Anna and the French Kiss and Lola and the Boy Next Door

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

In My Mailbox/Book Haul

The Lost Saint by Bree Despain

A family destroyed. A love threatened. An enemy returns. Grace Divine made the ultimate sacrifice to cure Daniel Kalbi. She was infected with the werewolf curse while trying to save him, and lost her beloved brother in the process. Desperate to find Jude, Grace befriends Talbot, a newcomer to town. But as the two grow closer, Grace's relationship with Daniel is put in danger - in more ways than one. Unaware of the dark path she is walking, Grace begins to give into the wolf inside of her - not realizing that an enemy has returned and a deadly trap is about to be sprung. Bree Despain delivers sizzling romance and thrilling action in the heart-pounding sequel to the The Dark Divine.

I reviewed The Dark Divine, the first book in this series, on this blog a couple of years ago. I loved it. I thought it was an fun and exciting read and I couldn't wait for the next installment to be released. However, with all the YA series that are currently on shelves right now, not to mention debut authors, it took me a while to get around to reading The Lost Saint. The first question I asked myself after finishing it last night was "why on earth did I wait so long?" It was fantastic! Maybe not quite as thrilling as the first one but I think it was pretty close.

With the characters and setting being well developed in the first book, it doesn't take long to jump right into the plot of book two. Things start moving along pretty quickly and I loved being back with Grace and Daniel and finding out what had been going on in their world since I last left them. I really liked the turn this novel took in terms of the storyline. The mystery surrounding Jude and what happened to him was well done and I really like the way the supernatural aspect of the story blended so well with the more realistic, natural way Grace's mother was dealing with things at home. I think Despain does a wonderful job in this series at creating such real characters that I found easy to relate to, even with all of the supernatural mythology surrounding them.

I really enjoyed the tension between Grace and Daniel in the story. It was frustrating to read, but in the best way. I love me some good tension between a couple in a novel. It's one of my favorite aspects of a story...seeing how each side of the pair deals with things that are happening and how the way they deal with things effects what happens next. I found myself angry with both Grace and Daniel at different points...but it was great, because I was really engaged in the story.

The end of the book threw a few surprises my way and left me wanting more. I thought I had everything figured out several times but I was never quite right. I can't wait until the next book, The Savage Grace, is released in March!

Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

In My Mailbox/Book Haul

Shift by Jeri Smith-Ready

If you have not ready the previous novel in this series, Shade, I wouldn't continue reading this summary or review. Spoilers for the first novel will be included.

Her boyfriend, Logan, died, and his slides between ghost and shade have left her reeling. Aura knows he needs her now more than ever. She loves Logan, but she can't deny her connection with the totally supportive, totally gorgeous Zachary. And she's not sure that she wants to. Logan and Zachary will fight to be the one by her side, but Aura needs them both to uncover the mystery of her past - the mystery of the Shift. As Aura's search uncovers new truths, she must decide whom to trust with her secrets...and her heart. (from amazon.ca)

If you're read my previous reviews, you know how much I loved Shade, the first novel in th previous novel by Jeri Smith-Ready. This series one that's wonderfully unique and refreshing, holding it's own in the mass of YA paranormal series that exists right now.

Shift picks up shortly after Shade left off. Some time has passed but not a lot, and the story gets moving quickly and you're pulled back into the awesome world the author has created. Since this is the second novel in the series the world and characters have already been developed, and in Shift we get to watch them grow and have exciting new experiences. The story is primarily a paranormal mystery, but the characters have real substance and there are some deep emotions being dealt with here. I really enjoyed the blend of mystery and romance. At the same time I was trying to figure out the history of the shift and Aura's past, I was caught up in the romance and anxious to see where Aura's heart would lead her. I won't say where that was, but I will say that I completely adored Zachary...where were boys like that when I was in school?

I whole heartedly reccomend this series so if you haven't picked it up yet, what are you waiting for? I really don't think you'll be disappointed :o)

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren, and was inspired by Pop Culture Junkie.

The False Princess by Eilis O'Neal

Sorry about the dark video...poor lighting/camera...

In My Mailbox/Book Haul

The Morganville Vampires: Glass Houses and Dead Girls Dance

Morganville is a small college town in the heart of Texas-not a place that exactly screams "hotbed of creatures of the night". But college freshman Claire Danvers is about to discover why, in Morganville, you should never, ever stay out after dark...

Glass Houses
College freshman Claire Danvers moves off campus and into an old house in the small town of Morganville. Her new roommates have her back when the town's deepest secrets come crawling out, hungry for fresh blood...

The Dead Girls' Dance
Claire may have a great roommate and a new boyfriend, but when she's invited to the Dead Girls' Dance all hell breaks loose-literally. Because this time, the living and the dead are ready to tear up the night...

This review is over the first bind up edition of the Morganville Vampires series. I wanted to give this series a try and there are so many of them already released that I decided to get the bind up editions to save a little cash. Plus, I think the bind up covers are much prettier to look at. I'll start out by saying if you're a vampire fan who likes an easy, entertaining read and a fast moving plot - this series is for you.

There's something very different about these books that I can't quite put my finger on. Perhaps it's the writing style. It's very simplistic yet realistic and entertaining. The characters are believable and almost feel as if they could be people you know. The male leads are adorable and sweet and they make you wish you had more guys like that in your life. Just so much CUTENESS. I also really like the fact that the vampires in this story aren't brooding sexy love interests: they're nasty creatures who make citizens run and hide in their homes at night.

One thing I found a little lacking in these first two novels was character growth...I felt the constant need to get to know the characters a little more. I wanted to know why they said the things they did, why they fell for the people they did...where their motivation and passion came from. There were some points in the story that seemed a little cheesy and unrealistic, and I think it was because I didn't understand the action.

Overall, I did enjoy my introduction into Morganville and it's scary goings on. I plan to continue the rest of the series because the plot is entertaining and the end of each book leaves you hanging, wanting more. I am definitely excited to see what happens next as far as the relationships and plot twists are concerned, but also to see what else goes bump in the night!

GRADE: 3.5/5

The Iron King and The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa

I adore this series, and cannot wait to read and review The Iron Queen!!

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

I've done a written review of this before but I'm going to post the vlog anyway...

Nightshade by Andrea Cremer