Alpha & Omega Series Review

Cry Wolf (Alpha & Omega #1) by Patricia Briggs
Adult Urban Fantasy
Mass Market Paperback, 294 pgs.
Published July 29th, 2008 by Ace
Source: Purchased

Anna never knew werewolves existed, until the night she survived a violent attack... and became one herself. After three years at the bottom of the pack, she'd learned to keep her head down and never, ever trust dominant males. Then Charles Cornick, the enforcer- and son- of the leader of the North American werewolves, came into her life.

Charles insists that not only is Anna his mate, but she is also a rare and valued Omega wolf. And it is Anna's inner strength and calming presence that will prove invaluable as she and Charles go on the hunt in search of a rogue werewolf- a creature bound in magic so dark that it could threaten all of the pack.

Cry Wolf is called book one in this series but really there's a novella that was published first and once I started reading Cry Wolf it was clear that I missed something.  It felt like the second book in a series and we'd missed the first one.  So I do recommend you read the first one that was in the anthology called On the Prowl or you can find it for kindle as well, I believe.  I was able to get past that whole bewildered feeling at the beginning because we are filled in about what happens and it wasn't a big deal.  I think reading the first one would make it easier to connect with Anna and Charles though.

The first half of the book is rather slow paced and I had a hard time reading it.  I was eager for some action to happen.  About halfway through it did pick up and the last quarter or more was pretty constant action and felt pretty intense.  At that point it was hard for me to put the book down and I finally felt like I was really getting to know Anna and Charles and connect with them better.  I also enjoyed the twists and turns and felt like it was pretty unpredictable.  I never knew where things might go.

The world is pretty cool.  I feel like I only got a small taste but I like that there are all kinds of supernatural creatures and things.  The history of werewolves and the way they work was also fascinating.  You never know how things will go when you start a new werewolf series, but this one felt believable to me.  You know- versus wolves that change in a blink of an eye and have clothes on when they shift into human form, etc.  There were some neat twists that make them even more interesting.  Like Charles can do a touch of magic,  they live incredibly long lives (like vampires usually do) and the bond with mates and what that can result in (powers wise). 

Werewolves are not my go-to kind of books.  They are definitely not my favorite and some I like and some I don't.  But I haven't found an urban fantasy book about werewolves that I love and this one definitely isn't one I can say I love.  Not yet anyway.  But I do plan to start book two and see if I enjoy it more.

Now because I know many of you will ask, no, I have not read the Mercy Thompson series yet.  I do own the first few and plan to give them a try because I've heard from many that they are amazing.

I don't know if I recommend this series quite yet...
2.5/5 stars

 Hunting Ground (Alpha & Omega #2) by Patricia Briggs
Mass Market Paperback, 286 pgs.
Published Sept. 1st, 2009 by Ace

Anna Latham didn’t know how complicated life could be until she became a werewolf. And until she was mated to Charles Cornick, the son- and enforcer- of Bran, the leader of the North American werewolves, she didn’t know how dangerous it could be either...

Anna and Charles have just been enlisted to attend a summit to present Bran’s controversial proposition: that the wolves should finally reveal themselves to humans. But the most feared Alpha in Europe is dead set against the plan -- and it seems like someone else might be too. When Anna is attacked by vampires using pack magic, the kind of power only werewolves should be able to draw on, Charles and Anna must combine their talents to hunt down whoever is behind it all -- or risk losing everything...

The last book wasn't real impressive to me but this book stepped it up by several notches.   Anna and Charles are both growing on me and Anna is really growing as a character.  She's easier for me connect with and although she still struggles with what happened to her in the past she's fighting hard to overcome it, to get past it all.  And the steps she takes in this book shows how hard she's trying.  And Charles is always concerned with his actions, that he'll do something to upset her.  Fortunately you can really see the progress they are making and Anna knows to not take everything personal.  I like that their relationship is more real then many books.  They have struggles but there's no love triangle and their love is true, there's no doubt of that.  

This book was much faster paced then Cry Wolf.  I found myself wanting to just sit down and read through the entire thing.  There were mysteries to be solved and murderers to be found.  All at the same time there are all these wolves from around the world visiting to discuss whether the wolves would 'come out' and that causes lots of tension with so many alpha's around.  I really never figured out any of the mystery aspects.  I didn't know who the killer was, or who was behind the killings (whatever) so I just read like crazy trying to find out more.  And I wasn't disappointed in how it all played out.

While werewolves may not be my favorite supernatural creature to read about I'm really starting to like this series.  I hope that the third book, Fair Game can live up to this one.
4/5 stars 

 Fair Game (Alpha & Omega #2) by Patricia Briggs
Hardcover, 304 pgs.
Published March 6th, 2012 by Ace

Patricia Briggs, the #1 "New York Times" bestselling author of the Mercy Thompson novels, "always enchants her readers." (Lynn Viehl, "New York Times" bestselling author) Now her Alpha and Omega series-set in a world of shifting shapes, loyalty, and passion- brings werewolves out of the darkness and into a society where fear and prejudice could make the hunters prey...
They say opposites attract. And in the case of werewolves Anna Latham and Charles Cornick, they mate. The son-and enforcer-of the leader of the North American werewolves, Charles is a dominant alpha. While Anna, an omega, has the rare ability to calm others of her kind.
Now that the werewolves have revealed themselves to humans, they can't afford any bad publicity. Infractions that could have been overlooked in the past must now be punished, and the strain of doing his father's dirty work is taking a toll on Charles.
Nevertheless, Charles and Anna are sent to Boston, when the FBI requests the pack's help on a local serial killer case. They quickly realize that not only the last two victims were werewolves-all of them were. Someone is targeting their kind. And now Anna and Charles have put themselves right in the killer's sights...

Okay, this series just gets better and better!  I absolutely loved this book!  Anna is definitely a character I totally adore and Charles has grown on me quite a lot.  This book was one I cruised through in no time.  Partly because it was a mystery I was dying to figure out and partly because I just wanted to read more of Anna's story!

This book takes place a couple years after the last one and in the meantime the werewolves have come out to the world.  That's not really a spoiler cause in the previous book it was discussed and none of that happens in any of the books.  Well, maybe the Mercy Thompson series, but not this one.  But with the wolves having come out means they have to keep them under a tighter leash.  There's no room for mistakes because they need the human population to grow to like them, not fear them.  And Charles is the enforcer.  His deeds have started haunting him and this has caused a strain in his and Anna's relationship.  While this is important to the story it's the mystery they have gone to Boston to solve that is the real meat of the story.  Because fae and werewolves have been turning up murdered and they are needed to help figure it out.  This distraction is what they are hoping will help Charles snap out of his funk.

