Review: CornerStone by Kelly Walker

Emariya's life was nearly over before it started. Hidden under the floorboards while her mother died above her, she escaped a brutal death then—only to go racing toward it now, sixteen years later.

After learning her father has been captured, Emariya is desperate to save him, no matter who she has to turn to for help. Oblivious to her potential gifts and the secrets surrounding her dual heritage, Emariya makes a bargain with the prince of a rival land, Torian Ahlen. In exchange for her hand in marriage, he agrees to send his forces to rescue her father. With the arrangements made, Emariya embarks on a tumultuous journey through two kingdoms as different from each other as the families that rule them.

Before long, Emariya comes face to face with her mother's killers, and learns of an ominous prophecy: her and Torian's bloodlines must never be combined. Armed with this frightening new knowledge, Emariya begins to fear the handsome prince may desire more than to steal her heart, and it will take all of her newfound skills to survive.

Title: CornerStone
Series: Souls of the Stones #1

Published: October 22nd 2012 by Kelly Walker (first published October 1st 2012)
ISBN: 1480086711 (ISBN13: 9781480086715)
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"Your parents, they chose their own path. The time has come for you to choose yours. Don't loose sight of what her path cost her. She tried to save her people, and not only did she fail, but she lost herself. Milady, some bargains, they just aren't worth the risk."

When starting this free book I didn't expect much, but by the end of the novel everything you've learned in the beginning has changed. Riya may have unknowingly placed her trust in the wrong people, enemies becoming friend and friends becoming enemies? Well, both are very likely with all of the twists throughout the story. I loved this book for that reason, when I started the book I wouldn't have guessed it would be this good, and I definitely wouldn't have guessed what happens during the last few pages.

I must also mention that when I started the book it was rather slow, the main reason that it lost a star, and it wasn't this way the entire book, but I would guess ABOUT the first third of it was. For me, it really didn't take away from the book itself that much, but it wasn't ideal. I should admit that I wanted to just forget about this fact, and give it five stars anyways, because she does create a wonderful world during this time, it wasn't mind-numbingly boring, just slow. If I was you I wouldn't give up, I think that it truly does get a lot better has the book progresses, and really, the ending is so stunning and wonderful that even if I didn't enjoy the slow beginning, it would've totally made up for it. 

Riya is a great main character, while she is saved by men occasionally she isn't the damsel in distress, if she's captured she doesn't sit there and wait for someone else to save her, she tries to save herself. She's also great in the way that she can admit she wants to be protected, and she knows it doesn't make her weak. Adding onto all of this while her family is the head of the council, she doesn't let it get to her head. Her two best friends are the blacksmiths son, Garith, and her handmaiden, Jessa. Riya even mentions that yes, Jessa does work for her but she will always first and foremost be her best friend, and that they all do keep up appearances to keep the public eye happy, because a being best friends with a handmaiden could be very scandalous. 

Before I forget to mention, the cover to this book is amazing, plus it's free, so if I was you I'd read it. Today. Right now.

Book Nerd and Proud,

K.G.

Review: UnEnchanted by Chanda Hahn

Mina Grime is unlucky, unpopular and uncoordinated, that is until she saves her crush's life on a field trip, changing her High School status from loser to hero overnight. But with her new found fame brings misfortune as an old family curse come to light. For Mina is descended from the Brothers Grimm and has inherited all of their unfinished fairy tale business. Which includes trying to outwit a powerful Story from making her its next fairy tale victim.

To break the fairy tale curse on her family and stop these deadly events, Mina must finish the tales until the very Grimm end.

Title: UnEnchanted

Series: An Unfortunate Fairy Tale #1

Published: 2011 by Chanda Hahn
ASIN: B006ROK1UM

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I really like the cover of this book, which just so happens to be a free eBook on Barnes & Noble and Amazon, so if I were you I'd go pick it up right after I finished reading this wonderful review. I'm glad I decided to read it because it turned out to be a great book, I thought it was about a 4 star book, but then I had to consider that the book wasn't edited. It didn't bother me that much, but at times it would ruin the flow of the story and get annoying.

This is also a very fluffy, stereotypical book. Mina is the ordinary girl, who isn't really pretty and has little to no friends, until she saves Brody from death and he suddenly realizes he needs to be with this girl. He's the most popular guy in school, and a catch for any girl, but now he has fixated on her and they become best friends, the unlikely pair that will get married with a happily ever after. 

Only this book has a twist, one that I love and will not reveal, but great nonetheless. It is definitely part of the reason I am dying to read the next book, but I've heard the third is coming out by the end of this month so I'll try to find the will power to wait until then. When it does come out I will read and review the second and third book, which I do have high expectations for. 

