REVIEW: Raised by Wolves

Raised by Wolves
Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Raised by Wolves # 1

Goodreads Description:
Adopted by the Alpha of a werewolf pack after a rogue wolf brutally killed her parents right before her eyes, fifteen-year-old Bryn knows only pack life, and the rigid social hierarchy that controls it. That doesn't mean that she's averse to breaking a rule or two.

But when her curiosity gets the better of her and she discovers Chase, a new teen locked in a cage in her guardian's basement, and witnesses him turn into a wolf before her eyes, the horrific memories of her parents' murders return. Bryn becomes obsessed with getting her questions answered, and Chase is the only one who can provide the information she needs.

But in her drive to find the truth, will Bryn push too far beyond the constraints of the pack, forcing her to leave behind her friends, her family, and the identity that she's shaped?

My thoughts:
I absolutely loved this book....probably more than any other book I have read in the fantasy genre.  Now I haven't been through many fantasy books, but you'll just have to believe me that it is just that good.


I love love love Bryn, the main character....whose full name is so long that I don't even remember it!  She knows the boundaries, and has no problem just stepping over the line.  She has been kept in the dark on a major situation and she wants to know what is going on.  She may not be a werewolf herself, but she wants to be aware and help the pack that protects her.  In the end, she begins showing characteristics just like the werewolves. 


I would say that Bryn was the only character that I really liked.  I didn't dislike the other ones I guess, but she really stood out to me and the others didn't.  The whole pack just didn't seem to believe that she was responsible or could handle having her questions answered.  They treated her like a child.


This was very well written.  It wasn't difficult to read at all and I didn't have to go back and reread, thinking I missed something.  I will definitely be picking up the next book in the series, and checking into this author some more!


My rating: ☺☺☺☺☺

"Waiting On" Wednesday (#15)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine. I will use this to show the upcoming releases that I am waiting on!

The Iron Knight
Julie Kagawa
Iron Fey # 4

I have not found a description for this book anywhere, but I do know that it will be amazing! :)

Cover Crazy: Supernaturally

This weekly meme is hosted by The Book Worms and is used to show the covers we are crazy about!

Supernaturally
Kiersten White
Paranormalcy # 2

What I love:
*The girl is gorgeous!  She looks so elegant and delicate because of her dress and her body language.  Her hair is also amazing.  It is absolutely perfect.

*I love all of the shades of reds and orange.  Her light skin really pops out.

*Flowers are always a good addition to a cover!  I love flowers.  The color of these match perfect with the dress and background.

*I actually like that the font doesn't stand out so much.  It makes you focus on the actual cover.

Goodreads Description:
Evie finally has the normal life she’s always longed for. But she’s shocked to discover that being ordinary can be . . . kind of boring. Just when Evie starts to long for her days at the International Paranormal Containment Agency, she’s given a chance to work for them again. Desperate for a break from all the normalcy, she agrees.
But as one disastrous mission leads to another, Evie starts to wonder if she made the right choice. And when Evie’s faerie ex-boyfriend Reth appears with devastating revelations about her past, she discovers that there’s a battle brewing between the faerie courts that could throw the whole supernatural world into chaos. The prize in question? Evie herself.
So much for normal.

In My Mailbox (#23)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. This is where everyone can see what books I bought or received that week.

Dark Descendent - Jenna Black

So Shelly - Ty Roth

Starcrossed - Josephine Angelini

On My Wishlist (#23)

On My Wishlist is a fun weekly event hosted by Book Chick City and runs every Saturday. It's where I list all the books I desperately want but haven't actually bought yet. They can be old, new or forthcoming. 

Divergent
Veronica Roth
Divergent # 1

Goodreads Description:
In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

"Waiting On" Wednesday (#14)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine. I will use this to show the upcoming releases that I am waiting on!

Sirensong
Jenna Black
Faeriewalker # 3

Goodreads Description:
When Dana is invited to Faerie to be officially presented at the Seelie Court, it’s no easy decision. After all, everyone knows Titania, the Seelie Queen, wants her dead. But Titania claims not to be the one behind the death threats; and her son, Prince Henry, makes the decision a whole lot easier when he suggests Dana might be arrested for (supposedly) conspiring with her aunt Grace to usurp the Seelie throne. So she and her father better do as they're told…
The journey through Faerie is long – and treacherous. Dana thought it would be a good idea to have friends along, but her sort-of-boyfriend Ethan and her bodyguard’s son, Keane, just can’t seem to get along, and Kimber’s crush on Keane isn’t making things any easier. When a violent attack separates Dana from their caravan, the sexy Erlking saves her just in the nick of time… and makes it clear that he hasn’t given up on making her his own.
Arriving at Titania’s beautiful palace should be a relief. But Dana is soon implicated in an assassination attempt against Titania’s niece, and is suddenly a fugitive, forced to leave her father behind as she and her friends flee for her lives. Will she be able to prove her innocence before the forces of the Seelie Court catch up with her? Or, worse, the Erlking? And will she save her father before he pays the ultimate price in her stead?