Anna is a bold and powerful character.  She has found her strength and no longer cowers behind Charles.  She's able to talk to the humans in such a way she can actually make humans trust them.  She practically radiates kindness but at the same time is able to say what needs to be said even if it is scary.  I really didn't see or feel any weakness from her and even when she got in a deadly situation she was able to keep her head and not cower in fear.  This Anna is one I'll want to read about forever.  She definitely stood out to me.

One thing that really stood out to me in this one is the world that the author has created.  It's become absolutely amazing to me.  It's filled with supernatural creatures of all types and in each book we seem to get introduced to more.  But it's not so many it's overwhelming.  And the way things work with the werewolves and everything else just seems real.  Obviously I know it's not, but when an author has created a world that is so convincing you believe it, well, that's what I love and Patricia Briggs has certainly done that!
  
If you haven't read the series and prefer to only read this one you can.  It wouldn't really be confusing because it's pretty much it's own story.  But if you want to know Anna's journey and see what they've gone through then you'll want to start with the first book.  Either way, I can definitely say that I very highly recommend you read this series!

5/5 stars for this one!

Disclosure: This book was provided for review purposes by the published.  All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.

Series Spotlight- River of Time by @LisaTBergren & Review of Bourne

It's no secret that I'm a ginormous fan of the River of Time series by Lisa Bergren and I'll use any excuse to talk about them and push them on people.  This is my go-to series when giving recommendations.  It's one I can recommend to pretty much everyone.  My entire family has read them (brothers and brother-in-laws included) and they've pushed them on their own families.  When someone asks what they should read next this is the series I tell them to read.  I have a few others that fit in the category as well but none quite as much as this series.  It's got romance for the girls (but is clean), it's got action for the boys (and oh boy, it's stressful!) and it's got depth (for everyone!).  I've bought countless sets of the first three books (I've got family and friends all over the US) and I've loaned out my own set so many times I think it's time for a new one they are so worn out!

Check out my reviews:

Waterfall
Cascade
Torrent

SERIES SUMMARY FOR THE RIVER OF TIME:

Gabriella and Evangelia Betarrini are the daughters of Etruscan archeologists. Stuck on a hot, dusty dig site for yet another long, dreary summer—far from the nearest boys—they go exploring. They enter a forbidden tomb and find two handprints among the frescoes. And when they touch them, together, they are catapulted back in time…and into the adventure of their lives.

Now Lisa, trying to give us ginormous fans a bit of a teaser so we don't lose interest (yeah right, like that could happen!) decided to self publish (in ebook only) a novella called Bourne.  Bourne takes place immediately after Torrent ends and is full of non stop action.

BOURNE SUMMARY:

In this e-novella, River of Time #3.1, the dramatic tale about the Betarrinis and Forellis continues, picking up directly after where Torrent left off… The battle is done at the front, but the battle is only beginning back at Castello Forelli. Marcello fights for his life; Lord Greco fights to find his place; and Lia fights for love.

My Thoughts:

I was so, so excited to get a taste of my favorite characters but when you read a novella you never know how big of a taste you'll get.  Now while I of course am anxious for another full length novel, this was an excellent novella because it had all of the characters, all of the romance and the action that the first three books had.  We got to see Lord Greco's pain in all he's done and watch as he finally makes an effort to move on.  We see Gabi and Marcello and their love and we see Lia and Luca finally make a bit of head way in their own romance.  This was a good length as it never felt rushed (like some novella's do) but gave us a bit of everything we like (and need) from these books.  
I give this one a full 5/5 stars!

Now Lisa wants to continue the series but the publisher hasn't agreed yet because they need more sales.  So please, please, please, give these books a chance.  Go out and buy your own set.  Ask your library to stock them.  Tell your Indie bookstore to give them a try.  Pass on the word and tell everyone you know to read these books! Have concerns whether it's for you?  No worries!  You can find an excerpt of Waterfall HERE and Cascade HERE.

Want to see more reviews?  Look for reviews of Waterfall on GoodReads HERE.


 

AUTHOR BIO:

Lisa T. Bergren is the author of over thirty books that have sold more than two million copies combined. She’s written fiction of all sorts (romance, historical, contemporary, suspense, YA), nonfiction and children’s books. She divides her time between writing, editing, traveling and co-parenting her three children (16, 13, and 8 ) with her husband, Tim. The Bergrens reside in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

AUTHOR CONNECTIONS:

http://www.LisaBergren.com (author web site)
http://www.theworldiscalling.com (the Bergrens’ travel web site)
Facebook: “Lisa Tawn Bergren” and “River of Time Series”
Twitter: @LisaTBergren

Buy them on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, The Book Depository  
Buy Bourne for Kindle, Nook, Smashwords

Review: Fated by Benedict Jacka

Fated (Alex Verus #1) by Benedict Jacka
Adult Urban Fantasy
Mass Market Paperback, 304 pgs.
Published Feb. 28th, 2012 by Ace
Source: Publisher

Alex Verus is part of a world hidden in plain sight, running a magic shop in London. And while Alex's own powers aren't as showy as some mages, he does have the advantage of foreseeing the possible future--allowing him to pull off operations that have a million-to-one-chance of success.

But when Alex is approached by multiple factions to crack open a relic from a long-ago mage war, he knows that whatever's inside must be beyond powerful. And thanks to his abilities, Alex can predict that by taking the job, his odds of survival are about to go from slim to none...

Fabulous world building, a terrific setting, a complex and unique main character, Fated is the fabulous start to a brand new series.   


On the cover Jim Butcher says that Harry Dresden would like Alex Verus.  I haven't read the Harry Dresden books yet (shame on me!) but have the first seven or so.  I'm quite certain that it's a series I'll adore.  But I can't compare the two.  I do know that Jim Butcher is suppose to be a fabulous author though and his little blurb gave me some confidence in the book.  But I gotta say, this book should be able to stand on it's own without any big time author telling us it's good, cause honestly it's downright fabulous!


Alex Verus has a distinct personality.  I immediately liked him and his ways.  He's a mage with the ability to see into the future and no other magical abilities.  I soon learned that his seer abilities are much more useful then I would have thought.  He can look into the future when fighting an opponent and know which direction he/she will come from, which powers they'll use, etc.  He can take things apart (think: dismantling a bomb) and see what the future outcome would be by snipping this wire, etc.  This ability along with his smarts (and he's very smart!) gives him more power then you would think against mages that can shoot fire,  for example.  He's a very fast thinker (anyone who can be looking into futures while in battle is most definitely a fast thinker) and does quite well when put in tough situations.  He's been through a lot in his past which has given him a healthy fear of the dark mages.  He's quite determined but knows when he has no bargaining chips saving himself from certain disaster time and time again.


