"Immortal City" by Scott Speer

Immortal City - Scott Speer - released 2012
(First book of the Immortal City series)

As soon as I read that the book was about angels, I wanted to read it.  I find stories about angels fascinating.  To add to the intrigue, the angels are treated like A-list celebrities, so I was really excited to read this book!

Guardian Angels don't save lives out of the kindness of their hearts anymore.  You have to PAY for their protection...

Jackson Godspeed is the hottest angel in a city (Los Angeles) that revolves around idolizing angels like him.  He grew up in the limelight, like today's celebrity children, and is about to become the youngest Guardian ever.  People around the world are lining up to be his Protection and Jackson's lifelong dream of becoming a hero are about to come true, until he meet Maddy Montgomery, a smart, down-to-earth girl who sees Jackson for who he is and not for is celebrity.  Of course there is an instant connection between them, and of course, it's a forbidden love because humans and angels cannot be together.  There are definite Romeo and Juliet elements involved in this story, because what good love story is about love being easy?

At first the book felt a little slow and I didn't care a whole lot about either character.  It had a little bit of a Bella and Edward vibe that I wasn't a fan of, but it was easy to look past.  The book's pacing starts off as nice summer's day walk, where you take your time and sometimes get distracted, but you come back to continue the delightful gait... and then the book kicks it into high gear, and it goes from a summer walk to driving a race car at 200 mph likethat!  Holy hell! Things pick up in an instant, and then you can't put the book down until you finish!!  I was delightfully surprised how quickly the pacing changed, and it stayed that way until the end!  I went from liking the book to loving it!

Final say:  I can see it being a movie (the author, Scott Speer, is a film student from USC).  Just make sure you don't have anything to do for the next hour - two hours (depending how fast you read) once Maddy leaves Ethan's party, because you won't be able to put it down!

"The Ghost and the Goth" by Stacey Kade

The Ghost and the Goth - Stacey Kade (released 2010)

(Book 1 of the The Ghost and the Goth series)

The title is catchy.  The book cover is appealing.  I bought the book based on the title, and I'm not disappointed by judging this book by it's cover/title.  It was so much better than I thought it was going to be!

Alona Dare, the conceited queen bee of high school, dies by accidentally walking in front of a bus.  Instead of moving on to a blissful afterlife, she returns to high school as a ghost, and sees that no one is mourning her death because no one really liked her, and her best friend and boyfriend were a couple behind her back!  But it turns out one person can see and hear her - "loser goth kid" Will; except Alona isn't the only ghost around school that is vying for his attention.

Everyone but his best friend Joonie thinks Will is a freak.  Even his mother and shrink think he might be schizophrenic because he occasionally "talks to himself".  But things have gotten worse since a new violent ghost has appeared who seems hell bent on killing Will.  The only way for Will to make it through high school in one piece, is to actually start talking to the ghosts he has been trying so hard to avoid - Alona Dare in particular - and helping them with their unfinished business.

The story is fairly predictable - spoiled high school cheerleader dies, "loser" goth boy can help, cheerleader and goth develop feelings for each other.  But what makes this story great, are the distinct voices that Kade gives Alona and Will.  Alona's snotty and sarcastic attitude is actually quite humorous and endearing.  Not once did I think, Oh my God, I hate this girl and don't care about her.  Right from the beginning, Kade gives Alona a quiet vulnerability and an outrageous personality that makes you laugh and care about her.

The story is told through the first person perspective of Alona and Will, that alternates back and forth with each chapter.  It's not confusing or difficult to follow, there is very little overlap/repetition, and the story moves forward very smoothly.  I enjoyed being able to sympathize with both characters and hear their thoughts about their individual situations, which are now linked.  And as predictable as their developing love might be, Kade write the story in such a way that makes you root for unlikely pair.

Final say - I loved it.  I put of reading The Ghost and Goth, because I figured it would so predictable and boring.  But I was wrong.  I enjoyed the book from beginning to end and wanted to keep reading the next chapter to see what would happen next.  It was an easy and quick read, but not a boring or simple read.  I loved the story, and I can't wait to read the second book in the installment.  Stacey Kade might become one of my new favorite authors if the second book is as good as the first.  I definitely recommend reading The Ghost and the Goth, no matter how old or young you are, because there is a message in there for every one - from judging people you don't really know - to dealing with the death of someone you love - to being true to who you really are.  It's a great story that keeps you coming back for more.

"Midnighters 2: Touching Darkness" by Scott Westerfeld

Midnighters 2: Touching Darkness - Scott Westerfeld (released 2004)

(Book 2 of Midnighters series)

Book one - Midnighters: The Secret Hour - was so good!  I couldn't wait to read the second book, but I was so disappointed with this sequel.

The Midnighters are searching for the truth about the secret hour and discover that there are daylighters who know about the secret hour, and are working with the ancient creatures in the secret hour against the Midnighters.

