Review: Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally
My rating: 3.5 of 5 genies
Genre: YA, Contemporary, Romance, Fiction
Published: December 1, 2011
Pages: 281
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Source: Library Loan
Format: Paperback
Purchase At: TheBookDepository.com or Amazon.com

Goodreads Summary

What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though-she leads them as the captain and quarterback of her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university.

But everything she's ever worked for is threatened when Ty Greeen moves to her school. Not only is he an amazing QB, but he's also amazingly hot. And for the first time, Jordan's feeling vulnerable. Can she keep her head in the game while her heart's on the line?

My Thoughts

Catching Jordan is satisfying and delightful with a cast of memorable characters, bursts of personality and tender moments.

Originally, I thought this book was a solid 4/5 genies. I've taken a few days to mull over that rating and the overall result is more like 3.5 genies out of 5; simply because, when the euphoria of reading something new - and actually good - wore off for me, the little problems started to nag. It wasn't like I could pull a Frank Barone and tell them to, "Shut up, Marie!"



That isn't possible. They stuck. And yet, those issues are relatively minimal, I'll share them with you, but keep in mind that we may not necessarily agree and that this is okay. Now on to more important matters. This book's protagonist, Jordan, is living the dream. Not only is she surrounded by fine football players, (how cool is it that she leads them?), but Jordan is kind of loaded. Not like baby Warbucks, but enough. Her dad is famous for playing professional football and while he doesn't exactly support her aspiration to play the sport in college, specifically for Alabama State, the Woods's aren't doing too shabby. I wish I lived like that…

“If I was a rich girl! Na, na, na, na, na, na, na...” Argh, I'm dreaming again! Darn you, Gwen Stefani!

The Good

There was a lot of girl power! I liked that Jordan could take charge of the boys and keep them in line. At the beginning, I was engrossed with everything football - I don't play, but my brothers do - and the sport men is [are] pretty fascinating. The interaction between the other players on the team and Jordan was great, she could hang with the boys without losing her femininity. But Jordan is kind of a guy, in her mentality at least, which explains why she gels so well with the fellas; I have no complains though, Miranda Kenneally had a knack for making her relatable. Some say that the characters really make this novel and I have to agree. Sam is hilarious almost throughout and his antics – bring on the dancing! – never failed to amuse me. It was fun getting sucked up in their lives/happenings and the bonds between all of them really do transcend past the playing field.

Their sense of togetherness touched me; JJ was willing to punch the face off of anyone who messed with his QB, making the respect between him, Jordan, and many others on the team admirable. The camaraderie was like, “I love you, man…Girl…Whatever!” It was sweet.

The…Not so Good?

For most of the book, Jordan is well-rounded, and pretty easy-going. I found myself rooting for her happy ending, and luckily one ensues. However, the road to this was not paved with Hershey kisses. Particularly, there’s this misunderstanding between her and a long-time friend, Sam Henry, which could have made or broken the book for me. The whole situation was like a balancing act, one wrong move could have messed up everything, mainly because they do fight a lot. It was a little unbelievable, that something so trivial could tear two really great friends apart; because of how well Miranda Kenneally built their friendship, I really did expect them to know each other better.

I mentioned before that I wasn’t 100% sold on whether she and Sam will be together forever, that still stands, but I guess the question isn’t that – the question is if the two could survive, and I think so. For a while at least. My sights are still set on Phillips, though. Anyone is better than Ty, really. The dude got creepy. I mean, I know you lost almost everything in that car crash, but get it together son! Creepy behaviour will not be tolerated, that is all.

The dialogue was a smidget bit cliché at times and I caught a bit of hypocrisy from Jordan when she calls another girl’s behaviour slutty when she is the one bullied for hanging out with so many guys,‘supposedly’ sleeping around with the boys on her team. She shouldn't have been judging, not with a history like that.

Overall

Catching Jordan is satisfying and delightful with a cast of memorable characters, bursts of personality and tender moments. I would recommend this book to those of the YA audience because there is mention of sleeping around, coarse language and…sexual situations. Don’t touch it if you aren’t ready for that! Still, this was a great read.

4.5 genies: I couldn't make my mind up about you, you were almost there, almost perfect, but overall something was missing. Still a special piece of literature, though, 3 and a half genies.

Favourite Quotes

“Sometimes you have to do things you don't want to do. To get something better, you know?”

“One thing I learned a long time ago is that even if you think you're meant to be with someone, that doesn't necessarily mean you get to be with them.”

“I didn't know crushing on a guy would require me to up my calorie intake.”

Sound off in the comments below! Have you read Catching Jordan? If so, how did you like it?
Lots of hugs!

