Welcome to ChiBeReading! New Booktube + Blog

 

...Y'all still here!?!..

Hello my fellow booklovers! Long time no reviews! I cannot believe the last time I posted on here was in 2013 and I just went GHOST! But...

Without further adieu, I would like to welcome you all to...ChiBeReading! 

Hi, I am Chioma aka Chi.

And I be reading 🤗

As I say goodbye to Black and Blue Ink, the blog I called home for so many years, I am excited to invite you all to check out my Booktube channel ChiBeReading, 

and remain a part of my bookish circle here as I go through transitioning Black and Blue Ink the blog to ChiBeReading the booktube + blog!

(one of my favorite videos, me unhauling book because I need space...for more books  🤗)

I sincerely thank all those who have stayed followed to my blog over these years! Your support when I was active meant so much to me and it means so much to mean that you have stuck by Black and Blue Ink.

For a quick summary of what has been going on since your girl dissapeared under non mysterious circumstances ...I graduated college...I am currently in graduate school...I work full time as a Data Scientist...I recently joined booktube...and I am excited to get back into Blogging!

(a recent reads video where I give mini reviews of some great of the books I read...recently)

I have been wanting to get back into the world of book reviews and rejoin the bookish community and all of it's glory for the longest time, but I have been locked out of this account since I posted my last review (thanks Google). So once I finally regained access to this account again, I decided a BLOG REVIVAL & PLATFORM JUMP was in order!

(if you're looking for some new releases by authors of color, I have som recs!)

I am so excited to get back into book reviewing book blogging, interacting with bookish people, and just everything I used to love about the online bookish community. On my booktube I do more aggregate reviews of the books I have read on a weekly or monthly basis, I showcase the books I am looking forward to reading, my favorite books, book recommendations, book hauls/unhauls, and everything in between.

I would love to  post more dedicated reviews here, the blog counterpart to ChiBeReading, and spoiler filled reviews where we can really dive into what happened in the book and have a larger discussion based conversation on the books we have all been reading!

Before this post gets to be 10 miles long, I just want to again thank everyone that has stuck behind Black and Blue Ink over the years and I would greatly appreciate your continued support on my Booktube Channel and as I "rebrand" to ChiBeReading.

Also...what's been going on!? I feel so far removed from the book blogging community so if anyone could fill me in on what's new that would be great! What are the new trends, who's new on the block, I would love to catch-up in the comments!

Looking forward to interacting with everyone and posting here again!

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Posted in: african american,Bookcases,Books on a Budget,In My Mailbox,my blog,Review

Review: Raven by. Allison van Diepen

Title: Raven    
Author: Allison van Diepen 
Age Range: 12+
Publication Date: February 10, 2009
Pages: 304
Genre: Paranormal, Romance
Rating: 9/10

Synopsis from Goodreads: The door that was always closed is opening, and I am consumed. I don’t know if a full minute goes by that I don’t think of him, that I don’t replay how it felt to have his hand brush mine, his eyes look my way. And yet he’s hiding, still. He talks as if my feelings for him are in the past, as if they couldn’t possibly be relevant now that I know the truth about him. But I don’t have that kind of power over how I feel. And if he doesn’t know that, he’s blind." Zin dances with fire in every step, speaks with a honey-sweet voice, and sees with eyes that can peer into your soul. It's no wonder Nicole is madly in love with him. Their friendship is the only thing that saves her from the boredom of school and the turmoil of her family life. But she cannot understand why he keeps her at a distance, even though she can feel his soul reaching out for hers. Zin carries a very old secret. When Nicole uncovers the truth, her love may be the only thing that can save him from it.

Review: Take break dancing, add amazingly diverse characters, sprinkle a less than typical immortality complex, and top it off with a hot as day romance and you have Raven by Allison Van Diepen. I have to admit I was excited and apprehensive about the way Raven was going to play out since it seemed that the theme of the book was going to be a combination of break dancing and immortal characters, not the usual mix. But it worked perfectly, and Allison Van Diepen makes sure of that in the way she relates the deepest most romantic moments of the book as well as the most unexplainable moments, back to break dancing, who knew break dancing was such a vivid topic.

Paranormaly, this book exceeded my expectations 10 fold. We have all heard the idea of the immortality being played on all different kinds of fields, but never like this. It had a history and an Asian Flare behind it that just made is so unique and original. 

This book used one of my favorite kinds of build ups when it comes to the romance, the best friends who secretly love each other, but have something holding them back. In this case it was Zin's immortality and Nicole (or Raven's) lack of it. They say that love transcends time, but its hard to believe that based on the situation of these two.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book so much. What kind of shocked me is that it was a stand-alone, the book's plot was definitely the making of an incredible series, and I really have not seen or read a paranormal/urban fantasy book, especially if it was a romance, that was a stand-alone. It was a refreshing change of pace!!!