Mina didn't believe in herself in this book, and I would really like that to change. Her younger brother is the next of the Grimm's, he'll get the curse if she doesn't break it and she knows this! She even says that she wants to protect him, yet she relies so heavily on other people, what happens when they're not around? If she wants to stand up for her brother she first has to learn how to stand up for herself. 

Nan is a beautiful girl who is Mina's best friend, but she is also friendly with everyone, and obsessed with twitter, even tweeting a picture of Mina running for the bus. When Mina is need of help, or just a friend, Nan is there, even listening to her crazy story about how she is a Grimm and has to finish a task that the Grimm brothers couldn't. I thought she was a great character because she knew how to laugh at herself, and her confidence could be beneficial to Mina. 

I'm still not sure what to think of Jared and Brody, because of the ending and how mysterious Jared can be. It was either Jared or Brody that would be there to save her whenever she was in any kind of distress. Brody has a great relationship with Mina and I truly liked it but I'm not sure if I rather her be with Jared yet, once I learn more about him in the next book I'll probably have an easier time picking. 

Overall this was a great read, and I'm very glad I read it. The author also has another free book out The Iron Butterfly, and I'll probably try to read that too, sometime in the near future. I can see the next book being better, and cannot wait for the third. 

Now that my review is finished you should really click the Barnes & Noble or Amazon link and read this book (:

Book Nerd and Proud, 

K.G. 

Review: Turned by Morgan Rice

Eighteen year old Caitlin Paine finds herself uprooted from her nice suburb and forced to attend a dangerous New York City high school when her Mom moves again. The one ray of light in her new surroundings is Jonah, a new classmate who takes an instant liking to her.

But before their romance can blossom, Caitlin suddenly finds herself changing. She is overcome by a superhuman strength, a sensitivity to light, a desire to feed--by feelings she does not understand. She seeks answers to what’s happening to her, and her cravings lead her to the wrong place at the wrong time. Her eyes are opened to a hidden world, right beneath her feet, thriving underground in New York City. She finds herself caught between two dangerous covens, right in the middle of a vampire war.

It is at this moment that Caitlin meets Caleb, a mysterious and powerful vampire who rescues her from the dark forces. He needs her to help lead him to the legendary lost artifact. And she needs him for answers, and for protection. Together, they will need to answer one crucial question: who was her real father?

But Caitlin finds herself caught between two men as something else arises between them: a forbidden love. A love between the races that will risk both of their lives, and will force them to decide whether to risk it all for each other…

Title: Turned
Series: Vampire Journals #1
Published: January 24th 2011
ISBN13: 9780982953723

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Lately I've been insanely busy, and without much time to read a book. I wanted something short to help me get ahead on my reviews, and that is why I chose the free book Turned. I have nothing against free books, I've found a few that have been delightfully surprising, and become a favorite series of mine, but I must say that I didn't start this book with high expectations, thankfully so, because I felt this might make a decent novella, but not a novel. It has so many holes with no explanations for simple concepts that don't even need a lengthy explanation like what are the difference between good vampires and bad ones? Neither of them would take in a half breed, and I doubt "good vampires" don't eat humans. 

Caitlin is a vampire, but by all means she's is not cunning, manipulative or smart, maybe that only comes with age. It is something I've come to expect with vampires and I must admit that I was disappointed to find that Caitlin was even a bit below average, she quickly decided to run away from home, with what? Only the clothes she has on her, and an extra pair of fancy clothes for her date with Jonah.

Jonah is the first, and only, person she bonds with at school, which isn't surprising because I think over the course of the book she only goes to school for a full day once or twice. Needless to say, her and Jonah hit it off and he asks her on a date, to which she accepts. Their date really doesn't go as planned, and after it you don't see much of a chance for Jonah as Caitlin has met the all encompassing Caleb, who she immediately falls in love with. 

Caleb saves Caitlin when she finds herself in some trouble with a clan of vampires. This is their first meeting, and by the end of it he says he loves her. I don't know what to think of their ridiculous relationship, or Caleb because he was just introduced and I know nearly nothing about him. 

Unless I get the other books for free, or at the library, I wouldn't read them. I don't expect to read the rest of the series because I truly do not see much potential.

Book Nerd and Proud,
K.G. 

