Book Recommendation.

OPEN YOUR EYES

Janie thought she knew what her future held. And she thought she'd made her peace with it. But she can't handle dragging Cabel down with her.




She knows he will stay with her, despite what she sees in his dreams. He's amazing. And she's a train wreck. Janie sees only one way to give him the life he deserves--she has to disappear. And it's going to kill them both.

Then a stranger enters her life--and everything unravels. The future Janie once faced now has an ominous twist, and her choices are more dire than she'd ever thought possible. She alone must decide between the lesser of two evils. And time is running out...

He reaches toward her, his fingers black and bloody, his eyes deranged, unblinking. Janie is paralyzed. His cold hands reach around her neck, squeezing tight, tighter, until Janie has no breath left. She's unable to move, unable to think. As his grasp tightens further around Janie's neck, his face turns sickly alabaster. He strains harder and begins to shake.

Janie is dying.
She has no fight left in her.
It's over.

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Simon Pulse; 1 edition (February 9, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416979182
• ISBN-13: 978-1416979180

I loved this series. I admit I liked WAKE and GONE a bit more than FADE, but it's definately a series I recommend reading. Each book is told in third person present tense, which is something I haven't seen in too many books and it can be a little weird at first. Lisa's writing and Janie's voice are so seamless and strong that once you get into the book, you don't even notice the tense. These books are a little bit dark, so if you're looking for gentle reading, this probably isn't the series for you.

Matched by Ally Condie

Matched by Ally Condie

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A beautiful, poetic, timeless read. Fans of Suzanne Collins' HUNGER GAMES and Carrie Ryan's FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH will devour this book.

View all my reviews >>

Product Description

Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate . . . until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.

The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life sheÕs known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

About the Author

Ally Condie received a degree in English Teaching from Brigham Young University and spent a number of years teaching high school English in Utah and in upstate New York. She lives with her husband and three sons outside of Salt Lake City, Utah.

http://www.allysoncondie.com/

The Dead Tossed Waves

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (March 9, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385736843
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Product Description

Gabry lives a quiet life. As safe a life as is possible in a town trapped between a forest and the ocean, in a world teeming with the dead, who constantly hunger for those still living. She’s content on her side of the Barrier, happy to let her friends dream of the Dark City up the coast while she watches from the top of her lighthouse. But there are threats the Barrier cannot hold back. Threats like the secrets Gabry’s mother thought she left behind when she escaped from the Sisterhood and the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Like the cult of religious zealots who worship the dead. Like the stranger from the forest who seems to know Gabry. And suddenly, everything is changing. One reckless moment, and half of Gabry’s generation is dead, the other half imprisoned. Now Gabry only knows one thing: she must face the forest of her mother’s past in order to save herself and the one she loves.

Last week, I recommended THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH, so of course I've got to recommend it's equally awesome companion novel this week. I think I may have enjoyed this one even more than FOHT. Lots of unexpected twists, thrilling action, great imagery. It's a big more *gross* than FOREST, but if you're like me you kind of like gross. I highly recommend this book.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth

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• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (February 9, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385736827
• ISBN-13: 978-0385736824

An ALA Best Books for Young Adults
A New York Times Best Seller

In Mary's world, there are simple truths.
The Sisterhood always knows best.
The Guardians will protect and serve.
The Unconsecrated will never relent.
And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village....

Mary has always lived in the village, protected by the fences that keep the undead from devouring her. She's dreamed of a life beyond the fences, of the ocean in the stories her mother told her about life before the Return. Her hope has all but faltered until the day Gabrielle wanders in from the forest. Until the day the fences are breached.

Heart-stopping, eye-popping. This books is incredible! One can't help but feel connected to Mary and her world. To feel her yearning for the ocean and to solve the mysteries surrounding the Sisterhood and the Guardians.

The ending does leave something to be desired but have no fear, THE DEAD TOSSED WAVES is here!

Part horror, part romance, this book is impossible to put down.