Recommendations: Paranormal romance lovers will devour this book in an instant!

Characters: 10/10 
Plot: 9/10
Originality: 10/10 
Entertainment: 10/10 
Ending: 9/10 
Writing Style: 9/10 
Cover: 10/10

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Posted in: paranormal romance,Review

Review: Fade by Lisa McMann

Title: Fade                                                              Author: Lisa McMann
Age Range: 14+
Publication Date: January 28, 2009
Pages: 248
Genre: Paranormal, Romance
Rating: 10/10

Synopsis from Goodreads:  SOME NIGHTMARES NEVER END.

For Janie and Cabel, real life is getting tougher than the dreams. They're just trying to carve out a little (secret) time together, but no such luck. 

 Disturbing things are happening at Fieldridge High, yet nobody's talking. When Janie taps into a classmate's violent nightmares, the case finally breaks open -- but nothing goes as planned. Not even close. Janie's in way over her head, and Cabe's shocking behavior has grave consequences for them both.

Worse yet, Janie learns the truth about herself and her ability -- and it's bleak. Seriously, brutally bleak. Not only is her fate as a dream catcher sealed, but what's to come is way darker than she'd feared....


Initial Thought: " I can't wait to dive into this book, I miss Lisa McMann's writing style!"
End Thought: "Wow...talk about getting down to the harsh truth, that was intense."

Review: In this installment of the Wake series, Lisa McMann does a great job of getting down to the nitty gritty of Janie's and Cabel's lives. I thought Wake was intense in it's portrayal of the lives some teenagers lead as well as how drugs play a part in those lives, but the topic that Lisa McMann discusses in Fade and the way she allows Cabel and Janie to deal with them while they worry about the supernatural problems Janie is dealing with, creates for a very impacting read that really opened my eyes to the distress of some teenagers lives, even though this book is supernatural fiction.

To begin with, the romance felt so real and natural in this book. There wasn't any forces declarations of love, or anything that a teenager wouldn't have really said. It was these two teens brought together by circumstance trying to do what's best for each other. In summary, it wasn't a fake romance. And Cabel represented the way a leading YA guy is supposed to act, at the same time demonstrating the way a protective, but not insanely protective, boyfriend would act towards his girlfriend. He really tries to protect Janie, and take the burden of her dreams and all she is facing, on himself, and this ends up affecting and changing their relationship drastically. 

To be honest, I actually found some parts of this book hard to read. Not because of the writing style at all, but because of the topics it addressed. Sexual predators, rape, chronic depression, these are really intense and controversial areas of writing and they were demonstrated in such a vivid and realistic way that I had to set the book down a few times.

In all I loved this book, the romance didn't take away from the plot, and the plot didn't take away from the romance. Janie really grows as a character in this book as she learns a lot about how her life is going to play out with this gift/curse. 

Recommendations: All who loved the first book should definitely read this. I love it when the next book in a series surpasses the first. And to those who are fans of Ellen Hopkins, this book isn't as gritty and raw as Ellen Hopkins, but it does address the same topics!

Characters: 10/10 
Plot: 10/10
Originality: 10/10 
Entertainment: 10/10 
Ending: 10/10 
Writing Style: 10/10 
Cover: 8/10 (Am I the only one who has no idea what that thing in the center is?)

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Posted in: drugs,Review,supernatural,supernatural romance

Review: Wherever Nina Lies by. Lynn Weingarten

Title: Wherever Nina Lies                                       Author: Lynn Weingarten
Age Range: 13+
Publication Date: February 1, 2009
Pages: 288
Genre: Mystery, Romance
Rating: 8/10

Synopsis from Goodreads: Nina was beautiful, artistic, wild . . . and adored by her younger sister, Ellie. But one day, without any warning, Nina disappeared.

Two years later, Ellie can't stop thinking about her sister. Although everyone else has given up hope that Nina will return, Ellie just knows her sister is out there, somewhere. If only Ellie had a clue where to look.

And then she gets one, in the form of a mysterious drawing tucked into the pages of a book. Determined to find her sister, Ellie takes off on a crazy, sexy, cross-country road trip with the only person who believes she's got a chance -- her hot, adventurous new crush.

Along the way, Ellie finds a few things she wasn't planning on. Like love.
Mysteries. Lies. And something far ore shocking -- the truth. 


