Review of The Vampire Castle by Malla Duncan

Review by the Bookworm

This book, when I picked it out said it was from 8 to 12 years old, and I nearly didn't get it.  Then I thought, well, Harry Potter an dthe Sorcerer's Stone was for the same age division and look at it now.  This book is exactly the same!  It is another twist on the story, only this isn't a wizard, there are no spells being cast, but there is mystery and a young 11 year old girl that has found out that she not only has a lot to live up to, but alot of questions for a mysterious grandfather.

At this moment, the heroine's name is slipping my mind.  I've been under the weather as of late, so pay me no mind.  But this is definately a book you could pick up and enjoy reading without any problems.  Just don't read it to your 8 year old.....there are some scenes that made me question if such a young child could read it without being frightened.  It frightened me, otherwise, it's great!

Loves!
The Bookworm!

Review of Watched by Cindy Hogan

 

Overview by B&N

Change.
She longs for it.
A Murder.
She will never be the same.
It takes more than a school trip to Washington, D.C. to change Christy’s life. It takes murder.
A witness to the brutal slaying of a senator’s aide, Christy finds herself watched not only by the killers and the FBI, but also by two hot guys.
She quickly discovers that if she can’t help the FBI, who want to protect her, it will cost her and her new friends their lives.

Review by the Bookworm

The writing was excellent, but I had to push through the first couple of chapters.  Though the characters was well developed it just seemed to be a slow starter.  BUT, like some wonderful movies, the slow starters usually pick up and wind up being the Oscar winners. 

"Watched" is about Christy, a fifteen year old girl with aspirations of being different.  Wants to be kissed, wants a life full of adventure, and winning a trip to Washington, D.C, is her new beginning.  But her new beginning takes an awful start when she witnesses a murder with a group of her knew friends. 

Now Christy is running for her life, and feeling guilty about the people that surround her.  Will the FBI save Christy and her two crushes, or will she be crushed when she learns that not only can she not have either boy, but that it's her actions that leave many people dead?

Pick it up!

Loves!
The Bookworm

Reveiw of Day of Sacrifice Omnibus by S.W. Benefeil

Review by the Bookworm


The way the author blended in waht seemed to be short stories was quite facinating and quite good.  The first story was great, though by the end of the book I was lost.  I'm not sure if it was all the cursing or what, but it started to turn me off.  I am a huge fan of Miss Benefiel, and this was no exception.  Just wish I could have changed the cursing factor. 

I can't give you a run down on a plot line except to say that all Supernaturals offer up a sacrifice of their first born child for favor of the gods.  Until Flora changes all that!

This book keeps you riveted and intrigued and praying for a good outcome for Supernaturals as well as humans!

Loves!
The Bookworm!

Review of Don't Breathe A Word by Molly Cupala

Overview by B&N
Joy delamere is suffocating.

From asthma, from her parents, and from her boyfriend, Asher, who is smothering her from the inside out. She can take his cruel words, his tender words . . . until the night they go too far.

To escape, Joy sacrifices her suburban life to find the one who offered his help, a homeless boy called Creed. He introduces her to a world of fierce loyalty, to its rules of survival, and to love—a world she won’t easily let go.

Set against the backdrop of the streets of Seattle, Holly Cupala’s power­ful new novel explores the subtleties of abuse, the secrets we keep, and the ways to redemption. But above all, it is an unflinching story about the extraordinary lengths one girl will go to discover her own strength.

Review by the Bookworm

This was the most heartwrenching book.  I was lost in chapter one, and had to reread it twice and was still lost.  But I kept on and realized I was reading a debut book and that it was really good.  My only complaint:  They needed to clairfiy between flashbacks and present day better.
Joy is a runaway.  Running away from an abusive boyfriend and overbearing parents.  She meets up with three other kids, May, Santos and Creed and they take her in to their fold.  Secrets abound in the code of the streets, even if they are your street family.  Joy's past haunts her.
As a victim of teen abuse this touched me to the very core.  I could identify with Joy and could easily put myself in her place.  Though I didn't run a way from home, there were times  I wish I had the balls to do it.  Congrats to Cupala for making this story so believable!

