BAD TASTE IN BOYS
Author: Carrie Harris
Source: Personal Purchase

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 208 pages
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (July 12, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0385739680
ISBN-13: 978-0385739689

Someone’s been a very bad zombie.

She’s got to find an antidote–before her entire high school ends up eating each other. So Kate, her best girlfriend, Rocky, and Aaron stage a frantic battle to save their town. . . and stay hormonally human.

I was first intrigued by this book because of the cover.  I thought it was creepy and eerie with the frost covered lips.  I also have been trying to read more books about zombies lately since they seem to be the new rage in the book genre.  Unfortunately, this book fell flat as a dead zombie for me.


Within the first chapter of this book, I could already tell that it was not going to be a book I would enjoy.  The character is suppose to be in high school, yet her actions and personality of her friends made me feel like I was reading a book focused more on the younger teens.  The writing, in my opinion, needing much more work to be considered a young adult genre book.  I would classify this one to be more middle grade in writing style.  I wasn’t a fan of the main character, Kate, who was suppose to be smart but was naive most of the time.  Now don’t get me wrong!  I didn’t hate the book, but it is not a favorite of mine.


This is more of a fun and light read that you could easily finish in a day.  I took it as a mindless read that you don’t have to put much thought into the plot as you read it.  You just go with the flow and try to enjoy the story line that the author created. 

 
  If the library doesn’t have it, don’t worry about reading it! 2 STARS

BLOOD BOUND
Unbound #1
Author: Rachel Vincent
Source: Author
*I received this ARC free of charge in exchange for an honest review*

Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Mira (August 23, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0778312550
ISBN-13: 978-0778312550

By blood, by word, by magic…

Most can’t touch the power. But Liv Warren is special— a paranormal tracker who follows the scent of blood.

Liv makes her own rules, and the most important one is trust no one.

But when her friend’s daughter goes missing, Liv has no choice but to find the girl. Thanks to a childhood oath, Liv can’t rest until the child is home safe. But that means trusting Cam Caballero, the former lover forbidden to her.

Bound by oath and lost in desire for a man she cannot have, Liv is racing to save the child from a dark criminal underworld where secrets, lies, trauma and danger lurk around every corner…every touch…every kiss.

And more blood will be spilled before it’s over…

I am speechless for my review of Blood Bound.  I did not know what to expect since the only books I have read by this author are her young adult Soul Screamer series.  I knew it would be excellent writing, but I didn’t realize how well she could execute an adult themed genre book until now.

I will be honest though in the fact that if you aren’t prepared for some puzzle solving, you can easily get lost in the first couple chapters.  I was scratching my head several times trying to figure out what the heck was going on.  Even though I was confused and starting to get frustrated, I kept reading and  I am so happy I did.  Once I got through the initial scene set-up chapters, the book took off.  I found myself sucked into the Skilled world and was secretly wishing I had some of those Skills without the contracts!  Imagine having the powers to track someone with either a name or sample of blood.  Imagine stepping from one place into another by just walking though a shadow.  Imagine seeing into the future and knowing all sorts of possibilities with different decisions. Just sit and imagine what it would be like.

The romance between Cam and Olivia is written perfectly.  It isn’t over done with a lot of sex scenes, but you can still feel the chemistry pull between the two and you find yourself looking for the loopholes for them to be together.  I even found myself cheering and hoping that one particular bad guy would turn out not to be so bad.  While I still can’t stand his wife, the bad guy does have some redeeming qualities if you look close enough. 

Now don’t even get me started on that ending!  I was so frustrated on the last page.  I looked at my book closely to see if it was missing pages and then my frustration only grew when I finally accepted that the author left the ending this way for a reason.  I could have screamed and thrown my book against a wall, but I realized it just makes me more anxious for the next book in the series to arrive.  I now NEED the next book in the series just as much as I need my next breath!  When an author can leave you hanging at the end, but leave you satisfied enough to want to continue the series, you know the author has done a beautiful job in a novel.  Author Rachel Vincent has now been bumped to my always list for adult themed books and I can’t wait to get my hands on her other series!

Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf
For Rereading!

SOPHIE & CARTER
Author: Chelsea Fine
Source: Author
*I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*

Paperback: 128 pages
Publisher: Acacia Publishing, Inc. (June 20, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1935089447
ISBN-13: 978-1935089445

While other high school seniors are dreaming about their futures, Sophie and Carter are just trying to make it through each day. Carter is overwhelmed by issues at home as he struggles to support his mother. Meanwhile, next door neighbor Sophie is left to care for her three younger siblings in place of their absent and troubled mother. All that holds these two best friends together is each other, and knowing that each night they’ll sit together on Sophie’s front porch swing and escape from reality, if just for awhile. But as their relationship reaches a turning point and high school graduation nears, will their friendship become something more?

If you are looking for your next young adult romance that has sweet charm and innocence in it, then look no further!  Sophie & Carter was such a surprise read for me and I finished this book in thirty minutes after nonstop reading.  


Carter and Sophie live next door to each other and have been friends ever since.  They both come from dysfunctional families and know secrets about each other that no one else does.  Carter grew up in an abusive household and now takes care of his Mother who has mental disabilities after being beaten so many times by her long gone husband.  Sophie is busy raising her 3 younger siblings while their Mother is busy being strung out on drugs and being a prostitute.  After school ends and the pretending of being normal comes to an end each day, they both have to go home to real life.  They go through the daily routine of taking care of what needs to be done.  When the day begins to come to a close, they sit outside on the front porch swing and just be there for each other.  


With alternating points of view for each chapter, the reader gets to take a glimpse into the mind of each character.  While Carter is scarred on the outside, he is sweet, gentle and protective of everything he loves on the inside.  I loved his character and found myself falling for him along with Sophie. While Sophie has had a hard life as well, she is a strong and brave girl who finds the strength everyday to take care of her siblings and be a role model for them.  She is kind, patient and strong with a devotion to her family that was wonderful. 


This is a quick read, but an outstanding read that will touch you.  I loved the ending and I couldn’t have been happier.  I do hope the author writes a sequel to this book because when it comes to Sophie & Carter, “I LOVE THEIR GUTS!”

Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf
For Rereading! 5 STARS