Monday 31 December 2012

The Catastrophic History of You and Me By Jess Rothenberg Review


SUMMARY

Dying of a broken heart is just the beginning.... Welcome to forever. 

BRIE'S LIFE ENDS AT SIXTEEN: Her boyfriend tells her he doesn't love her, and the news breaks her heart—literally. 

But now that she's D&G (dead and gone), Brie is about to discover that love is way more complicated than she ever imagined. Back in Half Moon Bay, her family has begun to unravel. Her best friend has been keeping a secret about Jacob, the boy she loved and lost—and the truth behind his shattering betrayal. And then there's Patrick, Brie's mysterious new guide and resident Lost Soul . . . who just might hold the key to her forever after. 

With Patrick's help, Brie will have to pass through the five stages of grief before she's ready to move on. But how do you begin again, when your heart is still in pieces?

REVIEW



I didn’t at all expect to love it as much as I did! The storyline is excellent. It starts out seemingly predictable, but ends up taking a lot of unexpected turns. And while it may seem like the theme of this book is heartbreak, it’s really not. It’s about life...the good, the ugly and everything in between. Sure, Brie loses her boyfriend, but she learns how to truly love not just others, but also herself and comes to understand what it really means to be a family.

Brie's death is one of those freak accidents we just don't see coming. Brie is a young girl, barely having lived her rather short life, she's a person, one we become close to over a gradual, delicious period of time, which makes her death and the loss her family feels all the more insidious, unfair, and cruel.


Patrick, the guy who helps Brie move through her five stages of grief, is a bit of an enigma. He can be so cute and funny at times, but there were times that he would show what emotions he was hiding and I just wanted to understand him. This is as much his story as it is Brie’s. The twist that connected him and Brie shocked me to the core, and I was not at all expecting it. People die for love every day, so it's only right that when we die we, like Brie, find love as well.

The Catastrophic History of You and Me is a gorgeous debut that is sure to please.
P.S. LOVED THE COVER!!!

Fav Quotes -

“My heart didn't fail, someone failed my heart.”


“Love is no game. People cut their ears off over this stuff. People jump off the Eiffel Tower and sell all their possessions and move to Alaska to live with the grizzly bears, and then they get eaten and nobody hears them when they scream for help. That’s right. Falling in love is pretty much the same thing as being eaten alive by a grizzly bear.” 

“The problem is, there is absolutely nothing "fun" about falling in love. Nope. Mostly it just makes you feel sick and crazy and anxious and nervous that it's going to end miserably and ruin your whole life. And guess what: Then it does.”


“News flash, Bozo. Don't ever tell a girl to relax. It only makes us madder.”



Body & Soul (The Ghost and the Goth #3) By Stacey Kade Review


SUMMARY

The final book in The Ghost and the Goth Trilogy!

The Ghost
I’ve been trapped in the body of Lily “Ally” Turner for a month now. Talk about a fashion crisis on an epic scale. What worries me more, though, is sometimes I catch Will looking at me like he thinks I’m Lily...or that he wishes I were. Without the good looks of my former self, I don’t know who I am, or if who that is is good enough. I need out of this mess. Now.

Will and I have been looking for a solution, one that would separate me from Lily without killing her. But it’s not going well. Then, when it seems like things couldn’t get any worse, we run into Misty, my former best friend and boyfriend-stealer extraordinaire, who claims she’s being haunted...by me. Seriously?

I’m determined to get to the bottom of who’s pretending to be the spirit of Alona Dare (while I’m pretending to be someone else) and then get the heck out of this body. Or die trying...

The Goth
I’ll admit it. It’s really weird to look at Alona but see Lily. I do know the difference, though, contrary to what Alona might be saying. And Alona is more than a pretty face to me, not that she would believe that.

Our one lead for some help in this messed up situation might be a page torn from the yellow pages-—the “Psychics” section-—I found in my dad’s stuff. One of the “fakes” seems a bit more real-—and odd-—than the others. Before I can investigate further, though, Alona is off and chasing a ghost that’s probably nothing more than a figment of Misty’s guilty imagination. Now Lily’s family is freaking out because she didn’t come home, my mom is ordering me to stay out of it, and something is definitely wrong with the person formerly known as Lily “Ally” Turner...


