Review: The Restorer by Amanda Stevens

Title: The Restorer
Author: Amanda Stevens
Series: The Graveyeard Queen #1
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: 04/19/11
Reviewed by: Christen
But the Book:

Summary:

My name is Amelia Gray. I'm a cemetery restorer who sees ghosts. In order to protect myself from the parasitic nature of the dead, I've always held fast to the rules passed down from my father. But now a haunted police detective has entered my world and everything is changing, including the rules that have always kept me safe.

It started with the discovery of a young woman's brutalized body in an old Charleston graveyard I've been hired to restore. The clues to the killer -- and to his other victims -- lie in the headstone symbolism that only I can interpret. Devlin needs my help, but his ghosts shadow his every move, feeding off his warmth, sustaining their presence with his energy. To warn him would be to invite them into my life. I've vowed to keep my distance, but the pull of his magnetism grows ever stronger even as the symbols lead me closer to the killer and to the gossamer veil that separates this world from the next.

Plot: 4.5 Stars
I really don't think this book qualifies as a Paranormal Romance as labelled on the spine, but damn it was good! One of the first things I noticed while reading this book was how somber and lovely it was. I thought it was fitting considering the majority of the book takes place in a cemetery. Amelia Gray has the unfortunate ability to see ghosts, and these aren't your average Casper the Friendly Ghosts. These are creepy, soul-sucking entities. I can honestly say that this was one of the few books, including Peeps by Scott Westerfeld, that have scared me. I had to make sure not to read it too close to bedtime. The reader is carried along as Amelia pieces together the past of her love interest, Devlin, as well as one twisted serial killer who takes a personal interest in her.

Pace: 3 Stars
As good as this book was, it was a bit of a slower read for me. I think that was due to the lack of additional characters. Also, other than going to the graveyard and the library, there really weren't that many events or settings. There were quite a few flashbacks also slowed the pace down for me.

Characters: 3 Stars
If I could personify a graveyard, it would be Amelia Gray. I found it kind of hard to relate to Amelia. She was very passive and dreary. Definitely not how I want my heroine. That being said, she felt like a real person and not just a figment of the author's imagination. I didn't enjoy her tendancy to pine after the love interest, Devlin, who can only be described as severely emotionally damaged. Too damaged, in my opinion, to ever have another normal relationship.

Cover: 4 Stars
I found this cover very intriguing and mysterious, as well as slightly creepy, which fit the feel of the novel very well. The black and blue-green color scheme is reminiscent of the materials found in a cemetery. The two images, the crying angel on top and the inverted tree on the bottom, seem a bit disjointed. The ivy above the title looks a bit too computer generated against the other two images.

Overall: 3.5 Stars

Disclosure: I borrowed this novel from the local library.

Review: Blood Rights by Kristen Painter

Title: Blood Rights (ARC)
Author: Kristen Painter
Series: House of Comarre #1
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 09/27/11
Reviewed by: Sara
But the Book:

Summary:

Born into a life of secrets and service, Chrysabelle's body bears the telltale marks of a comarré -- a special race of humans bred to feed vampire nobility. When her patron is murdered, she becomes the prime suspect, which sends her running into the mortal world... and into the arms of Malkolm, an outcast vampire cursed to kill every being from whom he drinks.

Now, Chrysabelle and Malkolm must work together to stop a plot to merge the mortal and supernatural worlds. If they fail, a chaos unlike anything anyone has ever seen will threaten to reign.

Plot: 4.5 Stars
The author created a very unique new twist on vampires in this novel. There were different castes of vampires, and even a race bred solely to feed the royal vampires The comarre were very interesting, with their gold tattoos and their secrets. It was great to learn more about them as Chrysabelle educated Malkolm. There were also fae and shapeshifter races that I hope to see more of in future books as Chrysabelle continues her journey. There were a couple plotlines in this novel that twisted and turned around each other until everything came together in the end. I was on my toes throughout the entire novel, never knowing what was going to happen next and it was a fun ride.

