Book Review: Touching Darkness

Title: Touching Darkness
Author: Scott Westerfeld
Series: Midnighters, book 2
Publisher: HarperCollins/HarperTeen
Release Date: 2005
Format: Paperback
Pages: 330
Source: Bought
My Rating: 3.5 stars

The Midnighters of Bixby, Oklahoma, know that their town is full of secrets. These five teenagers are the only ones who know about the mysterious hour at midnight when the world freezes, except for them and the creatures that inhabit the darkness.
But they do not know why earlier generations of Midnighters all disappeared, or why they are now the only Midnighters in town. As they learn more about the secret hour's twists and turns, they uncover terrifying mysteries woven into the very fabric of Bixby's history, and a conspiracy that touches both the midnight hour and the world of daylight.
At the same time, the Midnighters' own secrets start to emerge, including some that were never meant to come to light, changing the fragile dynamics among the five.This time Jessica Day is not the only Midnighter in mortal danger, and if the group can't find a way to come together, they could lose one of their own — forever.
A tale of betrayal, horrifying revelations, and powerful alliances, touching darkness is the second volume of the riveting Midnighters trilogy by acclaimed author Scott Westerfeld.                                     Taken by Goodreads.com 

Review

In the first book we were introduced into the blue time, the time where only Midnighters can walk through it and where the creatures, the darklings, exist. This time we find out that this secret time gets known to non-midnighters that are threating our five midnighters.   

The characters in this book have started to change as the events progress and they are constantly in danger. People, non-midnighters, are following them and they have to make hard decisions. Jessica was more confident in this book since she has the power to defend all five of them since she's the flame-bringer. Also new characters are introduced, characters that want to harm them and also old midnighters are introduced, to help them figure out the blue time. The timing isn't the best though and they find it hard to trust anyone resulting putting in great danger one of them.

The writing was fabulous again and Scott Westerfeld made me actually like a little more physics and understand that after all those math classes, they may come in hand one day. The plot was fast paced. After the initial intro in this wold the pace picks up and it is filled with action-paced scenes and the developing of this new world -the secret hour- that it seems that it doesn't stop from growing. 

Overall I enjoyed Touching Darkness so much more than the first book The Secret Hour and I can't wait for the last book called Blue Noon. If you have read the first one and wasn't so sure about it, give this one a try. It's worth it. It's so much easier to understand it now that you have already known the basics of the Secret Hour. It's one of those series that gets better as it goes. 

Frosy

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My Blood Approves >> Book Review

Title: My Blood Approves 

Author: Amanda Hocking

Publisher: Lulu

Release Date: 2010

Format: e-book

Source: Bought it

My Rating: 3,5 stars

Synopsis

Seventeen-year-old Alice Bonham's life feels out of control after she meets Jack. With his fondness for pink Chuck Taylors and New Wave hits aside, Jack's unlike anyone she's ever met. 

Then she meets his brother, Peter. His eyes pierce through her, and she can barely breathe when he's around. Even though he can't stand the sight of her, she's drawn to him. 

But falling for two very different guys isn't even the worst of her problems. Jack and Peter are vampires, and Alice finds herself caught between love and her own blood...

My Review

This book really reminded me of Twilight but again it was nothing like it. The characters have nothing to do with the characters in Twilight. There are similarities in the structure of Jack's family but it stops there. We have the father figure which is not a doctor but knows a lot of everything. The mother figure who cares for everyone. Then we have Peter. Which is probably the only reason I keep reading these books.(I have also read the second book.) Peter is totally mystery since you get to see him a few times in this book. Barely enough to my satisfaction and to get to know him. I'm team Peter by the way! I'm all for the silent type and he is definitely silent. 

Alice meets Jack who is a vampire and she feels close to him, so she kind of instantly wants to become a vampire as well to be with Jack. I didn't like that. It didn't seem realist and Jack thinking that was the only way for them to be together was for her to become a vampire really bothered me. Alice was willing to throw her life away just to be with him. Don't get me wrong. I do believe that, that can happen but not so quickly. It wasn't believable.