Initial Reaction: "Hmm a romantic mystery...this could be interesting"
End Reaction: "WoooW!!! I did not see that coming, I still can't believe it!!!"

Review: I am officially addicted...to mystery books. What book is it that caused my sudden relapse in this addiction (which I got over after I read every single Nancy Drew book), Wherever Nina Lies by. Lynn Weingarten. This book is so compelling, that I couldn't help but get sucked in after the first few chapters. The mystery and intrigue begins from the very beginning and plays out like a mystery game, where you use the clues you are given throughout the book to try and make your own conclusion on the ultimate question: is Nina dead?

The book is told through Nina's little sister Ellie, whom after 2 years still has not given up the will to find her sister and the hope that she is still somewhere out there. And once she finds 1 clue, just one little thing that adds to her reassurance that her sister is still out there, she sets out on a rode trip in search of her. And what memento accompanies her on her instantaneous desire to drive to another state in search of her missing sister; a hot guy whom she has known for two days. But you know, finding yourself suddenly a little closer to solving the mystery of your missing sister will cloud your judgement that way.

I admire Ellie's character so much. I mean many people might have gave up or lost hope of ever seeing their loved one again, but Ellie never really gave up in trying to find her sister. And she chose not to let anything come in the way of her figuring out what happened. I could really tell that throughout the book, it wasn't only about finding her sister. It was about restoring the faith in someone she had admired her whole life, finding an answer to how,  if her sister was still alive, how she could just abandon her and their mother in that way. 

Overall, I loved this book. I loved it so much because it made me think. It really was like a game where you use the clues to come up with your own conclusion while comparing it to what the main character's is coming up with. It was a fun, emotional, and still very deep mystery book that I will definitely be re-reading over and over again.

Recommendations: I recommend this book to all mystery lovers, and romance junkies!!!

Characters: 9/10 
Plot: 9/10
Originality: 9/10 
Entertainment: 8/10 
Ending: 10/10 
Writing Style: 9/10 
Cover: 10/10

 If You Like This, You Might Enjoy...
1-800-Where-R-U Series by. Meg Cabot
Dead is the New Black Series by. Marlene Perez 

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Posted in: Mystery,Review,romance

Review: Captivate by. Carrie Jones

Title: Captivate                                                            Author: Carrie Jones
Age Range: 12+
Publication Date: January 5th 2010
Pages: 273
Genre: Paranormal, Romance
Rating: 9/10


Synopsis from goodreads: Zara and her friends knew they hadn't solved the pixie problem for good. Far from it. The king's needs grow deeper every day he's stuck in captivity, while his control over his people gets weaker. It's made him vulnerable. And now there's a new king in town.

A turf war is imminent, since the new pixie king, Astley, is moving in quickly. Nick nearly killed him in the woods on day one, but Zara came to his rescue. Astley swears that he and Zara are destined to be together, that he's one of the good guys. Nick isn't buying it, though Zara isn't as sure -- despite herself, she wants to trust the new king. But it's a lot more than her relationship with Nick that is at stake. It's her life -- and his. 


Review: Captivate is a remarkable book, as a sequal to Need, I have to say the second surpassed the first,  leaving me even more excited about what else is comimg up in the series. Romantic, suspensful, and captivating (pun-intended), Captivate is a must read sequal that takes readers more into the faerie realm introduced in the first book and into the minds of new and old characters leaving you needing (another intended pun) more!!!

Zara, the spunky main character who has just recently lost her step-father, learned she is part faerie, and found out her real father is a faerie King that has been preying on little boys, is one of the many characters I fell back in love with after the months between reading Need and Captivate. In my opinion, Zara grew more as a character than anyone else in the book,  and that made me love the book so much more. From the naive girl in the first book (remember- the girl who runs towards the unnatural voice in the woods in the middle of the night calling her name), to an incredibly strong leading character who isn't afraid of taking risks and plunging into danger for the sake of those she loves. Watch out Rose (Vampire Academy) Zara's now in the running for my favorite leading character!!!

Nick, Issie, and Devyn also grow in this book. Issie is still the loveable best friend who would still do whatever it is to help her supernatural friends even if she isnt exactly sure what she is doing. I stilled loved Devyn, I jumped up and down when he finally got out of his wheelchair, but then sat immediately back down when I realized it wasn't Issie he was sharing this special moment with. I mean gosh, Devyn is the eptiome of how clueless guys really get. All through the book I was yelling at him "How can you do that to loveable Issie?". And Nick is still the overprotective "hero guy" he feels he needs to be throughout the book.