Visit Carrie on the web at http://www.carrieryan.com/

and check out the awesome trailer!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/mpd/permalink/m18KFIH7XSEF5H

Shadowed Summer by Saundra Mitchell

**Note: I am not a book reviewer, I just like to talk about the books I read and why I lovethem.**

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• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Hardcover: 183 pages
• Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (February 10, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385735715

2010 Edgar Nominee-Best YA Mystery

2009 Allan Pick

2009 Junior Library Guild Selection

Nothing ever happened in Ondine, Louisiana, not even the summer Elijah Landry disappeared.

His mother knew he ascended to heaven, the police believed he ran away, and his girlfriend thought he was murdered.

Decades later, certain she saw his ghost in the town cemetery, fourteen-year-old Iris Rhame is determined to find out the truth behind "The Incident With the Landry Boy."

Enlisting the help of her best friend Collette, and forced to endure the company of Collette's latest crush, Ben, Iris spends a summer digging into the past and stirring old ghosts, in search of a boy she never knew.

What she doesn't realize is that in a town as small as Ondine, every secret is a family secret.

I have to admit, I'm not crazy about the cover but I loved this book. The new cover is better and you can see it by following the link at the end of this post.

SHADOWED SUMMER brought back a lot of memories for me, personally. Being a half of a century old, I'd forgotten what it felt like to be fourteen. I grew up in a small town, riding my bike everywhere or depending on my older sister's friends for a ride, that usually meant forking over a few hard earned bucks. I remember riding my bike to a tiny convenience store much like The Red Stripe for a coke and penny candy.

I loved the realism of the book. Yes, I said realism even though it involves a haunting. I felt like I was inside Iris' head through the whole story and it was exciting all the way to the end. Great summer read I highly recommend.

And it smells awesome.

http://www.shadowedsummer.com/index.html

Find Saundra Mitchell on twitter @saundramitchell

And on the web at http://saundramitchell.com/

The Sky is Everywhere

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Dial; 1 edition (March 9, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803734956
• ISBN-13: 978-0803734951

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http://theskyiseverywhere.com/synopsis.php

Seventeen-year-old Lennie Walker, bookworm and band geek, plays second clarinet and spends her time tucked safely and happily in the shadow of her fiery older sister, Bailey. But when Bailey dies abruptly, Lennie is catapulted to center stage of her own life—and, despite her nonexistent history with boys, suddenly finds herself struggling to balance two. Toby was Bailey's boyfriend; his grief mirrors Lennie's own. Joe is the new boy in town, a transplant from Paris whose nearly magical grin is matched only by his musical talent. For Lennie, they're the sun and the moon; one boy takes her out of her sorrow, the other comforts her in it. But just like their celestial counterparts, they can't collide without the whole wide world exploding.

I LOVED this book! It easily ranks on my top 5 list of 2010. The characters in this book are so vivid and unique, and the prose is beautiful. Like Heidi R Kling said to me on twitter, "It's like diving into a poem."

The Sky is Everywhere is like diving into a painful, beautiful, epic poem.

Liar by Justine Larbalestier

There is an interesting cover story on this book here.

Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books (September 29, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1599903059
• ISBN-13: 978-1599903057

FROM JUSTINE'S WEBSITE:

DO NOT SPOIL THIS BOOK

Please don’t give away any of the twists and turns of Liar.

Liar is my first thriller. It’s from the point of view of a compulsive liar. And I mean compulsive. Micah’s been messing with my head for years and she’s about to mess with yours. You cannot believe a word she says, which means that her revelations cannot be taken at face value. So what you think is the big spoiler probably isn’t because there isn’t one big spoiler, there are many.

I’d be dead pleased if you could keep quiet about all of them.

I deliberately wrote the book to be read in at least two different ways. You may think you know what kind of book it is and what kind of person Micah is, but you’ll find other readers will disagree with you completely. There is no one right way to read this book. And that’s why I’m so keen for readers not to spoil it for others. Because I want each reader to come to their own conclusions.

