Give Up the Ghost by Megan Crewe

Cass McKenna much prefers ghosts over "breathers". Ghosts are uncomplicated and dependable, and they know the dirt on everybody... and Cass loves dirt. She's on a mission to expose the dirty secrets of the poseurs in her school.

But when the vice president of the student council discovers her secret, Cass's whole scheme hangs in the balance. Tim wants her to help him contact his recently deceased mother, and Cass reluctantly agrees.

As Cass becomes increasingly entwined in Tim's life, she's surprised to realize he's not so bad — and he needs help more desperately than anyone else suspects. Maybe it’s time to give the living another chance... (via GoodReads)

For some reason this novel was not what I expected. Don't take me wrong, I really enjoyed it, but I originally anticipated a fun, upbeat YA novel about girl who sees dead people. This was not the case. Yes, of course, there is a girl who sees dead people, but this is a much more serious novel then I expected.

Cass was fantastic - she was funny, and witty, and has a knack for knowing the deep, dark secrets that her classmates try to hide behind their popularity and cool facades - they just don't know she is getting the "down low" from her see-through friends. See Cass was once part of the "cool crowd", until the day she and her BFF had a falling out and she became an outcast. Now her only friends are of the silent and deadly variety - the two ghosts that haunt her school, Norris and Bitsy.

But all this changes when Cass is approached by Tim in the need of her "special" talent. And, although Cass is originally put off by the idea of helping Tim (especially since he's part of the in-crowd), she eventually agrees to do what she can to help him. This is their story of how they struggle with their parents, friendships, and death.

What I truly enjoyed the most about this story is how realistic Cass’s tale felt. Despite this being a story that revolves around the supernatural, this is really a book about a teenage girl struggling to find her place in a world that isn't always easy.

I enjoyed Ms. Crewe's writing - it was straight-forward, flowed nicely and introduced us to a set of characters that, even with their flaws, were all relateable and likeable. This is a coming-of-age story, it is about fitting in, but more importantly, accepting oneself and letting go of grudges. It is about grief and loss, and moving on. A great book!

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

We all know what happened to poor Alice when she fell down the rabbit hole? Or do we?

This is definitely not Disney's Alice in Wonderland or Tim Burton's wickedly awesome version of the tale. This is it... the real deal.

I've been meaning to read Alice's Adventures in Wonderland for a few years now (you'd think I would've read it as a child, but nope, back then I was into Stephen King haha) and I chose this edition in particular because I fell in love with Camille Rose Garcia's illustrations. With it's fun-shaped narratives and two-page, colorful layouts scattered throughout. Originally I thought it was a shorter version of the novel, but to my joy and delight, it was the full story, so this is definitely one that I'm showcasing in my bookshelf at the moment.

As for the story, well, it's complete nonsense of course, but that's the great thing about it. There are talking cats who disappear all but their grin. There are sneezing babies that turn into pigs. There are mock turtles, dodobirds, gryphons and hookah-smoking caterpillars. There is painting the roses red, a queen who won't think twice before yelling "off with his/her head", there are dormouse's with sleeping disorders who hang with nutty hatters and crazy hares. Oh, and did I mention Alice's problem with height... yea, the poor girl.

Jibberish I tell you. But that's the fun of it. I would call it an organized mess. There really is no rhyme or reason to it, and that's exactly what makes it such a delight to read. Very imaginative, colorful and amusing - and I personally could not help feeling "curiouser and curiouser". I read it rather quickly too, as it's not very long.

All in all, this was a very peculiar read, one that I can say is fun, whimsical and a classic that should be read at least once in your life.

And one last thing, does anyone actually know:
Why IS a raven like a writing desk?!

The Strain by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan

They have always been here. Vampires. In secret and in darkness. Waiting. Now their time has come. In one week, Manhattan will be gone. In one month, the country. In two months—the world.

A Boeing 777 arrives at JFK and is on its way across the tarmac, when it suddenly stops dead. All window shades are pulled down. All lights are out. All communication channels have gone quiet. Crews on the ground are lost for answers, but an alert goes out to the CDC. Dr. Eph Goodweather, head of their Canary project, a rapid-response team that investigates biological threats, gets the call and boards the plane. What he finds makes his blood run cold.

In a pawnshop in Spanish Harlem, a former professor and survivor of the Holocaust named Abraham Setrakian knows something is happening. And he knows the time has come, that a war is brewing . . .

So begins a battle of mammoth proportions as the vampiric virus that has infected New York begins to spill out into the streets. Eph, who is joined by Setrakian and a motley crew of fighters, must now find a way to stop the contagion and save his city—a city that includes his wife and son—before it is too late. [via GoodReads]

The Strain was not really what I expected. I don't mean that in a bad way, it was just unexpected to find more of a thriller than a horror story. It's difficult to explain, since some reviewers are saying horror while others are saying thriller. It was a little bit of both I would say. There was a time or two where I actually had to stop reading because I was terrified, but that wasn't the feeling I had the whole story. Instead, it was more of an edge of your seat thriller.. where you read and read just to see what's going to happen next.

