Review: Waterfall by Lisa T. Bergren

 

Waterfall

The River of Time Series #1

Written by Lisa T. Bergren

Available NOW!

Published by David C. Cook
*Arc copy provided by Amazon Vine in exchange for an honest review* 

Summary from Goodreads:
"Lisa Tawn Bergren's new YA series, River of Time, is romantic, historical fiction in which the plucky heroine doesn't have to fear a vampire's bite but must still fight for her life.

In Waterfall, American teenager Gabi Betarrini accidently finds herself in Fourteenth-Century Italy . . . Knights. Swords. Horses. Armor. And Italian hotties. Most American teens want an Italian vacation, but the Betarrini sisters have spent every summer of their lives there with their archaeologist parents. Stuck on yet another hot, dusty dig, they are bored out of their minds... until they place their hands atop handprints in an ancient tomb and find themselves catapulted into the Fourteenth Century and in the middle of a fierce battle between knights bent on killing one another."

My Thoughts:

This is the first book I have ever read that is marketed as 'christian fiction' and I honestly didn't know what to expect. I will say that this book really took me by surprise!  I enjoyed it from cover to cover.  To me, it didn't seem like christian fiction.  There were references to God here and there, and Gabi prayed more than once, but it flowed with the direction and setting of the story.  Waterfall was just a great read!  I was fascinated with the time period that the majority of the story took place in.  I have always loved medieval history and culture and this book made you feel as if you were really there.  The author did such a great job creating the medieval setting, characters, and overall tone of the book.  I imagine that tons of research must have went into writing this!  I enjoyed so many of the characters!  Marcello, Luca, and Fortino made my heart melt and Gabi was such a strong female protagonist.  She was able to think on her feet quickly and not afraid to defend herself.  I did find it a little difficult to believe that at only 17 years old she would be able to step back into medieval Italy and blend in with the language, daily practices, and customs that were so dramatically different than her modern day life.  Granted she knew a lot from history lessons with her famous archaeologist parents and courses in school- but would that really be enough to blend in?  Aside from that, I found the pace of the story fast and the plot exciting.  The men in the book were beyond perfect... chivalry at its best!  Who wouldn't want their own knight in shining armor!  I was lost in this story and in its forbidden romances, betrayals, and vicious battles!  I predicted the ending pretty acurately, but that didn't take away from it at all.  I cannot wait until the second book in this series releases so I can see what Gabi and her sister do next!  Book two in The River of Time Series is titled, Cascade, and is scheduled for release on June 1st, 2011.  I highly recommend this book to any readers that love historical fiction or just a good clean 'sweep you off your feet' romance!  

Review: Halo by Alexandra Adornetto

 
Halo
Written by Alexandra Adornetto
Release Date: August 31, 2010
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
*arc copy provided the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I remember the first time I laid eyes on this cover ~ let's just say it was love at first sight!  I LOVE books about angels and this one sounded interesting!  It is really long (496 pages) and the author is really young (17!), so I wasn't sure what to expect.  I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book!

Summary from Goodreads:

"Nothing much happens in the sleepy town of Venus Cove. But everything changes when three angels are sent from heaven to protect the town against the gathering forces of darkness: Gabriel, the warrior; Ivy, the healer; and Bethany, a teenage girl who is the least experienced of the trio. They work hard to conceal their true identity and, most of all, their wings. But the mission is threatened when the youngest angel, Bethany, is sent to high school and falls in love with the handsome school captain, Xavier Woods. Will she defy the laws of Heaven by loving him? Things come to a head when the angels realize they are not the only supernatural power in Venus Cove. There′s a new kid in town and he′s charming, seductive and deadly. Worst of all, he′s after Beth."