XX,

Stacking the Shelves (3) : eBook Splurge, Callings, Acadmies and Mermaids

**"Stacking the Shelves" is run by Tynga @ Tynga's Book Reviews and I'm linking up with some of the great books I found this week.**

Hey Guys!

Good to see...um, talk..to you again :) How has your week been? Mine is lovely and I have a bit of a treat this week! There are major Kindle steals to present as well as a few hardcover beauties in this edition of Stacking the Shelves. There are a couple library loans, some freebies and other eBooks I just had to buy. Remember to comment below on which spoil has you the most giddy, and don't be shy sharing your finds this week ;) So without further adieu, I bring you my little indulgence, and in my defence, I really didn't spend that much. Just a bit.Jokes. 

First come the hardcopies, I got 2 paperbacks and a hardback this week:

Hey, there, Miffy!

Those books are:

**Night School by C.J. Daugherty**

**Inside Out Omnibus by Maria V. Snyder** 

**The Calling by Kelley Armstrong**

My Rambles: I'm really excited for all three of them because they each have a lot of promise. Night School was on sale at the BookDepository and The Calling had been on my wishlist for a while now, ever since I read and loved The Gathering, I knew the sequel was a must-have. A month ago while shopping in my local Superstore, I chanced on the Inside Out Omnibus, but didn't think to buy it at the time. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Unfortunately, when my senses returned, the book was no longer available! I mourned the loss, but not for long since they finally put it back on the shelves :D This little baby is a steal at $10 for both books in the series compiled to one, I am very pleased to have it. 

The next books on the list are from my local Library. I snagged:

Looking beautiful, ladies!

**Harbinger by Sara Wilson Etienne**

**The Vicious Deep by Zoraida Cordova**

**Soulbound by Heather Brewer**

**Of Poseidon by Anna Banks**

**Sense and Sensibility (Graphic Novel) by Jane Austen, Nancy Butler, Sonny Liew**

A Reflection: I don't know if I'll get around to reading Harbinger, it's creeping me out a little now, to be honest ^_^ However, I'm not giving up without trying first, so stay tuned for that! Both The Vicious Deep and Of Poseidon have been touted as pretty great YA mermaid novels and I'm pretty excited for both, a little bit more for The Vicious Deep, but still, I can't wait. Soulbound looks phenomenal and I'm racing through my other books just to get to it :) Nothing beats the classics with Sense and Sensibility, the graphics in this Marvel adaptation are cute and well-done. Since this will be my first reading of the classic I have high expectations. 

Next are the eBooks! Be warned...

                                                                                 

1.) Dante's Girl by Courtney Cole                   
2.) **Every Last Kiss by Courtney Cole 

3.)**The Pearl Savage by Tamara R. Blodgett
4.) Easy by Tammara Webber 

5.) **Kate's Song by Jennifer Beckstrand
6.) Sixty Acres and A Bride by Regina Jennings

7.) **Prize of my Heart by Lisa Norato                         
8.) Demons at Deadnight by A and E Kirk

9.) **Here by Denise Grover Swank                                

10.) The Assassin and the Underworld
11.) The Assassin and the Dessert
12.) The Assassin and the Pirate Lord [All by Sarah J. Maas]
14.) **Sovereign Hope by Frankie Rose
13.) Destiny's Fire by Trisha Wolfe

15.) Dead Radiance by T.G. Ayer 

**The ones marked with the double asterix were freebies at the time, not sure if they still are, but I was  blessed enough to snag them then! I told you that the load was hefty, you believe me? There are just so many good books here! I'm certain that I probably won't get to all before school beckons me back, but I'll enjoy every moment of trying. Those without the stars, Dead Radiance, Dante's Girl, Destiny's Fire, Easy, Demons at Deadnight, Sixty Acres and a Bride, The Assassin and the Pirate Lord, The Assassin and the Underworld, and The Assassin and the Desert were purchases that came out of my own pocket, buys that I am very pleased with.

I think I'm finished. What was your favourite find this week, or did you like one of my buys? Feel free to share, I look forward to hearing from you :)

XX,

Review: Creature Carnival by Marilyn Singer, Gris Grimley

Creature Carnival by Marilyn Singer
My rating: 3 of 5 genies
Genre: Juvenile, Fiction, Humour, Poetry
Published: April 1, 2004
Pages: 40
Publisher: Hyperion Books
Source: Library Loan
Format: Hardback
Purchase At: Amazon.com

Goodreads Summary

This collection of twenty-six poems features some of the creepiest, funniest, most bizarre, and fascinating creatures from myth, legend, and popular culture. Marilyn Singer has written more than sixty books for children and young adults, including Monster Museum, the companion book to Creature Carnival. She and her husband divide their time between Brooklyn, New York, and Washington, Connecticut. Gris Grimly made his picture book debut with Monster Museum. Since then he has illustrated Pinocchio and his own Wicked Nursery Rhymes. Gris Grimly lives in Los Angeles, CA.