REVIEW

BODY AND SOUL, by Stacey Kade, is the final book in The Ghost and the Goth series. I have enjoyed this series so much.

I love seeing Alona and Will bicker with each other, in a way is their way to show that they care. Will and Alona are the same as always. Bickering, fighting, avoiding certain topics *cough* their relationship *cough*. And, oh, how they NEVER seem to say the right thing to one another. They're hilarious, just like they have been since book one. And their relationship and feelings for each other just keep getting cuter and cuter.

And I liked that they really tackle the moral dilema of Alona being in Lily's body and what that means for everyone - Will and Alona and Lily's family who aren't aware that Lily's spirt is long gone - it didn't just skirt around the issue and made everything magically okay. 

Body and Soul is also very funny but it got me teary eyed a few time toward the end when you got to see that even if their relationship was very complicated, both Will and Alona were better off because of one another. I'm so sad that Body & Soul is the last Ghost and the Goth novel, but happy at the same time. Stacey Kade didn't sacrifice her characters or her plot just to keep the series going and I respect that. I also loved, I mean LOVED, the ending! If you've read the other two book in this series, you'll love this one!

Fav Quotes -

“My shirt is gray,” I pointed out. “You’ve expanded my fashion horizons dramatically. I wear three colours now.” 


“What happened to you?" she asked.

"Ben was feeling artistic. Wanted to rearrange my face.” 

“It’s called a near-death experience. You should try it sometime,” I said sweetly. “Maybe without the ‘near’.” 


“I know who you are, no matter what you look like,” he said quietly, surprising me.”


“At least I graduated," he muttered, stabbing the key in and unlocking the door. 

I sucked in a breath. "I think dying wad a little out of my control, thank you very much."
"If you say so". He shrugged, but I saw the corner of his mouth turn up into a faint smile.” 

Sunday 30 December 2012

Mad Love By Suzanne Selfors Review


























SUMMARY

When you're the daughter of the bestselling Queen of Romance, life should be pretty good. But 16-year-old Alice Amorous has been living a lie ever since her mother was secretly hospitalized for mental illness. After putting on a brave front for months, time is running out. The next book is overdue, and the Queen can't write it. Alice needs a story for her mother-and she needs one fast.

That's when she meets Errol, a strange boy who claims to be Cupid, who insists that Alice write about the greatest love story in history: his tragic relationship with Psyche. As Alice begins to hear Errol's voice in her head and see things she can't explain, she must face the truth-that she's either inherited her mother's madness, or Errol is for real.

REVIEW

I loved this story, Mad Love has all the elements I love to crush on all together! Cute boys, legends, cute boys, humor, cute boys... ERROL! 

I love Greek mythology and the inclusion of that in the book made me love it even more. Errol set out to have the greatest love story written and as the story unfolded I truly think it was. The author brought the idea of Cupid to life in hot-teenage boy form and I applaud her for the creativity. The way his arrows brought about passionate love was hilarious. And the antidote was equally amusing.

There are so many bits and pieces that went into making Mad Love such a fantastic, entertaining and emotion-evoking love story. It is rare to find a book that has 'everything.' Overall, such a great book! This book has romance and love in many different ways. I was in tears in the end as to how much I loved this story. If you are looking for a little bit of mythology and cute boys, this is the book for you!

Friday 28 December 2012

Queen of the Dead (The Ghost and the Goth #2) By Stacey Kade Review


























SUMMARY

After being sent back from the light, Alona Dare - former homecoming queen, current Queen of the Dead - finds herself doing something she never expected: working. Instead of spending days perfecting her tan by the pool (her typical summer routine when she was, you know, alive), Alona must now cater to the needs of other lost spirits. By her side for all of this - ugh - “helping of others” is Will Killian: social outcast, seer of the dead, and someone Alona cares about more than she’d like.


