Bitten
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Plume (December 31, 2002)
Received From: Library

My Rating: 5 out of 5

Summary:
Elena is running from herself. She's trying to be everything that she's not. When she gets a phone call asking her to return home, she does so reluctantly.Upon returning to Stonehaven, Elena is bombarded with reminders of why she ran away and struggles with the desire to go back to Toronto and the life she had just started there.

Now when I started this book, I did it with some trepidation. I've had issues with shifter books before, but a few months ago I had the pleasure of meeting Kelley Armstrong (who is a wonderful person btw) and wanted to see what the draw to her Otherworld series was. Let me say that this book did not disappoint in the slightest. It's been a long time since I had a book that I just could NOT put down.

Elena is a werewolf, and trying to hide it by living an almost all human life. Sure it's a little hard for her having to schedule when she can change and when she can eat her fill, but it's something she desperately wants to do. She gets a phone call from Jeremy, who is the Alpha Leader of her old Pack. And with some gentle pressuring from her completely human boyfriend, heads back home, against her will.

I found Elena to be a wonderful narrator. Things were explained nicely and in time, and all with the biting wit that the character showed other characters. The other cast of characters in this story were amazing as well. I found myself crying at the very sad parts, and I won't give them away here because then it would ruin the story. I also found myself wanting to smack some of the characters, because hey they were being idiots. All in all this was an amazing story. It flowed nicely, the suspense and action scenes were awesome. And being blunt, the sex scenes fit into the story where they should have. Plus they weren't overly graphic.

I would recommend this story to anyone who is looking for a fast paced action novel with a hint of romance. However I would throw the warning on it that there is some very violent scenes that left even me going oh my.

Hate List
Author: Jennifer Brown
Hardcover: 416 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers (September 1, 2009)

My Rating: 5 out of 5

Summary:

This book touches on a very sensitive subject, school shootings. It was a very tough read. It also was an incredible read. I had a hard time putting it down, and found myself crying more than once. Jennifer Brown did an amazing job with this book, and I honestly would like to see her tackle more tough subjects. She handled the subject with grace but was still real, and honest.

Valerie was a killer. At least that's what she thinks the kids at school are going to think. Her boyfriend Nick shot up the school, and killed a lot of kids. When she tried to stop him he accidentally ended up shooting her, before he turned his gun on himself.

Valerie feels guilty because the people shot were part of a Hate List that her and Nick maintained. The list had anything on it that they hated, be it people, vegetables or having to do their homework.

When the new school year starts Valerie isn't sure she even wants to go back, but she knows she has too. Her parents aren't as supportive as she thinks they should be, and she's terrified that everyone is going to blame her for Nick's actions, and she feels like maybe she is at fault.

This book was an amazing tale of self discovery and forgiveness. I would happily recommend it too adults as well as older teens. I say older teens because of the subject matter it deals with. I even think that this book would be good to use in a classroom setting.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth
Author: Carrie Ryan
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (March 10, 2009)

My Rating: 5 out of 5

Summary:
The Forest of Hands and Teeth was a truly bone chilling read. I stayed up all night reading it and literally as I finished the last sentence the sun started coming up. It seemed fitting to me that a new day was starting for me, just as it was for Mary.

Mary wants more from her life. She wants to see if there really is an Ocean out there, or if her life just ends where the fence begins. The struggles she goes through, trying to pretend to be happy with the life she has in the compound really made this book for me. Mary seemed so realistic and the way the author described what was going on actually gave me chills.

There were times while reading this that I wanted to put the book down and go to sleep, but I just had to read one more chapter, one more page, one more word until finally the book was done. Even after I finished it I laid there, eyes open wanting more. I wanted to know what happened to Mary at the end.

