I don't just read books. I devour them.

Book #32: Tempted

2012-03-07T10:47:00.000-08:00

Title: Tempted (Book #6 of the "House of Night" series)

Author: P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Date started reading: March 07, 2012
Date finished reading: ------

Publish date: May 2011
ISBN: 978-0312609382
Number of pages: 336

Official summary: "So… you’d think after banishing an immortal being and a fallen High Priestess, saving Stark’s life, biting Heath, getting a headache from Erik, and almost dying, Zoey Redbird would catch a break. Sadly, a break is not in the House of Night school forecast for the High Priestess in training and her gang. Juggling three guys is anything but a stress reliever, especially when one of them is a sexy Warrior who is so into protecting Zoey that he can sense her emotions. Speaking of stress, the dark force lurking in the tunnels under the Tulsa Depot is spreading, and Zoey is beginning to believe Stevie Rae could be responsible for a lot more than a group of misfit red fledglings. Aphrodite’s visions warn Zoey to stay away from Kalona and his dark allure, but they also show that it is Zoey who has the power to stop the evil immortal. Soon it becomes obvious that Zoey has no choice: if she doesn’t go to Kalona he will exact a fiery vengeance on those closest to her. Will Zoey have the courage to chance losing her life, her heart, and her soul?" (http://www.houseofnightseries.com)

Official book "trailer:"

How I obtained the book: Received through the Paperback Swap book club. (I had to pay to mail a book to another member in order to receive a credit to request this book)

Memorable quotes:

"If I shot an arrow and thought about an ass, would it surprise you that I hit Erik?" ~ Stark

My commentary:

This book is different from the ones before it because it is told from the point of view of six characters: Zoey, Stevie Rae, Aphrodite, Rephaim, Heath and Stark, instead of just Zoey's perspective.

Buy on Amazon.com: Tempted (House of Night)

Book #31: Hunted

2012-03-05T10:29:00.004-08:00

Title: Hunted (Book #5 of the "House of Night" series)

Author: P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Date started reading: March 05, 2012
Date finished reading: March 07, 2012

Publish date: March 2010
ISBN: 978-0312577995
Number of pages: 336

Official summary: What if the hottest guy in the world was hiding a nameless evil, and all he wanted was you? At the start of this heart-pounding new installment of the bestselling House of Night series, Zoey’s friends have her back again and Stevie Rae and the red fledglings aren’t Neferet’s secrets any longer. But an unexpected danger has emerged. Neferet guards her powerful new consort, Kalona, and no one at the House of Night seems to understand the threat he poses. Kalona looks gorgeous, and he has the House of Night under his spell. A past life holds the key to breaking his rapidly spreading influence, but what if this past life shows Zoey secrets she doesn’t want to hear and truths she can’t face? (http://www.houseofnightseries.com)

Official book "trailer:"

How I obtained the book: Received through the Paperback Swap book club. (I had to pay to mail a book to another member in order to receive a credit to request this book)

Memorable quotes:

"My mama told me don't trust no white boy, even a pretty one. I'm thinkin' a pretty white boy with wings explodin' up from the ground in a mess of blood and ugly-ass bird things is double trouble." ~ Kramisha
"I would tell you that you looked really hot today when I saw you naked, but that probably wouldn't be appropriate, being as we're in bed together but not doing anything." ~ Stark
"As your girlfriend, you've just pissed me off. As your High Priestess, you've just insulted me. And as someone with a working brain, you've made me wonder if you've lost every bit of your sense." ~ Zoey
"If its ass is feathered and waterproofed, it's a duck" ~ Aphrodite
"Reality shows could make the world a better place and bring peace to all mankind." ~ Zoey
"Have credit cards, will decorate." ~ Aphrodite
"Aphrodite -- she crazy even when she not drunk and Imprinted" ~ Kramisha
"Last time I saw you, I said that it hurt too much to love you. But I was wrong about that. The truth is it hurts too much not to love you." ~ Heath to Zoey
"Life isn't a book, Heath! There's no guarantee of a happy ending." ~ Zoey
"Pain was good. If I hurt, it meant I wasn't dead." ~ Zoey
"You could stick a fork in me and call me so done with all this stress." ~ Zoey
"The world is falling apart. It's really okay to cuss a little." ~ Aphrodite. "The world falling apart isn't an excuse to take up bad habits." ~ Zoey
"I do not belong to you. I don't belong to anyone expect myself and Nyx." ~ Zoey to Kalona
"What is so wonderful about free will? Humans eternally misuse it. Life can be so much happier without it." ~ Kalona
"Purses are my spiders. Really big spiders you can open up and they're filled with a whole nest of baby spiders." ~ Stark
"Battle scars from the war of good versus evil have a unique beauty all their own." ~ Lenobia
"Here's the life lesson I've really been learning: If you have good friends, no matter how much life is sucking, they can make you laugh." ~ Zoey

My commentary: I can honestly say that even though I have issues with it, I'm totally obsessed with this series. I can't stop reading it or thinking about it when I'm not actually reading.

Buy on Amazon.com: Hunted (House of Night)

Book #30: Untamed

2012-03-04T09:24:00.004-08:00

Title: Untamed (Book #4 of the "House of Night" series)

Author: P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Date started reading: March 4, 2012
Date finished reading: March 5, 2012

Publish date: September 2008
ISBN: 978-0312379834
Number of pages: 352

Official summary: "Life sucks when your friends are pissed at you. Just ask Zoey Redbird – she’s become an expert on suckiness. In one week she has gone from having three boyfriends to having none, and from having a close group of friends who trusted and supported her, to being an outcast. Speaking of friends, of the two Zoey has left, one is undead and one is unMarked. And Neferet has declared war on humans, which Zoey knows in her heart is wrong. But will anyone listen to her? Zoey’s adventures at vampyre finishing school take a wild and dangerous turn as loyalties are tested, shocking true intentions come to light, and an ancient evil is awakened." (http://www.houseofnightseries.com)

Official book "trailer:"

How I obtained the book: Received through the Paperback Swap book club. (I had to pay to mail a book to another member in order to receive a credit to request this book)

Memorable quotes:

"Aphrodite makes us understand why women have drowned their babies." ~ Shaunee
"Sometimes chaos and love seem like the same thing." ~ Aphrodite
"Free will sometimes sucks." ~ Zoey
"I started hearing police and fire sirens, along with gunshots, which made me smile grimly. This was Oklahoma, and us Okies did love our guns. Yep, we exercise our Second Amendment right with pride and vigor. I wished I had a clue if modern weapons would make any difference to creatures born of magic and myth" ~ Zoey's reaction to hearing people shooting at Raven Mockers (It was really spot-on when it comes to how many Oklahomans are with their guns)

My commentary:

Aphrodite has become my favorite character in this series. Her personality is surprisingly like me in many ways. She's often rude and mean. She's moody. She hurts a lot of people's feelings, but in some ways it's mainly just because she's so blunt and honest. She's probably the most honest person in the series. Sometimes honesty hurts. I've always said I'd rather be called a bitch than have someone think I'm weak and don't speak my mind, and Aphrodite portrays this attitude well. Deep down she is a good person, but she uses the rudeness to shield herself from pain due to a troubled childhood with nightmarish parents. I totally get how that is...
Cats play an important part in the series. I guess that makes sense because cats are often portrayed as familiars to witches, and the vampires in the series perform magic all the time. If the books ever really get made into a movie, it will be interesting to see how they handle the cat situation. Each cat has such a distinct personality in the books, and each one looks a specific way. Anyways, Aphrodite's cat is such a perfect fit for her character. I'm glad she found a cat... or rather a cat found her.
With the previous book, I said I was getting annoyed with Zoey's love life. She was seeing three guys. In this book, she is basically single for two days before a fourth guy comes into the picture. Seriously can the authors not put so much focus on being in a relationship? It puts a bad light on single girls... despite the girl power message in all the other aspects of the series. I really think Zoey should be single until she figures out who she is and what she wants from life.
I really hate how I started reading this series because it was about vampires, but things just keep getting odder as I'm going through the books. Now there are bird demons (called Raven Mockers). Why can't authors stick with just the vampire theme without throwing in other random types of creatures into book series? Isn't a bird creature why I started hating L.J. Smith's "Vampire Diaries: Return" series? Why, yes, it was. I was really glad L.J. got fired from writing more VD books because of all the whimsical elements she was throwing in. The "House of Night" books are getting as stupidly whimsical.
As much as I complain about various details of the series, it is so oddly addictive. I'm enjoying the books as much as I hate them
*Spoiler alert* --- I mentioned above that cats play an important role in this series, and at the end of this book after Neferet releases ancient demon Kalona from the earth, as Zoey and her friends are running out of the trap door in the school's surrounding wall, there is a line of cats waiting there for them. I have to admit that would be a really hilarious scene if this book is made into a movie. A bunch of people stumbling through a wall's trap door only to find all the cats from the House of Night sitting there. I'd laugh at that scene. It does make sense because cats do seem to sense evil, so they'd want to get away from the place BEFORE Kalona is released, so I'm sure the cats would've all known something evil was about to happen

Buy on Amazon.com: Untamed (House of Night, Book 4)

Book #29: Chosen

2012-03-03T11:01:00.003-08:00

Title: Chosen (Book #3 of the "House of Night" series)

Author: P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Date started reading: March 3, 2012
Date finished reading: March 4, 2012

Publish date: March 2008
ISBN: 978-0312360306
Number of pages: 320

Official summary: "Dark forces are at work at the House of Night and Zoey Redbird’s adventures at the school take a mysterious turn. Her best friend, Stevie Rae, is undead and struggling to maintain a grip on her humanity. Zoey finds herself in the very unexpected and rare situation of having three boyfriends. Mix a little bloodlust into the equation and the situation has the potential to spell social disaster. Just when it seems things couldn’t get any tougher, vampyres start turning up dead. Really dead. It looks like the People of Faith are tired of living side-by-side with vampyres. But, as Zoey and her friends so often find out, how things appear rarely affects the truth…" (http://www.houseofnightseries.com)

How I obtained the book: Received through the Paperback Swap book club. (I had to pay to mail a book to another member in order to receive a credit to request this book)

Memorable quotes:

"That man is such a damn turd monkey." ~ Zoey's grandmother talking about Zoey's stepfather (I want to call someone a turd monkey now)
"Lies don't fix things. They don't even make things easier, at least not in the long run. Best to tell the truth and then clean up an honest mess." ~ Zoey's grandmother
"I'm in the middle of some deep poo. The negatives in my life totally outweigh the positives, and you know what's weird? I'm starting to actually get used to it." ~ Zoey

My commentary:

*Spoiler alert* ---- I know I said with the last book that I found it interesting that Zoey was torn between three different guys, instead of the typical love triangle, but with this book, it has become clear that Zoey really isn't a good role model for teenagers due to her love life. I do think authors of books aimed at teenagers have some sort of responsibility to provide positive role models, so having Zoey dating two teenage boys then going off and losing her virginity to an adult who is a teacher at her school just isn't responsible. It's one thing for her to crush on (and even flirt with) a teacher, but to have sex with him? That's just messed up for many reasons Plus, there was no mention of condoms or birth control before she sleeps with him (yes I know, vampires shouldn't necessarily need condoms or birth control, but I really think the responsible thing would've been to somehow mention them). I just don't get why everything in society today has to center on sex. I know "sex sells" and all, but it doesn't sell with me
As much as this book series annoys me, it's also entertaining me... so far. I see a lot of negative things about the books, but I'm also weirdly intrigued. This book was as entrancing as it was bothersome

