Book Review: Low Red Moon by Ivy Devlin

 
Low Red Moon

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books

Publish Date: September 14, 2010

Hardcover, 256 pages
Young Adult

My Review:
Why I read this:  It sounded like a good book.


How is the novel driven:  This is more suspenseful than a typical young adult paranormal, so I believe it is more plot driven.  Characters are important and I think Ms. Devlin has found a great balance between driving  the plot and developing the characters.


My thoughts: I loved the suspense element of the book.  I loved the romance in the book and I loved the paranormal aspect.  Ms. Devlin does a beautiful job balancing all three and making a book that kept me turning the pages until it was finished.  When it was finished I wished there was more even though things were tied up in the end.  I just didn't want to leave Avery and Ben, I found their stories fascinating and want to read even more.

The characters are well-developed,  yet not completely developed since in a suspense novel you need questions about the characters and there are definitely questions surrounding each of the characters.  I enjoyed watching Avery come to terms with the world that she finds is around her and as she tries to do what is right and fights with her head over her heart.  Ben is mysterious, he is suddenly there and then not and then back.  I like him and like his backstory and want to know more about him and get to know some more through the book.

The book is full of tragedy but Avery and Ben work to overcome it.  It is by no means a depressing book, it is a serious book with a great suspense plot.  I had an idea of what was going on, but was still surprised in the end by who the evil character was, so that made the book great in my mind.

If you enjoy some suspense and romance in your young adult paranormal then this is just the book for you.  Ms. Devlin shows great promise as a writer in this genre and I can't wait to read more of her books.


I see now that Ivy Devlin is a pseudonym for Elizabeth Scott who has a bunch of YA books out.  I have a couple of hers on my TBR pile and I will have to read them very soon.

My Rating: 4.75/5.0

About the Book:
The only thing Avery Hood can remember about the night her parents died is that she saw silver—deadly silver, moving inhumanly fast. As much as she wants to remember who killed them, she can't, and there's nothing left to do but try to piece her life back together. Then Avery meets the new boy in school—Ben, mysterious and beautiful, with whom she feels a connection like nothing she's ever experienced. When Ben reveals he's a werewolf, Avery still trusts him—at first. Then she sees that sometimes his eyes flash inhuman silver. And she learns that she's not the only one who can't remember the night her parents died.Part murder mystery, part grief narrative, and part heart-stopping, headlong romance, Low Red Moon is a must-read for teen paranormal fans. As breathless as Twilight and as spooky as Shiver, this is a book to be devoured in one sitting—by an acclaimed YA author making her paranormal debut under the pseudonym Ivy Devlin.

About the Author:
IVY DEVLIN is the pseudonym of a popular and critically acclaimed author of teen fiction. With Low Red Moon and the Ivy Devlin name, she makes her paranormal fiction debut. She lives in Virginia.

Her Website
Trailer for Low Red Moon


FTC Information: I received this book through 1-ARC Tours for review.  I have Amazon links on my review pages but I do not make any money from these because of NC laws.  I put them solely for people to check out the books on a retail site.

Book Review: Manifest by Artist Arthur

 
Manifest

Publisher: Kimani Tru

Publish Date: August 1, 2010

Paperback, 256 pages
Young Adult

My Review:
Why I read this:  It sounded like an interesting book.  I love the cover and the main character's name is Krystal (spelled different than mine), which is not a name that is used often, I could not resist.


How is the novel driven:  Character though events play a main role too, but this is all about Krystal really learning about herself and her power and being introduced to Sasha and Jake as well.



My thoughts: I really enjoyed this book.  I liked the weather aspect affecting the main characters' powers and what happened in the community.  I liked the different take on paranormal with the characters having specific powers.  I also liked having the small group of characters with these powers and getting to know them.

Krystal was an interesting character and I enjoyed seeing her growth during this novel.  She learns more about herself and comes to grip with a lot that goes on in her life.  I like how she finally takes a look around and notices other things besides herself.  I think a lot of teens can relate to what Krystal is going through and Ms. Arthur portrays her in a honest and real way.

I think Jake and Sasha make interesting characters as well and can't wait to read more about them in the next two books in this series.  They make the group of three really interesting with the different social statuses, and completely different types of people they are, yet when thrown into the situation they are in, they work together and become friends.

The ending wrapped up this book nicely but left it very open for the next two books.  I like it when a series does that.  I'm eager for the next book, but not upset because I was left completely hanging.  Ms. Arthur does a wonderful job pacing the book and finishing the book - it was a very enjoyable read.


