Review: ReVamped by Ada Adams

Ada Adams
Paperback, 300 pages
February 20, 2012


I was falling for the one guy in the world I had never 
expected to fall for... And I was falling hard.


A simple mission turned deadly. 

Nineteen-year-old vampire Dawn has led a sheltered life within the confines of her father’s presidential headquarters. Upon being sent on a mission to revamp four goofy misfits into guardians of a peaceful little town of Angel Creek, Dawn believes that all her dreams have finally come true. What starts off as a simple task, turns into something unexpected, changing Dawn’s life forever and leading the action-loving, thrill-seeking vampire teen on a path of mystery, danger and intrigue. 

When a human girl is kidnapped by a group of rogue vamps, Dawn discovers that there is more going on in Angel Creek than meets the eye. And it all connects to Ethan, the cute newcomer who seems too perfect to be true, Sebastian, the mysterious vampire with a turbulent past, and even Dawn herself. Dawn must not only succeed in revamping the troubled recruits, but must also prevent the vampire race from being overtaken by a malevolent villain who has a strange and obsessive fascination with her. As threat escalates, romance blooms, and ghosts from her past begin to surface, Dawn is sure of only one thing: her life will never be the same.

******************

ReVamped is a new and fresh take on the world of Vampires... I loved it!

Adams created a wonderful world of  Vampires that have come out of the coffin. They are now famous and treated like celebrities. ReVamped reminded me a bit of the Sookie Stackhouse books, but for Young Adults! It was a very light read. I was able to finish it in one sitting. The idea that Dawn ( The main character) must go to the small town of Angel Creek to "ReVamp" The new Vampire protectors of the town is a very fun and original idea. I really enjoyed the way Dawn had to take a bunch of Vampires that were lacking in skill and turn them into protectors. She really had a tough time getting them to work together and it was quite humorous.

The Characters in ReVamped were all very different. I really enjoyed reading from Dawn's POV. She was a strong Vampire who could kick some major butt, but was also very sheltered and naive in the way of the world... and boys. I also really likes Sebastian and Ethan, Dawn's two love interests. They both seen to be genuine characters and I look forward to reading more about them both. The 4 new Vampire recruits were a bit less likable. I do wish they had a bit more character building in the book but I did enjoy the way they grew in the story. Except for Brooke, I didn't like her. She seemed too fake and her character was a bit overdone in the stereotypical scene. 

Overall I give ReVamped 4 Hoots! I really enjoyed Dawn's story. I wish there was a bit more details added in and at times the book seemed a bit ruched especially during the climax of the story. All in all ReVamped was a great debut book and I look forward to the next book in the Angel Creek series! 

Interview with CC Hunter + Giveaway of Taken at Dusk

Step into Shadow Falls, a camp for teens with supernatural powers.  Here friendship thrives, love takes you by surprise, and our hearts possess the greatest magic of all.
Kylie Galen wants the truth so badly she can taste it. The truth about who her real family is, the truth about which boy she’s meant to be with—and the truth about what her emerging powers mean.  But she’s about to discover that some secrets can change your life forever…and not always for the better.
    Just when she and Lucas are finally getting close, she learns that his pack has forbidden them from being together.  Was it a mistake to pick him over Derek? And it’s not just romance troubling Kylie. An amnesia-stricken ghost is haunting her, delivering the frightful warning, someone lives and someone dies. As Kylie races to unravel the mystery and protect those she loves, she finally unlocks the truth about her supernatural identity, which is far different—and more astonishing—than she ever could have imagined. 

Thirteen Things You’ll Learn From Taken at Dusk

1.    The only thing worse than trying to help a woman with amnesia remember her name and life is trying to help a dead woman with amnesia remember hers.

2.    Be careful what you wish for—you might just get it . . . and the reality will probably not be anything like the fantasy.

3.    The person you think is your enemy could just turn into a friend who'll do anything to save you.

4.    The scariest thing in the world isn't ghosts or rogue vampires bent on murder—it's falling in love.

5.    Explaining why you have a skunk curled up in your arms to your mom and your old best friend is as easy as eating a brownie while brushing your teeth.