According to Carrie Ryan's website there is a possibility of a movie. This really excites me. I think this book would translate very well into a movie. And if you doubt that then watch this super amazing book trailer:

Shiver
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Scholastic Press (August 1, 2009)

My Rating: 5 out of 5

Summary
Grace is fascinated by the wolves that live in the forest behind her house. Okay, fascinated is a bit of an understatement, obsessed is more like it. They are unlike any wolves she's ever seen. And the wolf with yellow eyes, is her wolf, she misses him when he disappears during the summer months, and cannot wait to see him come winter. He is her soul mate ... in wolf form.

Sam lives two lives, one of which is about to come to a screeching halt, even though he doesn't want it too. He loves Grace, even though he doesn't actually know her, but he's watched her from afar and he knows that she is his.

When Grace and Sam actually meet, while Sam is human form it's amazing, even though it is under less than ideal circumstances. They have a very whirl wind romance. They also try to enjoy every moment they have together, even though they don't have much time. Sam could change back at any moment.

When a newly turned wolf threatens the packs way of life, Sam has to choose between the girl he loves and doing what he feels is right.

This book was astounding. Everything that happened had me on the edge of my seat, and there were parts where I was full out crying. The emotion in this book was thick. The love between Sam and Grace, extremely beautiful. Honestly, I liked this book much more than Twilight. Which is what a lot of people are comparing it too.

I would recommend this book to people who liked Twilight, and who like shifter stories in general. I also made the comment to my grandma that this book is something I wish would have been around while I was in high school. Great beach read, great anytime read actually.

Eyes Like Stars
Author: Lisa Mantchev
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends (July 7, 2009)

My Rating: 5 out of 5

Summary:
Bertie Shakespeare Smith is an orphan ... kinda. She has always lived at the Theatre Illuminata, and has never really had a play to call her own. Well except for the ones she writes, where she tries to figure out what happened to her parents. With her side kicks, the fairies from A Midsummer's Nights Dream, Bertie manages to get into all sorts of trouble. But when push comes to shove, Bertie stands up for what she beleives in and fights for her right to stay at the only home she's ever known.

Trying to summarize this book was actually really hard, there are so many elements that pulled together to make it one bang of a read. It was extremely quick paced, and Bertie was a very strong heroine. She is what every girl should be. Headstrong, loyal and a bit of a rebel.

I received the ARC of this book in a contest held by the author. Who by the way is really lovely, she has a livejournal and a twitter and often comments and replies to people. Anyway, I received this book as an ARC and started reading it, only to get swamped with finals and other nasty stuff. So my grandma was looking for a book to read and saw it sitting on the end table, she picked it up and it took me almost 2 months to get it back from her. She kept saying that it was "remarkable" and "totally neat".

Both of our favorite characters were the fairies. They were laugh out loud funny, there were points where I was literally laughing like a loon and snickering, often at the same time.

Eyes Like Stars is a book I would recommend to anyone who loves strong heroines and twisty plots. The best thing is you don't even have to be familiar with Shakespeare in order to get it. It did make me more familiar with some of the characters, but honestly the way they are written totally captures their personality in a more modern feel.

This book hits the stage July 7, 2009. I strongly recommend that you pick up a copy.

An excerpt can be found on the authors livejournal: HERE

Gone
Author: Michael Grant
Hardcover: 576 pages
Publisher: HarperTeen (June 24, 2008)

My Rating: 5 out of 5

Summary:
Gone is the first book of 6. It is a large book, but was a very quick read. As soon as I picked it up I was immediately sucked into it.

Sam once saved a large group of people, and is now expected to save the group of kids that are left behind when anyone over the age of 15 disappears into thin air. All he wants to do is be normal, but he's anything but. He carries a secret with him, something that he doesn't want anyone to find out, but it looks like once all of the adults disappear the chances of someone finding out is larger than he thought.

Astrid asks Sam for help finding her little brother Petey, and Sam sees it as a chance to get out of town. They set off with Sam's best friend Quinn, and have quite the time trying to find Petey. Once they do though and head back to town, they realize more has changed than just the adults disappearing. The bullies have taken over the town, and are now calling it the Fayz. People are still scared and still looking to Sam for help.

