Swoon Thursdays (52)

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) share it on your blog!

This week my Swoon comes from Before I Die (Soul Screamers #6) by Rachel Vincent. I had a difficult time choosing which Swoon to use, there were so many steamy moments. 

"Tod lifted me, and I wrapped my legs around his waist. My mouth found his, and I couldn't taste enough of him. He was warm, when everything else was cold. He was sweet, when the world tasted bitter. He was mine, and I wanted to be his, in every possible sense. I'm not sure how we wound up on the bed, but suddenly my pillow was beneath my head, and Tod was over me, and I could touch him without having to hang on for balance. His mouth fed from mine, desperately  hungrily, then suddenly his lips were gone, and mine were left open. Empty and lonely. But then he kissed my neck, and I gasped as he worked his way lower, my fingers tangled in his hair, my body alive with possibility, on fire from every touch." SWOON #YABound

That's my Swoon, hope you enjoyed it! Let me know what made you Swoon.

Why (9)

This week I have been thinking about cover art. So I was wondering why do some series have inconsistent covers?

     Before I started blogging I didn't pay too much attention to how consistent the covers of a series were. I just read the books put them on my shelf and moved on to the next book in my pile. But when I started blogging I decided to not only rate the books I read but also their covers. That's when I realized the inconsistency on the covers of some of my favorite reads. Of course this is a superficial issue but one that I have thought about each time I picked up one of these books. 

(Vampire Academy, Blood Promise, Last Sacrifice, My Soul to Take, My Soul to Steal, If I Die)

     One such series I am referring to is Vampire Academy. It seems that each cover has a different model, ones that don't even resemble the main character. I understand that the Rose in my mind will not match the Rose the author envisioned. I know authors don't have a lot or any say in covers but you would think that those in charge of the cover art would want the covers to have some consistency. But when the girls on the covers have light hair as opposed to Rose's dark hair it leaves me wondering, is that supposed to be Rose or another character? The covers of the Soul Screamers also have this same issue. The models are different and their appearances don't match the main character Kaylee.With different models for each cover it leads one to believe that these girls apparently have the ability to change their appearance. I'm kidding of course. I just think it's confusing for the reader(me) to have so many versions of one character. I really love both of these series but the covers drive me crazy. I'm not opposed to having cover models on the covers of my favorite books, I just don't like it when the covers conflict with one another. For some reason this inconsistency just annoys me. Not enough that I won't still buy the books but enough that I will rant about it. I have noticed that some series use cover models but have the same one for each book of the series.

(Evernight, Stargazer, Afterlife, The Summoning, The Awakening, The Reckoning)

     I just wanted to highlight some covers that are more consistent. One example would be the Evernight series by Claudia Gray. I had to examine these books to see if the girl was the same and from what I can tell she is. It's not obvious from just a glance whether it's the same girl or not. Not only is the theme consistent but so is the cover model. If the model on the cover of The Darkest Powers trilogy is different I can't tell. Having the same model on each cover can be done. That's why it bugs me so much when it isn't done. This is just my opinion of course. And I may be crazy for spending time getting annoyed by this but I can't help it, it just bothers me. I can't help it that I want my books to match so when they don't I tend to get a little annoyed. 

Does cover inconsistency bother you? Or do you even notice? Leave a comment and let me know.

     

Review "Never to Sleep" by Rachel Vincent

Never to Sleep (Soul Screamers #5.5)

Rachel Vincent

Publication Date: January 1, 2012

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

e-book novella 56 pgs

Goodreads

Summary:

     Never to Sleep is a novella in the Soul Screamers series. The story is told from Sophie Cavanaugh's POV. Sophie, Kaylee's mean girl cousin is dealing with the inner politics of the dance team. That is until she meets the mysterious Luca and the two of them end up getting transporting to the Netherworld. The two of them must try and figure out not only how they got to the Netherworld but how to get out before something horrible happens. What will happen when Sophie finds herself in a world she never dreamed even existed?

Review:

     First off I must say if you have not read If I Die do not read this novella unless you like spoilers then by all means go a head and read it. In this novella we get to see the Soul Screamers world from Sophie's POV. To me, Sophie is your typical mean girl concerned with only herself. She's obsessed with her popularity, image, and reputation. But when she meets Luca and  finds herself in the Netherworld we get a chance to see how Sophie will handle herself when faced with the impossible. Sophie is far stronger and smarter than she appears to be. She is able to to find a way to get herself out of some very difficult situations. Instead of completely falling apart when faced with the creepy and dangerous Netherworld she uses her head to find a way home.  

     The mysterious guy that Sophie meets is new to Eastside. His name is Luca, like most newcomers to town there is more to him then meets the eye. He and Sophie hit it off instantly and are able to work together to try and navigate their way through the Netherworld. What I have seen of Luca so far I like. But it's too soon to tell whether he is going to be good or bad. You never know what will happen in the world of the Soul Screamers. 