Buy on Amazon.com: Chosen (House of Night, Book 3)

Book #28: Betrayed

2012-02-29T22:06:00.005-08:00

Title: Betrayed (Book #2 of the "House of Night" series)

Author: P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Date started reading: March 1, 2012
Date finished reading: March 2, 2012

Publish date: September 2009
ISBN: 978-0312596293
Number of pages: 320

Official summary: "Zoey, High Priestess in training, has managed to settle in at the House of Night and come to terms with the vast powers the Vampyre Goddess Nyx has given her. Just as she finally feels she belongs, the unthinkable happens: human teenagers are being killed, and all evidence points to the House of Night. While danger stalks the humans from Zoey’s old life, she begins to realize that the very powers that make her so unique might also threaten those she loves." (http://www.houseofnightseries.com)

How I obtained the book: Received through the Paperback Swap book club. (I had to pay to mail a book to another member in order to receive a credit to request this book)

My commentary:

It really does bother me how badly Christians are portrayed in this series. It's not flat-out insults, but it's quite apparent that Christianity is supposed to be viewed as negative. It shows pagan/Wiccan rituals as the main spiritual element. That wouldn't bother me much if Christians weren't often shown negatively. I keep trying to remind myself that the books are set in Oklahoma, and here in the so-called Bible Belt, the churches may actually react the way they do in the books if vampires were revealed to be real in true life.
In this book, there is a scene in which a girl has a vision of a boat hitting a bridge and the bridge falling into a river thus killing all the people in the cars which were on the bridge. The deaths were averted. This is clearly based on the "I-40 Bridge Disaster" from 2002 near Webbers Falls, Oklahoma. Fourteen people were killed. I'm not sure if using this scenario in the book is ok or not. Maybe the authors were wanting to create a situation in which those people were saved, like re-writing history through a book... or maybe they just wanted to create a plausible disaster for Oklahoma. I'm just not sure what the real-life victims' families would think about it being used in a horror book.
I've noticed that love triangles seem to be very prevalent in teen paranormal books. In "Twilight," Bella is torn between a vampire and a werewolf. In "Vampire Diaries," Elena is torn between a normally "good" vampire and a normally "bad" vampire. In "Vampire Academy," Rose is torn between vampire Adrian and half-vampire/half-human Dimitri. In this "House of Night" book, Zoey is actually torn between three guys, which is sort of refreshing because it adds a fourth element to the romance. One guy is an adult, a part-time teacher, and vampire. One is another teenage fledgling at the House of Night, and the third is a human teenager whom she dated before being "marked."
Considering that Zoey is a virgin, there sure is a lot more focus on the books so far about sex than I expected. I could seriously live without the sexual references. At one point, Zoey is kissing Heath, and she rubs the "bulge in his pants." I should be relieved at least that it wasn't called his "throbbing member" like many cheesy romance novels.

Buy on Amazon.com: Betrayed: A House of Night Novel

Book #27: Marked

2012-02-28T15:16:00.007-08:00

Title: Marked (Book #1 of the "House of Night" series)

Author: P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Date started reading: Feb. 28, 2012
Date finished reading: Feb. 29, 2012

Publish date: May 2007
ISBN: 978-0312360269
Number of pages: 320

Official summary: After a Vampire Tracker Marks her with a crescent moon on her forehead, 16-year-old Zoey Redbird enters the House of Night and learns that she is no average fledgling. She has been Marked as special by the vampyre Goddess Nyx and has affinities for all five elements: Air, Fire Water, Earth and Spirit. But she is not the only fledgling at the House of Night with special powers. When she discovers that the leader of the Dark Daughters, the school’s most elite club, is mis-using her Goddess-given gifts, Zoey must look deep within herself for the courage to embrace her destiny – with a little help from her new vampyre friends (or Nerd Herd, as Aphrodite calls them). (http://www.houseofnightseries.com)

How I obtained the book: Bought for 81 cents at thrift store

Memorable quotes:

"Just when I thought my day couldn’t get any worse I saw the dead guy standing next to my locker." ~ Zoey
"If I died, would it get me out of my geometry test tomorrow? One could only hope." ~ Zoey
"Darkness does not always equate to evil. Just as light does not always bring good."

My commentary:

I've heard a lot about this book series over the years mainly because the authors are from my state, and the books are set in the state. I didn't think I'd want to read them, but I thought I'd go for it. It's really odd because most of the places and all of the towns mentioned in the book really exist in real life. It's odd for me to read about vampires existing in towns that I know very well, and I've been to some of the places where scenes take place. It's so surreal. Nothing is as weird as the books saying that country music superstar and Oklahoma native Garth Brooks is a vampire. That was crazy. I really wonder what Garth thinks about being made into a vampire
The beginning of this book was rather confusing to me. It jumped right into the action without explaining any background first. It felt like I was reading the second book in a series, not the first. The background of the vampire legend is being explained slowly over the course of the book, so at first, it was confusing trying to figure out what the authors' take on vampires was
One of the reasons I like reading young adult genre books is I normally don't have to deal with much sexual content. This book talks about oral sex very early on, and I cringed. The authors are a mother and daughter. I can't imagine them sitting down and writing about teenagers engaging in oral sex.
I've said before that I always find it interesting to see how each author I read interprets the vampire legend. The "House of Night" vampires don't have fangs and instead are "marked" with magical tattoos. Vampires without fangs? That seems pretty odd, but at least it's not stupid like how the "Twilight" vampires sparkle when they go into the sunlight. I guess it could be worse than no-fanged, tattooed vampires...
The book included many negative references to Christianity, which bothers me in many ways. It speaks a lot about Christians who are really judgmental. It portrays Christians as the enemy. I'm trying to overlook that

Buy on Amazon.com: Marked (House of Night, Book 1)

Book #26: The Reformed Vampire Support Group

2012-02-20T00:36:00.002-08:00

Title: The Reformed Vampire Support Group

Author: Catherine Jinks

Date started reading: Feb. 20, 2012
Date finished reading: Feb. 23, 2012

Publish date: September 2010
ISBN: 978-0547411668
Number of pages: 384

Official summary: "Think vampires are romantic, sexy, and powerful? Think again. Vampires are dead. And unless they want to end up staked, they have to give up fanging people, admit their addiction, join a support group, and reform themselves. Nina Harrison became a vampire in 1973, when she was fifteen, and she hasn't aged a day since then. But she hasn't had any fun, either; she still lives with her mum, and the highlight of her sickly, couchbound life is probably her Tuesday-night group meeting, which she spends with a miserable bunch of fellow sufferers, being lectured at. But then one of the group is mysteriously turned to ashes . . . and suddenly they're all under threat. That's when Nina decides to prove that every vampire on earth isn't a weak, pathetic loser. Along with her friend Dave, she hunts down the culprit ─ and soon finds herself up against some gun-toting werewolf traffickers who'll stop at nothing. Can a bunch of feeble couch potatoes win a fight like this? Is there more to your average vampire than meets the eye?" (http://www.catherinejinks.com)

Official book "trailer:"

How I obtained the book: Bought for $2.16 at used book store. I had never heard of the book, but I spotted it in the clearance section and after reading the cover description, I just had to buy it

Memorable quotes:

Critics quote on the cover from "The Bulletin" -- "Jinks takes readers on a wild ride... a first-rate comedy with equal appeal for avid vampire fans and those who wouldn't be caught dead with a copy of Twilight"
"The plain fact is, I can't do anything much. That's part of the problem. Vampires are meant to be so glamorous and powerful, but I'm here to inform you that being a vampire is nothing like that. Not one bit. On the contrary, it's like being stuck indoors with the flu watching daytime television, forever and ever."
"There's only one thing worse than being a vampire, and that's being an elderly vampire with bad hips."
"When someone’s rattling on about blocked toilets, collapsing marquees, and penis-shaped birthday cakes, it’s hard to convince yourself that you’re in a life-or-death situation."
"Welcome to my world. It's the kind of place where you can't do the simplest thing without risking a full-blown hemorrhage. God I'm sick of it."
"As a vampire, the very worst thing that you have to deal with -- worse than the isolation, and the indignities, and the health problems -- is the fact that a large chunk of the world's population wants to kill you. For no good reason."
"Don't ever believe that vampires are fearless. ... When the whole world hates you, fear becomes your friend."
"Never in my wildest dreams had I ever expected to run afoul of a genuine vampire slayer. Blade and Van Helsing are fictional characters, after all; they're not supposed to be walking around in real life."
"I've become more and more disillusioned, as I've discovered that glamorous vampires don't exist except in books"
"Vampires make untidy houseguests"
"In a dingy, well-worn, utilitarian environment like my mother's kitchen, vampires are all of a piece with the discolored grouting, the ancient electric jug, and the baked-on grease stains in the oven"

My commentary before reading it: Normally vampires are supposed to be scary or sexy or some mix of scary and sexy. This book goes totally against that, so I was interested in it from the minute I spotted it. The critic's quote on the cover (see the first quote shown above) really caught my attention. Anything that slams the "Twilight" crowd amuses me

My commentary after: MOST BORING BOOK EVER. Okay, maybe it's not the most boring book I've ever read, but it was damn close. I wanted to like it. I really did, but I couldn't. Maybe there is a reason that vampires are normally scary or sexy. These vampires are sure not scary or sexy. They are flat out pathetic and annoying cause all they talk about is how pathetic they are. The reviews talked about how funny the book was, but I don't see it. The first couple chapters were amusing to see the jokes cracked at the vampires' expense, but that got old quickly, and there was nothing funny from there. I was also a little annoyed by how it uses many slang terms/nicknames used in Australia. It makes sense just because it's set it Australia, but I had to drum up everything I've learned from talking online to a woman I've become friends with in Australia. It bothered me for some reason that they called drinking someone's blood "fanging" them. Saying "fang" them is so odd. Why not "bite" them or "drink their blood"? The vampires drink blood from guinea pigs. That's not even interesting at all. On "The Vampire Diaries," Stefan drinks blood from squirrels or rabbits or other small creatures that are at least somewhat interesting because you have to hunt them. Guinea pigs just sit in a cage. There's no hunt. There is no struggle. There's nothing interesting about that. It's just sad and pathetic, and kinda gross...