Before Alona can make a final ruling on Will’s “friend” or “more” status, though, she discovers trouble at home. Her mom is tossing out Alona’s most valuable possessions, and her dad is expecting a new daughter with his wicked wife. Is it possible her family is already moving on? Hello! She’s only been dead for two months! Thankfully, Alona knows just the guy who can put a stop to this mess.


Unfortunately for Alona, Will has other stuff on his mind, and Mina, a young (and beautiful) seer, is at the top of the list. She’s the first ghost-talker Will’s ever met—aside from his father—and she may hold answers to Will’s troubled past. But can she be trusted? Alona immediately puts a check mark in the “clearly not” column. But Will is - ahem - willing to find out, even if it means leaving a hurt and angry Alona to her own devices, which is never a good idea. 


Packed with romance, lovable characters, and a killer cliffhanger, Queen of the Dead is the out-of-this-world sequel to The Ghost and the Goth.

REVIEW

I completely LOVE Will & Alona. "Queen of the dead" is a perfect case of opposites attracting, the Goth guy and the homecoming queen. In this book we get to explore the relationship with Will and Alona, which was so sweet. They pretend to not really care, but these two are having a hard time keeping their hands off each other. 

Things quickly take a turn, however, when Will meets another person who can see ghosts like him. He is swept into a world he is not familiar with and is anxious to learn more information about others like him. Alona is not so happy about this new revelation and it quickly causes tension between her and Will.

 One of my favorite things about this series is the dialogue between Alona and Will. 
Overall, I'm loving this series. This book was just as witty and fun as the previous installment in the series and I can't wait to read more about Will and Alona in the third, and final, book in the trilogy.


The One For Me By Layla James Review



























SUMMARY

Seventeen-year-old Katy couldn’t find good luck if it were in an open pail. Her parents announce their divorce and her boyfriend, Hayden, of a year breaks up with her for long legged hottie, Holly, all in one week. Katy’s luck might as well be buried with her dignity, when she is partnered up with Avalon High School’s own bad by Liam Erickson.

Katy follows Liam after he ditches her to go to a party, where she finds Hayden and Holly swapping spit in her face. Furious, Katy kisses Liam to get back at Hayden, leaving her with a re-bound girl and new class hoe reputation.

Determined to save the last bit of her reputation, she proposes Liam a deal, a good reputation with his teachers, if he will ‘pretend’ to be her boyfriend, to stop the rumors. Katy deals with her parents’ divorce, her reputation being ruined and finds herself having more in common with Liam than she ever imagined. By the end, Katy can’t tell who is ‘pretending’ and who isn’t.


REVIEW

It was a sweet & fun read, though it did remind me of Patch from Hush Hush Series.
What the author managed brilliantly in this book is making the reader feel the chemistry between Katy and Liam. He’s a bad boy, all right, but he’s sexy, smart, dark and always has a perfect come back. The dialogue was the one thing that convinced me to read the book in the first place when I skimmed through the excerpt, and it kept going smoothly all the way to the end. Congratulations to the author for that.

There are however some grammatical mistakes and a few errors here and there.

All in all, a good read. It even made me cry. And yeah, I'll admit it here, and I know it might sound crazy, but I like books that can make me cry, as well as make me laugh. I love it when I get strong emotions by reading a book, be it something fun or something sad or incredibly romantic.
Anyway I obviously recommend it !!

Hearts in Darkness By Laura Kaye Review


SUMMARY

Makenna James thinks her day can't get any worse, until she finds herself stuck in a pitch-black elevator with a complete stranger. Distracted by a phone call and juggling too much stuff, the pin-striped accountant caught only a glimpse of a dragon tattoo on his hand before the lights went out.

Caden Grayson is amused when a redhead literally falls at his feet. His amusement turns to panic when the power fails. Despite his piercings, tats, and vicious scar, he's terrified of the dark and confined spaces. Now, he's trapped in his own worst nightmare.

To fight fear, they must both reach out and open up. With no preconceived notions based on looks to hold them back, they discover just how much they have in common. In the warming darkness, attraction grows and sparks fly, but will they feel the same when the lights come back on?

