ARC Tour & Review: Beautiful Darkness (Caster Chronicles, #2) by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Ethan Wate used to think of Gatlin, the small Southern town he had always called home, as a place where nothing ever changed. Then he met mysterious newcomer Lena Duchannes, who revealed a secret world that had been hidden in plain sight all along. A Gatlin that harbored ancient secrets beneath its moss-covered oaks and cracked sidewalks. A Gatlin where a curse has marked Lena's family of powerful Supernaturals for generations. A Gatlin where impossible, magical, life-altering events happen.

Sometimes life-ending.

Together they can face anything Gatlin throws at them, but after suffering a tragic loss, Lena starts to pull away, keeping secrets that test their relationship. And now that Ethan's eyes have been opened to the darker side of Gatlin, there's no going back. Haunted by strange visions only he can see, Ethan is pulled deeper into his town's tangled history and finds himself caught up in the dangerous network of underground passageways endlessly crisscrossing the South, where nothing is as it seems.

When I tried to formulate my review for this book I was torn, and I kind of still am. I'm a big fan of Garcia and Stohl's writing and enjoyed the first installment in the Caster Chronicles series, Beautiful Creatures, but I'm not entirely sure how I feel about it's sequel. There were some elements that I loved and some that I didn't enjoy much at all. Let me try to make some sense of my ramblings.

To start off, I can say that while I found Beautiful Creatures to be slow in some parts, that was not the case with Beautiful Darkness. We did get more background and of course some histories and mysteries were cleared up, but at the same time the plot wasn't slowed down because of this. Ethan is back as our narrator and this time around he really (for me at least) became a stronger character. If anyone thought he and Lena's troubles/obstacles were over, they were wrong. In fact, their previous problems were nothing in comparison in my opinion. Garcia and Stohl upped the anti (so to speak) in this one and that aspect won me over and kept me reading. Ethan's personality came out more and I think readers will get the chance to see him as an individual as far as his feelings go and will only grow to love him even more.

Now for what I wasn't really loving about this book. We meet some new characters in Beautiful Darkness and they didn't really win me over like I expected them to. Garcia and Stohl gave us such an all star cast in Beautiful Creatures, maybe in my mind they just didn't stand a chance of measuring up, I don't know? But some of the original characters upset and disappointed me too. I don't want to spoil anything for anyone so I can't be specific, but when this book hits the shelves and readers get their hands on it, I don't think I'll be the only one feeling this way.

But to end on a good note, I did like the wrap-up Garcia and Stohl wove together in the end. All I will say is that the Caster Chronicles series can only get more interesting and I'm extremely curious to see what happens next. Cliffhangers vs. neatly tied up endings, which do I prefer? I'm not really sure, but what I do know is that I'm still a fan of Garcia and Stohl's writing and I'm looking forward to reading what the Caster Chronicles will bring us next.

I gave Beautiful Darkness (Caster Chronicles, #2) 3 shamrocks!!!

Review: Beautiful Creatures (Caster Chronicles, #1) by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

There were no surprises in Gatlin County.
We were pretty much the epicenter of the middle of nowhere.

At least, that's what I thought.

Turns out, I couldn't have been more wrong.

There was a curse.

There was a girl.

And in the end, there was a grave.

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

Romeo and Juliet appear to have had it easy in comparison to Ethan and Lena in Beautiful Creatures. They not only have their families telling them to steer clear of each other, but they're also dealing with humans vs. casters (a.k.a. witches) in this struggle. Talk about your star crossed lovers tale, but how does this one end you ask? Are they to suffer the same fate as Romeo and Juliet? Or will they find a way to defy the odds stacked against them? I'm not telling of course...read on people! And boy was it ever a struggle! Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl know just how to write the twists and turns, joys and heartaches to keep their readers not knowing what to expect with every turn of the page. They had me hook, line and sinker without a clue as to what the outcome would be until the very end.



Our main characters were set in a small town in the south and one that has very old ways. We're talking extremely conservative here people. But Ethan and Lena weren't alone while trying to beat the clock and squeak out a happy ending for everyone involved. Lena's family was one of my favorite parts of the story. Her uncle Macon (the town recluse) was entertaining and mysterious of course, and he kept my attention throughout. Ethan's close but yet strange relationship with Amma won her a place in my heart - she was scary with her charms and voodoo, but her love for Ethan overpowered my fear of her. But that's not to say you should underestimate Amma, if Macon Ravenwood doesn't square off with her, what chance would I have? With the rest of the Ravenwood/Duchannes family making surprise appearances, along with our lovable librarian friend Marion Ashcroft, this book had a wonderful cast of characters to call it's own.
Although the story was slow in parts for me, I think the action scenes were very much filled with suspense and the right amount of thrills. I'm hoping the second installment in the Caster Chronicles, Beautiful Darkness will have more action and substance now that Beautiful Creatures has laid out all the groundwork for us. We've got the background now and we're ready for more of this world that Garcia and Stohl have created.


I gave Beautiful Creatures (Caster Chronicles, #1) 3 shamrocks!!!

Spirit Bound Contest Winner!!!!

The winner of a copy of Richelle Mead's Spirit Bound is.....

