Review: One Hundred Candles by Mara Purnhagen

One Hundred Candles by Mara Purnhagen

It's taken a long time for me to feel like a normal teenager. But now that I'm settled in a new school, where people know me as more than Charlotte Silver of the infamous Silver family paranormal investigators, it feels like everything is falling into place. And what better way to be normal than to go on a date with a popular football star like Harris Abbott? After all, it's not as if Noah is anything more than a friend….

But my new life takes a disturbing turn when Harris brings me to a party and we play a game called One Hundred Candles. It seems like harmless, ghostly fun. Until spirits unleashed by the game start showing up at school. Now my friends and family are in very real danger, and the door that I've opened into another realm may yield deadly consequences.

Review:

I have read and enjoyed all of Mara's published books so far and I've been eager for One Hundred Candles to be released. Luckily, it was a fabulous follow up to Past Midnight! Filled with more spooky twists and turns and new characters, One Hundred Candles sent shivers up my spine and kept me reading into the night!

The plot of One Hundred Candles was intriguing and fast paced. The action starts almost immediately and comes to a high point when our protagonist, Charlotte, and some friends go to a party and get involved in a mysterious game called "One Hundred Candles". The room is dark and mysterious and Charlotte, her best friends Avery and Noah, and her maybe-boyfriend Harris, are all present as well as a bunch of other kids from their school. Each of them has to share a paranormal experience and then light a candle. Unfortunately, afterwards, some freaky things start happening to Charlotte and at their school. Are Charlotte and her friends really being haunted or is there a more logical, human approach to the occurrences?

Charlotte was a strong and determined main character and always wanted the best for her family and friends. Unlike in the first novel, the Silver clan is not as happy and "together" as they once were. Charlotte's parents are constantly arguing and having differences in opinion. On top of all that Charlotte is dealing with some of her own problems. Like her new boyfriend Harris. And tensions with her friend(?) Noah. And of course all the freaky things happening at school. Charlotte held her head up high through it all and always sought out the most realistic answer. Luckily she had her best friend Avery, who was always there for her, and her older sister. I liked all the secondary characters in One Hundred Candles as I got to revisit with some of my favorites from the prequel and get to know them better as well as to meet some likable, new characters.

I love how Mara Purnhagen's novels always keep me on the edge of my seat and One Hundred Candles was no exception. New plot twists were always thrown in when I least expected them and certain characters had more going on than met the eye. The ending especially was so creepy and horrifying I couldn't put it down for one second.

One Hundred Candles in no way suffered from sequel blues and I enjoyed it even more than the first book in the series. Charlotte is a main character I was constantly rooting for and I was truly scared during a few scenes. Now I am counting the days until Beyond the Grave is released!

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars

February 15, 2011/Harlequin Teen/235 Pages/Young Adult/Book Two

Source: NetGalley

Other books in the series: Past Midnight

Review: The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

Some summers are just destined to be pretty

Belly measures her life in summers. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad. They are the boys that Belly has known since her very first summer -- they have been her brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one wonderful and terrible summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along.

Review:

I'm ashamed to say The Summer I Turned Pretty has been sitting on my to be read shelf for waaaay too long. I adore realistic fiction and contemporary novels hold a special place in my heart. The Summer I Turned Pretty did not disappoint. I started it early one morning and did not put it down until I was finished a few hours later. I was completely submerged in reading about Belly and her magical, heartbreaking summer. Jenny Han has written a truly fabulous novel.

The characters in The Summer I Turned Pretty were all extremely complex and developed. I felt as if I knew each and every one of the characters in this novel down to the very minor ones. Belly was a main character I will feel attached to from now on. She was by no means perfect which made her that much more relatable and likable. The reader gets to experience the ups and downs of Belly's life. She has her angry, immature moments just like anyone else, yet also has a great sense of humor and love for those around her. Belly has spent every summer she can remember with her mother, brother, her mother's best friend and her two sons, Jeremiah and Conrad. Every one of these characters plays a large role in the story and by the end I felt like I truly knew them. The novel mainly focuses on Belly, Jeremiah, and Conrad and the feelings they have for other people, and, they may discover, each other. Jeremiah and Conrad were two terrific guys and although they were brothers they had very distinctive personalities. Readers got to really know the brothers and see how things in their life were a lot harder than anyone may have originally thought.

