Beastly

Beastly
By Alex Flinn; Harper Teen

Summary:  Kyle Kingsbury is on top of the world. He's handsome, he's rich, and popular. But when Kyle plays a mean joke on a girl named Kendra things change. Kendra, a disguised witch, curses him and turns him into what he really is. A beast. A creature with hair from every pore, fangs, and claws. Kyle has two years to find a girl who will love him and her in return.

My Review: This is my favorite re-telling of Beauty and the Beast. I loved the beasts point of view and how this takes place in modern day New York City. Its amazing to see how Kyle changes through the course of two years and how he finally starts to see the beauty in all things. I loved it and I highly recommend it.

Watch Out For: Mild Language, Teenage acts, and Beastly outrages.

Interesting News: They are also making a movie of Beastly. I don't know if I will like it due to his appearance.

The Devil's Kiss

The Devil's Kiss 

By Sarwat Chadda; Disney/ Hyperion Books

Summary: Bilquis SanGreal also known as Billi is the youngest and only female member of the Knights Templar. Instead of living a normal teenage life she spends her time training as a solider in her order's ancient battle with the Unholy. When her childhood friend Kay comes back from Jerusalem, he is ready to reclaim his place in her life again. But Billi has meet someone new, Michael, who seems to understand her like no one else and shows her there is more to life than following orders. But before Billi can enjoy the pleasant new twist in her life, the Templars are called to duty. An ancient enemy has resurfaced, searching for a treasure that the Templars have protected for hundreds of years. A cursed mirror powerful enough to kill all of London's first borns. Billi will have to put her heart aside and make sacrifices greater than any of the Templars could have imagined.

My Review: I really got into this book. I loved Billi and all her mad fighting skills. I felt for her through those trying times with her dad and not wanting to be apart of the Knights Templar. All she wanted was to be normal, but family duties always come first. The thing about this book  is that it involved some things that some people might find objectionable. Satan, Michael the Arch Angel are characters in this modern tale. So fair warning of that. It was an excellent read for me, but the question is...will it be for you?

Watch Out For: Violence, mild language, dark creatures, and bloody/graphic scenes.

The Last Song

The Last Song
By Nicholas Sparks:Grand Central

Summary: Ronnie's life quickly changed when her parents divorces and her father moved away to North Carolina. After three years she still is has anger issues towards her dad. When her mother decides to send Ronnie and her younger brother to spent the summer with their dad. Ronnie's father is a former concert pianist and lives the quiet live in the beach town where he creates a work of art that will be the centerpiece of a local church.Ronnie is resentful and rebellious and rejects all attempts her dad makes to reach out towards her. Soon Ronnie meets Will, and slowly lets her guard down and finds herself falling in love. Will this summer change Ronnie and the way she fills about her father?

My Review:WOW! What an excellent book this was. Nicholas Sparks has always been a genius when it comes to writing, but this is truly a work of art that must be read by everyone. They way he showed the love in families really touch me. The power of forgiveness also play a huge role in this novel. It is truly amazing book that will touch the hearts of many. It is a heart warming story of first loves, and the love between a parent and child. Truly remarkable!

Watch Out For: Mild Violence, Sensuality, Teen Partying, and Mild Language.

If you ever get the chance, check out the movie Trailer to The Last Song! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joCwQ2pjfjw

Desert Fire

Desert Fire
Marcia Lynn McClure; Distractions Ink 

Summary:  A nameless beauty is discovered and rescued in desert by Jackson McCall, a ruggedly handsome and noble man. With no ounce of memory of her past , this nameless woman stays at the McCall ranch and becomes apart of the McCall family. But ever since the moment Jackson rescued her, she knew he would forever hold her heart captive. With this woman win the heart of JAckson McCall?

My Review: This is the book that started it all! This novel began Marcia's journey to captivating the hearts of woman with her fantastic love stories and devilishly handsome men! An excellent read.

Watch Out For: Mild violence

The Heavenly Surrender

The Heavenly Surrender
By Marcia Lynn McClure; Distractions Ink

Summary: Genieva Bankman willing agreed to the arrangement of leaving Chicago to meet Brevan McLean, and become a hard working wife. But what she did not expect was to met such a handsome and intimidating man. Brevan McLean was a strong-willed, quick-tempered and expectant of much from his new wife. He married her for practical reasons only and merely wanted any woman who worked hard and would provide him assistance on the farm. Genieva would soon learn that there are dark secrets involved and unspoken by Brevan and his family and his land. Genieva Bankman McLean will find herself and her husband in the midst of treachery, violence, and villainy.