With the help of Astrid, Little Pete, Quinn and Elidio they start to push back against the bullies. They want to find out why this has happened and what's going on. When the rich troubled kids come down from the hill, Sam is relieved. It means that he doesn't have to be the leader. But a few days later they realize that these kids are hiding something else.

I love books like this. It has a very end of the world feel to it, which is something that I enjoy reading about. Plus there is just enough romance in it to make the romance lover in me go AWWWW, but there's also fights and mutants and talking animals.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys action. I would also say that this would be an awesome book to recommend to a teenage boy, maybe one who isn't too fond of reading. Yes, it is a large book, but it flows very well and is super action packed.

No excerpt could be found.

The Mage (Sons of Destiny book 8)
Author: Jean Johnson
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Berkley Trade (April 7, 2009)

My Rating: 5 out of 5

Summary
Morg is tired of being the only one of his brothers not to have his wife present yet, so when it's finally time for Hope to come across to his universe, Morg is ecstatic! Of course there would have to be some minor problems to make things more interesting. I won't give them away as it would ruin the whole book, but let's just say they make things juicy!

Hope comes across, and is nervous that she won't be accepted by the people now living on Nightfall Isle. She's worried that they will all expect something great from her. Something she isn't sure she can do. All she wants to do is settle down and open up her chocolate shop.

Meanwhile everyone else on the island is getting ready for the Convection of the Spirits. And the enemies that the residents of the Isle have are getting ready to attempt to sabotage it. Morg has to go toe to toe, finally showing the full extent of his powers in order to make sure that everything goes to plan, and that is bride-to-be isn't hurt.

Overall this book summed up the series perfectly. I really hope that Jean Johnson will publish more stories from this Universe, it was a delightful read. Quick, with just enough drama to keep it going.

I couldn't find an excerpt to place here, but there is one on Jean Johnson's website, which is linked at the beginning of this post.

Hunted
Authors: P.C Cast & Kirsten Cast
Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Press (March 10, 2009)

From the back of the book:
Zoey's friends have her back again and Stevie Rae and the red fledglings aren't Neferet's secrets any longer. But an unexpected danger has emerged. Neferet guards her powerful new consort, Kalona, and no one at the House of Night seems to understand the threate he poses. Kalona is gorgeous, and he has the House of Night under his spell. A past life holds the key to breaking his rapidly spreading influence, but what if this past life unearths secrets Zoey doesn't want to see and truths she can't face?

On the run and holed up in Tulsa's Prohibition era tunnels, Zoey and her gang must discover a way to deal with somethign that might bring them all down. Meanwhile, Zoey has a few other little problems. The red fledglings have cleaned up well - they've even managed to make the dark, creepy tunnels feel more like home - but are they really as friendly as they seem? On the boyfriend front, Zoey has a chance to make things right with super-hot ex, Erik, but she can't stop thinking about Stark, the archer who died in her arms after one unforgettable night, and she is driven to try to save him from Neferet's sinister influence at all costs. Will anyone survive the power evil has to hide among us?

Personal Review:
This book was amazing. I have to say that the House of Night series is quickly becoming one of my favorite Vampire Series.

Zoey had finally pulled it all together or so it seems. Her friends were back to being her friends, and even her relationship with Erick was getting back on track. Until the dreams started. She was having dreams about Kalona, and he kept telling her that she was his chosen mate. Zoey didn't want to be his mate, but what if she was?

When she met a nun who believed that the Goddess Nyx was the Virgin Mary reincorperate, Zoey knew that she had met someone special. So of course when something bad happend, Zoey knew to call on the sister.

This book was fast paced, and neatly tied up some of the story while creating a whole new set of questions. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Wicked Lovely
Author: Melissa Marr
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins (April 29, 2008)

From the back of the book:

Rule #3: Don't stare at invisible faeries.