The Skinny

Creature Carnival is a lovely, albeit wacky take on some age-old myths, legends, and all around crazy folk lore. The book delighted me probably more so because I wasn't expecting it. The rhymes are at times clever and funny, and the book itself engaging enough for its intended audience; I read this in front of my younger brother and we had a blast! Some of the monsters in the Creature Carnival are a bit strange though, be warned, and others look as if they were put through the ringer a.k.a. Belle from Beauty and the Beast. She, as do many others, embody a slightly more jaded edge than their classical personas, and part of why I took out this book in the first place was its unconventional twist, so the concept worked well for me.

I got a sense of juvenile Tim Burton with the illustration in general as the images had a jagged quality and trademark through the looking glass-feel that Burton's work usually embodies. Overall, this is a fun and lively book for anyone in need of a quick read.

3/5 genies: This is the halfway point, nothing was too incredible, but

I'm not burning this book with fire. Give it a try!

Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton

Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton
My rating: 2.5 of 5 genies
Genre: YA, Paranormal Fiction, Romance
Published: February 15, 2011
Pages: 453
Publisher: HarperCollins / Katherine Tegen Books
Source: Library Loan
Format: Paperback

Goodreads Summary

First there are nightmares.
Every night Ellie is haunted by terrifying dreams of monstrous creatures that are hunting her, killing her.

Then come the memories.
When Ellie meets Will, she feels on the verge of remembering something just beyond her grasp. His attention is intense and romantic, and Ellie feels like her soul has known him for centuries. On her seventeenth birthday, on a dark street at midnight, Will awakens Ellie's power, and she knows that she can fight the creatures that stalk her in the grim darkness. Only Will holds the key to Ellie's memories, whole lifetimes of them, and when she looks at him, she can no longer pretend anything was just a dream.

Now she must hunt.
Ellie has power that no one can match, and her role is to hunt and kill the reapers that prey on human souls. But in order to survive the dangerous and ancient battle of the angels and the Fallen, she must also hunt for the secrets of her past lives and truths that may be too frightening to remember.

My Thoughts

I decided to do something interesting with this review and have an interview-type questionnaire regarding this book and my experience with it and its characters. This way, I get down to the gritty without really beating around the bush. You like? Proceed!

Q: What did you make of Angelfire as a whole, did it meet or surpass your expectations?

A: Well, in some cases it really did see to my expectations and I really couldn't find much to complain about. Sure, the plot was a little elementary - I saw some things coming from a mile away - but otherwise, it was alright.

Q: Biggest like of the book as a whole...Go!

A: Will! Will was very nice and at some instances he was the only thing making sense. When Ellie was being kind of a pain, I looked to Will.

Q: Any big issues with the book? What do you dislike about Ellie?

A: I hated the lack of choice, I mean, why does Ellie have to do it; why does one immature teen get the charge of saving the world from eternal damnation? I was very starved for choice. There should have been someone else, a wild card; Will should have had some hand in the life-saving other than just being there for Ellie. The boy was a lot more than an emotional crutch and his potential just wasn't met.

I think I kind of let my problem with Ellie out of the bag with the statement above. I disliked that she was really whiny at times and didn't fully grasp the role she played. See, this is what went down between her and Will every time he told her to practise harder on her heroism:

Will: Ellie, practise is tonight, don't miss it.

Ellie:'Oh noes, but Will, I missed movie night for the 3rd time this month because I was practising.

Will: You do understand that people die while you're away chomping down on those maynards and caramel corn, right?

Ellie: Just get someone else to do it, I gotta hang with the group. Any more cancelled dates and they'll, like, dump me from the crew!

Will: And this is more prevalent than someone's state of eternity, how?

Ellie: Ugh. Will, you just don't get it. I care about those people...sort of. Ooh, is that Marc Jacobs's new fall design?!
Gimme.

See? It was hard not to cringe a little, she could be airheaded at times.

Q: If you could change one thing about this book, what would it be?

A: The progression of the story. At times, the action dragged, like, it would take 2-3 chapters for the story to pick up again, which was kind of ridiculous. I would also change the cover, because Ellie is really nothing like the 30 something cover model. She's supposed to be bubbly, beautiful and popular. The girl in the picture gives off the impression of staidness and long nights spent reading in cemeteries; I guess she has friends, if latent spirits from another world count.