Liar is as much a jigsaw puzzle as a novel, but one where the pieces can go together in many different ways. Writing it was a puzzle, too. I wrote it back to front and inside out. Not from start to finish, but scene by scene. As I wrote I shuffled scenes around, rewriting them with every move. It was one of the most enjoyable writing experiences of my career. I could feel my brain stretching as I wrote. (In a good way.) I hope reading it has the same effect on you.

Just don’t spoil it, okay?"

I won't spoil this book for you. Not just because Justine asked, but because it was such an incredible surprise to me, that I wouldn't dare ruin any of it for you.

Seventeen year old Micah is a compulsive liar. She always stays one step ahead of her lies, until her after-hours boyfriend is murdered, and her classmates and even the police start to suspect her.

I wish I could tell you more. All I can say is that LIAR will blow your mind. It is a must read.

The Hunger Games

THE HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins

Product Details Reading level: Young Adult Hardcover: 384 pages Publisher: Scholastic Press (September 14, 2008) Language: English ISBN-10: 0439023483 Katniss is a 16-year-old girl living with her mother and younger sister in the poorest district of Panem, the remains of what used be the United States. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called, "The Hunger Games." The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed. When Kat's sister is chosen by lottery, Kat steps up to go in her place.

This book is not to be missed. It grips you from the very first page and--like the ladder that lifts Katnis into the hovercraft--it holds you there. I read until I had a splitting headache, took a motrin and went back at it. Collins creates such remarkable characters and throws them into a vivid world where anything can happen and their every move is monitored by people who would rather see them die a gruesome death, than have a scrap of food. There were times I wanted to scream a warning at Katnis! And times I wanted to cry right along with her. This book has it all. A must read!

As most of you probably know, the cover for the third book in this series, Mockingjay, was just released. If you haven't seen it, here it is.

Notice from the first book, the bird is gold and enclosed in a circle. By book 2, the bird is more realistic, and here she's alive and broken free from the circle. Cool, right?

Feels like I am the last person to read this book, but better late than never!

Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves

Read the Cover Story at Melissa Walker's blog. Very sexy indeed.

from Amazon:

Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Hardcover: 464 pages
• Publisher: Simon Pulse; 1 edition (January 5, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416986189

Product Description

Love can be a dangerous thing....

Hanna simply wants to be loved. With a head plagued by hallucinations, a medicine cabinet full of pills, and a closet stuffed with frilly, violet dresses, Hanna's tired of being the outcast, the weird girl, the freak. So she runs away to Portero, Texas in search of a new home.

But Portero is a stranger town than Hanna expects. As she tries to make a place for herself, she discovers dark secrets that would terrify any normal soul. Good thing for Hanna, she's far from normal. As this crazy girl meets an even crazier town, only two things are certain: Anything can happen and no one is safe.

I was very impressed with this book. It has been a long time since I read something so unique. Not only the character of Hanna, being biracial and manic depressive, but also with the town of Portero--the monsters, the Mortmaine. It was such a fun read; dark, sexy, daring and sometimes frightening, Reeves definitely brought sexy back to YA.

The Secret Year by Jennifer R Hubbard

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Viking Juvenile (January 7, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670011533

Product Description from amazon

Take Romeo and Juliet. Add The Outsiders. Mix thoroughly.

Colt and Julia were secretly together for an entire year, and no one—not even Julia’s boyfriend— knew. They had nothing in common, with Julia in her country club world on Black Mountain and Colt from down on the flats, but it never mattered. Until Julia dies in a car accident, and Colt learns the price of secrecy. He can’t mourn Julia openly, and he’s tormented that he might have played a part in her death. When Julia’s journal ends up in his hands, Colt relives their year together at the same time that he’s desperately trying to forget her. But how do you get over someone who was never yours in the first place?

I fell in love with this book from the very beginning. It has a great voice and I loved that it was a love story, and not an overly sappy one, told from the boys point of view. Colt felt like a real boy to me the entire length of the novel. This is a great debut novel and it is definitely not to be missed.