Buy on Amazon.com: The Reformed Vampire Support Group

Book #25: Two Truths and a Lie

2012-02-18T12:34:00.000-08:00

Title: "Two Truths and a Lie" (Book #3 in "The Lying Game" series)

Author: Sara Shepard

Date started reading: Feb. 19, 2012
Date finished reading: Feb. 20, 2012

Publish date: February 2012
ISBN: 978-0061869747
Number of pages: 304

Official summary: "My killer is out there. And my sister might be next. Two months before I died, my best friend’s brother disappeared. I have no idea where Thayer went or why he left, but I know it’s my fault. I did a lot of horrible things while I was alive, things that made people hate me, maybe even enough to kill me. Desperate to solve my murder, my long-lost twin, Emma, is pretending to be me and unraveling the many mysteries I left behind — my cryptic journal, my tangled love life, the dangerous Lying Game pranks I played. She’s uncovered my friends’ darkest secrets, but she’s never had the chance to dig into Thayer’s past — until now. Thayer’s back and Emma has to move fast to figure out if he’s after revenge... or if he’s already gotten it." (http://www.harperteen.com)

How I obtained the book: Pre-ordered for $13.76 from Barnes & Noble

Memorable quotes:

"One thing I'd learn about being dead was that I'd made a lot of mistakes when I was alive. Mistakes I could never set right." ~ Sutton
"This one-way-communication thing was a serious flaw in the whole being-dead thing." ~ Sutton

My commentary:

With all the supernatural type of books, movies, and TV shows I enjoy, you'd think I'd have no problem getting into a story about a ghost and her alive long lost teenage twin sister, but somehow I still have issues with the storyline. Don't get me wrong... I love the storyline. I love Sara Shepard's books. She's creative and constantly throws in plot twists that are very interesting, but I keep getting hung up on the idea that Sutton's spirit is just following Emma around as she tries to solve Sutton's death. I have a strong feeling it's because I'm so obsessed with the TV show that it crosses over into the book series. It's hard for me to think of Sutton as being dead because both teens are alive on the show. I don't usually have trouble separating books from shows or movies based on them, but in this case I do. Sometimes I wish the books were more like the show, but in the end, the books are still a good read
Sara Shepard is so good at interweaving current events and trends/fads into her writing that it almost surprises me. Sometimes I wonder if she has teenage girls acting as advisers telling her what's popular in the world of teen music, clothes, TV, etc., or maybe she reads all the teenage magazines herself. Regardless of how she does it, I REALLY love that she references Kelly Clarkson's song "Mr. Know It All" during a nightmare Emma has about Thayer. It was a perfect song to refer to considering the nightmare's topic and it's a very recent hit song. I get lost sometimes on all her fashion references (more so with the "Pretty Little Liars" series than this one) because I'm just totally not up on fashion designers, but it's still very impressive
I wonder how many books Shepard can crank out in this series without Emma solving the murder. Three books and the murderer is still a mystery.

Buy on Amazon.com: The Lying Game #3: Two Truths and a Lie

Book #24: Bloodlines

2012-02-16T20:51:00.000-08:00

Title: Bloodlines

Author: Richelle Mead

Date started reading: Feb. 16, 2012
Date finished reading: Feb. 18, 2012

Publish date: August 2011
ISBN: 978-1595143174
Number of pages: 432

Official summary: "Blood doesn't lie... Sydney is an alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of human and vampires. They protect vampire secrets - and human lives. When Sydney is torn from her bed in the middle of the night, at first she thinks she's still being punished for her complicated alliance with dhampir Rose Hathaway. But what unfolds is far worse. Jill Dragomir - the sister of Moroi Queen Lissa Dragomir - is in mortal danger, and the Moroi must send her into hiding. To avoid a civil war, Sydney is called upon to act as Jill's guardian and protector, posing as her roommate in the last place anyone would think to look for vampire royalty - a human boarding school in Palm Springs, California. But instead of finding safety at Amberwood Prep, Sydney discovers the drama is only just beginning..." (http://www.richellemead.com)

Official book "trailer:"

How I obtained the book: Checked out of library

Memorable quotes:

"The greatest changes in history have come because people were able to shake off what others told them to do." ~ Adrian
"The complications just kept growing. Repeat high school. Live with a vampire. Keep her in witness protection. And even thought I'd talked up how comfortable I was around vampires, the thought of sharing a room with one ... was unnerving." ~ Sydney
"I didn't trust any guy who used more (hair) styling products than I did." ~ Sydney about Keith
"The next time you decide to go rogue with vampires and dhampirs, get a little back up so you don't get in as much trouble." ~ Keith to Sydney
"The Alchemists' job was important. Knowing vampires existed would create a panic. Worse, it could drive some weak-willed humans into becoming slaves to the Strigoi in exchange for immortality and the eventual corruption of their souls." ~ Sydney
"He's a few pints short of a blood bank" ~ Keith about Clarence
"If I'd learned anything, it was that things were never simple when Abe Mazur was involved. He was a puppet master of sorts. He not only wanted to observe things, he also wanted to control them." ~ Sydney
"Everything's about my personal entertainment. The world is my stage. Keep it up -- you're becoming a star performer in the show." ~ Adrian to Sydney
"Never thought my biggest cheerleader would be someone who thought I was evil and unnatural." ~ Adrian to Sydney
"My high school experience wouldn't be complete without the quintessential football hype." ~ Sydney

My commentary: I wasn't sure how I'd feel about starting this book considering how much I loved the "Vampire Academy" series. I figured it would just barely mention Rose and Dimitri from the original series, but they both actually play a part in this storyline, even if they're small parts. I didn't like Sydney all that much in the original series, but she grew on me very quickly with this book. I'll be looking forward to the next book which comes out in several months that's for sure

Buy on Amazon.com: Bloodlines

Book # 23: Last Sacrifice (Vampire Academy)

2012-02-16T20:26:00.000-08:00

Title: Last Sacrifice (Vampire Academy, book 6)

Author: Richelle Mead

Date started reading: Feb. 15, 2012
Date finished reading: Feb. 16, 2012

Publish date: November 2011
ISBN: 978-1595144409
Number of pages: 608

Official summary: "It all comes down to now. Murder. Love. Jealousy. And the ultimate sacrifice. The Queen is dead and the Moroi world will never be the same. Now, with Rose awaiting wrongful execution and Lissa in a deadly struggle for the royal throne, the girls find themselves forced to rely upon enemies and to question those they thought they could trust... But what if true freedom means sacrificing the most important thing of all? Each other." (http://www.richellemead.com)

Official book "trailer:"

How I obtained the book: Checked out of library

Memorable quotes:

"I don't like cages. I don't even like going to zoos. The first time I went to one, I almost had claustrophobic attacks looking at those poor animals. I couldn't imagine any creature living that way. Sometimes I even felt a little bad for criminals, condemned to life in a cell. I'd certainly never expected to spend my life in one." ~ Rose
"I've also done my fair share of rule (and even law) breaking. Cold-blooded murder, however, was not in my repertoire." ~ Rose
"I'm not supposed to die this way. I'm not supposed to see it coming. My death is not some appointment penciled in on a calendar." ~ Rose
"Sometimes the greatest tests of our strength are situations that don't seem so obviously dangerous. Sometimes surviving is the hardest thing of all." ~ Abe
"Tatiana was as annoying in death as she had been in life." ~ Rose
"You have an interesting set of morals. Breaking out of jail is okay. But steal a car, and you sound totally outraged." ~ Dimitri to Rose
"I loved you! I loved you and you destroyed me. You took my heart and ripped it up. You might as well have staked me!" ~ Adrian to Rose
"What was love, really? Flowers, chocolate, and poetry? Or was it something else? Was it being able to finish someoneʹs jokes? Was it having absolute faith that someone was there at your back? Was it knowing someone so well that they instantly understood why you did the things you did—and shared those same beliefs?" ~ Rose
"It's not just the dress or the hair. It's you. You're beautiful. So beautiful, it hurts me." ~ Dimitri to Rose

My commentary: I'm so sad to finish this book series. The books were so amazing that I've been completely entranced since I started the second book of the series last week. I haven't wanted to do anything but read them since I picked up that book. I haven't wanted to sleep or eat or go to work, just wanted to read. Mead is such an amazing author. I had read enough websites/reviews about the books to know all the big things that happened throughout the series, but somehow the author made everything so incredibly amazing that I never got bored even for a minute. I treasure every word of all six books. Onto the "Bloodlines" series....

Buy on Amazon.com: Last Sacrifice: A Vampire Academy Novel

Book #22: Spirit Bound (Vampire Academy)

2012-02-14T22:47:00.000-08:00

Title: Spirit Bound (Vampire Academy, Book 5)

Author: Richelle Mead

Date started reading: Feb. 15, 2012
Date finished reading: Feb. 15, 2012

Publish date: May 2010
ISBN: 978-1595142504
Number of pages: 496

Official summary: "Dimitri gave Rose the ultimate choice. But she chose wrong... After a long and heartbreaking journey to Dimitri’s birthplace in Siberia, Rose Hathaway has finally returned to St. Vladimir’s — and to her best friend, Lissa. It is nearly graduation, and the girls can’t wait for their real lives beyond the Academy’s iron gates to begin. But Rose’s heart still aches for Dimitri, and he's out there, somewhere. She failed to kill him when she had the chance. And now her worst fears are about to come true. Dimitri has tasted her blood, and she knows in her heart that he is hunting her. And if Rose won't join him, he won't rest until he's silenced her... forever." (http://www.richellemead.com)

Official book "trailer:"

How I obtained the book: Checked out of library

Memorable quotes:

"There's a big difference between death threats and love letters -- even if the person writing the death threats still claims to love you." ~ Rose
"One of the few downsides to being awakened is that we no longer require sleep; therefore we also no longer dream. It's a shame, because if I could dream, I know I'd dream about you." ~ Dimitri
"It figured. Undead creatures didn’t surprise me, but one flippant royal moroi could." ~ Rose
"You want diamonds? I’ll give you diamonds. I’ll shower you in them. Hell, I’ll get you a gown made out of them. But it’s going to be skimpy." ~ Adrian
"This is going to sound really weird ... well, maybe not compared to my normal weirdness." ~ Rose
"That which is dead doesn't always stay dead..." ~ Robert
"Sorry. My eternity doesn't involve being part of the undead mafia." ~ Rose
"You're beautiful in battle. Like an avenging angel come to deliver the justice of heaven." ~ Dimitri to Rose
"That was the best not-sex ever." ~ Adrian

My commentary: The book series starts out awesome and just gets better and better as it goes. I'll be sad when I finish the sixth and last book in this series. At least there is the spinoff series "Bloodlines" to move onto after this one, but it will never be the same. I don't want to leave Dimitri and Rose's love story behind...

Buy on Amazon.com: Spirit Bound (Vampire Academy, Book 5)

Book #21: Blood Promise (Vampire Academy)

2012-02-12T15:51:00.000-08:00

Title: Blood Promise (Vampire Academy, Book 4)

Author: Richelle Mead

Date started reading: Feb. 13, 2012
Date finished reading: Feb. 14, 2012

Publish date: 512
ISBN: 978-1595141989
Number of pages: August 2009

Official summary: "Rose Hathaway's life will never be the same. The recent attack on St. Vladimir's Academy devastated the entire Moroi world. Many are dead. And, for the few victims carried off by Strigoi, their fates are even worse. A rare tattoo now adorns Rose's neck, a mark that says she's killed far too many Strigoi to count. But only one victim matters... Dimitri Belikov. Rose must now choose one of two very different paths: honoring her life's vow to protect Lissa — her best friend and the last surviving Dragomir princess — or, dropping out of the Academy to strike out on her own and hunt down the man she loves. She'll have to go to the ends of the earth to find Dimitri and keep the promise he begged her to make. But the question is, when the time comes, will he want to be saved? Now, with everything at stake — and worlds away from St. Vladimir's and her unguarded, vulnerable, and newly rebellious best friend — can Rose find the strength to destroy Dimitri? Or, will she sacrifice herself for a chance at eternal love?" (http://www.richellemead.com)

How I obtained the book: Checked out of library

Memorable quotes:

"A vampire barbecue would kind of attract some attention, don’t you think?" ~ Rose
"No one had ever called me unnatural before, except for the time I put ketchup on a taco. But seriously, we'd been out of salsa, so what else was I supposed to do?" ~ Rose
"Moroi and dhampirs are not evil. Not like Strigoi." ~ Rose. "That’s true. Strigoi are more evil." ~ Sydney
"Studying’s overrated. Just find someone smart to copy off." ~ Adrian
"I totally ruled my high school. I was worshipped and adored — not that that should come as a shock." ~ Adrian
"I’m like a fine wine. I get better with age. The best is yet to come." ~ Adrian
"I’m running out of things for you to heal. Unless we start cutting off limbs or something." ~ Lissa
"Love wasn’t a fling in a back room at a party. It was something you lived and died for." ~ Rose
"You kill me, Rose. Everyday is agony without you. Empty. Alone. I pine for you, wondering if you're even still alive." ~ Adrian

My commentary: I am so enchanted with this series that I couldn't wait until I found books 4-6 on sale somewhere, so I decided to bite the bullet and check them out of the library. I will still search for copies of the books to keep though because any time I feel this strong of a personal connection to a book or books, I want to keep them forever.