Pace: 4 Stars
Although Chrysabelle's storyline is the main storyline of the novel, there were a couple smallers ones that wove themselves into the story as well. Because of this, the point of view switches between a steady number of characters throughout the story. What could've easily been muddled and confusing, was treated perfectly by the author. Each change in perspective was needed to understand the full scope of the story, and not just Chrysabelle's point of view. There were a few times in which this seemed to slow the pace down a bit, especially when multiple scenes were happening at the same time. After bouncing from point of view to point of view, it felt like more time had elapsed between scenes from the same point of view than had really elapsed. But it was definitely worth it to get inside the heads of multiple characters.

Characters: 4.5 Stars
This novel had a very strong cast of characters. Chrysabelle was a tough heroine that learned to stick up for herself quickly once she was out in the human world. Malkolm, with his voices and tattoos was a vampire carrying a curse. It took him a bit to open up, but he turned out to be a great foil for Chrysabelle. They tested each other, and neither would back down. Mal lived on an old ship with Fi and Doc. Fi is a ghost tied to Malkolm and Doc is a shapeshifter who is also cursed. Together, they make an interesting team that comes to Chrysabelle's aid. Tatiana, the noble vampire who is after Chrysabelle for the murder of her master, is a very evil woman. I really enjoyed rooting against her as the story progressed.

Cover: 5 Stars
This cover is absolutely gorgeous. I would've wanted to read it due to this cover even if it wasn't an urban fantasy centered around a new kind of vampires. Although Chrysabelle spends most of the novel in more casual clothes, I could totally picture her in the outfit the cover model is wearing. The intricate gold tattoos were the make or break detail of this cover, and the artist totally delivered. Even though Chrysabelle covered them at times, I couldn't imagine the cover without such an important detail to who and what she was. The intricate frame around the cover model is an interesting touch, especially once I noticed that the red ribbon is hanging out of the frame. The choice to have the cover model's back to the reader adds to the mystery of Chrysabelle, although I was glad when the covers for books two and three were released and we got to see her face.

Overall: 4.5 Stars

Disclosure: I received an ARC of this novel for review from Orbit.

Review: Betrayal by Lee Nichols

Title: Betrayal
Author: Lee Nichols
Genre: Paranormal Young Adult
Release Date: 03/01/11
But the Book:

Summary:

Emma Vaile is the most powerful ghostkeeper in centuries. Which is great when she's battling the wraith-master Neos, but terrible when she's flirting with fellow ghostkeeper (and soul mate) Bennett. When ghostkeepers fall in love, the weaker one loses all power, and that's not something Bennett can handle. Heartbroken and alone, Emma tries to lose herself in school with fellow ghostkeeper, Natalie. When a new team of ghostkeepers arrive-one a snarky teen boy, the other a British scholar-Emma finds solace in training for the battle against Neos. But as the team grows stronger, they are threatened by an unknown force. One they thought was good.

As chilling and page-turning as Deception, this sequel will grab readers and hold them to the last page. No one is safe from suspicion as Emma closes in on the traitor.

Plot: 3 Stars
This novel picked up right where Deception left off, but it could've used a bit more recap considering almost a year passed between each book being released. It felt kinda like when you miss a days worth of notes in class as I was reading the first couple chapters. It felt like I was missing something because I hadn't read the first book since last summer. Usually I can jump right back into a series without much of a problem. But after a couple more chapters, it all started coming back to me as the past events were touched on a little more. This book also felt a lot like many YA novels that have fallen into a rut. It felt a lot like New Moon in that the mysterious love interest disappeared in order to "help" the main character.

Pace: 3.5 Stars
This was one of those novels that started off on the slow side, but picked up momentum as the story unfolded. The events in the beginning of the novel were on the slow side, but nothing to make me put the novel down (on vacation, no less). As the events of the novel continued to unfold and become more complex, the pace picked up as well. By the end of the novel, it felt like I was reading at the same frantic pace as the characters were rushing to beat the bad guy. It kept me on the edge of my seat.

