Reading Reflections: April 2011

Books Read:
Matched by Ally Condie
Demonglass (Hex Hall #2) by Rachel Hawkins
Total Eclipse by Rachel Caine
Born at Midnight by C. C. Hunter
The Liar Society by Lisa and Laura Roecker
Clarity by Kim Harrington

Total Number of Books Read This Month: 6

Total Number of Books Read This Year: 22

Most Anticipated:
Demonglass (Hex Hall #2) by Rachel Hawkins

Biggest Let Down:
None! :)

Favorite Read:
Born at Midnight by C. C. Hunter

Highest Rank: 5 butterflies

Lowest Rank: 4 butterflies

Overall Reflection:
Well, I have certainly rebounded from my reading slump last month! What a fantastic month of reading this has been! :) All but one book received 5 star ratings! I said goodbye to a dear fictional friend in Total Eclipse by Rachel Caine. The Weather Warden series is just fabulous and I highly recommend it! Matched by Ally Condie was a well thought out dystopian novel that left me hankering for me. Demonglass (Hex Hall #2) by Rachel Hawkins took a darker turn from it's predecessor Hex Hall. I was completely taken with Born at Midnight by C. C. Hunter and crave the next book in the series as if it were made out of chocolate. The Liar Society by Lisa and Laura Roecker was another outstanding book that left me shocked and awed. Clarity by Kim Harrington was a wonderful way to round out the month as my 6th book. I also look forward to the next book its series as well. I sincerely hope to carry on my awesome reading streak into May, both with the quantity and quality of books read! :)

Clarity by Kim Harrington

Book Summery (via goodreads):
Clarity "Clare" Fern sees things. Things no one else can see. Things like stolen kisses and long-buried secrets. All she has to do is touch a certain object, and the visions come to her. It's a gift. And a curse.
When a teenage girl is found murdered, Clare's ex-boyfriend wants her to help solve the case--but Clare is still furious at the cheating jerk. Then Clare's brother--who has supernatural gifts of his own--becomes the prime suspect, and Clare can no longer look away. Teaming up with Gabriel, the smoldering son of the new detective, Clare must venture into the depths of fear, revenge, and lust in order to track the killer. But will her sight fail her just when she needs it most?
Book Trailer:



Book Review:
Good things come in small packages. This book packs quite a punch in just 250 pages. It has a little bit of everything...physics, murder, mystery, and love. I loved Clare as the narrator. I related to her very well and thirsted to learn more about her, especially her relationships with Justin and Gabriel. ;) I adored the bond she had with her family. I could very easily picture her mother in her patchwork skirts, teasing Clare about stolen kisses and eye candy. Perry made for a wonderful character as well. The more I read about these characters, the more I wanted to keep reading. They were just as important, if not more so, than finding the killer...who I'll admit, I didn't see coming. I was very sure I had it figured out and was pleasantly surprised otherwise! I enjoyed the Cape Cod setting as well. Harrison writes with such vitality. I was able to vividly picture the sandy beaches and the colorful tourists. I really enjoyed reading Clarity and look forward to the sequel, Perception, coming out next year. For more information, check out Kim Harrington's website.

Favorite Quote:

"Yeah, I was Clarity Fern, tough psychic chic, member of the freak family. But if they stripped all those labels off, people might be shocked to find a normal girl beneath. Who doesn't want to spend her days on the defensive. Who wants what everyone else wants. To be loved." (p. 66).

Cover Art Commentary:
To me, this cover is pure, clean and simple. It's definitely understated as compared to the story it contains.

Overall Rating:

The Liar Society by Lisa and Laura Roecker

Book Summery (via goodreads):
Kate Lowry didn’t think dead best friends could send e-mails. But when she gets an e-mail from Grace, who died mysteriously a year before, she’s not so sure. When the emails continue, Kate is forced to confront her school’s resident druggie, a sketchy administrator, and even her own demons.