Benedict Jacka has created a very unique world.  I love the mages and the history and the abilities.  I love the supernatural creatures that we've seen so far like the air elementals and the ginormous spider that spins the latest fashions.  

The book felt quite fast paced once we really got into it.  In the first quarter or so Alex was sometimes a bit long winded when telling us about things.  Like his abilities (or lack of abilities) and how things worked.  While it got a bit long it did 'fit' his personality and added to that distinct part of his personality.  It was most certainly the way Alex talks and for that reason I can forgive his more lengthy explanations.  The last half was pretty constant action and I felt like the climax went on for quite awhile.  This wasn't a bad thing, but certainly was frustrating when I couldn't keep reading to see what happened.  


Overall this was a fantastic start to a new series.  Alex Verus is quick witted,  kick ass, and has completely stolen my heart.  I'm already eagerly awaiting the second installment in the series, Cursed (expected publication of May 29th, 2012). 

This book may have crossover appeal to older YA readers.  


4/5 stars!


Disclosure: I received this book for review purposes.  All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.

In My Mailbox (96)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren and is where we share the books we got through the week.  

Gift:

Deadly Cool by Gemma Halliday

Thank you Steph at Once Upon a Chapter!  She also sent an awesome bookmark and pen for her blog!

I've been wanting to read this one for a long time!

From Lynn Weingarten some awesome tattoos to distribute at bookstores.

Thank you Lynn! 

 

Review:

Eye of the Sword (Angelaeon Circle #2) by Karyn Henley

 Masquerade (Heven & Hell #1) by Cambria Hebert (Kindle book)

Bought for Kindle 

(all under $2.99 I believe)

Intrinsical by Lani Woodland

 Been wanting to read this since it first came out!

High Heels Mysteries Box Set (Books 1-5) by Gemma Halliday (Hmmm... just noticed this is the same author as Deadly Cool!)

I couldn't resist the good deal.  And they're suppose to be funny, which I love!

Unholy Ghosts by Stacia Kane 

Alexa from Pages of Forbidden Love talked me into getting this one.

Hunted by DJ DeSmyter

I've wanted to read this just because I know DJ (as a blogger) and I finally have a kindle to read it on!  (I couldn't afford the paper copy.)

Lady of Devices by Shelley Adina

I've heard good things about this and it's suppose to be short.  Plus I can't resist steampunk!

The Strange Case of Finley Jayne by Kady Cross

This is a novella that takes place before The Girl in the Steel Corset.  It works fine as a stand alone or to test the waters to see if you want to read the series. 

Thanks to amazon vine, Cambria Hebert, Stephanie and Lynn Weingarten for the tattoos! 

Saturday Situation- Link Up Your Reviews & Give@ways!

 Saturday Situation is hosted by both Lori at Pure Imagination and myself.  It's a linky for you to link your book related Giveaways and Reviews (and whatever neglected posts you may have).  You'll find the same linky's at Pure Imagination, so don't enter them twice!

Keep in mind that you can add your links through the entire week.  

You can find this post again by clicking the button on the right side of my blog.  I'll try to keep it up to date to go to the newest Saturday Situation post.

Review: Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen

Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen
Young Adult
Hardcover, 389 pgs.
Published October 12th, 2010 by Harper
Source: Library

From the "New York Times"-bestselling author of the Luxe books comes a new series set amid the decadence and excitement of 1920s New York City and Long Island.

I've wanted to read this book since before it came out.  I think the 20's is a fascinating time period and I've really wanted to see how it came out in this book.  I thought the author did a brilliant job in creating the setting.  I felt transported back in time and it was perfect!  

I thought the characters were all good but not quite brilliant.  We get the story from three different girls but Cordelia seemed to have the most face time.  I liked her quite a lot but yet never really felt like I quite knew her.  I like that she lets things roll off her shoulders and doesn't stress things too much.  Letty is the next one we get and her and Cordelia are best friends.  The two get separated almost straight away so their stories are separate through the majority of the novel.  She's quite naive but she's not weak.  She can stand up for herself when need be and she's quite determined to find her way.  I felt for her because she had to find some strength to stick around after going through some terrible things.  Astrid is the third girl and she's the daughter of a mother who goes through husbands like candy and seems to marry them just for their money.  Astrid is a bit snooty but we see her good side come out and I really felt bad for her and the things she's gone through.  She seems very tough on her exterior but underneath she's very broken and sad.  Her and Cordelia become good friends and I loved that their friendship was so easy.  No hurting each other or blaming the other when they make mistakes.   Overall all three girls were good characters but I'm anxious to get to know them a bit more.  It really feels like this is just the start and so I can't wait to read the next book.

The story line was pretty interesting.  I thought it played out well and I was anxious to keep reading.  I didn't ever really know where things would go and so was always surprised with the twists.  They weren't anything mind blowing, but it was still unpredictable most of the time.  I didn't really feel like the story was really great until the very end though.  So I was left feeling happy but I remember wishing for a bit more before that.  

I'll give this one 3.5/5 stars but I do recommend it.  Especially for the setting, it was perfect!

Review: The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily Danforth

The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth
Young Adult/ Contemporary (LGBT)
Hardcover, 480 pages.
Published Feb. 7th, 2012 by Balzer + Bray
Source: Gifted an ARC

When Cameron Post’s parents die suddenly in a car crash, her shocking first thought is relief. Relief she’ll never have to tell them that, hours earlier, she had been kissing a girl.

But that relief soon turns to heartbreak, as Cam is forced to move in with her conservative aunt Ruth. She knows that from this point on, her life will forever be different. Survival in Miles City, Montana, means blending in and not making waves, and Cam becomes an expert at this—especially at avoiding any questions about her sexuality.

Then Coley Taylor moves to town. Beautiful pickup-driving Coley is a perfect cowgirl with the perfect boyfriend to match. To Cam’s surprise, she and Coley become best friends—while Cam secretly dreams of something more. Just as that starts to seem like a real possibility, her secret is exposed. Ultrareligious Aunt Ruth takes drastic action to “fix” her niece, bringing Cam face-to-face with the cost of denying her true self—even if she’s not quite sure who that is.