Characters: 4 Stars
Although Bennett disappearing for most of the novel was disappointing, I felt like it gave me a chance to connect more with the rest of the characters as well as the new characters that were introduced. Emma and her powers continued to grow while dealing with both school and ghostkeeping. I liked that she didn't whine and complain about Bennett being gone the entire time. Emma, along with her friends, deal with the events from the previous novel that involved Coby in their own ways, which was interesting to read. Natalie grew on me throughout this novel. I remember not liking her as much while reading the first novel. This novel also introduced a number of new ghostkeepers, which was great because it meant more information about ghostkeepers and their powers.

Cover: 3.5 Stars
Although I like the continuity of using the same cover model, this cover isn't as strong as its predecessor, Deception. The angle of the cover model's head is a little strange, and her hair is hanging almost too straight to be natural. My favorite part of this cover is the color scheme. I like how the blue is very monochromatic around the cover model, while she gets to have more color. And the green title works very well against the blue. My least favorite part of the cover is the boy lurking in the background. He comes across very stalkerish, especially with his brooding facial expression. The background image of tree branches and parts of a cemetery give the cover a creepy feel that works even without the stalkerish boy.

Overall: 3.5 Stars

Disclosure: I borrowed this novel from the local library.

Review: Radiance by Alyson Noel

Title: Radiance
Author: Alyson Noel
Genre: Young Adult
Release Date: 08/31/10
Summary:

Riley has crossed the bridge into the afterlife -- a place called Here, where time is always Now. She has picked up life where she left off when she was alive, living with her parents and dog in a nice house in a nice neighborhood. When she’s summoned before The Council, she learns that the afterlife isn’t just an eternity of leisure. She’s been assigned a job, Soul Catcher, and a teacher, Bodhi, a possibly cute, seemingly nerdy boy who’s definitely hiding something. They return to earth together for Riley’s first assignment, a Radiant Boy who’s been haunting a castle in England for centuries. Many Soul Catchers have tried to get him to cross the bridge and failed. But all of that was before he met Riley...

Plot: 2.5 Stars
This was a very short novel, and it really showed. It seemed like a lot of the details were glossed over, and some elements of the plot were a bit rushed. Riley's conflict and resolution were a bit early on in the story compared to most, and there really wasn't much to it. It seemed like Bodhi's conflict and resolution were more important and given more detail, but he was not the main character. There were also some details that didn't always add up. At one point, Riley is told to shush because the kids around her can hear the thoughts she's projecting, but there are other points in which she is ignored. Plus, Riley can't hear anyone else's thoughts. It would've been fine if it had been described as something you can turn on and off, or turn into, but it was not.

Pace: 3.5 Stars
Although a few elements in this novel seemed a bit rushed, it was definitely a quick and easy read. I really enjoyed how it took a character from Noel's Immortals series, but was it's own story. It could've easily been bogged down by too much information about Riley's sister, Ever, and what was happening in the other series. I just wish there was a bit more too the story. It seemed to end a bit too quickly.

Characters: 3 Stars
Having never read a young adult novel with such a young protagonist, I wasn't sure how much I'd be able to connect with Riley. As much as I wanted to connect with her, she came across as very whiny and self-conscious. But she also came across as a bit mature for her age, so it wasn't a complete disconnect. Bodhi stayed a complete mystery throughout the whole novel. I hope we get to learn more about him in the future, because he has the potential to be a great character.

Cover: 3 Stars
My favorite part of this cover is the bridge in the background, since it plays such a big part in Riley's character, both in this series and her sister's series. I also enjoy that Buttercup is with Riley on the cover. The model chosen to play Riley was a good choice to portray her, and the pose is very interesting. The one aspect of the cover that seemed off for me was the bright colors. The story wasn't nearly as light and fluffy for such bright colors in my opinion.

Overall: 3 Stars

Disclosure: I bought this book for my own enjoyment.