The story opens with a young boy being told a story by his grandmother in order to get him to eat his meal. This story is one of a man named Sardu and what became of him, a young prince, who became a monster that lurks in the dark, waiting and biding his time to lure you, with his telltale sign, the sound of his cane (pick-pick-pick). From there you jump and are on the tarmac at JFK (present day) where Eph and his team are trying to determine what happened to the "dead" plane and its passengers. This definitely sets the mood for the remainder of the book and it is one that definitely had me on edge.

Here are the main things I enjoyed about this book:
Vampires. Yes, I truly did enjoy the idea of a pandemic where humans become vampires. Zombie lovers can definitely appreciate this story as it did have a zombie movie feel to it. There are many characters in this story and, at first, it was a little difficult to decipher who was who, but my confusion didn't last long and I think the authors did a fantastic job of getting you acquainted with each character before too much jumping around happened. For example, the chapters are short and mostly relate to one particular character at a time - whether it be Eph and/or his partner Nora, and their scientific/medical findings, Abraham Setrakian and his lifelong fight against Sardu, the four survivors from the flight, their families, neighbors, and so on. In the end, I found this helpful and I think the main thing that avoided too much confusion. I liked the science aspect of the story as well. I feel that for the first book in a trilogy it gives you enough details about what is going on in the human body after infection to where you really have a grasp of what it means. I found this scientific aspect of the story to be well done - they didn't use big words (at least, not all the time), almost told in layman's terms. Not overly complicated or intricate. I really appreciated that and I found it all to be quite interesting and imaginative. The vampires were monsters - they definitely weren't the type you'd say "bite me" to or much less want to date. They were definitely the scary, run-for-your-life variety, that if you thought twice, you were a goner. It was gory, but not overly gross or anything like that... with a few decapitations and whatnot.

I just had some issues with the story:
For starters, I found it over-descriptive at times. I mean there is only so much you can say about a dark basement without getting too wordy. There were also a few chapters that I just couldn't figure out what the purpose of them was... for instance, the eclipse. There were about two chapters depicting an eclipse which happens in the first half of the book - which to be quite honest, there was no purpose to. It did nothing to move the story along, maybe it was just to build up the creep factor... not sure, I just didn't get it. The science, although interesting, took up a lot of the earlier chapters, so it did take a while before the you-know-what to hit the ceiling and the action to really start, so I'd have to say that it wasn't 'till midway through the book that I "really" got into it. And, one last thing that I found distracting, was that more than once, I noticed that the characters would do something or grab an object and then there would be a pause and a definition of what they were doing or what the object was. It would made me lose my focus and thus take away from the gripping feel of the story.

With all that said, I truly became fascinated with this book. In the end, the story captured me, I even found it credible in a Hollywood movie sort of a way. I found myself contemplating what would happen if something of this nature where to happen... I've always felt that I'd be the one to trip and fall and get eaten by the monster. It was creepy, scary and you have this sense of impending doom from the start, that makes it quite the delicious read. This is the ultimate fight between good and evil - and I for one am glad that I got a front seat to the action. This is the first of the trilogy that will be written by Del Toro and Hogan. With the next title coming out later this year and the conclusion scheduled for 2011. For fans of vampires (and I'm not talking the hott ones), science-fiction and just an all out blood-sucking, head-chopping adventure, this is one that will be a great addition to your collection.

Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev

Enter Stage Right

All her world's a stage.
Beatrice Shakespeare Smith is not an actress, yet she lives in a theater.
She is not an orphan, but she has no parents.
She knows every part, but has no lines of her own.
Until now.

Welcome to the Théâtre Illuminata, where the characters of every place ever written can be found behind the curtain. They were born to play their parts, and are bound to the Théâtre by The Book—an ancient and magical tome of scripts. Bertie is not one of them, but they are her family—and she is about to lose them all and the only home she has ever known.

Lisa Mantchev has written a debut novel that is dramatic, romantic, and witty, with an irresistible and irreverent cast of characters who are sure to enchant the audience.

Open Curtain

First things first, I fell in love with the cover of this book. I saw it and it was love at first glance. So immediately I picked it up and was completely enraptured by the thrilling idea of a girl living in a theatre where all the characters of every play you have ever read, seen or heard of, are real. Where sound effects, lighting, and scene changes occur depending on the mood. Thus is life at the Théâtre Illuminata for Bertie.