The Miseducation of Cameron Post is a stunning and unforgettable literary debut about discovering who you are and finding the courage to live life according to your own rules.

This book was quietly beautiful.  It had many passages that really moved me, words that really stuck in my head and felt so very perfect.  It was slower paced but never boring.  I found myself captivated by Cameron Post and her life as it felt so very similar to my own as a teenager.  I didn't struggle with the same issues she did exactly but I still felt such a strong connection to so much in this book it took me back to my teenage years more then probably any other contemporary I've read.  One reason is that this book takes in Miles City Montana and while I grew up in Sturgis South Dakota (a small town as well) I did spend many weekends and most summers in Sheridan Wyoming which is quite close to Miles City.  We shopped in Billings (those from Miles City did as well) and we just lived similar lives.  Lots of cowboys, lots of super religious people, lots of parties and smoking of weed (yes, there's lots of marijuana smoking in this book) and all those little things just brought me closer to Cameron and her life.  I also had a very close friend who liked girls and struggled with the things that Cameron did.  As her close friend it was so hard to watch her go through everything, to be ridiculed and put down and told it's a sickness and she needs to be strong in her faith and overcome it.  I spent so many nights with her trying to convince her that nothing was wrong with her and once she was 18 she could get out of there and she would see that she's not the only one in the world and that others will accept her.  


Another thing that I loved was that this takes place in the early 90's.  I was a teenager in the 90's as well so the pop culture references, the music, the movies, the words, every little thing, that was me, that was my life as a teen.  I remember watching Beaches over and over with my friend and crying and crying.  I remember listening to the music Cameron listened to.  All these things aren't that important to the story, but for those of us that lived through that, it's just a big bonus and made the book that much better for me.


This isn't a book for everyone.  It has a strong LGBT theme.  There's drug use (just marijuana) and drinking.  There's cursing.  There's sex (no description really, you just know what happens).  Personally none of this bothered me which is strange since I usually dislike much of any of that and all of it is actually quite present in the book.  Maybe it was because I was transported to being a teen and this book felt as accurate and authentic as it gets.  


I very highly recommend this book and if you're concerned about getting it for your child or your classroom give it a read first.  It's one I really feel should be in classrooms as there are so many teens that could really benefit from it, but I can also see that it is probably a book that will enrage some parents.  It's definitely a high school and older kind of book.


Please, please give this book a chance.  It makes me tear up to think about it, but this was a book I really could have used as a teenager.  Whether a person is LGBT, it doesn't really matter.  There's so much to connect with in this book for any teenager. 


I give this one 5/5 stars, how could I not?  It's perfect!

Weaving a Message in Your Writing by Meredith Zeitlin

Today I have Meredith Zeitlin on the blog.  She's the author of the brilliant young adult contemporary, Freshman Year and Other Unnatural Disasters.  This is one of the few books that as soon as I finished I wanted to turn it over and start reading it all over again.  It's fun, hilarious and has one of the best characters I've ever read about.  Please be sure to check out my review, which I posted yesterday HERE.

About the book:

Kelsey Finkelstein is fourteen and FRUSTRATED. Every time she tries to live up to her awesome potential, her plans are foiled – by her impossible parents, her annoying little sister, and life in general. But with her first day of high school coming up, Kelsey is positive that things are going to change. Enlisting the help of her three best friends — sweet and quiet Em, theatrical Cass, and wild JoJo — Kelsey gets ready to rebrand herself and make the kind of mark she knows is her destiny.

Things start out great - her arch-nemesis has moved across the country, giving Kelsey the perfect opportunity to stand out on the soccer team and finally catch the eye of her long-time crush. But soon enough, an evil junior’s thirst for revenge, a mysterious photographer, and a series of other catastrophes make it clear that just because KELSEY has a plan for greatness… it doesn’t mean the rest of the world is in on it.

Kelsey’s hilarious commentary throughout her disastrous freshman year will have you laughing out loud—while being thankful that you’re not in her shoes, of course…

Weaving a Message in Your Writing

I'll be honest: I didn't think at all about weaving a specific message into my book. Anytime I've consciously tried to do that, the story – or article, or whatever – has ended up seeming contrived and preachy. (Shockingly, no one really seems to be into that stuff. Hmm.) I think the work that's most successful has messages that end up in there by accident... messages that boldly sneak in when the author isn't paying attention.

When I set out to write Freshman Year... I mainly wanted to create characters that were more relatable than those I'd seen recently in YA books. Girls who weren't necessarily polished, or uber-fashionable, or the prettiest in school, or rich... girls who were, well, normal.

I felt like there was a major dearth of normal girls having normal experiences, and instead a whole lot of battles with supernatural creatures in suburban backyards and six-figure shopping sprees at Bergdorf Goodman's. Sometimes simultaneously. Which is fine, and even awesome... but certainly not normal fourteen-year-old behavior.

At least, it wasn't when I was fourteen. Or thirty. (But I digress.)

I think the message that snuck up on me – which I was happy to discover, and one I'm really passionate about sharing – is that it's okay, and even fantastic and funny and exciting (though sometimes exhausting and excruciating), to just be yourself. And that it's okay to screw up and not be perfect – all the time, or even EVER. It's something I have to remind myself every day, and something I treasured reading between the lines of my favorite YA books growing up. Not the world's most original message, to be sure, but such an important one. (It takes Kelsey awhile to get it, to be sure.) And I think what makes that message successful (I hope!) is that readers will be too caught up in Kelsey's and her friends' adventures to wonder what I'm REALLY trying to tell them about, like, life and stuff.

Ultimately, my sage advice on the matter would have to be: don't think about the message too much. If you have one, it'll come through your characters and what happens to them over the course of your story. THAT'S the part to focus on – the world you're creating.

You might even be surprised to find out what your message is – maybe it's totally different than what you initially started out thinking it would be. And different readers might have wildly varied opinions about it. Which, in my opinion, anyway, is how you know you've succeeded.

What do YOU think?

About the Author: 
Meredith Zeitlin is a writer and voiceover artist who lives in Brooklyn with two adorable feline roommates. She also writes a column for Ladygunn Magazine, changes her hair color every few months, and has many fancy pairs of spectacles. In case you’re wondering whether any of Kelsey’s experiences are based on Meredith’s own, the answer is NO WAY. When she was fourteen, Meredith looked and behaved perfectly at all times, was never in a single embarrassing situation, and always rode to school on her very own unicorn.

