Share the Love of YA

Beth Revis is running an amazing contest. You can win an entire library of YA books. See this:

So why do I love YA? The excitement. The firsts. The angst.

And I don't know about the rest of you but my high school years were boring and for while I can pretend it wasn't.

The Sparkles and Lightning Blog Giveaway Spotlight

The Sparkles and Lightning Blog Giveaway Spotlight

Annabelle of The Sparkles and Lightning Blog is celebrating her blogoversary with an awesome giveaway, 5 winners will each win two books from her list of favorite books. There are 70+ chances to win. Go now and check out her giveaway and stay for the reviews. You've got just a few more days to enter so GO NOW! The Sparkles and Lightning blogoversary celebration day 3

Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff -- YA Review

Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff -- YA Review

Griffins are supposed to be extinct. So when Yukiko and her warrior father Masaru are sent to capture one for the Shogun, they fear that their lives are over. Everyone knows what happens to those who fail him, no matter how hopeless the task.

But the mission proves far less impossible, and far more deadly, than anyone expects – and soon Yukiko finds herself stranded: a young woman alone in her country's last wilderness, with only a furious, crippled griffin for company. But trapped together in the forest, Yukiko and Buruu soon discover a friendship that neither of them expected.

Meanwhile, the country around them verges on the brink of collapse. A toxic fuel is slowly choking the land; the omnipotent, machine-powered Lotus Guild is publicly burning those they deem Impure; and the Shogun cares about nothing but his own dominion. Yukiko has always been uneasy in the shadow of power, when she learns the awful truth of what the Shogun has done, both to her country and to her own family she's determined to do something about it.

Returning to the city, Yukiko and Buruu plan to make the Shogun pay for his crimes – but what can one girl and a flightless griffin do against the might of an empire?

Details: Thomas Dunne Books, Released September 18, 2012, Hardcover, 322 pages
Genre: YA
Source: Library
Links: Goodreads

Stars? 2/5

In one sentence? A book with everything from rape, incest, mythical creatures, swords, death, torture, infidelity, betrayal, sex, divided loyalties, surprises, victory and defeat.

Review:

This was another book I wanted to like. It had all the elements of an amazing book: mythology, heroes, villains, a great destiny, a griffin. I expected epic, I got bleh.

I found the descriptions flowery and overwrought, and frankly, annoying. I didn't like any of the characters expect Buruu. I didn't much care what happened to any of the characters except Buruu.

I thought the main character's romance was contrived and meaningless. I felt like the author thought his audience expected Yukiko to have a romance and pushed her into Hiro's arms - and bed. I skimmed, a lot, just to find out how it ended and even that disappointed me, I expected more. When I got to the end I was just relieved it was over.

Because of Low (Sea Breeze #2) by Abbi Glines -- YA Review

Because of Low (Sea Breeze #2) by Abbi Glines -- YA Review

Marcus Hardy had hoped to enjoy a year away at college while he put the summer he’d rather forget behind him. But instead, he’s jerked right back to the coastal town of Sea Breeze, Alabama due to a family crisis. His dear ol' dad found himself a girlfriend only a few years older than Marcus. So now his sister needs help dealing with their mother who is mentally falling apart. The only bright spot to returning is the fascinating red head who sleeps over several times a week. The problem is she's sleeping in bed with his new roommate, Cage York.

Willow “Low” Foster needs a place to live. Running to Cage’s apartment every time her sister kicks her out isn’t exactly a long term solution. Juggling her courses at the local community college and a part time job doesn’t produce excess income. But Cage has a new roommate and suddenly sleeping over at her best friend’s apartment isn’t such a bad thing. Not when she gets to see those sexy green eyes of Marcus Hardy’s twinkle when he smiles at her like he wants her there. 

Even though Cage seems a little territorial where Low is concerned, Marcus finds time to spend with Low without upsetting his roommate. Cage may use his small college baseball star persona to sleep with every hot female in his path but he’s still under the disillusion that when he’s through sowing his wild oats, he’s going to marry Low. Marcus intends to change that assumption for both Cage and Low. Until his carefully laid plans come crashing down with a revelation he never expected. He’ll have to choose between Low or his family. Because once the truth comes out.... there’s no other choice. Blub from Goodreads

Details: Released February 7, 2012, Kindle e-book
Genre: YA
Source: purchased
Links: Goodreads

Stars? 4/5

In one sentence? Three screwed up people learning to love, trust and let go.

Review: 

Marcus, Low and Cage are all screwed up. But they're screwed up for a reason. Their past informs their actions and reactions and helps the reader sympathize with the characters even when they're not particularly likeable.

Marcus was presented as the good guy but he's not a saint, he can certainly pack a wallop, and does. Marcus tends to go caveman in regards to Low, but he has lots of redeeming characteristics. He is fierce when it comes to protecting the people he loves. And he was sweet. And he cooks!

Low has the most character development; she wasn't the same person at the end of the book. She was able to make decisions and take actions that she couldn't have made at the begining of the book.

I couldn't help but like man whore Cage. He's a man whore, Glines makes that clear, but when he's with Low he's a different person, the one she can always count on. It's not Cage's story but we even see his growth here, he was able to put her happiness first.