Buy on Amazon.com: Blood Promise (Vampire Academy, Book 4)

Book #20: Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy)

2012-02-09T09:12:00.000-08:00

Title: Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy, Book 3)

Author: Richelle Mead

Date started reading: Feb. 09, 2012
Date finished reading: Feb. 12, 2012

Publish date: November 2008
ISBN: 978-1595141972
Number of pages: 448

Official summary: "It's springtime at St. Vladimir's Academy, and Rose Hathaway is this close to graduation. Since making her first Strigoi kills, Rose hasn't been feeling quite right. She's having dark thoughts, behaving erratically, and worst of all...might be seeing ghosts. As Rose questions her sanity, new complications arise. Lissa has begun experimenting with her magic once more, their enemy Victor Dashkov might be set free, and Rose's forbidden relationship with Dimitri is starting to heat up again. But when a deadly threat no one saw coming changes their entire world, Rose must put her own life on the line--and choose between the two people she loves most." (http://www.richellemead.com/)

How I obtained the book: Received through the Paperback Swap book club. (I had to pay to mail a book to another member in order to receive a credit to request this book)

Memorable quotes:

"I was testing dorm security. It sucks." ~ Rose to Dimitri
"Oh my God. A kind word from Rose Hathaway, I can die a happy man." ~ Adrian. "What are you saying that I'm normally an ungrateful bitch?" ~ Rose
"You two are a match made in heaven. Or somewhere." ~ Victor to Rose and Dimitri
"And I thought the whole point of my education was that violence is the answer." ~ Rose
"Rose is in red But never in blue Sharp as a thorn Fights like one too." ~ Adrian

My commentary: I think the story of Rose and Dimitri is one of the best modern day paranormal love stories (if not the absolute best). I am totally in love with their love story

Buy on Amazon.com: Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy, Book 3)

Book #19: Frostbite (Vampire Academy)

2012-02-06T10:03:00.000-08:00

Title: Frostbite (Vampire Academy, Book 2)

Author: Richelle Mead

Date started reading: Feb. 06, 2012
Date finished reading: Feb. 09, 2012

Publish date: April 2008
ISBN: 978-1595141750
Number of pages: 336

Official summary: "Rose Hathaway's got serious guy trouble. Her gorgeous tutor Dimitri has his eye on someone else, her friend Mason has a huge crush on her, and she keeps getting stuck in her best friend Lissa's head while she's making out with her boyfriend, Christian. (So not cool). Then a massive Strigoi attack puts St. Vladimir's on high alert, and the Academy crawls with Guardians--including the legendary Janine Hathaway...Rose's formidable, long-absent mother. The Strigoi are closing in, and the Academy's not taking any risks. This year, St. Vlad's annual holiday ski trip is mandatory. But the glittering winter landscape and the posh Idaho resort only provide the illusion of safety. When three students run away to strike back against the deadly Strigoi, Rose must join forces with Christian to rescue them. Only this time, Rose--and her heart--are in more danger than she ever could have imagined..." (http://www.richellemead.com/)

How I obtained the book: Received through the Paperback Swap book club. (I had to pay to mail a book to another member in order to receive a credit to request this book)

Memorable quotes:

"Things die. But they don't always stay dead. Believe me, I know." ~ Rose
"I tend to punch first and then find out who I actually hit later." ~ Rose
"I didn’t think my day could get any worse until my best friend told me she might be going crazy. Again." ~ Rose
By the way, my name's Rose Hathaway. I'm seventeen years old, training to protect and kill vampires, in love with a completely unsuitable guy, and have a best friend whose weird magic could drive her crazy. Hey, no one said high school was easy." ~ Rose
"If you'd teach me to swear in Russian, I might have a new appreciation for it."
~ Rose to Dimitri
"Rich people suck." ~ Rose
"You're one of those people who either has soul mates or mortal enemies, aren't you? No in-between." ~ Adrian to Rose
"Karma's a real bitch." ~ Rose

My commentary:

Since the release of this book, every single time I saw the cover of this book in the store, it always reminded me of a photo from "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." It's pretty similar to that photo because there was a pretty young girl in the front with her head tilted just so with an attractive, somewhat creepy looking guy behind her. Obviously there are differences between the photos, but I just can't stop comparing them

I absolutely love Richelle Mead's writing. It's totally addictive. I almost literally want to sink my teeth into these books. Once I start reading, I don't want to put her books down even for a minute.
This book has one of the saddest happy endings I've ever read. It had just enough good to be considered a happy ending, but dear God, it was so sad...

Buy on Amazon.com: Frostbite (Vampire Academy, Book 2)

Book #18: The Chosen (Nine Lives of Chloe King)

2012-02-04T18:05:00.000-08:00

Title: The Chosen (Book #3 of the "Nine Lives of Chloe King" series)

Author: Celia Thomson (a.k.a. Liz Braswell)

Date started reading: Feb. 05, 2012
Date finished reading: Feb. 06, 2012

Publish date: January 2005
ISBN: 978-0689866609
Number of pages: 245

Official summary: "CHLOE KING MAY BE THE ONE. Despite a rocky few weeks, Chloe King is starting to get it. She's figured out who she is (a girl with catlike superpowers), where she belongs (at home with Mom), and what she wants to do (chill with her friends). Yes, she's got funky superpowers, and yes, two rival groups think she's some 'chosen' leader. But no, she's not buying all that ancient-warrior crap. And she's definitely not developing a superhero alter ego like in those old comic books. For Chloe, being the One means she can have whatever she wants -- i.e., more goof-off time and fewer 'cat people' conventions. Then she finds her friend bleeding in an alley. All at once Chloe realizes that the years of bloodshed are not over. In fact, they never will be. The Mai and the Tenth Blade are going to persist in their dangerous rivalry. Unless Chloe accepts her destiny -- and takes control. (http://lizbraswell.com/)

How I obtained the book: Bought at a used book store for $3.05

Memorable quotes:

" 'Sorry about the whole not-showing-up-at-school-for-a-few-weeks thing,' Chloe pictured herself saying to the principal. 'You see, I'm a cat person and had to hide with others of my kind in a gigantic mansion called Firebird that also houses a real estate firm while this ancient Masonic-like cult tried to hunt me down because they think I killed one of their assassins. Oh, also, I have nine lives and am apparently the spiritual leader of my people, who believe they were created by ancient Egyptian goddesses.' Nope Chloe couldn't imagine it would fly."
"Vampires are so passe. Cats are in now" ~ Chloe
Chloe trying to explain to her mother why a pizza party for both her human and Mai friends is a bad idea (it may be not funny to people who don't know a lot about the four TV shows mentioned): You know how, like, Angel and Buffy used to do crossovers? Like, Willow showing up on Angel and Angel appearing in the last episode of Buffy? Well, Smallville and The O.C. don't -- and this is like that."

My commentary: After finishing up the trilogy, I'm even more mad that the Chloe King TV show was cancelled. Not only could the TV show have continued and been awesome, the author could have written more books to add to the series and capitalize on the TV show's fame. The books, in the end, were just as awesome as I thought the show was.

Buy on Amazon.com: The Chosen (Nine Lives of Chloe King, Volume Three)

Book #17: The Stolen (Nine Lives of Chloe King)

2012-02-02T11:41:00.000-08:00

Title: The Stolen (Book #2 of the "Nine Lives of Chloe King" series)

Author: Celia Thomson (a.k.a. Liz Braswell)

Date started reading: Feb. 02, 2012
Date finished reading: Feb. 04, 2012

Publish date: August 2004
ISBN: 978-0689866593
Number of pages: 288

Official summary: "She argues with her mother. She occasionally skips class. And she alternately crushes on two totally different boys. But Chloe King is by no means your typical teenager. The girl can scale buildings and see in the dark. Sometimes, at night, she even likes to leap from rooftop to rooftop. Yes, Chloe has the instincts and ability of a cat. And that makes her unique indeed. It also makes her a wanted woman. Because the Order of the Tenth Blade does not deal kindly with people like Chloe. It stalks them. Preys upon them. And wants many of them -- like Chloe, for instance -- dead." (http://lizbraswell.com/)

How I obtained the book: Bought at a used book store for $3.05

Memorable quotes:

"Trust me, Chloe. ... Survival is difficult and often unpleasant." ~ Sergei
"Living here is worse than being in a Russian novel." ~ Chloe
"Who needs movies when you are a mutant?" ~ Chloe
"Life wasn't like TV, and (Chloe) had definitely not been whisked away to her Happily Ever After. No one could do that. ... There were no real superheroes."
"Life, when (Chloe) returned to it, was pain."

My commentary:

I read the first book in the series last year, but it took until last week for me to finally find the second and third books in a store. Part of my problem is that originally the books were written under the pen name Celia Thomson, but then once it became a TV show, the first book was re-released under the author's real name (Liz Braswell), and the TV show even said the real name in the opening credits (as you can see below). So I spent months trying to find the second and third books with her real name, but had no luck. I had no clue until a few weeks ago that the books weren't originally written with the pen name. I don't get why authors do crap like that. It just confuses people.

I am still ticked off that the ABC Family channel canceled the TV show, and reading this book has made me even more mad. There were so many possible ways they could've taken the TV show if the network had given it a chance. It was a much better show than many of the other shows on TV currently
For once, I feel like I got my money's worth with this book. Normally when I spend more than a couple dollars on a book, I get annoyed that I spent anything on it, but this one was definitely worth the time and money. I hope the third book is just as good
Without spoiling it for anyone else .... I was so shocked by the ultimate betrayal on the very last page of the book. I literally said "oh my God" out loud when I read it. Maybe I shouldn't have been surprised but I was totally surprised. I didn't see it coming

Buy on Amazon.com: The Stolen (Nine Lives of Chloe King)

Book #16: That Summer

2012-01-31T00:03:00.000-08:00

Title: That Summer (second book in the "How to Deal" edition)

Author: Sarah Dessen

Date started reading: Jan. 31, 2012
Date finished reading: Feb. 1, 2012

Publish date: Originally 1996, "How to Deal" edition 2003
ISBN: 978-0142501030
Number of pages: 205 in "That Summer." 486 in entire edition

Official summary: "For fifteen-year-old Haven, life is changing too quickly. She's nearly six feet tall, her father is getting remarried, and her sister -- the always perfect Ashley -- is planning a wedding of her own. Haven wishes things could just go back to the way they were. Then an old boyfriend of Ashley's reenters the picture, and through him, Haven sees the past for what it really was, and comes to grips with the future." (http://sarahdessen.com/book/someone-like-you/)

How I obtained the book: Received through the Paperback Swap book club. (I had to pay to mail a book to another member in order to receive a credit to request this book)

Memorable quotes:

"It’s funny how one summer can change everything. It must be something about the heat and the smell of chlorine, fresh-cut grass and honeysuckle, asphalt sizzling after late-day thunderstorms, the steam rising while everything drips around it. Something about long, lazy days and whirring air conditioners and bright plastic flip-flops from the drugstore thwacking down the street. Something about fall being so close, another year, another Christmas, another beginning. So much in one summer, stirring up like the storms that crest at the end of each day, blowing out all the heat and dirt to leave everything gasping and cool. Everyone can reach back to one summer and lay a finger to it, finding the exact point when everything changed. That summer was mine."