REVIEW: The Gathering

The Gathering
Kelley Armstrong
Darkness Rising # 1

Goodreads Description:
Sixteen-year-old Maya is just an ordinary teen in an ordinary town. Sure, she doesn't know much about her background - the only thing she really has to cling to is an odd paw-print birthmark on her hip - but she never really put much thought into who her parents were or how she ended up with her adopted parents in this tiny medical-research community on Vancouver Island.

Until now.

Strange things have been happening in this claustrophobic town - from the mountain lions that have been approaching Maya to her best friend's hidden talent for "feeling" out people and situations, to the sexy new bad boy who makes Maya feel . . . . different. Combine that with a few unexplained deaths and a mystery involving Maya's biological parents and it's easy to suspect that this town might have more than its share of skeletons in its closet.

My thoughts:

This book was a very easy read.  I loved reading it, and picked it up whenever I had a free second.  This was the first book I had read by Kelley Armstrong.  She pulled me in right away!  I was hooked in the first chapter!  Maya's best friend is dead and the cause of her death is questionable, although the townspeople are saying it was a drowning.  I loved that the story didn't start after Maya's best friend Serena died.  I lived through it in the first chapter.  I feel like I was in Maya's shoes.  I felt panicky and scared....and then sad and devastated.  It was amazing.

I loved the setting of this book...and normally the setting doesn't affect me one way or another.  I really liked how isolated it was.  It made sense.  I loved reading about the animals and the national park.

I really liked the characters as well.  Maya is strong and smart.  She just has a great personality.  I love her interactions with the animals.  Daniel is very strong too.  Maya points out to him several times that he isn't ready to move on after Serena.  However, I don't think it is completely that he is hurting over Serena.  I think he isn't really interested in a relationship at all, hasn't found someone who is worth his time, and possibly is waiting for someone else.  I questioned a couple of times if maybe eventually he would be with Maya.  Then there is Rafe, a boy who just moved into the area.  He is mysterious and tries to make everyone think he is a bad boy.  He has a reason for everything he does.  He is very smart as well, and thinks about his actions.  He takes very good care of his sister and I think he could be great for Maya.

This was overall a great read.  It was different from other books I have read.  It wasn't mind blowing or anything, but it kept my attention.  Armstrong is a very good writer and I plan on picking up some of her other books!

My rating: ☺☺☺☺☺

Cover Crazy:

This weekly meme is hosted by The Book Worms and is used to show the covers we are crazy about!

Trial By Fire
Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Raised by Wolves # 2

What I love:
*The colors are amazing!  I love the red mixed with black and maybe even a slight maroon.

*The moon in the background....it must be there for a reason!

*The girl is gorgeous!  She is everything I imagined her to be.  I am pretty sure it is the same girl from the cover of Raised by Wolves, but this cover is completely different.  Her body language and facial expression definitely represent her.

*The font of the title is perfect too.  It is pretty consistent with the first book.  I'm not sure if they are the exact same font, but they are very similar.  I like it when it isn't boring!

*The smoky-ness is perfect.  It really pulls the whole cover together. 

Goodreads Description:
Bryn is finally settling into her position as alpha of the Cedar Ridge Pack—or at least, her own version of what it means to be alpha when you’re a human leading a band of werewolves. Then she finds a teenage boy bleeding on her front porch. Before collapsing, he tells her his name is Lucas, he’s a Were, and Bryn’s protection is his only hope.

But Lucas isn’t part of Bryn’s pack, and she has no right to claim another alpha’s Were. With threats—old and new—looming, and danger closing in from all sides, Bryn will have to accept what her guardian Callum knew all along. To be alpha, she will have to give in to her own animal instincts and become less human. And, she’s going to have to do it alone.

Bryn faces both the costs, and the rewards, of love and loyalty, in this thrilling sequel to Raised by Wolves.

In My Mailbox (#22)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. This is where everyone can see what books I bought or received that week.