6.    We all make mistakes, which is why it's so important to practice forgiveness.

7.    The only thing worse than a pissed-off shapeshifter is a pissed-off shapeshifter in love.

8.    Sometimes the earth really does have to open up and swallow you whole before you can accept the truth that's right in front of you.

9.    Vampires have no sense of humor . . . especially when they get turned into a kangaroo.

10.  Free will gives us choices, but even making the right choices can't change destiny . . . and learning to accept that can be the most painful lesson of all.

11.  People aren’t always who they say they are, even if you really want them to be.

12.  Sometimes when you try to save someone, they end up saving you instead.

13.  Never get between a dragon and a warlock on the war path.

Q & A with CC Hunter 

1)      

W1) What is your favorite quote from Taken at Dusk?

That’s so hard.  Here are two that I like:

A.“There are no guarantees. Not with love or with life.  But we can’t go through life never taking a risk.”

B.   “Mistakes.  People make them.  And most of the time, they have to pay for them.”

2)      2) Who has been your favorite character in the Shadow Falls series? 

That one is impossible.  It’s like asking a mother which of her children is her favorite?  I’m probably closer to Kylie because the book is mostly about her journey.  However, some of my favorite scenes are those with Perry. He’s such a fun character.  He makes me laugh, and he makes want to make sure he gets his own happy ending with Miranda.  I just hope Miranda will be up for it.

3) If you could choose, what type of paranormal creature would you be? 

It would cool to fly like a vampire, but I wouldn’t like the diet.  So I think I would like to be a witch or fae.  Then again, what Kylie turns out to be is probably the best of all possible supernaturals.  And no, I can’t tell you what it is.  LOL.

4)   Whispers at Moonrise is the forth book in the Shadow Falls series, do you plan to take the series further? If so, whats next? 

Yes, there will be a total of five books in the series. My editor and I haven’t talked too much about the title yet, but I think it will have “Sunrise” in it.  I’ve also suggested that for the cover, we do an image of Kylie by the Texas Gulf Coast with the sunrise reflecting off the ocean.  We’ll see if they go with my idea.

In the last book, Kylie’s journey and quest is complete.  She understands who she is, what she is, and finally knows who she is meant to love.  There will a big surprise at the end, too.  One even Kylie wasn’t expecting.

5) When Shadow Falls is finished, do you plan to continue writing?  Any ideas on what you want to write about after? 

Oh, yes, I will definitely continue writing.  That’s almost like asking me if I plan to continue breathing. Writing is really a part of who I am.  I’ve already pitched a new series to my editor ,and she really liked the idea. It will have a paranormal theme, but different in that it won’t be about your typical supernatural characters.  While I’m looking forward to starting it, I’m also a little sad about saying goodbye to all my Shadow Falls characters.   

Where to find CC Hunter:

Twitter

Website

Facebook

Goodreads

Win a copy of Taken at Dusk

Rules:

Open internationally 

Ends 4-15

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Sea Change by Aimee Friedman

Aimee Friedman
Hardcover, 292 pages
Scholastic inc
June 1, 2009

“I watched the land for as long as I could, until it disappeared behind its shawl of mist, and until I had it fixed in my mind - unchanged, mysterious and beautiful” 

Sixteen-year-old Miranda Merchant is great at science. . .and not so great with boys. After major drama with her boyfriend and (now ex) best friend, she's happy to spend the summer on small, mysterious Selkie Island, helping her mother sort out her late grandmother's estate.

There, Miranda finds new friends and an island with a mysterious, mystical history, presenting her with facts her logical, scientific mind can't make sense of. She also meets Leo, who challenges everything she thought she knew about boys, friendship. . .and reality.

Is Leo hiding something? Or is he something that she never could have imagined?

*************

Sea Change was a light fun read. Full of summer romance and a bit of mystery!

Miranda, an intelligent sixteen year old from New York must go to Selkie Island, a southern island that her mother had summered on as a child. After the death of her grandmother she and her mother must go to get their summer home ready to sell. when Miranda arrives she is met with a mix of southern bells, lush island surroundings and a book that holds a legend to Selkie island that may not be a legend at all. 