Author Interview + Giveaway: Laura Bickle

Today I'd like to welcome Laura Bickle, who is stopping by to talk about her new Urban Fantasy release, Sparks, which released on August 31st and is the sequel to Embers. You can see my 5 Star review of Embers here, and look forward to my review of Sparks coming soon. Plus, as an added bonus, Laura is offering up a copy of Sparks to a lucky commenter! Details at the end of the post.

---

Sara: How would you describe your novels, Embers and Sparks, for readers who haven’t heard of them before?

Laura: Anya Kalinczyk spends her days as an arson investigator with the Detroit Fire Department, and her nights pursuing malicious spirits with a team of eccentric ghost hunters. Anya is the rarest type of psychic medium, a Lantern. In Embers, she suspects a supernatural arsonist is setting blazes to summon a fiery ancient entity that will leave the city in cinders. By Devil's Night, the spell will be complete, unless Anya -- with the help of her salamander familiar and the paranormal investigating team -- can stop it.

Along with her inseparable salamander familiar, Sparky, Anya has seen, and even survived, all manner of fiery hell -- but her newest case in Sparks creates suspicions of a bizarre phenomenon that no one but her eccentric team of ghost hunters might believe: spontaneous human combustion.

After fire consumes the home of elderly Jasper Bernard, Anya is stunned to discover his remains -- or, more precisely, the lack of them; even the fiercest fires leave some trace of their victims -- and she is sure this was no naturally-occurring blaze. Soon she's unearthed a connection to a celebrity psychic who preys on Detroit's poor, promising miracles for money. But Hope Solomon wants more -- she's collecting spirits, and in a frantic race against time, Anya will face down an evil adversary who threatens her fragile relationship with her lover, her beloved Sparky's freshly-hatched newts, and the wandering souls of the entire city.

Sara: How would you describe each of your main characters in one sentence?

Laura: Anya's got one foot in the seen world and the other in the hidden world of spirits; she's a fire investigator who is reluctant to user her power as a Lantern to devour malicious spirits.

Sparky is Anya's faithful fire salamander familiar who cuddles with his Glow-Worm toy and fiercely defends Anya from supernatural threats.

Brian is the tech manager in a group of ghost hunters who has been wanting to date Anya, who keeps pushing him away.

Drake is a serial arsonist, crime victim, artist, and... also the only other Lantern Anya has ever met.

Sirrush is the granddaddy of all fire elementals, who's taking a nap in the salt mine beneath the city... until summoned by Drake.

Sara: What sets your novel apart from the rest of the Urban Fantasy genre?

Laura: I deliberately set out to do something different, something out of the box. The primary supernatural creatures in the story are ghosts and a fire salamander elemental. Salamanders haven't gotten much press since Paracelsus' time, and I wanted to imagine what a relationship with such a volatile and unpredictable familiar would be like. One of my characters tells the heroine that "There's a reason no witch will take a fire salamander as a familiar, you know."

My heroine, Anya, does not always do the right thing at the right time for the right reasons. She's human, and she makes mistakes. She's flawed, but I think she's flawed in interesting ways that make her less predictable than many heroines I've read. She's not the kind of woman who will easily find a "happily ever after."

The other unique quality about the story is the setting. The story is set in Detroit, which has a very distinct voice, and became a character of its own in a true urban fantasy sense.

Sara: What was the inspiration behind Sparky, Anya’s adorable and hilarious familiar? Did you always want him to love all things electrical, or did that trait come later on in the writing/editing process?

Laura: Sparky was named by my husband for Sparky Anderson, the former MLB manager for the Detroit Tigers.

In terms of personality, he's a composite of all the pets I've owned. He's protective, snarky, and chaos follows him wherever he waddles. And he does love to fiddle with electrical things - chew cell phones, blow up microwaves, activate sprinkler systems. Salamanders were said by Paracelsus to be fickle creatures, entirely unsuitable as familiars. And I can see why.

