Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Love Sucks! Review (and Giveaway!)

Love Sucks! by Melissa Francis
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release date: July 27, 2010
Source: Publisher
Other books in the series: Bite Me!

AJ Ashe is moving on. Sure she still has not-so-sisterly feelings for Ryan, her ex-boyfriend-turned-step-brother, but there’s a new vampire in town and his name is Alexander Archer. Caught between the desire to move forward with Sexy Lexy and being drawn to her past with Ryan, AJ thinks life couldn’t get anymore complicated. Yeah, right. When her mother’s pregnancy is threatened, it looks like AJ’s long lost father is the only person who can save her. But Dad’s help comes with a price. AJ is forced join the evil side of her family, and a very creepy shape-shifting demon is there to make sure AJ cooperates. All this and she’s still got to plan the prom. Being a teenager is tough, but being a teenage vampire just flat out sucks. Pun totally intended.

Review:

Following up soon after Bite Me left off, Love Sucks was another engaging and fun read by Melissa Francis. Vampire novels are being published quite a lot lately, and I've been really looking for something new and different in the genre, and Melissa Francis brought me just that.

AJ Ashe was back and better then ever. She was ready to face down her enemies and proved she was just as brave and determined as in the prequel. I love how AJ doesn't take being a vampire for granted and is still a normal and down to earth teenager. In this novel, her relationship with her ex-boyfriend (and now stepbrother) becomes even more complicated when a new guy enters the scene. Since the Serpentines are after AJ to come to the dark side, her thoughts are even more valuable then ever. Her "Aunt" Tave brings in her two nephews to help the Ashe/Fraser family train to protect themselves both physically and mentally. Lex and Robbie are both good looking and sweet guys, and Lex soon sweeps AJ off her feet. I really like both Ryan and Lex, but I liked seeing AJ find someone else she liked for awhile. The scenes with Lex were awesome, he was protective and really sweet at heart.

The plot was filled with a ton of twists and turns. Not only was AJ dealing with a conflicted heart, her family is in danger as well. When AJ's pregnant mother is endangered, the only person that can help is the last person AJ wants to see- her father. Clive Ashe is a menacing and uncaring character, but as the novel progresses the reader, and AJ, can see there is more to him than meets the eye. And there are even worse people in the Ashe family yet to come.

Having to find the runes (that can apparently help the owner to travel back in time, and the Serpentines want them) draws AJ closer to Lex, but also farther away from Ryan. There are endless conflicts and soon AJ is fighting to save her life, as well as her mothers.

Love Sucks was a terrific follow up to the enjoyable Bite Me and I'm looking forward to reading more by Melissa Francis in the future. Overall this was a fast paced, fun, and exciting novel that will appeal to all kinds of readers. AJ is a likable main character and readers will find themselves on the edge of their seats as the end draws closer. A really great sequel, but, again, I recommend picking up the first book, Bite Me, before starting this one.

Overall: 4.25 out of 5 stars

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Giveaway!

One lucky commenter will win a signed copy of Love Sucks! by Melissa Francis. Only comments related to the review will be counted.

Giveaway Now Closed

32 comments:

  1. sounds like a fun series! i'll have to pick up the first one! great review!

    looksielovitz@gmail.com

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  2. Ooh, this looks super-FUN!
    Great review. I'd like to read it.

    speak_to_bidisha@yahoo.co.in

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  3. I really need to check this series out. Thanks for the reviews and contests!

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  4. I loved Bite Me! I have been longing to read this one! Sounds like it will not disappoint!