Sea Change was a quick read at only 292 pages. It had a quick paced love story and an underlying mythological plot. Miranda's character was likable. She was a very logical thinker and had no time for silly things such as romance and myths. I also liked Leo, He was a sweet guy and seemed very genuine. The others in the book were less likable, Miranda's mother seemed like two different characters. She was different in almost every scene of the book. The other summer residents of Silkie Island were portrayed as shallow and having low character which oddly enough did not take away from the story. They were at times even funny.


Aimee Friedman has a true gift of writing. Her words are beautiful and her descriptions of Silkie Island make me feel like I was there myself. She has a way of transporting the world around you and I truly felt like I was there with Miranda on the beach in the summer air. 

Overall Sea change was likable. It was a quick light read that I did enjoy. Although the book gave little evidence to any myth at all and the ending did not confirm anything, I felt the book was a cute summer love story. I do wish there was a second book that would elaborate on the myths of Silkie Island and of its residents. I give Sea Change 3 Hoots! If you're looking for a quick read to take on the beach, this one is for you! 


  

Author Spotlight: J. Meyers + Giveaway!

Please Welcome 

J. Meyers

Author of

Intangible

1) Could you tell us a bit about yourself.

I stay up too late because it's the only time I get to work or be alone (I have four young kids), can't drink coffee because it makes me grumpy (and I just can't subject my family to that), get excited about great dialogue in movies/tv/books, write down funny things people say in hopes of using it someday (or being inspired by it), and I talk to myself (out loud). (Also, I really like using parentheses.)

2) Could you tell us a bit about Intangible?

It's the story of seventeen year old twins Sera and Luke who have special abilities. She can heal with a touch of her hand, and he can see the future with 100% accuracy. He has a vision of her death and they have to figure out how to change the future--something he's never been able to do.

2) What was the inspiration for writing Intangible?

Two things--Reiki (an alternative hands-on healing therapy) and superheroes. My original idea was to have a girl who could heal, but after flipping through a superhero encyclopedia one night--looking at all the fabulous powers they have--I thought "What if there was a world where teens were cropping up with these superhuman abilities? That would be *so* cool!"

3) Was Sera and Luke's character based on anyone or were they purely made up characters? 

They were purely made up. Of course, there's always a little bit of me in every character, and I'm sure I pick up mannerisms, thoughts, sayings from people I know and from life in general. But no one character in the book was based on any one particular person.

4) What was your inspiration in the cover art for Intangible?

I really wanted an image of a girl who could be Sera because it's mostly her story, and I wanted to give it an other-wordly feel too. I actually came up with three different covers, posted them on my site, and asked people to vote. The one on the book was the winner by far (which surprised me because it wasn't my first choice).

5) Do you plan to have Intangible as a stand alone novel or part of a series?

While the book does stand alone (it's a complete story), it is the beginning of a series. And I have no idea how long the series will be yet--at least another two or three books. I'm also considering writing companion novels/series that focus on other characters. There's so much I can do with this world and concept, and that's really exciting to me.

6) Who is your favorite character in the book? And why?

Oh, gosh. That's like asking me who my favorite child is! I don't have a favorite, but I will say that I *love* Jonas. I love the strength of his convictions, his complicated moral compass, his seemingly unbreakable loyalty. Plus he's totally swoon-worthy. (Oh, yes, I love him.)

7) Do you write to music? If so, what is your favorite?

I wish I could, but I just can't. I have this terrible problem where I start listening to the music and lyrics, singing along, rather than listening to the voices in my head. Um, I mean, the unfolding story in my head. I need silence when I'm writing, I think because I need to focus so closely on what I'm seeing, hearing, and experiencing in my mind and I have to slow it down, examine it from different angles, and get it all down on the page. I can't have anything distracting me away from that. (And I am very easily distractable.)

I do listen to music when I'm thinking about the story or characters, when I'm plotting it all out or trying to solve a story problem. I find a lot of inspiration for characters, story/plot ideas, and moods in music. For Intangible, I listened to the Indigo Girls' song "Jonas & Ezekial" a lot (and that's where Jonas got his name). I also listened to "Hallelujah" sung by K.D. Lang, and "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" by U2. Over and over and over and over again. I don't have an mp3 player, so it's *possible* my family may have gotten a little tired of listening to my very limited song selections for a while. ;-)

8) What do you plan on doing in the future?

Writing! I plan to keep putting out good books for as long as I love it. And I hope that's a long time. :-)

9) What are you reading right now?