The Summer I Turned Pretty is a truly magical start to what I'm sure will be a romantic and emotional series. The plot was original and drew me in right away. I also enjoyed reading the "flashback" chapters that featured certain key moments from summers past. There are some very emotional parts in this novel and all of the characters are dealing with a lot. Belly is faced with some difficult decisions friendship and romance wise and I'm eager to find out more concerning that in the sequel. The ending was sweet, but left me teary!

Overall, The Summer I Turned Pretty was a beautiful and engrossing sophomore novel and I am dying to pick up the sequel, It's Not Summer Without You, as soon as possible. If you haven't picked this up already, I highly recommend it! Jenny Han has successfully made it onto my favorite authors list.

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars

May 5, 2009/

Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing/276 Pages/Young Adult/Book One

Source: Bought (Hardcover)

Other books in the series: It's Not Summer Without You,We'll Always Have Summer (2011)

Blog Tour: Stacey Jay Interview

I'm thrilled to welcome STACEY JAY, author of so many fabulous books, to my blog today as part of her blog tour! Read on to find out about her reaction to The Locket's cover and to read a summary of her upcoming release, Juliet Immortal! Sounds awesome!

1. If Katie and Megan ever spent the day together what would they do?

I have no idea. Lol! Megan and Katie are from two entirely different worlds in my mind. I can’t imagine them doing much except sitting, staring at each other uncomfortably, and wondering what to do next.

2. What was your reaction to seeing your cover for the first time?

At first it wasn’t my favorite. I imagined Katie to be a lot less glamorous and the locket itself to be waaaaayyyy more scary looking (and not gold because I have a deep hatred of gold jewelry). But over the past few months, I’ve really come to like this cover. I had a mug made with the image and sip my tea from it every afternoon and look down and nod approvingly. I hope my readers find it intriguing.

3. Of all your novels is there a specific line or scene that really stands out to you?

The scene in THE LOCKET where Katie fails to save the boy in the tree (and the chapter after) was a very intense write for me. Very gut twisting. I’m also rather fond of the zombies on ice scene in UNDEAD MUCH? Zombies on ice are both terrifying and hysterical and I enjoy that mixture.

4. Is there an event in history you would like to be able to go back in time to and witness?

I’d love to observe a day in ancient Rome or Greece. It’s fascinating to think of such a developed society being around so long ago.

5. How do you come up with your character names?

I Google the year the character was born and search for something I like. (So lame. I know. I think if I wrote a fantasy I’d be more into the meanings behind the names and such.)

6. Can you share anything about your upcoming release, Juliet Immortal?

Yes! Here’s the flap copy (not yet final):

"These violent delights have violent ends

And in their triumph die like fire and powder,

Which as they kiss consume."

-Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

The most tragic love story in history...

Juliet Capulet didn't take her own life. She was murdered by the person she trusted most, her new husband, Romeo Montague, a sacrifice made to ensure his own immortality. But what Romeo didn't anticipate was that Juliet would be granted eternity, as well, and become an agent for the Ambassadors of Light.

For seven hundred years, she's fought Romeo for the souls of true lovers, struggling to preserve the lives of the innocent, while Romeo fights to destroy true love. Juliet is resigned to her role on the fringes of human emotion…until the night she meets someone she's forbidden to love, and who Romeo, oh Romeo, will do everything in his power to destroy.

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Thanks so much for stopping by Stacey! Be sure to visit her website for more exciting info about her and her books! I've read and loved three of Stacey's novels: You Are So Undead to Me , Undead Much? , and of course, her newest release, The Locket !

Review: Will Work for Prom Dress by Aimee Ferris

Will Work For Prom Dress by Aimee Ferris

Quigley Johnson has, reluctantly, given up the rest of her last year of high school to take part in her best friend Ann's Betterment Plan, which will turn them into the best-dressed, most sought-after, most admired girls at their senior formal. Because - hey - who doesn't want the perfect prom, complete with a dream dress and a devastatingly handsome date?

