Book Review

Review: My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

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My Life Next Door cover

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

Title: My Life Next Door
Author: Huntley Fitzpatrick
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult
Publisher: Dial Books (14th June 2012)
Blurb:

“ONE THING MY MOTHER NEVER KNEW, AND WOULD DISAPPROVE OF MOST OF ALL, WAS THAT I WATCHED THE GARRETTS. ALL THE TIME.”

The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, messy, affectionate. And every day from her rooftop perch, Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them . . . until one summer night Jase Garrett climbs up next to her and changes everything.

As the two fall fiercely for each other, stumbling through the awkwardness and awesomeness of first love, Jase’s family embraces Samantha – even as she keeps him a secret from her own. The something unthinkable happens, and the bottom drops out of Samantha’s world. She’s suddenly faced with an impossible decision. Which perfect family will save her? Or is it time she saved herself?

A transporting debut about family, friendship, first romance, and how to be true to one person you love without betraying another.

Rating: *** (3 stars)
Review:

I saw a lot of My Life Next Door in the lead up to this summer, and as I thought the cover was gorgeous and the blurb intrigued me I thought I would give it a go. My Life Next Door is a sweet, adorable read with hints of laughter and some darkness.

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Review: Fae Guardian by Nicolette Reed

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Fae Guardian by Nicolette Reed

Title: Fae Guardian (Soulstealer Trilogy, #2)
Author: Nicolette Reed
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Nicolette Reed (8th December 2012)
Source: Nicolette Reed, the author.
Format: E-book
Blurb:

Dealing with wedding day woes, naked elven rituals, a best friend with a biting problem, dragon battles, and a war brewing between the selkie and the fae are only the beginning for Valora, the Fae Guardian.

Valora needs to get Aric out of her mind if she’s going to live happily ever after with Dooley. But nothing is ever easy with magic. Tying herself and Dooley to Aric becomes a matter of life and death, not just for them but for all of the Realms and even those beyond the portals to Earth.

But can Valora handle the affections of two half-fae brothers? She has to if she wants to save the Realms — a world filled with cloud cities, volcanic mountains mined by dwarves, deserts inhabited by dragons, and lakes teaming with ferocious selkie. And getting the two of them to get along may be her biggest battle yet.

Rating: **** (4 stars)
Review:

Fae Guardian is the second book in Nicolette Reed’s brilliant Soulstealer Trilogy. It continues Valora’s story from Fae Hunter (you can find my review here) – although the events of Mane Attraction (you can find my review here) takes place in between the books, and I would highly recommend reading it before you start Fae Guardian as it does answer some questions.  Like Mane Attraction, this is very definitely an adult book!

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Review: Before I Wake by Rachel Vincent

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If I Die by Rachel Vincent, UK edition cover.

Title: Before I Wake (Soul Screamers #6)
Author: Rachel Vincent
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
Publisher: MiraInk (6th July 2012)
Blurb:

EVEN DEATH CAN’T GET YOU OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL.

Covering up her own murder was one thing, but faking her life is much harder than ex-teen banshee Kaylee expected. Now she’s fighting to stay visible to the human world and struggling to find time alone with her new reaper boyfriend Tod.

To stay in the mortal realm, Kaylee must reclaim stolen souls and, when her first assignment brings her face-to-face with an old foe, she knows the game has changed. Her immortal status won’t keep her safe. And this time Kaylee isn’t just gambling with her own life . . .

Rating: ***** (5 stars)
Review:

I really enjoyed the fifth book, If I Die, in this series so I was really looking forward to reading Before I Wake. I was NOT disappointed. Vincent took all the things I enjoyed in If I Die and multiplied it in Before I Wake. Like the rest of the series this book is narrated by Kaylee and continues her story.

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Review: Mane Attraction by Nicolette Reed

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Mane Attraction by Nicolette Reed

Title: Mane Attraction (A Soulstealer Novella, Book 1.5)
Author: Nicolette Reed
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Nicolette Reed (14th November 2012)
Source: Nicolette Reed, the author.
Format: E-book
Blurb:

Being a demon trapped in an elves body seemed a prison at first, but Mane has gotten used to his new home in the Riparian forest amongst the elves. When the waters of Lake Mavrovo start to run red it seems a sure sign that the demon king that cast him out may rise again. In order to investigate he will need to navigate the dominion of the selkie, and they aren’t known for playing nice.

Going from an apartment in the suburbs of Seattle to living in a castle at the bottom of a lake in the Realms was one change that Kit had to get used to, being half-selkie was another. Now she has to get used to the changes she undergoes after the selkie sleep. One that involves bloodlust and lust of a whole different kind. A problem she is hoping Mane will help her with.

Rating: ****(4 stars)
Review:

I really enjoyed Fae Hunter (read my review here) the first book in the Soulstealer ‘verse, so when Nicolette kindly offered me the chance to read this book I jumped at the chance. This book really lived up to my expectations. It is very definitely an adult book, as there are “sexy times” in it – so not one for younger readers!

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Review: Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

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Lola and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Title: Lola and the Boy Next Door
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult
Publisher: Dutton Books (29th September 2011)
Blurb:

Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion . . . she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit – the more sparkly, more fun, more wild – the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighbourhood.

When Cricket – a gifted inventor – steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

Rating: **** (4 stars)
Review:

Stephanie Perkins writes the kind of contemporary romance that I enjoy. Lola and the Boy Next Door is a companion piece to Anna and the French Kiss – which I loved (you can find my review here) – so I thought I’d give it a try, and I was NOT disappointed.

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Review: Deadlocked by Charlaine Harris

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Deadlocked by Charlaine Harris, UK edition cover.

