Review: Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting

The Synopsis:
Violet can sense the echoes of those who've been murdered—and the matching imprint that clings to their killers. Only those closest to her know what she is capable of, but when she discovers the body of a young boy she also draws the attention of the FBI, threatening her entire way of life.
As Violet works to keep her morbid ability a secret, she unwittingly becomes the object of a dangerous obsession. Normally she'd turn to her best friend, Jay, except now that they are officially a couple, the rules of their relationship seem to have changed. And with Jay spending more and more time with his new friend Mike, Violet is left with too much time on her hands as she wonders where things went wrong. But when she fills the void by digging into Mike's tragic family history, she stumbles upon a dark truth that could put everyone in danger.




My Thoughts:
Earlier this year, I read the first book, The Body Finder, and was instantly hooked into this series.  I began and finished The Body Finder in one day--the mystery and suspense perfectly written and executed by the characters.  This series isn't a genre you don't usually see on the YA shelves, and I'm not exactly sure why.  I'm a total murder/crime lover at heart.  And I especially liked the first book.  I thought it was so cool to get into the serial killer's mind and see why he did the things that he did.  It made sense.
Violet is an interesting character.  Although she does not act out of character very ofter, she tends to do very stupid things and get herself in bad situations.  It's not that she can help it or anything, but it can be infuriating watching from the sidelines as she works out things for herself and solves mystery.  Sometimes, she even acted like a kid, but then I also have to consider she only is a sixteen year old girl with a fickle mind.  What I really admire about her character is how fearless she is, even if her fearlessness can get her into trouble sometimes.  And her fearlessness pretty much screwed her up once she attracts the attention of the FBI.  Yeah, that can't be good.
One thing that I liked about this book was letting Chelsea, one of Violet's friends, shine a little more in this book.  We don't see much of Violet's friends in this book, or even the first book, and I wish they were.  Chelsea, especially, is a riot.  I think it's partially because I have a friend that is pretty similar to her, but she's just one of those characters that I really enjoy to watch on the pages.  To break it down, more Chelsea = happier me.
Instead of a serial killer on the loose, there's more of a stalker hanging out in the shadows.  Although I found it a bit weird, I didn't get the very creeped out kind of vibe from Violet.  That could be because she's not easily scared by much, but I would have thought there would have been more of a creep factor.  And please don't get me wrong because it seems that Kimberly Derting is the queen of making mysterious and creepy books.  She surely is a master of it.  And, of course, there's more than just a stalker out there.  Something very dangerous, too.
In all honesty, I found the first book more interesting than this one.  I'm just choosing favorites here, mind you.  I mean, the first book had me at the edge of the seat with a killer headache.  I read that book with little to no disruption and had my adrenaline going on its own little roller coaster ride.  That book was awesome.  And so was this one.  I didn't find myself biting my nails or anything, but I surely was engrossed with its dark mysteries and a budding romance, full with its ups and downs.  Nothing like your average day teenage drama to throw in there, too, as Violet tries to hunt down dead bodies, even though how morbid that sounds. 
Overall, I gave this book four out of five stars.  I loved the intricacy of the plot, and the imagery wasn't that bad, either.  If one there was one thing that really put me off was that her parents weren't as commanding and strict as I'd think them to be since their daughter since to attract danger no matter where she goes.  Other than that, I thought Desires of the Dead was a gripping and thrilling read that I think would appeal to the inner detective in all of us.

Struck by Jennifer Bosworth

This would be one of the books I bought on the Fierce Reads Tour in New York at Books of Wonder.  It truly was a lovely affair where I got to meet so many amazing and talented writers, one of them being Jennifer Bosworth.

The Synopsis:
Mia Price is a lightning addict. She’s survived countless strikes, but her craving to connect to the energy in storms endangers her life and the lives of those around her.
Los Angeles, where lightning rarely strikes, is one of the few places Mia feels safe from her addiction. But when an earthquake devastates the city, her haven is transformed into a minefield of chaos and danger. The beaches become massive tent cities. Downtown is a crumbling wasteland, where a traveling party moves to a different empty building each night, the revelers drawn to the destruction by a force they cannot deny. Two warring cults rise to power, and both see Mia as the key to their opposing doomsday prophecies. They believe she has a connection to the freak electrical storm that caused the quake, and to the far more devastating storm that is yet to come.
Mia wants to trust the enigmatic and alluring Jeremy when he promises to protect her, but she fears he isn’t who he claims to be. In the end, the passion and power that brought them together could be their downfall. When the final disaster strikes, Mia must risk unleashing the full horror of her strength to save the people she loves, or lose everything.