I'm reading ReVamped by Ada Adams and The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson. I also have my nose in several research books for the next book in the series.

10) Who are a few of your favorite authors?

Laini Taylor, Kristin Cashore, J.K. Rowling, Frannie Billingsley, Sarah Prineas, Aidan Chambers, Megan Whalen Turner

11) Anything you would like to add?

Thank you so much, Steph! It's been a real pleasure being here. :-)

Twins Sera and Luke Raine have a well-kept secret—she heals with a touch of her hand, he sees the future. All their lives they’ve helped those in need on the sly. They’ve always thought of their abilities as being a gift.
Then Luke has a vision that Sera is killed. That gift they’ve always cherished begins to feel an awful lot like a curse. Because the thing about Luke’s ability? He’s always right. And he can’t do anything about it.

Read my review HERE!

Where to find J.
Facebook
Goodreads
Twitter
Website

Win a signed bookmark and an Intangible tattoo!

Rules: 

There will be 2 winners

Open internationally 

Ends: 4-10-2012

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Intangible by J. Meyers

J. Meyers

Paperback, 318 pages

January 31, 2012

"Shall she be the first to die, Seer?

Yes, I think so. Her healing makes her the more dangerous."

Twins Sera and Luke Raine have a well-kept secret—she heals with a touch of her hand, he sees the future. All their lives they’ve helped those in need on the sly. They’ve always thought of their abilities as being a gift.

Then Luke has a vision that Sera is killed. That gift they’ve always cherished begins to feel an awful lot like a curse. Because the thing about Luke’s ability? He’s always right. And he can’t do anything about it.

*************

Intangible is a unique story filled with a mix of mythical creatures, their secret world called the Relm and twins Sera and Luke who have no idea any of it exists. 


Meyers created a very unique world where all sorts of fairy tale creatures lurk in the shadows. Intangible had a good plot with good twists and turns and plenty of likable characters. I really enjoyed the mix of mythology in this book. Meyers was able to add different aspects of a fairy tale world without it becoming too overwhelming.


I enjoyed the characters in Intangible. Sera and Luke's relationship was strong and I felt they were genuine. They looked out for each other and were a team. Each one would do anything to protect the other and at times jumped into trouble to do so. I also enjoyed Fey ( Luke and Sera's best friend) She was a likable character although I wish she had a bit more of a story in the book. She kind of took a back seat and I would have liked to know a bit more about her. I also really liked Jonas. He was a very mysterious character, but was also very real. He knew when things were right and he stood up for what he believed in. 
I however did not like Marc ( Sera's love interest.) He was always a bit sketchie and had way to many ulterior motives. He was just untrustworthy to me and I really didn't like him. 


All in all Intangible was a good light read. It was not to fast paced and did read a bit slow at times, but still kept me intrigued.  The dialogue felt a bit forced at times, like the use of words like "crass" by a group of teenagers. But beyond those minor things I really enjoyed Intangible and feel it was a fun read. I give Intangible 4 Hoots. I am looking forward to finding out what happens next.   

Review: Partials by Dan Wells

Dan Wells
Hardcover, 472 pages
February 28, 2012
Balzer + Bray


“Happiness is the most natural thing in the world when you have it, and the slowest, strangest, most impossible thing when you don't. It's like learning a foreign language: You can think about the words all you want, but you'll never be able to speak it until you suck up your courage and say them out loud.” 


Humanity is all but extinguished after a war with partials—engineered organic beings identical to humans—has decimated the world’s population. Reduced to only tens of thousands by a weaponized virus to which only a fraction of humanity is immune, the survivors in North America have huddled together on Long Island. The threat of the partials is still imminent, but, worse, no baby has been born immune to the disease in over a decade. Humanity’s time is running out. 

When sixteen-year-old Kira learns of her best friend’s pregnancy, she’s determined to find a solution. Then one rash decision forces Kira to flee her community with the unlikeliest of allies. As she tries desperately to save what is left of her race, she discovers that the survival of both humans and partials rests in her attempts to answer questions of the war’s origin that she never knew to ask. 

Combining the fast-paced action of The Hunger Games with the provocative themes of Battlestar Galactica, Partials is a pulse-pounding journey into a world where the very concept of what it means to be human is in question—one where our sense of humanity is both our greatest liability, and our only hope for survival.