Strange Angels: Review

Product Details Reading level: Young Adult Paperback: 304 pages Publisher: Razorbill (May 14, 2009) Language: English ISBN-10: 1595142517 Synopsis from bn.com Dru Anderson has what her grandmother called “the touch.” (Comes in handy when you’re traveling from town to town with your dad, hunting ghosts, suckers, wulfen, and the occasional zombie.)Then her dad turns up dead—but still walking—and Dru knows she’s next. Even worse, she’s got two guys hungry for her affections, and they’re not about to let the fiercely independent Dru go it alone. Will Dru discover just how special she really is before coming face-to-fang with whatever —or whoever— is hunting her?

Dru Anderson makes the mistake of not telling her dad, a hunter of the Real World, when she sees her grandmother's owl. A mistake that could have cost him his life. Twice.

This book grabs you from the opening line and doesn't let go, even after you close the back cover. Dru reminds me of Dean Winchester from the hit TV series, Supernatural (AWESOME show btw), and although there are some similarities in their pasts Dru is a unique character in a world all her own. If you're a fan of supernatural, I recommend this series. The action never stops and the underlying plots keep you turning the page to find out how it all unfolds.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians - The Lightning Thief

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Disney-Hyperion; 1 edition (March 21, 2006)
• Language: English

Twelve year old Percy Jackson is about to get kicked out of yet another boarding school. The difference this time, is that he's just vaporized his pre-algebra teacher but nobody, except his odd friend Grover, seem to know anything about it. But Percy's own mother knows this is just the beginning. She sends Percy to Camp Halfblood, and the journey isn't an easy one. Percy learns he is a demigod--the son of a Greek God and a mortal woman--and when Zues' lightning bolt is stolen, young Percy is the prime suspect.

This book surprised me. Percy is a fun character and I loved the easy mix of mythology and the modern world. Everything fit seamlessly, from his ADHD and dyslexia, to "Crusty", the mattress salesman. And I thought the description of the gods fit perfectly! It had me laughing and rooting for Percy, Grover and Annabeth throughout the entire book.

I don't read a lot of mid-grade novels. but I loved this one. And the movie looks great!

The Dark Divine

The Dark Divine by Bree Despain

Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: EgmontUSA (December 22, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1606840576

PProduct Description: from Amazon

Grace Divine, daughter of the local pastor, always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared--the night she found her brother Jude collapsed on the porch, covered in his own blood--but she has no idea what a truly monstrous secret that night held.

The memories her family has tried to bury resurface when Daniel returns, three years later, and enrolls in Grace and Jude's high school. Despite promising Jude she'll stay away, Grace cannot deny her attraction to Daniel's shocking artistic abilities, his way of getting her to look at the world from new angles, and the strange, hungry glint in his eyes.

The closer Grace gets to Daniel, the more she jeopardizes her life, as her actions stir resentment in Jude and drive him to embrace the ancient evil Daniel unleashed that horrific night. Grace must discover the truth behind the boy's dark secret...and the cure that can save the ones she loves. But she may have to lay down the ultimate sacrifice to do it--her soul.

When I first read a review for this book, before I started reading it, the reviewer compared it to Twilight. While I may not be a total twihard (is that in the dictionary yet?) I did enjoy that series, but I found no similarities.

This book is completely original, imaginative and full of awesome! I loved Despain's spin on werewolf lore. The history behind the werewolf in this book is as interesting as the story of Grace and Daniel. The story unfolds and tiny snippits are revealed at exactly the right moment to may you say, "holy cannoli!"

The Dark Divine is easily one of my favorite books of 2009.

www.breedespain.com

Beautiful Creatures

Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Hardcover: 576 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; 1 edition (December 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316042676
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Some loves are meant to be…

others are cursed.

There were no surprises

in Gatlin County.

At least, that’s what I thought.

Turns out, I couldn’t have

been more wrong.

There was a curse.

There was a girl.

And in the end,

there was a grave.

Visit the author's website to hear SIXTEEN MOONS

The Story (from kamigarciamargaretstohl.com)

BEAUTIFUL CREATURES

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she’s struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps, and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town’s oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

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This really is a must-have book! I'm sure not everyone will agree, but I loved it! Must be the southerner in me that couldn't get enough of Amma and her chicken bones.

