Friday, August 5, 2011

Follow Friday (13)

Welcome to Follow Friday Hosted By Parajunkee.com and Alisoncanread.com


This weeks question:

Q. Talk about the book that most changed or influenced your life (was it a book that turned you from an average to avid reader, did it help you deal with a particularly difficult situation, does it bring you comfort every time you read it?).


To Kill a Mockingbird

I can’t tell you the first time I read it or even how many times I’ve reread To Kill A Mockingbird, but I can tell you that it was one of those books that was an actual life changer. I know on Bending The Spine you only see paranormal reviews. That is because in real life on a daily basis I try to help women with real horror stories piece their lives back together one step at a time. After a day in my office I don’t want to escape in a book that can be real. To Kill A Mockingbird was the first book I read when I was younger that made me understand one person can do a lot to affect others lives if you allow yourself to make the right choice. I love this book and can’t wait to share it with my daughters when their older.

Happy Friday Everyone,
Rebecca 

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Review: Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Hush, Hush (Hush, Hush, #1)

Description


For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her...until Patch comes along.
With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment, but after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is far more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.
For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life. (Goodreads)

Book Details

Genre: YA, Paranormal
Hardcover: 400 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Published: October 13, 2009
ISBN-10: 1416989412
ASIN: B0052HLAH8
Book source: Self purchase

Review


Ok so I’m not going to lie there are times when a book series comes out and if I think I will really like it, I just wait until the the last book is close to release to start reading the series. Does anyone else do that? Well that is what I have done with the Hush, Hush series.

I really enjoyed Hush, Hush. I love angel or demon books anyway, and I think this is my first YA fallen angel book. I was entertained from cover to cover, and  I loved Becca Fitzpatrick’s style of writing. I know that a lot of people compared this book to Twilight, I will admit there are some similarities, but other than the fact that the characters are in high school, and there was a relationship between a paranormal and a human I really didn’t get what all the hate was about.

What I love about reading YA is that some times it throws your back to that first “love” feeling, you know what I’m talking about. There is that guy you’re not suppose to like, but every time you look at him your head and stomach makes you feel crazy things and your mouth won’t say what you want it to. That is one of the few things I miss about being a teenager. Falling so freely and quickly in and out of love. Hush, Hush took me back to that and I had so much fun.

I could not get enough of Patch and Nora. Their chemistry was amazing. I found myself more than once smiling at their interactions. Nora is sweet and always does what is expected of her. (There is something else about her but I’m not telling). Patch is an ex-angel bad boy, that has more than one reason to get close to Nora.

My only let downs in Hush,Hush were: one, I figured out who the main villain was early on and two, Vee, Nora’s best friend. I am so thankful that in high school I had an awesome best friend that would not bail on me for a boy (yes, I’m singing your praises Kelly). I know at some point Vee may have been under some mind control, but she just got on my nerves!

Reading this book was a lot like getting on a ride at the fair. You have heard a lot of talk about the people that put the rides together and that the ride might not be that safe. Well I loved this one and I’m ready to get on the next.

Happy Reading,
Rebecca

       4 moons
4 moons: I loved it. It's reread worthy.

Recommended For

Teens and up: Some violence, sexual situations

Other Books In This Series


Crescendo (Hush, Hush, #2)Silence (Hush, Hush, #3)

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Waiting On Wednesday (13)

"Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly event, hosted by “Breaking the Spine”, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
 

My Pick This Week

Silence (Hush, Hush, #3)

Description


The noise between Patch and Nora is gone. They've overcome the secrets riddled in Patch's dark past...bridged two irreconcilable worlds...faced heart-wrenching tests of betrayal, loyalty and trust...and all for a love that will transcend the boundary between heaven and earth. Armed with nothing but their absolute faith in one another, Patch and Nora enter a desperate fight to stop a villain who holds the power to shatter everything they've worked for—and their love—forever. (Goodreads)

Book Details

Genre: YA, Paranormal
Hardcover: 448 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing 
Release Date: October 4, 2011
ISBN-10: 1442426640
ISBN-13: 978-144242664

Why I’m Waiting


I really love the cover of this third installment. Now if you want my real reason as to why I’m waiting… Patch. Need I say more.