But the prom costs money - lots of money - and even though the girls could easily have Ann's mom design their dresses (she's only Victoria Parisi, one of the most famous designers in the world), Ann insists that they pay their own way. And that's how Quigley gets stuck making artistic topping masterpieces on frozen pizzas canvases, before becoming a live model for Ms. Parisi's fashion design class, where she meets Zander.

He's cute, and cool, and funny, with a killer design sensibility (even if he can't sketch). But is he too good to be true? And what about David, the hot, talented artist at school, who's also kind of a jerk, but won't leave Quigley alone? And Ann - she started the Betterment Plan to improve Quigley and herself, but it seems like it's ripping their friendship to shreds.

This road to the prom dream may just end in disaster.

Review:

Will Work For Prom Dress was a fun and addicting debut novel that will attract a variety of teenage-readers. The main character, Quigley, was just an ordinary girl dealing with a lot of issues normal high school students are. Prom season was fast approaching and she and her best friend, Anne, are determined to get healthy, raise money for dresses, and find dates.

It was tons of fun reading about the different odd jobs Anne roped Quigley into. The pizza factory and acting stints were interesting to read about and I really felt for Quigley because she always seemed to be stuck with the worst part of the job while Anne always managed to get the easiest. When Anne’s mother gets the girls jobs as models in her design class Quigley finally finds the one place she loves going. I loved reading about Quigley’s experiences at the design class and about the people she meets there.

Each of the characters introduced in Will Work for Prom Dress was well developed and had more to them then met the eye. There were two main guys in this book- Zander and David. David and Quigley were constantly competing with each other about whose art was better and David wasn’t always the nicest guy, but things change when he admits to liking Quigley. Then Zander enters the picture. He was sweet and respected Quigley. Plus his designs were awesome. Although Zander had some secrets.

Anne’s mother had a large role in the story (even more than Quigley’s parents!) and readers got to learn a lot about her as well. She was always there for Quigley and helped her and Anne out of some tough spots. Will Work for Prom Dress contained quite a few important lessons and I loved reading about Anne and Quigley. They were so different yet so alike and their experiences were lots of fun to read about.

Overall, Will Work for Prom Dress was a light hearted and fun debut with lovable characters and an intriguing premise. I’m definitely looking forward to reading more by Aimee Ferris.

Overall: 4.25 out of 5 stars

February 8, 2011/Egmont USA/240 Pages/Young Adult

Source: Publisher (ARC)

In My Mailbox (69)

Lots of exciting books this week! I'm so excited to read Moonglass and Betrayal. Not so sure about the two middle grade ones so we'll see! Can't wait to see what everyone else got!

Playing Hurt by Holly Schindler

Troubletwisters by Garth Nix and Sean Williams

Moonglass by Jessi Kirby

Betrayal by Lee Nichols

Father of Lies by Ann Turner

Geek Fantasy Novel by E. Archer

Exile by Anne Osterlund

Radiance by Alyson Noel

(traded for. I'd already read this and it was a fun start to the series!)

I Was Jane Austen's Best Friend by Cora Harrison

(traded for)

Wake by Lisa McMann

(traded for. Also already read this but I wanted my own copy!)

E Galleys!

Thanks so much to The Teen {Book} Scene, Lauren and Becky at Scholastic, Simon and Schuster, Kate at Bloomsbury, Elyse at Harper Collins, Anne, Galley Grab, and my trading bloggers!

IMM Is Hosted By: The Story Siren

Review: The Locket by Stacey Jay

The Locket by Stacey Jay

On her seventeenth birthday, Katie discovers a locket and decides to wear it for good luck. But when her boyfriend Isaac finds out she cheated on him— with their mutual best friend Mitch, no less—he dumps her, leaving her devastated.

And then a miracle happens. The locket burns on Katie's chest and she feels herself going back two weeks in time, to the night she cheated with Mitch. At first, Kate is delighted to be a better girlfriend to Isaac this time around. But as other aspects of her life become inexplicably altered, she realizes that changing the past may have had a dangerous effect on her present.

Can she make things right before the locket destroys everything—and everyone—she loves?