Aislinn has always seen faeries. Powerful and dangerous, they walk hidden in mortal world. Aislinn fears their cruelty—especially if they learn of her Sight—and wishes she were as blind to their presence as other teens.

Rule #2: Don't speak to invisible faeries.

Now faeries are stalking her. One of them, Keenan, who is equal parts terrifying and alluring, is trying to talk to her, asking questions Aislinn is afraid to answer.

Rule #1: Don't ever attract their attention.

But it's too late. Keenan is the Summer King who has sought his queen for nine centuries. Without her, summer itself will perish. He is determined that Aislinn will become the Summer Queen at any cost—regardless of her plans or desires.

Suddenly none of the rules that have kept Aislinn safe are working anymore, and everything is on the line: her freedom; her best friend, Seth; her life; everything.

Personal Review:
A friend of mine lent me this book, and within a day I had read it and wanted more. The story is of Aislinn, a girl who has seen fairies her whole life, and all the rules she had to follow in order to not let them know that she can see them. The characters in this book, stood out so beautifully. While the main focus is on Aislinn, Seth and Keenan, the other characters in the book have distinct voices, and would I believe, be able to stand on their own in a story of their own. Which they do in the following book, Ink Exchange.

The story, is amazing. It made me actually feel for Aislinn, and made me cheer for her. I felt that she would be someone I would be friends with. Keenan sounds like he would be a bit bossy, and overbearing, but Seth. Oh my Seth, he would be a wonderful boyfriend. Both sensitive and strong, and always having Aislinn's back.

I couldn't put this book down, couldn't stop reading it, and when it was over I wanted to re-read it. Which I did.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Untamed
Author: P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (September 23, 2008)

From the back of the book:
Life sucks when your friends are pissed at you. Just ask Zoey Redbird – she’s become an expert on suckiness. In one week she has gone from having three boyfriends to having none, and from having a close group of friends who trusted and supported her, to being an outcast. Speaking of friends, the only two Zoey has left are undead and unMarked. And Neferet has declared war on humans, which Zoey knows in her heart is wrong. But will anyone listen to her? Zoey's adventures at vampyre finishing school take a wild and dangerous turn as loyalties are tested, shocking true intentions come to light, and an ancient evil is awakened

Personal review:
The more I read this series, the more I love it. Zoey's voice and perspective on things are written almost exactly as a teenager would see them. While I still agree some of Zoey's actions are a bit weird to me, I'm really starting to like her more and more. This book is extremely well thought out and written.

Zoey had to finally tell her friends the truth, either that or risk being ostrichized and chased by whatever it was that was lurking in the dark. As she found out though, her friends could be trusted. The new guy however, threw a kink into her plans, she was so totally over boys. At least that's what she thought. He was too delicous, too perfect though and when something happend to him, she wanted to make sure he would be alright.

As if those problems weren't enough, Erik is now teaching in the school. Things just go from bad to worse for Zoey and her crew.

Rating: 5 out of 5

The Flame (Sons of Destiny book 7)
Author: Jean Johnson
Publisher: Berkley Trade (December 2, 2008)
Paperback: 384 pages

From the back of the book:
Eight brothers, born in four sets of twins, two years apart to the day - they fulfill the Curse of Eight Prophecy. Though no longer trapped in exile, their growing family faces new problems. Now that it's his turn to look for a bride, the seventh born brother burns with curiosity and anticipation...

Koranen of Nightfall is tired of the Curse - in his case, a destructive flame that courses beneath his flesh. His brothers have wives and lovers, but all Koranen has are blistering reminders of a touch that burns ... unless he can find a woman able to endure the literal heat of his passion. Then the Aquamancers arrive, at last affording Koranen the chance to find his Destined bride.

