Title: Undead Much?
Author: Stacey Jay
Pages: 304
Published: Jan. 21, 2010
Rating: 4/5


Summary:

Q: How many guys does it take to make your boyfriend wild with jealousy?
A: Only one, if he's UNDEAD.


Megan Berry had a perfectly average new-sundress-and-boy-obsessed life--until her power to settle the Undead returned. Oh, and then her best friend tried to kill her--and ruin homecoming--with a bunch of black magically raised zombies. At least she got a spot on the pom squad and a smokin' boyfriend (Ethan). But now Megan is in deep fertilizer all over again.

Why? Well, let's see...

· Feral new super-strong zombies? Check.

· Cheerleader vs. pom squad turf war threatening half time as they know it? Check.

· An Undead psychic hottie (Cliff) who's predicting a zombie apocalypse--and doing his best to tempt Megan away from Ethan? Yum. I mean, Check.

· Earth-shattering secrets that could land Megan in Settler prison for life? Um, IT WASN'T ME!!!

Everyone thinks Megan's at fault for the new uber-zombie uprising. Looks like she'll need the help of both Cliff and Ethan if she's going to prove her innocence before it's too late...

Review:

Undead Much? the sequel to the fabulously original You Are So Undead To Me by Stacey Jay. In the sequel Jay once again knocks the socks off of her readers by continuing the storyline with her amazing cast of characters. This time around we get to see a softer, more helpful side of the "Monicster" (Monica). She became someone Megan could depend on to help her out of serious jams, while also providing much of the comic relief throughout. Megan continues to be an incredibly likable character with a relatively cool head about her-given the circumstances. And Ethan? Still and hunky and dreamy-boyfriend as ever. With a friend as kick-butt as Monica and a boyfriend as cool as Ethan who wouldn't be able to take on hordes of zombies?

This series is quickly becoming one of my absolute favorites. Jay's fresh writing style and hilarious dialogue made it hard for me to put Undead Much down. I cannot wait to see what the third installment will have in store for Megan Berry.

Waiting On Wednesday (2)

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill of Breaking The Spine.

I am totally enamored by this book. The cover is really eye-catching, in both color and composition. And the synopsis hints at a really good love story. I can't wait for the release of:

Title: Something Like Fate
Author: Susane Colasanti
Release Date: May 18

Summary:
Lani and Erin are bonded for life. One thing that connects them is their fascination of fate. Lani wonders how much of our lives has already been decided and how much we can actually influence. Since the Unknown can unexpectedly change our lives forever, how much can we really control?

From the minute Lani meets Jason, she can't deny the intense connection they share. It feels like she's known him forever. She's not sure if he feels it, too. But it doesn't matter. Because Jason is Erin's boyfriend. Lani is determined to ignore her feelings for Jason, no matter how powerful they are, rather than risk hurting her best friend. How long can Lani keep running from the boy who might be her destiny?

Teaser Tuesday (1)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

1. Grab your current read
2. Open to a random page
3. Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
4. Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Teaser is from Eternal by Cynthia Leitich Smith


"Some know better-those in certain cities, certain walks of life. Bartenders, cabbies, hairstylists, doormen-the people who know everything, they're aware of our greater presence: They also know enough to stay quiet and stay away."

P. 75

Review: Little Miss Red by Robin Palmer

Title: Little Miss Red
Author: Robin Palmer
Pages: 272
Published: Feb. 9, 2010
Rating: 3.5/5

Summary:

Sophie Greene gets good grades, does the right thing, and has a boyfriend that her parents— and her younger brother—just love. (Too bad she doesn’t love him.) Sophie dreams of being more like Devon Deveraux, star of her favorite romance novels, but, in reality, Sophie isn’t even daring enough to change her nail polish. All of that changes when Sophie goes to Florida to visit her grandma Roz, and she finds herself seated next to a wolfishly goodlooking guy on the plane. The two hit it off, and before she knows it, Sophie’s living on the edge. But is the drama all it’s cracked up to be?