My Rating: 4.25/5.0

About the Book:
When fifteen-year-old Krystal Bentley moves to Lincoln, Connecticut, her mom's hometown, she assumes her biggest drama will be adjusting to the burbs after living in New York City.

But Lincoln is nothing like Krystal imagined. The weirdness begins when Ricky Watson starts confiding in her. He's cute, funny, a good listener—and everything she'd ever want—except that he was killed nearly a year ago. Krystal's ghost-whispering talents soon lead other "freaks" to her door—Sasha, a rich girl who can literally disappear, and Jake, who moves objects with his mind. All three share a distinctive birthmark in the shape of an M and, fittingly, call themselves the Mystyx. They set out to learn what really happened to Ricky, only to realize that they aren't the only ones with mysterious powers. But if Krystal succeeds in finding out the truth about Ricky's death, will she lose him for good?

About the Author:
Learn about her here.

Her Website
Twitter


FTC Information: I received this book through Around the World Tours for review.  I have Amazon links on my review pages but I do not make any money from these because of NC laws.  I put them solely for people to check out the books on a retail site.

Book Review: The Absolute Value of -1 by Steve Brezenoff

 
The Absolute Value of -1 by Steve Brezenoff

Publisher: Carolrhoda Books

Publish Date: September 1, 2010

Hardcover, 296 pages
Young Adult

My Review:
Why I read this:  It sounded interesting, simple as that.


How is the novel driven: It's all about the characters - this is the story of Noah, Lily and Simon who are friends in some ways and yet not friends in others and it's told from each of their points of view, so it's all character.


My thoughts: I couldn't write my review of this one right after I finished it.  I admit I don't write most of my reviews right after I finish the book, but with this one I needed to think about the book for awhile.  Why?  Because it is so real that it made me stop and think.  Yes there are a lot of YA books out there that look at teenagers just like they are, but there are just as many that aren't completely real.  Neither one is better than the other, but when a book like this comes along, it just makes me think.

Told from the point of view of three apparent friends, Lily, Noah and Simon,  you get each ones' views on the friendship, their own life and that of their friends.  Lily's life is in a downward spiral, one she freely admits at the beginning she could have stopped.  Noah's life is at the bottom and has been for awhile.  Simon, he's somewhere in-between and until his story is told (and his is told last) you aren't really sure where Simon is.  It's an interesting contrast of a book, showing the story from all sides.  Showing how what one person sees can be different from what actually is.  I found the book fascinating.  It was hard to put down and hard to read at the same time.  Hard to read because of the harshness of these kids' lives.  It's all there in black and white and this isn't a happy story, but it is a worthwhile story.

I finished The Absolute Value of -1 almost 3 weeks ago but it has stuck with me.  If you like a serious YA novel from time-to-time or all the time, I highly recommend this one.  I enjoyed this book and it will continue to stay with me and hopefully make me aware as my sons become teenagers of things going on in their lives.  Steve Brezenoff writes an amazing story and does a great job getting into the heads of these three teenagers and keeping the book moving along for the readers' enjoyment.


My Rating: 4.5/5.0

About the Book:

The absolute value of any number, positive or negative, is its distance from zero. So what's the absolute value of a friendship? Of love? Just how far apart are we, anyway?

Lily: "For three years, I'd been trying to hold on to Simon and pull him up against me. He was a bar of soap in the shower, though: slippery as hell, and one false move¯squeeze a little too tight¯and he's gone. And picking up a wet bar of soap in the shower is pretty difficult."

Noah: "Lily has these big brown eyes. It sounds corny, but they totally get me. They make my stomach and heart flip five times a piece. So I looked away quickly, because I have a tendency to kind of stare at her if I don't catch myself. It's been like that forever."

Simon: "I never thought much would change with Lily being my girlfriend. I mean, she and Noah were the only people I hung out with much anyway, so now I'd be kissing her and fondling her and she'd be kissing me and fondling me. Not much of a difference, really."


About the Author:
Steve Brezenoff has written several chapter books for young readers, and The Absolute Value of -1 is his first novel for teens. Though Steve grew up in a suburb on Long Island, he now lives with his wife, their son, and their terrier, in St. Paul, Minnesota.

His Website
His Blog
Twitter
Trailer for The Absolute Value of -1


FTC Information: I received this book through 1-ARC Tours for review.  I have Amazon links on my review pages but I do not make any money from these because of NC laws.  I put them solely for people to check out the books on a retail site.

Book Review: Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers

 
Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers

Publisher: Tor Teen

Publish Date: September 14, 2010

Paperback, 368 pages
Young Adult

My Review:
Why I read this:  The cover, the blurb, availability through a tour site - made it a winner to me.