What are you waiting for?
~Rebecca

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Review: Peeps by by Scott Westerfeld

Peeps

Description


A year ago, Cal Thompson was a college freshman more interested in meeting girls and partying than in attending biology class. Now, after a fateful encounter with a mysterious woman named Morgan, biology has become, literally, Cal’s life.
 
Cal was infected by a parasite that has a truly horrifying effect on its host. Cal himself is a carrier, unchanged by the parasite, but he’s infected the girlfriends he’s had since Morgan. All three have turned into the ravening ghouls Cal calls Peeps. The rest of us know them as vampires. It’s Cal’s job to hunt them down before they can create more of their kind. . . .
 
Bursting with the sharp intelligence and sly humor that are fast becoming his trademark, Scott Westerfeld’s novel is an utterly original take on an archetype of horror.(Goodreads)
 

Book Details

Genre: YA, Paranormal
Paperback: 312 pages
Publisher: Razorbill (September 7, 2006)
Published: September 7, 2006
ISBN-10: 1595140832
ISBN-13: 978-1595140838
Source: Self Purchase

Review


I don’t know if I am suppose to think Peeps is funny and creeptastick at the same time, but I do. It has this odd campy B-movie feel to it and I loved every minute of it. I mean come on guys when was the last time you read a vampire book that was all: “Don’t have sex you will die!” Well in Peeps vampirisms is an STD so chew on that for a while.

Cal, who is one of the rare few to only have the good side effects of Peeps, is put upon with the sad task of finding everyone he has unknowingly infected with the decease. The person Cal wans to find most is Morgan, the girl who infected him. When Cal finds Morgan, he finds out not everything he has been told is true. He also meets up  with Rachel and Lace who also have Peeps. From there the story breaks wide open.

Peeps can be super gross at times. It involves rats, cats, and every other chapter tells of a different parasite that adds to the creepfest. Then at the end to find out that the reason everyone is turning into these super strong parasites is so that they can actually… Yeah right. Y’all know I don’t do big spoilers. Read the book.

Peeps is so much fun. I loved Cal and Lace and all creepy crawlies in between.

Happy Reading,
Rebecca


4 moons
4 moons: I loved it. It's reread worthy.

Recommended For

Older Teens and up: Lots of language, violence, sexual situations.

Other Books in this Series

The Last Days (Peeps #2)

Monday, August 1, 2011

Review: Voodoo Dues (Lian and Figg Book 1) by Stephany Simmons

Voodoo Dues (Lian and Figg Book 1)

Description


From the beginning of Figg’s employment, there is something not quite right about the bar. There are few customers, a parade of neighborhood psychics and pentacle adorned visitors, all coming to hold court with her enigmatic boss. Figg is not sure what is going on, but she is determined to find out!

When the local voodoo queen shows up, and the next morning her grandson ends up dead outside the bar things get interesting.

Figg pesters Lian into telling her the truth about his former life, and is thrust into a world where the things that go bump in the night are real. There’s a murder to solve, zombies to lay to rest and a villain that neither of them saw coming. (Goodreads)

Book Details

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 556 KB 
ASIN: B005E8F77Y
Lending: Enabled
Source: Author


Review


When I pushed the button on my reader for the next page of Voodoo Dues and I realized it was over I literally screamed NO out loud. I was so not ready for the end of this story. I need more Stephany Simmons, and I need it now.

I loved Stephany Simmons’s ability create such amazing and realistic characters (minus the paranormal abilities). Figg (one of the main characters) is a no nonsense, bar tending, gun carrying kind of girl. Yeah, I wanted to be Figg in this book. I loved that Figg could keep up with everyone else even though she was coming into all this with no powers, and no previous knowledge of the Paranormal. Lian, Figg’s boss is a very straight laced man who is trying to escape the scares of his past. Lian and Figg worked off one another so well they had me in fits. But my favorite character was Carl. Honestly Carl and his spirit guide had me in stiches…so funny.

The antics that these characters were able to get into in just 106 pages was amazing. Then to find out at the end what it was really all about… fantastic. I will be honest I did not have huge expectations going into this and I was wonderfully surprised. I am ready to read more in this series.

Happy Reading,
Rebecca


5 moons
5 moons: I absolutely loved it, and will be looking into everything this author writes.

Recommended For

Adults: Some violence, language, one sexual encounter.

Other Books in this Series

Voodoo Dues Companion (Lian and Figg)