Book Review: Vanish

Title: Vanish by Sophie Jordan
Release Date: Sept. 6, 2011
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 304 pages
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Rating: 4 stars
Source: ARC from publisher through NetGalley

Goodreads Summary: To save the life of the boy she loves, Jacinda did the unthinkable: She betrayed the most closely-guarded secret of her kind. Now she must return to the protection of her pride knowing she might never see Will again—and worse, that because his mind has been shaded, Will’s memories of that fateful night and why she had to flee are gone.

Back home, Jacinda is greeted with hostility and must work to prove her loyalty for both her sake and her family’s. Among the few who will even talk to her are Cassian, the pride’s heir apparent who has always wanted her, and her sister, Tamra, who has been forever changed by a twist of fate. Jacinda knows that she should forget Will and move on—that if he managed to remember and keep his promise to find her, it would only endanger them both. Yet she clings to the hope that someday they will be together again. When the chance arrives to follow her heart, will she risk everything for love?

I loved Firelight. It was original, exciting and hands down, one of my favorite books of 2010. Needless to say, Vanish was one of my most anticipated books for this year and it delivered.

Vanish picks up right where Firelight left off, with Jacinda, Tamra and their mom fleeing Chaparral and returning to the pride with Cassian. When they get home, Jacinda is heartbroken and misses Will terribly but to make matters worse, she is shunned and treated as outcast by the other Draki when they find out she had a relationship with a hunter.

There is so much tension and angst in Vanish. Jacinda has to choose between being with the boy she loves and the safety of the entire pride; between doing what everyone in the pride wants and expects her to do and doing what will truly make her happy. While I do not like the fact that Jacinda vacillates between two boys, it is understandable. Her choices are hard and there is so much at stake.

The characters, especially Cassian and Tamra, are more developed in Vanish which is great because neither were particularly likable in the first book. Because the book is set in the pride, we meet more Draki with cool paranormal abilities. The story is very exciting and fast paced with some unexpected twists thrown in.

I have to warn you that like Firelight, Vanish ends with a huge cliffhanger. I hate that I have to wait until next year to find out what happens but I bet it’s going to be fiery and explosive!

Content: Kissing and violence

I'm Guest Blogging Today!

Hi everyone! Today I am guest blogging at Black Fingernailed Reviews about my favorite movie based on books. Check it out and let me know what your favorites are!

Book Review: Found

Title: Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Release Date: April 22, 2008
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing
Pages: 320 pages
Genre: Science Fiction, Middle Grade
Rating: 4 stars
Source: Library

Goodreads Summary: An unidentified airplane appears out of nowhere. When the aircraft is boarded, its only occupants are babies; once they are removed, the pilotless plane vanishes. Jonah and Chip, now teenagers, discover that they were among the "airborne orphans." Rather than forgetting the past, the two boys decide to venture into it, risking their survival to right the wrongs of time.

Jonah and his friend Chip, both adopted, receive ominous letters in the mail telling them they are one of the missing and that people are coming back for them. At first they think it’s a prank but working with Jonah’s sister, Katherine, they dig deeper and find themselves at the center of a mystery and cover-up that may lead to them finding out who they really are and where they came from.

Found is a fast paced middle-grade book that both boys or girls can enjoy. Jonah is a likable, well adjusted 13-year-old who has a loving relationship with his parents and a typical love/disgust relationship with 11-year-old Katherine. Jonah likes his life and is not really interested in finding out about his birth parents or the circumstances behind his adoption.

Chip, on the other hand, is a bit of a brat but you get the impression that his behavior stems from the difficult relationship with his absentee parents who prefer to buy him things than spend quality time with him or effectively communicate with him. Because of his relationship with his adopted parents, Chip is driven to find his birth parents and Jonah, out of a sense obligation to his friend, joins him to find answers. Believing the letters have something to do with their adoptions, Jonah and Chip along with Katherine unravel the mystery and find out more about themselves than they bargain for.

Found is fairly easy to read and I would recommend it to younger teens or tweens who are reluctant readers. The mystery moves the story forward, the science fiction elements are not unique but are done in a fresh way and the action, especially at the end, adds to the excitement. The book does end with a cliffhanger, so be prepared to get a copy of the other books in the series, Sent, Sabotaged and Torn for your young reader as well. Torn will be available on August 23, 2011.

Content: Violence

Free Ebook!