When I was a young girl, our family horse ranch in North Carolina hosted a Civil War reenactment, and reading that part of the book brought back memories.

The cover design is gorgeous, the plot is full of surprising twists, the stakes are high, and the characters are great! Macon Ravenwood is my favorite. I pictured Vincent Price every time he came on scene.

A great debut novel that I highly recommend.

Fallen

Product Details
Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 464 pages
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (December 8, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0385738935
ISBN-13: 978-0385738934

All her life, seventeen year old Lucinda Price has feared the shadows; feared what they might do, what they meant. Was she crazy? Had the shadows done it? Was it her fault that that boy died?
After an unexplained fire kills a boy in front of Luce, she's sent away to Sword and Cross--a boarding school for society's rejects. A place where cellphones are forbidden and Luce's every move is being recorded by cameras. It's there that she sees him, Daniel Grigori. Luce is drawn to Daniel in a way she can't explain. Even after he is repeatedly rude to her, she still searches to find answers to his secrets, to know him. To love him. No matter the cost.
*************************************************************************************

The cover is beautiful. It may not mean much to some of you, but in my opinion, a pretty cover is a plus. It even feels pretty. I liked the pace and the tone of the book and I loved trying to figure out who was on what side of the fence. I must say, it surprised me! FALLEN is book one of a four part series, and so of course some of the mystery needs to be left unsolved by the books end, but to me it feels like too much was left unanswered. Definitely makes me want to buy book two! All in all, I give it four stars and I can't wait until September 2010 to find out what happens next.

About the Author
Lauren Kate recently finished her M.A. in Creative Writing at UC Davis, where she also teaches. She lives and writes in an old farm house in Winters, California. Her first novel, The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove goes on sale one month before Fallen.

FADE

Product Details Reading level: Young Adult Hardcover: 256 pages Publisher: Simon Pulse (February 10, 2009) Language: English ISBN-10: 1416953582 ISBN-13: 978-1416953586

FADE, book 2 in the Dream Catcher Trilogy, is the continued story of Janie Hannagan-Dream Catcher. Janie is sucked in to the mind of the dreamer, an ability that has always haunted her, but now Janie is learning to control it. Not only can she pull out of the dreams, but she can help to change them. Janie's ability lands her a job with the police. The only other person outside of the police force who knows about her, or cares, is Cabel--her partner and the boy she loves. But Janie's newest assignment, to bait a suspected sexual predator, could push Cabel to far and Janie is learning that dream catching comes at a high price.

I love this series. It's fast paced and holds your attention from page one. Janie and Cabel have had such hard lives you can't help but want a happy ending for them, and with all the twists and turns they take, you have to keep reading to be sure it ends well. This book is a bit darker than WAKE. There's mention of sex, more graphic than in most of the YA I've read, but nothing over the top. If you've followed any of my previous book reviews and we have similar tastes, you'd probably enjoy this one.

Blood Promise

(have no idea whats going on with this post)

Product Details Reading level: Young Adult Hardcover: 512 pages Publisher: Razorbill (August 25, 2009) Language: English ISBN-10: 1595141987 ISBN-13: 978-1595141989

***DO NOT READ UNLESS YOU HAVE READ THE FIRST THREE BOOKS***

When an unheard of number of Strigoi attacked the school, St. Vladimir's academy lost a number of lives, Moroi and Guardian alike... including Dimitri. But Dimitri isn't dead, not really. He'd told Rose that he'd rather die than be one of them. Rose promised not to let him be turned and she intends to keep that promise, even though it means risking her life and Lissa's friendship. Rose sets out to find him, but can she really kill the man she loves?

This book is amazing. I couldn't put it down, I just HAD to know what happened. As with the other three in the series, I am amazed at just how many sub plots that Mead can string together so perfectly. And subtlety isn't lost either! There were a number of small things I was shocked by, but in hindsight, I should have noticed them. Brilliant! Can not wait to see how the story continues! So Razor Bill, hurry up and bring us the final chapter! --May 18th 2010--

January 18-21 Richelle Mead will be in NYC. I'll try my best to get out to meet her and snap a photo!