REVIEW

This is actually a contemporary romance with a high-concept premise and lots of emotion. Two people who’ve never seen each other are stuck in a dark, confined space, left to discover each other in every sense. The novella’s opening quote, by William Shakespeare, says it best: “Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind; and therefore is winged Cupid painted blind.”
It's a different concept, yet it works on so many levels. The romance in this story isn't based on looks, gazes, or how the outside world treats the two people. It's just the two, in the dark, with only conversation.

Caden Grayson is a compelling study in the differences between appearance and character. I was endeared by his very gentle spirit, yet entranced by his raw attractiveness. The treatment of his traumatic past is neither rushed nor made trivial; even though this story itself is relatively short, both Caden’s and Makenna’s personalities and motivations are given a fair amount of development.

“Hearts in Darkness” is not your average good girl meets bad boy story. It is a story of self discovery and honesty.

Wednesday 26 December 2012

Dead to the World (Sookie Stackhouse #4) By Charlaine Harris Review


























SUMMARY


Sookie Stackhouse is a cocktail waitress in Bon Temps, Louisiana. She's pretty. She does her job well. But she has only a few close friends, because not everyone appreciates Sookie's gift: she can read minds. That's not exactly every man's idea of date bait - unless they're undead; vampires and the like can be tough to read. And that's just the kind of guy Sookie's been looking for. Maybe that's why, when she comes across a naked vampire on the way home from work, she doesn't just drive on by. He hasn't got a clue who he is, but Sookie has: Eric looks just as scary and sexy - and dead - as he did the day she met him. But now he has amnesia, he's sweet, vulnerable, and in need of Sookie's help - because whoever took his memory now wants his life.

Sookie's investigation into what's going on leads her into a battle between witches, vampires and werewolves. But there could be even greater danger - to Sookie's heart - because this kinder, gentler Eric is proving very hard to resist.


REVIEW

In this fourth installment, Eric has a leading role. Sookie finds him running alongside the road in the night of New Year's Eve, barefoot, without clothes and obviously terrified. When Sookie pulls over her car to help him, he doesn't recognize her. Eric is suffering from amnesia and he has no idea who he is, let alone the others around him. It turns out that there's an evil Witch coven that moved into the area, and they want power. Sookie finds herself in yet more trouble - because an Eric without his memory is even harder to resist.


The supernatural setting is developed further with the introduction of witches, were-panthers and fairies. The story has more fast paced action, more mystery and a good romantic element to it too.


This book wasn't filled with a lot of Bill. Dead to the World is not a conventional romance, and it had an unexpected though satisfying ending. I’m sure the effects will continue into the fifth book. I can’t wait to get my hands on the next installment!

On Dublin Street (On Dublin Street #1) By Samantha Young Review



























SUMMARY

Jocelyn Butler has been hiding from her past for years. But all her secrets are about to be laid bare…

Four years ago, Jocelyn left her tragic past behind in the States and started over in Scotland, burying her grief, ignoring her demons, and forging ahead without attachments. Her solitary life is working well—until she moves into a new apartment on Dublin Street where she meets a man who shakes her carefully guarded world to its core.

Braden Carmichael is used to getting what he wants, and he’s determined to get Jocelyn into his bed. Knowing how skittish she is about entering a relationship, Braden proposes an arrangement that will satisfy their intense attraction without any strings attached.

But after an intrigued Jocelyn accepts, she realizes that Braden won’t be satisfied with just mind-blowing passion. The stubborn Scotsman is intent on truly knowing her… down to the very soul.



REVIEW

On Dublin Street was certainly loaded with intriguing emotional baggage. It's about a girl struggling with her past and trying to come to terms with the horrors that linger there.
Jocelyn is a complex character. She’s suffered through two tragedies (and at such a young age) and as a result is reluctant to let people in. She also suffers from panic attacks. But she’s smart enough to know that she needs help and thus seeks out a therapist. I give the girl credit for taking this crucial step.


