Review: Magic at Midnight by Gena Showalter

Magic at Midnight by Gena Showalter

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Berkley Trade; Reprint edition (February 5, 2013)

Goodreads Description:

TOGETHER FOR THE FIRST TIME 

Two charmed and sexy novellas set in Mysteria, the beguiling little Colorado town where magic is in the air and passions run high—and not because of the altitude . . . 

Hundreds of years ago, in the mountains of Colorado, Mysteria was founded by a random act of demonic kindness. Today, it’s a magnet for the supernatural, where magic quietly coexists with the mundane world. But now two sisters are about to unleash a tempest of seduction that will have tongues wagging for centuries to come . . . 

The Witches of Mysteria and the Dead Who Love Them 

Genevieve is a witch with a bad case of unrequited love for a local bar owner. But is his sudden change of heart the result of a love potion—or a literally breathtaking passion?

A Tawdry Affair 

Glory, witch of love, wants her man. Unfortunately, he barely knows she exists—until a magic pen brings her creative fantasies of seduction, sex, and delicious revenge to life.

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My Thoughts:

How many times are they going to keep reprinting stories from Mysteria and Mysteria Lane? Last time it was Mysteria Nights which I was excited for and then was shocked after I got it and it turned out to just by Mysteria and Mysteria Lane combined into one book (2 books I already owned). Now Magic at Midnight is just the two novellas written by Gena Showalter from Mysteria and Mysteria Lane packed into this one book. When I saw a new book by Gena Showalter (my favorite author) and that it was based in Mysteria I didn't even bother to read more about it so it is definitely my fault that I now own 3 copies of both of these stories. I just hate when stories are repackaged over and over. It gets confusing.

The stories are obviously short but enjoyable. Nice little love stories involving witches and other paranormal creatures. I really hope that new short stories based in Mysteria get written or, even better, full length novels. If you haven't read about Mysteria I recommend buying Mysteria Nights instead of Magic at Midnight. With Mysteria Nights you get to read the all the stories written by the other authors as well.

I normally give a rating for books I've read but since this is just a repackaging I don't even want to bother with a rating.

Review: Catherine by April Lindner

Catherine by April Lindner

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Poppy (January 1, 2013)

Goodreads Description:

A forbidden romance. A modern mystery. Wuthering Heights as you’ve never seen it before.

Catherine is tired of struggling musicians befriending her just so they can get a gig at her Dad’s famous Manhattan club, The Underground. Then she meets mysterious Hence, an unbelievably passionate and talented musician on the brink of success. As their relationship grows, both are swept away in a fiery romance. But when their love is tested by a cruel whim of fate, will pride keep them apart?

Chelsea has always believed that her mom died of a sudden illness, until she finds a letter her dad has kept from her for years—a letter from her mom, Catherine, who didn’t die: She disappeared. Driven by unanswered questions, Chelsea sets out to look for her—starting with the return address on the letter: The Underground.

Told in two voices, twenty years apart, Catherine interweaves a timeless forbidden romance with a compelling modern mystery.

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My Thoughts:

After reading Jane by April Lindner and loving it I knew that I would become an avid reader of her books.    I went into reading Catherine with high expectations and I wasn't disappointed. I can't tell how good of a modern take on Wuthering Heights it is (I've never read Wuthering Heights before. I know, shame on me), but I know that this was a good book. 

The story is told from two points of view, Chelsea (who is 17) and her mother, Catherine (when she was 17). I liked how the author went back and forth between them because it really allows the reader to understand them both. This story is pure drama with some mystery thrown in. From practically the beginning I felt such sadness while reading, I even cried a little bit at one point. I actually didn't like most of the characters in the book (their personalities and the choices they make) but all of that is what makes up the story, and the story is great.  Now that I have read Catherine I really want to read Wuthering Heights.

4.5/5

Review: Shades of Earth by Beth Revis

Shades of Earth (Across the Universe #3) by Beth Revis

• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: Razorbill (January 15, 2013)

Goodreads Description:

The final book in the  New York Times bestselling trilogy, perfect for fans of Battlestar Galactica and Prometheus!

Amy and Elder have finally left the oppressive walls of the spaceshipGodspeed behind. They're ready to start life afresh--to build a home--on Centauri-Earth, the planet that Amy has traveled 25 trillion miles across the universe to experience.

But this new Earth isn't the paradise Amy had been hoping for. There are giant pterodactyl-like birds, purple flowers with mind-numbing toxins, and mysterious, unexplained ruins that hold more secrets than their stone walls first let on. The biggest secret of all? Godspeed's former passengers aren't alone on this planet. And if they're going to stay, they'll have to fight.

Amy and Elder must race to discover who--or what--else is out there if they are to have any hope of saving their struggling colony and building a future together. They will have to look inward to the very core of what makes them human on this, their most harrowing journey yet. Because if the colony collapses? Then everything they have sacrificed--friends, family, life on Earth--will have been for nothing.