Review: The Luxe by Anna Godbersen

Pretty girls in pretty dresses, partying until dawn.
Irresistible boys with mischievous smiles and dangerous intentions.
White lies, dark secrets, and scandalous hookups.
This is Manhattan, 1899. Beautiful sisters Elizabeth and Diana Holland rule Manhattan's social scene. Or so it appears. When the girls discover their status among New York City's elite is far from secure, suddenly everyone--from the backstabbing socialite Penelope Hayes, to the debonair bachelor Henry Schoonmaker, to the spiteful maid Lina Broud--threatens Elizabeth's and Diana's golden future.

With the fate of the Hollands resting on her shoulders, Elizabeth must choose between family duty and true love. But when her carriage overturns near the East River, the girl whose glittering life lit up the city's gossip pages is swallowed by the rough current. As all of New York grieves, some begin to wonder whether life at the top proved too much for this ethereal beauty, or if, perhaps, someone wanted to see Manhattan's most celebrated daughter disappear...

In a world of luxury and deception, where appearance matters above everything and breaking the social code means running the risk of being ostracized forever, five teenagers lead dangerously scandalous lives. This thrilling trip to the age of innocence is anything but innocent.

Title: The Luxe
Series: Luxe #1
Published: November 20th 2007 by HarperCollins
ISBN: 0061345660 (ISBN13: 9780061345661)
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This book was the perfect break from all things paranormal. It seems like after you read a continuous line of magical beasts and hidden powers, everything starts to seem the same. The Luxe focuses on the  lives of Manhattan's teenage socialites during the 19th century.

Elizabeth Holland is the belle of the ball, whom every man wishes to court. Her mother has already arranged her perfect counterpart and very sought after bachelor, Henry Schoonmaker, and her to be married, but Elizabeth finds that her tastes in men aren't quite the same as other society women. Her heart is with their coachman, Will Kellar. Because of his social status, their affair is kept hidden, but when all she wants to do is run away with Will, her mother urges her to marry Henry in order to save the family when they are in financial distraught. In the end, she decides that helping her family wasn't going to give her the life she wanted.

Diana is Elizabeth's younger sister, who is usually eclipsed by her older sister. While Elizabeth is arranged to marry, Diana is in love with her sister's fiancee, and Henry feels the same way. As this goes on, Elizabeth's best friend, Penelope Hayes, developed a sort of infatuation on Henry. She isn't used to not getting what she wants and is infuriated when she discovers Elizabeth is engaged to him. Penelope is the sort of girl to go to any lengths to break up the wedding. When she begins to plan, there is no such thing as "friendship" in her vocabulary. Anything and everything is fair game.

When Elizabeth was a child, her closest friends were Lina and Will, who were part of the help. Her mother decided as she grew older, it was no longer appropriate. Elizabeth could not openly speak to either of them, so when Lina and Will became closer friends, Lina fell in love with Will. She became upset with Elizabeth when she found out her secret affair with Will and her jealousy got the better of her.

It seems that nobody in this book fell in love with the right person. Either because society told them it was wrong, or because that person loved someone else. This was such an amazing novel with pages filled with scandal and jealousy, and with so many twists and turns it makes you wonder if being a part of the elite is worth all the trouble to keep up appearances.

“I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book.” -Groucho Marx
Book Nerd and Proud, 
C.J.

Review: The Angel Experiment by James Patterson

Fourteen-year-old Maximum Ride, better known as Max, knows what it's like to soar above the world. She and all the members of the "Flock"--Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gasman and Angel--are just like ordinary kids--only they have wings and can fly. It may seem like a dream come true to some, but their lives can morph into a living nightmare at any time--like when Angel, the youngest member of the "Flock," is kidnapped and taken back to the "School" where she and the others were genetically engineered by sinister scientists. Her friends brave a journey to Death Valley, CA, to save Angel, but soon enough, they find themselves in yet another nightmare--this one involving fighting off the half-human, half-wolf "Erasers" in New York City. Whether in the treetops of Central Park or in the bowels of the Manhattan subway system, Max and her adopted family take the ride of their lives. Along the way Max discovers from her old friend and father-figure Jeb--now her betrayed and greatest enemy--that her purpose is save the world--but can she?

Title: The Angel Experiment
Series: Maximum Ride #1
Published: May 1st 2006 by Warner Vision Books
ISBN: 0446617792 (ISBN13: 9780446617796)
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Warning

Do not put this book down. I'm dead serious. Your life could depend on it. I'm risking everything by telling you- but you need to know. If you dare to read this story, you become part of the Experiment. I know that sounds a little mysterious- but it's all I can say right now.

Max 

Though I have not read this book recently, I'm fairly confident in my ability to review this novel considering the fact I have read it no less than five times! Ever since the beginning of middle school, this has been one of my favorite series, however, I do not plan to review the rest of the series since I've been doing a lot of re-reading lately, and it can become tiresome...The only reason this review is given four stars instead of five is because in a way, I'm rating the series as a whole. Yes, there is a few books in between the series that don't capture my attention quite as well as the others, but it is definitely well worth the read. 