Author's Websites:
Meredith Zeitlin’s Twitter:
@zeitlingeist

Meredith Zeitlin’s Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/FRESHMANYEARBOOK

Meredith Zeitlin’s website:
www.kelseyfinkelstein.com

Meredith Zeitlin’s blog:
http://www.kelseyfinkelstein.com


FRESHMAN YEAR AND OTHER UNNATURAL DISASTERS by Meredith Zeitlin from Anne Walls on Vimeo.

Review: Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters by Meredith Zeitlin

Young Adult Contemporary
288 pgs.
Expected Publication: March 1st, 2012 by Putnam
Source: Publisher *for review*

Kelsey Finkelstein is fourteen and FRUSTRATED. Every time she tries to live up to her awesome potential, her plans are foiled – by her impossible parents, her annoying little sister, and life in general. But with her first day of high school coming up, Kelsey is positive that things are going to change. Enlisting the help of her three best friends — sweet and quiet Em, theatrical Cass, and wild JoJo — Kelsey gets ready to rebrand herself and make the kind of mark she knows is her destiny.

Things start out great - her arch-nemesis has moved across the country, giving Kelsey the perfect opportunity to stand out on the soccer team and finally catch the eye of her long-time crush. But soon enough, an evil junior’s thirst for revenge, a mysterious photographer, and a series of other catastrophes make it clear that just because KELSEY has a plan for greatness… it doesn’t mean the rest of the world is in on it.

Kelsey’s hilarious commentary throughout her disastrous freshman year will have you laughing out loud—while being thankful that you’re not in her shoes, of course…

Kelsey Finkelstein has stolen my heart away!  Now this is the kind of character I love to read about.  She's sarcastic, enthusiastic, and absolutely hilarious!  I spent so much time laughing when reading this book and at one point it took me ten minutes to read 3 pages because I was laughing so hard.  I love that feeling!  And when I finished I was ready to pick it up and start it all over again and I very rarely feel that way even when I do love a book.   Kelsey might overreact about some things but her ability to accept the inevitable is astounding.  She ends up taking it in stride and I loved that about her.  It seemed one thing after another happened to her and the embarrassing things she goes through has you thinking that she's just going to give up and walk away, but no way!  That is definitely not her style.  She follows through with everything she starts.  


Now Kelsey is not only a fabulous character in her personality but she felt real to me.  The things she thinks and does (as well as the other characters in the book) just feels real.  We know that teens drink and there's some drinking involved but it's actually mostly responsible drinking.  I mean, she's not all getting drunk and running around the city or doing stupid things.  I was actually okay with how it played out, it all worked and felt right to me. 


This book has a touch of romance and it's definitely very sweet but it's really only a touch and not much of anything until the end.  I thought it was great because we actually have a chance for some real build up and never really know if things would ever go anywhere.  The tension was unbelievable and perfect and although I wanted to see more it really was perfect.  


This is a light hearted and fun book but it has real teen issues.  These are things that normal everyday teens deal with.  Friendship, romance, parties, school activities, family, it's all real stuff.  No one's dying, no one has an eating disorder or is suicidal.  But even though it has no big issues, these are Kelsey's issues and we see them as she sees them and they are still things she has to deal with.  And I absolutely loved how this book went.  How the author made things that may seem boring and mundane absolutely captivating.  She blew me away and I am very eager for more from Meredith Zeitlin, this is one of the funnest (and funniest) books I've ever read!  I very highly recommend you pick it up!


5/5 stars!


Disclosure: I received a copy of this book for review purposes.  All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.  I read the ARC version of the book and the final version may have slight changes.  

This book fits for the 2012 Young Adult Contemporary Challenge. Click the button to find out more!

Review: Fever (Chemical Garden #2) by Lauren DeStefano

Fever (The Chemical Garden #2) Lauren DeStefano
Young Adult
Hardcover, 341 pgs.
Published Feb. 21st, 2012 by Simon & Schuster
Source: Publisher *for review*

Rhine and Gabriel have escaped the mansion, but danger is never far behind.

Running away brings Rhine and Gabriel right into a trap, in the form of a twisted carnival whose ringmistress keeps watch over a menagerie of girls. Just as Rhine uncovers what plans await her, her fortune turns again. With Gabriel at her side, Rhine travels through an environment as grim as the one she left a year ago - surroundings that mirror her own feelings of fear and hopelessness.

The two are determined to get to Manhattan, to relative safety with Rhine’s twin brother, Rowan. But the road there is long and perilous - and in a world where young women only live to age twenty and young men die at twenty-five, time is precious. Worse still, they can’t seem to elude Rhine’s father-in-law, Vaughn, who is determined to bring Rhine back to the mansion...by any means necessary.

In the sequel to Lauren DeStefano’s harrowing Wither, Rhine must decide if freedom is worth the price - now that she has more to lose than ever.

Lauren DeStefano has created a unique and cunning world in her Chemical Garden books.  I think it's creative what she's come up with and I find myself eager to find out more about it.  While it seems like a world that could happen the fact that people die at a certain age makes it a touch unrealistic to me.  I think maybe if it was around age 20-25 it would work better.  However it's not something that bothers me greatly.

I think the villain in the story is brilliant.  He's been done very well and I think he plays his role brilliantly.  I'm able to picture him and feel the terror that Rhine feels about him.  I'm happy that we only got just a bit of him in this one and has me eager and curious for more.

I don't feel a real connection to Rhine.  I don't dislike her, but I don't feel a lot of warmth toward her either.  I feel kind of neutral.  However I do feel that she has some incredible strength and seeing her pull through some awful situations with some fight left in her I started to warm up a bit more.  I also liked her more as I saw her spending time with a child.   And Gabriel... I just don't really feel much at all toward him.  I don't feel any romance between the two, I don't see really anything in him.  He's just... there.  I don't dislike him but I don't really like him either.  

This book was really slow moving for me.  They'd be in one place and it was interesting enough but it was like they were in this drug induced stupor most of the time.  Then they'd move on and I'd feel like maybe it was getting good but it just sort of dragged and then the last bit was all kind of a stupor.  I think that all that should have been cut out.  I need more action, I need more to happen.  I was bored with her going on and on page after page and not getting anywhere.  Then the end came, there was a big thing that happened then it was over.  It's a cliffhanger, kind of.  It's not like WHOA or anything, just kind of a huh, well I want to know what happens now! 

So it was an okay read.  I think it's a great idea for a story I just felt like the author included too much of the drug induced/sickness stupor in a couple different parts of the book.  It was just too slow paced.  However I'm still really intrigued by the story and I'm extremely anxious to see where things go now so I'll definitely continue the stories. 