Starlighter - Bryan Davids

Lies That Chelsea Handler Told Me - Chelsea Handler

What did you get in your mailbox?

On My Wishlist (#22)

On My Wishlist is a fun weekly event hosted by Book Chick City and runs every Saturday. It's where I list all the books I desperately want but haven't actually bought yet. They can be old, new or forthcoming. 

Blue Diablo
Ann Aguirre
Corine Solomon # 1

Goodreads Description:
Other women change their hair color on a whim or to impress a new boyfriend; Corinne Solomon dyes hers because she's running scared. She's a handler, a paranormal who can touch something and almost instantly know its history and, if she's lucky (or unlucky) its future, too. Now hiding out in Mexico, she wants to keep a low profile, but when people come begging for her help, she can't refuse, although she knows that she should know better.

REVIEW: Life as We Knew It

Life as We Knew It
Susan Beth Pfeffer
Last Survivors # 1

Goodreads Description:
Miranda’s disbelief turns to fear in a split second when a meteor knocks the moon closer to the earth. How should her family prepare for the future when worldwide tsunamis wipe out the coasts, earthquakes rock the continents, and volcanic ash blocks out the sun? As summer turns to Arctic winter, Miranda, her two brothers, and their mother retreat to the unexpected safe haven of their sunroom, where they subsist on stockpiled food and limited water in the warmth of a wood-burning stove.

Told in journal entries, this is the heart-pounding story of Miranda’s struggle to hold on to the most important resource of all--hope--in an increasingly desperate and unfamiliar world.

My thoughts:

I really enjoyed this book.  It was something different.  I am just amazed at this family's ability to survive.  I was also very amazed at some of the other character's peace and willingness to accept death.

In the beginning when Miranda's mother had them all buy a bunch of food, I thought she was completely overreacting.  That is what saved them though.  That food wouldn't have stayed on the store shelves much longer.  I thought it would have created much more chaos though, since they weren't the only people buying a ton of food.  People weren't stealing from each other or being completely ridiculous.  It didn't seem as bad as even Black Friday!

I don't think I would be able to survive something like this.  I wouldn't be in survival mode right away.  I would be after it was too late.  And some of the things they were missing out on were things I wouldn't even think about.  Gas and electricity to heat your house in the winter?  Man I wouldn't survive Minnesota without heat!  Miranda's family was very lucky to have a woodstove for heat.  They probably wouldn't have made it without the woodstove. 

The characters were so-so.  Miranda was very childish.  Her younger brother Jonny was more responsible than she was.  Otherwise, there wasn't really anything that stood out to me in any of the other characters, in a good or bad way. 

This was a really neat book.  I plan on getting the next one to continue this series.  It will be a while before I pick up on it again though.

My rating: ☺☺☺☺☺

REVIEW: Enclave

Enclave
Ann Aguirre
Razorland # 1

Goodreads Description:
WELCOME TO THE APOCALYPSE

In Deuce’s world, people earn the right to a name only if they survive their first fifteen years. By that point, each unnamed ‘brat’ has trained into one of three groups–Breeders, Builders, or Hunters, identifiable by the number of scars they bear on their arms. Deuce has wanted to be a Huntress for as long as she can remember.

As a Huntress, her purpose is clear—to brave the dangerous tunnels outside the enclave and bring back meat to feed the group while evading ferocious monsters known as Freaks. She’s worked toward this goal her whole life, and nothing’s going to stop her, not even a beautiful, brooding Hunter named Fade. When the mysterious boy becomes her partner, Deuce’s troubles are just beginning.

Down below, deviation from the rules is punished swiftly and harshly, and Fade doesn’t like following orders. At first she thinks he’s crazy, but as death stalks their sanctuary, and it becomes clear the elders don’t always know best, Deuce wonders if Fade might be telling the truth. Her partner confuses her; she’s never known a boy like him before, as prone to touching her gently as using his knives with feral grace.

As Deuce’s perception shifts, so does the balance in the constant battle for survival. The mindless Freaks, once considered a threat only due to their sheer numbers, show signs of cunning and strategy… but the elders refuse to heed any warnings. Despite imminent disaster, the enclave puts their faith in strictures and sacrifice instead. No matter how she tries, Deuce cannot stem the dark tide that carries her far from the only world she’s ever known.

My thoughts:
I see no need in giving you my description of the book, since the description from goodreads has absolutely everything I would ever think of!