Braden pursued Jocelyn from the moment he laid eyes on her. He felt the connection and the attraction and was determined to get the girl. Jocelyn, on the other hand, was not of the same mind frame. She’s attracted to him but she doesn’t do relationships. But even though Jocelyn distances herself from people and doesn't let people in easily, the emotional connection between her and Braden is there and it's undeniable.

On Dublin Street was everything I hoped it would be. It was an emotional whirlwind and was also heart-warming.

The Ghost and the Goth (The Ghost and the Goth #1) By Stacey Kade Review


SUMMARY

Alona Dare–Senior in high school, co-captain of the cheerleading squad, Homecoming Queen three years in a row, voted most likely to marry a movie star… and newly dead.

I’m the girl you hated in high school. Is it my fault I was born with it all-good looks, silky blond hair, a hot bod, and a keen sense of what everyone else should not be wearing? But my life isn’t perfect, especially since I died. Run over by a bus of band geeks—is there anything more humiliating? As it turns out, yes—watching your boyfriend and friends move on with life, only days after your funeral. And you wouldn’t believe what they’re saying about me now that they think I can’t hear them. To top it off, I’m starting to disappear, flickering in and out of existence. I don’t know where I go when I’m gone, but it’s not good. Where is that freaking white light already?

Will Killian–Senior in high school, outcast, dubbed “Will Kill” by the popular crowd for the unearthly aura around him, voted most likely to rob a bank…and a ghost-talker.

I can see, hear, and touch the dead. Unfortunately, they can also see, hear and touch me. Yeah, because surviving high school isn’t hard enough already. I’ve done my best to hide my “gift.” After all, my dad, who shared my ability, killed himself because of it when I was fifteen. But lately, pretending to be normal has gotten a lot harder. A new ghost—an anonymous, seething cloud of negative energy with the capacity to throw me around—is pursuing me with a vengeance. My mom, who knows nothing about what I can do, is worrying about the increase in odd incidents, my shrink is tossing around terms like “temporary confinement for psychiatric evaluation,” and my principal, who thinks I’m a disruption and a faker, is searching for every way possible to get rid of me. How many weeks until graduation?


REVIEW

This was such an enjoyable book. Since the very first chapter the story is attention grabbing and I find myself immersed in the story, it starts when Alona, the queen bee of her high school, seemingly perfect in every way possible...*gasp* DIES! but despite what people like to think about her,The girl is fierce! I can't complain here, cause I got everything I was asking for, so I will just continue summarizing the plot,so yes, Alona dies but hey! stop sobbing, girl is not going anywhere for now, and that is because she has unressolved issues. And what's she to do, she doesn't know anything about being dead, and no one can help her, right? WRONG!


There's someone out there, someone who can help Alona with her newly acquired troubles...
and that someone is Will Killian! aka Will Kill, you might recognize him as the pseudo-goth guy sitting in the farthest cafeteria table that apparently talks to himself out loud and wears his hoodie over his head all the time to keep the voices out.


So Alona and Will make a deal, he would teach her everything he knows about ghosts, death and moving on if she serves as his bodyguard, that is keeping the other ghosts off of his face so he can finally have some peace and quiet after years and years of ghosts 'haunting' him. So yeah this book is really entertaining plus some twists you might not see coming.

Monday 24 December 2012

Someone Else's Fairytale By Emily Mah Tippetts Review


SUMMARY

Jason Vanderholt, Hollywood's hottest actor, falls head over heels for everygirl, Chloe Winters, who hasn't gotten around to watching most of his movies. It's the ideal fairytale... for most people. The last thing Chloe needs is public attention. It brings back dangers from the past that she's worked her whole life to escape.


REVIEW

At first glance I wondered if the plot seemed a bit cliché, but the author made it work beautifully because her characters had depth.

Chloe and Jason both surprised me. I wondered if Chloe could really come across as uninterested in this big movie star. She did because she truly was just that…uninterested. Plus the back story of a tragedy that happened to her when she was young really rounded out her character and gave her a strength that I admired and respected. When she does realize her feelings for Jason, her reactions, insecurities and fears are well-written and believable.