FUELED BY LIES.

RULED BY CHAOS.

ALMOST HOME.

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My Thoughts:

I love, love, love, loooved this book! Each book in this series gets better and better. Sadly, this is the last book in the series, but on the bright side at least I wasn't disappointed with the ending. I do really wish the author would at least write some kind of spin-off or something.

In this book Amy, Elder, and 1k+ people land on Centauri-Earth. The planet is an unknown place full of danger. People are terrified and it leads to bad decisions. One of the dangers on the planets is giant pterodactyl bird creatures, which was pretty interesting. I would have liked to read more about the flora and fauna of the planet but the story really stayed focused on the characters. Although I had suspicions about certain things throughout the story I was still surprised a lot. There were some nice twists thrown in. The ending was a good one but did leave me wanting more. Overall a great addition to the series.

5/5

Review: Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter

Alice in Zombieland (White Rabbit Chronicles #1) 

by Gena Showalter

• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: Harlequin Teen (September 25, 2012)

Goodreads Description:

She won’t rest until she’s sent every walking corpse back to its grave. Forever.

Had anyone told Alice Bell that her entire life would change course between one heartbeat and the next, she would have laughed. From blissful to tragic, innocent to ruined? Please. But that’s all it took. One heartbeat. A blink, a breath, a second, and everything she knew and loved was gone.

Her father was right. The monsters are real….

To avenge her family, Ali must learn to fight the undead. To survive, she must learn to trust the baddest of the bad boys, Cole Holland. But Cole has secrets of his own, and if Ali isn’t careful, those secrets might just prove to be more dangerous than the zombies….

I wish I could go back and do a thousand things differently.

I'd tell my sister no.

I'd never beg my mother to talk to my dad.

I'd zip my lips and swallow those hateful words.

Or, barring all of that, I'd hug my sister, my mom and my dad one last time.

I'd tell them I love them.

I wish... Yeah, I wish.

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My Thoughts:

I went into this thinking that it would be a retelling of Alice in Wonderland, but I quickly learned that wasn't really the case. There were actually only a few Alice in Wonderland elements. Although it took me a little while to get into the story it turned out to be pretty interesting.

I enjoyed the characters and really can't wait to learn more about some of them in future installments of the series. I'm particularly intrigued with Cole and his friends and want to know more about their pasts. One of the things I liked most was the zombies. They are not the typical run of the mill zombies. They are very unique. I had some difficulty understanding how things worked with them but eventually I got it. 

There are lots of great twists and surprises in the story so I don't feel I can say too much without giving something away. Just know that if you enjoy YA books like the Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa you will likely enjoy this book as well.

4/5

Review: Too Dangerous To Desire by Cara Elliott

Too Dangerous To Desire (Lords of Midnight #3) 

by Cara Elliott

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Forever (November 20, 2012)

Goodreads Description:

Can a Flame from the Past be Rekindled? Long ago, Sophie Lawrance chose prudence over passion, rejecting a rebellious young rogue for the sake of her family-no matter the ache it left in her heart. But after a specter from her father's past resurfaces, threatening to destroy all she holds dear, the desperate beauty knows there is only one man whose shadowy skills can save her. Or Is It Too Dangerous to Play with Fire? Cameron Daggett is a man of many secrets . . . and many sins. He's never forgotten the pain of losing Sophie. But now, with a chance to win her back, Cameron sets aside his anger and agrees to help Sophie save her father's honor. Together they embark on a perilous masquerade, leading them to a remote country estate near the sea. There, they must battle a cunning adversary-and their own burning desires. Will they be consumed by the flames? Or can they prove that true love conquers all?
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My Thoughts:

First I want to be upfront and say I did not finish this book. I only read a little more than half of it. I'm usually not guilty of not finishing a book (even when I don't like it) but I just couldn't make myself read anymore of this one. Was this book terrible? No, but I found that I did not care about any of it. I did not care about the characters, the romance, or what was going on with them. I did not even care about the mystery aspect. That is probably the most surprising thing about me not finishing it. Usually even if I can't stand a book the mystery will keep me reading because I want to know the solution or answer. I liked the first two books in this series very much and I'm a bit disappointed that this one just missed the mark (for me). I'm sure plenty of other people will be satisfied with this book, unfortunately I'm not one of those people.

Please keep in mind that I did not finish this book. For all I know the second half of this book could be amazing. I just was not able to make myself read any more past the first half. If you enjoyed the first two books in the series or other books by Cara Elliott you might want to give this one a try despite this review. Hopefully you will enjoy it more than I did.