Although the book was very similar to previous reads I couldn't get my eyes off the screen. I kept reading, anxious to learn what will happen next. When I finished this book I downloaded on my kindle the second book, The Fate, and read it in a day (review coming soon).

Frosy 

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Never Cry Werewolf >> Book review

Title: Never Cry Werewolf 

Author: Heather Davis

Publication: Harper Teen

First Published: 2009

Format: Hardcover 

Pages: 212

My Rating: 3.5 stars

Moonlight can totally change your life.

And it all stars so simply.

You. Him. 

The moon.

You're toast.

Okay, so maybe Shelby has made a few mistakes with boys lately (how was she supposed to know Wes had "borrowed" that Porsche?). But her stepmother totally overreacts when she catches Shelby in a post-curfew kiss with a hot senior: Suddenly Shelby's summer plans are on the shelf, and she's being packed off to brat camp. It's good-bye, prom dress; hello, hiking boots.

Things start looking up, though, when Shelby meets follow camper (and son of a rock star) Austin Bridges III. But soon she realizes there's more to Austin than crush material-his family has a dark secret, and he wants Shelby's help guarding it. Shelby knows that she really shouldn't be getting tangled up with another bad boy...but who is she to turn her back on a guy in need, especially such a good looking one? One thing's for sure: That pesky full moon is about to get her into trouble all over again.

He wasn't the type of guy you'd think was cute right away, but he was definitely the type that made you want to keep looking. Dark hair spilled down his forehead, and his olive-toned skin gleamed in the dim light. He stood motionless, like he was daring anyone to say something. When he took off his sunglasses, I found myself staring into deep, amber brown eyes. 

"Austin Bridges the Third," whispered Ariel. "What is he doing here?"

My Review

Never Cry Werewolf is very different from the usual werewolf books. Austin which is the werewolf, and I don't think this is a spoiler since the title and the summary indicates that this is a werewolf story, in this case he is the bad wolf. His wolfy habits are treated as an illness.

There nothing cool about being a werewolf in this book. It's really scary I think and it was nice  change.

Shelby is a girl that will help anyone in need especially if the person in need is a very good looking guy. And that's what got her in brat camp. As a character she's very likable and knows the difference between good and bad. She just can't help herself from helping others even if it means that she'll get in trouble. She changes throughout the book and you can see the change in her through her actions. 

Austin seems to have so much more to offer and I hope I see a sequel to this book. His family sounds fascinating! His accent, don't get me wrong because I love guys with British accent, seemed a little out of place but overall he was enjoyable. Shelby and Austin's chemistry didn't convince me but I think the reason was that the book is short and the circumstances made it difficult.

Overall I liked it and I would suggest it for those who are seeking a light read and something different. 

Frosy 

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Something About You >> Book Review

Something About You by Julie James

paperback pages: 307

My Rating 3,5 stars

FATE HAS THROWN TWO SWORN ENEMIES...

Of all the hotel rooms rented by all the adulterous politicians in Chicago, female Assistant U.S> Attorney Cameron Lynde had to choose the one next to 1308, where some hot-and-heavy lovemaking ends with a death. And of all the FBI agents in Illinois, it had to be special Agent Jack Pallas who gets assigned to this high-profile homicide. The same Jack Pallas who still blames Cameron for a botched crackdown three years ago-and for nearly ruining his career...

...INTO EACH OTHER'S ARMS

Work with Cameron Lynde? Are they kidding? Maybe, Jack thinks, this is some kind of welcome-back prank after his stint away from Chicago. But it's no joke; the pair is going to have to put their rocky past behind them and focus on the case at hand. That is, if they can cut back on the razor-sharp jibes-and smother the flame of their sizzling-hot sexual tension...

My Review

Something About You is a book written by Julie Jones and it’s a contemporary romance.

This is not what I usually read and I have no idea how I came to pick this one at the library but I’m glad I did.

It was such fun reading this. I usually find contemporary books boring (depends on the theme) but this book hold my interest because of its characters.

They were so realistic and fresh and felt that I could easily meet them in real life. The whole book was realistic and even though we know it’s a love story, the main characters don’t go over the hill to “protect” the other. I’m saying this because this book is about a murder. We see from the characters, their need to get this over with before they actually start their romantic adventure and I was relieved. Both of them actually put their work and responsibilities before their emotions.

