A Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitcomb

In the class of the high school English teacher she has been haunting, Helen feels them: for the first time in 130 years, human eyes are looking at her. They belong to a boy, a boy who has not seemed remarkable until now. And Helen—terrified, but intrigued—is drawn to him. The fact that he is in a body and she is not presents this unlikely couple with their first challenge. But as the lovers struggle to find a way to be together, they begin to discover the secrets of their former lives and of the young people they come to possess.

This book was very different. Although it reminded me of The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold it was still very different from it. It was wrote very eloquently but I almost felt detached from the characters, like I needed to feel a bit closer. I loved the story though and was very sad that it was over so fast. I really loved the idea of two ghosts falling in love, and I wanted more at the end. More of their love story. I have to give it 4 stars as it stirred emotion in me, made me think, almost made me want to cry, and that is what I look for in a book. Emotion. I also could not put it down!

The Cry of the Icemark by Stuart Hill

The Icemark is a kingdom in grave danger. Its king has been killed in battle, its enemy lies in wait, and its fate rests on the shoulders of one girl. Thirrin Freer Strong-in-the-Arm Lindenshield, a beautiful princess and an intrepid warrior, must find a way to protect her land from a terrible invasion. She will forge an extraordinary alliance of noble Snow Leopards, ancient Vampires, and ferocious Wolf-folk. She will find unexpected strength in her friendship with a young warlock. And she will lead her allies to victory with her fierce battle cry: "Blood! Blast! And Fire!"

This YA book is full of adventure and lots of amazing creatures. This poor young girl who is only 14 years old must search out allies for her tiny little country. She is able to muster wolf folk, giant snow leopards, vampires, even the woods help! She shows amazing bravery and even fights alongside everyone else when the war happens. I enjoyed this book as an adult but would have LOVED it when I was about 13. I had a hard time getting through it, but I think it was because it was quite long and I've had too much going on with a sick child. I'll rate it 3 1/2 stars though I'm not exactly sure why I don't rate it 4. It just wasn't quite there I guess.

The Sun Witch by Linda Winstead Jones

For 300 years, the Fyne women have called the mountain Orianan their home, inheriting the supernatural arts from their mothers--but a long-ago curse makes true love unattainable for them.

When she meets the green-eyed soldier of her dreams, youngest sister Sophie discovers that she has been gifted with abundant fertility.

Now, she and her lover must call on all their strengths, both earthly and supernatural, to fight the curse which promises to end their happiness.

I was pleasantly surprised with this book. I had expected a typical romance and that is why I had put off reading it for months and months. But it was not at all a typical romance! When Sophie's child is kidnapped she sets out on an adventure that leads her to the evil Emperors hands where he is determined that she will be his wife. But he does not know that she is already in love and has no intention of marrying him. He also has no idea that she's a witch who may have just discovered how strong she really is. There was a lot to this story and the second half was fantastic! I'll miss reading Sophie's story but I'll still read about her sisters in hopes of hearing what happens to Sophie and Kane. I give this 5 stars!

Ironside by Holly Black

In the realm of Faerie, the time has come for Roiben's coronation. Uneasy in the midst of the malevolent Unseelie Court, pixie Kaye is sure of only one thing -- her love for Roiben. But when Kaye, drunk on faerie wine, declares herself to Roiben, he sends her on a seemingly impossible quest. Now Kaye can't see or speak to Roiben unless she can find the one thing she knows doesn't exist: a faerie who can tell a lie.

Miserable and convinced she belongs nowhere, Kaye decides to tell her mother the truth -- that she is a changeling left in place of the human daughter stolen long ago. Her mother's shock and horror sends Kaye back to the world of Faerie to find her human counterpart and return her to Ironside. But once back in the faerie courts, Kaye finds herself a pawn in the games of Silarial, queen of the Seelie Court. Silarial wants Roiben's throne, and she will use Kaye, and any means necessary, to get it. In this game of wits and weapons, can a pixie outplay a queen?

Holly Black spins a seductive tale at once achingly real and chillingly enchanted, set in a dangerous world where pleasure mingles with pain and nothing is exactly as it appears.

Although I enjoy these books I'm not totally in love with them. It was a nice fast and easy read though and worth the time I took to read it. I was entertained through the whole thing but occasionally got annoyed with the nonchalance of everything. Not sure if that makes sense, but that's the only way I can think to describe it. I also love Roiben and wish there was more of him in this book. I rate this 3 stars.

The Dead Girls Dance

The Dead Girls' Dance: The Morganville Vampires, Book II

by Rachel Caine

Claire has her share of challenges. Like being a genius in a school that favors beauty over brains; homicidal girls in her dorm, and finding out that her college town is overrun with the living dead. On the up side, she has a new boyfriend with a vampire-hunting dad. But when a local fraternity throws the Dead Girls' Dance, hell is really going to break loose.

I love this series! It has action through the whole thing and I could not put this book down! I can't wait to get the next one from the library! Great series and I totally recommend! 4 stars!

A Rush of Wings by Adrian Phoenix

HIS NAME IS DANTE.

Dark. Talented. Beautiful. Star of the rock band Inferno. Rumored owner of the hot New Orleans nightspot Club Hell. Born of the Blood, then broken by an evil beyond imagination.

HIS PAST IS A MYSTERY.

F.B.I. Special Agent Heather Wallace has been tracking a sadistic serial murderer known as the Cross Country Killer, and the trail has led her to New Orleans, Club Hell, and Dante. But the dangerously attractive musician not only resists her investigation, he claims to be "nightkind": in other words, a vampire. Digging into his past for answers reveals little. A juvenile record a mile long. No social security number. No known birth date. In and out of foster homes for most of his life before being taken in by a man named Lucien DeNoir, who appears to guard mysteries of his own.

HIS FUTURE IS CHAOS.

What Heather does know about Dante is that something links him to the killer -- and she's pretty sure that link makes him the CCK's next target. Heather must unravel the truth about this sensual, complicated, vulnerable young man -- who, she begins to believe, may indeed be a vampire -- in order to finally bring a killer to justice. But Dante's past holds a shocking, dangerous secret, and once it is revealed not even Heather will be able to protect him from his destiny....

I thought this was a great story! I liked that it wasn't first person and had more then one main character, it was from the perceptive of a few different characters. It was different from any other paranormal I've read and was a nice change. I wish it had a better cover, this was one I only read at home and got teased a bit by my husband. But I can't wait to read the next one! I rate this 4 stars.