I think that it's important for Anya to have a source of unconditional, nonjudgmental love in her life. At night, Sparky sleeps on Anya's bed and cuddles his Glow-Worm toy. She needs that sense of security. I think that we all do.

Sara: Your knowledge of the arson investigation really comes through while reading Embers. How much research was involved in this series?

Laura: My background is in criminology, and I've worked in and around criminal justice for more than ten years. I have a good understanding of criminal procedure in conventional investigations, but arson was all new. I spent a lot of time at the library, taking notes and paging through fire science textbooks, to learn how things burn, how evidence is collected, and what techniques are used to analyze the evidence.

Sara: The paranormal investigation team, DAGR, was an interesting addition to the series. It’s not too often I read about these teams without it being a spoof. Are you interested in shows like Paranormal Activity? If so, do they serve as research or entertainment?

Laura: I've seen some of the television shows about ghost hunting. I think it's an interesting premise, and I do take note of the equipment they use. The group dynamics for a bunch of people chasing something so slippery is also fun to watch.

Sara: Can we look forward to more books in Anya and Sparky’s world? Please?

Laura: At the moment, I'm only contracted for Embers and Sparks. I would love to continue, as I have notebooks full of ideas for new adventures. And I love the characters dearly... especially Sparky. We'll just have to wait and see what happens in the mysterious world of publishing and sales!

Sara: What are you currently reading?

Laura: I'm currently reading Lucy Snyder's Spellbent. Lots and lots of fun. I'm also reading The Complete Idiot's Guide to Alchemy and Linda Robertson's Fatal Circle. Also on my nightstand, in no particular order, are: Batman: Vampire, The Instant Tarot Reader, Sam's Learn HTML in 24 Hours, and The Sonambulist.

Thanks so much for having me! I had so much fun. :-)

---

And now for the giveaway. Laura has graciously offered one lucky commenter a copy of Sparks. All you have to do is answer the following question, or ask Laura one of your own!

Do you think having a magical familiar would be like owning a pet? What kind of familiar would you want?

WITHOUT A TRACE

Anya Kalinczyk is the rarest type of psychic medium, a Lantern, who holds down a day job as an arson investigator with the Detroit Fire Department -- while working 24/7 to exterminate malicious spirits haunting a city plagued by unemployment and despair. Along with her inseparable salamander familiar, Sparky, Anya has seen, and even survived, all manner of fiery hell -- but her newest case sparks suspicions of a bizarre phenomenon that no one but her eccentric team of ghost hunters might believe: spontaneous human combustion.

After fire consumes the home of elderly Jasper Bernard, Anya is stunned to discover his remains -- or, more precisely, a lack of them; even the fiercest fires leave some trace of their victims—and she is sure this was no naturally occurring blaze. Soon she’s unearthed a connection to a celebrity psychic who preys on Detroit’s poor, promising miracles for money. But Hope Solomon wants more -- she’s collecting spirits, and in a frantic race against time, Anya will face down an evil adversary who threatens her fragile relationship with her lover, her beloved Sparky’s freshly hatched newts, and the wandering souls of the entire city.

Giveaway Rules:

You must leave a vaild e-mail address.
This contest is International.
Please, only one comment per person.
Must answer or ask a question.

Extra entries:

+1 Follow Sara's Urban Fantasy Blog
+3 Tweet the contest and link to @sara_UFblog

** This giveaway will end at midnight EST on Wednesday 09/15 and the winner will be announced Thursday 09/16. Winners will be chosen using Random.org.

Review: Deception by Lee Nichols

Title: Deception
Author: Lee Nichols
Genre: Young Adult
Release Date: 06/08/10
Summary:

When Emma Vaile's parents leave on mysterious business trip, it gives her the perfect excuse to be a rebellious teen. Throw some parties, get a tattoo (or maybe just a piercing), and enjoy the first few weeks of her junior year. Then her best friend stops talking to her, the cops crash her party, and Emma finds herself in the hands of a new guardian -- her college-age "knight in J.Crew armor," Bennett Stern -- and on a plane to his museum-like mansion in New England.