Q: Why 2.5 out of 5 stars, what made you rate the book this way?

A: Like I mentioned, the predictability could have been helped and character development kind of lacked. It went from Ellie being this clueless teenager to suddenly a saviour struggling to put back the pieces of her previous lives, because she's been reincarnated before, without so much as an appropriate enough explanation. The character development was unrealistic, and then there was the whole issue with her not taking her duties so seriously. To be honest, Will was kind of dry too, this is why I can't really fangirl about him, but the way I see it, he was better than Ellie even then. I don't hate the girl, but she needs work. Just putting it out there, things were wrapped up poorly in the end, I wasn't impressed with the interpretation of who Ellie really is, let's just say, Gabriel and I are not pleased.

Q: It's been great talk, thank-you for chatting with us. Any closing words, recommendations to those still on the fence about Angelfire?

A: I guess the only thing I can say is, read the book if you're interested. If you see it and think, 'hey, why not?' I'd give it a try just out of curiosity's sake. It isn't a bad book, and Ellie could be sweet at times; she wasn't all bad, and having Will around didn't hurt!

2.5/5 genies: This novel had its perks, I wouldn't read it again, but it was an okay read.

Stacking the Shelves (1) : Also known as The Great Splurge

Hello, it's Judith here, and I will be your book Viking today. I come with great spoils of my last pillage! I have no idea why I'm a Viking for the day? "Stacking the Shelves" is run by Tynga @ Tynga's Book Reviews and I'm linking up with some of the great books I found last week. My shelves, they be stacking! And I know that it's a bit overdue, but better late than never? Argghh, on to the post! And now I'm a pirate.

Library Stash

Last week from the library, I was lucky to get:

**Drink Deep by Chloe Neill**

**Dark Kiss by Michelle Rowen (wishlist)**

**Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally**

**Short-Straw Bride by Karen Witemeyer (wishlist)**

**My Stubborn Heart by Becky Wade**

**Sixty Acres and a Bride by Regina Jennings (wishlist)**

[Viking Judith: *Grunts* "Isn't she a beauty?!"]

I FINALLY snagged:

**The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy (wishlist)**

**The Calling by Kelley Armstrong**

**The Book of Blood and Shadow by Robin Wasserman**

**A Temptation of Angels by Michelle Zink (wishlist)**

**Immortal City by Scott Speer**

**Fire by Kristin Cashore**

**Creature Carnival by Marilyn Singer, Gris Grimley**

**Boris and Bella by Carolyn Crimi, Gris Grimley**

Bought

*Squeals like an insane person* 

This right here (above) is my childhood! I remember when Enid Blyton was my crack, that woman essentially inspired me to write and when I saw The Faraway Tree Stories, my absolute favourite novel by her, I needed to snap that baby up! Disney will never die. The storybook on the left was read to me all the days of my Viking infancy. Both are out of print, and I couldn't pass up on buying either :)

[Viking Judith: "So, do you lovely ladies come here often?"]

*Facepalm* I suck at pick-up lines, and needless to say, this Viking would be slapped pretty promptly. Eesh, you can't catch a break, not even with the fictional ladies! Note, I am probably the biggest procrastinator to date when it comes to getting my releases in hand, mainly because there is never enough time, but I finally had my two main squeezes "The Golden Lily" and "Seraphina" come in the mail. I can't wait to read them! 

All of these books are great, I cannot wait to get to them, but is there anything on your shelf that you're dying to read/have gotten? Do share ;) P.s. If you like/dislike the pillaging Viking and want to see him feature on my rendition of Stacking the Shelves again, let me know!

Review (The Skinny) : Head in the Clouds by Karen Witemeyer

Head in the Clouds by Karen Witemeyer
My rating: 2.5 of 5 genies
Genre: Inspirational/Christian, Historical Fiction, Romance
Published: October 1, 2010
Pages: 366
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Source: Library Loan
Format: Paperback
Purchase At: TheBookDepository.com or Amazon.com

Goodreads Summary

Adelaide Proctor is a young woman with her head in the clouds, longing for a real-life storybook hero to claim as her own. But when a husband-hunting debacle leaves her humiliated, she interviews for a staid governess position on a central Texas sheep ranch and vows to leave her romantic yearnings behind.
When Gideon Westcott left his privileged life in England to make a name for himself in America's wool industry, he never expected to become a father overnight. And five-year-old Isabella hasn't uttered a word since she lost her mother. The unconventionality of the new governess concerns Gideon--and intrigues him at the same time. But he can't afford distractions. He has a ranch to run, a shearing to oversee, and a suspicious fence-cutting to investigate.
When Isabella's uncle comes to claim the child--and her inheritance--Gideon and Adelaide must work together to protect Isabella from the man's evil schemes. And soon neither can deny their growing attraction. But after so many heartbreaks, will Adelaide be willing to get her head out of the clouds and put her heart on the line?