Ostracized for being too good at her job, Danau si resigned to her punishment: never knowing love. But fire and water always create steam, and things do get steamy as Danau and Koranen gradually realize they were ment for each other - even as Nightfall's future becomes flooded with more trouble than either of them could have imagined.

Personal Review:
This book set up for the last book of the series, while holding it's on in that respect. It seems to me that Koranen was an extremely well thought out character along with Danau and her Aquamancers.

The thing to remember, and that was really drove home in this book, is that the brothers are fairly young. Koranen is only 24 or something like that, so he had just been coming into puberty when the brothers were exiled. So he's got all of these questions about girls and courting, and of course he is nervous. It really shows in this book.

For me, reading this book was bitter sweet. On one hand I got to read about another one of my favorite brothers, but on the other I'm that much closer to the end of the series. I really love this series, and the characters in it. I'm anxiously awaiting the chance to read the last book.

Rating: 5 out of 5

The Storm (Sons of Destiny book 6)
Author: Jean Johnson
Publisher: Berkley Trade (September 2, 2008)
Paperback: 352 pages

From the back of the book:
Eight brothers, born in four sets of twins, two years apart to the day - they fulfill the Curse of Eight Prophecy. Though no longer trapped in exile, their growing family faces new problems. Now the sixth born son must find a way to trust his destined bride...

First, his most heavily guarded refuge is breached. And now, the worst of all crimes against Rydan of Nightfall: Rora a pesky, privacy-invading foreigner, likes him and won't leave him alone! Rydan knows he's as appealing as a rosebush stripped of its blooms, so why does she persist? Any normal maiden should be seeking less thorny company than his.

But Rora isn't normal. She alone sees the secret of what torments Rydan. And only she can persuade him to put it right before it destroys him. But Rora has her own secret as well - one of such vast power that other mages would kill in order to possess it. It once drove Rora and her sister into exile, and, in the wrong hands, its power could annihilate their world. In the right hands, it could change her and Rydan's fate forever.

Personal Review:
This book I LOVED. I was wavering on buying this series, but this book cinched the deal for me. After how flat The Cat fell for me, this book just picked right up. My two favorite brothers have been Rydan and Korenan. So being able to read about Rydan was an absoloute joy. I actually really liked Rora as well.

This book flowed nicely, and being able to watch the two of them fall in love was awesome. Rora was able to pull Rydan out of his awful funk, and he was able to give her a sense of reassurance that she wasn't a freak or an oddity. They worked beautifully together.

The Cat & The Storm were two books that were supposed to connect together, and they did. Because where The Cat fell short, The Storm didn't.

Rating: 5 out of 5

The Sword (The Sons of Destiny Book 1)
Author: Jean Johnson
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Berkley (March 4, 2008)

From the back of the book:
Eight brothers, born in four sets of twins, two years apart to the day - they fulfill the Curse of Eight Prophecy. To avoid tempting their destiny, the brothers are exiled to Nightfall Isle, a land where women are strictly forbidden. But, when the youngest of the mage-brothers rescues a woman from another universe, their world is altered forever.

Kelly Doyle wasn't just having a bad day, she was having a bad decade. Threatened, attacked, and accused of dabbling in witchcraft, Kelly has just about had it with her narrow-minded neighbors in her small town. And now she has somehow landed in another, magical dimension - the only woman in a magical realm inhabited by eight men who are desperately in need of a woman's touch.

Now with Kelly in their midst, Saber, the eldest of the eight, is forced to confront the curse that plagues them - if he falls in love, disaster is imminent. But in teh aftermath of a mysterious attack, Saber and kelly find themselves drawn to each other, despite the threat of the looming Prophecy. Their passion only grows stronger, and they soon give in to temptation. If only the fates didn't take such things so seriously ...

Personal Review:
Starting off with this book, I didn't know if I would like it. It started off slow, and Saber just felt weird to me. I mean honestly who names their child Saber? The more I read on though, the more I liked it. Saber started to grow on me, where as Kelly really didn't until the very end.