Where do I start with this plot? So much is going on. Escapes, new Kings, a developing love triangle, transformations, discoveries, and so many near death experiences, and the new King Astley is at the center of it all. To be honest, I really didn't like him at all. Not only because he threatened my beloved Nick's place in Zara's heart, but because he seems so fake. Everything he said seemed to be totally ingenuine, and just for the sake of getting on Zara's good side. It was annoying. Every chapter brings a new faerie tip, and shocking gasps making you want to change pages even faster!!!

The ending was the perfect setup for the next book. Though some might think it was just a way to guarantee readers buy the next book, I don't think of it like that at all. I am even more eager for the next book in this series than I was for the second, and I expect it to be just as great in every way!!!


I Recommend: I recommend this book to all lovers of paranormal romances, lovers of the first book, fae, love triangles, and a book that you will definately not be able to put down!!!


Characters: 9/10
Plot: 9/10
Originality: 9/10
Entertainment: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Writing Style: 9/10
Cover: 10/10
Total: 9/10




 

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Posted in: faeries,paranormal romance,Review

Review: Need by. Carrie Jones

Title: Need                          
Author: Carrie Jones
Reading Level: 13+
Publication Date: December 2008
Pages: 306
Series: Captivate (sequal)
Rating: 9/10

Synopsis (BN.com): Zara White suspects there’s a freaky guy semi-stalking her. She’s also obsessed with phobias. And it’s true, she hasn’t exactly been herself since her stepfather died. But exiling her to shivery Maine to live with her grandmother? That seems a bit extreme. The move is supposed to help her stay sane . . . but Zara’s pretty sure her mom just can’t deal with her right now.

She couldn’t be more wrong. Turns out the semi-stalker is not a figment of Zara’s overactive imagination. In fact, he’s still following her, leaving behind an eerie trail of gold dust. There’s something not right—not human—in this sleepy Maine town, and all signs point to Zara.

In this creepy, compelling breakout novel, Carrie Jones delivers romance, suspense, and a creature you never thought you’d have to fear.
  
Review: Need is a mesmoririzing tale of fairies and shapeshifters coupled with a truly unique story of paranormal romance.

Zara was one of the most unique characters I have ever read about. She just gets weirder and more interesting with each page. First off dealing with the death of a parent, and then having her mother ship her off across the country to help her cope has to be one of the hardest things to deal with. To top it all off there is a mysterious man followig her cross country and stealing little boys from Maine. Zara finds solace from all these mishapts in her life by reciting phobias, a weird obsession of hers.  Zara is a strong herorine. With all the dangers placed in front of her and all the time trying to move on with her life past her father's death. She still stands strong throughout the pages, and is willing to sacrifice herself for the sake of her loved ones. Though sometimes I find myself yelling at the book for her reckless decsions, I mean who runs towards the scary voice calling your name in the woods, I know I don't.

The story pulls together very well. There is always a linkage. From discovering the true reason her mother sent her to Maine, who her stepfather real is, who her new love interest Nick real is, and the identity of the mysterious man who has been following her and leaving no trace except for gold dust. I loved the shy romance between Nick and Zara, it was so cute and dangerous at the same time as they find out the dark secrets they have been hiding from eachouther. So much mysterious creatures, new identity's, shocking discoveries, in every page. 

The ending pretty much pulls the book together, but one solution leads to a new string of problems that I suspect will be the basis of the sequal. I recommend this book to all fans of paranormal, romance, and mystery books.

Characters: 9/10
Plot: 10/10
Originality: 10/10
Entertainment: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Writing Style: 10/10
Cover: 10/10
Total: 9/10 

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Posted in: paranormal romance,Review,Series

Review: He's With Me by. Tamara Summers

Title: He's With Me                                    Author: Tamara Summers
Reading Level: 13+
Publication Date: May 2007
Pages: 224
Series: Island Summer (I Heart Bikinis Series), What's Hot (I Heart Bikinis #3)
Rating: 8.5/10

Synopsis (from BN.com): Lexie has always had a crush on Jake, her brother Colin's best friend. But she knows Jake thinks of her like a sister, and has never made a move. But when beautiful alpha girl Bree McKennis sets her sights on Jake, he has to come up with a plan to turn her down...without incurring the wrath of the most popular girl in school. That's when Colin comes up with the plan: Lexie can pretend to be Jake's girlfriend. But Lexie has never had a real boyfriend, let alone a pretend one! Can she manage to convince Jake that they're meant to be...and avoid getting killed by Bree McKennis.

Review:  He's With Me by. Tamara Summers is an incredibly cute light read that will keep you laughing and indentifying with the main character throughout the book.