Bertie, with her bright cobalt blue hair, was this amazing character. She is a strong, smart, witty and really funny girl. I loved that she lived in the moment and had such zest and passion towards anything she set her mind to. Her sidekick fairies (the one's from Midsummer Night's Dream) were a hoot and utterly insane - I loved them and will do anything for my own!

Bertie's story is one of grand adventure as she tries to not only find her roots, but also find a home. Oh, and did I mention that there is also a love triangle... I swoon for love triangles. To be quite honest I'm not sure how Ms. Mantchev is going to get herself out of that tight spot. Both men are handsome and hold their own ground. I can't wait to see how that all plays out - which will Bertie choose?

On a side note, I was also fascinated with all the snippets we get of Shakespeare, not just a quote here or there, but the characters, from Lady Macbeth's bloodied hands to Ophelia's constant need to drown herself every few scenes... just thinking about it still brings a smile to my face.

This book is one that you will feel as if you dove into the story headfirst and when it's done you'll almost feel dizzy over it's awesomeness and the sad reality that it is over. Not to mention, you'll be longing for the next installment, because even though this book answers many a question and it does have a definite ending, you know there is still much more to this story. Lucky for me, Perchance to Dream (the second in the series) will be out in a couple of months). I can't wait!

All in all, Eyes Like Stars, guarantees great fun to be had by all who read it... my final say in the matter: "Standing Ovation" and a big "Whoop"!

Alice I Have Been by Melanie Benjamin

Did you know Alice - the inspiration for Alice's Adventures in Wonderland - was a real girl? I sure didn't - so I was pleasantly surprised to not only learn of her existence but to also learn some details of her life.

For starters let's make it clear, this is a work of fiction. Ms. Benjamin clearly states that she did her research and used a lot of these details throughout the novel (names, places, years, etc.) But there were several instances throughout Alice's life that she did enhance and thus where we get the fiction part.

Alice Pleasance Liddell Hargreaves meets Mr. Charles Dodgson at a very young age. Alice's father was the Dean of Christ Church and he resided with his family including their young daughters at Oxford. Mr. Dodgson (who writes as Lewis Carrol) was a mathematics professor at the university and was fascinated by the three young Liddell girls. He would constantly seek the girls out to photograph them, take them on outings (whether it be fishing, picnic-ing or just to enjoy the weather) or to tell them stories.

This is Alice's story - her childhood, her friendship with Mr. Dodgson, being Alice - the little girl in the book, her love's, loss's, her life. Alice is the narrator and the story is mostly told at three different stages throughout her life - we begin with her being in her 80's and then travel back in time to Victorian Oxford when she is a young girl, and then later on in her life when she is in her mid-40's.
I can't even describe how fascinated I became with this story. It was so vividly detailed - I could envision Alice and her sister's, all dressed the same, with their white, muslin dresses, holding hands, strolling down the street on their way to Mr. Dodgson's in the hope of an adventure. I don't know what it was - whether the time the story is set in, Alice's friendship with the lonely, stammering Dodgson (which on more than one occasion made me feel slightly uncomfortable - since it bordered on pedophilia), the mystery of the abrupt end to that friendship, or the innocence of Alice's narration; but in the end, this was one of those books that I had a really hard time putting down.

Ultimately, you will feel haunted by Ms. Benjamin's novel about love, loss and heartbreak. If you're anything like me, you will be Googling left and right trying to acquire your own set of facts and you will become (once again - since I've always been a little crazy over her) obsessed with Alice and will want to grab your own copy of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and read, or re-read it in some cases, just to reacquaint yourself with the magical tale of a little girl that will always be immortalized in youth.

I can't recommend this enough.

A Kiss in Time by Alex Flinn

As you can tell, I have been on quite the fairytale remake kick.

In Ms. Finn's modern retelling of Sleeping Beauty, we meet Jack and Talia. Jack is a young, handsome, strapping boy living in the 21st century. Talia has been sleeping for three hundred years and upon Jack's kiss is awakened to a whole new world... one she could ever envision. Jack never thought that by escaping his tour group he'd actually find himself living a real life fairytale.

I thought this was such a cute, funny and really enjoyable version of the popular fairytale I know and love. I loved the fireworks between Talia and Jack. Their relationship was a pleasure to read about. It was not love at first sight, nor was it happily ever after from the get go. They both had their reservations toward each other... at one point they couldn't even stand each other. But what I truly enjoyed was how they both grew and matured and eventually their feelings toward each other blossomed into something much more meaningful. I loved experiencing the world through Talia's eyes - everything was new, shiny and electronic.

On a personal note, one other aspect that I found enjoyable - Jack is from Miami and soon they are on adventure through streets and places that I drive through on a weekly basis (me being a Miami-an and all). I couldn't help but love this in particular about this story.

I thought the ending felt a bit rushed, but with that said, I truly enjoyed how it all wrapped up. This is a fast, light read, and anyone looking for a sweet, romantic fairytale will definitely enjoy this.