My Thoughts:
I was really excited to read this book once I read that lovely synopsis and looked at the eye-capturing cover.  You can see the Lichtenberg marks covering her arms and you can see all the destruction around Mia, our main girl in this book.  It's one heck of a cover, if you ask me.
Mia Price is not exactly a natural introvert, but she's learned that people don't accept a person whose been struck by lightning numerous amount of times.  They think she's weird.  A freak.  So, to avoid the hurt, she's used to keeping quiet and covering up who she really is.  In all actuality, her character was very strong and courageous.  She'd do anything to keep her already loose family together, even if that means risking her health or making her brother or mother unhappy.  And after the devastating quake, she's been working harder than ever to scrape by.
I thought that the idea for the book was very original.  I mean, who's a lightning addict?  It's not something you don't normally see on the shelves nowadays.  There wasn't exactly a lot of action--what I normally enjoy in books--but there was plenty of action and danger that kept me hooked right from the very start.  Like, who really is Jeremy?  Where did he come from?  Why does he totally rock?  What's up with this supposed storm that's coming?  Is it really going to happen?  Questions like those.
Alright, here's the toughie I'm going to tackle here.
Jennifer Bosworth and I chatted a little bit before I read the book.  She told me that there was a religious controversy involving this book, and I made it my own mission to decide that for myself.  If you've read my review for Book of Blood and Shadow by Robin Wasserman, you'd know that I also tackled the religion topic.  In BoBS, it's got a lot of history in it that ties into present situations.  I said that you cannot have an accurate talk about history, especially the Medieval Times without at least briefly discussing religion.  It's impossible.  But for Struck, it's a little different.
So, here's the deal.  A ginormous earthquake has practically eaten up all of LA.  People are dying, people are sick, people are dead.  There's no money, no food, no water, no homes.  There's no way things are going to be going back to normal for a very long time.  And in a time like this, people are desperate.  People have heard of this one man, Prophet, who predicted the major earthquake and also accurately predicted other events.  People originally didn't believe--I mean, who would?  He's a crack job, right?  But, when people are desperate, and Prophet has been right about many things, offers God's forgiveness, and you haven't been to Church ever since your parents stopped driving you there for Sunday School, don't you think you'd want to believe?  Believe that there is some type of larger force out there pulling the strings?
I'm not saying that this is what I'd do; I'm just making a point here.  But a lot of people, especially once they're desperate and think that they will be breathing their last breaths in the next few days would.  It's human behavior to act rash and come up with answers to things we can't explain, to solve the unknown, even if it the answer is outlandish and doesn't make complete sense.
In all, I do not believe that this book in any sense is religious.  If anything, you'd get more of a religious feel from books if they were about angels.  I'm not saying that they are all like that, but it is more likely for angel books to incorporate more religion.
I thought that Struck was a very beautifully written and thought out book.  Constantly, I was noting how knowledgeable Jennifer was on the topic of lightning and storm--other things, too.  She definitely did her homework on this one.  Plot-wise, I thought it was genius.  I didn't doubt for one second what might happen because I trusted Mia and the writing.  Especially towards the end, I was either puling out my hair or sitting at the edge of my seat.  It was great.  I absolutely loved it.  It was fierce.
See what I did there??
Overall, I gave Struck four out of five stars.  No, actually 4.5 stars would be more accurate.  I think the reason only being that I'm not one for end-of-the-world kind of books.  It was a bit out of my comfort zone, this book, but I don't mind, especially since I really enjoyed it.  So I suggest you all go hunt down this book and read it.
Happy reading, everyone!

Team Kilt, Baby!

Earlier this year, I was persuaded into reading the Shade series by Jeri Smith-Ready.  So far--because of my small town library--I've only read the first book, which makes me kind of sad.  I loved the first book, and I would really love to read what will happen next. 
To learn more about the Shade series, go to Jeri Smith-Ready's website.
And check out Fictitious Delicious for more information about how to help Zach in the Tourney.

But that is not the point.  I'm here to tell you all that this year, as an active participant in the YA Crush Tourney, I will be fully supporting Zach in the competition.  Although I'd love to back up practically every single guy in the Tourney, it cannot be done. 

Reasons why y'all should vote for Zach:

1) He's patient.
2) He's attractive.
3) He enjoys listening to Death Cab for Cutie. (if you've read my About Me tab, you'd know I love all things Indie in the music department)
4) He cares for Aura.

