Oh. My. Gods. by Tera Lynn Childs

Genre: teen fantasy
Series and Book #: Phoebe Castro #2
Pages: 264
Synopsis: Phoebe's life is about to get ungodly....

All Phoebe Castro has to do is keep her grades up and have another stellar cross-country season and her dream of attending USC with her friends on a track scholarship is a reality. So it's a complete shock when her mom announces that she's marrying a near-stranger and moving them to Greece.

Before Phoebe knows it, she's stuck on a secret island in the Aegean and attending the superexclusive Academy, where her new stepfather is the headmaster and the kids are anything but your average students--they're descendants of the Greek gods, superpowers included. If a regular high school wasn't bad enough, this is mortal misery.

Phoebe's only chance of reclaiming her old life lies in securing that scholarship. But managing that may be an ungodly challenge, considering she's got a sabotaging stepsister from Hades and a gorgeous guy--what a god!--in her way....

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First, how many Greek gods books are there out? Not that I'm complaining--I love Greek mythology. But there are a lot, aren't there? Percy Jackson, Oh. My. Gods, The Goddess Test, Abandon, and more, I'm sure. The funny thing about them all is that they have a different take on the gods. And having only read the Percy Jackson series, the take on the gods in this book was way different.

The gods weren't present in this book. And their descendants were down lines, so you could be the great-great-great-great-great-GREAT grandchild of Zeus and still be considered his descendant. It was much different than Percy Jackson. It was cool, though, the way Childs split up the cliques at the Academy. Like the Hades harem, typical Goths but dangerous, and the Zeus set, rich and powerful who would also make "Paris Hilton look like a Vestal Virgin".

I didn't really like Phoebe as a MC. She was dense, even though she swore she wasn't. Like they had to explain things to her to get her to understand simple things. But I when she wasn't being so clueless, she was funny, skeptical, and nice.

Overall, this was a funny novel. The characters were brushed upon, not dwelling deeper than some of the basic questions. We don't get to know Stella or Adara other than that they're the usual mean girls. And that Griffin's a total hottie. I hope with the sequel, we get to know the characters more than what was said in Oh. My. Gods.

The Cover: I love the incorporation of Herme's sandals with Phoebe's cross-country dreams. Very cute!

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

Genre: teen social issues
Series and Book #: none
Pages: 470
Synopsis: What if you had only one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life?

Samantha Kingston has it all: the world's most crush-worthy boyfriend, three amazing best friends, and first pick of everything at Thomas Jefferson High—from the best table in the cafeteria to the choicest parking spot. Friday, February 12, should be just another day in her charmed life.
 
Instead, it turns out to be her last.
 
Then she gets a second chance. Seven chances, in fact. Reliving her last day during one miraculous week, she will untangle the mystery surrounding her death—and discover the true value of everything she is in danger of losing.

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One of the best books I've ever read. Ever. Oliver's writing is lyrical but easy to understand. She's realistic in her view of high school and doesn't skim over the provocative conversations and suggestions.

Samantha was a very real character. At first, she was stuck up and worried about her social standpoint in in life. She was nervous about her big night with her boyfriend, and annoyed with her used-to-be friend Kent. She agreed with her best friend Lindsay on everything, and was included into chants of Psycho with a girl, Juliet Sykes, whom Lindsay hates. But when she dies, and relives her day seven times, she changes dramatically. I love how Oliver makes her changes subtly at first, and then towards the end more noticeable. It gives let's you say, "Wow. She has changed."

Overall, I loved this book. Lauren Oliver is definitely an author that I'm going to read more from. Her writing was amazing and understandable, and her characterisation was spot on. The books progression was perfect and the climax was amazing. Friends who had read the book said I'd hate the ending, but actually, I liked it. I thought it was exactly the type of thing Samantha would do after her experiences. This was a wonderful book. Definitely add it to your MRL and TBR piles.

The Cover: Not one of my favorites, but I still like it. I think it captures the falling with the model lying in the grass, but I don't like the close up of the face.

Let's Talk Covers: 2011 Releases

A wonderful story should include a cover that speaks for it. Beautiful covers always catch my eye and make me want to read the book. Here's a list of covers that make me anxious to pick up the book and just read, read, read!

Title: The Girl in the Steel Corset   Author: Kady Cross   Release Date: May 24
I love this cover! Although it looks like an adult novel, the corset showing from the back of the dress really catches the title of the novel. And I love the amazing red dress and steel elements added.

Title: The Day Before   Author: Lisa Shroeder   Release Date: June 28
The model is gorgeous and I love the mysterious vibe the cover's giving. The grass covering her face and her hair mixed into the grass is wonderful, and it reminds me of Anna Jarzab's All Unquiet Things cover.

Title: Supernaturally   Author: Kiersten White   Release Date: July 26
The first cover was amazing, and the second makes another wonderful installment. I love the way the words are backed by an orange glow and red flowers. Honestly, you don't see much red on covers that have to with werewolves/vampries/shapeshifters. I think its a nice change.