This book was one of the cutest books I have ever read. All Lexie wants is for her brother's best friend Jake to see her for more than his best friends sister. And when he asks her to pretend to be his girlfriend in order to rid the advances of one of the school's evil popular girls, she thinks this is her chance. I loved Lexie throughout the book. She is an easy character to sympathize with. Even if you are that usually confident girl, there is always that one guy that can make you for get yourself for a while, and Lexie is the perfect example of this.   Jake was the perfect leading male. I found myself shouting at him for being so oblivious, but then I had to remember, he is a guy.

The book just got better and better as I read. I kept finding yourself wondering if they will actually end up together in the end. Or will her new semi- kind of love interest take Jake's place in Lexie's heart. There are so many bumps going along with this pretend relationship, that Lexie begins to lose hope that there could ever be a real relationship between the two. I laughed, I oowed, and mostly I awwed at how hilarious and cute this book was.

In the end this book was quick light read, with a cute ending to tie it all together. Everything about this book keeps you incapable of putting it down. I reccommend this book to all those who love a good romantic comedy, a hilarious book, and a light read!!!

Characters: 8/10
Plot: 10/10
Originality: 10/10
Entertainment: 10/10
Ending: 8/10
Writing Style: 8/10
Cover: 6/10
Total: 8.5/10
 

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Posted in: Review,Romantic Comedy

Review: Dead is the New Black

Title: Dead is the New Black                                           
Author: Marlene Perez
Reading Level: 12+
Publication Date: September 2008
Pages: 208
Series: Dead is so Last Year, Dead is a State of Mind
Rating: 8/10

Synopsis: Welcome to Nightshade, California; a small town full of secrets. It's home to the pyschic Giordano sisters, who have a way of getting mixed up in mysteries. During their investigations, they run across everything from pom-pom-shaking vampires to shape-shifting boyfriends to a clue-spewing jukebox. With their psychic powers and some sisterly support, they can crack any case.

Teenage girls are being mysteriously attacked all over town, including at Nightshade High School, where Daisy Giordano is a junior. When Daisy discovers that a vampire may be the culprit, she can't help but suspect head cheerleader Samantha Devereaux, who returned from summer break with a new look; Samantha appears a little . . . well, dead, and all the most popular kids at school are copying her style.

Is looking dead just another fashion trend for Samantha, or is there something 
more sinister going on? To find out, Daisy joins the cheerleading squad. 

Review: Dead is the New Black is a short but great read. When I picked up this book at my library, first off loved the title, but since it was so short, I anticipated a cute very light read. Although this book is small it packs a huge punch, that you will have no choice but to go pick up the rest of these books in a hurry!!!

The main thing I loved about this book was how the mystery and suspence never stopped. Marlene Perez adds a new elements throughout the book keeping you guessing and trying to figure out who did it before the main character. Daisy comes from a family of phycics, and being the only non-phycic she really wants to find a way to help her mom with the new case. When a bunch girls from the cheerleading squad at her school start coming on with mysterious illnesses, she decides to there's only one thing she can do to help; infiltrate. I loved Daisy throughout the book. She was a likeable character, althought I find a lot of her choices a little reckless, and daring, but they actually made me like her more.

The plot for this book was fast paced, but not rushed. Along with the attacks going on Daisy has to worry about her sister dating a werewolf, her mom still searching for their missing father whom Daisy is convinced ran off with another woman, and her new best friend who seems to be becoming more than a best friend. But all elements were pieced together tastefully. The author keeps you guessing and trying to decipher the clues, as a good suspence book should. Overall it was a very enjoyable read.

I dont usually read suspence, but I cant deny anything paranormal, and this book fit the two together perfectly. It had the mystery, and suspence, accompanied with a little romance on the side. This book was really an interesting read, and it was the perfect set up for the next book. I can tell the next books in the series will be even better now that all the characters have solid roles and seem more developed.

The only thing I didnt really like about the book was that there seemed to be a lack of setting development. I couldn't really understand how one minute her town is just the typical small town, and the second minute the news is reporting there is a soul life sucking vampire is on the loose and no one really gives it a second thought. I couldn't really understand how the paranomal element just seemed to fit in too perfectly without any speculation.

The ending of the book was good. The mystery was resolved but I stilled had more questions that I wanted answered which I suspect will be done in the next books!!!

I reccommend  this book to all fans of suspence, mystery, paranormal, romance, and a quick read.

Characters: 8/10
Plot: 7/10
Originality: 8/10
Entertainment: 9/10
Ending: 8/10
Writing Style: 7/10
Cover: 8/10
Total: 8/10
 



 

 

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Posted in: paranormal romance,Review,Series

Review: Beautiful Creatures by. Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Title: Beautiful Creatures                                             
Author: Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Reading Level: 12+
Publication Date: December 2009
Pages: 563
Series: Yes!!! Hopefully there will be a sequal.
Rating: 10/10  I know its rare!!!

