Maelstrom by J.D. Watts

Maelstrom (Children of Creation #3) by J.D. Watts
Publisher:  The Writer's Coffee Shop Publishing
Publish Date:  December 13, 2012
Pages: 142 
ISBN#978-1612131115

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This story was a little heavy on biblical references for me.


This story involved a lot of retelling from the first two books, so there wasn't much need to read the first two books.  The writing and characters are fine, just not my cup of tea.

Entangled (Spellbound #1) by Nikki Jefford

Entangled (Spellbound #1) by Nikki Jefford
Publisher: ebook, self-published
Publish Date: February 20, 2012
Pages: 303


Seventeen Graylee and her twin sisters are witches.  Graylee is also now dead.  It gets worse - she has to be stuck in her twin's body every other day.

Charlene (her twin) leaves her notes on how to dress, eat, act with her friends and how to act with her boyfriend, Blake.

Graylee (Gray) - a bit of a free-spirit, but that is ruined by her petty behavior and how she classifies everyone based on their physical traits.  Portrayed as a goody-goody, but is often rude and self-righteous.

Charlene - pretty, popular, boy crazy

Raj - intimidating, a bit of a stalker, the only non-white character - I feel like he got a crappy deal.

The writing is choppy, inconsistent and sometimes repetitive.  The idea is awesome, but the book needs some major editing work.

The Sweetest Dark by Shana Abe

The Sweetest Dark (The Sweetest Dark #1) by Shana Abe
Publisher:  Bantam
Publish Date:  April 2, 2013
Pages: 352
ISBN# 978-0345531704


I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.



Lora's raised in an orphanage in England in 1915.  She's learned to keep her secrets, but only after being treated with a type of electroshock therapy.  By the age of sixteen, she appears to be 'normal'.  She's even chosen as the charity student at a boarding school.  There she meets two boys - Jesse, the groundskeeper that everyone thinks is mute, he knows Lora for what she is and Armand, the aristocrat whose family owns the school, he's drawn to Lora but not sure why.

The writing is glorious and beautiful! Subtle hints and vague whispers carry you through the story for the amazing climax.

Lora is a bit hardened by her life of poverty and people thinking she's crazy.  But she wants to be a part of things and would love for a boy to love her.  She quick witted and her tongue is sharp.

Armand - comes off as jerky, but does have a sense of humor, a bit downcast and lost.

Jesse - gentle, quiet, sweet, doesn't mind anyone but Lora an Armand.

Ms. Abe does a wonderful job making you love her characters. 

Books Out This Week: March 25-31, 2013

March 26th

Get Ready for War (Hollywood High #2) by Ni-Ni Simone
Publisher:  K-Teen/Dafina
From Goodreads:  They have everything their parents’ mega-celebrity can give—but when the Pampered Princesses of Hollywood High take aim at each other, the last girl standing will have everything to lose.
London Phillips needs a time-out from her mother’s rules, and from her crazy clandestine romance with hottie Justice Banks. To keep her cool, and keep her secrets, she turns to her parent-approved billionaire fake boyfriend. But unexpected romantic sparks ignite a firestorm of their own…

Rich Montgomery wants to start fresh with her true love. But the web of lies she’s created is pushing her past the edge, spinning her into battles she can’t afford to lose...

Teen TV star Heather Cummings never thought she’d land in rehab. Resuscitating her career means getting clean. Yet, she never thought she’d find a counselor who’d redefine what abstinence means…

Spencer Ellington is so done losing besties and boyfriends. Good thing she’s been keeping track of a stash of scandals. Now she’s ready to begin a media feeding frenzy even Hollywood High’s in-crowd may not survive…

 Black Helicopters by Blythe Woolston
Publisher:  Candlewick Press
From Goodreads:  I’m Valkyrie White. I’m fifteen. Your government killed my family.
Ever since Mabby died while picking beans in their garden — with the pock-a-pock of a helicopter overhead — four-year-old Valley knows what her job is: hide in the underground den with her brother, Bo, while Da is working, because Those People will kill them like coyotes. But now, with Da unexpectedly gone and no home to return to, a teenage Valley (now Valkyrie) and her big brother must bring their message to the outside world — a not-so-smart place where little boys wear their names on their backpacks and young men don’t pat down strangers before offering a lift.

 Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt
Publisher:  Bloomsbury
From Goodreads:i  When Mallory’s boyfriend, Jeremy, cheats on her with an online girlfriend, Mallory decides the best way to de-Jeremy her life is to de-modernize things too. Inspired by a list of goals her grandmother made in1962, Mallory swears off technology and returns to a simpler time (when boyfriends couldn’t cheat with computer avatars). The List:
1. Run for pep club secretary
2. Host a fancy dinner party/soiree
3. Sew a dress for Homecoming
4. Find a steady
5. Do something dangerous
But simple proves to be crazy-complicated, and the details of the past begin to change Mallory’s present. Add in a too-busy grandmother, a sassy sister, and the cute pep-club president–who just happens to be her ex’s cousin–and soon Mallory begins to wonder if going vintage is going too far.