Review:

Novels about time travel are some of my favorite in contemporary YA. In the case of The Locket, the main character, Katie, doesn't get to go back to the Elizabethan era or the Salem Witch Trials, no, instead she gets to go back to a her life a few weeks previously, and gets the chance to fix one of her biggest mistakes.

Katie and her boyfriend Isaac have been together for years, they've always done everything together and have made plans for the future. They are happy and, they feel, perfect for each other. Until Katie cheats on Isaac with their mutual friend Mitch and Isaac finds out. And dumps her. Suddenly Katie's perfect world is unraveling and she longs for a chance to go back to that fateful night and not hook up with Mitch. Lo and behold the locket she borrowed from her grandmother's jewelry case heats up and soon she is unconscious and waking up at the party where she made out with Mitch. How could this be happening?

I loved the idea of the locket that could transport it's holder back in time and the twist that made it not as amazing as it might originally seem. Once Katie has the locket on she can't get it off, and she is noticing more and more strange things keep happening that never occurred before she went back in time.

The Locket was a great look at how your life and the people in it might not always be like you originally thought. Going back in time and reliving some of her life made Katie realize she was wrong about a lot of people. The plot in The Locket was exciting and constantly changing. A lot of unexpected twists occurred and I was always anxious to see how things would turn out.

Going back in time and getting the chance the fix your mistakes sounds like a dream come true, but sometimes you just have to let the cards fall as they may. I don't want to spoil anything but I want to say I'm very happy with Katie's decision in the end!

Overall, The Locket was a great new read from an author I love. It was a refreshing new love story that will make readers wonder if they had the chance to go back in time and change some of their decisions, would they?

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars

February 3, 2011/Razorbill/288 Pages/Young Adult

Source: Publisher (ARC)

Other books by this author: You Are So Undead to Me and Undead Much?

Blog Tour: Kimberly Derting Interview

I'm excited to welcome KIMBERLY DERTING to my blog today as part of her tour with The Teen {Book} Scene. She's the author of two fantastic books, The Body Finder and Desires of the Dead, and she recently posted on her blog about what's next for her! So exciting!

1. Do you put parts of yourself or people you know into your characters?

Not character traits so much, but I do pull scenarios out of my real life and drop them into the book sometimes. In Desires of the Dead, there’s a situation between Chelsea and her boyfriend that I actually stole from my daughter’s relationship with her boyfriend because I thought it was hilarious. I’m not sure he knows it’s in the book yet, but he will soon enough!

2. If you had a "special ability" what would it be?

This is easy, definitely flying! I’m sure I’d get over that whole fear-of-heights thing. Eventually.

3. What other YA character would Violet like to spend the day with?

Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games. I love a tough girl!

4. What book have you read lately that you can't help but keep recommending?

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare. I know I’m late to the game with her books, but right now I have a total author crush on her. Well, and I might like Jace a little too!

5. Being an author must be an amazing experience. Has there been one thing a fan has said to you that's stood out the most?

That’s tough, but the one thing that stands out most was when a reader had a Body Finder themed birthday party, cake and all. That was one of the coolest moments I’ve had!

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Thanks so much for stopping by Kim! Be sure to check out my reviews of The Body Finder and Desires of the Dead, as well as Kim's website for more info on her and her books!

Review: Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton

Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton

When seventeen-year-old Ellie starts seeing reapers - monstrous creatures who devour humans and send their souls to Hell - she finds herself on the front lines of a supernatural war between archangels and the Fallen and faced with the possible destruction of her soul.

A mysterious boy named Will reveals she is the reincarnation of an ancient warrior, the only one capable of wielding swords of angelfire to fight the reapers, and he is an immortal sworn to protect her in battle. Now that Ellie's powers have been awakened, a powerful reaper called Bastian has come forward to challenge her. He has employed a fierce assassin to eliminate her - an assassin who has already killed her once.

While balancing her dwindling social life and reaper-hunting duties, she and Will discover Bastian is searching for a dormant creature believed to be a true soul reaper. Bastian plans to use this weapon to ignite the End of Days and to destroy Ellie's soul, ending her rebirth cycle forever. Now, she must face an army of Bastian's most frightening reapers, prevent the soul reaper from consuming her soul, and uncover the secrets of her past lives - including truths that may be too frightening to remember.