My Review: O how I love Marcia Lynn McClure and her novels! I loved how she used both the Irish culture and the Spanish culture in this novel. The Irish and Spanish language kept me more involved in the story. The Kissing scenes and the main male characters in her stories never get old to me. I laughed out loud, blushed, and sighed while reading this story. I absolutely adored this book!

Watch Out For: Violence

The Graveyard Book

The Graveyard Book
By Neil Gaiman;HarperCollins


Summary: Nobody Owens, known to his friends as Bod, is a normal boy. Except for the fact that he lives in a graveyard and is raised and educated by ghosts, and a guardian who belongs neither to the living or the dead. Nobody finds dangers and adventures in the graveyard. But outside the graveyard, Bod is hunted by the man Jack who has already killed his family...

My Review:You know the saying "It takes a village to raise a child" well now its "it takes a graveyard full of ghosts, ghouls, werewolves and other creatures of the night to raise a child." This was a fantastic read, the whole plot and characters kept me reading till the late hours of the night. I loved reading about the adventures of Nobody Owens. A very creepy, suspenseful, and satisfying read!


Watch Out For: Violence and the man named Jack

Here is the Book Trailer narrated by Neil Gaiman himself.

Wicked Lovely

Wicked Lovely
By Melissa Marr

Summary: Aislinn can see faeries, but no one knows she can except her grandma. She is trying to stay seperate from this other world, but she won't be able to for long. The Summer King must marry someone to stop the Winter Queen, his mother from ruining the faery world. Aislinn is in love with Seth, but the Summer King knows that Aislinn is the only one who can save the faery realm. Will she be able to help the faery world and still remain close to her mortal world?

My Review: At first I didn't know what to think of this book.I couldn't get into it at first, but then it finally picked up speed and got me interested. Its not like all the other faery books I've read, this one defiantly had some twists and turns I didn't expect to see. Overall I liked it, but some the language was hard to handle. I am looking forward to reading the next one in the series just to see where this story will go.


Watch Out For: Violence, Language, and Sensual acts.

Splendor

Splendor
By Anna Goldberson;Harper Books

(Only read this if you have read the other Luxe books.)

Summary: Elizabeth takes on the role of a new wife, while her sister Diana looks for adventure. They soon figure out that life isn't as splendid as its crack up to be.Penelope falls in love with the Bavarian prince, but will he still want her when his trip is over? Lina is in love with Leland, but will her secret be revealed and shatter all her dreams?

My Review: A perfect ending for a perfect series! Thats all I have to say at this time. Carry on!

Watch Out For: Drinking, partying, and drama.

Bound

Bound
Donna Jo Napoli;Simon Pulse

Summary: Xing Xing is bound to her stepmother and is forced to do hard labor and act as a servant in her own home. She cares for her step sister, Wei Ping, who even though she is past age for foot-binding is forced to endure the painful tradition of Chinese girls before marriage. Her only solitude is visiting her carp and practicing her calligraphy and poetry. When her stepmother takes away her only happiness, Xing Xing discovers a dress and slippers she becomes somebody in society for one night. Will Xing Xing overcome her position in life?

My Review: I have always liked the Cinderella story, but this time it had a Chinese twist, which I really liked. I loved learning about the Chinese's old traditions like foot-binding. Overall, it was a great good.


Watch Out For: Foot-binding, and Chinese traditions.

First Boy

First Boy
By Gary Schmidt; Read by Jesse Berns; An Unbridged Production


Summary:14 year-old Cooper Jewett grew up with his grandparents on a dairy farm in New Hampshire. After his grandparents pass away, Cooper tries to maintain the dairy farm on his own. Soon he  feels overworked between taking care of the farm, trying to keep up in school, and practicing with the cross country. Things soon get worse when a mysterious black sedans comes to town, Cooper’s fence gets vandalized, his house gets broken into, and his barn gets burned down. The sheriff threatens to file a report to have Cooper removed from the farm by child services.Then Senator Wickham approaches Cooper and asks him to join his campaign for the presidency. All Cooper wants to do is stay on his farm, but it seems the Senator won’t take no for an answer.
  My Review: Golly Moses! Cooper is a determined boy and I admired his spirit to keep the farm running and taking care of himself. However this was my first time listening to an audiobook, so I found it difficult to understand what was going on.   
Watch out for:Theft, fires, kidnappings, and car chases.