Now here's the big zinger:
5) He's got a Scottish accent. *swoons*

Now if all of this hasn't sold you into voting for Zach in the Tourney, here' some eye candy for you:

Think of him as your friendly neighborhood knight in plaid.

The Mephisto Covenant by Trinity Faegen

I've had this baby on my TBR list for a really long time.  I'd almost gotten it on numerous amount of times after discovering it on Amazon, but after all of the negative reviews written about it, I wasn't so sure if I wanted to read it.  So on the back burner it went until I won The Mephisto Kiss ARC in a giveaway.  So then, of course I knew I had to read it before I received the second book.

The Synopsis:
Sasha is desperate to find out who murdered her father. When getting the answer means pledging her soul to Eryx, she unlocks a secret that puts her in grave danger--she is an Anabo, a daughter of Eve, and Eryx's biggest threat.
A son of Hell, immortal, and bound to Earth forever, Jax looks for redemption in the Mephisto Covenant--God's promise he will find peace in the love of an Anabo. After a thousand years, he's finally found the girl he's been searching for: Sasha.
With the threat of Eryx always looming, Jax knows he has to keep Sasha safe and win her over. But can he? Will Sasha love him and give up her mortal life?








My Thoughts:
This was yet another book I had borrowed from the library.  What had originally drawn me to the book was the cover.  I mean, just look at it.  Isn't is beautiful?  The big dress, the mysterious blue background; it had drawn me like a moth to a flame.  The idea I thought was interesting, too.  The girl being the uber pure daughter of Eve and the imminent danger of her losing that purity from a son of Hell. Sweet deal.  I could just imagine all of the conflict and the budding romance.  The idea held a lot of potential.
Sasha was quite a different character.  Not only was I able to not really connect with both her and Jax, and the other characters, but she wasn't a very stable one, either.  I felt as if her personality wasn't always in-character or believable.  There were moments where she would do certain things that would have me confused, and not in the impressed way.
As I mentioned, I thought that the story had a lot of potential.  I was imagining demons and other creepy Hell-bound creatures.  Then as I read the book, I changed my mind about that theory and thought that this creepy cult that worships Eryx would become a big deal.  And it did.  But I didn't exactly feel the danger about it.  Though, I was totally bummed with all of the people that joined, and I wanted to throttle them, shake them until they could see logic.  It's kind of hard to do that when the people are fictional and are only words written on a page.
On an even more positive note, I really loved the writing.  It wasn't poetic like The Book of Blood and Shadow by Robin Wesserman, but it most definitely had it's own lyrical qualities to it.  It was my favorite quality of The Mephisto Covenant, so I have to give my props to Trinity Faegen.
Overall, I wasn't exactly thrilled with this book.  I read it all the way through, following the story to the very end because I had to know how it ended, but I wasn't content with it.  It's not that there was this huge cliff hanger, but I thought that the way it ended with a bit rushed and sloppy, almost like the end of Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins in that sense.  I also found that some of the situations in the story were just plain awkward and also that others weren't very believable.
And with all of that, I gave this book two out of five stars.  I'm excited to read what will happen next in The Mephisto Kiss and see if maybe I will enjoy it more than I did this one.
Please don't let this review convince you to not read this book.  If you were interested in reading it before, by all means, go ahead and read it.  This is only just my opinion of The Mephisto Covenant, and I'd hate for this to prevent others from possibly enjoying it.

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Thank you Harlequin Teen for letting me review this e-galley!

The Synopsis:
So wrong for each other...and yet so right.
No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal. But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible. Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.