Review:

Angelfire was an intense and kick butt debut that left me extremely anxious for the sequel! From the first page I was drawn into the world Courtney had created. Ellie is a heroine I liked a lot. She was just a normal teenager used to shopping with her friends and going to the movies suddenly thrust into a world of monsters, fighting, and death around her seventeenth birthday.

Ellie may have seemed a little spoiled at first but as you dig deeper into her character you will see she has more going on than meets the eye. She's struggling with some of her classes, dealing with one of her friends who suddenly wants to be more than friends, and her constant conflicts with her father. Add in the fact that she is actually a reincarnated warrior meant to fight and kill demonic reapers and save the souls of innocent humans, her senior year of high school is really off to a rocky start.

I loved the originally and complexity of Angelfire. I'd never heard of reapers other than the well known "Grim Reaper" and I never imagined them to be the ferocious, murderous beasts presented in this series. There was a lot of mythology and ancient mysteries entangled in the plot and Ellie will learn some surprising things about her past lives. There are a lot of terms regarding Ellie's past and her "occupation" and it was interesting to learn about the archangels and the Fallen. Also, the term "angelfire" definitely plays a big role in the story!

Will is one of my favorite guys in YA fiction. He was caring, supportive, and would stop at nothing to ensure Ellie's safety. I enjoyed watching their relationship blossom over the course of the story and reading Ellie's flashbacks about her and Will in the past.

Courtney Allison Moulton is a great writer and the fight scenes in Angelfire were very vivid. I felt like I could feel the breathe of the reapers on my face and feel the pain Ellie was experiencing. When she got into fight mode she went from ordinary teenager to a warrior. Nothing could stop her! It was great to read about such a take charge heroine.

I'm definitely eager for the sequel because there were a few loose ends and I can't wait to see what's next for Ellie, Will, and the rest of the characters. All in all, I highly recommend picking up Angelfire as soon as possible. It's full of intense action, sweet romance, and great characters. An overall fantastic debut!

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars

February 15, 2011/Katherine Tegen Books/464 Pages/Young Adult/Book One

Source: Publisher (ARC)

Other books in the series: Wings of the Wicked (2012) and Hymn to the Fallen (2013)

Review: Mad Love by Suzanne Selfors

Mad Love by Suzanne Selfors

When you're the daughter of the bestselling Queen of Romance, life should be pretty good. But 16-year-old Alice Amorous has been living a lie ever since her mother was secretly hospitalized for mental illness. After putting on a brave front for months, time is running out. The next book is overdue, and the Queen can't write it. Alice needs a story for her mother—and she needs one fast.

That's when she meets Errol, a strange boy who claims to be Cupid, who insists that Alice write about the greatest love story in history: his tragic relationship with Psyche. As Alice begins to hear Errol's voice in her head and see things she can't explain, she must face the truth—that she's either inherited her mother's madness, or Errol is for real.

Review:

Mad Love was my first Suzanne Selfors novel and it definitely won't be my last. Filled with love, hope, and regret, Mad Love is the perfect romance novel to read around Valentine's Day. Alice was a fantastic main character who I loved from the start. She was a realistic sixteen year old and on top of dealing with normal teenage problems (like first love) she also is faced with covering up the fact that her mother, the once thriving Queen of Romance, is secretly struggling in a hospital, fighting a mental illness. Alice stayed strong for her mother and made sure the Queen of Romance's secret stayed hidden. Even to the point of lying to her editor and fans. I always wanted the best for Alice because life was never easy for her. She was dealing with much more than any sixteen year old should have to and she was constantly faced with some difficult decisions throughout the novel.

Things really take a turn for the worse when her mother's publisher starts demanding a new book, and Belinda Amorous is in no condition to pen another bestseller. When Alice meets Errol, a strange teenager who claims to be the famous lover, Cupid, Alice's life starts to change drastically. Especially when she starts to wonder whether she has inherited her mother's illness or if Errol really is what he claims to be- Cupid. Errol asks Alice to help him write his story. His tragic romance with the beautiful Psyche.