My commentary:

I'm a huge Mandy Moore fan, so I, of course, watched the "How to Deal" movie years ago (and a ton of times since). I loved the movie for many reasons. But I never knew it was based on books until a month ago when I was in a book store and spotted Mandy's photo on the cover of a book. I went home and searched the author's website for the title "How to Deal," which I didn't find. I was confused. Finally I went back to the store and looked at the book, which has a note from the author explaining that the movie was adapted from two of her books ("Someone Like You" and "That Summer). She says that the books were different stories with different characters, so it wasn't even like the movie's characters existed in both books. I was confused. After reading the first book, it's making more sense to me overall

Buy on Amazon.com: How to Deal: Someone Like You/That Summer (Movie tie-in)

Book #15: Someone Like You

2012-01-29T08:26:00.000-08:00

Title: Someone Like You (first book in the "How to Deal" edition)

Author: Sarah Dessen

Date started reading: Jan. 29, 2012
Date finished reading: Jan. 31, 2012

Publish date: Originally 1998, "How to Deal" edition 2003
ISBN: 978-0142501030
Number of pages: 281 in "Someone Like You." 486 in entire edition

Official summary: "Halley and Scarlett have been best friends for years, sharing secrets, clothes, and crushes. People know Scarlett as the popular, flamboyant one; Halley’s just her quiet sidekick. Then, at the beginning of their junior year, the balance shifts. First, Scarlett’s boyfriend Michael is killed in a freak accident; soon afterward, she learns that she is carrying his baby. For the first time, Scarlett really needs Halley. Their friendship may bend under the weight, but it’ll never break – because a true friendship is a promise you keep forever. Sarah Dessen’s poignant, funny voice has earned her raves and legions of teenaged fans." (http://sarahdessen.com/book/someone-like-you/)

How I obtained the book: Received through the Paperback Swap book club. (I had to pay to mail a book to another member in order to receive a credit to request this book)

Memorable quotes:

"I took a deep breath, and all I could see in my mind was Michael, a boy I hardly knew, whose death now seemed to mean everything."
"All the milkshakes in the world weren’t going to get me out of this. So, just like that, I lost the end of my summer."
"Life is an ugly, awful place to not have a best friend. When I pictured myself, it was like just an outline in a coloring book, with the inside not yet completed. All the standard features were there. But the colors, the zigzags and plaids, the bits and pieces that made up me, Halley, weren't yet in place. Scarlett's vibrant reds and golds helped some, but I was still waiting."
"A tall, hairy man in a polka-dot shirt ... was buying four cans of potted meat, some air freshener, and two cans of lighter fluid. Sometimes you don't even want to think about what people are doing with their groceries." ~ Halley talking about a man going through her line at the grocery store she's a cashier at
"My best friend Scarlett had traded a kiwi fruit for her heart."
"P.E. became the most important fifty minutes of my life."

My commentary:

I'm a huge Mandy Moore fan, so I, of course, watched the "How to Deal" movie years ago (and a ton of times since). I loved the movie for many reasons. But I never knew it was based on books until a month ago when I was in a book store and spotted Mandy's photo on the cover of a book. I went home and searched the author's website for the title "How to Deal," which I didn't find. I was confused. Finally I went back to the store and looked at the book, which has a note from the author explaining that the movie was adapted from two of her books ("Someone Like You" and "That Summer). She says that the books were different stories with different characters, so it wasn't even like the movie's characters existed in both books. I was confused. I'm still confused. Maybe after I finish reading both books inside this edition, I'll understand it all better. I watched the movie again before starting this book just to get a refresher course on the storyline
I figured I could use a little break from all the supernatural books I've been reading, so I decided to go with this book. I'll be back to the world of vampires and witches and so on in a few days...
When I first picked up this book, I was confused about why "Someone Like You" came before "That Summer" in this edition. "That Summer" was actually published before "Someone Like You" originally, but now it makes sense. It seems like a lot of the movie was adapted from "Someone Like You," so it makes more sense that it comes first.

Buy on Amazon.com: How to Deal: Someone Like You/That Summer (Movie tie-in)

Book #14: Night World - Witchlight

2012-01-28T09:13:00.000-08:00

Title: Witchlight (Book #9 of the Night World series. Book #3 of the third omnibus edition)

Author: L.J. Smith

Date started reading: Jan. 28, 2012
Date finished reading: Jan. 29, 2012

Publish date: Originally 1998, omnibus April 2009
ISBN: 978-1416974529
Number of pages: 239 in Witchlight, 752 in full omnibus

Official summary: "Keller is a seventeen-year-old shapeshifter, a panther, who goes by her last name only. She’s an operative for Circle Daybreak and her mission is simple: find the third Wild Power who can fend off the Apocalypse. Keller does find Iliana, and much more, as well: a dragon in the shape of a human, and her own liege lord Galen. So, she learns: dragons walk the Earth again, even if in disguise. And Iliana is as far from a serious Wild Power as Keller can imagine. A love triangle quickly develops between the handsome princely Galen, the exquisite but bubble-minded Iliana, and Keller — who counts herself out with her favorite saying, 'I’m just a grunt.' Life has surprises in store for the cynical, embittered Keller, and her opinions of both Galen and Iliana are in for a radical change." (http://www.ljanesmith.net/www/author/booklist)

How I obtained the book: Received through the Paperback Swap book club. (I had to pay to mail a book to another member in order to receive a credit to request this book)

Memorable quotes:

“I don’t want your respect. I want your obedience.” ~ Grandma Harman
“People die. Beauty fades. Love changes. And you will always be alone.”
“Love is weakness.” ~ Keller
"You put on a good show, but the truth is that you're brave and gallant and decent. ... Your soul is straight as a sword." ~ Galen to Keller
“People die ... so love them every day. Beauty fades ... so look before it’s gone. Love changes ... but not the love you give. And if you love, you’ll never be alone.” ~ Galen

My commentary:

This series sure got better in the third volume. It packed a lot of action into these last three books. It's really sad that the 10th book has never been printed. There's all this build-up in books 7, 8, and 9 to the end of the world, but it ends up going nowhere because the final book was never released. L.J. Smith says the final book will be released sometime in the near future, but I doubt it ever happens. Honestly, I can't see how story-wise it will work because the books kept saying the year 2000 would bring about the end of the world. 2000 came and went without the final book being released. The omnibus editions were published in 2008-2009 and still no final book. There was a preview to the final book at the end of this omnibus, saying it was coming soon, but that was in 2009 and here it is three years later and it's still not done. I just don't expect it ever being released. I don't think there will ever be an ending to the series and no closure to the story... unless the publisher fires L.J. Smith from this series too and lets a ghostwriter finish it up (like what's happened with the Vampire Diaries and Secret Circle series)
I was a little surprised by the end of this book. I don't think I should've been, but I was.
One of my favorite things in the book was how Iliana's baby brother keeps referring to Keller as "pretty kitty" in baby speak. It's like the kid could sense that she was a shapeshifting panther. It was a very cute thing

Buy on Amazon.com: Night World No. 3: Huntress, Black Dawn, Witchlight

Book #13: Night World - Black Dawn

2012-01-26T09:56:00.000-08:00

Title: Black Dawn (Book #8 of the Night World series. Book #2 of the third omnibus edition)

Author: L.J. Smith

Date started reading: Jan. 26, 2012
Date finished reading: Jan. 28, 2012

Publish date: Originally 1998, omnibus April 2009
ISBN: 978-1416974529
Number of pages: 245 in Black Dawn, 752 in full omnibus

Official summary: "Maggie is the picture of an ordinary human teenager. Yet when her brother’s lovely girlfriend reports that he has been killed in a mountaineering accident, she knows it is a lie. The chase leads her to discover an entire community of human slaves ruled by vampires in the hollow of a Washington mountain. There also, she finds Delos, the second of the Wild Powers, the vampire ruler of this kingdom where she is a slave — and her soulmate. Her modern clothes cause the other slaves to hail her as a messiah come to bring them freedom. Can even level-headed Maggie deal with her arrogant soulmate and an entire kingdom to be freed?" (http://www.ljanesmith.net/www/author/booklist)

How I obtained the book: Received through the Paperback Swap book club. (I had to pay to mail a book to another member in order to receive a credit to request this book)

Memorable quotes:

“Strong-willed and compassionate: that’s a real recipe for disaster.” ~ Sylvia
“Love is for weak people. It’s a delusion. And it can be deadly.” ~ Delos

My commentary: This was a really good book, better than several of the previous ones. It was very action packed.

Buy on Amazon.com: Night World No. 3: Huntress, Black Dawn, Witchlight

Book #12: Night World - Huntress

2012-01-24T17:41:00.000-08:00

Title: Huntress (Book #7 of the Night World series. Book #1 of the third omnibus edition)

Author: L.J. Smith

Date started reading: Jan. 25, 2012
Date finished reading: Jan. 26, 2012

Publish date: Originally 1997, omnibus April 2009
ISBN: 978-1416974529
Number of pages: 237 in Huntress, 752 in full omnibus

Official summary: "Jez, with flaming red hair and silvery blue eyes, is the epitome of the wild teenage vampire, riding her motorcycle and chasing skinheads through the woods. She and Morgead regularly challenge each other for leadership of the gang, and Jez believes — naturally enough — that the handsome, dark-haired vampire hates her. But suddenly the world changes for Jez. She discovers that she has no right to the Night World, because one of her parents was human. Now Jez has turned into a vampire huntress, and one with a special job: find one of the four Wild Powers who can fight off the Apocalypse, the end of the world. To do so, though, she must challenge her dearest enemy once again for the leadership — knowing that she has only half-vampire Powers." (http://www.ljanesmith.net/www/author/booklist)

How I obtained the book: Received through the Paperback Swap book club. (I had to pay to mail a book to another member in order to receive a credit to request this book)

Memorable quotes:

“Rule Number One of living with humans: Always wash the blood off before coming in the house.” ~ Jez
"Ghouls weren't smart, but like the Energizer Bunny they kept going and going."
“Are you going to try to kill me now? Or is the engagement just off?” ~ Jez
"Fear was good; it added that extra spice to the taste. Like SweeTarts."
"She could look human, she could act human, but she couldn't be human."