How is the novel driven:  Character mainly - Frannie, Luc and Gabe are the stars of this book.  Yes there are dark forces at work and mayhem to be found, but the true story is in the characters and whether it really is good versus evil and whether evil can change.

My thoughts: Okay I try to stay objective in my reviews and not sound like a raving fan girl or someone younger than myself, but I have to say that this book is "hawt"!  I can't help it,  you'll just have to forgive  me this time, but I don't know how else to describe it.  The tension and attraction between Frannie and Luc and Frannie and Gabe is just too amazing to describe.  And the plot, the plot starts fast and continues that way to the end.  I felt so involved with the characters that I hated for the book to end.

So what else can I say - it's a great story of good versus evil and making choices.  Everyone has choices even demons.  Loved the angel and demon aspect with Frannie right there in the middle.  Frannie is part of a devout Catholic family but she has questions about her religion.  Luc is the bad boy and Gabe is the good boy, so which one should she choose.  It all makes it a fascinating book.  Gabe and Luc are at war for Frannie's soul, but things can change and people can too, so how will Frannie decide and can she come to terms with her own demons as well.

See - I mean how can that not be a fascinating story.  There is so much going on and the interactions are amazing.   Another thing I really liked - Frannie's parents were involved in her life and watching out for her.  They didn't like Luc which would be normal reactions for parents.  They were in her life just enough to make them good parents, they did let her make some of her own decisions though and were there for her when she needed them.


Great love triangle, great romance, good versus evil, angels, demons, high school angst, muscle cars and so much more.  Personal Demons is full of great things, great characters and great plot.  I look forward to more of Lisa's books in the future!

And I just went to her website and saw that she will have two more books coming out - Original Sin in July 2011 and Hellbent in May 2012 - I can't wait!

My Rating: 4.75/5.0

About the Book:
If you had to choose between Heaven and Hell, which would it be?

Are you sure about that...?

Frannie Cavanaugh is a good Catholic girl with a wicked streak. She's spent years keeping everyone at a distance--even her closest friends--and it seems her senior year will be more of the same...until Luc Cain enrolls in her class. No one knows where he came from, but Frannie can't seem to stay away from him. What she doesn't know is that Luc works in Acquisitions--for Hell--and she possesses a unique skill set that has the king of Hell tingling with anticipation. All Luc has to do is get her to sin, and he's as tempting as they come. Frannie doesn't stand a chance.

Unfortunately for Luc, Heaven has other plans, and the angel, Gabe, is going to do whatever it takes to make sure that Luc doesn't get what he came for. And it isn't long before they find themselves fighting for more than just her soul.

But if Luc fails, there will be Hell to pay...for all of them.

About the Author:
LISA DESROCHERS lives in central California with her husband and two very busy daughters. She can always be found with a book in her hand, and she adores stories that take her to new places and then take her by surprise. Growing up all over the country inspired wanderlust, and Desrochers loves to travel, which works out well since she lectures internationally on a variety of health care topics. Lisa Desrochers has a doctorate in physical therapy and maintains a full-time practice. Personal Demons is her first novel.


Her Website
Blog
Twitter
Facebook
Goodreads


FTC Information: I received this book through Book It Forward Tours for review.  I have Amazon links on my review pages but I do not make any money from these because of NC laws.  I put them solely for people to check out the books on a retail site.

Welcoming the Fall Giveaway

 

Welcome to my Welcoming the Fall Giveaway!  Fall is my absolute favorite time of the year so when Good Choice Reading decided to offer up a special giveaway to celebrate the fall, I wanted to participate.  Besides I really need to clear out some books from my house.  Make sure to check out the other blogs participating that are listed at the end of this post.  Lots of great giveaways going on.  I know I will be hopping my way through right along with you.

Now onto my specifics.  I have five giveaways up, something for everyone, see below.  The rules are simple, US and Canada only (money shortage, sorry international), fill out the form.  You can enter 1, 2, 3, 4 or all 5 of the giveaways.  You do not have to be a follower, but there are extra entries for followers.  Your email address will only be used to contact you if you are the winner, it will be disposed of after this contest.  Simply fill out the form below.  I love comments so give some comment love if you want.  Tell me what your favorite thing about fall is.  Ends 9/29.

Thanks for visiting and entering! Make sure you visit all the other blogs involved listed below the form as well.

The Giveaways:

David Baldacci/Audiobook Lovers - both of these are unabridged audiobooks, listened to once and in good shape:

 

Historical Romance - brand new, never been read

 

Paranormal Romance - brand new, never read 

   

General Fiction - My Name is Memory is an ARC, The Swan Thieves is an unabridged audiobook on CD

Young Adult - read lightly, both are ARCs