Jason on the other hand was amazing & a genuine person. Not what you expect when you think of a movie star is it? I totally adored them together.

This book was sweet and endearing. Anyone who loves a good fairytale, which I mean who doesn't? will absolutely love this one, it's a modern day love story for any modern day girl, Check it out!

Friday 21 December 2012

You Had Me At Halo By Amanda Ashby Review


























SUMMARY

Holly Evans has just seen her own body laid to rest. Now she would like to move onto the afterlife. But apparently she has some mortal baggage to unload first, starting with the matter of how she died. Her heavenly shrink isn't buying that she didn't kill herself- and says she must return to earth to straighten things out. The thing is, she needs to borrow the body of computer geek Vince Murphy to do it. Oh, and although Vince was supposed to have vacated the premises, he apparently never got the memo.

Now, Holly has forty-eight hours to resolve her issues while sharing arms, legs, and...other things...with a guy she barely noticed while she was alive. But the real surprise is what life has to offer when you have only two days to live it.

REVIEW

I confess..I'm in love with this book. It had me hooked from the first page itself which rarely happens. The book is about a recently died 22 yr old Holly Evans. She is not at all pleased about being in heaven, so the heavenly officials send her back to resolve her issues. They are 1)That everyone thinks she killed herself & 2)That she had just had a fight with her boyfriend. They send her into the body of Vince Murphy,(whom I completely adore) one of the corporate geeks, who supposedly had died at her funeral. However, he wakes up a few hours later, resulting in delightful confusion.

Of course, the two of them are meant to be together. Halfway through this book, I thought, this book ought to be made into a movie. It would make a great chick flick. It turned out that the issues that Holly had to straighten out where not what she expected. I cheered when she used Vince's surprisingly buff body to clock someone who really needed punching.

Overall as I've already said I love this book, there's no reason you shouldn't give it a try.

Friday 14 December 2012

Club Dead (Sookie Stackhouse #3) By Charlaine Harris Review


























SUMMARY

Sookie Stackhouse always found it difficult to date - she's cute, but not many guys are comfortable with her mind-reading abilities. But vampires have no problems with Sookie's talent - she can't pick up much of anything form the undead.

But ther's only one vampire Sookie Stackhouse is involved with - at least voluntarily - right now, and that's Bill. But recently he's been a little distant - in another state distant. His sinister and sexy boss Eric has an idea where to find him, and next thing Sookie knows, she's off to Jackson, Mississippi, to mingle with the underworld at Club Dead. It's a dangerous little haunt where the elusive vampire society can go to chill out and suck down some Type O - but when Sookie finally finds Bill, he's not only in trouble, but caught in an act of serious betrayal. Should she save him, or sharpen some stakes?


REVIEW

Sookie Stackhouse is back in the third instalment of the southern vampire series.

This time things aren’t going too well for Sookie with her vampire boyfriend Bill. He has been more interested in working on his computer than spending time with her recently. He seems distracted when she is around and his feelings for her seem to have cooled.

The story is well plotted with twists and turns that are original and unexpected plus the mystery element of the story is first rate too. The action in the story was fast paced and once again Charlaine Harris has written a book that I found hard to put down.

Monday 10 December 2012

Living Dead in Dallas (Sookie Stackhouse, #2) By Charlaine Harris Review



























SUMMARY

Sookie Stackhouse likes living in Bon Temps, Louisiana, and she likes working as a cocktail waitress at Merlotte's. But she is having a streak of bad luck. First her co-worker is killed, and no one seems to care. Then she comes face-to-face with a beastly creature which gives her a painful and poisonous lashing. Enter the vampires, who graciously suck the poison from her veins (like they didn't enjoy it).

The point is: the vampires saved her life. So when one of her bloodsuckers asks for a favour, she obliges-and soon Sookie's in Dallas, using her telepathic skills to search for a missing vampire. She's supposed to interview certain humans involved, but she makes one condition: the vampires must promise to behave, and let the humans go unharmed. But that's easier than done, and all it takes is one delicious blonde and one small mistake for things to turn deadly.

