Measuring Up by Nyrae Dawn

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Measuring Up
Author: Nyrae Dawn
Source: Personal Purchase
Genre: Young Adult
ISBN: 9781479313235

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)

Seventeen-year-old Annabel Conway is tired of the Hillcrest High School elite making her life miserable because she’s not a size two. This summer, she’s hiring a personal trainer to help her lose weight. 

Annabel doesn’t expect her trainer to be a gorgeous guy around her age. Boys like Tegan are jerks. They pretend to like girls like her so they can make an idiot out of them. Been there, done that. Totally not going there again. She kind of hates him on principal. Blond. Muscular. Funny. It doesn’t help that he knows her measurements!

Soon, Tegan’s so much more than that. He’s the boy who teaches her to box when she has a bad day. Who jogs with her and lets her set the pace. Who kisses her until she melts. He makes her feel beautiful regardless of what the scale says. Unlike her mom, he doesn’t expect perfection, and he doesn’t try to shield her from the world like her dad and best friend. Tegan likes her the way she is.

But what happens when he’s not there? He can’t always be there… 

Will Annabel be able to stand on her own and learn that she already measures up? That her worth doesn’t lie in what the world thinks, the scale says, or even what Tegan tells her—but in herself?

MY THOUGHTS

After finishing up a previous book by this author and having a few problems with her writing, I decided to give it another chance and try something again.  The last book had a better second half of the story, but this one had a better first half.

While I enjoyed reading about a character who is struggling with being overweight, I felt the author tended to focus on it a little too much.  It seemed like every page the reader was having to hear the character of Annabel complain about her weight.  I know the main part of this story is in dealing with weight and finding love in a skinny world, but it did get to the point of too much.

Again, there was inconsistency in the story as well.  It flowed in parts, but other parts were choppy.  If an author is going to include texting as well as dialogue, the author needs to know how to make that defined and not have the reader trying to guess what is text and what is speech. That is something that really irked me about this book because I had to reread it several times to grasp what was what.

I also was not a huge fan of Tegan.  His issues seem valid, but not enough to become believable in the extreme of why he does what he does near the end.

This book is full of cliche teen angst and drama, but it still wasn’t a bad read.  I have come to the conclusion that this author is just going to be another okay author in my reading tastes.  While this is not a bad thing, it isn’t a great factor as a returning reader of the future works by her.  Younger readers will more than likely enjoy this more than older adults.

MY RATING

Okay book, but it left me wanting more!

Bitter Blood by Rachel Caine

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Bitter Blood
Series: Morganville Vampires #13
Author: Rachel Caine
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal
Source: Publisher
ISBN: 9780451238115

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)

For years, the human and vampire residents of Morganville, Texas, have managed to co-exist in peace. But now that the threat to the vampires has been defeated, the human residents are learning that the gravest danger they face is the enemy within…

Thanks to the eradication of the parasitic creatures known as the draug, the vampires of Morganville have been freed of their usual constraints. With the vampires indulging their every whim, the town’s human population is determined to hold on to their lives by taking up arms. But college student Claire Danvers isn’t about to take sides, considering she has ties to both the humans and the vampires. 

To make matters worse, a television show comes to Morganville looking for ghosts, just as vampire and human politics collide. Now, Claire and her friends have to figure out how to keep the peace without ending up on the nightly news… or worse.

MY THOUGHTS

Oh Morganville, how I have missed you. This series is addictive and never fails at nonstop action and adventure. Please forgive me for being so vague in this review, but if I were to say to much it would give away so much of the story.  We can’t have all the secrets spilled like blood in one review!

Bitter Blood is again told from multiple POV’s from all our favorite characters.  The one that excited me the most was Myrnin though! We get to glimpse into his crazy mind and the author did a wonderful job of letting the reader understand what he goes through each day.  Myrnin also knows that Morganville is changing.  It is  finally coming down to a war between the humans and the vampires.  Sides will need to be chosen and our loyal group of four will find themselves put right in the middle of it.  Previous evil villains will reemerge and try to play the game of chess with lives of all.  Some you won’t expect, others you will.  One character will finally die, but I won’t tell you which one or how.

We will also see the marriage between a vampire and human –Eve and Michael– come to a major play for this book.  Amelie didn’t want this marriage to take place for a reason and it will be revealed why in this book.  Shane and Claire will also have their own relationship struggle that will change their outcome as well.

Can I just say that what the author gave me as a reader in the last half of the book, was some of the best she has written yet.  She wasn’t afraid to take the road the fans will hate, but in time I believe it is for the best.  There has been build up for this scene throughout the last few books — if not all — that finally comes to a climax. I think I was just as flabbergasted and shocked as the characters.

After thirteen installments in the Morganville story, it is great to know that the author can keep shocking me and keeping the story line interesting.  For fans of Morganville, do not miss this one.  Things are changing and evolving with each new chapter!

MY FAVORITE QUOTE

–I lifted one foot from the brackish water, and the bunny slippers were soaked and drooped pathetically.  Even the fangs seemed robbed of any charm.
“Don’t worry,” I told it.  “Someone will pay for your suffering. Heavily.  With screaming.”
I felt I should repeat it for the other slipper, in case there should be any bad feelings between the two.  One should never create tension between ones’s footwear.
–POV is Myrnin, page 221

MY RATING

Outstanding book that will stay on my bookshelf for rereading!

