the guy has no imperfections in the eyes of the girl.  And I hate when fighting with the boy drives the girl to have a complete breakdown.  Maybe if I was a teenager I would think it was incredible and romantic, but I'm not sure. 

The introduction of Jake Thorne (hello obvious character name), the event that proceeded and the ending all happened so quickly that it was almost an after thought. It felt like it was thrown in as something that Bethany and Xavier had to face simply because they were too perfect or a reason for Bethany, Gabriel and Ivy even being on Earth. 

Basically, it wasn't bad, but it wasn't a book I would tell people to rush out to read. I'd probably say, "If you're bored and like cheesy romance, check this out." Liked it enough 


Overall: 2 stars

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Book 3/12

Title: The Dark Divine by Bree Despain

Summary:  Grace Divine—daughter of the local pastor—always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared and her brother Jude came home covered in his own blood. 

Now that Daniel's returned, Grace must choose between her growing attraction to him and her loyalty to her brother. 

As Grace gets closer to Daniel, she learns the truth about that mysterious night and how to save the ones she loves, but it might cost her the one thing she cherishes most: her soul.

My Review:  First, I had no idea that the order I was reading the YA books would lead me on some semi-religious theme throughout them.  I was mostly basing it on books that looked interesting and others were talking about.  Second, this is another one of those books where it was quite hard for me to articulate how I felt about the book.  This review might seem almost bi-polar as I really did like the book and want to read more from the author, but I also couldn't overlook some of the issues I had with this book. 

I'm not the most religious girl, but I really enjoyed the use of Grace and her family's religion (and the role within their community that came with it) in the book as it didn't come off too heavy-handed. For the most part, I enjoyed Grace, the main character, but at times she seemed too perfect and never seemed to ask the most basic questions of the people in her life.  It was as though she was purposefully ignorant for no good reason.  The same can be said for her conversations and relationship with Daniel.  I liked the connection the two of them shared, but it was all over the place.  I get that's part of the point of them getting together, but at times it was too much.

My other issue was pacing. It seemed like we had very long lead-ups to the reveals and the ending, and then there was hardly anytime spent on the actual moments as they happened. I didn't get to enjoy the pay off quite the way I wanted to - I felt somewhat robbed of the time to be both happy and sad for Grace and Daniel. 

I still enjoyed it.  It was an addictive read.  I liked the twist of the end for Grace (again, just wish there was more to savor of it) and I'm intrigued to see what becomes of the characters and how they develop.

Overall: 3 stars 

Review: Paranormalcy

I'm off to a good start for the 2011 Young Adult Challenge.  My goal is to read 12 books.  One a month.  I can do that, right?

Book 1/12

Title: Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

Summary:  Evie’s always thought of herself as a normal teenager, even though she works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she’s falling for a shape-shifter, and she’s the only person who can see through paranormals’ glamours. 

But Evie’s about to realize that she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures. 

So much for normal.


My Review:  I think what made this book so very good was the main character in Evie. She's spunky and determined, so sure of herself at times, but beneath that, she really doesn't know much about who she is and worries about how others view her. It's typical teenager feelings, but with the added bonus of being a one-of-a-kind paranormal.

I was hooked right from the first scene, where she kicks butt with her pink taser and brings in a vampire. Slowly, you learn about her life in the IPCA and,...moreI think what made this book so very good was the main character in Evie. She's spunky and determined, so sure of herself at times, but beneath that, she really doesn't know much about who she is and worries about how others view her. It's typical teenager feelings, but with the added bonus of being a one-of-a-kind paranormal. 

I was hooked right from the first scene, where she kicks butt with her pink taser and brings in a vampire. Slowly, you learn about her life in the IPCA and, with Lend's appearance, the reader, like Evie, becomes aware that things are hardly as they seem. 

One of the other main things I really enjoyed about this book is the slower evolution of Evie's relationship with Lend. It doesn't happen over night. There is attraction and curiosity, but everything develops over the course of time rather than that knocks-you-on-your-feet immediate kind. 

My only criticism - though it's not much of one, maybe more like a mini-complaint of sorts, as it didn't really take away from the book - was that the author provided the readers with so much build up, such a great plan set into motion, and the resolution was over so fast. I understand that part of that is because we are seeing things from Evie's perspective, but I felt the slightest bit cheated, like I wanted more explanation than we got.

Still loved it.

Overall: 5 stars

Three More Reading Challenges

I'm hoping to do much better this year with my reading.  The problem with falling into pits of despair is that even those things you love just seem tedious and hard.  Anyway, these three really sounded fun.

First up, is the 2011 YA Reading Challenge hosted by For the Love of YA.  Since I'm addicted to young adult books (research!  How can you write and sell YA if you don't read it?), I figure this is right up my alley.  And there look to be a lot of great YA books coming out this year, not to mention all the ones out that I haven't gotten to yet.  There are four levels to this challenge, going from 12 books to 50+ YA books to read.  As I'm still a newbie to reading challenges and such, I'm sticking with the The Mini YA Reading Challenge – Read 12 Young Adult novels.

Second on my list of challenges is the Harry Potter reading challenge from Daemon's Books.  The breakdown for this challenge is, as follows: 

1. January 1-31: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Harry Potter and the Philosopher Stone in the UK)
2. February 1-28: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
3. March 1-31: Harry Potter and the Prizoner of Azkaban
4. April 1-30: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
5. May 1-31: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
6. June 1-30: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
7. July 1 – August 31: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

This wouldn't be my first time reading this series of books.  I've loved them for a long time, but after seeing Part One of the last HP movie, I had been thinking about re-reading the series and this gives me the chance to do it with others.

Last, but not least, is the Vampire Challenge 2011 from Parajunkee's View.  When I was younger, I was lured to the world of vampires by the likes of LJ Smith and movies like the Lost Boys.  It's stuck and over the years, gotten much worse.  It seems reasonable that I would read as much vampire fiction as I could get my hands on.  The goal is to read twenty vampire-based books over the course of the year.

Between these three and the Mini-Challenge I signed up for, I'm hoping this will keep me on track to read fifty books this year.  Not a lot for some, but a nice amount for me.