Title: Waterfall by Lisa T. Bergren
Publisher: David C. Cook
Release Date: Feb. 1, 2011
Get the free ebook at Amazon or Barnes & Noble

Goodreads Summary: American teenager Gabi Betarrini accidently finds herself in Fourteenth-Century Italy . . . Knights. Swords. Horses. Armor. And Italian hotties. Most American teens want an Italian vacation, but the Betarrini sisters have spent every summer of their lives there with their archaeologist parents. Stuck on yet another hot, dusty dig, they are bored out of their minds... until they place their hands atop handprints in an ancient tomb and find themselves catapulted into the Fourteenth Century and in the middle of a fierce battle between knights bent on killing one another.

Why I want it: I have heard amazing things about this book and the entire River of Time series. The combination of romance, time travel and adventure sounds irresistible. I have wanted to start Waterfall for awhile and getting the first book free is just the push I need to start the series. Book two, Cascade, is already available and book three, Torrent, will be available next month. I’m not sure how long Waterfall will be free so get it as soon as you can!

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine, and specifically spotlights upcoming novels we can't wait to read. This week’s choice is:

Title: Life Eternal by Yvonne Woon
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Publish Date: Jan. 24, 2012
Genre: Paranormal

Spoiler Warning! The summary contains huge spoilers to the first book, Dead Beautiful, so highlight to read.

Goodreads Summary: Renée Winters has changed. When she looks in the mirror, a beautiful girl with an older, sadder face stares back. Her condition has doctors mystified, but Renée can never reveal the truth: she died last May, and was brought back to life by the kiss of her Undead soul mate, Dante Berlin.

Now, her separation from Dante becomes almost unbearable. His second life is close to an end, and each passing day means one less that she will spend with the boy who shares her soul.

Just when Renée has almost given up hope, she learns of the Nine Sisters—brilliant scholars who, according to legend, found a way to cheat death. She can’t shake the feeling that they are somehow connected to her dreams, strange visions that hint at a discovery so powerful, and so dangerous, that some will stop at nothing to protect it.

Renée thought she knew the truth about life and death. But there is a secret woven through history that holds the only hope for Dante and Renée. Unless they find answers soon, their time together is doomed to be cut short.

When I read Dead Beautiful, the first book in this series, I thought it was a standalone (which it could have been), but I am very happy there is a sequel! Dead Beautiful has some refreshing and original paranormal elements and can’t wait to read this second book. I love the cover of Life Eternal and think it complements Dead Beautiful very well. What are you waiting on?

Book Review: Offworld

Title: Offworld by Robin Parrish
Release Date: July 1, 2009
Publisher: Bethany House
Pages: 368 pages
Genre: Science Fiction, Christian
Rating: 3 stars
Source: Library

Goodreads Summary: Every Person on This Planet Has Disappeared.

Commander Christopher Burke and his crew are humanity's greatest explorers. They've finished their mission on the red dirt of Mars and now they just want to get back to Earth. To see friends, family, and loved ones. To be home. But even with communication to ground control cut and a perilous landing, nothing could prepare the crew for what they discover when they step foot back on planet Earth. Everyone...everywhere...is gone. It's not a dream. It's not a trick. Now Burke and his team have one mission: find out who or what is behind the disappearance of all mankind.

If you have not watched the new shows on the Syfy Channel, you really should check it out. Their old movies and series were cheesy, but the new shows are really entertaining and well done. Offworld reads very much like one of the newer shows on SyFy. Its action packed and the mystery behind the disappearances keeps you reading.

I did find the characters a bit underdeveloped. Since the astronauts are trained soldiers, they handled coming back to an empty world well on the outside, internalizing their fears instead. It is hard to get to know characters when they are putting on a brave front so no one will see how messed up they really are. I liked Terry, one of the crew members, the most. His sarcasm was funny and I could identify with his freakouts at being one of the only people left on Earth.

There are some good twists at the end of the book that I did not see coming. Overall, this is a decent read. The Christian aspects of the book are not overwhelming or preachy. Offworld is primarily a science fiction novel and can be enjoyed by anyone as such.

Content: Violence

Bookish Apps for iPad?

Today is my birthday and my awesome, handsome, fantastic husband got me an iPad! I love this tablet and have been playing with it and trying to figure out all the fun things I can do with it. I have already downloaded the Kindle, Nook and Bluefire Reader apps but wanted to know what other bookish apps are available. This is my first Apple product I would love to hear your recommendations. I am also curious about what you love most about your iPad or iPhone. I know millions are hooked to these things and now I see why….