     Overall, I really liked this brief insight into Sophie's mind. Never to Sleep allows readers to see how Sophie feels about Kaylee. We also see that strength seems to run in the family. Sophie is able to call on that inner strength and use it to help her survive while she tries to get back home. Though I enjoyed this novella, it in no way changed how I feel about Sophie. I still think she is a spoiled mean girl too used to getting what she wants.

Cover:

     I really like this cover. The swirling green kind of ties in with the other novels and I am intrigued as to what is going on with the girl(Sophie). It has me wondering, what is she thinking about?

Review "If I Die" Rachel Vincent

If I Die (Soul Screamers #5)

Rachel Vincent 

Publication Date: September 27, 2011

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Paperback: 342 pgs

Goodreads

Summary:

     Eastlake High is still reeling from the deaths of several teachers, things are starting to calm down in fact they have hired a new math teacher to fill the void left by the death of Mr Wesner. But the very gorgeous Mr Beck has a secret, he is not human in fact he is an Incubus and all the female students are practically drooling over him, including Emma. But Kaylee has bigger things to worry about she learns that she's dying, her borrowed lifeline has almost come to its end. To take her mind of the fact that she is dying Kaylee instead decides to focus her attention on Mr Beck. She soon discovers that he is feeding off her classmates and has left a lot destruction in his wake. Will Kaylee be able to get rid of Mr Beck before it's too late?

Review:

     I have to say this is my favorite book in the Soul Screamers series, so far. This is an intense read for fans of the series. Kaylee is struggling to come to terms with the fact that she only has six days left to live. Instead of fixating on her impending death Kaylee decides to spend her time trying to save the girls at her school from the deadly gorgeous Mr Beck. She can't do anything about dying but she can try and solve one last problem and protect those she loves one last time. I have always liked seeing how Kaylee dealt with all the death around her. But this time around she has to come to terms with her own death. It was really sad to read as Kaylee realized some of the things she would never be able to do. I couldn't help but feel for her as she struggled to deal with her death. I was impressed with how she dealt with knowing her time had run out, again. 

     Kaylee gets help with her last mission from her friends, and Sabine. Everyone works together to try and figure out how to get rid of an Incubus. Just because Sabine is helping doesn't mean she's doing it for free or that she is going to be nice to Kaylee, even though she is dying. Sabine has one thing on her mind and since Kaylee will soon be gone she figures she will soon get what she wants. I still like Sabine. She is rude and extremely blunt but I love reading the scenes she appears in.We also get more Alec who is able to give Kaylee background info on Incubi. Then there is Nash. Things are still a little shaky between him and Kaylee but he wants to spend as much time with her as he can. And yeah we get more of Tod. He too helps as much as he can, in ways that are surprising. I won't say too much because that would take all the fun out of reading what happens in this action packed, heart breaking addition to the Soul Screamers series. 

     As usual there is a lot going on in If I Die. I couldn't get enough and was sad to see this book come to an end. The ending definitely left me wanting more and I really wish I didn't have to wait so long to read Before I Wake. If you haven't started this series yet then I highly suggest that you do. I'm thinking I may have to do a third reading of this awesome series. 

Cover:

     I think this is my least favorite cover out of the entire series. It just really doesn't speak to me and I would have liked to see a more swirly dress or something that made the cover more exciting.

Review "My Soul to Steal" by Rachel Vincent

My Soul to Steal (Soul Screamers #4)

Rachel Vincent 

Publication Date: January 4, 2011

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Paperback: 343 pgs

Goodreads

Summary:

     In My Soul to Steal Kaylee and Nash are starting to recover from the terrible events that happened during My Soul to Keep. While Kaylee comes to terms with what happened with Nash and is deciding how she feels about him, a new complication arises. Sabine a mara comes to town and just happens to be Nash's ex, who has come to town to get Nash back. Meanwhile teachers at the school are dying and the students at Eastlake are turning against each other. The school is descending into chaos and it's up to Kaylee to figure out what's going on and how to stop it before the craziness escalates any further.

Review:

     As I was reading My Soul to Steal I felt really bad for Kaylee. Her world fell apart and she's trying to figure out what to do next. She's not sure if she should forgive Nash so they can move forward or let him go and move on. She has a difficult decision to make and things get more complicated when Sabine Campbell comes to town to reclaim her ex, Nash. Kaylee is usually very calm and collected even in the face of danger but Sabine has a way of pushing her buttons and Kaylee can't help but react. Though Sabine is definitely tougher than she is, Kaylee refuses to let Sabine walk all over her. She pushes back when she needs to. I liked this side of Kaylee. As she decides how she feels about Nash, Kaylee is determined to find out why the kids at school are turning on each other. Plus, there's all the dying teachers to worry about. What is a teenage bean sidhe to do? Get to the bottom of it, of course.