The Skinny

It is alarming how well I can see through this plot! I loved the last book I read by Karen, To Win Her Heart, but this one is oodles too long and equally predictable. The beginning half had me - it was funny - and I liked Gideon and Addie, but a quick sweep through some pages tells me that their romance dissolves into the typical Man-Woman corniness I quite dislike. Also with so little time I cannot afford to (sorry) waste the little I do have with something that only mildly interests me. It isn't meant to be a mean remark, I just want something more engaging. This is the second time in a year that I have tried this book, I got farther than the last time, but I'm not sure if there's a third meeting in our future.

This novel had its perks, I wouldn't read it again, but it was an okay read.

Review: That Certain Spark by Cathy Marie Hake

That Certain Spark by Cathy Marie Hake
My rating: 2 of 5 genies
Genre: Inspirational/Christian, Historical, Fiction, Romance
Published: August 1, 2009
Pages: 348
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Source: Library Loan
Format: Paperback
Purchase At: TheBookDepository.com or Amazon.com

Goodreads Summary

Gooding, Texas, is about to gain a double blessing--a veterinarian and a doctor. But when siblings Enoch and Taylor Bestman arrive, the discovery that Taylor is a lady doctor has the town up in arms. Especially Karl Van der Vort, the town blacksmith, who becomes the first patient...against his will.
Though hesitant to believe in Taylor's doctoring skills, Karl finds himself oddly protective of this surprising woman who dares to drive about town on her own, wearing the color red, for heaven's sake Taylor, on the other hand, wants only to prove that doctoring is her life's calling, despite the town's opposition. The result? Pride meets attraction head-on, and sparks begin to fly.

My Thoughts

'That Certain Spark' was interesting and NOT in a good way. Interesting like cafeteria meat that you pick with a fork wondering what exactly it is or supposed to be. It was weird for me and you have no idea how it burns me to say that! I love a lot of books by Hake, like 'Fancy Pants' and 'Bittersweet' to name a few, and while I am being honest let me say that not all her books have been easy to get into. Fudge! They have been even impossible at times, but I found that perseverance in those cases proved worth it at the end. Eventually something would happen.

I felt that way about this book too, but that didn't happen. I liked the cover, a picture of Taylor, it was quirky and looked to have everything to do with the story. And yet even though Taylor was a protagonist I never did feel like she was the MAIN focus. It felt like a crowd had been forced into this book, there were just too many people! I can see why Hake did it, and on many occasions I grumble at not being properly entertained, just not on this one.

Sometimes things didn't even check out. Realistically speaking Enoch's courtship with Mercy bordered on lust and was just that, unrealistic. If we are going to have a Lust-relationship be clear about it! Do not mask it as love because barely two weeks together does not a happy marriage make. Who seriously marries a vet who just moved into town 2 weeks ago! Who in their right mind!? He could be a killer who stuffs children into pig carcasses! Didn't think about that, huh Mercy? And Taylor's brother wasn't a guy, he was a pansy. Their relationship was very forced to me, Hake tried too hard to make them seem like twins, insisting that they had a 'connection'. Well the proof is in the pudding and I tasted water.

They were too unrelated for my liking. Sure Enoch stuck up for his sister, but it didn't feel authentic, it felt like someone was going 'Oh, you have to go do something. People are staring and you ARE her twin,' every time someone was rude or tried to get her to leave. Their being related did nothing for me.

Furthermore the love interest for Taylor sucked as well! At the beginning he seemed flipping American then all of a sudden he's... Dutch? What now! At least his brother was spouting German or Danish from the start, not halfway through like Karl. It was as if he up and decided to be German, and throwing random phrases around does not make him that! Why is it that most authors think ignoring a person's heritage is okay? They come from unique backgrounds, all of them do and lumping them into a mold of job, occupation or type based on romantic interest does not tell me about that person! Does that character miss where he came from? Believe it or not but that guy has history in whatever country you're botching to make him look worldly, authors.

I absolutely hated that. Also Karl reminded me of Frankenstein's monster: hulking, bumbling and unaware. He was fine going around defending Taylor, not completely on her side yet but thinking she was hot and doing it just because. Yeah, thanks pal. I didn't think Hake devoted enough time to those two at all because there were no butterflies when I gave up halfway through the book and checked out the ending, I was just like 'Not worth it!' and dropped the book altogether. It was all split between Enoch and his family troubles (which by the way were just ridiculous) and 10 other town people including Karl and his brother. They all had opinions and I'm sure I didn't need to be exposed to all of them. I get that they are important to the town and somewhat to the story, but these people have HAD their stories, why force them into this one? Detain them!

