Sick (Project Eden #1) Review

**4 stars**

July 10, 2012

Kindle Edition

I wish I had known it was part of a series before I started reading!  Way to totally leave the ending open and me wanting more.  Clearly I need to open my eyes and see the "#1" tacked on the book name.  I really liked this book with its complex plot and conspiracy theories.  An extremely virulent virus is just an added bonus.  Let's just say I hope I don't get sick within the next few weeks.  Creepy and well written.  It was fun to follow along and see how quickly the virus spread and see the outbreaks and quarantines from different view points.  I would recommend to sci-fi fans.

Extras (Uglies #4) Review

**3 stars**

July 9, 2012

Hardcover Edition

I starting reading this book under that assumption that the setting would be in one of the two cities that the first three books in the series took place in. It wasn't until probably the middle of the book that I realized it was a completely different setting and even a completely different country. That was the most confusing aspect of the story since the characters in this book speak Japanese while Tally and gang speak English (and I was under the impression that they lived in what used to be America). How everyone managed to move around so quickly was a little confusing to me, but I may have missed an explanation at some point during the series.

The story was similar to that of the previous books as was the language. "-making" was tacked on to pretty much everything and drove me nuts ("dizzy-making" and "bubbly-making" are just two examples to give you an idea of what I mean), just like the over-usage of "bubbly," "bogus" and "icy" drove me crazy in the second and third books.

Overall, the book was okay. Tally was different than I remembered her being, but that is probably mostly due to the time lapsed between reading the books. Some interesting twists at the end and the different aspects of the featured city were interesting. A nice ending to the series.

Brownies and Broomsticks (A Magical Bakery Mystery #1) Review

**3 stars**

July 6, 2012

Paperback Edition

I blame this book for my sudden cravings for sugar and coffee.  The story was a cute little magical chick lit mystery.  I haven't read anything similar in a long time and it was nice to return to this genre.  Especially when there is baking and animals involved.  I'm excited to try the brownie recipe provided at the end, and maybe I'll even try out the scone recipe too.  Back to the story itself: I loved reading along as the main character is always getting herself into trouble and winding up in situations that she finds less than desirable.  The "romance" part of the book (if you can even really call it that) was a little ridiculous and annoying.  The standard two-very-different-guys issue.  I thought it was a no-brainer, but hey.  What do I know?  I thought her heritage could have been explained a little better since it was sprung on the readers and we had to accept it at face-value with very little background (it wasn't a surprise, I just wanted more info).  Overall, I would recommend it for those who enjoy quirky chick lit mysteries with little to no romance.  I'm not sure I'll continue with the series, or at least not anytime soon.

Snow White and Rose Red: The Curse of the Huntsman Review

**3 stars**

July 3, 2012

Kindle Edition

Way too short for my liking.  I wanted so much more!  The plot was good, if a little hurried.  I loved the characters.  I just wish the book had been longer so the author could have gone into more detail and explained more.  I kept getting confused as the narration switched from Rose Red to Snow White, but each section was clearly marked as to who was speaking.  I just forget easily.  I would probably recommend, but not as highly as I would if the book had been longer and the plot moved a bit slower.

Demon Hunter and Baby Review

**2.5 stars**

July 3, 2012

Kindle Edition

First off, I loved the concept. I'm sure first-time moms would like it even more. I mean, a demon hunter who has to balance her life-is-constantly-threatened job with taking care of her first child is pretty much as hardcore as it gets for a girl. Not to mention she is a single mom. In terms of plot... it was okay. I wasn't really impressed, but I wasn't too bored either. I don't think I will remember the story in a few days, but it was a fairly good read. Longer than most Kindle books I've read which I wasn't expecting. Would I recommend? Yes, I think I will just because it is so different and, yes, even a little fun. Buffy fans might enjoy the story.

A Monster Calls Review

**5 stars**
June 30, 2012

Hardcover edition

Absolutely beautiful. This is a very emotional and touching book about grief and the pain of illness (in this case, cancer). The first thing I noticed when I picked up the book is the sheer weight of it. It is deceivingly light as it really isn't a large book. The weight comes from all the ink used in the images. This is a book that absolutely needs to be read in paper form (if you dare read it as an e-book, I will hunt you down. You have been warned). The illustrations add so much more to the story and are stunningly gorgeous. Okay, so back to the story itself. it is about a boy who is visited by a yew tree monster frequently. The way it is written, you never really know if the monster is real or just a dream. The way in which the story is written is heart-moving and even funny at times. The dialogue between the boy and the tree is deep and also light-hearted at times. But by the end of the book, I had tears streaming down my face and had a hard time reading because my eyes were swelling up (this only happens when I cry very very hard). I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone. I think that people can relate to this story in many different ways.

Masque of the Red Death Review

**2.5 stars**
July 2, 2012

Hardcover edition

Wasn't as great as I was expecting, wasn't that bad either. I like how it is more of the "background" leading up to Poe's Masque of the Red Death rather than just a retelling. The romance aspect of the book was frankly dumb. I'm not even sure it can be called romance. The characters lacked any real depth and I just got annoyed with how quickly their moods changed. The story also jumped around way too much. One minute Araby is walking down an alley, then next she is having deep conversations with people who suddenly appear in the story (that is not a specific example, just a general idea). Don't even get me started on Elliott's character. Will was the most likable of all the characters, but I still had a hard time connecting. I don't think I will recommend this book. It was okay, and makes me want to read Poe's short story again, but I'm just not that impressed.