The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty by A.N. Roquelaure

The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty is a "very" different take of the Sleeping Beauty folktale we are all used to. Obviously Disney's version flew right out the window after reading a little into the second page. The gist of the story remains the same... a princess and her court are all cursed and have been in slumber for hundreds of years. Along comes a Prince and instead of kissing Beauty he sexually initiates her into waking (yes, my eyes were the like saucers when I read this - and this was only like the 2nd page) . The Prince then drags her off to his kingdom where she becomes his sex slave to pleasure and punish at his every whim.

To be honest, I can't say I really liked this story - and not for the reasons you would think either. Obviously from the cover alone you can tell this is an erotic version of the story. Which is fine. I'm not much of an erotica fan - but I can deal with it well enough. What I couldn't deal with was Beauty's submissive nature. I wanted her to put up a fight - I can't imagine just letting myself be put in the dire position she was thrust into (no pun intended) without putting up even a tiny fist in the air and screaming at someone, scratching, biting or throwing a shoe.

Once I realized what the story was about (and after someone being sexually impaled on a statue) I really considered putting the book down - this was obviously not my cup of tea. So I put it down for a couple of hours and I tried not to think about it. I really did. But I couldn't help myself. I needed to see how much more poor Beauty would endure and if she would ever grow a backbone. I picked it up again and just couldn't put it back down.

This is the first book of a 3-part series by author A.N. Roqueluare (pen name for Anne Rice). It made me blush, gasp and I know more than once I had to glance around just to make sure no one was reading over my shoulder. It is by far the most sexually graphic novel I have ever read. The ending is a cliff-hanger and obviously sets you up for the next book in the series - I haven't decided whether I'll pick it up or not. I will confess that I am intrigued to see what will happen next... hmmm.

My final thoughts - in order to truly enjoy this story you must be able to completely give yourself over to the fantasy and leave your inhibitions and "Girls Rule" attitude at the door and then all I can say is enter at your own risk.

A Little Bit Wicked by Kristin Chenoweth with Joni Rodgers

I am a big fan of Kristin Chenoweth so this was definitely a treat for me to read. I listen to the soundtrack for Wicked on my iPod all the time. I only wish I would have seen her perform as "Glinda" in Wicked live with Idina Menzel. But nonetheless, she was my favorite character on Pushing Daisies as Olive Snook. Oh, and did I mention her fabulous cameo on Glee (to die for). So I couldn't help but picking up this book in order to get more insider information on this tiny (with a very big voice) gal.

The moment you open the book you quickly hear Kristin's voice - you can hear her southern drawl, and her personality really shines through with each paragraph. Reading about her trials and tribulations made me love her even more.

At first the time line is a bit confusing because she runs back and forth from past to present, but her tone of writing is so fun that you can definitely overlook that. After awhile you get used to the skipping around and it just becomes part of the charm.

I loved getting insight into the workings of Broadway, how she felt about being adopted her faith, her schooling, Wicked, her love life, that huge mega-hit "Kristin", and it all wrapped up into this "tiny" package that you can definitely envision as being KRISTIN.

I thought it was interesting, light and more than once found myself laughing out loud. If you're a fan of Kristin Chenoweth, then you definitely have to read this (although I will forewarn this not a tell-all book; she doesn't dish on any co-stars or friends and I really appreciated that).

Lament by Maggie Stiefvater

Sixteen-year-old Deirdre Monaghan is a prodigiously gifted musician. She's about to find out she's also a cloverhand - one who can see faeries.

Unexpectedly, Deirdre finds herself infatuated with a mysterious boy named Luke, who enters her ordinary life, seemingly out of thin air. But his interest in her might be something darker than summer romance. When a sinister faerie named Aodhan shows up with deadly orders from the Faerie Queen, it forces Dee right into the midst of Faerie. Caught in the crossfire with Deirdre is James, her wisecracking but loyal best friend.

Deirdre had been wishing her summer weren't so dull, but taking on a centuries-old Faerie Queen isn't exactly what she had in mind. [borrowed from GoodReads]

I decided to pick up Lament because I am a big fan of Ms. Stiefvater's, Shiver. Not only did Lament blow me away, but it is one of the best faerie books I have had the pleasure to read.

Deirdre (a/k/a Dee) and Luke are just to die for. Although you are not really sure whether you can trust Luke for most of the story, you can't help but to yearn for him and Dee to find a way to make it work out - no matter how much her grandmother warns her away from him. I thought Deirdre was the perfect heroine. She was smart, witty, yet she had the insecurities any girl her age would have, not to mention the stress of the new world she has uncovered. Luke was the tortured, tragic hero (yummy) - who you fall in love with right along with Dee. I loved the romance and the aching passion they shared. There was this sadness undertone to the writing that pulled you in and had you with your heart in your throat the whole time.