Mad Love was filled with a variety of twists and turns and I was constantly flipping the pages, eager to see what was going to happen next for Alice and her friends. There are a lot of great secondary characters introduced in Mad Love and each of them has a vital role in the story. Ms. Bobot, the Reverend, Realm, Tony, and more. Realm was a girl that Alice was constantly at odds with. As the novel progresses, Alice will learn some things about Realm that may make her question what she originally thought of the girl. I loved Tony. He was such a sweet and understanding guy and was always there for Alice when things got tough.

I loved how Suzanne introduced so much mythology into the story. I knew next to nothing about Cupid and Psyche so it was interesting to read about their history. Errol was an interesting character who helped Alice out a lot even though he was also hiding some terrible secrets.

I am so glad I had the opportunity to read Mad Love. It was a romantic, fun, and, at times, intense, new novel by author Suzanne Selfors and I am anxious to read her previous release, Coffeehouse Angel as soon as possible! I highly recommend this to everyone!

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars

January 4, 2011/Walker BFYR/323 Pages/Young Adult

Source: Publisher (Hardcover)

Other books by this author: Coffeehouse Angel

Sweet Venom Cover Reveal! (and Giveaway!)

I am thrilled to be a part of Tera Lynn Child's cover reveal for her upcoming release, Sweet Venom (October 2011)! Isn't it gorgeous?

Three teenage descendants of Medusa, the once-beautiful gorgon maligned by myth, must reunite and embrace their fates in a world where monsters lurk in plain sight.

Links:

http://teralynnchilds.com/books/sv.htm

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7670741-sweet-venom

http://yawriters.blogspot.com/2010/05/title-help-time.html

http://www.facebook.com/sweetvenombooks

Giveaway!

One lucky commenter will win some awesome, signed Sweet Venom bookmarks!

Review: My Invented Life by Lauren Bjorkman

My Invented Life by Lauren Bjorkman

With Roz and Eva everything becomes a contest—who can snag the best role in the school play, have the cutest boyfriend, pull off the craziest prank. Still, they’re as close as sisters can be. Until Eva deletes Roz from her life like so much junk e-mail for no reason that Roz understands. Now Eva hangs out with the annoyingly petite cheerleaders, and Roz fantasizes about slipping bovine growth hormone into their Gatorade.

Roz has a suspicion about Eva. In turn, Eva taunts Roz with a dare, which leads to an act of total insanity. Drama geeks clamor for attention, Shakespearean insults fly, and Roz steals the show in Lauren Bjorkman’s hilarious debut novel!

Review:

My Invented Life was a humorous and unique debut that was a refreshing and honest look at homosexuality, sibling rivalry, and relationships in general. Roz was a fantastic main character who never ceased to bring a smile to my face with her reckless attitude and witty, sarcastic comebacks. She didn't care what other people thought of her and when her perfect older sister challenges her with a dare, Roz accepts with full force.

Eva was an interesting character and I liked reading about her and Roz's changing relationship. Especially when Roz starts to explore a different side of her sexuality in the hopes that it will encourage her older sister to open up about her own (or at least Roz suspects) homosexuality. My Invented Life is definitely one of the best LGBT novels I've read and proved that not everyone knows who they are all the time. Roz learned a lot about herself and what she felt for others after accepting Eva's dare and I enjoyed reading about her trials and triumphs over the course of the novel. While some people were down right mean to Roz, others were accepting of her and Roz even learned some surprising things about some of her peers as well.

I loved how Shakespeare was woven into the plot. The main characters were all part of the drama club and they were putting on a Shakespearean play. Not only that but Roz and Eva bantered using Shakespearean phrases and Roz used a lot of Elizabethan insults that were unique and fun (albeit confusing at times!).

My Invented Life is full of laughs and Roz is a main character most readers will love. She is far from perfect, and her snark, wit, and courage to find herself will leave readers cheering for her.

Lauren Bjorkman's debut novel proved how wrong labels can be and how far one person will go for the person they love. She introduced sexuality in a refreshing and contemporary way and her writing style was light hearted and fun. I am eager to read more by Lauren in the future and definitely recommend this to all contemporary YA fans!

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars

September 29, 2009/Henry, Holt, and Co./232 Pages/Young Adult

Source: Author

Other books by this author: Miss Fortune Cookie (2012)