The brothers saved her from death, and everything they did was wrong. Their house wasn't clean enough, they weren't respectful enough. I understand that she had some issues to deal with, the whole being thought she was a witch, and starving thing. Yeah, yeah. I got it. However, the brothers had a lot to deal with themselves. They had to give up everything they had and were exiled to Nightfall Isle.

An attack of creatures on the brothers, something that they had been dealing with since they were exiled, scared the bejesus out of Kelly. But because she forced the brothers to clean their whole castle, they had a much easier time making sure that all the creatures were taken care of. Not before Kelly and Saber were injected with a venom, that forced them to spend a large amount of time together. It was during this time that they realize that they are in love, and are going to be getting married.

A few days later disaster struck, and it was during this disaster that I really grew to like Kelly. She kept her head, and got stuff done. She made it so that things were accomplished during the disaster, and even set up for later in case more problems would arise.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Chosen
Author: P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (March 4, 2008)

From the back of the book:
Bloodlust and Dark Forces are at work at the House of Night, and fledging vampyer Zoey Redbird's adventures at the school take a mysterious turn. Those who appear to be friends are turning out to be enemies. And, oddly enough, sworn enemies are also turning into friends. So begins the gripping third installment of this "highly addictive series" (Romantic Times BOOKreviews), in which Zoey's mettle will be tested like never before. Her best friend, Stevie Rae, is undead and struggling to maintain a grip on her humanity. Zoey doesn't have a clue how to help her, but she does know that anything she and Stevie Rae discover must be kept secret from everyone else at the House of Night, where trust has become a rare commodity. Speaking of rare, Zoey finds herself in the very rare position of having three boyfriends, a situation with the potential to spell social disaster. Then vampyres start turning up dead. Really dead. But as Zoey and her friends find out, things are not always what they seem...

Personal Review:
Book 3 in the House of Night series, and usually by now most series seem to be lagging behind. Not so with Chosen. This book is my favorite so far of the series. Zoey really seemed to come into her own here. She felt some real emotion, and was no longer a whining teenager, instead she transformed herself into a young woman.

Zoey had a lot to deal with. Her bloodlust for Heath, her relationship with Erik and her new found attraction to one of the professors. Plus her best friend was a gross undead thing, it was a lot for Zoey to deal with. She didn't tell her friends what was going on, because she knew that by telling them it would put them in danger as well.

When vampyres start showing up dead, Zoey knows that the people from her Step-Father's religion are involved, so she turns to the only person she could trust, her sworn enemy Aphrodite. The two of them have to squash old issues with one another and attempt to work things out, otherwise it could be the end for a whole lot of people.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Girlbomb: A Halfway Homeless Memoir
Author: Janice Erlbaum
Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Villard (March 6, 2007)

From the back of the book:
At fifteen, sick of her unbearable and increasingly dangerous home life, Janice Erlbaum walked out of her family’s Brooklyn apartment and didn’t look back. From her first frightening night at a shelter, Janice knew she was in over her head. She was beaten up, shaken down, and nearly stabbed by a pregnant girl. But it was still better than living at home. As Janice slipped further into street life, she nevertheless attended high school, harbored crushes, and even played the lead in the spring musical. She also roamed the streets, clubs, bars, and parks of New York City with her two best girlfriends, on the prowl for hard drugs and boys on skateboards. Together they scored coke at Danceteria, smoked angel dust in East Village squats, commiserated over their crazy mothers, and slept with one another’s boyfriends on a regular basis.

A wry, mesmerizing portrait of being underprivileged, underage, and underdressed in 1980s New York City, Girlbomb provides an unflinching look at street life, survival sex, female friendships, and first loves.

Personal Review:
Reading memoir's are a new favorite of mine. It's like reading into someone's diary and being inside their head. Plus, let's face it for some reason it satisfies my curiosity, or if we call it what it actually is, my desire to be nosey.