*I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

Every Day by David Levithan

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Every Day
Author: David Levithan
Source: Amazon Vine
Genre: Young Adult
ISBN: 9780307931887

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)

There’s never any warning about where it will be or who it will be. A has made peace with that, even established guidelines by which to live: Never get too attached. Avoid being noticed. Do not interfere.
It’s all fine until the morning that A wakes up in the body of Justin and meets Justin’s girlfriend, Rhiannon. From that moment, the rules by which A has been living no longer apply. Because finally A has found someone he wants to be with—day in, day out, day after day.

MY THOUGHTS

This is a book where some things are left unanswered but does not leave the reader wondering too much about it.  Yes, some will have some questions still, but most will just enjoy the ride.

I really liked this book.  I haven’t read anything before by this author (at least I don’t think I have), but I found myself enjoying the writing and the story that the author created.  While I am not a big fan of the cover,  I am willing to overlook it because the story is truly what held my interest. Not knowing what could be the next day in life, the author made the story come alive through A.  A was just going through the motions of changing each day into someone new, but when A finds love we get to see the transformation. I couldn’t wait to get to each new chapter to see what would happen.

Again, while I have not read anything else by this author, I am happy to say that I will definitely be checking out his other books to try.

MY RATING

Very Good! I would recommend this book!

*I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*

Wake by Amanda Hocking

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Wake
Series: Watersong #1
Author: Amanda Hocking
Source: Amazon Vine
Genre: Young Adult
ISBN: 9781250008121

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)

Fall under the spell of Wake—the first book in an achingly beautiful new series by celebrated author Amanda Hocking—and lose yourself to the Watersong.

Gorgeous. Fearless. Dangerous. They’re the kind of girls you envy; the kind of girls you want to hate. Strangers in town for the summer, Penn, Lexi and Thea have caught everyone’s attention—but it’s Gemma who’s attracted theirs. She’s the one they’ve chosen to be part of their group.

Gemma seems to have it all—she’s carefree, pretty, and falling in love with Alex, the boy next door. He’s always been just a friend, but this summer they’ve taken their relationship to the next level, and now there’s no going back. Then one night, Gemma’s ordinary life changes forever. She’s taking a late night swim under the stars when she finds Penn, Lexi and Thea partying on the cove. They invite her to join them, and the next morning she wakes up on the beach feeling groggy and sick, knowing something is different.

Suddenly Gemma is stronger, faster, and more beautiful than ever. But her new powers come with a terrifying price. And as she uncovers the truth, she’s is forced to choose between staying with those she loves—or entering a new world brimming with dark hungers and unimaginable secrets.

MY THOUGHTS

I have never been a huge fan of “mermaid” themed books.  There are a few that I have found to enjoy, but not many.  The only reason I ventured into this world again was the fact that it was written by Amanda Hocking.  Everyone is raving about her writing and her amazing publishing deal she received awhile back.  I figured there must be something to her writing if publishers were this excited about signing on a new writer.

I am still on the fence about this read.  While I can see the allure of the authors writing,  I am still not sold on the mermaid and sirens.  All I can think about is a fin getting in the way while trying to hug someone.  I know it seems childish, but my brain can’t seem to compute this with romantic and alluring.  This is just a personal peeve and not one that another reader should hold against a mermaid themed book.  On that note, the story itself was entertaining, but not outstanding.  Yes it held my interest and I was glad to have read this new read, but it is not one that blew the others in pile out of the water.  (no pun intended)  Also the climatic ending was pretty good and I give it points for keeping me interested enough to want to try the next book.

I can say that this author does have a unique writing style even if it did seem a little on the young side.  I know this is an author with many books under her belt though, so I will try and read other stories by her before making a final decision on adding her to my auto-buy list.

MY RATING

Okay book, but it left me wanting more!

*I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*

Team Human by Justine Larbalestier & Sarah Rees Brennan

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Team Human
Author(s): Justine Larbalestier & Sarah Rees Brennan
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal
Source: Amazon Vine
ISBN: 9780062089649

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)

Just because Mel lives in New Whitby, a city founded by vampires, doesn’t mean she knows any of the blood-drinking undead personally. They stay in their part of town; she stays in hers. Until the day a vampire shows up at her high school. Worse yet, her best friend, Cathy, seems to be falling in love with him. It’s up to Mel to save Cathy from a mistake she might regret for all eternity

On top of trying to help Cathy (whether she wants it or not), Mel is investigating a mysterious disappearance for another friend and discovering the attractions of a certain vampire wannabe. Combine all this with a cranky vampire cop, a number of unlikely romantic entanglements, and the occasional zombie, and soon Mel is hip-deep in an adventure that is equal parts hilarious and touching.

MY THOUGHTS

How do you write a review on a book that is so different that what you were expecting?  When I first saw the cover of this book, I thought I would be reading about a group of teens and adventure.  Then I read the back of the book and thought that it might be a lighter than the normal drama and angst with some adventure still.  Then when I started reading the book I found it was so much different than what I thought.

This book actually had me laughing out loud at times.  I loved the humor that the authors injected in the paranormal world created. With all of the paranormal books that are out there, it is refreshing to read something that pokes fun at it sometimes. What I loved is how this book is written to be one that you don’t take to heart.  I also loved the witty and comical dialogue of the characters.

If you are looking for a read that will lift your spirits and revive your interest in vampires and such, then I recommend getting a good laugh from this book.  It pokes fun at things, keeps you smiling, and gives you just a feel good feeling when you are in a funk from paranormal overload.

MY RATING

Very Good! I would recommend this book!

*I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*