This rating is only for the first half of the book:

2/5

*I received this book from Netgalley for review. Any opinions are my own*

Review: Ghost Town by Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson with Tim Waggoner

Ghost Town by Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson 

with Tim Waggoner

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Gallery Books; Original edition (October 9, 2012)

Goodreads Description:

 From the stars of the SyFy network’s popular show Ghost Hunters, the second novel in a new spine-tingling supernatural series.

When Amber, Drew, and Trevor are invited to a paranormal conference in the most haunted town in America, they confront a murderous ghost called the Dark Lady and her human servant: Amber’s abusive ex-boyfriend Mitch. The three friends must stop the Dark Lady before she destroys the entire town, and they'll have the help of a surprising and spooky ally….

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My Thoughts:

Ghost Town is a pretty good follow up to the first book in the series, Ghost Trackers. Was is as good as the first? Maybe not, but it was still thoroughly enjoyable. It was interesting to see how life goes on for the three main characters after the ordeal they went through at Lowry House (in the first book). In Ghost Town they travel to a quirky town to speak at a conference. Of course things get deadly and a creepy ghost is behind it all. With the help of a few others Drew, Trevor, and Amber have to figure out a way to stop the ghost known as the Dark Lady from harming even more people.

I really liked the setting of this story. The town is known as the most haunted town in America and the history of it is very tragic. I like that the authors didn't just go for the typical haunted house type of setting again because when stuff starts to happen in certain places it isn't necessarily expected. Another thing I really loved was the characters, especially the new ones. The ally twist was very easy to figure out immediately but it still created a lot of anticipation of when the main characters would figure it out too.

Although I thought this book was great I do wish it was a little scarier. It was spooky but I was hoping for it to be more scary-spooky like the first book. If you liked the first book I don't think you would be disappointed with this one. If you haven't read the first book I recommend you read it before this one so that you can fully appreciate the whole story.

3.5/5

*I received this book for review. Any opinions expressed are my own*

 

Review: The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan

The Mark of Athena (The Heroes of Olympus #3) 

by Rick Riordan

•  Hardcover: 608 pages 
• Publisher: Hyperion Book CH (October 2, 2012)

Goodreads Description:

 Annabeth is terrified. Just when she’s about to be reunited with Percy—after six months of being apart, thanks to Hera—it looks like Camp Jupiter is preparing for war. As Annabeth and her friends Jason, Piper, and Leo fly in on the Argo II, she can’t blame the Roman demigods for thinking the ship is a Greek weapon. With its steaming bronze dragon masthead, Leo’s fantastical creation doesn’t appear friendly. Annabeth hopes that the sight of their praetor Jason on deck will reassure the Romans that the visitors from Camp Half-Blood are coming in peace.

And that’s only one of her worries. In her pocket Annabeth carries a gift from her mother that came with an unnerving demand: Follow the Mark of Athena. Avenge me. Annabeth already feels weighed down by the prophecy that will send seven demigods on a quest to find—and close— the Doors of Death. What more does Athena want from her?

Annabeth’s biggest fear, though, is that Percy might have changed. What if he’s now attached to Roman ways? Does he still need his old friends? As the daughter of the goddess of war and wisdom, Annabeth knows she was born to be a leader, but never again does she want to be without Seaweed Brain by her side.

Narrated by four different demigods, The Mark of Athena is an unforgettable journey across land and sea to Rome, where important discoveries, surprising sacrifices, and unspeakable horrors await. Climb aboard the Argo II, if you dare. . . .

In The Son of Neptune, Percy, Hazel, and Frank met in Camp Jupiter, the Roman equivalent of Camp Halfblood, and traveled to the land beyond the gods to complete a dangerous quest. The third book in the Heroes of Olympus series will unite them with Jason, Piper, and Leo. But they number only six--who will complete the Prophecy of Seven?


The Greek and Roman demigods will have to cooperate in order to defeat the giants released by the Earth Mother, Gaea. Then they will have to sail together to the ancient land to find the Doors of Death. What exactly are the Doors of Death? Much of the prophesy remains a mystery. . . . With old friends and new friends joining forces, a marvelous ship, fearsome foes, and an exotic setting, The Mark of Athena promises to be another unforgettable adventure by master storyteller Rick Riordan.

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My Thoughts:

If you read the first two books in the series then you know pretty much where things are headed in this one. Characters you know and love bravely fighting to save the world at great risk to themselves. The heroes must work together and use their abilities, ingenuity, and strengths to overcome obstacles such as monsters and angry gods. There are lots of new bad guys (aka gods/goddesses/monsters) introduced and since I love mythology it was especially interesting to learn about them. The ending left me reeling a bit so I can't wait for the next book because I have to know what happens next! I keep getting a feeling that something terrible is going to happen but hopefully I'm wrong. This series has been filled with nonstop action and adventure and this latest book does not disappoint. If you haven't read the previous books in the series you definitely need to read them first (and in order!) or you won't be able to fully enjoy this story. 

5/5