3/5 stars 

Disclosure: I received this book for review purposes.  All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.  I read the advance readers copy and the final version may have changes.

In My Mailbox (95)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren and is where we share the books we got through the week.  

I had another amazing week (why oh why can't I read faster?!) but it started out with a bang.  Because for Valentines Day (and with Christmas money and tax return money as well) I got a Kindle Fire!  This is for the whole family so I'll only be reading on it occasionally, but I LOVE it!  

To read on it I got:

A Killer First Date by Alyxandra Harvey (This is an enovella for the Drake Chronicles)

Cornerstone by Misty Provencher (This one was recommended by someone but I can't remember who.  It has some good reviews by bloggers I trust though.)

I also got Bourne (River of Time 3.5) by Lisa Bergren.  This is an enovella that comes out the end of February.  It was AMAZING (no surprise there!).  I'll be sure to let you know once it's for sale.


Review:

Black Howl (Madeline Black #3) by Christina Henry (I'm loving this series!)

Fated (Alex Versus #1) by Benedict Jacka (Been compared to Harry Dresden and it sounds awesome!)

How to Be Death (Calliope Reaper-Jones #4) by Amber Benson (Haven't started this series yet.)

Doubletake (Cal Leandros #7) Rob Thurman (Haven't started this series yet either...)

The Last Echo (The Body Finder #3) by Kimberly Derting (I adore this series!)

 The Calling (Darkness Rising #2) by Kelley Armstrong  (Loved the first book!)

 

Glamour in Glass (Shades of Milk and Honey #2) by Mary Robinette Kowal (I loved the first one.  It's like a Jane Austen but with magic!)

Gift:

Exiled by M.R. Merrick *signed* Huge thanks to Alexa at Pages of Forbidden Love for getting this for me!

Bought:

Mark of the Rose (The Tudor Vampire Chronicles #3) by Kate Pearce (I ADORE this series!)

Thank you to Lisa Bergren, Penguin (Ace/Roc), HarperTeen, Tor, and Alexa for the books!

So what was in your mailbox this week?

Saturday Situation- Link Up Your Reviews & Give@ways!

 Saturday Situation is hosted by both Lori at Pure Imagination and myself.  It's a linky for you to link your book related Giveaways and Reviews (and whatever neglected posts you may have).  You'll find the same linky's at Pure Imagination, so don't enter them twice!

Keep in mind that you can add your links through the entire week.  

You can find this post again by clicking the button on the right side of my blog.  I'll try to keep it up to date to go to the newest Saturday Situation post.

Review: The Rift Walker (Vampire Empire #2)

This is what I'm going to start doing for my adult reviews of books that are later in a series (first in a series will be a more full length review).  Because I don't want it to be spoilery for the previous books in the series I won't include descriptions and I'll be vague about plot points.  Mostly talking about character development and if I'm happy with how the series is turning out. 

 The Rift Walker (Vampire Empire #2) by Clay Griffith & Susan Griffith

This series is truly turning out epic.  It certainly brings out the full range of crazy emotions in me and has me terrified to turn each page because of the intensity of the situations.  The characters are amazing, the setting is sublime and the story is completely outstanding.  A romance that brings romance to a whole new level is just one amazing part of these books.  This isn't a romance like in a romance book, this is so much more.  And they have to face so much and overcome so many obstacles and all we can do is cheer them on and pray they survive each obstacle because trust me- it's certainly life or death situations!

I know many many bloggers that adore this series and count it among their favorites.  I do love this series and think it is far above so many books that are out there but the intense-ness is a bit stressful for me.  I mean seriously, life is in peril like on every single page!  And there's nothing easy, it's obstacle after obstacle for pretty much every character.  Now I really think that this isn't a bad thing really, but it keeps me from reading the book straight through because I start to get light-headed from lack of oxygen.  I'm so involved that I forget to breathe!  I also have a bit of a hard time with all the death and gore.  This is just a personal issue, but the vampires in this book are truly evil and they keep herds of humans like livestock for feeding.  They kill without regret and it's just hard to watch and read all the evil.  At the same time all this adds to epicness of the book because you know these things going on are truly serious.

The first quarter of this book moved slowly for me but then it picked up and all the oxygen loss {on my part} began and continued through the remainder of the book.  So many amazing events happened and Princess Adele truly shows some real strength.  She's definitely grown from the first book as all these horrible things that have happened have forced her to become incredibly strong.  She's certainly everything I wish for and more in a character.  The Greyfriar was pretty amazing as well but showed more weakness in this one which wasn't always easy to swallow.  It wasn't anything of his doing, just his situation, but was still a little hard to read.

Overall I think this is a truly amazing series.  Action, adventure, romance and steampunk goodness abound and I highly recommend you pick it up.  Just be aware of the horror elements as well and use caution for younger readers {this is an adult book but if lots of death, gore and horror don't bother a person it could be considered a YA crossover, I'd hesitate to recommend it to younger readers myself though}.

4.5/5 stars
Note: I'd give this one 5 but the horror element was a bit too much for my poor sensibilities and so I'm bringing it down a notch for that reason.

Review: Grave Sins by Jenna Maclaine

Grave Sins (Cin Craven #2) by Jenna Maclaine
Adult historical paranormal romance
Mass Market Paperback, 352 pgs.
Published Feb. 3rd, 2009 by St. Martins Press
Source: Purchased

In the arms of her lover Michael, Cin Craven has found satisfaction for her most primal longings, reaching heights of pleasure no mere human could ever imagine.  She has also found a purpose for her unearthly powers. Cin is a member of The Righteous, a band of slayers that hunts down vampires who inflict evil upon the world. With Michael by her side, Cin’s latest mission brings her face-to-face with Marrakesh, a beautiful, half-mad vampire queen charged with slaughtering humans. If she’s found guilty, Marrakesh will pay with her life. But Cin is convinced that someone —or something—far more ruthless is trying to steal the queen’s throne.. It’s a mission that will pit Michael and Cin against each other for the first time, awakening their darkest instincts and testing their love like never before…

Normally for books that aren't first in a series I don't post the description and do more of a mini review.  But this book works fine as a stand alone and there's not really any spoilers for the first book in the description.  This book takes place 13 years after the first one and plays out like a mystery.  It's historical, paranormal, mystery and romance.  