Review:

Robin Palmer is the queen of putting a fun and more modern spin on classic fairy tales. Little Miss Red doesn't disappoint. The main character, Sophie starts off shallow, aspiring to be like Devon Deveraux, her favorite romance novel character. Throughout the book, she learns that guys like those on the covers of romance novels aren't always so dreamy. She gets advice on love from her mentor, a bootylicious Floridian and also her Grandmother and even gets a first hand glimpse of "real life" romance. She ends up teaching a few lessons to the men in her life, and being taught a few from the people around her.

I went back and forth liking the characters. Sophie was the quintessential LA girl found in Palmer's novels. Michael, her boyfriend started off so completely clueless that I wanted to hug him, then shake him a little to see if he rattled. I despised Jack from the very beginning, but only because I could see his game coming from a mile away and I've been on the receiving end of characters like him before.

Little Miss Red is another fun novel from Robin Palmer. Fans of her previous works will definitely enjoy it!

Review: Shadowland by Alyson Noel

Title: Shadowland
Author: Alyson Noel
Pages: 368
Rating: 3/5

The Book:

Ever and Damen have traveled through countless past lives—and fought off the world’s darkest enemies—so they could be together forever. But just when their long-awaited destiny is finally within reach, a powerful curse falls upon Damen…one that could destroy everything. Now a single touch of their hands or a soft brush of their lips could mean sudden death—plunging Damen into the Shadowland. Desperate to break the curse and save Damen, Ever immerses herself in magick—and gets help from an unexpected source…a surfer named Jude.

Although she and Jude have only just met, he feels startlingly familiar. Despite her fierce loyalty to Damen, Ever is drawn to Jude, a green-eyed golden boy with magical talents and a mysterious past. She’s always believed Damen to be her soulmate and one true love—and she still believes it to be true. But as Damen pulls away to save them, Ever’s connection with Jude grows stronger—and tests her love for Damen like never before…

The Review:

Let me start by saying I loved the first two books in the Immortals series: Evermore and Blue Moon. I thought they were very well developed and full of action and mystery. With Shadowland, I felt that where the story left off at the end of Blue Moon, is pretty much the same at the end of Shadowland. There were a few new developments, mostly with side characters, and most of them seemed a little out of place with the previous two installations. Ever seems to keep repeating the same mistakes and getting jealous over the silliest things. Damen seems to keep going to this 'dark place' of his, deciding to come out of it around anyone who isn't Ever. The story was frustrating at times, though still enjoyable. Given the previous two books in the series, I was expecting some sort of exciting revelation at the end.

The best part of this book was the introduction of Ever's new potential love interest, Jude, who, most likely will play a big role in the fourth installment: Dark Flame. That being said, I am really looking forward to the release of Dark Flame later this year.

In My Mailbox (1)

In My Mailbox is a weekly event brought to you by Kristi of The Story Siren, who was inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie.

This week I

Purchased:

















Heist Society reviewed here.






























Hearts At Stake Reviewed here.

That's it for me! I'm really excited about In My Mailbox: I LOVE seeing all the new books everyone gets.

Review: Heist Society by Ally Carter

Title: Heist Society
Author: Ally Carter
Pages: 304

The Book:
When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her on a trip to the Louvre...to case it. For her seventh birthday, Katarina and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Austria...to steal the crown jewels. When Kat turned fifteen, she planned a con of her own--scamming her way into the best boarding school in the country, determined to leave the family business behind. Unfortunately, leaving "the life" for a normal life proves harder than she'd expected.

Soon, Kat's friend and former co-conspirator, Hale, appears out of nowhere to bring her back into the world she tried so hard to escape. But he has good reason: a powerful mobster has been robbed of his priceless art collection and wants to retrieve it. Only a master thief could have pulled this job, and Kat's father isn't just on the suspect list, he is the list. Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat's dad needs her help. For Kat there is only one solution: track down the paintings and steal them back. So what if it's a spectacularly impossible job? She's got two weeks, a teenage crew, and hopefully just enough talent to pull off the biggest heist in history--or at least her family's (very crooked) history.