Max, the leader of the Flock, is my favorite combination of brave and witty in a heroine. While she is only fourteen years old in "The Angel Experiment" she acts well beyond her years, caring for other the other members in her group like a nurturing mother. Gazzy, otherwise known as the Gasman (for more obvious reasons), and Angel (the youngest) are the only actual siblings among the group, but from the way the others act, they all seem like a big family...with their own share of problems. Nudge is the little fashionista of the group, and Iggy, who is blind because of a failed experiment, is a genius in both the kitchen and with explosives (with the help of Gazzy). Fang is the most reserved and mysterious out of the group, but that doesn't keep Max's complicated feelings about him away. 

Like Max, they are all 98% human and 2% bird, but that small percentage makes the biggest difference. They have wings. Most of us dream about such things...the freedom of being able to fly, and while this is a bonus for the Flock, not everything is fun and games. The White Coats are a group of scientists who created these genetically modified humans to begin with, but most of their experiments don't usually have the best of outcomes. However, the avian-human hybrids were one of the few successes, and they want to run more tests. Hoping to never have to face the poking and prodding of needles, the kids hide and run. The Flock may be able to remain unseen from your average human, but the scientists have created the "Erasers" which are a race half human and half wolf hybrids designed to hunt the Flock down. 

From the first page, this book keeps you on the edge of your seat. It takes the simple path of  good vs evil, but takes a few turns on the way. The novel was fast-paced and exciting, and keeps you wanting more...

“There is no friend as loyal as a book.” - Ernest Hemingway
Book Nerd and Proud,
C.J.

Review: Fall for Me by K.A. Last

“Angels aren’t supposed to fall in love, especially with each other. But for the record, you were worth it.”

Grace Tate is a Protection Angel and Vampire Hunter, and she has always followed the rules. But some rules are made to be broken…

Until now the fight against evil has been simple, and falling in love was never part of the plan. So what happens when it’s beyond Grace’s control, and when she least expects it she falls for the wrong person?

All hell breaks loose, that’s what.

At Hopetown Valley High, not everything is as it seems, and the one person Grace thought was her enemy becomes her most important ally.

Blood will be shed, lives will be lost and friendships will be tested. It all comes down to one decision, and when Grace tries to save all those dear to her, she realises not everyone can be—or wants to be—saved.

Title: Fall for Me 

Series: The Tate Chronicals #1 
Published: January 17th 2013

• ISBN-13: 9780987384904

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My one wish would be to keep Archer and my friends safe. I figured if angels and vampires existed, why not genies? I needed to get one of those. 

Grace was a great character, in specific points of the book especially. One of the best examples is when Grace, a protection angel sent on to Earth for two basic purposes: to protect her brother and to kill vampires, is the person trying to protect a vampire with a white soul, someone she believes to be a good person who doesn't deserve to die, yet her superiors in Heaven tell her that she needs to "release its soul" (or something along those lines). Grace hasn't seen said vampire commit any acts of cruelty and decides to protect it, sticking to what she believes in. I loved this part of the book, it shows how everything isn't good or evil, there are lot of gray areas, which is really realistic, and I like that.

Many points in the book I did get a little annoyed with Grace, she's supposed to be a strong protection angel but I would say that she cried more than anyone else in the book, way more than the average human does. Yes, all of this does happen over a week, and I see how it could be very overwhelming, I just wish she wasn't so weepy all of the time.

So much had happened since the first day back at school, was it really just a week ago? I'd fallen in love, betrayed by my home, lost my best friend, hurt Josh, and fallen in love again.

Which also brings me to my next topic, the timing of the events in the book. The book, which is short already at 237 pages (or that's what it was on my nook) seems to try to cram everything in a little too fast. The book is fast paced but I will admit it lost my attention at some spots (could be because I didn't like Josh at all). Grace meets an entire new kind of vampire, falls in love with a guy she's barely said two words to before, has a problem because she kind of likes another guy who she has actually known for a long time, and....I'm afraid to mention the other things, and give away the story, so I won't.

Seth and Grace were best friends, until Seth decides he can't live with Grace but without her love, and he refuses to let her fall for him, so he falls himself and hides how he feels for her. He ends up providing her with some pretty important information, like how angels can be killed (which I found it to be very creative and interesting). I didn't have any problems with Seth, I liked him and I thought it was cute that he tried to protect Grace, in his own way without her knowing.