I really enjoyed the first book quite a lot, but I loved this book!  Cin is a character I love.  She's kick ass but knows right from wrong.  She's not at all struggling with what she is (a witch and a vampire) since 13 years have passed and I kind of enjoyed that.  She does have some struggles regarding some of her witch powers, but it's a minor element to the story really.   And her and Michaels relationship is great because after that many years you fall into a kind of familiarity but they still have the spark and the strong attraction toward eachother.  And they actually do run into trouble in this one but it's nice to see they are human (well, not really) and do have weaknesses.  


The mystery was pretty good and I felt like I really wasn't sure who or what the culprit was that was causing the queens 'illness'.  I actually had some ideas of the who but I was kind of clueless how or what was going on.  In the end as the mystery was revealed and all was figured out I was quite happy with how it all went.  


This is one of those comfortable books.  I didn't feel all stressed and tense while reading, but it kept me turning the pages and not wanting to put the book down.  I wanted it to go on forever but it's actually a very fast read and I read most of it in one evening before bed.  I want this series to go on forever because I really love every aspect of it.  The characters, the setting and the story itself; it's all perfect!  I very highly recommend you pick this series up!


5/5 stars!

Review: Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler

Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler
Young Adult
Hardcover, 378 pgs.
Published Jan. 3rd, 2012 by Simon Pulse
Source: Purchased

Once upon a time, Hudson knew exactly what her future looked like. Then a betrayal changed her life, and knocked her dreams to the ground. Now she’s a girl who doesn’t believe in second chances… a girl who stays under the radar by baking cupcakes at her mom’s diner and obsessing over what might have been.

So when things start looking up and she has another shot at her dreams, Hudson is equal parts hopeful and terrified. Of course, this is also the moment a cute, sweet guy walks into her life…and starts serving up some seriously mixed signals. She’s got a lot on her plate, and for a girl who’s been burned before, risking it all is easier said than done.

It’s time for Hudson to ask herself what she really wants, and how much she’s willing to sacrifice to get it. Because in a place where opportunities are fleeting, she knows this chance may very well be her last….

I think I started this one at the wrong time, I just had a hard time getting into it.  I finally put it aside until I was more in the mood and the next time I picked it up it hit the spot much better.  It was still a bit slow but as the story went on I found myself much more engrossed in the story. 

Hudson was a character that had to grow on me.  I just wasn't feeling her at first.  But then I felt sorry for her because she had so much going on and her mother just kept piling more on her shoulders.  She had much more responsibility then any teenager should have and I felt so much anger and frustration for her.  She just let her mother walk all over her because she knew she had a lot going on herself.  Now, it sounds like her mother is bad, and she's not really- she loves Hudson she just kind of forgets she's just a kid and needs a life too.  As the story goes on Hudson learns to find her voice in some things and also becomes determined she's going to 'get out of this hole'.  I think anyone who's lived in a small town knows that feeling.  I know in my small town everyone was talking about getting out of there.  Doing something better.  It takes a lot for Hudson to realize and appreciate some of what she has.  And I understand both points.  Wanting to get out, but yet she loves her family.  And her family includes her adorable little brother whom I loved!  She also has an absent father, so that plays a role as well. 


A lot of the book takes place in the diner that Hudsons mother owns.  I can't say I really connected with this because I've never worked in a diner, but I thought it was interesting and equal parts terrifying because of the way some of the customers treat the waitresses.  I tried to waitress once and I was the kind of waitress that didn't put up with stuff, which got me fired.  Definitely not my thing.  {Oh, you're not suppose to throw wine in the rude customers face?  Hmmm...}


I really liked the main boys in the story.  Even the one that is not all good was still kind of likable.  Like he wasn't really a bad guy which I really liked in this case.  And the romance was good, though a bit frustrating cause you just want to jump in and communicate for them.  Seriously, just talk already!   I wish there was more interaction with the hockey team as a whole because I think it would have been fun, but we get the gist of how things went at practice and how things changed for the team and for Hudson.  


Overall it was a pretty good read.  It's about a girl finding herself and her happiness, friendship, romance and family. I have a feeling that my timing was off when I read this one.  I think in other circumstances I would probably rate this one higher.  I'll have to do a reread one day in the future.


3.5/5 stars


This one fits for the 2012 Young Adult Contemporary Challenge.  Click the button to find out more! 

Review: The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers by Lynn Weingarten

The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers by Lynn Weingarten
Young Adult
Hardcover, 352 pgs
Published: December 27th, 2011 by HarperTeen
Source: Amazon Vine

If there’s an upside to having your heart broken, it’s this: A broken heart makes you brave.

The first day of sophomore year doesn’t go the way Lucy planned. After a summer apart from her boyfriend, she’s ready to greet him with a special surprise and instead gets a shocking one in return: He’s breaking up with her. Beyond devastated, Lucy has no idea how she’s going to make it through homeroom, let alone the rest of her life.

Enter three stunning girls with the unnatural ability to attract boys and an offer Lucy can’t refuse: They can heal her heart in an instant. And then she’ll be one of them—a member of a sisterhood that is impervious to heartbreak and has access to magic distilled from the tears of brokenhearted boys. But to gain their power, Lucy must get a guy to fall in love with her the old-fashioned way, and then break his heart in the next seven days.

While the sisterhood may need another Heartbreaker, Lucy’s only desire is to get her ex back. But how far is she willing to go, and who is she willing to cross to get what she wants?

This book was surprisingly good.  I think I was expecting a fluffy read with shallow characters and it actually had some depth to it with a fantastic story line.  While it was still an easy and fast read I felt connected to the story and to Lucy through the entire thing.  


While Lucy may have been a touch naive I actually really 'got' her.  We see in the beginning how her love is bordering on obsession (or maybe crossed over a bit ;) and I actually really got that.  I remember when I fell in love the first time (or so I thought) and how obsessed I was and remembering those intense feelings made me really connect with Lucy and her feelings.  


The actual secret sisterhood was quite interesting.  It was hard to know if these girls are good or bad.  I kept going back and forth because they kind of seemed like a group of mean girls but then we'd see another side of them and think maybe not, maybe they are just insecure or something.  But as I read on I saw there was much more to the story and I really loved being surprised over and over and not ever really knowing for sure how things would go.


Through the story Lucy grows.  I loved seeing how she found her voice, found her inner strength and overcame her weaknesses.  She was really shy and had no self esteem to speak of and I think it's important that girls know that they don't have to have a boyfriend to be someone.  And what they believe they are is often what others believe they are.  If they find inner strength and carry themselves with confidence men/boys are more likely to be interested.  But most important- you do not have to have a boyfriend to be someone.  Even adults seem to have that problem and it's something I just don't understand.  Well, I do, but I don't agree.  