Natalie!!!!

I'll be sending you an email shortly to get your information so that I can mail your book to you as soon as possible!

ARC Tour & Review: The DUFF by Kody Keplinger

Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper is cynical and loyal, and she doesn’t think she’s the prettiest of her friends by a long shot. She’s also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush. In fact, Bianca hates him. And when he nicknames her “the Duff,” she throws her Coke in his face. But things aren’t so great at home right now, and Bianca is desperate for a distraction. She ends up kissing Wesley. Worse, she likes it. Eager for escape, Bianca throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with him.

Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out Wesley isn’t such a bad listener, and his life is pretty screwed up, too. Suddenly Bianca realizes with absolute horror that she’s falling for the guy she thought she hated more than anyone.

I have to start out by saying that this was not a book I thought I would really be a big fan of, or be able to really get into, but I had read some positive reviews and decided to jump on the tour despite my hesitations. Boy am I glad I did! I was pleasantly surprised to find that I became far more invested in this book than I thought I would. Kody Keplinger is an author who drew me into the story and had me relating to characters I never thought I would.

I think this is going to be a book that will end up taking people off guard. You get the chance to see more of people than just the stereotype and category you/others might have filed them under previously. I didn't think that I would ever champion a womanizing, spoiled rich boy who treats people like their pawns to be moved around a chess board, but here I am, doing just that. Wesley surprised me and his relationship (or whatever you might call it) with Bianca and it had me invested the whole way through. I was laughing at them when they were ridiculous, and sympathizing with them when they were struggling with the events taking place. Keplinger had me from their first introduction and after that there was no way I could let go.

The DUFF was a new term for my vocabulary and at first I thought it meant exactly what it stood for (the designated ugly fat friend) but eventually further into the story, I think readers will agree and realize as I did that it's more than just an acronym, it's a state of mind that goes far beyond what I'd originally given it credit for.

Keplinger gave this story and scenario depth that I didn't think it would or had the potential for. I always love when I've been waiting for a book to come out that I've been dying to read and it turns out to be just as great and enjoyable as I knew it would be. What I like even more is when a book comes along like The DUFF, that I either didn't know enough about or wasn't expecting much from, and then turns out to be wonderful! It was so much fun to read. To me this was a book that turned out to be a dark horse that I wasn't anticipating or expecting and it surpassed my expectations by miles. That was The DUFF, a complete dark horse for me that I'm so glad I gave the chance and took the time to read, totally worth every minute.

I gave The DUFF 4 shamrocks!!!!

Review: Glimmerglass (Faeriewalker, #1) by Jenna Black

It's all she's ever wanted to be, but it couldn't be further from her grasp...

Dana Hathaway doesnt know it yet, but shes in big trouble. When her alcoholic mom shows up at her voice recital drunk, again, Dana decides shes had enough and runs away to find her mysterious father in Avalon: the only place on Earth where the regular, everyday world and the captivating, magical world of Faerie intersect. But from the moment Dana sets foot in Avalon, everything goes wrong, for it turns out she isn't just an ordinary teenage girl, she's a Faeriewalker, a rare individual who can travel between both worlds, and the only person who can bring magic into the human world and technology into Faerie.

Dana finds herself tangled up in a cutthroat game of Fae politics. Someone's trying to kill her, and everyone seems to want something from her, from her newfound friends and family to Ethan, the hot Fae guy Dana figures she'll never have a chance with...until she does. Caught between two worlds, Dana isn't sure where she'll ever fit in and who can be trusted, not to mention if her world will ever be normal again.

Yet another favorite to add to my list for 2010 releases. Glimmerglass won my heart from start to finish, from scene to scene and from character to character. Jenna Black is another debut novelist who floored me with her quick wit and wonderful story telling and I can only hope she decides to make this series one that lasts a very long time. The debut authors of 2011 are going to have a lot to live up to with the quality of writers that we're seeing this year.

We first meet the main character Dana in the human world and assume she's just like you and me, but we would be wrong. Her dad's a big powerful faery and that makes Dana special. So special that the fae have a term for her special and unique genetic make-up...she's a faeriewalker and she's the only one of her kind. Because she's so special and rare she's a trophy to some, a target for others, and in a whole lot of trouble. As much as I loved Dana, it was really the supporting characters who helped her along the way, and of course sometimes hindered her as well, but these were the ones that really stole my heart.

You've got Ethan (totally drool-worthy) who is helping her one minute and playing the hero, and the next minute we're just as confused and suspicious as Dana is of his true intentions. Then we meet Finn, an honest-to-goodness knight who totally fits the bill, but has a softer side underneath the tough exterior, I just loved him. And although his son, Keane was not around as much as the rest of the gang, I'm hoping he'll surface more in the sequel. I've always loved a "bad boy" ya know? But let's not forget about Kimber, what a doll! You love her, you hate her, you're dying to know the recipe for her hot posset (you'll have to read it to understand what I mean), she's fantastic!

Black has a way of shaping all her characters into such intricate and unique people that you can't help but want to get to know them better. This book was so great I of course flew through the pages, which was wonderful except that it was over far too quickly for my liking. I didn't want it to end and I can't wait for Shadowspell, the second installment in the Faeriewalker series to come out in 2011. I'm already counting down and am dying to get my hands on a copy!