Loves!
The Bookworm!

Review ov Forbidden by Syrie James

Overview by B&N

She should not exist.

He should not love her.

Claire Brennan has been attending Emerson Academy for two years now (the longest she and her mom have remained anywhere) and she’s desperate to stay put for the rest of high school. So there’s no way she’s going to tell her mom about the psychic visions she’s been having or the creepy warnings that she’s in danger.

Alec MacKenzie is fed up with his duties to watch and, when necessary, eliminate the descendants of his angelic forefathers. He chose Emerson as the ideal hiding place where he could be normal for once. He hadn’t factored Claire into his plans. . . .

Their love is forbidden, going against everything Alec has been taught to believe. But when the reason behind Claire’s unusual powers is revealed and the threat to her life becomes clear, how far will Alec go to protect her?

Review by the Bookworm

Since the overview tells it pretty well, I will move on into the review.  The humor is great, the characters are very well developed, well written, edited beautifully, keeps you entertained, but unfortunately seems like it's a rip off of the House of Night books.    I was excited to read it, but this kinda let me down.  But it was still a good read. 

Loves!
The Bookworm!

Review of Winterborne by Augusta Blythe

Overview by B&N

Mia Winterborne knows she is destined to be special. Her seventeenth birthday promises more than just a driver’s license. Is she a witch? The next Supergirl? Details are sketchy as her dad disappeared with all the answers when she was five. By Mia’s side is Loie Bryce, her best friend and eternal sidekick extraordinaire. The girls’ intense friendship has never wavered until now, when Andreas arrives in Salcey Ridge. They both fall hard for the British hottie, who quickly becomes a fixture in their lives. When they discover that Andreas is not who he appears to be, the frightening reality of Mia’s abilities finally hits home. The nearer Mia’s birthday draws, the more the danger escalates and long-buried lies are exposed, putting the girls on a path that they never expected.

Review by the Bookworm

Looking forward to the next in this book series.  It is predictable, but not.  You know where this is headed as soon as Mia and Loie are lounging at the pool.  What is surprising and a bit upsetting is the romance plot, but I suppose the hottie Calico is worth a noteworthy rivalry.

I am STILL not sure where the dang rooks come in on this story.  Hopefully it's explained in the next book.

I know I'm not saying much, but with the predictability of the storyline, it's hard to do so without giving away the whole shebang!  Anyway, it's worth a pick up and read!

Loves!
The Bookworm!

Review of Torn by Ashley S. Morgan

Review by the Bookworm

First up, as you see there is no cover for Torn.  Because honestly, I have no idea where it came from.  It was emailed to me as a file and with several attempt to email the person back I have had NO response, but hey, si la vi!  I figure it's an unpublished book because I can not find it on any book site.  (Yep, will be opening a Good Reads account soon!)

Torn is about Isadora, a 16 year old girl who goes to a "hollywood arts" type school set on become the next great actress.  As she leaves her home heading toward school, she makes the near devestating choice of being ran down on her bike by the best looking boy she's ever seen.  Tristan.

As he helped her into the school, Izzy is over come by odd visions where the other person has no face, but she realizes it's like memories she is having.  She becomes obsessed with Tristan.  As the book progresses, she learns that the memories are of herself and that a horrible choice is to be made.

I'm not going to go into all of it, because if it ever is published, I don't want to give it away.  It does not seem it's going to be a book that has a sequal which is a breath of fresh air!  It's a nice read, one that you don't find every day, but Stacey Wallace Benefiel and Stephanie Meyer is is not!

Loves!
The Bookworm!

Review of Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey

Overview by B&N

Death, love, destiny, and danger!

Lenzi knows she must be going crazy. She's hearing voices and having visions—specifically of gravestones, floods, and a gorgeous guy with steely gray eyes. And there's nothing anyone can do to help, not even her handsome musician boyfriend, Zak. Until she meets Alden, the boy from her dreams, and learns she can speak with lost souls. Now Lenzi must choose: destiny or normalcy. Alden or Zak. Life or death. And time is quickly running out.