The Review:

Heist Society is such a fun book. I was a little hesitant at first to read it: I had tried the first Gallagher Girls book, and, while I did enjoy what I read, just kind of drifted away from it half way through. But, the gorgeous cover drew me in and I found I had no reason to worry. This book has all the qualities to make it unputdownable: Mystery, Intrigue, Fast-action, suspense, exotic locations and a little romance. From the very beginning you just know that it's going to be one of those books that leave you anxiously awaiting the sequel. Katarina Bishop was an awesome lead character. She is strong, smart, and resourceful-the qualities of a great thief. Supporting characters are all charming in their own way as well. I was completely dedicated to this book from the first page.

If you haven't picked up a copy of Heist Society yet, what are you waiting for!? If you like a good mystery/espionage/love story, you won't be let down.

Rating: 5/5

Waiting On Wednesday (1)

Waiting On Wednesday is brought to you by Jill of Breaking The Spine.

WOW Pick: Jekel Loves Hyde by Beth Fantaskey Release Date: May 3, 2010

Summary:

Jill Jekel has always obeyed her parents’ rules – especially the one about never opening the mysterious, old box in her father’s office. But when her dad is murdered, and her college savings disappear, she's tempted to peek inside, as the contents might be key to a lucrative chemistry scholarship. To better her odds, Jill enlists the help of gorgeous, brooding Tristen Hyde, who has his own dark secrets locked away. As the team of Jekel and Hyde, they recreate experiments based on the classic novel, hoping not only to win a prize, but to save Tristen’s sanity. Maybe his life. But Jill’s accidental taste of a formula unleashes her darkest nature and compels her to risk everything – even Tristen’s love – just for the thrill of being… bad.


I adored Jessica's Guide To Dating On The Dark Side, and I am so excited to read Jekel Loves Hyde.

To tide you over until May, you can read an excerpt from Jekel Loves Hyde here.

Review: Hearts At Stake by Alyxandra Harvey

Title Hearts At Stake
Author: Alyxandra Harvey
Pages: 256
Website: www.thedrakechronicles.com

About the book:

Solange Drake always knew she was destined to become a vampire queen. And as the only female vampire ever born, not made, she is surrounded by danger on all sides-from vampire suitors who want to join with her lineage to bounty hunters who are set on destroying her and her family. When she is kidnapped, it's up to her older brother Nicholas and her human best friend, Lucy, to save her. But can Lucy save herself from Nicholas, who tempts her with his every look? And what will be Solange's own fate if she surrenders her heart to the vampire hunter helping her survive the deadly intrigue at the royal court?

Review:

Although I felt that this book could have been more than it was (longer, more fleshed out), I REALLY enjoyed it Hearts At Stake for a lot of reasons.

*Lucy already has intimate knowledge of the Drake family being vampires, and she already knows of the royal court and some of the proceedings. That in my book, is a big plus. I'm not sure I can stand another book with 10 pages devoted to 'history lessons' written as (boring) dialogue.


*The book is written by split points of view: Both Solange and Lucy get a turn guiding the story. Better still, both girls are strong characters. Both girls can kick butt, and also have great comebacks and I didn't feel that one completely dominated any part of the book, as often is the case when you have two leading ladies. I did find myself excited waiting for Lucy's turn to tell the story but that is only because...

*Lucy and Nicholas are HOT!!! The romance and tension between the pair was totally swoon-worthy without being over the top unbelievable. Nicholas had some great romantic lines. I can see him creeping into YA readers hearts as a new heartthrob character crush. I do not feel I know enough about Solange and Kieran's relationship to comment properly, but it looks like they will get their romantic momentum going in the next book.

Bottom line; Hearts At Stake was a very enjoyable, perfect guilty pleasure read. I devoured it in a matter of hours and am now counting the days until the release of Blood Feud, The Drake Chronicles book 2.

Rating: 3.5/5