One other thing that I absolutely loved about this novel was the musical element that was weaved throughout the story. It was mesmerizing and beautiful in its own right. There were times were I could almost hear it. It was that descriptive to read.

All in all, this was a fantastic faerie tale with loveable characters and bad guys you just love to hate. This is a definite "to-read" for lovers of anything faerie - young and old alike. Now I just have to get my hands on Ballad... I can't wait!

A Matter of Class by Mary Balogh

Reginald Mason is, by all accounts, a gentleman - he is well-educated, courteous, handsome and very wealthy. However, the ton doesn’t see it that way, much to his and his father’s dismay. For Reginald Senior was not born a gentleman. He worked hard for this station even if it is said that their money is tarnished by coal. When the opportunity for social advancement arises, namely, Lady Annabelle Ashton, daughter of the Earl of Havercroft, a neighbor and enemy of the Mason family, he finds the opportunity too hard to resist.

Lady Annabelle is in quite the predicament. She tried to elope with her father's footman and now finds herself disgraced by scandal, even thought of as damaged goods. Her father, the Earl, is none too happy with her and will gladly marry her off to anyone willing to have her.

Reginald Senior sees this as the moment he's been waiting for to move his family up the social ladder. But young Reggie does not see it as ideal, for he enjoys single life too much. When his father gives him an ultimatum: marry Annabelle or be cut-off from the family funds - he has no choice but to consent to the marriage. But no one said either one of them had to be happy about their new predicament.

This was such a sweet story. It was rather short, but nonetheless, it was delightful. I am a fan of Regency England, but even more than that, the way the story is written was brilliant. For starters it is very tame. There aren't any blush worthy moments - which gave it a timeless feel. The romance was light but as the relationship between Annabelle and Reggie grew, it steadily became more and more... sigh worthy.

I really must give kudos to Ms. Balogh for keeping me in the dark for most of the story as to the "twist" (everyone keeps mentioning). I didn't peak and I tried not to think too much of it and I was pleasantly surprised with the outcome. It was very witty of her and by far what made this short story so pleasurable. I highly recommend to anyone looking for a feel-good love story.

Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George

Rose and her eleven sisters are cursed. For every night she, along with her sisters, must venture underground and are forced to dance through early morning for King Under Land and his Court. Rose's mother made a pact with King Under Land and since she is now deceased the girls must hold true to their mother's bargain.

Galen has known nothing but loss most of his life. He has been a soldier in the war from a very young age. And now that the war is finally over, he has no one left. Both of his parents are dead - so he travels in search of his mother's sister back in her home town. His uncle offers him an apprentice gardener position at the castle where he works. There he meets the lovely, yet strangely exhausted princesses, and he quickly realizes that he is attracted to the eldest princess, Rose.

When the King, frantic to uncover the secret of the princesses' rundown slippers and deteriorating health, offers one of his daughters in marriage to the person who uncovers the mystery - rumors of witchcraft abound, the church gets involved, and the townspeople become enraged. It will be up to Galen to uncover a way to break the spell, save the girls and possibly even their country.

Based upon the tale of the The Twelve Dancing Princesses - Jessica Day George has written a fantastic retelling of this well known fairytale. I particularly liked how each princess had her own characteristics - none of them blended in. They each had their quirky traits making each one endearing.

The story is told both through the perspective of Galen and Rose so you really get a feel for both of these characters especially. Galen, the hero of our story was really my favorite character. He was so brave and noble... and he could knit. He was nice to old ladies and gentle and caring with the princesses' ... a very worthy hero.

I really enjoyed this new version (actually better than the original). I would have to say that my favorite parts were in Under Land's Kingdom. I loved the darkness and the mystery of his Court, his pallid sons and the quest to break the curse.

This is highly recommended to all you who enjoy a good fairytale retelling.

According to Jane by Marilyn Brant

Ellie Barnett is just 15 years old the first time she hears her. Jane Austen and her first 'tsk' of displeasure. That ‘tsk’ is aimed at bad boy Sam Blaine who is sitting by Ellie, endlessly teasing her as he’s done since they were children. From that moment on, Jane’s ghost becomes Ellie's secret companion. She takes up residence in Ellie’s mind giving her useful (yet sometimes unheeded) advise through Ellie’s adolescence and adulthood. She quickly becomes the voice that Ellie trusts with her relationships and her many ups and downs in life. Men come and go in Ellie’s life - and through it all Jane is there with her sharp wit and her quick tonque - labeling the beau's as "Wickhams" and "Darcys" and "Bingleys". But when the time comes will Ellie follow her heart or listen to her head.

For some reason I went into reading this thinking it was a YA novel. If it is, it surely didn't feel like it. I mean Ellie is only 15 for a brief period of time at the beginning of the novel and for a couple of flashbacks. She ages throughout the novel well in into her thirties and has several relationships along the way - with some "blushing" romantic scenes.