My Thoughts:
I will admit that I have been on an angel kick lately-  I read three books back to back that featured my favorite celestial beings!  I was excited about this book and I was definitely in major cover love!!  The first thing that I noticed after receiving the book was its length.  It is just under 500 pages- this can be a good thing (if the book is really good and you don't want it to end!) or it can make it very hard to get through.  I certainly didn't have trouble finishing this book, but I did feel like some scenes could have been omitted without taking away from the character/plot development.  Adornetto did pay very close attention to every detail when it came to developing the main characters.  What made this book unique for me was that the main character was an angel.  The reader was allowed into the psyche of an angel and was given a front row seat for all of the unexpected trials and tribulations that came with adjusting to the mortal world.  Bethany was the youngest and most inexperienced of the angelic trio and it did show in her actions.  She was sent on this mission from Heaven with a purpose that seemed unattainable for such a newly created being- yet against the grumblings of the older (and wiser) angels, she was sent anyway.  The reasons behind her being sent were pretty evident to me early on, but that didn't take away from my enjoyment of the read.  I liked the other two angel characters as well (Gabriel and Ivy), and the mortal love interest (Xavier) was an honest all-american high school hearthrob.  I did fell that there were occassions were Gabriel and Ivy fell out of their character descriptions, but it wasn't drastic or extremely noticeable.  The story had a decent pace (some areas were slow but not boring) and the love story was totally adorable and innocent.  If you like books with tons of fast-paced action, then this probably won't be your type of read.  If you like swooning love stories, then this is definitely your book!  I thought that the ending was pretty good- a little predictable though- and the villian was VERY easy to pick out (for everyone but Bethany!).  That did bother me a bit.  I felt like she was incredibly niave at times and blind to what was right in front of her.  Those things aside- I enjoyed this read and I look forward to the next installment in the trilogy titled Hades, which is due for release in 2011.Nothing much happens in the sleepy town of Venus Cove. But everything changes when three angels are sent from heaven to protect the town against the g...mor

Review: Infinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Infinity~The Chronicles of Nick #1~

Written by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Available NOW!! (released May 19, 2010)
Published by St. Martin's Griffin



Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunter (adult) series is one of my all-time favorites and I have read every single one of them!  Nick Gautier has been one of my favorite characters throughout the series and I have always wanted him to have his own book.  You can imagine my excitement when I found out that he not only had his own book coming out, but his own ya series!!  Woot! Woot!! 

Summary from Goodreads:

"At fourteen, Nick Gautier thinks he knows everything about the world around him. Streetwise, tough and savvy, his quick sarcasm is the stuff of legends. . .until the night when his best friends try to kill him. Saved by a mysterious warrior who has more fighting skills than Chuck Norris, Nick is sucked into the realm of the Dark-Hunters: immortal vampire slayers who risk everything to save humanity.

Nick quickly learns that the human world is only a veil for a much larger and more dangerous one: a world where the captain of the football team is a werewolf and the girl he has a crush on goes out at night to stake the undead.

But before he can even learn the rules of this new world, his fellow students are turning into flesh eating zombies. And he’s next on the menu.

As if starting high school isn't hard enough. . .now Nick has to hide his new friends from his mom, his chainsaw from the principal, and keep the zombies and the demon Simi from eating his brains, all without getting grounded or suspended. How in the world is he supposed to do that?"

My Thoughts: 

I knew I would love this book before I even cracked it open!  I am a long-time reader and huge fan of Sherrilyn Kenyon's adult Dark Hunter books.  Nick Gautier is one of my favorite characters from that series and he is the central figure in Kenyon's new ya series titled the Chronicles of Nick.  Infinity is the first book in the series and introduces the young adult readers to Nick at the age of 14.  Those that have read the adult Dark Hunter books will see this book as a look into the past, back to the start of Nick's journey towards his destiny.  For those new to the Dark Hunter world, this is an action-packed introduction featuring shapeshifters, Gods, demons, dark hunters, vampires, zombies and more!