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  5. I loved Bite Me! and can't wait to read this one! I need to know what happens!! You're right, they are very entertaining.

    xnzkisha17 at yahoo dot com

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  6. This book sounds really good! Thanks for the review!

    twilightforever.edward at gmail dot com

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  7. Great review. I still haven't had a chance to get around to reading the first book.But this one sounds fantastic.I just may bump the 1st book up on my TBR pile.
    elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net

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  8. :O ex-bf turned stepbrother, that sucks. her life does sound really complicated, both from the summary and your review.

    it sounds great though.

    oh enter me if this is international!

    thank you :D
    feeyonachan at gmail dot com

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  9. Great review. Sounds like a really fun book. I still love reading vampire stories and am glad there are still entertaining ones coming out. Thanks for sharing!

    bacchus76 at myself dot com

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  10. Hah! Isn't that awesome? Your long lost dad turns out to be totally evil! :D
    I have GOT to read this one!

    kemendraugh at gmail dot com

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  11. Great review!The book sounds fun!I like the fact that this book has a lot of twists and turns...I love surprises!I am glad that it has turned out to be a great sequel because sometimes sequels are a little sloppy.
    Thanks for the giveaway!Would love to win 'Love Sucks!'

    frndz.debas@gmail.com

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  12. Awesome review!! This book sounds great! I gotta check this out :)
    Great contest ;P
    -Liz

    liztapioka14[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  13. I am a follower Great review. Sounds like a fun series. I need to read the first book first but I also would like to read this one. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com

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  14. Awesome review! I love YA.

    I also have a giveaway going on, thought you might be interested. Todays the last day to enter. I'm drawing the winners tomorrow, check it out:

    http://amandarosetew.blogspot.com/

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  15. Sounds like my family, LOL. Well maybe not. Thank you for sharing your review. I am intrigued.

    robin [at] intensewhisper [dot] com

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  16. This looks like a good series! It's on my to read list :D These two guys, Lex and Ryan, are sounding awfully cute, too! :P

    Cheers,
    Emma
    deltree192@live.com.au

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  17. The book sounds awesome. Thanks a lot for the great review!
    Please enter me if this is international

    Misha
    mishamary@gmail.com

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  18. A different kind of vampire novel sounds great, they all kind of run together after a while :P
    I haven't read the first one yet, but I'm definitely thinking about it after reading your review.
    Great job on the review! :)

    ambiepie_6@hotmail.com

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  19. Ive been wanting to read this for a while - it sounds like a good book. I'd like to enter the giveaway.

    TarraAnn85@aol.com

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  20. Thanks for your review! It get me hooked, especially on the secretive (insert creepy) Ashe family! Can't wait to get my hands on Love Sucks!

    You can reach me at luvpinkpanther@gmail.com

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  21. I read the first one in this series and really liked it..

    lovestoread0708 AT yahoo.com

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  22. I haven't had a chance to read Bite Me, but I will have to get it because I just love all the boy drama that's going on in Love Sucks. Thanks for the review.

    findjessyhere at gmail dot com

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  23. I can't wait to read your new book, Mel!! :) Courtney

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  24. I absolutely loved this book, the characters were amazing! I could actually picture them while I was reading. <3 I can't wait for the next book.

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  25. I absolutely loved this book, the characters were amazing! I could actually picture them while I was reading. I can't wait for the next book in the series. Melissa Francis, you are an awesome writer!
    (I don't know why it posted before I was ready.. sorry)

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  26. Loved the first book in this series and can't wait to read the next one!

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  27. A ex-boyfriend who is now her brother??? o_O that is sooo funny!!! This series sound so funny and witty! I have to read it!

    callmeghostgirl@yahoo.com.au

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  28. I recently bought Bite Me. I haven't had a chance to read it yet, but both of these books look good.

    whatinabox at gmail dot com

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  29. This sounds like it would be a great book! I also really like the cover it is really cool. Thanks for the giveaway ;)

    joanna_102693(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  30. The cover doesn't look like it's about vampires but LOL. This book sounds really interesting!

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  31. Thanks to everyone for entering! And congratulations to Misha1989! I'll be contacting you shortly for your address!

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  32. This book sounds like a fun read I just love vampire books Im so hooked. This book seems like one you will not want to put down. Great review I really enjoyed it :)

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