Review: Blood-Kissed Sky by J.A. London

Blood-Kissed Sky (Darkness Before Dawn Trilogy #2)

J.A. London

Publication Date: December 26, 2012

Publisher: HarperTeen

Paperback: 368 pgs

Summary:

There's nowhere left to hide.

I thought vampires were our enemies - they controlled our lives, isolated our cities, and demanded our blood - until I met Victor. With Victor taking over as the new Lord Valentine, things were supposed to get better. Instead, they're worse than ever.

Day Walkers, a new breed of vampires who can walk in the sun, are terrorizing the city. Blood supplies are low, and if Victor's vampires don't get enough, they will become infected with the Thirst - a disease that will turn them into mindless killers.

To stop it, I must journey across the desolate wasteland to the very place where the sickness began. I can only hope that the answers that await me are enough to save us all... before it's too late.(Goodreads)

Review:
     Blood-Kissed Sky is the follow up to Darkness Before Dawn. In this story vampires and humans are trying to figure out how to deal with a disease called the Thirst, as well as a new bred of vampire's called Day Walkers. The main character Dawn is determined to find out what is going on with the vampires, though she knows she is putting herself in harms way to do so. Instead of backing down and hiding behind her allies she is focused on finding out how to save her world.

     Dawn is one of those characters that I thoroughly enjoy reading about. She's strong, determined, and willing to do whatever it takes to help those around her. She has some issues in her love life but her problems don't stop her from doing what she feels she needs to do. I'm also a fan of the supporting characters, especially Dawn's best friend, Tegan. She gives Dawn support as well as takes Dawn's mind off her problems. Plus, Tegan is feisty and not interested in letting rules keep her from doing what she wants. Micheal, Dawn's ex is strong, capable and focused on protecting humans from the vampires. Then there is Victor. He's the new overlord of Denver. He's finding  that the pressure of his new job is a little more intense than he thought. All of these characters combine to make a compelling story that I really enjoy.

     I love that this book slowly reveals it's secrets. We don't find out everything at once, each secret is revealed bit by bit which kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the entire book. I love the descriptive details that are provided in a Blood-Kissed Sky especially how the author describes Los Angeles. I felt as though I was able to see exactly what was described. I'm really liking the direction this trilogy is headed in. There is no doubt I will be reading the final installment in this trilogy, After Daybreak.

Cover:
     Apparently I am a fan of dark covers. I love this one! It's dark and eerie. The clouds in the background look ominous with that touch of color and I can't help but what what is going on inside this book. I also like how the girl is looking away which makes me wonder what she's looking at. Great cover.

Teaser Tuesday (52)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB at Should be Reading. Anyone can join in. Here's what you need to do.

♥Grab your current read.

♥Open to a random page.

♥Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.

♥Be careful not to include spoilers! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away. You don’t want to ruin the book for others.)

♥Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

I just finished Easy by Tammara Webber. I really liked this one and now I have to figure out what to read next.

"Minutes before the end of class, I turned and reached into my backpack as an excuse to sneak a look at the guy in the back row. He was staring at me, a black pencil loose between his fingers, tapping the notebook in front of him."
Easy, Tammara Webber  Kindle Edition 13%

That's my teaser this week. What book are you teasing this week?

Review: "A Fractured Light" Jocelyn Davies

A Fractured Light (A Beautiful Dark #2)

Jocelyn Davies 

Publication Date: September 25, 2012

Publisher: HarperTeen

Hardcover: 352 pgs

Summary:
When she wakes up in unfamiliar surroundings, Skye knows something terrible has happened to her. It's not until she hears Asher, the dark, rebellious angel she fell in love with, that the memories come flooding back. She tries to put the past behind her, but she knows she'll be forever haunted by the ruthless betrayal that almost took her life.


Skye returns home, but with the knowledge of who she really is, nothing can ever be the same. As she tests the limits of her new-found powers, Skye discovers that she's capable of far more than anyone could have imagined. Both the Order and the Rebellion want her for their side as war between the factions looms. She can't forget the terrifying truth she now knows about the Order, but something holds her back from embracing the Rebellion.

A Fractured Light picks up right after A Beautiful Dark's shocking cliffhanger ending and is perfect for fans of Lauren Kate's Fallen and Becca Fitzpatrick's Hush, Hush saga.

Review:
     A Fractured Light picks up almost exactly where A Beautiful Dark left off. While Skye has recovered physically from the attack that almost took her life she still has to face the consequences of that horrible night. The Order has infiltrated her small town and in order to survive Skye must figure out who she is and what she is meant to do.