Title: Lola and the Boy Next Door   Author: Stephanie Perkins  Release Date: September 29
I've never read Perkins first book, Anna and the French Kiss, but I heard it was hilarious. The covers also speak for the books: they're fun, flirty, and creative. I love this cover, because the model has short purple hair! So cute!

What do you think? What covers are your favorite?

Release: Cryptic Cravings (Vampire Kisses #8) by Ellen Shreiber

The morbidly monotonous Dullsville has finally become the most exciting place on earth now that Raven is madly in love with her hot vampire boyfriend, Alexander, and a crew of vampires has taken residence in Dullsville's old mill. Raven discovers Jagger's plan to open a new club, the Crypt, right here in Dullsville. But is it her dream come true or her worst nightmare? Raven and Alexander have to figure out what the nefarious vampire has in store for Dullsville's teen and vampire population. Can Raven convince Jagger to listen to her plans to make the Crypt the morbidly magnificent dance club it could be? Will it be safe for mortals and vampires alike?
 
And as Sebastian and Luna's relationship heats up, Raven wonders about her own amorous fate: Will Alexander ever turn her? Does he crave her and does he want to spend eternity together? And what does she really want?

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I never finished this series! I read the first book (Vampire Kisses) but I never got around to finishing them. I remember that the first was very funny and creative, and that I was looking forward to reading the sequels. I have the first three books on my shelf and I put them on my Must Read List, so hopefully I'll get to them sometime this year. Something to look forward to!

Daily Dose (22)

Daily Dose is a weekly meme hosted by Good Golly Miss Holly where we share beautiful or inspirational photos that we've found.



Red Riding Hood by Sarah Blakley-Cartwright and David Leslie Johnson

Genre: teen fantasy
Series and Book #: none
Pages: 329
Synopsis: The blacksmith would marry her. The woodcutter would run away with her. The werewolf would turn her into one of its own.

Valerie's sister was beautiful, kind, and sweet. Now she is dead. Henry, the handsome son of the blacksmith, tried to console Valerie, but her wild heart beats fast for another: the outcast woodcutter, Peter, who offers Valerie another life far from home.

After her sister's violet death, Valerie's world begins to spiral out of control. For generation, the Wolf has been kept at bay with a monthly sacrifice. But now no one is safe. When an expert Wolf hunter arrives, the villagers learn that the creature lives among them--it could be anyone in town.

It soon becomes clear that Valerie is the only one who can hear the voice of the creature. The Wolf says she must surrender herself before the blood moon wanes...or everyone she loves will die.

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I LOVED this story! I never managed to see the movie when it was out in theaters, but the book was wonderful. Blakley-Cartwright strung her words together in lovely sentences that were beautiful to read.

Red Riding Hood is a excellent spin off of the classic fairy tale of Little Red Riding Hood. Blakley-Cartwright included all the important characters: Little Red, the grandmother, and the wolf. And the item for which the book is named: the red riding hood. The town of Daggerhorn was, in my opinion, perfectly crafted with the townspeople and the layout of the village and all the side characters each had a place in the story, and weren't just pointlessly present throughout the novel.

Overall, this was a magnificent and action-filled novel that grabbed my attention from the opening: Once upon a time...there was a girl...and there was a Wolf. Doesn't it just give you the shivers?! I'm hoping to see the movie soon and see how they adapted the story. The ending was shocking, and my opinion changed so often that I never quite guessed who the Wolf was (and honestly, you'll never figure out who the actual Wolf is until you read the bonus chapter at http://www.redridinghoodbook.com/). This was a fantastic story! I'd highly recommend it!

The Cover: Perfect. I loved the Wolf's shadow and Valerie running off into the woods. And the little writing in the upper corner was so cool: Good girls don't talk to werewolves. I could live without the small black circle in the corner, though.

Release: Kiss of Death by Lauren Henderson

Scarlett thought Dan McAndrew's murder was long behind her, but when she and her classmates arrive in Edinburgh for a week long field trip, she's startled to be joined by her old St. Tabby's cohorts--and enemies--who are visiting the area on a field trip as well. Even more startling, Callum, Dan's surviving twin, is in the area--and his cold treatment leaves Scarlett wondering what's changed, especially when a series of attacks makes her believe that someones out to get her for her past mistakes. Would Callum ever hurt her, though? And what's Scarlett to make of her conflicting feelings for Callum, now that Jase isn't around? Even more upsetting, why is her most trusted confidante, Taylor, acting distant and dismissive?

This actually came out yesterday, but I was busy and didn't have time to post.

I read the first book in this series (Kiss Me, Kill Me) and I didn't really enjoy the book. This is the fourth book in the series, and I don't think that I'm ever going to finish this series. The first book went by to fast and didn't have enough plot to give is a great mystery novel.