My Sister's Keeper - Jodi Picoult

Description:
New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult is widely acclaimed for her keen insights into the hearts and minds of real people. Now she tells the emotionally riveting story of a family torn apart by conflicting needs and a passionate love that triumphs over human weakness.
Anna is not sick, but she might as well be. By age thirteen, she has undergone countless surgeries, transfusions, and shots so that her older sister, Kate, can somehow fight the leukemia that has plagued her since childhood. The product of preimplantation genetic diagnosis, Anna was conceived as a bone marrow match for Kate -- a life and a role that she has never challenged...until now. Like most teenagers, Anna is beginning to question who she truly is. But unlike most teenagers, she has always been defined in terms of her sister -- and so Anna makes a decision that for most would be unthinkable, a decision that will tear her family apart and have perhaps fatal consequences for the sister she loves.
Review:
I've been afraid to read this book because I knew it would make me upset. But then I saw commercials on TV showing that the book had been made into a movie. So I figured I should read the book before the movie comes out. When I started reading it I was expecting a tear jerker. What I didn't expect was it being a tear-jerker from beginning to end. I was so angry and in the end of the book was absolutely devastated.
I am forever afraid to read anything from Jodi Picoult, only because I know she will rip my heart out and stomp on it before giving it back. The writing described everything that was going on perfectly sucking me into the story. It was as if I was living the turmoil and sorrow that family was going through. The movie was good until the very end. I was really really disappointed with the end of the movie. Not sure why they had to change it!!!
I highly recommend the book.

Thank you for being a fan.

The Wizard Heir - Cinda Williams Chima

Description:
Sixteen-year-old Seph McCauley has spent the past three years getting kicked out of one exclusive private school after another. Unfortunately it’s not his attitude that’s the problem. It’s the trail of magical accidents—lately, disasters—that follow in his wake. Seph is a wizard, orphaned and untrained—and now that the only person who could protect him has died, his powers are escalating out of control.
After causing a tragic fire at an after-hours party, Seph is sent to the Havens, a secluded boys’ school on the coast of Maine. At first, it seems like the answer to his prayers. Gregory Leicester, the headmaster, promises to train Seph in magic and initiate him into his mysterious order of wizards. But Seph's enthusiasm dampens quickly when he learns that training comes at a steep cost, and that Leicester plans to use his students' powers to serve his own mysterious agenda.
In this companion novel to the exciting fantasy The Warrior Heir, everyone's got a secret to keep: Jason Haley, a fellow student who’s been warned to keep away from Seph; the enchanter Linda Downey, who knew his parents; the rogue wizard Leander Hastings, and the warriors Jack Swift and Ellen Stephenson. This wizard war is one that Seph may not have the strength to survive.
Review:
This is book two in this series (see The Warrior Heir for my review on book 1). Again, there is a lot that needs to be explained regarding the Rose wars and the Weirlinds. So far I like these series. The reading was really fast (it took me 2 days because I still needed to work). When SephSeph because he was a loner and did not know who to trust. I was especially happy when the characters from book one was introduced to Seph and I liked seeing Jack from a different point of view. goes to the special school I did feel for
Let me know what you think of the book.

Thank you for being a fan.

The Warrior Heir

Description:
Before he knew about the Roses, sixteen-year-old Jack lived an unremarkable life in the small Ohio town of Trinity. Only the medicine he has to take daily and the thick scar above his heart set him apart from the other high schoolers. Then one day Jack skips his medicine. Suddenly, he is stronger, fiercer, and more confident than ever before. And it feels great - until he loses control of his own strength and nearly kills another player during soccer team tryouts.
Soon, Jack learns the startling truth about himself: he is Weirland, part of an undergrond society of magical people who live among us. At their helm sits the feuding houses of the Red Rose and the White Rose, whose power is determined by playing the Game - a magical tournament in which each house sponsors a warrior to fight to the death. The winning house rules the Weir.
As if his bizarre heritage isn't enough, Jack finds out that he's not just another member of Weirlind - he's one of the last of the warriors - at a time when both houses are scouting for a player.
Review:
I must admit I got this book because I liked the cover. As you can see I have been reading a lot of Young Adult books lately. But as young adult books go I really enjoyed this one. There could be a lot more added to the books (they are a series) because there were a lot of questions about the Weirlind. The author could have gone into more depth about the Roses and the war that they have been going on for hundreds of years. I also felt that "the Game" was an easy way out for the "war". But other than that, I liked the characters and the potential was there. It was a fun and easy read if your in it for something to read.

Wicked Lovely

Description:

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.

Review:

I enjoyed this book. It was different and a refreshing change from the normal vampire/werewolf theme. I love a good vampire/werewolf book but sometimes we do need a break. Check out the book and tell me what you think.

City of Bones

Description:

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder—much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Clary knows she should call the police, but it's hard to explain a murder when the body disappears into thin air and the murderers are invisible to everyone but Clary. Equally startled by her ability to see them, the murderers explain themselves as Shadowhunters: a secret tribe of warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. Within twenty-four hours, Clary's mother disappears and Clary herself is almost killed by a grotesque demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know...

