Follow Friday (11.25.10)

Here's another feature for book bloggers, such as myself *smiles*, who want to spread the joy of book blogging!

Hosted by Parajunkee Blog

For more information and entry head to http://www.parajunkee.com/

Finding You by Kristen Kehoe Review

Published : April 30th 2010 by FriesenPress
Paperback, 176 pages

Sloan Sawyer's family began to dissolve the day her father died. Fifteen then, Sloan had turned to her mother for comfort, and had been turned away. Now, at eighteen, a senior in high school, Sloan is alone and playing the role of guardian for her fifteen-year-old younger sister, who appears to be set on ruining her own life. Along with trying to save her sister from her destructive decisions,, Sloan is working day and night to get into a prestigious art program, while working out twice a day to try and clinch a state title in swimming-the same state title that her mother had won when she had been Sloan's age. When an incident at school brings her into contact with the new kid, who also happens to be the principal's son, Sloan finds herself beginning one more relationship that she isn't sure she knows how to handle.


The only thing I can compare this book to is to a tree. Unmoving and just...there.

The title of this story, Finding You, already gives away the moral of the story and so as any reader would hope from a book description such as this, it's disappointing in the end to find the read to be nothing but dim characters living their typical, all too heard of lives.

However I was interested to see how the story would play out did after reading the first few pages but too quickly did the story seem to fade into nothingness. Sloan, who is meant to portray a mature eighteen year old with overwhelming responsibilities, turns out to have a messy personality instead...she has the thirteen year old complaints and the occasional eighteen year old ignorance...which for me doesn't mix well. Grady, whose the son of the principle where he and Sloan go to school, is a classic boy mixed in with a bland story. I did liked him more than Sloan but at the same time felt pity for him and his love life. I expected the romance to be a bit more original than it was but it came out as an attempt rather than the actual thing.

Something that bothered be the most though was change of point of views chapter after chapter. I felt like there should have been the names on the beginning of each chapter depending on who was telling the story...Sloan or Grady. Basically this book had a lot of cliches and not enough pizazz.

2/5

Blog Hop (1)

My first Blog Hop! Yippie!

The Blog hop is a way to meet new book readers and share what they've got featured in their blogs. I like the idea of supporting fellow readers so I was happy to hear of this opportunity.

Hosted by Crazy-for-Books






"What is your favorite book cover?"

Recently, this is my favorite book cover:




Everyone knows it's hard to pick one cover as a favorite but Born at Midnight by C.C Hunter has recently grabbed my attention after looking through my TBR list.

It has this dim affect and fog that makes this books seem really interesting.

~*~

I also have to add The Greyfriar by Clay and Susan Griffith because not only did I love the cover at first but after reading this I can't help but tell how much I loved it. The book was full of quality. I really enjoyed the story and the characters are so likable.


If you want to see my review, click the photo or click the link right here:

http://midnightfume.blogspot.com/2010/11/greyfriar-by-clay-griffith-and-susan.html

In My Mailbox (2)

Here's what I got this week. Cheers!

~*~

Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma

Sixteen-year-old Maya and seventeen-year-old Lochan have never had the chance to be 'normal' teenagers. Having pulled together for years to take care of their younger siblings while their wayward, drunken mother leaves them to fend alone, they have become much more than brother and sister. And now, they have fallen in love. But this is a love that can never be allowed, a love that will have devastating consequences ...

How can something so wrong feel so right?

Brother and sister relationship? I never read an incest book and I heard this one's promising.

~*~

Blood and Sunlight: A Maryland Vampire Story by Jamie Wasserman

Melanie would love to believe in fairytales. She'd love, in fact, to believe in anything. The twenty-three-year-old college dropout is stuck - stuck in a dead-end waitress job, stuck in her hometown of Ellicott City, Maryland, and stuck with a boyfriend who likes to play dress-up as a vampire. Vampires. Her world and her reality are turned upside down when she encounters the real thing. Along the way, she meets Lucas, the would-be vampire slayer, his father the sheriff, and ultimately the vampire himself. Melanie learns that fairytales can come true, and evil isn't always where you expect to find it.

The art is nice. This seems refreshing, something new worthy.

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Masks by Patricia Caviglia>

Masks tells the story of two teenagers struggling to be normal together, despite their dysfunctional families.

Rebecca Jacobs is an unremarkable teenage girl-at least, that is what she wants the world to believe. But her private life is made public when her verbally abusive father embarrasses her at a school dance, and soon gossip and whispers buzz throughout the school.

One of the witnesses to Rebecca's public humiliation is David Miller, the high school bad boy. Unsure about how to help her, he settles for becoming her friend. Rebecca and David grow closer with each passing day, eventually falling in love.

Rebecca's main priority is keeping her relationship with David a secret from her overprotective parents, but there are other problems she must also confront. First, Rebecca's best friend tries to steal David away. Then, Rebecca is forced to face David's violent behavior, which closely resembles her father's temper. Rebecca's worst enemy, though, is herself. In her desperate need to keep her home life separate from her love life, she lies to her parents and to David. When the truth is exposed, she must confront reality-alone. She quickly learns that sometimes secrets are harder to live with than the truth.