Title: Deadlocked (Southern Vampire Mysteries #12)
Author: Charlaine Harris
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Gollancz (1st May 2012)
Blurb:

Sookie has a murder investigation on her hands.

A young girl has died at a vampire party – and it looks as though her lover, Eric, might be responsible. Eric swears he didn’t do it, the police don’t believe him, and even Sookie isn’t so sure. Not is she inclined to take his word for it, not having caught him enjoying the victim’s blood minutes before she was killed.

But something strange is going on. Why had Sookie been asked to come to the fateful party a few minutes early – just to catch Eric in the act? And why had the victim spiked her own blood before approaching  Eric? Was it simply because she wanted to be irresistible, or was it something more sinister?

Sookie will have to find out . . . but it’s the worst moment to investigate, as her Fae family are having troubles of their own and Sookie is, inevitably, drawn in. And there is one last complication. The cluviel dor her grandmother left her. It will grant her one wish, which could fulfil Sookie’s heart’s desire. The only problem is, she still doesn’t know what – or who – her heart truly desires . . .

Rating: *** (3 stars)
Review:

Deadlocked is the twelfth and penultimate book in Charlaine Harris’s Sookie Stackhouse series – which when I first read it was referred to as The Southern Vampire Mysteries, and I still think of it that way. I’ve been reading this series for a while as I’m kinda curious to see how things will play out.

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Review: If I Die by Rachel Vincent

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Soul Screamers #5 Cover

If I Die by Rachel Vincent, UK edition cover.

Title: If I Die (Soul Screamers #5)
Author: Rachel Vincent
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
Publisher: MiraInk (3rd February 2012)
Blurb:

KAYLEE CAN SEE DEATH COMING. NOW SHE MUST FACE HER OWN.

As a teen banshee, Kaylee’s blood-curdling screams are a death knell for others. Yet she never expected to see her own name at the top of a reaper’s list.

Scheduled to die within days, Kaylee knows her magic can’t change her fate. Worse, on top of worrying about her own demise, she needs to save mortal best friend Emma from the clutches of a deadly Netherworld creature.

As Kaylee’s time on earth slips away, troubled banshee boyfriend Nash and his reaper brother Tod refuse to give up on Kaylee. They’re ready to unearth murky family secrets to give her a last chance at life, as their fight to save Kaylee becomes a battle for her love.

Rating: ***** (5 stars)
Review:

I have enjoyed reading the first four books in Rachel Vincent’s Soul Screamer series, so of course I had to get this – the fifth – book. If I Die continues teen banshee Kaylee’s story as she discovers that she is on a reaper’s list.

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Review: Shooting Stars by Allison Rushby

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Shotting Stars by Allison Rushby

Title: Shooting StarsAuthor: Allison Rushby
Genre: Contemporary, Young Adult
Publisher: Walker & Company (28th February 2012)
Blurb:

Behind the flashing lights, the camera reveals all . . . even love.

Meet Josephine Foster, or Zo Jo as she’s known in the biz. The best pint-sized paparazzo out there, Jo loves shooting stars, and she certainly doesn’t mind doing whatever it takes to get that one perfect picture.

But then Jo is sent on a major undercover assignment to shoot Ned Hartnett – teen superstar/heartthrob and the only celebrity who’s ever been kind to her – at an exclusive retreat facility in Boston. Among the cheesy group therapy sessions and embarrassing “team building” exercises, Jo finds there’s more to the reclusive Ned than meets the eye – and maybe more to herself too.

Rating: *** (3 stars)
Review:

What first drew me to this book was the cover – I think it looks absolutely gorgeous! Then I read the blurb, and I was sold. It took me a while to get around to buying this book, but I am very glad that I did. It is a brilliant piece of light fluff.

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Review: The Duff by Kody Keplinger

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The Duff by Kody Keplinger

Title: The Duff (The Designated Ugly Fat Friend)
Author: Kody Keplinger
Genre: Contemporary, Young Adult
Publisher: Hodder Children’s Books (5th April 2012)
Blurb:

Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper knows she’s not the hottest girl at school, but when school jock and resident moron Wesley casually refers to her as a Duff – Designated Ugly Fat Friend – the gloves are off!

If there’s a think line between love and hate then Bianca has crossed it. She just never thought she was capable of breaking anyone’s heart . . .

Rating: *** (3 stars)
Review:

I first heard of this book through The Book Rat. Misty had written a really interesting review about the book (which can be found here), and I really wanted to see what I thought of it myself.

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Review: Shadow Bound by Rachel Vincent

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Shadow Bound by Rachel Vincent, UK edition.

Title: Shadow Bound (An Unbound Novel, #2)
Author: Rachel Vincent
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Mira (1st June 2012)
Blurb:

IF ALL YOU KNOW IS SHADOWS, YOU BEGIN TO FORGET THE LIGHT . . .

Shadow-walker Kori, able to travel from one human shadow to another, keeps her powers hidden from the world. Until supernatural crime lord Tower imprisons her and suppresses her magic. Freedom for her, and her magician sister Kenley, now comes at a price.

The job? Recruit Ian Holt, a man who can manipulate darkness – or kill him.

Yet Ian has a mission of his own: assassinate Kenley, whose unique powers give Tower a deadly advantage in their underworld.

Fighting for two different sides, Kori and Ian can’t deny the desperate magnetic pull that draws them together. But in a world of black and white, of good and evil, can their love survive in the shadows?

Rating: **** (4 stars)
Review:

Shadow Bound is the second book in the An Unbound Novel trilogy. This book focuses on Kori Daniels, who appeared in Blood , Bound, and Ian Holt.

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