Review by the Bookworm

In Shattered Souls we meet Lenzi.  Lenzi lives th eunperfect life.  Her dad died a year before after he parked his truck on train tracks to avoid the voices he heard in his head.  Now, on her birthday, Lindsey has stared to hear them. 

A fateful trip to the cemetary to play guitar at her father's grave leads her to a world she never thought she would be involved in. 

Lenzi meets Alden, her Protector and learns that she is a Speaker.  What do Speakers do?  They talk to the dead, resolve the unresolved issues, but resolving issues is not Lenzi's only problem.  Should she choose her boyfriend Zak or the man that is drawing her in with his silver grey eyes, Alden? 

Hmmm....

It had a couple of bloops (errors) in the book, but it was an alright read.  We will be seeing a sequel because the book, ironically, was left unresolved.  I say it's at least a 3 on a 5 scale.  I finished the book in like a day and a half, and I typically like my books to keep me involved for at least three days.  Hard to do with an avid bookworm such as my self, but it has happened.  If you are looking for something a tad different from were's and vamps, this book is it!

Loves!
The Bookworm!

Review of Glow by Stacey Wallace Benefiel

Overview by B&N



Zellie Wells has mastered her powers and gotten the guy. She’s lived through her parents’ divorce and being separated from Avery. She’s come back from the dead.
What else is there?
Oh, yeah. REVENGE.
Discover how it all ends when Zellie and the gang finally track down Mildred and fight to right the wrongs of The Society’s past, present and future.

Reivew by the Bookworm

Miss Stacey (Mrs., I know. :)) Wallace Benefiel is truly now one of my favorite authors.  I have read and reviewed all three of the books in the Glimpse trilogy and they are frickey fliptastic!  She has made me fall in love with more characters than I ever had in a book.  Each one of them have their own unique personality and it shines through!

In the final book, (which is a super bummer, because you can see this stretching out!) Zellie must secretely put together the clues to which her grandmother (now dead) is giving her in three specific glimpses to find the arch enemy Mildred.  The woman bent on basically making The Society the most powerful group on the planet.  (Can we say massive takeover?)

Ben is reuntied with his trigger Connor, with the help of some unfortunate events.  (See, this is why I absolutely adore this book!)  Avery gets to experience power as does Zellie and Melody's pastor father.  Hey, this book is jammed packed with laughter, awwwwwweeee moments and a couple of tears. 

Miss Benefiel weaves the humor, romance, heart touching sentiment into each and ever line.  If you are reading a book, chunk it now and pick up this trilogy.  You will NOT regret it.

Loves!
The Bookworm!

Review of Glimmer by Stacey Wallace Benefiel

Overview by B&N

 Zellie Wells’ life is changing. Her relationship with Avery is growing stronger every day, but their parents are still giving them ultimatums and trying to keep them apart. Her newly discovered powers have all but disappeared. Benjamin, another young Retroact, is back and has brought with him a painful shared vision and a troubled past. While working together to figure out what the vision means, Zellie discovers that Benjamin is a worthy friend and mentor. If only he could keep his hands off of her-if only she wanted him to...

Review by the Bookworm

Frickety-frackin fliptasic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  This author could not have made me love Zellie any more than she did in the first book Glimpse, but oh, wow, did she! 

In book two of the Zellie Wells' trilogy, we find Zellie in turmoil after her Mom, Dad, Avery's Mom, and he's oh-so dead dad decide that to save Avery's life, Zellie and he have to terminate their relationship.  It seems it is then end for the romantic pair.

To keep her mind off of her forlorn love, she starts to delve into seeing how she can explore her gift with the help of Ben and Frank who where introduced to us in the first book.  Oh, me, another hot guy in the mix.  Zellie's feelings get a little out of control as well as Ben's.  Can Zellie overcome her lustful feelings for one boy for her true love?  Read the book.