After enrolling at Thatcher Academy, Emma settles in by making friends with the popular legacy crowd. But she can't shake the strange visions that are haunting her. She has memories of Thatcher she can't explain, as if she's returning home to a place she's never been. Emma doesn't trust anyone anymore -- except maybe Bennett. But he's about to reveal a ghostly secret to Emma. One that will explain the visions... and make Emma fear for her life.

Plot: 5 Stars
The idea ghostkeeping was a very interesting and unique addition to the paranormal young adult genre. I really enjoyed that each ghostkeeper had a different skill. Too often when dealing with paranormal novels, the characters with powers always have very strong and wide-ranging powers. It was nice to see that most ghostkeepers could only possess one skill when dealing with ghosts. The events leading up to Emma ending up in Bennett's are quite surprising, and there were definitely some curve balls that I didn't see coming.

Pace: 5 Stars
This was a fast-paced novel that I just couldn't put down. I really enjoyed the novel being narrated by Emma. I don't think it would've been quite as enjoyable from third person, because you really got to know Emma and get into her head. Although there were many things going on outside of school, Emma continued going through the motions with classes. I always enjoy when an author remembers the little things and doesn't throw things like school out the window just because the paranormal aspect takes a hold of the plot.

Characters: 4 Stars
I was a bit skeptical of Emma in the beginning. She came off a bit shallow in the beginning, but I quickly warmed up to her as the story progressed. I hope future books deal a little more with her past because I felt there was a lot of unanswered questions from her childhood. Bennett was a great character, if a bit mysterious with his constantly disappearing to take care of things. The friends Emma made at Thatcher Academy were very interesting, without being cliched.

Cover: 4 Stars
This is one of those awesome covers that includes so many correct details from the story, that you can't help but notice. The cover model matches the description of Emma much better than many covers, and it even includes her mother's jade necklace. The mansion in the background depicts the museum she was living in with Bennett quite well. Even the smoke like image on the cover could be the shadows that plague Emma, since shadows wouldn't show up as well. All in all, this was a great cover.

Overall: 4.5 Stars

Disclosure: I bought this book for my own enjoyment.

Teaser Tuesday (34)

This weekly book blog meme is hosted by Misb at Should be Reading.

Here are the rules:
- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away. You don’t want to ruin the book for others.)
- Share the title & author too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers.

Title: Deception
Author: Lee Nichols
Genre: Young Adult
Release Date: 06/08/10

I wasn't ready to start my homework, but I wanted to stay in the sanctuary of the house. I was afraid if I ventured into town I'd see those scary shadows again. So I wandered around aimlessly. First I paced the library. Then I knocked the pool balls around in the billiard room until I felt a familiar tingle. It was probably Nicholas, looking for a gameto play, but I didn't want to face even him, not right now. -- pg. 151

Review: Unholy Ghosts by Stacia Kane

Title: Unholy Ghosts
Author: Stacia Kane
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 05/25/10
Summary:

THE DEPARTED HAVE ARRIVED.

The world is not the way it was. The dead have risen, and the living are under attack. The powerful Church of Real Truth, in charge since the government fell, has sworn to reimburse citizens being harassed by the deceased. Enter Chess Putnam, a fully tattooed witch and freewheeling ghost hunter. She’s got a real talent for banishing the wicked dead. But Chess is keeping a dark secret: She owes a lot of money to a murderous drug lord named Bump, who wants immediate payback in the form of a dangerous job that involves black magic, human sacrifice, a nefarious demonic creature, and enough wicked energy to wipe out a city of souls. Toss in lust for a rival gang leader and a dangerous attraction to Bump’s ruthless enforcer, and Chess begins to wonder if the rush is really worth it. Hell, yeah.