This was a fantastic read for me, but I may be a little biased!  I have been a fan of Nick's for a long time!  I think that having prior knowledge of the characters and world that Sherrilyn Kenyon so masterfully created in the adult series, enabled me to see character and plot connections that may go unnoticed by someone who is new to this world.  I can see where some characters and their connections to Nick were touched on, but not fully explained and some of the terms common to the world were not really well defined.  I don't think new readers will really notice anything as lacking or missing, but some characters, such as Uncle Ambrose, and some relationships, like Nick and Archeron's, would have had more depth and foreshadowing if you had read the adult series first.  That being said.... I am not implying that you must read the adult series to fully enjoy Infinity!!!  On the contrary, the adult series is just that...ADULT!  Although some of the characters are the same, the writing is very different.  Sherrilyn Kenyon did a great job making Infinity age appropriate.  The language, situations, and romantic references were all handled in a way that made it enjoyable and PG.  I am so excited to see this exciting world made available to teen readers!

The pace of the book was great- no slow spots!  There was exciting action on just about every page mixed with plenty of laugh out loud moments (usually courtesy of Bubba and Mark).  There were also moments that made your heart ache for Nick.  He is such a lovable character!!  I enjoy and appreciate his sarcasm and admire his fierce loyalty to family and friends.  I love that he is a street smart, tough as nails guy but so good hearted and vunerable underneath it all!  The plot of the book was fun (brain eating zombies!) and should appeal to guys and girls alike!  I would recommend this to fans of the ya supernatural genre and anyone who loves a good ole' good versus evil smackdown!!  I really enjoyed reading it myself and can't wait for the next in the series!  Nick's destiny is pretty incredible and should make for an incredible series!  I doubt anyone will read this and not be TEAM NICK when they are done!!!  Check out the trailer....

Review: Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce

Sisters Red
Written by Jackson Pearce
Release Date: June 7, 2010
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

The very first time I saw the cover of this book I knew that I had to read it!  This cover is one of the best I have EVER seen!!  I love how the wolf and the sisters are all part of one another- very clever and fitting I think.


Summary from Goodreads:
"Scarlett March lives to hunt the Fenris-- the werewolves that took her eye when she was defending her sister Rosie from a brutal attack. Armed with a razor-sharp hatchet and blood-red cloak, Scarlett is an expert at luring and slaying the wolves. She's determined to protect other young girls from a grisly death, and her raging heart will not rest until every single wolf is dead.


Rosie March once felt her bond with her sister was unbreakable. Owing Scarlett her life, Rosie hunts fiercely alongside her. Now Rosie dreams of a life beyond the wolves and finds herself drawn to Silas, a young woodsman who is deadly with an ax-- but loving him means betraying her sister and has the potential to destroy all they've worked for.

Twenty-five-year-old Jackson Pearce delivers a dark, taut fairy tale with heart-pounding action, fierce sisterly love, and a romance that will leave readers breathless."

My Thoughts:
I enjoyed this book!  As a pre-k teacher, I love all of the classic folktales, and Jackson Pearce has done a wonderful job putting a modern-day spin on the classic 'Little Red Riding Hood' tale.  This book was so action-packed and scary.  After reading this, I caught myself double checking behind me when I would go outside at night!  The author did a really great job with character development.  The bond between Scarlett and Rosie was beautiful and I loved how they were completely devoted to one another.  They were also devoted to hunting and killing the Fenris.  Scarlett had an intensity about her and was so fiercely driven to protect not only Rosie, but all young girls from the grisly fate of the Fenris.  The hunt is just a part of Scarlett.  Her relentless drive to hunt the wolves was annoying to me at times and did seem a bit extreme, but that is what makes her who she she is.  I think that Rosie and Silas felt this way about her too.  They both wanted more out of life than the blood of the Fenris, and Scarlett's unwavering drive was too much for them at times.  Rosie devotion to hunting seemed to stem more out of obligation to Scarlett than a true desire to hunt.  When Silas reappeared in the sisters' lives, Rosie began to yearn for a life outside of hunting.  She wanted a little normalcy.  Silas wanted a chance at that too.  I enjoyed the relationship that began to grow between Rosie and Silas.  Silas was such a great guy, one who was always there to say the right thing at the right time, or to just lighten the mood.  I found myself rooting for their relationship.