I absolutely loved this book. I would put it right up there with The Hunger Games. It is also a 5 star read. It is quite different because it is of a world that does not exist. Sure vampires and werewolves don't exist either, but so many people are writing about them! Ann Aguirre took a completely original idea and made it into a great book!

I have to admit that while Deuce was a great character, she was not my favorite.  My favorite is Fade.  He was born topside and knows that what Deuce has been told is b.s.  Fade sticks with the enclave though, because he is much safer there.  Deuce begins realizing that everything is not what it seems.  When someone is accused of hoarding, Deuce decides to cover for him, and essentially save him.  Because of that, she is sent topside.  Fade refuses to let her go alone though, so he gets himself sent topside.  Together they are unstoppable! 

I feel like there are more to the Freaks though.  They seem like there is something else that they want, but they can't communicate it.  I am hoping in the next book, Deuce and Fade will learn more about the Freaks and what they can do to stop them. 

I am so looking forward to reading about what happens to these characters, the enclave, and the world topside.  I am hoping there is a little more romance between Deuce and Fade also.  I can see that this is the start of a great series!

Cover Crazy: The Betrayal of Maggie Blair

This weekly meme is hosted by The Book Worms and is used to show the covers we are crazy about!

The Betrayal of Maggie Blair
Elizabeth Laird

What I love:
*I love the light and dark in this cover.  It's like the sun is literally bursting through the clouds...or attempting to.

*I love the blue/teal color.  It is nice to see something different.  It seems like most covers end up using the same common colors.

*The font works perfectly with this cover.  The color is absolutely perfect also.

*I find this cover very mysterious.  I have no clue what she is doing.  There must be some serious wind because of her hair....but everything is so peaceful and still.  And what is the significance of where she is?

Goodreads Description:
In seventeenth-century Scotland, saying the wrong thing can lead to banishment—or worse. Accused of being a witch, sixteen-year-old Maggie Blair is sentenced to be hanged. She escapes, but instead of finding shelter with her principled, patriotic uncle, she brings disaster to his door.
Betrayed by one of her own accusers, Maggie must try to save her uncle and his family from the king’s men, even if she has to risk her own life in the process.

In My Mailbox (#21)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. This is where everyone can see what books I bought or received that week.

Chicken Soup for the Scrapbooker's Soul - Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen
The Iron Thorn - Caitlyn Kittredge
Hannah - Kathryn Lasky
Siren - Tricia Rayburn
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Extraordinary Teens - Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Kent Healy
Berlitz French Phrase Book and Dictionary

On My Wishlist (#21)

Sorry this is late guys!  This past week I had my first 58 hour work week.  I honestly didn't even think about this yesterday.  So, here it is now!

On My Wishlist is a fun weekly event hosted by Book Chick City and runs every Saturday. It's where I list all the books I desperately want but haven't actually bought yet. They can be old, new or forthcoming. 

Everdark
Elle Jasper
Dark Ink Chronicles # 2

Goodreads Description:
When Savannah tattoo artists Riley Poe is ambushed by an undead enemy, she inherits some of the traits of her attackers-and a telepathic link with a rampaging vampire. Now, she's experiencing murder after murder through the victims' eyes. And her new powers will not be enough to stop the horror-or the unending slaughter...

"Waiting On" Wednesday (#13)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine. I will use this to show the upcoming releases that I am waiting on!

Undead and Undermined
Mary Janice Davidson
Undead #10
Release Date: July 5, 2011

Goodreads Description:
Vampire Queen Betsy Taylor thought she couldn't die. So what's she doing in the morgue? It could have something to do with a time- traveling trip she made, and a foe with a wicked agenda that could finally be the real death of Betsy-if she's not careful.

REVIEW: Born at Midnight

Born at Midnight
C.C. Hunter
Shadow Falls # 1

Goodreads Description:
Don’t miss this spectacular new series that will steal your heart and haunt your dreams, Welcome to Shadow Falls camp, nestled deep in the woods of a town called Fallen…
One night Kylie Galen finds herself at the wrong party, with the wrong people, and it changes her life forever. Her mother ships her off to Shadow Falls—a camp for troubled teens, and within hours of arriving, it becomes painfully clear that her fellow campers aren’t just “troubled.” Here at Shadow Falls, vampires, werewolves, shapshifters, witches and fairies train side by side—learning to harness their powers, control their magic and live in the normal world.
Kylie’s never felt normal, but surely she doesn’t belong here with a bunch of paranormal freaks either. Or does she? They insist Kylie is one of them, and that she was brought here for a reason. As if life wasn’t complicated enough, enter Derek and Lucas. Derek’s a half-fae who’s determined to be her boyfriend, and Lucas is a smokin’ hot werewolf with whom Kylie shares a secret past. Both Derek and Lucas couldn’t be more different, but they both have a powerful hold on her heart.
Even though Kylie feels deeply uncertain about everything, one thing is becoming painfully clear—Shadow Falls is exactly where she belongs…