How Hake expected me to devote attention to Taylor when Enoch had so much drama going on is beyond me, it was just too much! I am very disappointed and despite the 2 genie rating I give this novel I will keep reading Hake's work, because she isn't a bad author, this is just a bad book.

2 genies: I wanted to like this, I really did, but too much was left under-developed.

There was far more worse than good.

Review: To Win Her Heart by Karen Witemeyer

To Win Her Heart by Karen Witemeyer
My rating: 5 of 5 genies
Genre: Inspirational/Christian, Historical, Romance,
Published: May 1, 2011
Pages: 352
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Source: Library Loan
Format: Paperback
Purchase At: TheBookDepository.com or Amazon.com

Goodreads Summary

Having completed his sentence for the unintentional crime that derailed his youthful plans for fame and fortune, Levi Grant looks to start over in the town of Spencer, Texas. Spencer needs a blacksmith, a trade he learned at his father's knee, and he needs a place where no one knows his past. But small towns leave little room for secrets...
Eden Spencer has sworn off men, choosing instead to devote her time to the lending library she runs. When a mountain-sized stranger walks through her door and asks to borrow a book, she steels herself against the attraction he provokes. His halting speech and hesitant manner leave her doubting his intelligence. Yet as the mysteries of the town's new blacksmith unfold, Eden discovers hidden depths in him that tempt her heart.
Levi's renewed commitment to his faith leads Eden to believe she's finally found a man of honor and integrity, a man worthy of her love. But when the truth about his prodigal past comes to light, can this tarnished hero find a way to win back the librarian's affections?

My Thoughts

Hallelujah!

Ha, really this book was phenomenal! I was not expecting it to be this good, don't ask me why but I just wasn't. I finished reading 'That Certain Spark' before this and was feeling more than a little sour towards Christian Fiction, especially anything historical! And yet here comes Witemeyer to plummet completely my bias. Really she outdid herself!

This read took longer for me to finish and not because of the ability of the book to keep me interested. No, It was my fault because 1/3 through the reading process, I cracked. There was just so much stuff going on that I'm not getting into that took precedence over reading. That is why I took a bajillion days to finish!

Alright, So we're clear? Excellent!

See the word I used there? It's a perfect description of this novel, perfectly EXCELLENT. I expected to hate it, and though 'A tailor made Bride' was decent I was tired of being preached at. I'm a Christian but I find that some books just make it one sermon; 'don't do this', and, 'stay away from that,' but never once do they expose you to realistic scenarios in which you will need to make tough choices. No, it's often just one dramatic sludge of fail with flimsy heroines and generic males. This book was not that.

I am in love with Levi, an ex-prize fighter turned Christian blacksmith-hunk. I loved his lisp and how intelligent this man was! He was so vulnerable and troubled that I just wanted to 'FIX HIM'! Lol that is what girls tend to do right, I'm not quite sure. Take this scenario for example:

Man who overheard to Judith: Excuse me, but are you insinuating that you are not in fact a woman, madam?

Judith: What do you think this is?! *scratches armpit* I don’t have to answer that. Pansy, get me a sandwich and talk American!

Man greatly disgruntled: I suppose I shall leave you to your...em...activities, madam.

Judith: *burps* that’s right! Ye heard me. Some people just aren’t educated. :/ *burps again*

*Ahem* So as you see I am not very normal. I come close on occasion but that is all, and yet you don't have to be mildly insane to appreciate any part of this book or its fabulous characters! It just ROCKS. I enjoyed the heroine - Eden, a kindhearted librarian, as well and found her to be something rarely seen in fiction these days: lovely. She was so very delightful and cute I adored her! That is why I forgive her for taking Levi, because they deserve each other.

The emotions were so authentic I forgot I was reading at points and just lost myself in this book. It kept me turning pages - especially at the end - and no character was unwarranted. They all served purposes... finally! I was so sick of background sheep-people that just chewed grass and made irrelevant sound, that is what characters with no real point mean to me and I was tired of them. This book held meaning because every single character had a story; not one that could be duplicated, but a tale really unique.

Witemeyer did her research and it payed off - GREATLY. In my opinion, Bethany House should do the smart thing and sign her up for more contracts, she is a gem and officially up there next to Kingsbury and Gist in terms of stellar Christian fiction authors. I want so much more from her! Pick this book up and give it a good read, I'm thinking it would be worth every penny.