As Kate moves closer and closer to the truth, she teams up with a couple of knights-in-(not so)shining armor–the dangerously attractive, bad boy, Liam and her love-struck neighbor, Seth. The three uncover an ancient secret lurking in the halls of their elite private school with the power to destroy them all.

But the truth doesn’t always set you free. Sometimes it’s only the beginning. -goodreads.com

Book Trailer:



Book Review:
Wow. I was totally blown away by this book! It definitely caught me by surprise. Very much like the review I read over at The Story Siren, I was expecting a light, fluffy read, which I do enjoy every now and again. However, it was quickly made apparent to me that this book was anything but light and fluffy. The Liar Society is jam-packed with tragedy, mystery, and action. The story revolves around main character, Kate. She is having a hard time dealing with the death of her closest friend, Grace. When she suddenly gets an email from her dead friend, things start get interesting. As Kate suspected all along, there is more to her friend's "accidental" death, and she is willing to do everything it takes to uncover the truth. This book reminded me of the movie Brick, and I keep finding parallels between the two story lines. I loved the description of the campus, which was a character in itself, really. It was the perfect backdrop to the storyline. The characters are what really made this book exceptional. I especially loved the interactions between Seth and Kate. Their friendship really impacted the story, as well as provided some comedic relief. The story-building was remarkable. The Roecker sister's did a fabulous job of building suspense and mystery, all while developing the characters at the same time. Really superb. Overall, I was I thought the story's concept was original and intriguing. I easily became fully engrossed in the story, and had a difficult time setting the book down. I'm dying to know what happens next, though I haven't seen any information on the next book. You can check out the Roecker's website here.

Favorite Quote:

"We were casually leaning against Liam's Jeep when he walked to his car looking more confused than ever.
'Um...hi?' He looked from me to Seth and back.

Seth nodded his head, and I said a quick prayer that he'd let me do the talking. No. Such. Luck.

'Oh, hey, there, Liam. Kate was just showing my your sweet set of wheels here.' Seth banged on the side of the car. 'What type of gas mileage does this beauty get?'

Oh, my God. He sounded like a geriatric car enthusiast. (p 229-230)

Cover Art Commentary:
Well, this cover definitely has spunk. I'll give it that. I loooove the pink hear and the plaid theme! The pearls are a nice touch too! :)

Overall Rating:

Born at Midnight by C. C. Hunter

Book Summery:
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…-goodreads.com

Book Review:
I was at Barnes and Noble the other night looking for a specific book (which turns out was out of stock). Amidst my quest, I stumbled upon Born at Midnight by C. C. Hunter. I had neither heard of the book or the author. I ended up adding it to the growing pile of books in my arms and proceeded to sit down and thumb through said pile. As per my usual, I skimmed through each book and set it in the to-buy pile or the re-shelf pile. I picked up Born at Midnight, and was immediately hooked. The characters were tangible and flawed, I could easily to them. I instantly became a part of Kylie's world, and craved to learn more about her and her impending journey. To say I was not disappointed is the understatement of the year. I inhaled this book in just little over a day. As I mentioned above, this story is character driven, which makes it multidimensional and engrossing. The use of various supernatural beings is also creative and entertaining. I loved that camp setting and was able to easily imagine the woods, water, campfires, etc... The only complaint I have is the love triangle. Now, I am always up for a good love triangle, but I consistently feel that the "good guy" always takes the backseat. I truly hope this isn't the case for this triangle, but only time will tell. Ms. Hunter, you have concocted a truly original and captivating tale. I await on the edge of my seat for Kylie's next story, Awake at Dawn, which comes available in October, 2011. For more information, the FREE down-loadable pre-story, and other tid-bits, check out Hunter's website here.

Favorite Quote:
"The door to Kylie's bedroom opened and Bennet stuck his head in. 'Are you going back up to the office?'
Holiday's expression changed into fake concern. she rested a hand on Kylie's shoulder. 'I'm afraid she needs me.'
Bennet wasn't fooled, that was apparent by his expression, but he didn't argue, either. Well, as long as one didn't call slamming the door an argument.
'Jerk.' Holiday muttered.
'I can hear you,' he retorted from the other side of the wall." (p. 347)

Cover Art Commentary:
I love the colors. However, I'm not really that found of the image. Perhaps the cover is laced with awesomeness, because despite the fact that I didn't particularly care for the cover, there was something about it that made me pick up the book. And boy, I am sure glad I did!