Synopsis: There were no surprises in Gatlin County.
We were pretty much the epicenter of the middle of nowhere.
At least, that's what I thought.
Turns out, I couldn't have been more wrong.
There was a curse.
There was a girl.
And in the end, there was a grave.

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

Review:  I began reading this book with very high expectations, which usually isn't a good thing because it sets me up for dissapointment, but not in this case. Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl did not dissapoint with this enchanting tale of finding love in the dull town you wish to escape, and discovering that this dull town holds secrets you never dreamed of.
            First of all, this books was in a male perspective. Which from the begginning made me hesitant to read it. Nothing against guys, but I always thought a book would always be better told from a girls point of view. But not in this book, I cant imagine Beautiful Creatures being as great as it was without being told in Ethan's point of view. In romances, especially paranormal romances, there is always that aspect of the tall mysterious male love interest throughout the book. That is not lost in this book, as the mysterious male interest is now a female. I ended up loving Ethan from the beginning. His attitude towards his town, the death of the his mom, and his new love interest is fun to follow throughought the story. He was the most relatable character for me throughout the book. Lena was spectacular. She was a real herorine. Very mysterious and closed up, with a new secrect uncovered every chapter. Macon I still have to say is my favorite character. Although his isn't a main character, I couldnt help but love Lena's uncle throughout the story.
             From the beginning to the end there isn't a dull moment in this book. There is always something going on, always a new part of the mystery to unfold, and Ethan finds out the small and boring town that he grew up in isn't as it once seemed to him. From the newfound beings he discovers, to the magical powers and developments in Lena, this book is filled with new intrigue.
           The ending of this book was nothing short of phe·nom·e·nal!!! You think the rest of the book is good, get ready to be even more amazed as even more action comes in the ending. I cannot count how many times I gasped in shock, in the last few chapters. Back and forth between the new and old characters secrets revealed, identitys revealed, and shocking betrayals. The end left me falling off my bed, and desperate for a sequal.
          In the end, I know for sure this book will remain one of my favorites forever. I loved reading it all the way through, and will continue re-reading and re-reading until the sequal comes out (I have heard different things on whether or not there is going to be a sequal, so cross those fingers!!!). I reccommend this book to all fans of paranormal, romantic, suspence, and a book that will wow and amaze you days, weeks, months after you have finished reading it!!!



Characters: 10/10
Plot: 10/10
Originality: 10/10
Entertainment: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Writing Style: 10/10
Cover: 10/10
Total: 10/10





 

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Posted in: paranormal romance,Review,Series

Review: The Pace by. Shelena Shorts

Title: The Pace
Author: Shelia Shorts                        Publication Date: August 2009      Pages: 302                          Series: The Pace, The Broken Lake        Rating: 9.3  out of 10

Synopsis: Weston Wilson is not immortal and he is of this world. But, aging is not part of his existence, and eighteen-year-old Sophie Slone is determined to find out why. In doing so, she could also uncover something about her own life expectancy that she may not want to know. Suddenly, immortality will mean everything and nothing all at the same time.

Intensely fascinating and rich with determination, The Pace brings together romance, mystery, and suspense in a compelling bond that is sure to have readers asking for more.
 

 Review: I would just like to start out by saying I really really loved this book. The topic of immortality is really becoming widespread in the YA community. Shelena Shorts is adding to that genre, but with a new original twist that has not tey been explored. The Pace combines a truly orignial plot with an enthralling romance that will keep your nose in the book from the first pages to the very last (which ends with a killer cliffhanger by the way).

The topic of immortality usually comes with the use of paranormal characters such as vampires, werewolves, fairies,  the whole shabang.  But in this book the immortal character is human. Weston's current state of being is due to a medical experiment that didn't go as planned and now causes Weston to age 1 year every 30 years. This was a new way to go about exlaining the topic, and with the scientific backup the give in the story, I actually found myself thinking as if the story was true, that something like this could occur in real life (yeah its that good).

Sophie is such a loveable character. She is very shy and content with just being herself by herself. But don't let the shyness cloud your judgement of her, she is a very strong-willed character who shows it in many aspects in her relationship with Weston and the lifechanging discoveries she encounters along the way. Weston is the smooth, smart, good looking, college boy. He is a great leading male character that I couldnt help fall in love with as the story went on.