The Cover is really! Nice! ...the plot seems very interesting too.

~*~

The Broken Lake (The Pace Series #2) by Shelena Shorts

In the aftermath of Sophie's ordeal, Weston will make some uncharacteristic decisions to distance himself from the past in an attempt to change the future.
But, while venturing into the improbable, the present sneaks up in a chilling way that will lead to Wes' unexpected submission. Suddenly, Sophie will find herself watching as both his immortal secret and his own existence are threatened.
Continuously intriguing, The Broken Lake takes readers to a place where eternal bonds confront a division that is sure to leave everyone wondering whom they can trust.

The Sequel to The Pace, Book 1 of The Pace series(click here for my review)...need I explain?

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Over the Moon by Diane Daniels

When seventeen-year-old Tiana moves to Hurricane, Utah, her comfortable world is turned upside down as she traverses the rough waters of adjusting to a small town and new school. Her father insists they were supposed to move here for some unknown, important purpose, and the voice in her head tells her not to argue. After resigning herself to being a miserable outcast, Tiana finds that she is not only accepted by most of the students at her new high school but is also the recipient of unwelcome attention from the opposite sex. But then she meets the mysterious Andrew Martin and is soon Over the Moon crazy about him. Andrew seems to be the perfect boyfriend: protective, tender, good with her parents, and a fabulous kisser. But he also has a few unusual qualities: an intuitiveness that borders on mind reading, a touch that seems to heal, and almost superhuman strength. Tiana marvels at his talents but doesn't seriously consider the implications until she can no longer ignore the clues: Andrew does not belong on Earth. When Andrew admits his true identity, Tiana enters a world previously unknown to her and is plunged into mortal danger as it is Andrew's sworn duty to combat evil, extraterrestrial villains who wish to invade Earth and enslave mankind. Join Diane Daniels for a romantic adventure in Over the Moon, which will take you to a world where the impossible comes to life.

Cover is lovely...I'm very curious about this one, sounds good and entertaining.

~*~

Finding You by Kristen Kehoe

Sloan Sawyer's family began to dissolve the day her father died. Fifteen then, Sloan had turned to her mother for comfort, and had been turned away. Now, at eighteen, a senior in high school, Sloan is alone and playing the role of guardian for her fifteen-year-old younger sister, who appears to be set on ruining her own life. Along with trying to save her sister from her destructive decisions,, Sloan is working day and night to get into a prestigious art program, while working out twice a day to try and clinch a state title in swimming-the same state title that her mother had won when she had been Sloan's age. When an incident at school brings her into contact with the new kid, who also happens to be the principal's son, Sloan finds herself beginning one more relationship that she isn't sure she knows how to handle.

The main character, Sloan, seems like she's overwhelmed with responsibility. I love books about teens who take on more than what they can handle, I'm very curious to see how this one will play out.

The Greyfriar by Clay Griffith and Susan Griffith Review

Title: The Greyfriar (Vampire Empire, Book 1)
Published November 18th 2010 by Pyr Paperback, 320 pages


Vampire predators run wild in this exciting steampunk adventure, the first in an alternate history trilogy that is already attracting attention.

In 1870, monsters rise up and conquer the northern lands, As great cities are swallowed up by carnage and disease, landowners and other elite flee south to escape their blood-thirsty wrath. One hundred fifty years later, the great divide still exists; fangs on one side of the border, worried defenders on the other. This fragile equilibrium is threatened, then crumbles after a single young princess becomes almost hopelessly lost in the hostile territory. At first, she has only one defender: a mysterious Greyfriar who roams freely in dangerous vampire regions.

Whew , this book spoiled me. I loved it in so many ways...

But I must admit, I hadn't been quickly immersed in this book after reading the back description and I guess I was afraid by the presentation in the first few pages too because it was slightly intimidating in all it's alternative(otherworldly)history ...I was very wrong in my prediction. The promise of greatness in this read was fulfilled and there is no doubt that the on going Vampire Empire series will be epic. Enriched with wicked steampunk adventure, this read overachieves in all genres from soul-defined romance to impressive combative action. I was also enthralled by the glow of realism in the story too, it merged with the fantasy and paranormal romance aspects of the novel almost perfectly.

As for the cons, I waited for the eventual cliches but the writing was so crazy good that it distracted me from any that came. The love was something else too...it was a fine twist in the vampire romance part of the novel.

Clay and Susan Griffith are a fantastic duo.

By the end of the book I was completely blown away and excited for the upcoming sequels. The Greyfriar is a hidden classic, a thrilling story and I hope you consider this book because this book is too good to be missed.

Here is a video of the trailer for The Greyfriar if you'd like a peek at that:




4.5/5







Fav Quotes...

" "Greyfriar!" His tall figure leapt, and he drew his rapier while in the air, the blade falling as he came down. A bloody head lolled to the side. The swordsman didn't stop moving but rushed the vampire Adele was barely holding at bay...Clawed hands rose to strike the man across the face, but Greyfriar ducked and thrust through the chest of his opponent, twisting the blade to destroy her heart. The body fell to the ground and Greyfriar turned to Adele."

"Her hands astonished him. Her skin was so much darker than his alabaster flesh..."