Wasteland by Susan Kim & Laurence Klavan
Publisher:  HarperTeen
From Goodreads:  Welcome to the Wasteland. Where all the adults are long gone, and now no one lives past the age of nineteen. Susan Kim and Laurence Klavan’s post-apocalyptic debut is the first of a trilogy in which everyone is forced to live under the looming threat of rampant disease and brutal attacks by the Variants —- hermaphroditic outcasts that live on the outskirts of Prin. Esther thinks there’s more to life than toiling at harvesting, gleaning, and excavating, day after day under the relentless sun, just hoping to make it to the next day. But then Caleb, a mysterious stranger, arrives in town, and Esther begins to question who she can trust. As shady pasts unravel into the present and new romances develop, Caleb and Esther realize that they must team together to fight for their lives and for the freedom of Prin.

 Imposter (Slide #2) by Jill Hathaway
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
From Goodreads:  What if a killer took control of you?

Vee Bell’s gift (or curse) of “sliding”—slipping into the mind of another person and experiencing life, briefly, through his or her eyes—has been somewhat under control since she unwillingly witnessed the horrific deaths of her classmates six months ago.

But just as things are getting back to normal, Vee has a very bizarre experience: she loses consciousness and finds herself in a deserted area, at the edge of a cliff, with the broken body of the boy who took advantage of her on the rocks below.

As Vee finds herself in stranger and stranger situations with no memory of getting there, she begins to suspect that someone she knows has the ability to slide—and that this “slider” is using Vee to exact revenge on his or her enemies.

Period 8 by Chris Crutcher
Publisher:  Harper Collins
From Goodreads:  Paul "the Bomb" Baum tells the truth. No matter what. It was something he learned at Sunday School. But telling the truth can cause problems, and not minor ones. And as Paulie discovers, finding the truth can be even more problematic. Period 8 is supposed to be that one period in high school where the truth can shine, a safe haven. Only what Paulie and Hannah (his ex-girlfriend, unfortunately) and his other classmates don't know is that the ultimate bully, the ultimate liar, is in their midst. 

   Shadow on the Sun (Black Hole Sun #3) by David Macinnis Gill
Publisher:  Greenwillow Books
From Goodreads:  Durango has always relied on Mimi--once his tough-as-nails squad leader, she is now the bitingly sarcastic artificial intelligence flash-cloned to his brain. Mimi is the only reason he is alive.

Durango has always looked out for his devastatingly beautiful and brave second-in-command, Vienne--now wounded, crushed, missing. Vienne is the only reason he wants to live.

Durango hasn't always despised his father. But he does now. Lyme wants Durango to be the Prince of Mars, and he'll stop at nothing to realize that dream. He'll sacrifice anything and anyone in the name of domination. Even Mimi. Especially Vienne.

Lyme forgot one thing. You don't want to mess with Durango. 

Wicked Kiss (Nightwatchers #2) by Michelle Rowen

Wicked Kiss (Nightwatchers #2) by Michelle Rowen
Publisher:  Harlequin Teen
Publish Date:  February 26, 2013
Pages:  440
ISBN# 978-0373210640

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.




In this second book, Samantha is still trying to get her soul back, as well as putting her life back together.  There's some flashbacks to explain things, which was very helpful.  The team just seems to have so much drama going on, it's hard to believe that they have time to get anything done at all! 

The characters:

Samantha - stuck loving Bishop, but wanting his soul.  Gets boring after awhile.  Otherwise I like her.

Bishop - his main goal seems to be to return to Heaven, but he stupidly screws it up time and time again.

Kraven - seems evil but honest - gotta like that!

Jordan- she's ok, but I need to know more about her before I can decide if I really like her or not.


In short, the series is good, the writing is great; but there are too many last minute saves and too much secret keeping.

Strong Deaf by Lynn McElfresh

Strong Deaf by Lynn McElfresh
Publisher: Namelos
Publish Date: December 1, 2013
Pages:  130 pages
ISBN# 978-1608981267

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.




Jade is the only hearing person in her family.  Her siblings, parents and grandparents are deaf.  Her older sister lives at school during the week, just coming home on weekends and holidays.  Needless to say, Jade and her sister do NOT get along.

The story is told from both perspectives.  Jade's portion is in written English, while Marla's is in written ASL.  If you aren't familiar with ASL, it might take a bit of getting used to.  It's a little choppier.

It was fun to see things from the viewpoint of the hearing person being in the minority.  The two sisters bring up both sides of Audism - the view that being able to speak and hear is the best and anything else is stupid; the view that being deaf and signing is the best and anything else is stupid.  Audism isn't brought up specifically, but it's demonstrated very well.

Even though the two sisters are very bratty, I can see where it's very realistic.  They're 12 & 14 years old, they have difficulty communicating, they're teenagers!

Devil's Bargain (Red Letter Days #1) by Rachel Caine

Devil's Bargain (Red Letter Days #1) by Rachel Caine
Publisher:  Sihouette Books
Publish Date:  August 1, 2005
Pages:  296
ISBN# 978-0373513673

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.




Jazz Callender was a homicide detective, until an incident occurred.  Now her partner is in prison for murder and she's off the force and drinking...a lot.

Then a stranger offers her a job.  She is instructed to partner with another stranger and open a Private Investigation firm.  They will take regular jobs, but every once in awhile they will receive a job in a red envelope - they must accept these jobs and complete them.

Jazz and the job offering stranger, James, slowly develop a relationship.  It'll be very interesting to see where it goes. The partner, Lucia, is professional and loyal and written very well.

The writing is wonderful.  Miss Caine did a great job setting this up as a mystery/thriller.  The story moves slowly, but purposefully.  I can't wait to read more of them!