REVIEW

Living Dead In Dallas is the second novel in the Sookie Stackhouse series. It takes up her story not long after the events of Dead Until Dead finished. Part mystery, part romance, the narrative concentrates on Sookie’s relationship with Bill and Sookie’s adventures solving mysteries. The action in the book is fast paced and the characters, both human and supernatural, are well defined.

We get to find out more about Eric in this book. He is irressitable, attractive, funny and powerful. I think that he is probably my favourite character in the book. 

So overall, I'd say I’m glad I picked this one up and I’m looking forward more to the rest of the series.

The Fine Art of Truth or Dare By Melissa Jensen Review


SUMMARY

Pretty in Pink meets Anna and the French Kiss in this charming romantic comedy

Ella is nearly invisible at the Willing School, and that's just fine by her. She's got her friends - the fabulous Frankie and their sweet cohort Sadie. She's got her art - and her idol, the unappreciated 19th-century painter Edward Willing. Still, it's hard being a nobody and having a crush on the biggest somebody in the school: Alex Bainbridge. Especially when he is your French tutor, and lessons have started becoming, well, certainly more interesting than French ever has been before. But can the invisible girl actually end up with a happily ever after with the golden boy, when no one even knows they're dating? And is Ella going to dare to be that girl?

REVIEW

Here we have another cute contemporary romance. I really enjoyed the wacky humor. Ella has this crush on Edward Willing, a painter from the 19th century. Obviously he's no longer living, but she has a bust of him that she talks to about her life and inner thoughts. And he talks back and gives advice. I found that to be rather weird at first, but the idea kind of grew on me. I ended up enjoying their conversations.

I loved Ella's two best friends, Frankie and Sadie. Alex is a sweetheart. He's appointed Ella's math tutor, and even though he's a phillite, he is so sweet and caring towards her. They form this really cute relationship. There was no immediate love, just a simple, sweet teenage love story. 

All in all it was cute, sweet, and light, but at the same time it touched on some of the deeper issues that teenagers face like self worth, body image, and feelings of inadequacy. So why don't you take a chance. Dare yourself to read it and see for yourself.

Friday 7 December 2012

Dead Until Dark (Sookie Stackhouse, #1) By Charlaine Harris Review



























SUMMARY


Sookie Stackhouse is a small-time cocktail waitress in small-town Louisiana. She's quiet, keeps to herself, and doesn't get out much. Not because she's not pretty. She is. It's just that, well, Sookie has this sort of "disability." She can read minds. And that doesn't make her too dateable. And then along comes Bill. He's tall, dark, handsome - and Sookie can't 'hear' a word he's thinking. He's exactly the kind of guy she's been waiting for all her life.

But Bill has a disability of his own: He's a vampire. Worse than that, hangs with a seriously creepy crowd, with a reputation for trouble - of the murderous kind.

And when one of Sookie's colleagues is killed, she begins to fear she'll be next ...


REVIEW


Okay,so the first book in Harris’ series, Dead Until Dark, introduces Sookie Stackhouse, an average bar waitress in the town named Bon Temps. Sookie can read minds. And, while many people would view her talent as a gift, she despises it as a curse. Sookie spends most of her time blocking out the many lewd thoughts and musings of those who frequent Merlotte’s Bar, where she works.


The best thing about Dead Until Dark is Sookie Stackhouse. She approaches every situation with wit and class, even when circumstances get the best of her emotions. She’s also not the typical damsel falling in love with a blood-sucker. She doesn’t lose her personal volition and strength just because she’s being courted by a handsome, chivalrous, age-old vampire. She knows how to say yes and no, and she thinks for herself.


Now Bill Compton. He’s strong, romantic and he's perfect for Sookie; his pursuit of her provides Sookie with the confidence she needs and protection from the dangers of the vampire world that start to encroach on her life.I loved the murder mystery element to this story too. In this book I was completely baffled as to who might have been committing the murders until the murderer was revealed in the exciting climax to the story. All in all a good start to a series.