I gave Glimmerglass (Faeriewalker, #1) 4 shamrocks and want more, more, more!

In My Mailbox (12)

This is a meme that I first heard about from Kristi over at The Story Siren and immediately wanted to jump on board.

Every week we’ll post about what books we have received (whether they’re bought/borrowed, etc… you get the idea). Everyone participating will try and visit other lists to comment and possibly pine for the new arrivals everyone’s talking about. I’ve learned that it’s a great idea to really try and stop by at least two or three lists because I’m constantly finding out about new books that I’ve later added to my TBR list.

This week I got a few to add to my collection and I'm super excited to dig in and see if they've lived up to their hype, lol!

I was lucky enough to be the winner of the Nancy Drew 80th Anniversary Prize Pack and wanted to say thanks again to Sarah from Sarah's Random Musings for sending that my way!

I also wanted to thank Holly over at Good Golly Miss Holly for hostin the contest for Sometimes We're Always Real Same-same by Mattox Roesch, I hadn't heard of this one until her contest and was immediately interested!

And finally I've been able to cross one off my TBR list that I've been wanting to read for far too long, Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl turned out to be just as good as I was hoping it would be.  I can't wait for the chance to read the sequel!

It's Friday, and you know what that means....it's time to do the Book Blogger Hop! I'm hoping that I'll find even more great blogs than I have in the past few weeks, there are so many great ones out there, I can't wait to check them out!

And last but not least....contest reminders!!!!

Who doesn't love a good contest right?  Well don't forget to sign up for the Spirit Bound contest which will be ending this Monday, June 21

or.....

My 200 followers contest which gives you the chance to win Other by Karen Kincy, Forget You by Jennifer Echols or You Wish by Mandy Hubbard, this contest ends August 1.

    

So click on the contest tab at the top menu bar and have at it...good luck everyone and happy reading as always!!!!

Hitting the Shelves Soon (3)

Since we've reached our mid-way mark in June I've of course been checking my TBR list for future releases that I've been itching to get my hands on, and they can't come out soon enough in my opinion!  These are just a few that I wish were on the shelves, like .... yesterday!

The Candidates (Delcroix Academy, #1) by Inara Scott (8/24)

Dancia Lewis is far from popular. And that's not just because of her average grades or her less-than-glamorous wardrobe. In fact, Dancia's mediocrity is a welcome cover for her secret: whenever she sees a person threatening someone she cares about, things just...happen. Cars skid. Structures collapse. Usually someone gets hurt. So Dancia does everything possible to avoid getting close to anyone, belieiving this way she can supress her powers and keep them hidden.

But when recruiters from the prestigious Delcroix Academy show up in her living room to offer her a full scholarship, Dancia's days of living under the radar may be over. Only, Delcroix is a school for diplomats' kids and child geniuses--not B students with uncontrollable telekinetic tendencies. So why are they treating Dancia like she's special? Even the hottest guy on campus seems to be going out of his way to make Dancia feel welcome. And then there's her mysterious new friend Jack, who can't stay out of trouble. He suspects something dangerous is going on at the Academy and wants Dancia to help him figure out what. But Dancia isn't convinced. She hopes that maybe the recruiters know more about her "gift" than they're letting on. Maybe they can help her understand how to use it...But not even Dancia could have imagined what awaits her behind the gates of Delcroix Academy.

The Ivy by Lauren Kunze & Rina Onur (8/31)

When Callie arrives for her freshman year at Harvard, she encounters her three vastly different roommates, new friendships, steamy romance, and scandalous secrets.

Confessions Of The Sullivan Sisters by Natalie Standiford (9/1)

The Sullivan sisters have a big problem. On Christmas Day their rich and imperious grandmother gathers the family and announces that she will soon die . . .and has cut the entire family out of her will. Since she is the source of almost all their income, this means they will soon be penniless.

Someone in the family has offended her deeply. If that person comes forward with a confession of her (or his) crime, submitted in writing to her lawyer by New Year's Day, she will reinstate the family in her will. Or at least consider it. 

And so the confessions begin....

Spy Glass (Glass, #3) by Maria V. Snyder (9/1)

An undercover mission leads to danger, adventure and an impossible choice. After siphoning her own blood magic in the showdown at Hubal, Opal Cowan has lost her powers. She can no longer create glass magic. More, she's immune to the effects of magic. Opal is now an outsider looking in, spying through the glass on those with the powers she once had, powers that make a difference in the world.

Until spying through the glass becomes her new power. Suddenly, the beautiful pieces she makes flash in the presence of magic. And then she discovers that someone has stolen some of her blood - and that finding it might let her regain her powers. Or know it could be they are lost forever.

Trance by Linda Gerber (10/14)

It begins with a subtle vibration, a tingling. 
There is time to take only one breath.
The trance begins.
When it is through, Ashlyn is certain of two things:
Someone she knows is about to die.
And she is powerless to stop it.

Don't these sound great....hopefully the countdown will start to go by faster, what are you guys excited about that's due to come out soon?