     Though I liked the first book, A Beautiful Dark, I enjoyed this one much more. The story was less focused on the main character Skye being torn between Asher (The Rebellion) and Devin (The Order). Instead the story centered more on Skye's struggle to come to terms with who she is and what it means not only to her but to those around her. Skye's life was derailed when she learned about her powers. I like that she is trying to get her life back together, having powers doesn't mean she has to give up everything she once loved. Her strength comes through when she refuses to lose herself in the process of finding out what her powers are and how she's supposed to use them. Another aspect of Skye's personality that I liked was her refusal to blindly follow others. Even though she may be close to those in the Rebellion she still wants to find out things on her own.

     I found the first book to be a little stereo typical but I liked that A Fractured Light incorporated original ideas that I found elevated my enjoyment of the story. I love when a book is able to surprise me with the twists and turns it takes, which is the fun part about  of reading, for me. I'm definitely eager to find out how Skye's story concludes in the last book in this trilogy, A Radiant Sky.

Cover:
     This is by far my favorite cover of this trilogy. I'm a huge fan of the colors it's done in all shades of black, gray and white. Which makes it looking haunting and dark. I also really like the way shadows swirl all around Skye. I think this cover is really pretty.

Swoon Thursdays (65)

The ladies at YA Bound have created a hot and fun new meme called SWOON #YABound. If you want to join in here's what you need to do.

All you need to do is pick up the book you are currently reading or just finished reading. Find what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding and your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering. Then shout it out on Twitter with the hashtag  #YABound, post in the comments, or grab the awesome button from YA Bound (above) and share it on your blog!

"Now his fingers touch me, my thighs, my stomach, and it feels so good. Like nothing I've ever felt. Like each touch is a vibration flooding out so I feel him everywhere. The brush of his fingers is like a feather tickling me from head to toe. The epicenter of an earthquake.   Wherever he touches me is that epicenter, but the aftershocks, the vibrations can be felt everywhere else in my body." SWOON #YABound

Measuring Up, Nyrae Dawn. Kindle 83%. 

Hope you enjoyed this weeks Swoon!

Teaser Tuesday (51)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB at Should be Reading. Anyone can join in. Here's what you need to do.

♥Grab your current read.

♥Open to a random page.

♥Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.

♥Be careful not to include spoilers! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away. You don’t want to ruin the book for others.)

♥Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

I'm continuing my trend of reading Contemporary NA. My latest read is My Favorite Mistake. I really liked this one, it was sarcastic and intense just how I like my books:)

"Those blue eyes seared into me. He was the kind of guy who could see things that other people couldn’t— things that I’d spent my entire life covering up and hiding from the masses. I’d only met a few people who could see past my carefully cultivated facade. I’d dropped most of them like a bad habit, with the exception of one."                              My Favorite Mistake (My Favorite Mistake #1), Chelsea M. Cameron Kindle Edition 4%.

That's my teaser. What  are you teasing this week?

Most Anticipated (24)

This week my Most Anticipated Release of the Week is Clockwork Princess. I have been DYING to read this book. If you read this series you know the ending of Clockwork Prince left readers wanting more, a lot more. And the super long wait has been horrible. I can't believe that the last book is almost here!! To say I'm more than ready to get my hands on this book is a vast understatement. I can't wait to see what happens with Tessa, Will, Jem and the rest of the characters in The Infernal Devices. I see a sleepless night in my future.

Summary:

If the only way to save the world was to destroy what you loved most, would you do it?

The clock is ticking. Everyone must choose.

Passion. Power. Secrets. Enchantment.

Danger closes in around the Shadowhunters in the final installment of the bestselling Infernal Devices trilogy.

Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices #3) Cassandra Clare. Expected Publication: March 19, 2013; Margaret K. McElderry Books; Hardcover, 592 pgs.

Honorable Mention:

17 & Gone, Nova Ren Suma. Expected Publication: March 21, 2013; Dutton Juvenile. Hardcover, 354 pgs. 

That's what I'm looking forward to this week. What book are you dying to get your hands on this week?

Swoon Thursdays (64)

The ladies at YA Bound have created a hot and fun new meme called SWOON #YABound. If you want to join in here's what you need to do.

All you need to do is pick up the book you are currently reading or just finished reading. Find what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding and your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering. Then shout it out on Twitter with the hashtag  #YABound, post in the comments, or grab the awesome button from YA Bound (above) and share it on your blog!

                   

     Today I choose a Swoon from Hopeless by Colleen Hoover. I loved this book, it was so intense. Once I started reading I didn't want to stop.