     Nash, Tod, and Alec are all back and this time around the group dynamics are a little different. Nash and Kaylee are still figuring out if they should be together. Kaylee and Tod have been spending more time together as she works through her issues with Nash. I also noticed that Tod seems to be more protective of Kaylee than in the past. In this installment we get background info on Alec, the guy Kaylee saved in My Soul to Keep. Alec is not all that he appears but he has come to be a confidant for Kaylee. I like the addition of Alec to the series. Since he spent so much time in the Netherworld he is able to provide Kaylee with valuable information. Add to this already weird mix, Sabine and things are bound to get interesting. Though Sabine has come to town for only one reason I couldn't help but like her. She's very blunt and says whatever is on her mind. She might be abrasive but I liked her anyway. 

     There is a lot going on in this installment of the Soul Screamers. Again I was quite surprised by how everything went down. A few new characters are introduced adding to the already great cast that I have come to enjoy reading about in this highly addictive series. This is my second time reading this book and I loved it just as much as I did the first time around. 

Cover:

      For me this cover is okay not great but not horrible either. As I stated in another review I'm not a fan of the constantly changing girls on the covers of this series. The blue blends in a little too much with the background and the dress doesn't stand out either. 

Swoon Thursdays (16)

The ladies at YA Bound have created a hot 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!

This week mine is Never to Sleep by Rachel Vincent. 

"He kissed me again, and tears rolled down my face, and I tasted them, but that kiss lasted forever and ever, and it was the best thing I’d ever felt in my life." SWOON #YABound

What did you find this week?

Review "My Soul To Keep" by Rachel Vincent

My Soul to Keep (Soul Screamers #3)

Rachel Vincent

Publication Date: June 1, 2010

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Paperback; 296 pgs

Goodreads

Summary:

     In My Soul to Keep, one of the Netherworld's most dangerous and addictive substances finds its way into the hands of Kaylee's very human classmates. Kaylee and Nash  need to try and figure out how Demon's breath made its way into their world. And how to stop the supply before it can do too much damage to the students who have gotten their hands on it. But as Kaylee struggles to figure out how to stop the influx of Demon's breath, she misses vital clues about someone close to her. In the third heart pounding installment of the Soul Screamers, watch as Kaylee tries to stop this dangerously addictive drug and then starts to come to terms with the aftermath of its hazardous effects.

Review:

     Kaylee is again caught up in another supernatural situation. Which lets face it, if she weren't what would be the fun of reading this book? This time the problem is Demon's breath. Yeah! That's as gross as it sounds. Kids are actually getting high and addicted to the breath of a Demon. Eww! Not something many of use are getting in line too try. Even though finding out where the Demon's breath is coming from may be hard to figure out Kaylee is determined to protect her classmates from a substance that they know nothing about. I like this aspect of Kaylee's personality, she sees a problem and then tries to fix it. She doesn't shy away from doing something even though it might be scary or difficult. She goes up against danger because it would bother her to just sit back while others are walking into trouble. But we also see another side of Kaylee. She has doubts about her relationship with Nash but pushes them aside because she doesn't want to lose him and doesn't know how to voice these issues to him. I think this made Kaylee more relateable. She's not perfect or claiming to be she struggles daily with many different issues. 

    

     What can I say about Nash...hmm. We see a different side to his personality. I can't say much without giving away what happened but let's just say he is not the Nash I have come to enjoy reading about. But if you want to know more you'll have to read the book to find out. Plus if I told you then it would spoil all the fun of discovering what happened on your own. Nash does agree to help Kaylee figure out where the Demon's breath is coming from but he seems more reluctant to help then he has in the past. 

     I realized in previous reviews I have neglected to mention Kaylee's horrible cousin Sophie. Sophie is a mean girl who finds every opportunity to make snide comments about Kaylee, especially her time at the mental health ward. Sophie, unlike her cousin is human and has no idea about the supernatural world around her or how many times Kaylee has saved her from some horrible outcome. Tod also makes an appearance in My Soul to Keep, though he's not in it a lot. He is still dealing with what happened with Addison in My Soul to Save, and it has not been easy for him. But when Kaylee and Nash need his help, he's there to do what he can.

     This is an action packed story filled with twists, turns, and curve balls that I never saw coming. But that's where the fun comes in, not knowing what's going to happen next with these characters I have grown very attached to. There is also death but how could there not be when the main characters are bean sidhe's and a grim reaper. I think a little death is inevitable. If you haven't had a chance to read this series yet, you should. It's a exciting world filled with great characters that draws you in the moment you start reading. 

Cover:

     I really like the cover of My Soul to Keep. The vivid purple makes the cover stand out from those around it. Plus I love the swirly dresses that I have come to associate with this series. I also really like the font used for the title. My one criticism is that I am not a fan of having different girls on each cover. If it's supposed to be Kaylee then I'm pretty sure her looks don't change with each book. I'm not a fan of this inconsistency.