I liked how the chapters alternated point of views between Scarlett and Rosie.  This really enabled the reader to see both sides of the story.  It also allowed you to really get to know the characters.  Just like the old saying goes...."There are always two sides to every story!"  The pace of the book was fast and I enjoyed the ending (eventhough I predicted the ending well before I finished the book).  I would be cautious of recommending this to young readers that may scare easily.  There is quite a bit of gory violence in the fight scenes and lots of blood- so if that kind of stuff bothers you, then you might want to think twice about reading it.  I really liked the story and its originality, and I look forward to the next installment in the series!

*ARC Copy provided by the publisher free of charge in exchange for an honest review and I also received a review copy for Book It Forward Tours.

Review: The Pace by Shelena Shorts

 

The Pace is the debut novel by young adult author, Shelena Shorts.  This title has been on my list of books that I wanted to read for awhile now, and I am so glad that I finally read it!  How refreshing to read a story about immortality that was completely different than anything I have read before.  Her take on this popular YA trend is so original and clever!

 Summary from Goodreads:
"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."

My Thoughts:
I really enjoyed this book!  Unfortunately, I have been in one of those dreaded reading funks of late.  You know, the ones that cause your tbr pile to grow far too high!!  I am happy to say that The Pace was just what I needed to get me back on track.  I really love stories featuring immortals.  However, the reason for the character immortality is usually not very original.  Shelena Shorts was able to breath new life into this common YA theme with a clever, original, and interesting take on immortality!  I enjoyed her characters (especially Weston!) and felt that she did a good job developing them.  Sophie did get on my nerves from time to time, but I think her character was a pretty accurate portrayal of a 17/18 year old teenage girl in love.  Her relationship with Weston was the central theme of the book and the development of this relationship was interesting and romantic.  Weston definitely had an air of maturity that Sophie lacked, but as you read the book you do see that this is a necessary dynamic to the story.  Weston, Weston, Weston.... My new fictional boyfriend (sorry Travis of The Forest of Hands and Teeth- you have been replaced)!!!  Weston was so very swoon-worthy!  His confidence radiated from the page, and he always said the perfect things to Sophie.  Gorgeous, wealthy, confident, and romantic- that is a serious total package!  I do feel that there is more to Weston's character and past that wasn't covered and I hope that the next book in the series will further explore this.  The ending was a nail biter and completely unexpected!  It was a cliff hanger that leaves you turning the remaining white pages at the back of the book in hopes of a sneak peak at the sequel (no luck unfortunately!).

Overall, this was a fun book with an original storyline.  It was fast paced for the most part and left me wanting more!  I would recommend The Pace to any reader that enjoys a good romance with a twist!  The next book in The Pace Series is titled The Broken Lake and is due for release on August 19, 2010.  If you haven't checked out my 'MEGA Swag and More' giveaway, you need to do it now!  Shelena was very generous and donated some awesome goodies.  I have a SIGNED copy of The Pace, a cute koala stuffed animal (relevant to the book), signed bookplate, 2 'Weston' pins, and signed The Pace bookmarks!! Just go up to the picture under my nav bar and click and it will take you to the giveaway post!!  Now take a look at The Pace book trailer:

Review: Far From You by Lisa Schroeder

Far From You               

Written by Lisa Schroeder                                  

Paperback released January 5, 2010

Published by Simon Pulse                                       

Summary from Goodreads:
"Lost and alone...down the rabbit hole

Years have passed since Alice lost her mother to cancer, but time hasn't quite healed the wound. Alice copes the best she can, by writing her music, losing herself in the love of her boyfriend, and distancing herself from her father and his new wife.

But when a deadly snowstorm traps Alice with her stepmother and newborn half-sister, she'll face issues she's been avoiding for too long. As Alice looks to the heavens for guidance, she discovers something wonderful.