******************

Partials was a unique Dystopian tale. Packed with the threat of engineered Humans who still lurk in the outskirts of humanity, The Voice who is trying to start a civil war and one girl brave enough to try and save the world.


Dan Wells brings a very unique twist to the Dystopian world. Partials is a mix of a post apocalyptic  world mixed with science fiction. I really enjoyed following Kira through her medical training. There was a bit of a medical aspect to this book but I didn't feel the medical terminologies were to foreign or were to hard to understand. Wells did a fantastic job at giving us a detailed concept without overwhelming the story.  


The setting in Partials was one of my favorite. I loved the fact that the world around Kira ( the main character) was still rotting and she was basically living in a world that was slowly withering away.  With one central town that was once Long Island, the survivors have made due the best they could. Having the Senate in charge to maintain order and the Hospital where teenagers work because there is no other options. It all seems like a well rounded society. 


The characters in Partials were fantastic. I really loved the group. Kira, was by far my favorite. She is smart and fiercely loyal to her cause. She works in the Hospital as a medic in training and it is her job to take notes on the maternity floor.  She is constantly surrounded  by dying babies and  all she wants to do is save one. She will do anything to figure out a cure to RM. Even if that means risking her life and the lives of all around her.
Marcus, Kira's boyfriend was also a great character. He was adorable and so in love with Kira. I thought his character was a very real one. He said things and did things that were genuine and it was one of the main reasons I liked him so much. All he really wanted was to be with Kira and keep her safe. Not an easy thing to do. I also really enjoyed Jayden and Xochi, both were strong characters who followed Kira because they were loyal to her. Even the background characters played a part in the story and contributed   to it in there own ways.

All in all Partials was a great story with a very imaginative plot and great characters. The only thing that could have made it better was a bit more details on the characters in the beginning. I felt that I really didn't know what the characters looked like. Besides the basic skin color of Kira that was all I had to go in. Other then that the story was one of my favorites this year and I am looking forward to the next installment. I give Partials 5 Hoots. A very addicting book that I could not put down.  

Review: Scary School by Derek the Ghost + Giveaway!

Derek the Ghost

Hardcover, 237 Pages

HarperCollins

June 21, 2011

“Ms. Fang is the nicest, sweetest teacher at Scary School. She only ate twelve kids last year.”  

You think your school's scary?

Get a load of these teachers:

"Ms. Fang," an 850-year-old vampire
"Dr. Dragonbreath," who just might eat you before recess
"Mr. Snakeskin"--science class is so much more fun when it's taught by someone who's half zombie
"Mrs. T"--break the rules and spend your detention with a hungry "Tyrannosaurus rex"

Plus

Gargoyles, goblins, and Frankenstein's monster on the loose
The world's most frighteningly delicious school lunch

And

The narrator's an eleven-year-old ghost

Join Charles "New Kid" Nukid as he makes some very Scary friends--including Petunia, Johnny, and Peter the Wolf--and figures out that Scary School can be just as funny as it is spooky

*****************

Scary School was a hilarious story filled with a mix of fantastic characters that I have grown to love.

Charles "New Kid" Nukid is in for a big surprise when he starts at Scary School. This school is no ordinary place. Its filled with Vampires, ghosts, a T-Rex and a mix of many other scary creatures. Scary School has a mix of short stories with an underlying main story. Oh, and did I mention its narrated by an eleven year old ghost named Derek! I really loved this book. Although it is a mid-grade book, It had me laughing out loud throughout the entire thing. The characters are so interesting and I very much enjoyed getting to know each of them.

Scary School also has a ton of great illustrations done by Scott M. Fisher. They are done very well and it was great to get a visual of each character. It totally added to the book!

Overall I give Scary School 4+ Hoots! A very original story with a great mix of characters and a great fun read. I loved the humor in this book and all the great pictures. If your looking for a fun book to read or something for your kids, This is the book for you! Look out for the sequel to Scary School, Monsters on the Marsh. Due to release June 26th, 2012!

Check out the Scary School website HERE!

Win a copy of Scary School

by, Derek The Ghost!

Open Internationally

Ends 4-6

a Rafflecopter giveaway