My commentary:

I find it relatively humorous that people have been so vocal in their annoyance with the "Twilight" series for having vampire Edward get human Bella pregnant when there are all sorts of book series, "Night World" included, in which vampires can procreate. Some series have types of vampires who can procreate amongst themselves, and then there are some where vampires and humans can have children together. In "Huntress," Jez is the daughter of a vampire father and a human mother. Frankly, I think people should be more annoyed with the fact that the "Twilight" vampires sparkle in the sun instead of the fact that Bella gets pregnant.
"Huntress" has made me be less bothered by the series' soulmate principle. It was getting so old because in each book, there are two characters who discover that they're soulmates against the rules of the Night World (meaning a vampire with a human or a witch with a human). Jez and Morgead being soulmates even though they start out hating each other and Jez's absolute denial that it's possible that they're soulmates is an interesting change of pace.

Buy on Amazon.com: Night World No. 3: Huntress, Black Dawn, Witchlight

Book #11: Stefan's Diaries - The Asylum

2012-01-23T01:18:00.000-08:00

Title: Stefan's Diaries #5: The Asylum

Author: Listed as L.J. Smith, Kevin Williamson & Julie Plec, but it's really a ghostwriter

Date started reading: Jan. 23, 2012
Date finished reading: Jan. 24, 2012

Publish date: Jan. 2012
ISBN: 978-0062113955
Number of pages: 256

Official summary: "The hunters become the hunted. ... Driven from their hometown of Mystic Falls, both Stefan Salvatore and his brother, Damon, arrived in Europe looking for a fresh start. But Samuel, a wealthy and cunning vampire, has other plans for them. First he ruined Stefan’s peaceful existence and now he’s framing Damon for the most gruesome murders London has ever seen. United against their common enemy, Stefan and Damon are stunned when they realize that the source of Samuel’s rage lies in their past — tied up with the woman who forever changed their lives. Haunted by the memory of Katherine, the brothers find that their uneasy alliance is tested. Can they overcome their rivalry to defeat Samuel before he exacts his final revenge? Based on the popular CW TV show inspired by the bestselling novels, Stefan’s Diaries reveals the truth about what really happened between Stefan, Damon, and Katherine — and how the Vampire Diaries love triangle began." (http://www.harperteen.com)

How I obtained the book: Pre-ordered from Walmart for $8.97 using gift card received as Christmas gift

Memorable quotes:

"Before someone dies, their blood races, pounding through their veins, filled with everything that makes them human -- adrenaline, fear, the desire to live." ~ Stefan's opening diary entry
"It's either kill or be killed in my world." ~ Damon
"Sense and I don't mix." ~ Damon
"How can I go wrong when I have the approval of vampires?" ~ Cora
"What better way to fight a maniacal vampire than to think like one myself?" ~ Stefan
"Vampires remind Ephraim of leeches. And Ephraim knows leeches are good for spells, but not for company." ~ Ephraim speaking in third person

My commentary:

The fourth book in this series (The Vampire Diaries: Stefan's Diaries #4: The Ripper) was absolutely awesome, and I've been looking forward to the fifth book ever since. This one continues with the concept that the Jack the Ripper murders in the late 1800's were committed by a vampire. I've always been interested in the Jack the Ripper murders, so it's intriguing to me partially just due to that, but the ghostwriter did a ton of research into the real murders and chaos surrounding them for the book. It is a good mix of real history with vampire myth.

Buy on Amazon.com: The Vampire Diaries: Stefan's Diaries #5: The Asylum

Book #10: Dark Visions - The Passion

2012-01-22T00:19:00.000-08:00

Title: The Passion (Book #3 of the Dark Visions series)

Author: L.J. Smith

Date started reading: Jan. 22, 2012
Date finished reading: Jan. 23, 2012

Publish date: Originally 1995, omnibus edition published in 2009
ISBN: 978-1-4169-8956-1
Number of pages: 239 in The Passion, 732 in omnibus edition with all three books

Official summary: "Finally having found a weapon with which to fight Dr. Zetes, Kaitlyn and the others return to the Zetes Institute. But no one is ever exactly what they seem, and the triple-twist ending of the book has one of Kait’s suitors backing off, seeing the passion she shares with the other." (http://www.ljanesmith.net/www/author/booklist)

How I obtained the book: Bought for $4.99 from used book store. This was a publisher's remainder book, so it wasn't actually a used book

My commentary: I've decided my problem with this series is that I had too high of expectations. I kept seeing positive reviews and know that it was a best-selling series, so I thought it would be great. I've been relatively disappointed, but I might not have been had I not gotten my hopes up. I need to remember to keep my expectations low. Overall, I do like how "The Passion" ends. It was a great way to end a series. I don't regret reading the book, but I do wish I would've found a way to get it cheaper. I don't normally spend $5 on books, so whenever I do, I want to be really happy with them

Buy on Amazon.com: Dark Visions: The Strange Power; The Possessed; The Passion

Book #9: Dark Visions - The Possessed

2012-01-20T12:24:00.000-08:00

Title: The Possessed (Book #2 of the Dark Visions series)

Author: L.J. Smith

Date started reading: Jan. 21, 2012
Date finished reading: Jan. 22, 2012

Publish date: Originally 1995, omnibus edition published in 2009
ISBN: 978-1-4169-8956-1
Number of pages: 231 in The Possessed, 732 in omnibus edition with all three books

Official summary: "Having discovered what Dr. Zetes really wants them for—and what happened to their predecessors at the Institute, Kaitlyn and her friends Anna, Lewis, Rob, and Gabriel have to run for their lives. In doing so, Kaitlyn discovers that Gabriel is a vampire—but that he feeds directly on human life-energy. Kait is caught between golden Rob, the healer, and wicked Gabriel Wolfe, who may just be using her for his own purposes." (http://www.ljanesmith.net/www/author/booklist)

How I obtained the book: Bought for $4.99 from used book store. This was a publisher's remainder book, so it wasn't actually a used book

Memorable quotes:

"He had to at least have the courage of his own convictions. If he was going to be evil, he’d be evil, all the way. From now on no half measures." ~ Gabriel's thoughts
"Some things are so evil they must be fought." ~ Timon

My commentary: While this book is better than the first one in the trilogy, I still am not impressed. I've seen where other people/reviewers say this is L.J. Smith's best series, and I just don't see it. Maybe the idea of psychics just don't interest me as much as witches and vampires

Buy on Amazon.com: Dark Visions: The Strange Power; The Possessed; The Passion

Book #8: Dark Visions - The Strange Power

2012-01-19T01:04:00.000-08:00

Title: The Strange Power (Book #1 of the Dark Visions series)

Author: L.J. Smith

Date started reading: Jan. 19, 2012
Date finished reading: Jan. 20, 2012

Publish date: Originally 1994, omnibus edition published in 2009
ISBN: 978-1-4169-8956-1
Number of pages: 252 in The Strange Power, 732 in omnibus edition with all three books

Official summary: "Is the first book in the trilogy. In this we first see Kaitlyn Fairchild: the resident witch in her school. Kait doesn’t deliberately practice witchcraft, but every so often she gets the urge to draw. The problem is that the pictures are mysterious and macabre . . . and they always end up coming true before Kaitlyn can figure out what they mean. Given the chance to transfer to the Zetes Institute, a small boardinghouse school populated only by teens like Kait, with strange powers, Kaitlyn jumps at the chance. But neither the Institute nor Dr. Zetes is what they seem..." (http://www.ljanesmith.net/www/author/booklist)

How I obtained the book: Bought for $4.99 from used book store. This was a publisher's remainder book, so it wasn't actually a used book

Memorable quotes:

"You don't invite the local witch to parties. No matter how beautiful she is."

My commentary: I wasn't really sure what to expect with this book. I merely bought it because it was written by L.J. Smith, and I like some of her other books. I didn't love this book, but I didn't dislike it either. It's sort of an "ehh" type of feeling about it. It is a weird coincidence that the last book I read (Shatter Me) included a teenager with a "special ability" to basically suck the life force out of people and who ends up in a place for other people with different "special abilities," and then I read this book which is all about a home for teenagers with strange physic abilities. One basically sucks the life force out of people by accident when he physically connects with someone (sound familiar?), and another channels life force to heal people.

Buy on Amazon.com: Dark Visions: The Strange Power; The Possessed; The Passion

Book #7: Shatter Me

2012-01-16T02:41:00.000-08:00

Title: Shatter Me

Author: Tahereh Mafi

Date started reading: Jan. 16, 2012
Date finished reading: Jan. 19, 2912

Publish date: Nov. 2011
ISBN: 978-0062085481
Number of pages: 352

Official summary: "Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days. The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color. The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war-- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now. Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior." (http://www.taherehmafi.com/)

Official book "trailer:"

How I obtained the book: Got a free copy through my employer (a newspaper)

Memorable quotes:

"I’ve been locked up for 264 days. I have nothing but a small notebook and a broken pen and the numbers in my head to keep me company. 1 window. 4 walls. 144 square feet of space. 26 letters in an alphabet I haven’t spoken in 264 days of isolation. 6,336 hours since I’ve touched another human being."
"Sometimes I think the loneliness inside of me is going to explode through my skin and sometimes I'm not sure if crying or screaming or laughing through the hysteria will solve anything at all. ... I've been screaming for years and no one has ever heard me."
"Blackness buries me in its folds."
"These words are vomit. This shaky pen is my esophagus. This sheet of paper is my porcelain bowl."
"Sometimes I wish I never had to sleep. Sometimes I think that if I stay very, very still, if I never move at all, things will change. I think if I freeze myself I can freeze the pain. ... If time stands still nothing can go wrong."
"I close my eyes until I've sewn them shut."
"We were killing ourselves by trying to stay alive."
"My life is 4 walls of missed opportunities poured into concrete molds."
"I'd really like to exhale for the first time in my life."
"Truth is a jealous, vicious mistress that never ever sleeps."
:"Hope in this world bleeds out of the barrel of a gun."
"My eyes are 2 windows cracked open by the chaos in this world."
"My body is a carnivorous flower, a poisonous houseplant, a loaded gun with a million triggers."
"He's more wrong than an upside-down rainbow. But everything he said is right."
"I'm an encyclopedia with too many blank pages."