Perhaps she's not so alone after all.. "


My Thoughts:

I read this book last year, but I read it before I started my blog so I haven't reviewed it yet.  I had to post the cover from the paperback edition because it is SO beautiful!!  I think it really captures the tone of the book.  If you do not know what the book is about then you would probably assume from the cover and the tag line "Do you believe in angels?" that it is about angels.  There is talk of faith and guardian angels and Alice(main character) looks to Heaven for help when things are bad, but this book is mainly about family, grief, and love.

Alice is our main character and narrator.  Her mother died of cancer a couple of years ago and Alice is still unable to accept that she is gone.  Her father has moved on with his life.  He has remarried and has a newborn daughter.  Alice feels like an outsider in her home and cannot bring herself to embrace her new family.  She resents Victoria (stepmom) and doesn't want much to do with her new half-sister.  Alice clings to her boyfriend Blaze, her best friend Claire, and her music.  Things change for Alice when she is forced to take a road trip with Victoria and the baby.  While driving they are caught up in a massive snow storm and are stranded in their car.  In order to survive this ordeal Alice must work with Victoria, confront her own pent up emotions, and trust her faith.  The dire situation Alice finds herself in begins a journey of discovery for her that is profound and touching.

This is the first book I have ever read that was written in verse.  At first I admit I was skeptical that so few words could convey a story properly.  After reading the book I can say that Lisa Schroeder did an amazing job!  The verse was poetic and beautiful and it conveyed only what was necessary to the characters and the story.  The book is Alice's journey back to life (in a sense) and the rebirth of a family.  The issues the book deals with are heavy, but the story is told so beautifully that you really don't want to put it down.  This was a very quick read for me (a day!) and I look forward to future work from this author.

Eyes Like Stars: Theatre Illuminata, Act I by Lisa Mantchev

Eyes Like Stars, Theatre Illuminata Act I is the debut novel by Lisa Mantchev and the first book in a planned series.  I have to say that I was in love with this cover the first time I saw it!  I am such a sucker for beautiful cover art and I will buy just about any book if the cover is beautiful or eye-catching- but this story was just as beautiful as the cover!                     
Summary from Goodreads:

"Enter Stage Right

All her world's a stage.
Beatrice Shakespeare Smith is not an actress, yet she lives in a theater.
She is not an orphan, but she has no parents.
She knows every part, but has no lines of her own.
Until now.

Welcome to the Théâtre Illuminata, where the characters of every place ever written can be found behind the curtain. They were born to play their parts, and are bound to the Théâtre by The Book—an ancient and magical tome of scripts. Bertie is not one of them, but they are her family—and she is about to lose them all and the only home she has ever known.

Lisa Mantchev has written a debut novel that is dramatic, romantic, and witty, with an irresistible and irreverent cast of characters who are sure to enchant the audience.

Open Curtain"

My Thoughts:
What an interesting and unique book!  Lisa Mantchev's writing flows perfectly and is just brilliant!  The pace of the story was good and the plot was so unique, I found myself glued to the book!  The cast of characters are incredibly engaging and written with depth.  Most of us will recognize the characters in the book from famous plays throughout history, but Lisa Mantchev still managed to give them a fresh voice!  The fairies from "A Midsummer's Night Dream" add the perfect amount of humor and mischief, while the characters of Ariel from "The Tempest",  Ophelia from "Hamlet" and Nate from "The Little Mermaid" add the perfect combination of intrigue, romance and mystery.  It is truly beautiful storytelling!!   The plot is full of twists and turns and keeps the reader engaged and guessing which way the story will go next.  For readers that have an interest in theater, this book will delight and give the old characters from famous shakepearean plays new life and personality.  Readers that are unfamiliar with the theater may learn a thing or two!  I would highly recommend this book to not only the young adult audience but adult readers as well.  I am anticipating the next book in this series titled Perchance To Dream, Act II of the Theatre Illuminata which is due out in the fall of this year.  The cover was just released and it is just as beautiful as it's predecessor!