5 genies: WOWZA. Yes, this is that book, the book you've been looking for! 

You need this novel in your life, take it from me. 

Review: Glass Houses by Rachel Caine

Glass Houses by Rachel Caine
My rating: 5 of 5 genies
Genre: YA, Urban Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal, Romance, Ghosts
Published: October 3, 2006
Pages: 224
Publisher: NAL Jam
Source: Library Loan
Format: Paperback
Purchase At: TheBookDepository.com or Amazon.com

Goodreads Summary

From the author of the popular Weather Warden series comes the debut of an exciting new series set in Morganville, Texas, where you would be well advised to avoid being out after dark.

College freshman Claire Danvers has had enough of her nightmarish dorm situation. When Claire heads off-campus, the imposing old house where she finds a room may not be much better. Her new roommates don't show many signs of life, but they'll have Claire's back when the town's deepest secrets come crawling out, hungry for fresh blood.

My Thoughts

Ok, well that was... INCREDIBLE.

I don't think I expected much from this book going in, (I still don't know why, maybe because the whole idea of the Vampire thing done by anyone not Jeaniene Frost seemed pretty impossible), and honestly I just read it because of the high rating it has going on Goodreads. Well, it's safe to say "Glass Houses" kinda deserves the 5 genies!! And higher. Also I was dead wrong, Rachel Caine can write! It wasn't predictable, but some events were easy to foresight and even though you could see some decisions from the characters totally play out a little before they did - it was still spanking amazing!

Believe me I'm still trying to organize my thoughts because they literally feel scrambled. So where to begin? The Setting: was golden, like crazy original and totally terrifying. I was scared, scared that a place like that existed - even in fiction - it was a nightmare! Crazy (there is really no other word for them) bitches, psycho Vamps, and literally no order. I fainted more than once. No one looks out for each other really and they all care about protecting themselves from the Vampires that rule Morganville; the Vampires think the humans are basically game (like actual cattle) and never hesitate to puncture a jugular, like never.

Oh. You. Have. To. Be. Kidding. Me. That was my recurring thought throughout "Glass Houses". What happened to human rights?!? Not in Morganville, no one cares. Except for the people in the Glass House who've grown up there, and Claire - a total cutie/brainiac - who happens to attend the College. She cares because the head psycho bitch wants to kill her.

Like really kill her. All because she thinks Claire made her look stupid (and that in itself is not a hard thing to do.) This girl was on something, I'm sure, she was so twisted that her imbalanced state of mind shook me. Character-wise in craziness she reminded me a lot of Azula from Avatar the Last Airbender.

Mind you, I never thought that I'd be saying this about anyone, but Monica was all kinds of psycho which Azula never could be. I thought she would give up on Claire, but she never did. It was a crazy obsession and I know she needs a jacket and padded room. Rich people should be able to afford that, right? Why are they letting someone as messed as Monica run loose then, it makes no sense. I don't care who her father is. Second in line for the crazy award is her feral dog, Scruffy Gina. Hm...has a nice ring to it! The girl just needed to be told and she went looking for blood, like a hellhound from Pittsburgh, she was so irrational. I can see why she and Monica are friends, really.

Other notable Characters: are of course Claire, Michael, Eve, Shane (swoon), and Oliver. I didn't think much of Amelie since she wasn't really there for most of the book and showed up 3/4 of the way through. She thought she was a big deal, I didn't. These characters were so awesome, and way normal than crazy Monica & Crew, I could practically see them. They were solid and hilarious, my throat went dry from laughing so hard at some parts. It was awesome.

Claire: Was smart, like really smart and completely lovable. I picture her in my mind and it is instant cuteness; still can't make out whether she had blonde or dark hair (wasn't really specified) but she was as cute as a button. Really Eve, I don't know why we say that, but in this case it applies in every sense of the word.

The friendship between all three of them was made even more believable because of their willingness to do everything to save her. I would save her too, she's just that kind of person; feisty and stubborn, the best kind.

Michael: Had this whole guardian angel thing going that I completely digged, very hot. I bawled when I found out what happened to him! Man it sucked, so much so that thinking of it pulls my spirits down a little still. I want him to be human again in the books to come! But I can only hope.

Eve: So sweet, her personality was catching - easy-going and confident - not to mention the way she handled Claire was extremely caring. Her actions brought to mind the image of an older sister which Claire didn't have, but totally deserved to find in Eve. Kudos to her for being that!

Shane: This name automatically makes me think, surfer, and then I imagine a guy (no offense to surfer-dudes out there) that isn't too bright. Can't help it, it just happens. Like when people hear the name Spongebob they think instantly: possibly-gay-yellow sponge-creeper. No? Well I do, but I love Spongebob, I watch him as much as I can and the same goes with Shane, only I'm wishing I could watch him every day! Oh man, he was very chill, very brave, and very fine. Excuse me while I swoon again.