There's magic in this book and I knew that going in but wasn't sure how it would work.  It actually fit with the story perfect and worked extremely well.  It didn't feel like it was just a convenient tool, it felt right.  And it wasn't overwhelming, it was more like just a touch of magic.


Overall I thought this ended up being a fabulous read.  It turned out to be much better then I expected and I'm very pleased I took the time to read it.  I highly recommend it!  I do have to give a warning that there's a fair amount of cursing in this book.  It actually was enough for me to really notice.  It's the way teens talk, but I'm still not a fan of it being so much.  (Please note I read an ARC, the final edition may have changes.)


4/5 stars!


Disclosure: I received an advance reader copy for review purposes.  All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.  The final edition of the book may have slight changes from the ARC version I read.

Review: Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta

Finnikin of the Rock (Lumatere Chronicles #1) by Melina Marchetta
Young Adult
Hardcover, 399 pgs
Published February 9th, 2010 by Candlewick (US publication)
Source: Library

At the age of nine, Finnikin is warned by the gods that he must sacrifice a pound of flesh to save his kingdom. He stands on the rock of the three wonders with his friend Prince Balthazar and Balthazar's cousin, Lucian, and together they mix their blood to safeguard Lumatere.

But all safety is shattered during the five days of the unspeakable, when the king and queen and their children are brutally murdered in the palace. An impostor seizes the throne, a curse binds all who remain inside Lumatere's walls, and those who escape are left to roam the land as exiles, dying by the thousands in fever camps.

Ten years later, Finnikin is summoned to another rock--to meet Evanjalin, a young novice with a startling claim: Balthazar, heir to the throne of Lumatere, is alive. This arrogant young woman claims she'll lead Finnikin and his mentor, Sir Topher, to the prince. Instead, her leadership points them perilously toward home. Does Finnikin dare believe that Lumatere might one day rise united? Evanjalin is not what she seems, and the startling truth will test Finnikin's faith not only in her but in all he knows to be true about himself and his destiny.

In a bold departure from her acclaimed contemporary novels, Printz Medalist Melina Marchetta has crafted an epic fantasy of ancient magic, feudal intrigue, romance, and bloodshed that will rivet you from the first page.

In a high fantasy, a true epic fantasy there are a lot of elements I expect and need in my story.  I need to feel it.  To really feel transported into the story through the authors use of words and language and not feel overwhelmed with lengthy descriptions at the same time.  I need the characters to be truly strong, to have weaknesses but overcome things, to be forever surprised by their actions and decisions.  To never know how things might turn out.  I like when a character that is once bad becomes good, when you really have no idea which way things might go.  When a book is truly epic I want to cry because the beauty of the words, the tragedy of the story and epicness of the romance moves me.  This book, this book did all that and more.   


There is no way any words I put in this review can express the amazingness of this book.  But if you're a fantasy lover there's no way you shouldn't read this book {haven't read fantasy? This is a great place to start!}.  It's brilliant, it's tragic, and it's epic.  Things are revealed through out the entire thing that shocked me over and over again and constant surprises, never ever knowing what could happen is always good.  The characters blew me away.  Finnikin wasn't always the most likable guy in the world but that made him more real.  And as he grows as a character and as we get to see more of him he's very easy to fall in love with as he has some true inner strength and a heart you can't help but love.  Evanjalin, well, she's one character you have to get to know yourself.  But I can tell you that I have rarely seen a character with the strength she has.


I could talk about this book forever but you really need to go into it without really knowing much because I think you'll just enjoy it more.  All I can tell you now is go read it!  This is what a true high {epic} fantasy is all about!  It's one book that I'll be thinking about for a very long time!


5/5 stars!

In My Mailbox (94)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren and is where we share the books we got through the week.  

I went NUTS this week!  I seriously need like an intervention or something.  I can't stop buying more!  Some are fine, like I needed the next in a series and I needed the first in another series because I got the third for review, etc.  But some I really could have lived without.  I mean, I didn't think so when I got them, but honestly- who knows when I'll be able to get them read! 

First of all, the amazing Denise Jaden sent some AWESOME swag! I put the magnet on my fridge but the rest is for spreading the word of her books, Losing Faith and Never Enough (out in July).

Review:

The Drowning Girl by Caitlin R. Kiernan (have any of you read her books?  It sounds interesting but wasn't on my radar at all so I'm curious...)  Out March 6th, 2012

Fair Game (Alpha and Omega #3) by Patricia Briggs (March, 2012)

Gifts:

The Miseducation of Cameron Post (ARC) by Emily M. Danforth

Thank You Lori at Pure Imagination!  I'm SO excited to read this one!

Wizards First Rule (Sword of Truth #1) by Terry Goodkind

Thank you Natalie at Mindful Musings!

Have you guys watched the show Legend of the Seeker?  It was canceled after two seasons but I absolutely LOVE it and that show is based on these books.

Bought:

Most of these were bought for like $1.  Super cheap!  A couple were $4 though...

Black Night (Madeline Black #2) by Christina Henry

I read the first one a couple weeks ago and really enjoyed it!

Phoenix Rising (Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences #1) by Pip Ballantine & Tee Morris

I read this book before it's release last year and loved it!  But I didn't own a copy so now I do!

Stranger (The Blades of the Rose #4) by Zoe Archer

I adore this cover!  I had Zoe on last year and have been dying to read her books! Of course I still need to get the first three...

Stone of Tears (Sword of Truth #2) by Terry Goodkind

Even though I haven't read the first one yet I found this one used for cheap but it looks brand new.  And finding used fantasy books that don't have a broken spine is near impossible so I couldn't pass it up!

The Guardian (Dream Hunter #5) by Sherrilyn Kenyon 

I'm frustrated because I looked it up and it according to amazon on my phone it was a stand alone, or more of a companion.  I'm not sure, do these need to be read in order?

The Dream Hunter (Dark-Hunter #10) by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Once again, my app said this was not a series.  Like it was a stand alone.  But it's in new condition so maybe I'll give it away.  Or I'll trade it.  Unless these can be read without reading the others.  

Spy Glass (Glass #3) by Maria V. Snyder

I need to get the first two still.  But this was really cheap so I couldn't pass it up.

Cry Wolf (Alpha and Omega #1) by Patricia Briggs

Got the third one for review but needed to start the series! 

Huge thank you to Natalie and Lori for the gifts, Penguin for the review books, goodwill for the good deals and Cover to Cover Books for having awesome books I couldn't live without!