Generation Dead by Daniel Waters

Generation Dead is the debut novel by author Daniel Waters.  This is the first zombie book I've read and I wasn't really sure if I would enjoy it.  I love the supernatural/paranormal romance genre and I have read books featuring almost every supernatural topic out there... except zombies!  My skepticism stems from images of old zombie movies with the dead lumbering around with rotting flesh! Yuck!  So I was pleasantly surprised that the zombies featured in this book did not fit the above description!!
Summary from Amazon:
"Phoebe is just your typical goth girl with a crush.  He's strong and silent.and dead.

All over the country, a strange phenomenon is happening.  Some teenagers who die aren't staying dead.  They are coming back to life, but they are no longer the same-they stutter, and their reactions to everything are slower.   Termed "living impaired" or "differently biotic," they are doing their best to fit into a society that doesn't want them. 

Fitting in is hard enough when you don't have the look or attitude, but when almost everyone else is alive and you're not, it's close to impossible.   The kids at Oakvale High don't want to take classes or eat in the cafeteria next to someone who isn't breathing.  And there are no laws that exist to protect the differently biotic from the people who want them to disappear-for good. 

With her pale skin and Goth wardrobe, Phoebe has never run with the popular crowd.  But no one can believe it when she falls for Tommy Williams, the leader of the dead kids.  Not her best friend, Margi, whose fear of the differently biotic is deeply rooted in guilt over the past.  And especially not her neighbor, Adam, the star of the football team.  Adam has just realized his feelings for Phoebe run much deeper than just friendship.   He would do anything for her, but what if protecting Tommy is the one thing that would make her happy?"

My Thoughts:
I am happy to say that there were no horror movie zombies in this book!  The zombies, or differently biotic, were like typical teenagers in many ways. They all had differing levels of abilities, individual personalities, some were beautiful, some were not and they all struggled to fit into the world around them. Unfortunately... they struggle to fit in because they are DEAD!  

I felt that the major theme throughout the book was how society deals with differences.  In the story, the differently biotic are fighting for their rights as citizens (these were lost upon their actual death).  There are two sides in this fight - those that do not feel that the differently biotic should have any rights or even exist and those that are sympathetic to their cause.  Is this an accurate representation of how society would react to the sudden rising of dead teenagers?  I seriously doubt it, but I believe that it does shine a light on how our society deals with the differences among us and the prejudices that result from these differences. 

The characters in the story fit into the "social mold" prevalent in high school.  There are the jocks, the goths, the kids that feel invisible, the snobby cheerleaders, the bullies, and of course, the outcasts (zombies).  The main characters in the story are interesting.  Phoebe (goth chick) is in conflict throughout the book.  She is dealing with her conflicting emotions over her attraction to Tommy (zombie).  She is a very likable character, who is smart, open-minded, and fair.  She doesn't really care about what others think of her and she doesn't even see her own beauty.  Adam is the popular star football player at school.  However, he goes through a transformation in the book.  He is Phoebe's neighbor and secret best friend (imagine what the other popular kids at school would think!).  He begins to realize that he isn't like the rest of his "so-called" friends.  He harbors strong feelings for Phoebe that extend beyond friendship, but she is oblivious to this.  He is fiercely protective of her and her feelings for Tommy do not make things easy for him!  Since zombies are typically not able to display much emotion,  it is hard to really get a grasp on Tommy's (leader of the zombies) real feelings/motives.  Does he want to be with Phoebe because he likes her or does he want to be with her because she is alive?  The villains in the book (Pete, TC, and Stavis) are pure hatred!  To me, they are the representation of the close-minded prejudice and violence found in any rights movement.  They were completely blinded by their differences and lashed out with violence and hate.  All of these dynamics make the story interesting and give it depth.


The story unfolded at a good pace.  The middle of the story was a little slow, but the ending more than made up for it!  The turn of events at the end took me by surprise!  I don't want to say too much because I don't want to spoil it, but  I will say that it made me want to run out and get the second book in this series,  Kiss of Life, that released earlier this year.  Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to supernatural genre lovers (8th grade and up)!