The Locket by Stacey Jay Review

  The Locket by Stacey Jay

 Publish date: February 3, 2011
Publisher: Razorbill
Pages: 288

Summary: (from Goodreads)

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: 

Before I read The Locket Ｉ was expecting a quick contemporary that I would enjoy. However this book was dark with shocking turn of events that I was completely not expecting. I loved the events in this book that I didn't see coming because it prevented it from being typical. Dangerous and frightening twists left me going WTF?! and I could not stop myself from turning the pages quickly to see what would happen next.

The book starts off a little on the meh side. It wasn't entirely engaging but nonetheless was interesting enough that I wanted to find out more. It's where you reach the climax where things start to get weird. Katie's new present after using the locket isn't entirely the same. She's gone back in time but the events of her new "present" has changed. Door signs aren't the same color as before... The drink her friend orders isn't the same... She's sick when she was fine before... These little details make Katie frightened and she starts to worry that maybe using the locket wouldn't be a good idea after all. Whiles these little changes are happening in the book I kept predicting what they might mean and if they would contribute to the plot in any way.

Katie wasn't my favorite character. She lacked personality and confidence because she's so insecure about herself dating the hottest boy in school. About three quarters of the book was about her trying to please her boyfriend and worrying whether or not Isaac would be happy about this or mad about that. Along with the events that unraveled in the book, Katie started to change. I was happy that Katie gradually matured and started becoming the heroine she never realized she could be. 

I loved the romance that was included to prevent this book from being too dark. There were light and happy moments that complemented this book beautifully. Although major events that occurred were in the extremes, it really makes you realize that anything could happen in life.  I'm glad Katie found herself at the end of the book, and she finally realized who it was that could make her happy and truly be herself.

Rating: 3/5

Meridian by Amber Kizer Review

Meridian by Amber Kizer

Series: Fenestra Book 1
Publish Date: August 11th, 2009
Published by: Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers
Pages: 305

Summary: (from Goodreads)

Half-human, half-angel, Meridian Sozu has a dark responsibility.

Sixteen-year-old Meridian has been surrounded by death ever since she can remember. As a child, insects, mice, and salamanders would burrow into her bedclothes and die. At her elementary school, she was blamed for a classmate's tragic accident. And on her sixteenth birthday, a car crashes in front of her family home--and Meridian's body explodes in pain.
Before she can fully recover, Meridian is told that she's a danger to her family and hustled off to her great-aunt's house in Revelation, Colorado. It's there that she learns that she is a Fenestra--the half-angel, half-human link between the living and the dead. But Meridian and her sworn protector and love, Tens, face great danger from the Aternocti, a band of dark forces who capture vulnerable souls on the brink of death and cause chaos.

Review: 

Meridian was really similar to a favorite of mine, Angel Burn by L.A Weatherly. The plot, the events in the book. Both had the male protector and counterpart turned lover complimenting the female proganist. They need to run and go into hiding to protect themselves from the danger of the townspeople hunting them. In both stories, the characters are threatened by an evil force that camouflage themselves as preachers of God and brainwash the town into believing the word of God is law. And of course, both female characters are half angels. Even though I have already experienced similar events in a different story, I still really enjoyed Meridian. 
  
My favorite thing about this book were the characters. I liked everyone of them (excluding the antagonists of course). Usually when I'm reading I found myself having an opinion about a certain character and finding faults in them I wish weren't there, but in this novel I thoroughly enjoyed every main character and the supporting characters as well. This book also gave me hope and touched me in a way that most books couldn't. I learned important lessons in this book that I will cherish and build myself on. It was definitely something I didn't expect in a fantasy novel. I love the addition of humor that lightened the mood after the deaths that were happening around Meridian.

Meridian started off as a shy and scared girl confused with the curse that plagued her. Nobody would approach her and they constantly thought of her as a freak because everywhere she went something would die. When she is sent to her great-aunt's house far away she finally starts to figure out her abilities and her purpose in this world. Meridian begins to grow into a brave young lady that cares for others because of her selflessness. She knows her job is to take the souls of the dying into a better place, yet every time she knows the inevitable is about to happen she wishes she can stop the death or at least prolong it. Having to complete this task constantly must weigh down on Meridian. Good thing she has a her protector, Tens. At first he is brisk and barely talks to Meridian, but eventually living together under the same roof strengthens their bond and connection and they fall in love. Something that I was really happy to see. In this book, the romance was different. Tens and Meridian never really told each other how they felt yet they knew they were in love with each other. They depend on each other yet they are independent and rely on each other as partners and friends. When Meridian is overcome with sadness one night, it is then that Tens finally confesses his love for her. It is then that my heart explodes and I cannot stop smiling. 

The beginning was a little slow for me because she's just learning what a Fenestra is and what they do. Nothing exciting occurred in the beginning which is normal because we are just getting acquainted with the world of Meridian and these half human half angel beings that bless the world with their presence. By the time it reached the climax and I flipped to the very last page I was sighing with contentment and satisfaction. It was a nice ending to transition the reader to the second book, which I'm anticipating highly! I can't wait to read more of what happens to Meridian and Tens in the next book of the series. Meridian is probably a favorite of mine for the year of 2014.