"I place my hand on his neck and when I do, chills break out on his skin. Apparently, that one simple move momentarily melts his resolve and for a second, his tongue meets my neck. I moan and the sound completely sends him into a frenzy. He moves his hand from my waist to the side of my head and he pulls my neck against his mouth, holding nothing back. I open my eyes, shocked at how quickly his demeanor changed. He kisses and licks and teases every inch of my neck, only gasping for air when it’s absolutely necessary." SWOON #YABound

                                     Hopeless, Colleen Hoover. Kindle 38% 

                    

               That's made made me Swoon this week. What had you swooning?

Review: "Personal Demons" by Lisa Desrochers

Personal Demons (Personal Demons #1)

Lisa Desrochers

Publication Date: September 14, 2010

Publisher: Tor Teen

Paperback: 365 pgs

Summary:

Frannie Cavanaugh is a good Catholic girl with a bit of a wicked streak. She has spent years keeping everyone at a distance---even her closest friends---and it seems as if her senior year is going to be more of the same . . . until Luc Cain enrolls in her class. No one knows where he came from, but Frannie can’t seem to stay away from him.

What she doesn’t know is that Luc is on a mission. He’s been sent from Hell itself to claim Frannie’s soul. It should be easy---all he has to do is get her to sin, and Luc is as tempting as they come. Frannie doesn’t stand a chance. But he has to work fast, because if the infernals are after her, the celestials can’t be far behind. And sure enough, it’s not long before the angel Gabriel shows up, willing to do anything to keep Luc from getting what he came for. It isn’t long before they find themselves fighting for more than just Frannie’s soul.

But if Luc fails, there will be Hell to pay . . . for all of them.(Goodreads)

Review:
     I had a hard time getting into this book. While I thought the book was interesting it felt a little stiff to me. It had all the requirements of a book I usually really enjoy like a super hot bad boy, an equally hot nice guy, a girl who can't decide between the two, and some supernatural aspects thrown in, but I just though it was okay. It may be that I felt as though I read this book before. The characters were a little stereo-typical and I just really didn't connect to any of them. Another issue I had was the main character's name: Frannie. I don't know why but her name just bugged me the whole time I was reading.

     Though I obviously had some issues with this book, there were some things that I liked. We do get to see the story from both Frannie and Luc's POV's, which I love. I always like seeing what's going on in the other characters heads. Plus, I was interested to see what was going on with Frannie, there was more to her than I originally thought. The first book intrigued me enough that I will keep reading this trilogy to see what happens next. I think the ending was the best part for me. It had me curious as to where the story was going to go next.

Cover:
     I'm not really a fan of this cover. It doesn't really stand out to me. The model's poses are a little odd and for some reason I just don't find it that appealing.

Teaser Tuesday (50)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB at Should be Reading. Anyone can join in. Here's what you need to do.

♥Grab your current read.

♥Open to a random page.

♥Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.

♥Be careful not to include spoilers! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away. You don’t want to ruin the book for others.)

♥Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

I just finished this book and wow I loved it! This week my teaser is from Hopeless by Colleen Hoover. I seriously can't wait for July so I can see what Holder was thinking during Hopeless.

"I’m usually pretty good at reading people, but if I had to make an assumption about Holder based on the last two minutes alone, I’d have to say he suffers from split-personality disorder. His sudden shifts between flippant and intense are unnerving."           Hopeless, Colleen Hoover. 10% Kindle.

That's what I found this week. If you have a teaser let me know so I can check it out.

Most Anticipated (23)

This week my Most Anticipated Release of the week is MILA 2.0. I haven't read a lot about this book but from what I have heard it sounds really interesting. I love that is supposed to be action packed, sci-fi thriller  and I can't wait to read what is going on with this girl, Mila. Plus, I really like this cover, it's vibrant and totally makes me want to read this book.

Summary:

Mila was never meant to learn the truth about her identity. She was a girl living with her mother in a small Minnesota town. She was supposed to forget her past —that she was built in a secret computer science lab and programmed to do things real people would never do.

Now she has no choice but to run—from the dangerous operatives who want her terminated because she knows too much and from a mysterious group that wants to capture her alive and unlock her advanced technology. However, what Mila’s becoming is beyond anyone’s imagination, including her own, and it just might save her life.(Goodreads)

MILA 2.0 (MILA 2.0 #1) Debra Driza. Expected Publication: March 12, 2013; Katherine Tegen Books, Hardcover, 480 pgs.

That's what I'm looking forward to this week. What book(s) are you eager to get your hands on?