Overall Rating:

Total Eclipse by Rachel Caine

Book Summery:
The good news is that Weather Warden Joanne Baldwin has saved the world. The bad news: It doesn't really matter. A substance is poisoning the earth, destroying the very magic that keeps the planet alive. Joanne and David have already lost their powers and the destabilization runs even deeper, shattering the delicate balance that we all take for granted. With signs of chaos everywhere, our harried weather warden must search for new remedies to an unprecedented world crisis. -goodreads.com

Book Review:
A fitting end to a fabulous series! Caine does not disappoint in this final installment of the ever-beloved Weather Warden series. I loved this series from page one of Ill Wind, and it was with a heavy heart that I turned the last page of Total Eclipse. I have been on many a road trips with Jo. I've been along side her as she battles against the impossible, as she fights the good fight and sacrifices much of herself because it is the right thing to do. I've felt the weight of humanity on her shoulders, had her heart broken and found a lasting love. No, it was not an easy task for me to finish this series. I believe this why I put off reading Total Eclipse for so long, despite the fact that I bought it almost immediately upon its release.



Everything comes full circle in Total Eclipse and the bigger picture is filled in. I could not asked for a better ending. The most interesting and ingenious concept was the use of mother earth as the villain. Let me just say that should she ever decide to end humanity, we do not have a fighting chance. If you haven't read the series, I highly encourage you to do so. The characters are imaginative, flawed, and emotionally realistic. The idea of using djinn and the four elements was refreshing, original, and a total success. I have yet to read anything like the Weather Warden series, and therein lies its charm. I absolutely love Caine's writing and look forward to reading her newest series, a Weather Warden spin-off, The Outcast Season, as well as her upcoming series, The Revivalist. Also, if you haven't read her YA series, The Morganville Vampires, you should do so. Immediately. For more information, check out Caine's website here. Also, if you're interesting in reading more about the series, you can read my spoiler-free reviews here.

Favorite Quote:

"I was fantasizing about a peaceful afternoon and a hot bath the way perverts fantasize about porn. Hell, maybe I'd throw in some shopping. I'd always loved the clothing stores in the big casinos. Nothing like hitting Couture when you're depressed, and if you're going to certain death, why not go out wearing Valentino or Prada?" (p.234)

Cover Art Commentary:
Not my favorite cover in the series, but the use of red has a lot of meaning in this book. Once again, Jo is on the cover looking as fierce and beautiful as ever!

Overall Rating:

Demonglass (Hex Hall #2) by Rachel Hawkins

Book Summery:

Sophie Mercer thought she was a witch.

That was the whole reason she was sent to Hex Hall, a reform school for delinquent Prodigium (aka witches, shapeshifters, and fairies). But that was before she discovered the family secret, and that her hot crush, Archer Cross, is an agent for The Eye, a group bent on wiping Prodigium off the face of the earth.

Turns out, Sophie’s a demon, one of only two in the world—the other being her father. What’s worse, she has powers that threaten the lives of everyone she loves. Which is precisely why Sophie decides she must go to London for the Removal, a dangerous procedure that will destroy her powers.