The premise sounds very exciting, but it was a s-l-o-w read.  The book is 439 pages, but it would have been a better story if the book was cut in half.  I felt like there was so much filler in the book that wasn't needed.  The author spent too much time on Jessica's frustration with Jonathan not touching her during daylight hours and little things that lead up to the big climax, that I didn't feel like were necessary to the overall story.  I had trouble wanting to read this book, until page 213 when things FINALLY picked up.  Once it got interesting, I stayed up late until I finished it.  But I almost called it quits in the beginning because it was so boring.  However, the way they left Touching Darkness makes me want sot read the third installment.  I just hope it's pacing it like The Secret Hour, which I couldn't put down, and not Touching Darkness, or I may not care to keep reading the series.

Final thought: The first book was so good I'm willing to forgive the pacing of the second book for the sake of continuing the series.  The second half was really exciting and a page turner, and I wish the whole book was like that, because I felt like the first book, The Secret Hour, was.

"Point of Origin" by Amanda Havard

THE SURVIVORS: POINT OF ORIGIN - Amanda Havard (released June 2012)

(Book two of the The Survivors series)

I was given Point of Origin before I read the original book, The Survivors.  I hate reading books out of order, so I ordered the first book, and I wasn't overly impressed.  However, I really enjoyed Point of Origin! 

Point of Origin is about Sadie's quest to save her existing family from the rogue vampires that were once her family.  The only way to do this is to uncover where their kind came from - their point of origin - and if there is a way to stop the vampires from destroying the Survivors.  Long the way, Sadie discovers a whole other side to Everett and the Winters, and questions how she really feels about Cole Hardwick.

Perhaps I enjoyed Point of Origin more than The Survivors because I was already invested in the characters - Sadie, Everett, Mark, and Cole - and therefore cared out their trials and tribulations; or maybe because the book wasn't all about searching for a way for an immortal to off herself.  I think Amanda Havard found the perfect pacing in this book.   The first book went too slow and didn't make me yearn to keep reading it, but I actually looked forward to having time to read Point of Origin!  I felt there was more depth to this book, with honoring yourself, learning how to love the good with the bad, and trusting in your elders.  The story had me constantly questioning who Sadie could really trust and who was trying to deceive her, which I really enjoyed!  The story was constantly moving forward, (instead of losing focus like The Survivors) adding more mystery into the mix with every answer Sadie tried to find.  It was a constant and steady build up to an exciting climax, with and ending that makes you gasp.  I am now hooked and want to know what happens between the Winters, Sadie, the Survivors, and Cole!  I need to read the third book!!

Final thought:  Point of Origin is 100% better than the first book - The Survivors.  Point of Origin kept me interested and wanting to read more.  I actually felt sympathetic towards Sadie, which I didn't in the first book, and I wanted to go along on this journey with her.  If you could make sense of Point of Origin without reading The Survivors first, I would recommend it.  However, you'll need to read the first book to understand some of the bigger issues Point of Origin.

"The Survivors" by Amanda Havard

THE SURVIVORS - Amanda Havard (released April 2011)
(Book one of the The Survivors series)

I wouldn't have picked up this book on my own.  The only reason I ordered it was because I got an Advanced Reader's Copy of the second book of the series and I didn't want to start on book 2.

In 1692, twenty-six children were accused of being witches in Salem, Massachusetts.  Instead of being executed, the children were lead into the middle of nowhere in the dead of winter and left to die, but fourteen of them survived.  Not only did these fourteen survive, but they discovered they were immortal, and each had an unique superpower.  Throughout the centuries, they reproduced and built an isolated colony (a lot like the one in M. Night's "The Village") to raise their descendants.  Each Survivor stops aging around the age of the twenty and develops their power.  The Survivors have told their descendants that humans and the outside world are evil, but that doesn't stop Sadie from wanting to leave.  After 145 years, she finally leaves, and discovers that the Survivors aren't the only immortals in the world.

The book has a really slow start.  I almost stopped reading it, but once you get past the first three chapters it starts to pick up.  The book feels like Twilight meets "The Village" meets... something else I read recently.  I found it hard to sympathize with the protagonist, Sadie, and her quest to find out what she is and how to kill herself.  It's a different concept having someone who wants to end their immorality, but it also goes against her Puritan religion that they bring up several times.  So does the villages' idea on procreating outside of wedlock.  I felt like there were several issues with her ideals matching the religion that she was raised in, which leads to a big question mark about the love story in the book.  I like Everett and the Winter family, but I don't feel all that invested in Everett and Sadie's love affair.  I WANT to care, but I just don't yet.

I liked discovering the different immortal/supernatural species long with Sadie.  Different myths about supernatural creatures always fascinated me.  I liked seeing how this author thought different species lived, what they were called, and what powers they possessed.  I found that fascinating.

Final say: Overall, the story did pique my interest enough to read the second book, but it took a while for me to get invested in the story.  I don't feel this book is a "must read", and I never would have been compelled to read it if I hadn't received the second book first.  I feel like there are better supernatural/forbidden love/morality-questioning stories out there than The Survivors.  Ultimately, I would pass on this book.