Shadow Kiss

Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Razorbill; First Edition edition (November 13, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1595141979
• ISBN-13: 978-1595141972

The third book in the Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead continues the story of Dhampir Guardian (in training), Rose Hathaway. Rose is shadow-kissed. When the car accident that took Princess Vasilissa Dragomir's family also killed her best friend and guardian, Rose, Lissa unknowingly used her ability to wield spirit magic to bring her back. Lissa is learning more and more about spirit, and Rose is discovering the not-so-awesome side effects of being shadow-kissed.

Since Mason's tragic death at the hands of a Strigoi, Rose has been having dark flashbacks. She can't concentrate at practice and her temper is hotter than usual. Being so close to the man she loves and not being able to have him doesn't help her. Then the school is victim to one of the worst Strigoi attacks in history, and everything is at stake.

This book is, so far, my favorite. It's action packed, the romance between Rose and Dimitri thickens and Lissa takes on a whole new level of awesome (and scary). I am amazed and inspired by Mead's ability to weave so much into her books. There is always something going on, even when there isn't.

Frostbite- A Vampire Academy Novel

Product Details Reading level: Young Adult Paperback: 336 pages Publisher: Razorbill; First Edition edition (April 10, 2008) Language: English ISBN-10: 1595141758 ISBN-13: 978-1595141750

Frostbite is the second book in the Vampire Academy series. In this book, we get a farther look into the challenging life of dhampir, and future guardian, Rose Hathaway. Rose is impulsive, crude and quick tempered, but her training sessions with Guardian Dimitri Belikov have started to rub off on her. Rose is becoming more responsible and she's finally starting to see that what he's been teaching her are valuable life lessons. Lessons that she will have to learn if she wants to graduate from the academy and be her best friend, Lissa Dragomir's guardian.

Rose has more than her attitude to worry her: she can't get Dimitri out of her head, even though he may be falling for someone else, she can't stop slipping into Lissa's mind at intense, personal moments and to top it all off, her mother is in town. But after a brutal attack on Moroi royals by the immortal vampires, Strigoi, Rose finds her problems to be less than important. After the disappearance of three of her peers, Rose has to test her strengths as a guardian and a friend.

In the first book, it took my a while to get in to all the new mythology-- I'm a stickler for tradition--but halfway through the first Vampire Academy Novel, I was hooked. I've bought all four books in the series and I'm impatiently waiting on the mail today so I can get reading #3, SHADOW KISS.

This is a great series for anyone who enjoys a little romance, adventure and vampires!

Stargazer

Product Details Reading level: Young Adult Hardcover: 336 pages Publisher: HarperTeen; 1 edition (March 24, 2009) Language: English ISBN-10: 0061284408 ISBN-13: 978-0061284403

STARGAZER, like it's prequel, EVERNIGHT, starts off a bit slow at the beginning of the school year. Bianca watches her fellow classmates, most of them vampires, a few unknowing humans, as they arrive at the castle-like school of Evernight Academy--a sanctuary for vampires and a place where they can learn to live like humans and keep up with the times.

Bianca is only part vampire. Only once every few centuries do two full vampires give birth to a living child. Bianca needs to eat human food as well as blood and as she matures, her blood lust becomes stronger. One day, she will end a human life and complete her transformation, but something is stopping her--she's in love with a vampire hunter.

*SPOILER IF YOU HAVEN'T READ EVERNIGHT*

Lucas Ross, a Black Cross hunter. In EVERNIGHT, Lucas infiltrated the school in an attempt to discover why they were allowing human students to attend. He and Bianca fell in love before they knew what the other was.

*Un-SPOILER*

This year, something else is attempting to breach the sanctuary of the school and Bianca doesn't know who she can trust. Even her heart is confusing her. Bianca and Lucas continue their secret romance with the help of the vampire, Balthazar, who is searching for his sister--a vampire being hunted by Black Cross.

STARGAZER has adventure, mystery and romance all neatly tied together with some supernatural fun. I can't wait for HOURGLASS, the third installment of the Evernight Series!