My commentary:

Obviously the cover of "Shatter Me" is absolutely beautiful and is what drew me to it in the first place. I've seen on several websites that it's been called one of the top 10 most beautiful book covers of 2011. I'd have to agree. (Of course, my absolute favorite cover of 2011 was for "The Demon Lover" by Juliet Dark, but with that book, I learned that you definitely can't judge a book by it's cover. No matter how much I loved the cover, the book was not what I had hoped for. I'll have to share my feelings about that book in a future post whenever I get around to it)
I don't think I've ever laughed so hard at the "About me" part of a book. According to this book ... "When unable to find a book, she (author Tahereh Mafi) can be found reading candy wrappers, coupons, and old receipts." ... Sounds like my kind of person
The author does an amazing job at describing Juliette's loneliness and utter lack of hope. Reading the first few chapters made me want to cry for her pain and hopelessness. Even though this is a completely fictional type of world, the book totally speaks to the lonely/depressed little girl deep in my heart and touches the parts of me that still hurts from my lonely childhood.
The world created in this book is so devastating. Very few animals, very few plants, utter destruction everywhere. The Reestablishment group is trying to create a new society which basically does away with all culture and languages other than English. It's just so sad to think about
The ending was not what I expected ... it was way better than what I expected. It ends in a complex cliffhanger, but there is enough closure of the stories that I'm not left feeling disappointed that the story stopped where it did. The book was so sad at first, but it turns into one of the best paranomal romance stories that I've ever read
The book is told through Juliette's point of view, and it's almost a stream of consciousness type of writing. It's really easy to get sucked into the story, and seeing the world's devastation through her eyes is nice. Another thing that adds to the author's style of writing is that some of Juliette's thoughts are thought, ~~struck through with a strike-out font~~, and rephrased. It's very interesting. It reminds me of how my teenage diaries looked. (you can see an example of what I mean below)

Buy on Amazon.com: Shatter Me

Book #6: The Vampire Shrink

2012-01-11T22:36:00.000-08:00

Title: The Vampire Shrink

Author: Lynda Hilburn

Date started reading: Jan. 12, 2012
Date finished reading: Jan. 16, 2012

Publish date: April 3, 2012
ISBN: 978-1402792786
Number of pages: 320

Official summary: Denver Psychologist Kismet Knight, Ph.D., doesn’t believe in the paranormal. She especially doesn’t believe in vampires. So what happens when she finds herself neck-deep in the vampire underworld? Kismet is smart, witty and attractive. She’s respected in her field, successful and prosperous. She’s followed all the rules – done everything right. So, what’s the problem? Her life is empty. There’s no passion. No vitality. No excitement. That is, until a new client introduces Kismet to the vampire underworld, and a drop-dead gorgeous, 800-year-old vampire named Devereux. Kismet isn’t buying the vampire story, but can’t explain why she has such odd reactions and feelings whenever Devereux is near. Kismet is soon forced to open her mind to other possibilities when she is visited in her office by two angry bloodsuckers, who would like nothing better than to challenge Devereux by hurting Kismet. As Kismet gets pulled deeper and deeper into the vampire subculture, she struggles to hold onto her professional ideas about what is and isn’t “real.” The more she finds herself attracted to the charismatic, handsome Devereux, the more out of control her life becomes. When one of her clients shows up in her office almost completely drained of blood, Kismet finds herself immersed in an ongoing murder investigation. Kismet is questioned by irreverent, handsome FBI profiler Alan Stevens, who warns her that vampires are very real. And one is a murderer. A murderer who is after her. In the midst of all this, Kismet realizes she has feelings for both the vampire and the profiler, but even though she cares for each of the men, facing the reality that vampires exist – along with all the other supernatural insanity she discovers – is enough of a challenge. For now. (http://www.lyndahilburnauthor.com/books.html)

Book "trailer:"

How I obtained the book: Got a free advance reading copy through my employer (a newspaper)

Memorable quotes:

"My involvement with vampires began innocently enough, long before the blood hit the fan, so to speak." ~ Kismet
"Well, there's something to put on the back of my business card: Therapy that isn't as bad as you thought it would be." ~ Kismet
"Geez. Life isn't weird enough, so we need to suck blood. Why didn't I think of that?" ~ Kismet
"I spent most of my childhood thinking I was crazy -- or cursed. Normal kids didn't spend time hiding in closets, talking to invisible friends, and picking up bits of people's thoughts. I learned very early to keep my weirdness to myself, to isolate so nobody would notice." ~ Kismet
"Dr. Cliche. I wonder if this man ever has an original thought." ~ Kismet about her ex-boyfriend Tom
"My childhood was a strange trip down a demented Yellow Brick Road." ~ Kismet
"Even thinking about talking to a good-looking man gives me cramps." ~ Kismet
"If I'd known I was going to have a mental breakdown today, I'd have penciled it into my appointment book." ~ Kismet
"I have never been called insane in such a lovely way ever before." ~ Devereux
"Somebody help me. I'm possessed by a vampire wannabe." ~ Kismet
"False bravado was one of my favorite defenses. Never let the violently delusional know you're afraid." ~ Kismet
"I certainly handled that with finesse and style. Let's hear it for the Queen of Mixed Messages." ~ Kismet
"Juan told me that he could tell what kind of mood I was in by the amount of hot peppers I asked for in my burrito. He called it Burrito Psychology." ~ Kismet's thoughts when she goes to a Mexican food cart
"What a jerk. I guess you really can't teach an old horndog new tricks." ~ Kismet about Tom
"Of course, all women are emotional basket cases. Freud was really on to something with his notions of female psychology. Hysterics, every last one of you." ~ Tom
"It was official. Like Elvis, my brain had definitely left the building. At some point during the last few hours I'd apparently fallen through the looking glass. I didn't have a map of Wonderland, and nothing in my previous experience or education had prepared me to deal with the strange parallel universe I'd landed in." ~ Kismet
"Why did I have to fall for brilliant men who were either egomaniacs, crazy or both?" ~ Kismet
"My own personal avenging angel. He looks like a god but talks like a character from a historical romance novel. I sure can pick 'em." ~ Kismet
"Holy shit, somebody help me. A vampire who doesn't like blood -- is this a joke? Am I being secretly filmed for some reality show?" ~ Kismet
"Geez, the guy's voice should be a registered weapon. It could take you down in three seconds." ~ Kismet
"Up to your ass in blood once more, eh?" ~ Police Lieutenant Bullock to Kismet
"How had I managed to involve myself in so many situations where I felt like a chess piece being moved around on some cosmic board by unseen hands?" ~ Kismet
"Note to self: buy wooden stakes." ~ Kismet
"A phantom vampire lover, a religious fanatic killer, and a beauty queen predator. Just another day in undead Oz." ~ Kismet
"Vampires suck. In more ways than one." ~ Kismet

My commentary:

I know it's only two weeks into the year, but I'm going to go out on a limb and say that this book is going to go down as one of my top 5 favorite books I'll read this year (if not the absolute top favorite)
The book combines two things that absolutely entice me -- vampires and abnormal psychology. My love of vampire myths began when I was 11 or 12 years old, so of course, this book would draw me in immediately because of that. I want to go back to college to become a mental health counselor dealing primarily with abnormal psychology, so I find it really interesting to read about Kismet's attempts to find a logical/medical reason for people to think that they're vampires. It's fun to read all the mental illnesses she throws out to try to make a diagnosis on who she thinks are just "vampire wannabes." (I actually got a really good chuckle out of Kismet mentioning bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder considering I suffer from both of them and I was once obsessed with becoming a vampire myself. I was a teenager and so naive.) I feel a real connection to Kismet, so much that I'm rather shocked by it. It's like the author climbed into my brain and wrote a book exactly how I would've loved to write it
Kismet's sense of humor is very sarcastic and hilarious. Her inner thoughts are sprinkled into the book in italics. Many of the quotes I put above come from her inner thoughts. Frankly, I wish I could quote the entire book because I love it all, but of course, I can't do that. My copy is all marked up with my favorite lines. I've never used a pen to mark up a book this much
The author mentions "Twilight" and "The Vampire Diaries" at several points while trying to figure out a logical explanation why her new client called Midnight wants to become a vampire. She also compares the FBI agent to the characters on "The X Files." She brings up the Harry Potter series a couple times. I love when authors allude to current/recent pop culture
I wish this book would be turned into a movie or TV show. It would be perfect to be translated onto a screen. Someone once told me that not every book needs to be made into a movie/show, but this one sure does.
I normally refuse to pay full price for books, but I would've gladly paid for this book. I'm just lucky that I stumbled across it for free. It is definitely worth money and the time to read it. If you're into vampire stories, check out this book.... trust me.
I am so used to speed-reading that normally I would've finished the book within about 48 hours, but I'm forcing myself to read this slowly because, well, I don't want to miss a single word. I've even stopped myself and re-read several parts at different points. It's too amusing and interesting to rush through. I'm really savoring this one, instead of just devouring it.
I discovered on the author's website that there is a follow-up book (and perhaps more to come). I can't wait!

Buy on Amazon.com: The Vampire Shrink

Book #5: Vampire Academy

2012-01-10T14:59:00.000-08:00

Title: Vampire Academy

Author: Richelle Mead

Date started reading: Jan. 10, 2012
Date finished reading: Jan. 11, 2012

Publish date: August 2007
ISBN: 978-1595141743
Number of pages: 332

Official summary: Lissa Dragomir is a Moroi princess: a mortal vampire with an unbreakable bond to the earth's magic. She must be protected at all times from Strigoi; the fiercest and most dangerous vampires--the ones who never die. The powerful blend of human and vampire blood that flows through Rose Hathaway, Lissa's best friend, makes her a Dhampir; she is dedicated to a dangerous life of protecting Lissa from the Strigoi, who are hell-bent on making her one of them. After two years of illicit freedom, Rose and Lissa are caught and dragged back to St. Vladimir's Academy, hidden in the deep forests of Montana. Rose will continue her Dhampir education. Lissa will go back to being Queen of the elite Moroi social scene. And both girls will resume breaking hearts. Fear made Lissa and Rose run away from St. Vladimir's--but their world is fraught with danger both inside and out of the Academy's iron gates. Here, the cutthroat ranks of the Moroi perform unspeakable rituals and their secretive nature and love of the night creates an enigmatic world full of social complexities. Rose and Lissa must navigate through this dangerous world, confront the temptation of forbidden romance, and never once let their guard down, lest the Strigoi make Lissa one of them forever... (http://www.richellemead.com/books/vampireacademy.htm)

How I obtained the book: Bought for $2.16 at a local used book store

Memorable quotes:

"I love pity parties. I wish I'd bought the hats." ~ Christian
"Don't worry, I won't bite. At least not in the way you're afraid of." ~ Christian
"Hey Mason, wipe that drool off you face. If you're going to think about me naked, do it on your own time." ~ Rose

My commentary: Once, I started reading this book, I did not want to put it down even for a minute. I've wanted to start reading this series for a while, but I hesitated because I read so many other series that I didn't really want to add another one. I kept seeing the books in bookstores and hearing good things about them. I finally broke down when I saw the book for $2 in the store. Boy am I glad I bought it. I am already addicted. I can't wait to read the rest of the books in the series. I've already ordered book #2 and #3. It's always interesting when you start reading books by an author you've never read before because everyone has a different take on the vampire legend. Every author has to add his or her own spin to it. The vampire world Mead has created is nothing short of amazing. No Twilighty sparkling for these vampires. Thank God

Buy on Amazon.com: Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy, Book 1)

Book #4: Pretty Little Secrets

2012-01-08T02:26:00.000-08:00

Title: Pretty Little Secrets (A "Pretty Little Liars" book)

Author: Sara Shepard

Date started reading: Jan. 8, 2012
Date finished reading: Jan. 10, 2012

Publish date: January 2012
ISBN: 978-0062125910
Number of pages: 464

Official summary: "Rewind to junior year in Rosewood, Pennsylvania, to a winter break no one has ever heard about. Fat snowflakes fall onto manicured lawns, quilted stockings hang over marble fireplaces, and everyone is at peace, especially Hanna, Emily, Aria, and Spencer. Now that Alison’s murderer is in jail and A is dead, they can finally relax. Little do they know there’s a new A in town. Rule number one of being an effective stalker: Get to know your prey. So I watch these liars day and night, keeping an eye on the trouble they get into, the messes they make, and the secrets they keep. Hanna’s desperate for a very personal session with her gym trainer. Emily is number one on Santa’s naughty list. Aria’s old flame from Iceland is about to land her in hot water. And Spencer’s resorting to some backhanded tactics to get what she wants. What happens on holiday break stays on holiday break—right? But guess what. I saw. And now I’m telling. Taking place between Unbelievable and Wicked, Pretty Little Secrets is a very special Pretty Little Liars tale revealing the liars’ never-before-seen misadventures over their junior-year winter break." (http://prettylittleliars.alloyentertainment.com/)