The story is mostly told in the first-person and I thought that it jumped from the past to the present smoothly. Ellie's life as well as some of the secondary characters were very endearing. There were many instances that were funny, sweet and some which were equally heart-breaking. In the end, I enjoyed the storyline although it did have some moments that I felt were slow, but there weren't too many of those and nothing that should deter you from reading it. All in all, I would say that this is a fun, quick read that lovers of chick-lit/romance, Jane Austen, and older teens will most definitely enjoy.

Push by Sapphire

Claireece "Precious" Jones leads a tough life. She is abused by her mother, raped by her father, she is poor, angry, illiterate, fat, unloved and mostly unnoticed. She is pregnant by her father with her second child. She is 16 years old and still in Junior High School.

When a school administrator finds out that she is pregnant again - they quickly try to find another source of education for her. She is sent to alternative school. It is in this new school where Precious meets her new teacher, Ms. Rain. Ms. Rain is the first teacher who has ever taken the time to understand and really help Precious - along with some of her classmates. For the first time in her life, Precious feels like she belongs somewhere. She connects with her classmates, but especially with her teacher. Here she experiences the kindness of others, something completely foreign to her. She also comes to realize that she is not alone.

To be honest, I had never heard of this novel before I began to hear of the movie "Precious". I like to read the novel before I watch the movie, so when I began to read all the reviews on Precious I quickly ran out and purchased a copy of Push.

I really didn't know what to expect - but to be quite frank, I was really taken in by this novel. I did find it a little disturbing to read - here's a sample of how most of the book read:

“ I was left back when I was twelve because I had a baby for my fahver. That was in 1983. I was out of school for a year. This is gonna be my second baby. My daughter got down sinder. She’s retarded. I had got left back in the second grade too, when I was seven, cause I couldn’t read (and I still peed on myself). I should be in the twelf’ grade so I can gone 'n graduate. But I’m not. I’m in the ninfe grade”.

Once I got past the grammar and spelling issues - I was basically moved to tears. Precious' struggle is so raw, disturbing, sad... and yet there was hope within it too. I could not put it down and read the whole thing in one sitting. The whole time you're reading this you can't help but think that there are people out there who have lived this sort of life - and it makes it even more heart-breaking to read.

This is a story that will stick with you long after you have put it down. It will open your eyes to the reality that these issues do occur and will make you rethink your own problems (which seem so insignificant when compared to a life like this). But as you close the cover you will come to realize that you will never forget Precious Jones.

The Devouring by Simon Holt

THE VOURS: Evil, demonic beings that inhabit human bodies on Sorry Night, the darkest hours of the winter solstice.

When Reggie reads about the Vours in a mysterious old journal, she assumes they are just the musings of an anonymous lunatic. But when her little brother, Henry, begins to act strangely, it's clear that these creatures exist beyond a madwoman's imagination, and Reggie finds out what happens when fears come to life.

To save the people she loves, Reggie must learn to survive in a world of nightmares. Can she devour her own fears before they devour her? [borrowed from GoodReads.com]

I really can't say I am a fan of things scary. I avoid scary movies like the plague. To be quite honest, I always tell the hubs "if we are ever caught in a scary movie-type scenario, run with the kids, I'm going to be the one who trips and falls and gets keeeled by the monster".

With that said, The Devouring, was all that and a bag of chips for me. I was scared, I was excited, I was at the edge-of-my-seat, I was taken in from the start and spit out at the end... and then I couldn't stop thinking about it. There were plenty of parts that gave me goosebumps and had me looking for a bright, sunny spot to read it in.

I really liked Reggie. I love her go get 'em attitude. She had no fears when it came to standing up for those she loves. I also loved her relationship with her BFF and sidekick, Aaron. Hopefully a love interest will spark between the two in the next book (keeping fingers crossed).

I will forewarn though, this is not for the faint of heart. There were some instances that were pretty gruesome - I didn't think it was overkill, but I can see where some might. This is definitely geared for the older teen - Mr. Holt's writing is simple, to the point, and there is some mild violence with hardly any bad language. I personally think it's a great read for lovers of horror / slasher movies no matter the age. It really was deliciously creepy.

Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough

Tamsin Greene was born, destined to be one of the most Talented and powerful witches in her family. But now at seventeen, she has long since gotten over the fact that her “Talent” just never came to be. She’s more or less an average teenager (of course, without taking her Talented family into consideration). She attends school in New York City, has a great roommate/BFF and is as far away from the eccentricities of her family as she can get.