Glines doesn't shy away from the dark places we go - and come from - but she shows how we can survive them. Glines makes it an emotionally wrenching experience for all of us as she tortures her characters, making them face the worst, before putting them back together. 

In all, Because of Low was a quick, entertaining read.

Team Human by Justine Larbalestier and Sarah Rees Brennan -- YA Review

Team Human by Justine Larbalestier and Sarah Rees Brennan -- YA Review

Image Via Goodreads

Just because Mel lives in New Whitby, a city founded by vampires, doesn't mean she knows any of the blood-drinking undead personally. They stay in their part of town; she says in hers. Until the day a vampire shows up at her high school. Worse yet, her best friend, Cathy, seems to be falling in love with him. It's up to Mel to save Cathy from a mistake she might regret for all eternity

On top of trying to help Cathy (whether she wants it or not), Mel is investigating a mysterious disappearance for another friend and discovering the attractions of a certain vampire wannabe. Combine all this with a cranky vampire cop, a number of unlikely romantic entanglements, and the occasional zombie, and soon Mel is hip-deep in an adventure that is equal parts hilarious and touching. Blurb Via Goodreads

Details: HarperTeen, Released 2012, Hardback, 352 pages
Genre: YA
Source: Library
Links: Goodreads

Stars? 2/5

In one sentence? Which team are you on: vampires or humans?

Review: It wasn't for me. I found it depressing BUT it had some great bits. I thought Mel was a strong, resilient, interesting character who was artfully kept from being too perfect and one dimensional.

And Kit. I loved Kit. I loved how Mel and Kit represented the two different worlds, vampire and human, and the ways that was demonstrated, the 'I'll call you' and 'what a kiss means' scenes.

How to Date an Alien (My Alien Romance #1) by Magan Vernon -- YA Review

How to Date an Alien (My Alien Romance #1) by Magan Vernon -- YA Review

Image from Goodreads

High school senior Alex Bianchi's estranged father gets her an internship at Circe Operations Center to pad her college applications. But Circe isn't your typical military base. It's an alien-run operation center and not all of the aliens are friendly, especially the one that tries to kill Alex on her first day. When Ace, a dark-eyed Caltian, enters and saves the day, she can't help but be drawn to him. Can these star-crossed lovers survive when they're on the brink of intergalactic war? Blurb from Goodreads

Details: CreateSpace, Released December 6, 2011, Kindle e-book, 272 pages
Genre: YA
Source: Amazon
Links: Goodreads

Stars? 4/5

In one sentence? Romeo and Juliet with aliens.

Review:

I liked it. But I wanted to like it more than I did. The concept was awesome, Romeo and Juliet with aliens, but it lost me about two thirds of the way through.

I liked Alex especially because she wasn't perfect. She had glasses and hips - as big bad mama points out - and emotional baggage. She had her moments of  incredible bravery, not just going into battle but declaring her allegiance. But at that two thirds of the way through, she lost me. She was willing to make an incredible sacrifice and then she goes all will I, won't I when it comes to how she feels about Ace? And she was listening to what other people said instead of what she thought?

Did anyone else think about the logic of Alex and Ace's relationship? The temperature difference in - shall we say intimate moments?

Ghost of a Chance by Flo Fitzpatrick -- Adult Romance Review

Ghost of a Chance by Flo Fitzpatrick -- Adult Romance Review

Image via Goodreads

Six straight men in the cast plus free Tex-Mex food? My friend Lida Rose sure knew how to persuade me. I signed on the dotted line and dusted off my dance shoes. I knew Bad Business on the Brazos would have them rolling in the aisles and standing up to cheer, whichever came first. But I didn't expect the ghost problem. As in the ghost of Don Mueller, the actor who was killed during the last performance of this show fifty years ago. He's flirting with me in a spectral kind of way ... and a ghost can make interesting things happen to a girl.

Like the gorgeous man on stage with me: Rafe Montez, my secret crush - also known as He Whose Perfect Profile Should Be On A Coin. I'm taking six feet of chiseled yumminess here. Lida Rose thinks Rafe is only acting, but that kiss we share in Act II sure feels real to me. As in earth-shaking, can't-breathe real... From blurb

Details: Zebra, Released August 1, 2004, mm pb, 320 pages
Genre: Romance
Source: purchased
Link: Goodreads

Stars? 4/5

In one sentence? Ghosts, murder, dancing, terrible names such as Delilah Delight and Nick Nefarious and popcorn.

Review:

An entertaining story set during the revival of the play Bad Business on the Brazos. Fitzpatrick has a well paced story that makes you want to keep reading to find out what crazy, insane, dramatic thing will happen next. The cast of characters are amusing and quirky which seems to be Fitzpatrick's forte.

Kiely, the heroine, was a sweet, likable, look before you leap girl who can hold her own. While we see little of Rafe he's the type of guy you want to see more of. Kiely does too. "Four hundred years ago, he would have been wearing armor, conquering Peru. I would have been first in line volunteering to be conquered." (pg. 29)

What I wanted more of: romance.