The story progresses, and trust me, I love the fact that I can usually plot out the way a book is going to go, but this one kept throwing me into suprise after surprise.  The romance is hot as heck, and there are certain scenes that a younger teen shouldn't read, but over all I give this book a 100 out of 10!  Yes, 100! 

Edward Cullen look out, you have met your match in two hot young mortals by the name of Avery and Ben!

Loves!
The Bookworm!

Review of Dark World by Danielle Lee

Overview by B&N

A beautiful monster.

That’s what Scarlet Prince became after she was damned to a nocturnal world crawling with sphinxes, gargoyles, and necromancers. If only she’d heeded the warnings of the local legend, none of this would have happened.

With a dark destiny haunting her and unearthly powers she can’t control, she is torn between freeing the inhabitants of Dark World and satiating her lust for souls, until she finds the one thing she never expected in a war-torn netherworld: Love.

Only he’s the enemy. Loving him could very well destroy the entire realm—and every human on earth.

Review by the Bookworm

I have read one other book by Miss Lee and found it quite enjoyable.  This one took me off guard.  The first few, uh, I think they are chapters are a little slow after Scarlet finds herself damned, but then was sucked into the very end.

Now from previous reviews from other people, they said it had a surprise ending.  They must not be avid readers because it was very very predictable.  I can even tell you how the sequal is going to go and it's not even out yet.  But, if you enjoy demons (which this is a unique view on them), and D&D kinda stuff, this will be right up your alley!

Loves!
The Bookworm!

Review of Anathema by K.A. Tucker

Overview by B & N

Evangeline has spent her teenage years in obscurity. Her foster parents have the emotional aptitude of robots and her classmates barely acknowledge her existence. About to turn eighteen and feeling like a social pariah, she is desperate to connect with someone. Anyone.

When Evangeline meets Sofie after literally stumbling upon her café, she believes she’s found that connection. Willing to do anything to keep it, she accepts a job as Sofie’s assistant and drops everything to fly to Manhattan, where she is thrust into a luxurious world of Prada, diamonds, and limitless cash.

With such generosity and kindness, it’s easy for Evangeline to dismiss certain oddities . . . like Sofie’s erratic and sometimes violent behavior, and the monstrous guard dogs. She’s even willing to dismiss her vivid dreams of mob-style murders, beautiful homeless people living in caves, and white-eyed demons that haunt her each night as figments of her imagination—especially when one of those figments is the gorgeous Caden. When she wakes up with bite marks on her neck, the fairy tale quickly turns into a nightmare. She slowly unravels the mystery surrounding Sofie and friends, and the reality of the bites and the “dreams.” What she discovers is far more mysterious and terrible than anything she could have imagined.

In a world where everyone has motive to lie for personal gain, Evangeline must decide which deception is least likely to get her killed.

Review by the Bookworm

Hey, this is a slightly unique outlook on vampires.  No they don't glitter, no they aren't particularly romantic...not really.  Two vampires in love with a human girl who is frozen in time inside of a statue of herself.  Yep.  You just read that right.

Now, how is Evangeline tied into this mess.  Well that would be the fault of her oh-so-not-fairy vampiremother. 

I won't go into much because the overview does that for you.  It is an enjoyable fast read that leaves you wishing that for just once a book would end instead of having another book to wait for.  Although it is available if you want to pay for it.  I give it a thumbs up.

Loves!
The Bookworm!

First Light-Rising Sun by Jean Rush

Overview by B&N


After Jacob’s decision to follow the Cullens to Alaska, Leah’s world begins to spiral out of control. While attempting to create a life for herself outside of La Push, an unplanned reunion with the Cullens reveals the dark secret which has haunted her since the confrontation with the Volturi. This is the exciting conclusion to First Light – An Unauthorized Sequel to the Twilight Saga.