How I obtained the book: Pre-ordered from Walmart for $10.41

Memorable quotes:

"It's so much more fun to be naughty..." ~ A (quote on hardback cover)
The opening page of the book has this quote from the song "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" -- "He sees you when you're sleeping. He knows when you're awake. He knows if you've been bad or good so be good for goodness' sake!" That's perfect considering the book series' concept and the stalkerish nature of A
Description given for how Aria feels after the teacher she had a relationship with left town: "Aria felt like she had PTED -- Post-Traumatic Ezra Disorder."
From A's closing rant: "So who am I? You'll know soon enough. But until then, I'm the shadow in the window, the whisper in the wind, the nagging feeling that someone is watching, waiting"

My commentary:

One of my favorite things about this book series is how the author always puts a quote from "A" on the cover of the hardback books. I didn't even realize this fact until my third hardback book. It's hidden there underneath the book jacket on each one. If you pick up a paperback book, you miss out on this little hidden gem. (See above for this book's quote.)
It's somewhat difficult to read this and basically forget stuff I've already read in the other books. It takes you back in time and even though it does a good job at pointing out that it takes place between the stuff in "Unbelievable" and "Wicked," it's hard to ignore what I already know happens in the future. I think it would be easier if this one is read after "Unbelievable." I really think the publishing company wanted to squeeze in another book to raise the profit level of the series without adding a true book to the series. They seem to like to add books in sets of four, so they had to figure out how to make another book without having to come up with three other extras
This book is different than the normal books in the series in that it has four set sections (one for each of the main characters). The others interweaves the storylines which is sometimes hard to follow. This one is easier to follow because you're not jumping back and forth between characters
I honestly don't know how the author keeps coming up with these crazy secrets/lies for this book series. I don't want to spoil it for anyone else who wants to read this book, but I will say that the thing Aria does is so shocking that I would've never ever expect. It was like a jaw-dropping storyline, but it was still believable in the Pretty Little Liars world
Hanna's part of the book was first and wasn't all that great. It was more just an embarrassing secret than anything else. Emily's part was good, and she came out of her weak shell a little. Aria's, as I said above, was jaw-droppingly awesome. Spencer's part closed out the book. It used Viagra in the best ever revenge plan...

Buy on Amazon.com: Pretty Little Liars: Pretty Little Secrets

Book #3: Jake's Choice

2012-01-04T19:23:00.000-08:00

Title: Jake's Choice (Follow-up to "To Save a Life")

Author: Jim and Rachel Britts

Date started reading: Jan. 4, 2012
Date finished reading: Jan. 8, 2012

Publish date: Oct. 2010
ISBN: 978-1935541158
Number of pages: 320

Official summary: "The second novel in the To Save A Life series find Jake Taylor at college thousands of miles apart from his girlfriend Amy. Befriending a young girl with a traumatic history leads Amy back to the father who abandoned her. Jake's position on the Louisville basketball team lands him in the midst of parties, beautiful women and one decision that will shake him to the core. When everything Jake believes is challenged, will he go with the flow or stand alone for what is right? One choice will change everything" (http://www.outreach.com/products/Outreach-Books/Jakes-Choice-13627.aspx)

How I obtained the book: Given to me as a Christmas gift

Memorable quotes: The youth minister/friend to Jake says "How you doin'?" like Joey Tribbiani from the "Friends" TV show. The book just says that he said it in a Joey Tribbiani voice and doesn't explain who Joey was. Sadly, some teenagers (who this book is mostly aimed at) may have no idea who that is by just seeing the name. But regardless of that, since I did know who it was referring to, I could hear the minister doing his best Joey impression and laughed. It was pretty funny

"(Men are) like bananas: They take a while to mature, but once they do... MmMmMmmm." ~ Cari (youth minister's wife)

My commentary: I loved the "To Save a Life" movie which the first book in this series was based on. I would love for them to make another movie based on "Jake's Choice," but I doubt they will. I really love how the authors include graphics in the book (more this one than the first). They do things that look like cell phone texts (see the image below), a personality quiz, internet chats, post-it notes, etc. Plus, I love the typography throughout the book. You'd think by the title and the description that the book would focus mostly on Jake, but half of it focuses on Amy. In the end, it was more Amy's choice that was the biggest dilemma (but Jake did have some major things come up). I struggled to get through the first half of the book; normally I'm a speed-reader, but I went rather slow with this one. My favorite part is when this old man who Jake meets named Buddy takes him to Chuck E. Cheese for a lesson on faith in God; Buddy turns skee-ball into a religious lesson (AWESOME!). I definitely see a third book ahead because they left it totally open for another book. Talk about a cliffhanger... Just a really random, stupid little observation: Every time it shows a phone text screen like the one below, the phone battery is always full with full tower strength. Call me crazy, but that doesn't seem realistic at all. I never have a full battery and full tower strength! Haha!

Buy on Amazon.com: Jake's Choice (To Save a Life)

Book #2: Night World: Soulmate

2012-01-02T09:44:00.000-08:00

Title: "Night World: Soulmate" (Book #6 in the "Night World" series. Book #3 in volume #2 omnibus edition)

Author: Author: L.J. Smith

Date started reading: Jan. 2, 2012
Date finished reading: Jan. 4, 2012

Publish date: Original July 1997, Omnibus edition Nov. 2008
ISBN: 978-1416974512
Number of pages: 224 for "Soulmate;" 688 for entire second volume

Official summary: "Sixteen-year-old Hannah goes to a psychologist to understand the meaning of her the notes she keeps finding—in her own handwriting. “Dead before 17,” “He’s coming,” “Watch out.” Only under hypnosis is their cryptic meaning revealed. Hannah is actually an Old Soul, a girl who has been reincarnated many times and can remember her past lives. And in every one of them, the fair-haired stranger appears—and Hannah loves him—and Hannah dies at age16. Meanwhile, the leader of all the vampires of Circle Daybreak, all those who have human soulmates, Lord Thierry, is searching. He’s looking for her—the girl he loved and accidentally killed thousands of year ago. Who will find Hannah first—her vampire soulmate, or Maya, the first of all the vampires who has murdered Hannah a thousand times to keep her from Thierry. And who will Hannah believe when they do find her?" (http://www.ljanesmith.net/www/author/booklist)

How I obtained the book: Bought for $2.99 at thrift store around the corner from my house

Memorable quote: “Why did I come here? I should have put an ad in the paper: ‘Desperately Seeking Thierry.’ I should have known this wouldn’t work.” ~ Hannah

My commentary: Starting out, I was not too interested in the reincarnation concept of this book. As silly as it sounds when you consider I'm reading a book series with vampires, werewolves, and witches, the reincarnation in this book just seemed way too far-fetched and unbelievable. After finishing it, I just felt a big let-down again after how great "The Chosen" book was before this one. It was nice that L.J. brought back all the popular characters from the past books for this one, but their appearance was much too brief. And the ending was just too unrealistic all around (Don't want to give out any spoilers, so I won't explain that)

Buy on Amazon.com: Night World No. 2: Dark Angel; The Chosen; Soulmate

Book #1: Night World: The Chosen

2012-01-01T09:55:00.000-08:00

Title: "Night World: The Chosen" (Book #5 in the "Night World" series. Book #2 in volume #2 omnibus edition)

Author: L.J. Smith

Date started reading: Jan. 1, 2012
Date finished reading: Jan. 2, 2012

Publish date: Original Feb. 1997, Omnibus edition Nov. 2008
ISBN: 978-1416974512
Number of pages: 244 for "The Chosen;" 688 for entire second volume

Official summary: "Rashel Jordan lost her mother to a golden-eyed vampire at the age of five—and just barely saved herself by her wits. She’s grown up to the age of seventeen as a vampire hunter—the best. But when a group of hunters captures Quinn and decides to torture him, Rashel feels something in her soul twist. Left alone with Quinn, she goes along with her mad impulse and allows him to escape. But Quinn, a vampire with one of the darkest reputations in the Night World warns her not to expect him to return the favor. Nevertheless, when Rashel gets herself chosen for a bloodfeast and finds that Quinn is in charge of gathering girls for the dark ceremony! Enemies—and soulmates—what will happen during their final fight?" (http://www.ljanesmith.net/www/author/booklist)

How I obtained the book: Bought for $2.99 at thrift store around the corner from my house

Memorable quotes: L.J. alludes to "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." The cheesy movie, not the TV show, of course, but it was awesome. Gotta give props to L.J. for this. The character Quinn compared vampires hunting humans to humans using slaughterhouses to kill cattle for the beef for McDonalds hamburgers, which is a great way to explain it

“Every time I meet you, I seem to end up hog-tied and unconscious. It's getting monotonous.” ~ Quinn

My commentary: The first two books in the series ("Secret Vampire" and "Daughters of Darkness") were great. The third and fourth ("Spellbinder" and "Dark Angel") were pretty much a disappointment. The series' "soulmate principle" was getting really old, but "The Chosen" is the best book in the series thus far. It's no wonder that "The Chosen" has become a cult classic (as reported on Wikipedia). Quinn and Rashel are by far the best characters so far in the series. I have a strong feeling that after I finish all the books in the series, this one will end up being my favorite

Buy on Amazon.com: Night World No. 2: Dark Angel; The Chosen; Soulmate

About this blog

2012-01-01T00:24:00.000-08:00

At one point in time, I owned over 500 books. For a teenager/college student, that was a rather impressive library. I was proud of my book collection and my ability to read several books in a week.

All that changed when I moved in with my now-exhusband. In the 4 1/2 years that he spent without a full-time job with me supporting him, I sold all but a few of the books just to have money for food. Also, he would get jealous any time anything took my attention away from him, so he'd get mad and abuse me any time I tried to read, so eventually I just stopped even trying to read.

Last year, I began reading again, mostly due to the influence of my fiance who always has a book in hand. I attempted to keep track of what books I read through an application on Facebook, but suddenly it stopped working so I lost my list and I lost track of the number of books I read overall.

This year I made a resolution to keep better track of what I read and when I read them. It's partially just out of curiosity to learn how many books I can read (I know I'm not quite the speed-reader that I used to be), partly because no one seems to believe that I can read so fast, and also partly because I want to see how much money I drop on books in 2012. I've found another Facebook application to use, but who knows if and when it will stop working, so I decided to start cataloging my literary activities here. I need something permanent.

I love reading books that I can escape into. Anything that can take myself out of my own mind for a while is great, but you'll find that I read a lot of books that are targeted mostly toward teenagers, despite being in my 30s, and I love almost anything related to vampires. I'm addicted to the "young adult" section of bookstores. I can't help it. I also love reading mental illness-related or addiction-related memoirs because, frankly, they help me feel more sane. (I also own a bunch of books about sex as you can see from the photo above due to my interest in sexual psychology, but I seriously doubt you'll ever see me do a post about one....)

You'll see that I have a basic template for what information I'm trying to catalog. Over the year, I may add things or subtract things, but it will probably stay mostly the same.

I am keeping an ongoing book count in the titles of each post. If a post says "Book #31," that means it's the 31st book I've read this year. If it doesn't include a number in the total, it means the post is unrelated to my current count of books. You can also see a quick list of books by clicking on the link above.

I may, from time to time, write about books I've read in the past in addition to what I'm reading now.

Really, at this point in time, I have no idea where this blog is going to go, but I'm going to do my best to keep up with my reading and with my blog posting.

I guess we'll just see how this goes ...