But once Sophie arrives she makes a shocking discovery. Her new friends? They’re demons too. Meaning someone is raising them in secret with creepy plans to use their powers, and probably not for good. Meanwhile, The Eye is set on hunting Sophie down, and they’re using Archer to do it. But it’s not like she has feelings for him anymore. Does she? -goodreads.com
Book Review:
Rachel Hawkins has done it again! I feel in love with Hex Hall almost instantly. Honestly, I was a bit hesitant to pick up Demonglass, because I was slightly worried that it might not match up to the awesomeness of Hex Hall. Well, I was worried for nothing because Demonglass far surpassed my expectations! Hawkins takes the storyline to a whole new level. It's darker, richer, and delves even deeper into the Prodigium world. Sophie is back, and as lovable, er snarkier as ever. More characters come into the limelight this time around, such as Sophie's dad and Cal. There are also a new set of characters and a whole new location; Thorne Abby, which I totally wish actually existed because it sounds awesome. *le sigh* It was incredible difficult for me to set this book down, which says a lot because it's been a busy and stressful time for me. Every time I stopped reading, I would start to long for Sophie's magical world and adventures. I also tracked down Hawkin's website, and let me tell you, she is HILARIOUS! :P You must check it out here! It was there I found out that Hex Hall is a trilogy. *sniffs* However, Hawkins goes on to say that she is writing a brand new series Rebel Belle, and is also going to be writing a spin off series to Hex Hall!!!! Seriously? AWE.SOME. So, needless to say, I very much enjoyed this series so far, and am eagerly anticipating more of Hawkins work! :)

Favorite Quote:

"At a normal high school. having class outside on a gorgeous May day is usually pretty awesome. It means sitting in the sunshine, maybe reading some poetry, letting the breeze blow through your hair...At Hectate Hall a.k.a. Juvie for Monsters, it meant I was getting thrown in the pond." (p.1)

Cover Art Commentary:
Well hello gorgeous! I thought Hex Hall was beautiful, but the cover design for Demonglass is just amazing! I just love the play of colors and the idea of duality. Well done!

Overall Rating:

Matched by Ally Condie

Book Summery:
Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate . . . until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.
The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow. -goodreads.com
Book Trailer:



Book Review:
Wow...my mind is still reeling from this one. I honestly didn't know what to expect. I've read such mixed reviews. Many have compared this book to The Giver by Lois Lowry (one of my favorite childhood books), but I thought it was more akin to 1984 by George Orwell. I had the overall sense "things can't get any worse" and then they do, which is the same feeling I had when I read 1984. Overall, Ally Condie did a fabulous job of creating a distopian society. The rigid rules and lack of freedom were highly emphasized. The reader gets a sense of urgency and desperation from the characters. They have such little control over their life, always wanting more (even though it's forbidden). I found myself instantly absorbed in Cassie's life. She makes large strides throughout the entire book, both emotionally and intelligently. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, rooting for the impossible. I wholeheartedly enjoyed this sad tale and can not wait for the next installment in this trilogy, Crossed, which comes out this November. For more info, check out Condie's website here.

Favorite Quote:

"...I'll tell her and everyone else that I know: they are giving us pieces of a real life instead of the whole thing. And I'll tell her that I don't want my life to be samples and scraps. A taste of everything but a meal of nothing. They have perfected the art of giving us just enough freedom; just enough that when we are ready to snap, a little bone is offered and we roll over, belly up, comfortable and placated like a dog..." (p. 249)

Cover Art Commentary:
I really think the cover is fitting to the story. The color green is mentioned several times, and has a special meaning to Cass. I also like the feeling of helplessness and entrapment that the green bubble provides. The sparseness the cover definitely sends a message as well. A perfect cover for this story!

Overall Rating:

Reading Reflections: March 2011

Books Read:
A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly
See What I See by Gloria Whelan
Insight by Jamie Magee
Mistwood by Leah Cypess
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Total Number of Books Read This Month: 5

Total Number of Books Read This Year: 16

Most Anticipated:
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Biggest Let Down:
Mistwood by Leah Cypess

Favorite Read:
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Highest Rank: 5 Butterflies

Lowest Rank: 2 Butterflies

Overall Reflection:
What a month! I started out strong with A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly and See What I See by Gloria Whelan. Both were fabulous books! I then embarked on a reading slump with Insight by Jamie Magee and Mistwood by Leah Cypess. Both books left me wanting more. Enter Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins! What a fabulous way to end the month! I think I might have squeezed in one more book had I not read Insight and Mistwood back to back. They were both slow-going. Either way, I'm looking forward to next month and hope to make a strong come back! :)