Review:
I enjoyed the read. It is unique and well written.
There is a twist to the book that is quite unexpected that makes you wish it wasn't true.
The twist has a yuck factor to me.
I'm currently reading City of Ashes and hope things get better from there.

Dead Until Dark Book 1 of the Sookie Stackhouse series

Description:

Meet Sookie Stackhouse, a plucky waitress working in the small town of Bon Temps, Louisiana. She’s thrilled about meeting her first vampire but this is short-lived because someone (or something) has started killing several of the local women in the community.

Review:

Please keep in mind I read these books AFTER I read the Twilight series and seeing the first few episodes of True Blood. I couldn't watch the show only because the person portraying Sookie, Anna Paquin, bugs me to death. So when I read the books I had the vision of Paquin's horrible accent and acting in my head. I may be the only one who feels this way because Paquin did go on to win an Emmy. The books were better than the series. They were very fast to read through. My personal opinion (contrary to other's opinion) is that I didn't care too much for the character so I really could not connect.

Please let me know what you think of the books. Let me know why you like/dislike the books.

Angel's & Demons

Description: An ancient secret brotherhood. A devastating new weapon of destruction. an unthinkable target. When world-renowned Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned to his first assignment to a Swiss research facility to analyze a mysterious symbol - seared into the chest of a murdered physicist - he discovers evidence of the unimaginable. This book is full of intrigue and adrenaline pumping action.

Review: Angels & Demons is like riding a roller coaster. I could not put down this book until I was done reading it. The Da Vinci code was a great ride and I had high expectations for Angels & Demons as well. I was not disappointed. The read was so much better than the movie because there was more going on in my imagination that made things more heart-pounding. A great entertaining read.

The Da Vinci Code

Description: The Da Vinci Code follows symbologist Robert Langdon and Sophie Neveu as they investigate a murder in Paris's Louvre Museum and discover a battle between the Priory of Sion and Opus Dei over the possibility of Jesus Christ of Nazareth having been married to Mary Magdalene.

Review: This book really blew me out of the water. I read it a few years ago and heard so many people talking about it. I wouldn't let them tell me what the book was about so there were no spoilers etc. I picked up the book and did not put it down until I was done reading. I had no idea what the premise of the book so as the book progressed it was surprise after surprise. It was a fun read. Highly recommended.

The House of Night Series books 1-4

This is the first four books from the House of Night series.

Description: 16-year-old Zoey is "Marked" to be a fledging vampire. She is taken by her grandmother to the House of Night, which is a school for fledglings to learn about becoming a vampire. At the school Zoey goes through the trials of the new kid trying to fit in. Zoey is blessed with extra-ordinary powers gifted to her by the vampire goddess. These talents alienate Zoey because she does not know who to trust including her close group of friends.

Review:

With all the vampire books that are out right now I was getting a little vampired out.

But a very good friend of mine got me a four book set of the House of Night series.

So I started to read them. I was very pleasantly surprised. I read the first four books in less than a week.

The books are easy to read and very entertaining.

I just want to say that although I really enjoyed the book I do not recommend them for the age group that they are targeted. The target is young adult and I feel it is inappropriate because there is some sexual content and language.

Twenties Girl

Description: Lara Lington has always had an overactive imagination, but suddenly that imagination seems to be in overdrive...or is it? She is visted by her great aunt Sadie, a feisty, demanding girl with firm ideas about fashion, love, and the right way to dance. Sadie has one request: Lara must find a missing necklace that had been in Sadie's possession for more than seventy five years, because Sadie cannot rest without it. In the process she finds new love and uncovers an incredible mystery in the process.

My Review: I LOVE Sophie Kinsella. She never ceases to make me feel very uncomfortable with her character's high jinx and hilarity. I enjoyed this book very much. I did laugh out loud that my family thought I was a bit crazy :)
The writing style is easy to read and understand. A very good book.

The Help

Over the summer I have read a few books that were really good.

The first one I want to talk about is The Help.

Description:
Enter a vanished world: Jackson , Mississippi, 1962.
Where black maids raise white children, but aren't trusted not to steal the silver...

There's Aibileen, raising her seventeenth white child and nursing the hurt caused by her own son's tragic death; Minny, whose cooking is nearly as sassy as her tongue; and white Miss Skeeter, home from college, who wants to know why her beloved maid has disappeared.

Skeeter, Aibileen and Minny. No one would believe they'd be friends; fewer still would tolerate it. But as each woman finds the courage to cross boundaries, they come to depend and rely upon one another. And together they have an extraordinary story to tell..

My Review: I really enjoyed reading this book. It really was a page turner and I could not put the book down. There was a lot of times where I had to continue reading (even if it was 2am) because I was so worried for the characters that I had to find out what was going on. There are aspects of each character that I could relate to. I highly recommend this book!

Have you read this book? What do you think?

Harry Potter Series - JK Rowlings

Lets talk about the Harry Potter books.

What are your thoughts on these books?

Which one was your favorite?

Who is your favorite character? Why?