The plot, the plot, oh the undescibeable plot.  The plot of this book was just great. The immortanlity and the issues that come with it on Westons part is very fun to read. And as the story goes on and Weston's and Sophies lives start to become more and more intertwined, the plotline just grows adding more twists that I hope to be unravelled in the next book in the series. The best part of the plot for me was the romance. I really liked how the romance between Sophie and Weston didn't feel rushed at all. It wasn't that undeniable instant attraction that is so common in books nowadays (dont get me wrong I love it) but in this book, you can actually see how their relationship blossoms and how Weston begins to trust Sophie with more and more of his sercrets as they fall in love.

The ending was an added pleasure to the book. Just as some questions are beginning to be solved, new ones come up. The ending was added a suspenceful and thrilling aspect to the book that I was not expecting. It goes to show how a book can pull you in from the front cover to the very last page. And the ending was also a great way to set up for the next book which I am anticipating to be just as good as this one.

All in all this was a great read. I reccommend it to all fans of romance, and paranormal readings. 

Characters: 9/10
Plot: 9/10
Originality: 10/10
Entertainment: 9/10
Ending: 10/10
Writing Style: 8/10
Cover: 10/10
Total: 9.3/10 

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Posted in: paranormal romance,Review

Review: Paper Thin by. Shelia M.Goss

Okay first off I would like to take Shelia Goss for providing me with my first author requested review copy of a book. The book was an e-book. And heres the thing with e-books, I really cant stare at a monitor for more than ten minutes straight without having to avert my eyes somewhere else and risk extreme dizziness. So I ended up just printing out all the pages of the book and reading it off paper. It was a change of pace carrying a huge stack of printer paper instead of a book, but still it was completely work it

Title: Paper Thin

Author: Shelia M. Goss                        Publication Date: January 26, 2010        Pages: 87                                                  Series:  The Ultimate Test, Splitsville

Rating: 7.7 out of 10

Synopsis: Sierra’s weight isn’t the only issue in this page-turner.

Drama follows the three friends into their sophomore year. Once again, their friendship is tested. During the growth process, Sierra learns the importance of being average-size and healthy, rather than starving to be paper thin.

 Review: How refreshing. Paper Thin was a refreshing contemparary read that I think every girl in middle school through high school should read.
         Paper Thin discusses the important issue of weight in young girls that has since been an ependemic. With the increasing about of girls in the United States with eating disorders, I felt the topic of this book was well fitting. 
          Sierra a highschool sophmore is foocused on making her sophomore year her best and the first thing that comes with this new change is her weight. Sierra has always struggled with her weight, and having a stepmother who is overally obsessed with thinking that being skinny is the key to beauty. In the beginning Sierra takes the high road and decides to start losing weight the healthy way with cutting portions and eliminating junk food. But as school starts and she starts comparing herslef to every other girl at school, her obsession with her weight takes a very negitive turn. 
            The main thing I like about this book was the realists of this book.  Partucularly in the characters. The friendship beteween Sierra, Jasmine, and Britney is very real. Of course there is that bonded friendship that will last forever, but then again in reality there is always that underlying feeling of jealousy and an urge to outshine one another that is present in every friendship, and I love how that is not sugar coated in this book. 
           The plot is as drama filled as a drama book can get, from the friendship problems, to the family, relationship, and severe teenage problems on top of the main issue of Sierra's weight, there are always many conflicts and problems going on all over the book.
            The ending of the book was not as I expected. I expected a very complex ending to all of the issues going on throughout the book. But I felt that the ending was too fast. All the problems just seemed to go away in last couple of pages. It was a little rushed, but it did tie everything together, just quickly.
             In the end, this book was a way more interesting way to here educate young ladies on how over obsessing with your weight can take over your life in a very negitive way. I reccomend this book to all teenage girls.

Characters: 8/10
Plot: 7/10
Originality: 8/10
Entertainment: 8/10
Ending: 7/10
Writing Style: 7/10
Cover: 9/10
Total: 7.7/10

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Posted in: Review

Review: A Great and Terrible Beauty

Title: A Great and Terrible Beauty

Author: Libba Bray 

Publication Date: December 9, 2003 

Pages: 403

Series: A Great and Terrible Beauty, Rebels Angels, The Sweet Far Thing

Rating: 8.7/10- Great Book!

Synopsis from amazon.com

           A Victorian boarding school story, a Gothic mansion mystery, a gossipy romp about a clique of girlfriends, and a dark other-worldly fantasy--jumble them all together and you have this complicated and unusual first novel.