My thoughts:

I really enjoyed this book.  I loved the whole storyline.  Kylie is a teenager who is sent to Shadow Falls camp, meant for "troubled" teens.  She thinks that she is there because she was caught at a party that happened to have drugs.  She soon learns that everyone there is some sort of paranormal "creature", and they think she is one of them!  Nobody is quite sure as to what Kylie is, but they are convinced that she is not human.  Kylie has just learned that these things exist, so she is not ready to accept that she is one of them.  However, she can't explain why she sees ghosts either.  Kylie meets some new friends, and even some enemies.  When the summer comes to an end, her mother is ready to send her back to school, but Kylie wants to stay at Shadow Falls, because she is sure that is where she belongs.

I loved Kylie's character.  She is a teenager who just feels misunderstood.  I think she is honestly the typical teenager who nobody understands.  Going into the camp, she feels fine and is sure of who she is, but then as she meets vampires, werewolves, and other creatures, she is more unsure than she has ever been. 

I loved the camp too.  I really don't know why.  I just like that type of setting, or even a school setting.  One of my absolute favorite series is Vampire Academy, and that was set in a school.  I like that she is surrounded by people her age and that everyone is always there.

Kylie's ability to see ghosts is awesome.  It is not an ability I would EVER want to have, but it is cool to read about!  She has one particular ghost that is stalking her.  Even at the camp, she tries to avoid the ghost until the very end.  And when this ghost protects her, she is then ready to listen and finally learns quite a bit about herself.

My rating: ☺☺☺☺☺

In My Mailbox (#20)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. This is where everyone can see what books I bought or received that week.

Graveminder - Melissa Marr

The Pact - Jodi Picoult

Second Glance - Jodi Picoult

Keep a Little Secret - Dorothy Garlock

On My Wishlist (#20)

On My Wishlist is a fun weekly event hosted by Book Chick City and runs every Saturday. It's where I list all the books I desperately want but haven't actually bought yet. They can be old, new or forthcoming. 

Shadow Walker
Allyson James
Stormwalker # 3

Goodreads Description:
Stormwalker Janet Begay returns home only to have the ground collapse beneath her-literally. After tumbling two hundred feet underground, Janet is rescued by her dragon boyfriend, Mick. But something dark touches Mick while in the sinkhole, and Janet might lose him forever unless she recruites the most unlikely of allies to stop the growing shadow.

May 2011 Wrap-Up

Here is the wrap-up for the month of May.  I think it looks pretty sad, but this is what happens when it all of a sudden gets nice outside in Minnesota!  I can already tell that June will be a better month, and I have a ton of books that I want to get reading!

Here's what I read:
The Demon Trapper's Daughter - Jana Oliver
Abandon - Meg Cabot
Truth - Robin Wasserman
Salem Falls - Jodi Picoult
Sing You Home - Jodi Picoult
Born at Midnight - C.C. Hunter

Total Books Read in May: 6
Total Books Read in 2011: 79
Total Pages Read in May: 2228
Total Pages Read in 2011: 25212

"Waiting On" Wednesday (#12)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine. I will use this to show the upcoming releases that I am waiting on!

Passion
Lauren Kate
Fallen #3
Release Date: June 14, 2011

Goodreads Description:
"Every single lifetime, I'll choose you. Just as you have chosen me. Forever."

Luce would die for Daniel. And she has. Over and over again. Throughout time, Luce and Daniel have found each other, only to be painfully torn apart: Luce dead, Daniel left broken and alone. But perhaps it doesn’t need to be that way. . . .

Luce is certain that something—or someone—in a past life can help her in her present one. So she begins the most important journey of this lifetime . . . going back eternities to witness firsthand her romances with Daniel . . . and finally unlock the key to making their love last.

Cam and the legions of angels and Outcasts are desperate to catch Luce, but none are as frantic as Daniel. He chases Luce through their shared pasts, terrified of what might happen if she rewrites history.

Because their romance for the ages could go up in flames . . . forever.