But when a stranger walks into her grandmother's shop and asks if she can find something for him - thinking her to be her older sister Rowena (who can find anything - no matter where in the world or in time it might be), Tam passes herself off as her sister and agrees to take on the job. With the help of her old friend Gabriel, she is able to locate the object (in 1897), but that’s only the beginning of a tale that will lead you on a hunt through time that will reveal plenty of family drama.

I absolutely loved the premise of this story. Young girl from powerful family full of all types of zany family members all with their own special "Talents" and her with none. Loved it!

Tam was a very relatable character. What girl doesn't struggle to fit in with their family? There will always be someone bigger and better than you - it's a matter of accepting who you are. That's not always easy to accomplish - but something worth striving for. I enjoyed the bickering between the sisters and the love/hate relationship they had. I can definitely relate to that. The scenes where the family is gathered and you read about their Talents - was just a treat to read. I especially loved the parts where Tamsin goes back in time - very detailed, it gave you that dreamy, glittery-around-the-edges feel to the time.

The ending left plenty of loose ends, but you can totally understand this since it seems there will be a sequel in the (hopefully) near future. This was a quick, fun read - with sibling rivalry (which I always love), quirky characters, a sprinkling of romance, and plenty of mystery and intrigue. Although the story is written for ages 12 and over - no matter what the age, this is a story that can be enjoyed by anyone who enjoys urban fantasy.

The Everafter by Amy Huntley

Madison Stanton doesn't know where she is or how she got there. But is sure of one thing - she is dead. She's alone, in a vast, dark space (a/k/a "is" - because it just "is") - and the only things around her are objects that turn out to be things that Maddy lost while she was alive.

Through some quick thinking - she soon discovers that by grabbing hold of these items, she can re-experience—and sometimes even change—moments from her life.

Her first kiss. A trip to Disney World. Her sister's wedding. A disastrous sleepover.

In reliving these moments, Maddy learns illuminating and sometimes frightening truths about her life—and death.

This story was hauntingly beautiful - it was just one of those books that once your done with it, you put it down, and then will think about it over and over again.

I loved Ms. Huntley's take on the after-life. A dark space with objects that you lost and being able to relive those moments - possibly even altering an event... just genius. Through these instances we learn of Maddy's life - her family, friends, boyfriend. You really get to know and love Maddy, and you are saddened since you know from the start that she is dead. There are also some wonderful supporting characters, her boyfriend, Gabe, her best friend Sandra.

But what really made this book fantastic was the suspense - I mean, the pages were flying as I quickly devoured this in the hopes of finding out exactly what caused Maddy's death. How she got where she is? Why she was there? And boy, was I caught off guard with the ending. It was heartbreaking.

This is a haunting but ultimately hopeful novel that makes you appreciate the things we take for granted in our daily lives and will leave you pondering life after death. This was a wonderful debut for Ms. Huntley and one that I highly recommend.

A Touch of Dead by Charlaine Harris

In A Touch of Dead you get five Sookie Stackhouse short stories that Ms. Harris has written over the years and have finally been published together for the first time.

"Fairy Dust" takes place after Dead To The World.
There we meet Claudine and Claude who have asked Sookie for "special" help in order to solve a murder mystery.

"Dracula Night" takes place before Dead As A Doornail.
Eric is throwing a big bash at Fangtasia to celebrate the birthday of the one-and-only, you guessed it Dracula. And Sookie's got an invitation to the fun.

"One Word Answer" takes place after Dead As A Doornail.
Sookie finds out that her long lost cousin is dead and meets some well-known characters for the first time.

"Lucky" takes place after All Together Dead.
Sookie and Amelia are approached by local real estate agent to help him solve a mystery. But this mystery is much more complicated then the girls originally anticipated.

Gift Wrap" takes place before Dead And Gone.
Sookie is spending this Christmas on her own. But when when she finds a naked man on her property and an unexpected guest pays a visit, it just might be a Christmas that is unforgettable.

As a fan of Ms. Harris' Sookie Stackhouse novels - this book is a needed addition to your collection. I don't know if you're like me, but there was a time or two where I would start one of the books and feel like.. huh? did I miss something? Now we know why. These short stories fill in some of those gaps no matter how small they were. THIS is what you were missing. I personally never went out to buy any of the books Ms. Harris and Sookie were featured in. With A Touch of Dead, you have them all in one volume and can read them as you are reading all the books or, like me, who is all caught up in the series, can read them all together.

This was a fun, quick read... with a special dose of the Sookie Stackhouse universe we have all come to love. This is a must-read for any fan of the series.

Viola in Reel Life by Adriana Trigiani

Viola Chesterson has been “abandoned” at the Prefect Academy for Young Women in South Bend, Indiana - an all-girls boarding school and horribly far away from her home in Brooklyn, New York - by her parents who are abroad working on a documentary.