I liked how far he was willing to go in order to protect Claire, he had this Romantic's heart pounding.

I won't get into Oliver because I don't know where to start with him, also I'm afraid of ruining it for anyone else. He was a surprise and not in a good way.

The Plot: moved easily and nothing felt rushed at all. It was like a very enjoyable stroll and the events that occurred were timed to perfection -- Way to go, Caine! I truly enjoyed myself with this book so you'll get why I recommend it to everyone reading this review, go find yourself a copy!

The writing is very consistent with the whole, I'm in college-I'm still a teenager-but I live in a town full of crazies, theme. It all works together perfectly and it's a ball to read. H.M. (honorable mention): goes to Shane (like you couldn't guess), also Claire, because I like a heroine with smarts, and Richard (Monica's older brother) because anyone who calls out a crazy like that is okay with me. Five genies, Baby:

WOWZA. Yes, this is that book, the book you've been looking for! 

You need this novel in your life, take it from me. 

Review: The Dead Girl's Dance by Rachel Caine

The Dead Girls' Dance by Rachel Caine
My rating: 3.5 of 5 genies
Genre: YA, Vampires, Paranormal, Romance, Horror, Urban Fantasy
Published: April 3, 2007
Pages: 248
Publisher: Turtleback Books
Source: Library Loan
Format: Paperback
Purchase At: TheBookDepository.com or Amazon.com

Goodreads Summary

Claire Danvers has her share of challenges--like being a genius in a school that favors beauty over brains, homicidal girls in her dorm, and finding out that her college town is overrun with the living dead. When a local fraternity throws the Dead Girls' Dance, hell really breaks loose. Original.

My Thoughts

Not that The Dead Girl's Dance was a bad book or anything, but it definitely could have been better. I couldn't wait for this to finish. I think one of the biggest problems was character inconsistencies; many characters did many things far from habit and I'm not certain that they were all for the good of things.

For Example:

- Monica is crazy, but she definitely wasn't as threatening and the way she was kind of inserted near the end bothered me. Crazy Gina ended up bagging the psychopath award in this installment.

- I couldn't connect with Shane and Claire's relationship. Before they were this cute couple, I was convinced had genuine emotions and deep feelings for each other, but they just seemed lusty in The Dead Girl's Dance.

- Claire's thing for Michael seems a whole of a lot stronger than her relationship with Shane. When you date a guy, you should not be checking out his best friend I do not care remotely how hot/gorgeous he is. And then she proceeds to risk her life in trying to save him. W.T.F.???! One Stud at a time Claire, do not be selfish!

- Also, Claire's near-deal with Oliver was the biggest character regression and slap in the face. Remind me again how she is indeed supposed to be the smart one?

-Aw, shoot! I'm all sorts of disappointed. I geared myself up for some old-fashioned Monica Morell batty craziness and got zilch. WHY?? Bring the bitch back!

- Eve was so mean, I mean really, things for her were as cruddy as they could possibly be, but what happened to the sweet goth? She was snappy, cruel (at times), hard and suicidal. I wanted not once or twice, but on five+ occasions for the old Eve to come back.

I don't know why but I was expecting this to be as good as the first, the possibility of The Curse of the Second coming into play never really hit me until I was half-way into this book. The curse strikes again! BTW, whoever conjured up that little vat of voodoo suckiness is no small amount of twisted. Why can't every book after be as good as the first? Oh right, because I live in a world where fictional men aren't real.

What I liked:

- The writing was as good as ever, a little slow in some instances but still enough to keep me mildly interested.

- I wholly enjoyed Richard and he is by far the H.M. (honourable mention) character. Maybe because in this whole scope of inconsistencies he remained...well, consistent. My secret fantasy is for him and Claire to get together. Hey, a girl can dream.

- Sam is also an instant fave, he was so gentlemanly and awesome. *Sigh* I WANT TO STEAL SAM.

In Closing

Overall, I do believe that is it. The plot could have been more engaging, that's for sure, and I kind of detested the addition of Eve's diary at the end. Why weren't things with her brother/every other loose end tied up with the other part of the story? It wasn't a good way to go out.

But I think I will read the next a little after a break. Partly because I need the time away from Morganville and also, the person who has it requested before me is a little Quadruple Dipper. Yeah, I said it!

3.5 genies:

I couldn't make my mind up about you, you were almost there, almost perfect, but overall something was missing. Still a special piece of literature, though, 3 and a half genies.