Let me just say, that my opinion for FBI agents has changed lol.

So Cameron is the witness in this case and Jack has to protect her until they find the murderer. Both of them don’t like how things are due to their previous history. Something that Cameron did and almost destroyed his career. Or so he says.

As I said I liked both of them but I felt that they had more to show. The background of both of them is enough to want to know more (if I say I’ll spoil it) and we don’t get the chance.

But we do get the chance to see the emotions between them change. They didn’t like each other due to some old facts but now that they are forced to be together, they’re bound to remember what happened three years ago.

Overall I liked it a lot. I might have rated it 3.5 stars but that’s only because it’s not a fantasy book. And fantasy/paranormal books are my thing so even though I strongly liked it I cannot give it 5 stars. But for the contemporary category 3.5 stars is close to 5!

So, go read it if you like contemporary romance with dark brooding unshaven men.

PS: Isn’t the cover gorgeous? I love that pink dress.

Frosy 

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Vacations From Hell >> Book Review

Vacations From Hell by various authors

(5 short stories)

paperback pages: 280

My Overall Rating 3.5 stars

Life's a beach...

and then you're undead?

In this must-have collection, five of today's hottest writers-Libba Bray (A GREAT AND TERRIBLE BEAUTY), Cassandra Clare (CITY OF BONES), Claudia Gray (EVERNIGHT), Maureen Johnson (13 LITTLE BLUE ENVELOPES), and Sarah Mlynowski (BRAS & BROOMSTICKS)- tell supernatural tales of vacations gone awry. Lost luggage is only mildly unpleasant compared to bunking with a witch who holds grudge. And a sunburn might be embarrassing and painful, but it doesn't last as long as a curse. Of course, even in the most hellish of situations, love can thrive...

From light and funny to dark and creepy, these stories have something for everyone. When vacation time comes, you definitely won't want to leave this collection at home!

My Review

Vacations From Hell is a book that holds 5 short stories. Stories about vacations, that didn’t end up well. And of course each of them had their share of paranormal.

I will review each one of them. It’s really hard to give you an idea for each of them without spoiling them because of their short length, the stories start right away.
So I’ll try my best.

CRUISIN, by Sarah Mlynowski
My Rating 1 star

This story follows two girls that are cruising when they hear rumours of vampire attacks on cruises. Basically these two girls go on vacation without their parents and the one of them has a goal to achieve. This goal though seems to be interrupted by vampires or maybe not. I can’t say much because I will spoil it. 

Overall I didn’t like it.

I DON’T LIKE YOUR GIRLFRIEND, by Claudia Gray
My Rating 5 stars

This story is about witches and a group of women that practises their magic. 

Every summer they gather together in order to practice magic together. For their husbands it’s a vacation, because one of the rules says that men are forbidden to know about their magic. 
Cecily doesn’t want to go because Kathleen will be there. They hate each other. 
Cecily though finds out that Kathleen has been messing around with magic, breaking one of the rules. She tries to tell her mother but she doesn’t believe her so it’s up to her to try to solve it. 

I liked this story, it’s my favourite of all five stories and I would definitely read it if it was a novel. There was an incident actually that I wanted to share with you. My highest rated stories were actually kind scary and definitely creepy. So when I was reading this story, there was a scene where this Cecily was practising her magic under the light of some candles. And while I was reading the exact scene the lights in my house went off, and if I was alone I would surely have freaked out! Lol.

Overall I would suggest reading this short story if you like reading about witches.


THE LAW OF SUSPECTS, by Maureen Johnson
My Rating 5 stars 

I loved this story! 
It’s about two sisters who go to Paris for the summer but they end up in an old village where there is no phone line and their cell phones don’t have any bars. If it wasn’t only for that, there aren’t also any people near them expect their really scary neighbour that lives next door. 

I can say there isn’t anything really paranormal in it but it’s for sure creepy and scary. I now look at my neighbours with another eye. Lol.

There is also a small romantic encounter in this book. Nothing as a full length book could provide but let me tell you something I got from this story. Looks can deceive.