Gemma, 16, has had an unconventional upbringing in India, until the day she foresees her mother’s death in a black, swirling vision that turns out to be true. Sent back to England, she is enrolled at Spence, a girls’ academy with a mysterious burned-out East Wing. There Gemma is snubbed by powerful Felicity, beautiful Pippa, and even her own dumpy roommate Ann, until she blackmails herself and Ann into the treacherous clique. Gemma is distressed to find that she has been followed from India by Kartik, a beautiful young man who warns her to fight off the visions. Nevertheless, they continue, and one night she is led by a child-spirit to find a diary that reveals the secrets of a mystical Order. The clique soon finds a way to accompany Gemma to the other-world realms of her visions "for a bit of fun" and to taste the power they will never have as Victorian wives, but they discover that the delights of the realms are overwhelmed by a menace they cannot control. Gemma is left with the knowledge that her role as the link between worlds leaves her with a mission to seek out the "others" and rebuild the Order. A Great and Terrible Beauty is an impressive first book in what should prove to be a fascinating trilogy.

 Review:

           Libba Bray is a very engaging writer, who truly draws you in with her descriptions and her unique writing style in this 1800's Victiorian Era. A Great and Terrible Beauty is a great beginning to what I expect to be one of the best trilogy's I have ever read. I usually do not read anything historical at all. But recently i've had the wimsical need to add a few to my library and so I got this book. I found this book to be very unique in its plot line. First of all,  very rarely are the historical and paranormal genres combined, but Libbra Bray does it beautiful way. The main character Gemma was a great character to read about. She is a strong leading female character who would rather be her own person and run her life the way she wants it than to conform with the ways that society has categorized woman to be in. The paranormal theme is a unique take on witches. Gemma starts having visions which she cant control and cant predict. The plot really starts to develop as Gemma learns more to the origin of her visions and the dangers and responsibilities she has along with them . As Gemma along with her friends become more dependent on the newfound discovery of their magic consequences that they are not sure how to deal with also come along. Adding mystery and suspence to the novel as well. Overall this was a great book to read, and I cant wait to pick up the next in the series.

With the realms, magic, secret societies, gypsies, and the occasional romantic spark, this book was a interesting book and reccomended to all those who love paranormal, and historical reads.

Characters: 9/10
Plot: 8/10
Originality: 10/10
Entertainment: 7/10
Ending: 9/10
Writing Style: 10/10
Cover: 8/10
Total: 8.7/10
 

  
  

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Posted in: Paranormal,Review

Review: A Countess Below Stairs

Title: A Countess Below Stairs
Author: Eva Ibbotson
Publication Date: October 2007
Pages: 383
Others by the Author: A Song for Summer, The Reluctant Heiress
Rating: 5.8/10

Synopsis from BN.com:
After the russian revolution turns her world topsy-turvy, Anna, a young russian countess, has no choice but to flee to england. penniless, Anna hides her aristocratic background and takes a job as servant in the household of the esteemed westerholme family, armed only with an outdated housekeeping manual and sheer determination. Desperate to keep her past a secret, Anna is nearly overwhelmed by her new duties—not to mention her instant attraction to rupert, the handsome earl of westerholme. to make matters worse, rupert appears to be falling for her as well. As their attraction grows stronger, Anna finds it more and more difficult to keep her most dearly held secrets from unraveling. And then there's the small matter of rupert's beautiful and nasty fiancée. . . . 


Review:
         This is one of the first historical fiction books I have read, and to be completely honest it was as expected. Historical fiction has to be my least favorite genre to read, but I decided to give this author a chance since her books seemed to have intruging plots. But as I said, the book was as expected. That isnt neccesarily a bad thing, but not a good thing either. The book was described to be a historical romance, but the outcome wasn't exactly that. It is mostly just a long description of how it was to be a housekeeper in the 1800's to a wealthy family.  I found the main character, Anna, to be a nice character to read about, but she wasnt really developed enough, so I really get to know her as a character. That goes the same for the rest of the characters, there were so many characters, about a new one introduced in each chapter, that I couldnt keep track of who was who, which made following the story a bit hard. I find that the book kind of dragged on until I had read 2/3 of the book and the plot finally started to kick in, and then it got a little more interesting. Even then, I wouldnt really call this book a romance. But I did quite enjoy her descriptions and her imagery in her writing style. It was very descriptive and I really could get the feel of how it might have looked when the story took place. Even though I didnt thoroughly enjoy the book myself, I would still reccomend it to anyone who enjoys a good descriptive historical fiction book.

Characters: 6/10
Plot: 4/10
Originality: 6/10
Entertainment: 4/10
Ending: 6/10
Writing Style: 8/10
Cover: 7/10
Total: 5.8/10
 

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Posted in: Historical Romance,Review