My heart went out to Janice. I admired Janice. Janice was a strong woman, regardless of how she felt about it. Her life (and this may sound snarky but it's not) played out like a Lifetime movie. I really like how the book ended on a realistic high note. Because even though life isn't always happy, you still have to find the good with the bad.

Rating: 5 out of 5

The Pagan Stone
Author: Nora Roberts
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Jove (November 25, 2008)

From the back of the book:
Years ago, after their blood brother ritual, Gage, Fox and Caleb emerged from the woods, each with a piece of bloodstone. Now, it will become their weapon in the final fight again the demon they awakened. Winner take all...

Shared nightmares, visions of blood and fire, and random violence plague the longtime friends and Quinn, Layla, and Cybil, the women bound to them by Fate. None of them can ignore the fact that, this year, the demon has grown stronger - feeding off the terror it creates. But now the three pieces of the bloodstone have been fused back together. If only they could figure out how to use it.

A gambling man like Gage has no trouble betting on his crew to find a way. And though he and Cybil share the gift of seeing the future, that's all they have in common. Were they to take their flirtation to the next level, it would be on their own terms, not because Fate decreed it. But Gage knows that a woman like Cybil - with her brains and strength and devastating beauty - can only bring him luck. Whether it's good or bad has yet to be determined - and could mean the difference between absolute destruction or an end ot the nightmare for Hawkins Hollow.

Personal Review:
This was a great series. The Sign of 7 series, is currently my favorite Nora Roberts series.

Growing up Gage had it rough, his father was a drunk and his mother was dead. Caleb and Fox, his friends, kept him grounded though. Their families treated him like one of their own, and made sure he always knew he belonged. Still that didn't stop him from chasing down the next card game. As a child he had it rough, and as a man he was rough and ready always looking for that next thrill, never wanting to stay in one place for too long. And yet every 7 years he found himself coming back to Hawkins Hollow to fight off whatever the boys had released that night when they were 10.

Cybil also had a rough life, her fathers death played a big part in her growing up. Yet, when she found Quinn she knew that she had a friend for life. Her attraction to Gabe was immense, and yet she didn't trust him. Didn't want to get involved with him, all she wanted to do was help her long time friend Quinn and her new friend Layla. She never thought she'd be falling in love.

The story moved quickly, the characters all had detailed backgrounds, and were very well rounded and written. I think that this series would be an awesome movie, if done right. There is enough paranormal in it to make it spooky, but enough romance and friendship to make it the perfect mix.

Rating: 5 out of 5

My Best Friend's Girl
Author: Dorthy Koomson
Paperback: 448 pages
Publisher: Time Warner Paperbacks (4 May 2006)

From the back of the book:

How far would you go for the best friend who broke your heart? This internationally best selling novel tells an enchating tale of life’s most unpredictable loves and heartaches, and the unforgettable bond between a single woman and an extraordinary five-year-old girl.

From the moment they met in college, best friends Adele Brannon and Kamryn Matika thought nothing could come between them - until Adele did the unthinkable and slept with Kamryn’s fiance, Nate. Now, after years of silence, the two women are reuniting, and Adele has a stunning request for her old friend: she wants Kamryn to adopt her five-year-old daughter, Tegan.

Besides the difference in skin color - many will assume that headstrong, impulsive Kamryn is Tegan’s nanny - there’s the inconvenient truth that Kamryn is wholly unprepared to take care of anyone, especially someone who reminds ehr so much of Nate. With crises brewing at work and her love life in shambles, can Kamryn somehow become the mother a little girl needs her to be?

Personal Review:
This book was FANTASTIC. One of the ones that managed to tug on the heart strings and make me giggle. The characters were heartrendingly real, and the emotion in this book was high. I felt like a fly on the wall, like I was actually there for the events. If you are looking for a light easy read this book is not the book for you.

Rating: 5 out of 5