Champion

Here's the deal friends- after Veronica Roth did what she did to Tris and Tobias, I wasn't sure I could handle a repeat in the end of the Legend trilogy by Marie Lu. I read each page with dread. Would she destroy one of my favorite couples? Would I have to give up reading for a while? Well, the conclusion to this amazing story was heart stopping. Day's impending death from his brain tumor, hung over it like a death knell. Eden being used as a guinea pig to find a cure for the plague. Anden's love for June that could never be requited. And June's guilt for her part in the ruin of Day's family. All set against the backdrop of a country on the brink of a takeover. Holy story line Batman! If you have read the series, you know what's going on. If you haven't, start at the beginning and fall in love with Day Wing- street rat, as my friend Michelle calls him. (We think he and Han "Cuffs" McAllister should hang out) Day is the hero of his country, his brother and the love of his life June. But Day will risk it all to save them even when his own body rebels against him. The end battle is most amazing and the last 100 pages of this book I read as if in a race. I will not give anything away. I will say that I sobbed on my porch for a while. I tried to convince myself that these were fake people and not real. I read the epilogue with my heart in my throat. And then I read Marie Lu's end notes. They made me chuckle. She thinks these are real people too, and she has let them go off into the world now to live their lives, and she thinks they are going to be okay. So, I'll dry my tears, get a new grip on reality and know that Day and June are okay, somewhere in the future. (And in my world, living happily ever after) So thank you Marie for not pulling a Roth on us and for giving us such amazing characters that we couldn't stand to see harm come to them. (Okay, so I just gave away that they live- so sue me!) On a sadder note, our favorite bookstore is closing it's doors, so thank you Mrs. Nelson's for all the wonderful author's you've brought to us over the years, you will be missed! Happy reading my friends- I'm off to put a scarlet streak in my hair in honor of Day!

Blood-Kissed Sky

It's a classic tale, boy meets girl, girl falls for boy, boy turns out to be a vampire. Not just any vampire, mind you, the son of one of the fourteen original families. Dawn and Victor have been through it together. She gave him her blood to save his life. But Vampires and humans should not mix. Especially when Dawn is the human delegate to the Valentine family. And now that he has killed his father, Victor is the Valentine family. To add insult to injury, Victor's evil half brother, Sin is out to get Dawn and all those she loves. When Dawn realizes it's more than jealousy, her world is turned completely upside down and she will have to make a life changing decision if she is to save those she loves. She takes the Night Train to Los Angeles to see how they handle The Thirst- a vampire disease that turns vampires into uncontrollable monsters. Something about Los ANgeles isn't right, but the group can't figure out what it is. Everyone is too perfect, happy and well cared for. With her friends, Michael, Tegan and the most famous vampire hunter in the world, Dawn comes face to face with the person calling to her in her dreams. But that dream may just be an nightmare that will not go away in the light of day. Can Victor save her in time? This is the second book in a trilogy that started with Darkness Before the Dawn by J.A. London. It is an interesting view of a world where vampires and humans have reached a shaky truce that could crumble to the ground in an instant. And there is the irresistible vampire/human love story. But Dawn is no Bella, she can hold her own, both with her mind AND a stake. So give it a try if you like this genre. All the books are out so waiting is not required. As for me, it's time to catch up with June and Day in the final book in Marie Lu's Legend series. Happy reading my friends!

bang

One thing I must say about Lisa McMann, her books are accessible and highly readable for the middle school reader. This sequel to Crash is no different. Jules has recovered from her visions of Sawyer Angotti's death. She saved the day and won his heart in the process. Unfortunately, now Sawyer is having a vision. His vision is of an impending school shooting. Jules feels responsible and together they decide to figure out the vision together. Jules's brother Trey joins in to help and the three of them piece together the clues needed to end Sawyer's vision and hopefully save the eleven victims in the process. In the background of the story is the Romeo and Juliet aspect of the two families. Jules's dad and Sawyer's mom have had an affair and so Jules and Sawyer have been forbidden to see each other. Jules's dad is an angry hoarder and Sawyer's father takes his anger out on his son. Both of the teens are dealing with some serious parent issues. The way the teens in this story stick together is lovely. The love story between Jules and Sawyer is also told with a truthful voice. McMann has a great little series here, with no end to the possibilities. Will Sawyer's visions get passed on to one of the survivors? How will they overcome their parent's issues? Will Trey find love? All pressing questions. If you enjoy a modern tale with a slight supernatural twist this is the series for you. You won't be disappointed. Happy reading my friends!

Rise

Much like the last book I reviewed, the heroine in this sequel to Rift is a red headed firebrand. Ember has fled the chaos of the night her mentor was killed. She is in the company of the love of her life, Barrow and the knights who are trying to stop the evil that has been unleashed on the world. She finds herself on the opposite side of her childhood best friend Alistair who is becoming increasingly hostile towards the fact that she doesn't return his desires. And then their is the Lord Mar. He commands the wraiths of another reality that can't be stopped. Mar won't stop until all the power is his. He uses Alistair to create a new evil to be unleashed on the world. Ember must put herself at risk to keep the knights plan in motion to close the gate between this world and Mar's. It will take great sacrifice and determination to pull off their plan. Will Ember be able to convince Alistair she is on his side? Can she hide her love for Barrow? Will her sister be used as a pawn in the evil machinations of Eira and Mar? Yikes, that's a lot of questions! I will say that most of these are answered, and I know this is a prequel to a series I haven't read yet, but  I feel like this one left me hanging! Will there be a third prequel? Will Cian's sacrifice be fulfilled? And what the heck happened to Kael? I totally enjoyed this book and the characters. Barrow is definitely top ten material and Ember is yet another non-damsel in distress. She could totally hang with Rachel from Defiance and Katsa from Graceling. It would be like another realm Charlie's Angels... Hey, there's an idea for a book... I look forward to reading the actual series this is based on Nightshade with my mini book club in January. Until then, the pile of unread books calls me and the weather is like summer, so off to my patio I go- maybe to finish Marie Lu's series, maybe to start a new one. I haven't made up my mind yet. Happy reading my friends and Merry Christmas Eve!

Deception

Best case scenario- I can finish a book in a couple of days. Worst case scenario- work gets in the way. Since break has just begun and I can't stomach heading out to shop with no rhyme or reason, I was able to finish the C.J. Redwine's sequel to Defiance. Logan and Rachel are trying to bring their city-state back from the destruction the Commander has wrought. Their loved ones dead, no place to go and no way to defend themselves, they must gather the few survivors and convince them to head into the Wasteland and try to get to the protection of another city-state. The way is fraught with peril. (wrought and fraught in one review!) They are being attacked from within their group. Many lives are lost, some more devastating than others. The people that Logan and Rachel can trust grow smaller and smaller in number. Just when you think they have reached safety, a crushing revelation is revealed, changing the game for everyone. How are Rachel and Logan going to get out of this one? Hmm. I have a confession to make, I sometimes (read-all the time) check the ending of books to make sure my favorite characters are still alive. Well, this time that backfired. I almost threw this one into the orange tree until I stopped and actually read the whole ending. Clever trick, I must say. I love this series. It is filled with strong female characters in Willow, Rachel and Sylph. Loyal boys in Frank, Adam, Quinn and Logan and not one, but TWO super evil villains from H***. Whew. I think I need to sit and think about this one for a minute. So if you love a good girl warrior takes on the world book, check out this series. You won't be disappointed. Happy reading my friends!