**
Every immortal here turned to stare at me. Aro’s expression was a mixture of surprise and concern. It was now certain that I would die on this island too.
If Jacob had found a way to phase again, maybe I could too. I pushed my feelings to one side and let the anger and heat rush through me, focusing it down my spine. Come on, Leah. You can do it, I told myself. I had to find the wolf again, and quickly. Jacob needed me, more than ever, and I would not let him down.
Just as my body started to rip into its new form, Aro returned his attention to Demetri who was still holding Jacob. “Now, Demetri,” he commanded. “Kill him now.”

Review by the Bookworm

Let's start this out by saying, this is what is called, "fanfiction."  It is not written by Stephanie Meyer so do not expect it to be.

The characters are a bit off from the true characters, but that is to be expected.  There are minimal errors and that's a massive plus in my book. 

It was clever of the author to use characters that were hardly explored in the original writtings, so it kept all the other stuff to a minimum also.

Now...the book is coming from the views of Leah and Renesmee.  Leah imprints on Demitri which is implausable for her.  And totally unlikely for that character, but it works in this story.  I can't ruin it for you, and  you will have to be the judge of the rest of the book.  Just check it out and make you own opinions.  Whether you are a Twilight fan or not, you should enjoy the book.  Just remember it is NOT by the author of the Twilight books.  Good for just a light, non serious read.

Review of Anathema by Megg Jensen

Overview by Goodreads

Sheltered from the outside world with no hope for escape, slave girl Reychel dreads her fifteenth birthday - when her master’s symbol is burned on the back of her bald scalp. Her best friend disappears the night before, leaving her to face the branding ceremony alone. She soon discovers nothing is as it seems when people desperate for freedom beg for Reychel's help.

Review by the Bookworm

We meet Reychel and open up to a world that, scenery and description wise, put me in mind of that 80's movie "The Beastmaster," a favorite of mine.  Reychel is a 15 year old slave that is forbidden to see the daylight without being in the presence of her master. 

The morning of her fifteenth birthday, she awakens to find her best friend Ivy is gone from her bed, only to be replaced with a coin that is used by kidnappers to let other's know what has happened to the disappeared slave.  Reychel fears for her friend, but other fears take her mind from her because on that day she is to be branded by her master.

Before the "celebration", Reychel is summond to her master's quarters and tells him a story and he becomes enraged and has her thrown into a cell in the dungeon.  Fearful and wondering what she had done wrong, Reychel falls asleep in her cell to be awoken by the guard later.  (I am leaving out details, cause I do not want to spoil the book.)  At her birthday party, she is rescued by the same people that have taken Ivy.

Reychel has the "spark" and is one of the gifted.  She starts to discover her talents, and discovers a prophesy, she is also betrayed by the person she loves most, and the one that was dearest to her heart.

It's a good read, and quite entertaining.  It's recommended if you just want some downtime!

Loves!
The Bookworm!

Review of Frey by Melissa Wright

Overview by Smashwords



Unaware she's been bound from using magic, Frey leads a small, miserable life in the village where she's sent after the death of her mother. But a tiny spark starts a fury of changes and she finds hersef running from everything she's ever known. Hunted by council for practicing dark magic, she is certain she's been wrongfully accused. She flees, and is forced to rely on strangers for protection. But the farther she strays from home, the more her magic and forgotten memories return and she begins to suspect all is not as it seems.

 

Review by the Bookworm

 

We are introduced to the world of Elves.  And I'm talking the hot Legolas of Lord of the Rings type elves, not the short little gnomes of the North Pole. 

 

We are introduced to Freya, Frey to those close to her.  She is a nonmagical elf that lives with her Aunt Frannie.  An outcast and alone, most other elves leave her be.  She has a mentor by the name of Junnie that tries to teach her the magical gifts of her people.  While sitting at the table going over that days lessons, Freya finds her abilities, and with great consequence.

 

Her fear and anger spark her into a world she does not know, a world that is as much exciting as it is frightening.  On her journey she learns of the dark history of the elves of the north, but what part does she play in it?  I'll leave that to you when you read the book.

 

It is a great self published novel, the second one just out.  If you want something different from vamps and werewolves, dive into the world of the fae!  Highly recommend!

 

Loves!

The Bookworm!

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