My Thoughts:
This wouldn't be one of my first picks, it being contemporary and all, but I decided to give it a chance because that's my book philosophy: every book deserves the opportunity to be read, no matter your thoughts.  It's kind of like not judging a book from it's cover, but I can't say that because I do judge books by their covers.  I know, a horrible trait of mine, but I'm human.
Echo and Noah were surprisingly very complex and dimensional characters.  But unfortunately, I didn't see many dimensions to some of the secondary characters.  Echo and Noah have had experienced some terrible times in their first seventeen or so years of their lives.  They both have some pretty messed up lives, ones not fathomable to my mind.  They truly were noteworthy characters for this year, possible my favorites. 
Noah, he's the crush-worthy hot guy in the novel.  I wasn't necessarily attracted to him, possibly because he's not my type--who knows--but he definitely was, according to the other characters, hot.  The reason why I wasn't really connecting to him could be the fact that he was part of the 'druggie' group in school.  It's not like you could totally blame him once you really got to know his character, but it was a turn-off for me.  What I really liked about his character was the fact that he'd do anything for his brothers, but for the majority of the moment, he was a hot-headed kind of guy, thinking he was pretty much invincible. 
Echo just blew my mind.  She was pretty much the exact opposite of Noah.  I almost found her character admirable.  She couldn't stand living under the command of her strict father, having to retake exams and only applying for certain colleges.  She hated her stepmother.  And she most definitely hated her life.  The scars that now mar her arms dropped her social status to just about zero and she now has to work with the insufferable Noah to get some money.  She just wants her life to be normal, but she can't live on until she can solve the mystery to her accident that ruined her life, just about.  She thinks she crazy--or at least turning crazy--as she suffers through night terrors and other mental issues.  And I couldn't help but love her strength through all of it.  She had her doubts, yes, but she has Noah and her determination to help her move on.
This book dealt a lot with growth and moving on.  It was about forgiveness and coping.  Tough decisions were made, not all of them the right decisions.  The plot at times was truly captivating, keeping me wondering what would happen next, who would do what. 
But, I'm afraid not all of the plot kept me hooked.  As mentioned, I couldn't really connect with Noah, and that kind of irked me a bit.  Also, I had a hard time keeping focus at times.  I would get bored and find my eyes wandering.  I wanted to get to the end of the story to ease my mind of Echo and Noah's pain and misery, but not all of it kept me hooked.  Once Noah and Echo inevitably hooked up, I didn't originally see a point to the story continue.  I liked how all of the problems were solved in a leisurely manner--just a little too slow for my taste, but I didn't see much point to some of Echo and Noah's relationship throughout the novel.
Overall, I gave Pushing the Limits three out of five stars.  I would suggest reading it to others.  It was an interesting read with an unpredictable plot line.  I'm not exactly jumping out of my seat thrilled with my book; I'm kind of 'meh' about it. 
Others have given this book great reviews; they absolutely loved the book, giving it five or four stars, so it certainly appeals to many people. 
Happy reading!

One of My Most Anticipated Reads

And that would be Defiance by C.j Redwine!
Just look at the cover!  Isn't it gorgeous?  I can't wait to read it. 

The Synopsis:

Within the walls of Baalboden, beneath the shadow of the city's brutal leader, Rachel Adams has a secret. While other girls sew dresses and obey their male Protectors, Rachel knows how to survive in the wilderness and deftly wield a sword. When her father, Jared, fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector, her father's apprentice, Logan--the same boy Rachel declared her love for two years ago, and the same one who handed her heart right back to her. Left with nothing but a fierce belief in her father's survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself. But treason against the Commander carries a heavy price, and what awaits her in the Wasteland could destroy her.

At nineteen, Logan McEntire is many things. Orphan. Outcast. Inventor. As apprentice to the city's top courier, Logan is focused on learning his trade so he can escape the tyranny of Baalboden. But his plan never included being responsible for his mentor's impulsive daughter. Logan is determined to protect her, but when his escape plan goes wrong and Rachel pays the price, he realizes he has more at stake than disappointing Jared.

As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can't be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making.

And here's a chance for you to get this certain pretty.  Over on C.J Redwine's blog, she's offering to giveaway a pre-order of this book.  So, yes.  I suggest you all check it out because who wouldn't want this book?

First Ever Book Haul Vlog!

Alrighty, so I thought I might as well get with the program and make up a vlog post.  But, for a while, I had a whole bunch of things coming my way in the mail that I didn't want to constantly make a new post.  That would have been annoying because I thought this was pure torture just making this and editing this all.  I can't promise that I'll be doing this every week, but what I can promise that there will be the occasional vlog post.
I thought it'd be really cool for you all to actually get to hear my voice and get to see what I actually look like. 
So, please no judging.  And at least now I know I'll never be an eloquent public speaker.

Bloggers Mentioned:

Jasmine from Beneath the Moon and Stars

Melina from Pretty Nifty Reader

Sarah from Inklings Read

Books Mentioned:

Of Poseidon by Anna Banks

Struck by Jennifer Bosworth

Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

(ARC) Rift by Andrea Cremer

(ARC) The Mephisto Kiss by Trinity Faegen

If I Die by Rachel Vincent

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

(ARC) Wake by Amanda Hocking

All links will lead you to either the blogs or the Goodreads pages of the books.

Thank you all so much for stopping by, and feel free to post a comment linking me up what your Book Haul is.  I'd love to know what all of you have gotten and will comment back!