She is devastated, sad, lonely - she misses her home, her parents and her BFF's - but most importantly, she can't fathom living with three complete strangers in a new school far away from everyone and everything she's ever known. Luckily for her, she is paired with a great set of roommates, her knack for film-making and a fanciful grandmother, aptly called Grand - she just might be able to survive the year... actually it might just be the best year of her life.

I truly enjoyed this coming-of-age story. It's about leaving your comfort zone, making new friends, and realizing that not everything in this world revolves around you (no matter how hard that seems when you are 14). Viola, who can be spoiled (at times), was spunky, witty and had a great sense of humor. I also enjoyed the aspects of boarding school life - maybe it's because I never went to an all-girls school or studied away from home - but I always enjoy novels where the setting is at a school. The girls and their friendship was also something to savor - they were all very different and I really enjoyed how they came together, supported and helped one another.

This is Viola's story - how she navigates in a new school, new experiences, new friendships, a new boyfriend, and how she follows her dream of making a movie. Although this is Ms. Trigiani's first venture into YA - she mastered it without a hitch. This is a fantastic story for tweens and young adults but can definitely be appreciated by adults just the same. I personally loved it.

When Autumn Leaves by Amy S. Foster

When Autumn, the town of Avening's resident witch, gets news that she must move away from her beloved town because of a promotion to a higher coven, she must find a way replace herself as town witch. But who in Avening is in tune enough with her own personal magic to take over this huge responsibility?

Autumn has a list of likely candidates for the position, but she takes it upon herself to put an add in the paper seeking an apprentice. She has a year to find a high witch and the women who will be part of her coven - but how can she get them to open their eyes and believe in the magic in their lives?

This was actually surprisingly really good. I was a little thrown off when I realized that each chapter was a (loosely related) short story. As some of you might know, I am not a fan of short stories and after recently reading Olive Kitteridge, which sadly was a massive fail for me, I honestly thought this would fall in that same category. But, to my endless surprise, this was really good. I felt that I could relate to each story and each character in one way or another.

Throughout the book we encounter many of the town's gifted and unusual residents... but in the end who will she choose? Will it be Ellie the invisible researcher - who thanks to a magical pair of shoes becomes the life of the party? Ana - a married woman who falls in love with another woman's husband? Stella - a healer who needs change in her life and can only do that by capturing lightning in a bottle? The letters continue to arrive and, as each applicant's story entwines with Autumn's, the suspense begins to grow as to who her successor will be.

I was initially intrigued by the title and the (oh, so pretty) cover. But the tales in this book were all heart-warming, touching and, on more than one occasion, brought a tear to my eye. Although magic plays a big part in this novel, the subject matter was anything but light. These were real women, with real, everyday problems - none were perfect, but each was endearing in her own way.

As a woman, I felt that this book called to me. These women were brave, strong, and I saw aspects of myself as well as of my family and friends in some, if not all, of the characters. This is a heart-warming debut of coming to terms with the magical things we take for granted every day - our friends, our community, and, most of all, ourselves.

All in all, this is an exceptionally imaginative story riddled with vivid and quirky characters - making it a delightfully magical escape. It is a charming, cozy and very enjoyable book that I highly recommend.

The Christmas List by Richard Paul Evans

James Kier is a very powerful and wealthy real estate mogul. He has done everything possible to get to this status and has no qualms about the unscrupulous things he’s done to get there or who he’s crushed along the way to his rise to glory.

He's exactly where he wants to be in life - he has a young girlfriend, his business is doing well, he’s in the last stages of divorcing his wife - so what if he had her served with the divorce papers on her first day of chemo... or that his son won’t talk to him and basically hates him. More or less life is good - until he wakes up one morning and he finds that he is dead.

Well, that's what the paper says. Now Kier's first reaction is to sue the paper but he quickly decides to use his "death" to his advantage. As people he's known throughout his life talk about what a terrible person he was and how glad they are that he is dead, he begins to realize that his "perfect" life is not so wonderful after all. He makes a pact to try to change and embarks on a journey to apologize to the ones he's wronged - but he quickly realizes that's easier said than done.

The Christmas List is intentionally a lot like Charles Dickens' -A Christmas Carol. Kier had no cares for anyone or anything but himself, he made fun of people who were joyful that it was Christmas or who celebrated the holiday. He was mean and just downright despicable.... a regular old Scrooge. This is his story of forgiveness and redemption.

As with all Mr. Evans' books, this story is presented to you in a small little package - a pretty shiny cover and short chapters. And, same as his previous work, it was a page-turner - making it easy to just sit down for a good hour or so and just enjoy a good story, shed a tear or two, and in the end come out feeling that you want to be a better person. This is the third book I read by Mr. Evans and I can actually say they all keep getting better and better. I've also read Grace and The Christmas Box - which were outstanding as well.

This is an original twist on a timeless story - it is about love, loss, forgiveness, family, but mostly it is inspiring. A wonderful Christmas read.