Rating: 4.5/5  

Someone Else's Life by Katie Dale Review

Someone Else's Life by Katie Dale

Published: February 2, 2012
Published by: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 485

Summary (From Goodreads):

When seventeen-year-old Rosie’s mother, Trudie, dies from Huntington’s Disease, her pain is intensified by the knowledge that she has a fifty-per-cent chance of inheriting the crippling disease herself. Only when she tells her mum’s best friend, ‘Aunt Sarah’ that she is going to test for the disease does Sarah, a midwife, reveal that Trudie was not her biological mother after all...

Devastated, Rosie decides to trace her real mother, hitching along on her ex-boyfriend’s GAP year to follow her to Los Angeles. But all does not go to plan, and as Rosie discovers yet more of her family's deeply-buried secrets and lies, she is left with an agonising decision of her own - one which will be the most heart-breaking and far-reaching of all..

Review: 

A stunning and tear-jerking novel by Katie Dale. This book was brilliant and memorable all the way.

Rosie just graduated high school.Unlike other teenagers her age who are preparing for college, she is trying to get over her mother's death. One she saw coming because of her rare Huntington's disease, but inevitably left Rosie miserable and on a mission. Instead of worrying whether or not she has contracted the disease, she goes out to America to find her biological father along with her ex-boyfriend. She hopes to seek out the truth about her life and find comfort in strange and new places. All the information that she gathers throughout her journey will hit readers like a ton of bricks but leave them happy as all sad stories end with a happy ending.
Rosie is lost and confused by the misery that clouds her judgment. She is brave yet impulsive, a trait that leads to unhappiness and conflict with those around Rosie. She turns other peoples world's upside down when she is trying to make her life right again, something that she does unintentionally.

I really enjoyed the bits of humor and romance amongst all the sadness as it was much needed. It reminded me that even though Rosie and her family's life may seem like hell right now, it doesn't mean that happiness is lost. Rosie's boyfriend Andy is the perfect companion with Rosie because he keeps her in check and supports her decisions even though he may not always be happy with her. He tries to leave multiple times because of Rosie's disregard for him and broken promises, but he always comes back knowing Rosie is at her most vulnerable and needs his shoulder to cry occasionally. A man that will support you at your hardest times is a man you keep, I say!

It was one big roller coaster ride in this book, although a ride I definitely enjoyed. If you're not sure whether or not you might like this book, at least pick it up for the cover. Because c'mon. It's beautiful.

Rating: 4/5    

Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood Review

Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood

Series: The Cahill Witch Chronicles Book 1
Published: February 7th, 2012 
Published by: Putnam Juvenile

Summary: (from Goodreads)

Everybody knows Cate Cahill and her sisters are eccentric. Too pretty, too reclusive, and far too educated for their own good. But the truth is even worse: they’re witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it would mean an asylum, a prison ship—or an early grave.

Before her mother died, Cate promised to protect her sisters. But with only six months left to choose between marriage and the Sisterhood, she might not be able to keep her word... especially after she finds her mother’s diary, uncovering a secret that could spell her family’s destruction. Desperate to find alternatives to their fate, Cate starts scouring banned books and questioning rebellious new friends, all while juggling tea parties, shocking marriage proposals, and a forbidden romance with the completely unsuitable Finn Belastra.

If what her mother wrote is true, the Cahill girls aren’t safe. Not from the Brotherhood, the Sisterhood—not even from each other.  

 Review:

      I am always searching for books related to witches, because they're one of my favorite things to read about. Born Wicked was different than other books of witches that I've read because its set in the late 1800's, an era that I am not familiar with and rarely read books set in that time. With Born Wicked, I liked that it wasn't set in present day so that we not only get to know about Cate and her sisters powerful abilities but also the practices and traditions of the olden days. When girls were supposed to look pretty for their husbands and being smart was frowned upon.

      In Cate's home town of Chathum, the Brotherhood rules. Females of every age must be very careful of what they say or do for fear that the Brotherhood believes you are a witch and takes you away to an asylum or a prison ship. Thus, Cate is overprotective of her sisters and must protect them at all cost because that is what her mother told her to do. She must learn how to deal with the prophecy her and her sisters are most likely a part of, all the while juggling social gatherings and not fall for Finn Belastra.

     Cate's character starts off as timid and antisocial but very caring. The beginning of the book was a bit slow, as we get to know the characters and what happened when the Cahill sisters' mother died. Nothing too exciting happened. Later on, as Cate learns more about her role in the prophecy, she realizes she has a very difficult choice to make; get married or join the Sisterhood. This decision is difficult because all she thinks about is what's best for her sisters. As the story builds up, Cate's character changes as well. She becomes a feisty and mature young lady who owns up to her role of lady of the house and not afraid to speak her mind. This change in character was nice to see.