"Sanctum" by Sarah Fine

SANCTUM - Sarah Fine (released October 2012)
(First book of the Guards of the Shadowlands trilogy)

I kept putting off reading this book, and I'm glad I did - because it was worth the wait!  The title didn't appeal to mean and the cover didn't do anything to draw me in, but the book was incredible!  I was pleasantly surprised.

If you're a fan of What Dreams May Come, then you will definitely like this book.  Nadia, Lela's best friend, shockingly commits suicide and Lela begins to dream about Nadia in Hell aka "The Dark City".  Lela, a once troubled teen herself, falls to her death while in a trace, so she can help Nadia escape the Dark City.  Only getting in and locating Nadia in the Dark City isn't as easy as Lela originally thought. The Mazikin are the hunt to recruit weak souls into their fold, and the Guards are there to destroy the Mazikin and make sure no souls escape from the Dark City until they are ready to be judged.  Lela has a run in with Malachi, the leader of the Guards, when he discovers that she doesn't belong in the Dark City.  Malachi then has to decide if he should help Lela on her futile quest save Nadia, or get Lela out of the Dark City before she succumbs to the Dark City.

I loved this book.  I am a huge fan of What Dreams May Come  - I love the concept of connected souls and of hell having different sectors for each sin.  I find it fascinating that hell for suicides is a personal and lonely hell, and the souls usually don't even realize they are dead.  The story of Nadia and Malachi were heartbreaking, and I couldn't help but want to save them myself.  I also loved the idea that suicides could be saved and re-judged once they accepted what happened.  I also liked the idea that even love was possible in such a dark and depressing world.

Final say - I loved this book.  If you want a read that will make you question your beliefs about the afterlife, this book is for you.  If you want a book about deep friendship, this book is for you.  If you want a story filled with suspense and forbidden love, then this book is for you.  I look forward to reading the rest of the trilogy, and I will more than likely read this book again soon.

"Poison Princess" by Kresley Cole

POISON PRINCESS - Kresley Cole (released October 2012)
(first book of the Arcana Chronicles)

Could easily become my new favorite book series!

The title alone would tempt me to pick up this book, but adding two very attractive models to the cover, and it's a for-sure pick up.

Over the summer, Evie was admitted into a psych ward because of hallucinations she was having about the end of the world, only to find out, they weren't hallucinations...  On her sixteenth birthday, the Flash happens, causing the end of the world.  But the end is just the beginning for Evie and the other Arcana.

Before the Flash, Evie was a  popular, fairly wealthy girl, with a dream boyfriend living in Louisiana... who had hallucinations about controlling plants, evil witches and Death, and the end of the world.  On the first day of school, after her summer spent in a psych ward, five new students, including Cajun bad boy, Jack, transfer from the Bayou to Evie's school because a new levee is built.  While Jack puts Evie on edge, but the reader can't help but fall for him.

After the Flash, everyone and everything outside burned to ash - including Evie's best friend, Evie's boyfriend, and all plant life.  Evie is trying to keep things together on her farm with her mother, while she keeps having hallucinations, but once her mom gets hurt, Evie is lost.  Until Jack, the Bayou knight in a tight black shirt who rides a motorcycle, comes to see Evie and "rescue" her.  Only problem is - Evie believes she is apart of a larger war going on, involving the Arcana, and she has no idea what to do!

Poison Princess is told as a story that Evie is telling to a stranger that offered her refuge from the world, but her "rescuer" isn't all he's cracked up to be.  The reader sees the world, and Jack, through Evie's eyes the entire time, so they get to try to figure things out about her and him right along with Evie - which I love.  (I hate figuring out important information chapters before the lead character does.  [Ref. The Hunt])

Cole wrote the characters with such truth.  I love how Jack acts like an asshole one minute, and then steals your heart the next.  He acted like a true 18 year old boy, which made him feel so real to me.  The same goes for Evie.  Her insecurities, doubts, and attitude made me believe I was listening to a real 18 year old girl.  The love story between Jack and Evie is heartbreaking and frustrating, but in a way that makes you want to keep reading.  I haven't read a book that got me so emotionally invested in the story in quite awhile!  (The only other book series that have done this to me are Vampire Academy and Hush, Hush.)  It was VERY hard for me to put this book down.  I would stay awake until 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning reading because I didn't want to stop!  And when I was at work, I couldn't wait to get home to continue reading.  I was obsessed.  This book was like crack for me.  After I finished, I was very tempted to start over and read again!  I found myself daydreaming, and even DREAMING about this book weeks after I finished read it.  The second book to the series doesn't come out until October 2013 and I can hardly wait!  In fact, I will probably read this book again once I'm done with book I am currently reading, because I loved this book so much.

Final say:  A MUST READ if you are a YA lover!  This book has everything a YA reader would want - action, conflicted romance, a bad boy who is sensitive, and a girl who is believable, but is also secret bad ass herself.  I would recommend this book to anyone, and if they didn't like it - then I don't think we could be friends.

Note:  I reread the book in a weekend again after I posted this, and I feel in love with the story and Jack all over again!  I love, love, LOVE this book!