Plot: 4 Stars
The way every aspect of Chess's life get wrapped together into the intricate plot of the novel was done very well. Her work life with the Church and her secret life of drugs cross paths and she dealt with it the way one would expect: with lies and drugs. The ghosts and their history in Downside were a very interesting take; it's not very often the ghosts are specifically mean or violent. The magic could have been explained a little more in depth, but was still unique to the story. I really enjoyed following Chess throughout the book as she balanced the good parts of herself against the bad, her work against her addiction.

Pace: 4 Stars
I enjoyed the quotes at the beginning of each chapter. They really helped explain the church without Chess having to pause in the action to explain everything. The story flowed really well with the quotes and Chess just giving bits and pieces about the church throughout the story. There were a couple points throughout the novel that were a bit slow for me. A few times, I wanted to shake Chess and tell her there were more important things going on than her drugs, but her addiction really became just another part of the story. The end seemed a touch rushed, but was otherwise a great ending to a very interesting story.

Characters: 4.5 Stars
Chess was a very unique individual. I've never before read about a main character that was also addicted to drugs, and it was a very fresh idea for the urban fantasy genre. In a genre full of kick ass bounty hunters and assassins and law enforcement officers, it was a breath of fresh air to read about a less than perfect, flawed character that read almost like an anti-hero. I also enjoyed the difference in speech between the more shady characters and the members of the Church. Although it took a bit getting used to, once I did, it really gave me a better picture of the characters.

Cover: 4 Stars
The color contrast of blues and yellows on each half of the cover model's face depicts the good and bad that wars within Chess. I also really liked that the cover model's tattoos were relevant to the story, although we never get a clear picture of what Chess's tattoos should look like while reading. The cityscape background really gives the dark and gritty feel of Downside. And I absolutely love the font chosen for the title.

Overall: 4 Stars

Disclosure: I bought this book for my own enjoyment.

Review: Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready

Title: Shade
Author: Jeri Smith-Ready
Genre: Young Adult
Release Date: 05/04/10
Summary:

Love ties them together. Death can't tear them apart.

Best. Birthday. Ever. At least, it was supposed to be. With Logan's band playing a critical gig and Aura's plans for an intimate after-party, Aura knows it will be the most memorable night of her boyfriend's life. She never thought it would be his last.

Logan's sudden death leaves Aura devastated. He's gone.

Well, sort of.

Like everyone born after the Shift, Aura can see and hear ghosts. This mysterious ability has always been annoying, and Aura had wanted nothing more than to figure out why the Shift happened so she can undo it. But not with Logan's violet-hued spirit still hanging around. Because dead Logan is almost as real as ever. Almost.

It doesn't help that Aura's new friend Zachary is so understanding--and so very alive. His support means more to Aura than she cares to admit.

As Aura's relationships with the dead and the living grow ever complicated, so do her feelings for Logan and Zachary. Each holds a piece of Aura's heart...and clues to the secret of the Shift.

Plot: 5 Stars
The whole idea of the Shift and how everyone born afterwards can see ghosts (violet ghosts no less) was such an original idea, and the novel definitely followed through. Everything Aura went through felt real, and I felt for her. Dealing with loss is hard, and dealing with someone coming back as a ghosts is even harder. I also loved how the author integrated music into the story. I was into the same-ish music scene in high school, so I really connected with that aspect.

Pace: 5 Stars
What started out as a diversion from a different book I wasn't enjoying (I'll often take a break from a book that's moving too slow and pick up another), turned into me not being able to put this novel down. There was no slow start, no lull of inaction in the middle, and the ending wasn't rushed. Basically, the pacing of this novel was spot on. It sucked me in from the first page and didn't let go until the last. And I cannot wait for the next book in this series.

Characters: 5 Stars
Aura was a very down to earth and very likeable main character. She keeps herself together even though she goes through some very tough situations throughout the novel. I liked all of Logan's siblings. And it was very interesting to see how they all interacted after Logan's death, considering his younger brother could see him, but his older brother and sister could not. Zachary was another likeable character, but it took me a little bit to warm up to him. All in all, the author created a very inviting and interesting cast of characters.