      There were plenty of plot twists and keep you on the edge events that occurred during three quarters of the book. It got good and addicting. Throughout this book you will put yourself in Cate's shoes and ask yourself; what would you do if you were Cate? I need to pick up the second book and find out what happens to Cate and her sisters!

Rating: 4/5  

Shooting Stars by Allison Rushby Review

 Shooting Stars by Allison Rushby

Published: February 28th, 2012
Publisher: Walker Childrens
Pages: 272

Summary (from Goodreads)

Meet Josephine Foster, or Zo Jo as she’s called in the biz. The best pint-sized photographer of them all, Jo doesn’t mind doing what it takes to get that perfect shot, until she’s sent on an undercover assignment to shoot Ned Hartnett—teen superstar and the only celebrity who’s ever been kind to her—at an exclusive rehabilitation retreat in Boston. The money will be enough to pay for Jo’s dream: real photography classes, and maybe even quitting her paparazzi gig for good. Everyone wants to know what Ned’s in for. But Jo certainly doesn’t know what she’s in for: falling in love with Ned was never supposed to be part of her assignment. 

Review:

Shooting Stars was a light comedic take on the world of paparazzi. The book starts off with 16 year old paparazzo Josephine, or Zo Jo in the beginning of the book when she is hunting down teen heartthrob Ned Hartnett in a club. She succeeds in entering and getting the shots she wants, where we are then introduced to the plot of the book. An accident causing Ned to enter a retreat where he can get away from the spotlight and find time for himself. Jo takes on the job of going undercover and entering the retreat as a patient herself, but what she's really doing there is taking shots of Ned Hartnett. Jo knows its going to be a dirty job that will eat at her conscience but she needs the money if she ever wants to enroll in photography school. 

Jo's time at the retreat is mostly spent around group sessions, bonding with the other kids, and attending outside activities that she usually finds lame. The problem? She's not doing her job. The editor that hired her, Melissa, constantly checks in on her wondering why she hasn't sent any shots yet which Jo brushes aside, promising that she'll send them in soon. Before she knows it, Jo is crushing hard on Ned and decides to put the cameras down.

It was nice seeing Jo becoming a better person throughout this book. She's smart and witty and definitely not your sweetheart. When she first enters the camp she promises herself that taking the shots will be easy and once she gets enough she can in and get out. No harm done and no guilt. But it wasn't the case and Jo warms up to her target, Ned and they get close enough to talk about their problems to each other. 

There were twists I didn't see coming in the story, but they played out to be a helpful factor helping Jo realize she can needs to stop and get away from the dirty business.What I didn't like was the abrupt solution to the problem. It didn't end as well as I had hoped but nevertheless it was a happy ending that led to Jo cleaning her conscience and knowing she did the right thing. 

Shooting Stars was a quick light read but definitely not memorable. Save this for a rainy day.

Rating: 2.5/5 

Gossamer by Renita Pizzitola Blog Tour & Review

A Lyrical Press Young Adult Paranormal Romance

Gossamer by Renita Pizzitola

Published by Lyrical Press Inc.

Format: eBook

Source: Given by publisher for an honest review and participation in blog tour.        

SUMMARY: 

Kyla Ashbury is nearing her eighteenth birthday when a mysterious boy appears at school. Her instant attraction to him inexplicably awakens something inside her and she discovers her true identity.

Now, armed with the knowledge of her past, she is forced to leave behind the life she has always known for a new one filled with temptation, faery charm and magic, and a future she wasn't prepared for.

Kyla is left with a difficult decision... but no matter which path she chooses, someone will get hurt.

Review: 

I always like a good faery book. Especially since lately I've only been reading sci-fi. I started this book with high hopes, however, this book fell a little short.

The writing itself, was a little amateur. The writing was wordy and choppy because the author used "it is" or "would have" instead of "it's" or "would've" every time, especially during dialogue. It made the characters sound stiff and gets rid of the emotion they were trying to express. I was a little surprised at the length of this book. I don't think I can really call it a novel because it was quite short. The beginning was dragged out too long, resulting in an abrupt ending that was a little frustrating, there was so much that was not resolved. I kept thinking "Is this really the end of the book? Will there be a second book?" Perhaps that was the author's intentions, to leave the reader with a cliffhanger forcing them to guess their own endings. I am disappointed at the plot, there was nothing really exciting about it. It was just another romance novel about a love triangle among two friends. It was a little like the book Angel Burn; guy saves girl from danger because of her abilities, and they end up falling in love. 

The beginning was like a typical cliche novel. Kylie, the damsel in distress, doesn't know she's half-faery until she meets new guy, Grant, who she falls in love with at first sight. However, the Queen B (and B not in the good way), Cerise, also wants Grant. They end up having a rivalry but of course Grant came for Kylie. And then Kylie's world turns upside down when Grant tells her she's half faery and she needs to go back to the faery world. I wasn't very fond of Kylie, she always wanted to cry every time she saw Grant or have some kind mixed emotions inside her, it was like she didn't have a backbone. 

Overall, this wasn't a memorable book because nothing exciting really happened. Although, I did enjoy the romance in it. I would save this book for a rainy day.

Rating: 3/5