Josh, however, I did have a few problems with. They both admit that they barely know each other, and haven't even had a real conversation, but they quickly start a relationship and fall in love. At the start of the book Josh is still with his long time girlfriend who he hasn't loved for a while but just didn't find the "right time" to end it. Okay, he was trying not to hurt her, but ended up stringing her along in the process, it isn't the greatest thing to do but I can forgive him. She was a bit shallow, maybe she never had any true feelings for him anyways. Except, he decides to publicly humiliate her, which isn't right at all. You just broke up with her at the beginning of the day, do you truly think she'll be over it by the end of the day? I've never known anyone to move on from a relationship so quickly, even if it didn't have its spark anymore! He just seemed like a bad guy to me, not in the sexy way either. It could be hard to tell Grace and Josh apart, but then I'd hear a mean thought and know it was him.

Sacrifice, the prequel, is supposed to be read after this, but I don't think it gives much away that you don't already know within the first 10 pages. I loved it, I thought it was better than this book. For what I think are two good reasons, it has more Seth, the fallen angel who has fallen for Grace, and it's about when they were still best friends and going on angel missions together. I definitely will read the next book, I have a feeling that the it will be much better.

Sometime this week was my birthday, so happy birthday to me, and everyone else!
Book Nerd and Proud,
K.G.  

Review: Days of Blood & Starlight by Laini Taylor

Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love and dared to imagine a world free of bloodshed and war.

This is not that world.

Art student and monster's apprentice Karou finally has the answers she has always sought. She knows who she is—and what she is. But with this knowledge comes another truth she would give anything to undo: She loved the enemy and he betrayed her, and a world suffered for it.

In this stunning sequel to the highly acclaimed Daughter of Smoke & Bone, Karou must decide how far she'll go to avenge her people. Filled with heartbreak and beauty, secrets and impossible choices, Days of Blood & Starlight finds Karou and Akiva on opposing sides as an age-old war stirs back to life.

While Karou and her allies build a monstrous army in a land of dust and starlight, Akiva wages a different sort of battle: a battle for redemption. For hope.

But can any hope be salvaged from the ashes of their broken dream?

Title: Days of Blood & Starlight
Series: Daughter of Smoke & Bone #2
Published: November 6th 2012 by Little Brown Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 0316133973 (ISBN13: 9780316133975)
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I wanted to finish the book as quickly as possible, yet I needed to savor every word. Again, Laini Taylor has built a world that goes beyond simple understanding. She has not kept anything back, so we feel the suffering and pain that the characters try to overcome in a world marked by suffering and death, and the only thing that kept them going was hope. Similar to the last book, Laini Taylor's writing is at an artistic level with beautiful descriptions and plots. 

The last book it ends with Karou realizing that the man she loves has done far worse than she expected, and finds out that sometimes yes, ignorance can be bliss. She tries her hardest to hate Akiva for his actions, but finds that she can't. Karou is living in the middle of the desert acting as the new resurrectionist, creating a new army which gives the chimera a fighting chance. As much as Thiago would like, he cannot outright kill Karou because of the knowledge she possesses. Instead, he turns the rebel forces against her, making sure that she doesn't win their trust by spreading lies. He does this because he continues to hold a grudge from years ago that she did not choose him in her past life as Madrigal. However, not everybody believes the deceit. Ziri who was once in love with Madrigal as a young boy sacrifices much for Karou in order to help her and gain the trust of the other rebels. These circumstances have turned her into a stronger and determined woman, but many times you see how she wishes for her old and now seemingly mundane life. 

While this goes on, Akiva attempts to prove he is better man by helping the chimera whenever he can, and surprisingly sometimes with the aid of his brother and sister, Hazael and Liraz. At first, he was lead to believe his only love was dead, but discovers that she is alive and is helping the rebels. And though he believes Karou hates him, he watches over her and makes sure she is safe. 

"Soon, everything else would come rushing at him. Like the ground to a falling man, it would come rushing up and hit hi all at once - the place, the company, her worlds; one implication would lead to another and shatter him - but around that intake of breathe the world hung silent and bright, so bright, and Akiva only knew this one thing, and help on to it and wanted to live in side of it and stay there forever.

Karou was alive." 

Laini Taylor has written a beautiful sequel fueled by the concepts of prejudice, hate, and war. However the beacon of light for both races was hope. Hope that there would be no more loss, hope that everything would be over, and hope to finally be with the love of your life. There is without a shadow of doubt in my mind that I will be reading the final book in this wonderful trilogy next year!

“I know exactly what I would do with immortality: I would read every book in the library.” -Mark Jason Dominus

Book Nerd and Proud,

C.J.