Cover: 4.5 Stars
At first, I wondered my this cover was chosen. But after reading the book and learning that the ghosts themselves are violet and the color red repells them, the color choices make a lot more sense and I can appreciate them. It's a very lovely cover. I just wish we could've gotten a better look at Aura since I loved her so much.

Overall: 5 Stars

Disclosure: I bought this book for my own enjoyment.

Waiting on Wednesday (25)

This book blog meme is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Title: Shade
Author: Jeri Smith-Ready
Genre: Young Adult
Release date: 05/04/10
Summary:

Love ties them together. Death can't tear them apart.

Best. Birthday. Ever. At least, it was supposed to be. With Logan's band playing a critical gig and Aura's plans for an intimate after-party, Aura knows it will be the most memorable night of her boyfriend's life. She never thought it would be his last.

Logan's sudden death leaves Aura devastated. He's gone.

Well, sort of.

Like everyone born after the Shift, Aura can see and hear ghosts. This mysterious ability has always been annoying, and Aura had wanted nothing more than to figure out why the Shift happened so she can undo it. But not with Logan's violet-hued spirit still hanging around. Because dead Logan is almost as real as ever. Almost.

It doesn't help that Aura's new friend Zachary is so understanding--and so very alive. His support means more to Aura than she cares to admit.

As Aura's relationships with the dead and the living grow ever complicated, so do her feelings for Logan and Zachary. Each holds a piece of Aura's heart...and clues to the secret of the Shift.

Review: Give Up the Ghost by Megan Crewe

Title: Give Up the Ghost
Author: Megan Crewe
Genre: Young Adult
Release date: 09/15/09
Summary:

Cass McKenna much prefers ghosts over “breathers.” Ghosts are uncomplicated and dependable, and they know the dirt on everybody…and Cass loves dirt. She’s on a mission to expose the dirty secrets of the poseurs in her school.

But when the vice president of the student council discovers her secret, Cass’s whole scheme hangs in the balance. Tim wants her to help him contact his recently deceased mother, and Cass reluctantly agrees.

As Cass becomes increasingly entwined in Tim’s life, she’s surprised to realize he’s not so bad—and he needs help more desperately than anyone else suspects. Maybe it’s time to give the living another chance...

Plot: 3 Stars
Being a paranormal lover, my biggest fault with the book was the lack of paranormal. The ghosts just weren't the focal point the way I thought they were going to be. They were more of a grieving tool. I also sometimes felt the author would get sidtracked from the main plot of Cass helping Tim and bring up the past with Danielle. It was information the reader needed, but it wasn't always presented at the right time.

Pace: 3 Stars
For the most part, the book was a short and quick read. But there were a few parts I had to fight my way through. Somewhere in the middle, the story became a bit stagnant and it took a chapter or two to get it back on track.

Characters: 4 Stars
The characters, both breathers and ghosts, were fleshed out pretty well. I felt like I really knew them, as opposed to being told about them. I also liked the idea of the ghosts having fuzzy memories after a couple days. There were a couple characters we could've gotten a little more information about, such as Cass's dad and the ghosts that hung around the school, but for the most part the characters important to the story were very detailed.

Cover: 3 Stars
The cover was a bit lackluster for me. Although I liked the idea of incorporating the ghostly hands, the color just seemed off. The overabundance of teal didn't really seem to match the overall tone of the book.

Overall: 3 Stars

Disclosure: I bought this book for my own enjoyment.

Teaser Tuesday (8)

This weekly book blog meme is hosted by Misb at Should be Reading.

Here are the rules:
- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away. You don’t want to ruin the book for others.)
- Share the title & author too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers.

Title: Give Up the Ghost
Author: Megan Crewe
Genre: Young Adult
Release date: 09/15/09

The lights were changing to red as I scrambled over the median and jogged toward the elementary school. A horn blared, and I realized Tim had raced through the red light after me. -- pg. 45