Overall loved it and I hope it becomes someday a full length novel.

THE MIRROR HOUSE, by Cassandra Clare
My Rating 3.5 stars

Ok, this reminded me her trilogy Mortal Instruments. The story wasn’t similar to her trilogy, but the sister and brother thing was. 
So this is a story about a brother and sister who are in love. 

They are not actually blood related but by law related. Their parents got married and now they are on their vacation all together trying to hide the fact that they are more than brother and sister.

As the days pass they find a beach where a strange lady lives in a house full of mirrors. That lady captures her brother and now it’s up to her to find the way to save him. 

Overall, not crazy about it. The brother and sister set me off a little, mostly because she has already done it but the story line didn’t appeal to me much.

NOWHERE IS SAFE, by Libba Bray
My Rating 4.5 stars

I liked this story a lot! And it was the scariest of them all!

So this story is about 4 Americans who travel around Europe and they come across a small village with a weird name and even weirder reputation. In their travel brochure it says that the village is haunted by evil spirits. They laugh about it and think they should see the place thinking it will be an ordinary, even boring village.
What they find though is human sacrifices to the Satan and they wish they hadn’t gone there.

I can’t say much but it’ll make your skin crawl.

Overall I would like to read this as a full length story but I would make sure it’s day and long before I go to bed.


Frosy


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A Kiss In Time >> Book Review

A Kiss In Time by Alex Flinn

hardcover pages: 371

My Rating 3.5 stars

"What is that?" She points to the numbers on the shirt.

"The year. Old Navy puts the year on all their flag T-shirts. It's short of a racket, I guess-you have to buy a new one every year."

"That...is...the...year?" She looks short of sick. Her face is suddenly almost the same color green as her eyes. She begins to shake. "Oh, my...oh, no." She crumples back onto the floor, as she was when I first saw her. "It cannot be true. It cannot."

I kneel beside her. "What's the matter now? I thought you were fine."

She looks at me, then starts screaming. "Fine? Fine? I have been asleep nearly three hundred years!"

(-excerpt from A Kiss In Time)

Talia fell under a spell...

Jack broke the curse.

I was told to beware the accursed spindle, but it was so enchanting, so hypnotic....

I was looking for a little adventure the day I ditched my tour group. But finding a comatose town, with a hot-looking chick asleep in it, was so not what I had in mind.

I awakened in the same place but in another time-to a strangers soft kiss.

I couldn't help kissing her. Sometimes you just have to to kiss someone. I didn't know this would happen.

Now I am in dire trouble because my father, the king, says I have brought ruin upon our country. I have no choice but to run away with this commoner!

Now I'm stuck with a bratty princess and a truck of her jewels... The good news: My parents will freak!

Think you have dating issues? Try locking lips with a snoozing stunner who turns out to be 316 years old. 

Can a kiss transcend all-even time?

My Review

This story is the retelling of the fairytale Sleeping Beauty.

I have a read another book of Alex Flinn called Beastly (review coming up soon) and I have to say I like this book better.

I am not really into fairytales so I wasn’t that much exited about reading it but I am glad I did! I loved it. She blends the story nicely into the modern world.

I am not going to say much about the story most of you are aware of the Sleeping Beauty so I will go on how she interpreted things for this magic world.

We have normal American Jack, which is the prince charming in this case, that goes on a trip in Europe. He gets bored one day and decides to explore Belgium with his friend until he meets Talia, our princess.

With the wrong directions taken from the guy at the hotel they end up away from the city into the wilderness. They arrive at a 17^th century castle. But all the people in it are asleep and when Jack sees Talia he wants to kiss her so bad that he can’t explain the urge.

After that nothing is the same. He finds himself bound to this spoiled girl and the thing is his parents don’t believe him.

Hiding a whole Kingdom in Europe was nicely explained and the end was surprising. I would never thought of actually having the kingdom as an attraction for tourists.

Overall I liked a lot. It’s a sweet romantic story with witty characters and hilarious moments as Talia tries to handle the gadgets. The dialogue I think makes the book worth reading. It’s insanely funny.

I would recommend this to anyone who likes fairytales and happily ever endings. 

Frosy 

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