I’m trying something new. Every month I am going to attempt to put together a newsletter summarizing the books that I read, giving my recommendations based on my reading, throwing in some fun stuff as I see fit. I’m not the best at actually writing “normal” blogs, so we’ll see how this goes. Since I’m covering the summer (June, July & August) in this edition, the next Newsletter will not come until the beginning of October.
Calling all Young Adult Lovers!
This summer I’ve delved into wealth of Young Adult books that are out there. I’ve stumbled upon not one, but TWO very good sagas I think you will enjoy!
- The Evernight Saga A Romeo and Juliet-type story; half-breed Vampire Bianca, and vampire-hunter Lucas find themselves helplessly in love.Overcoming their differences, and
learning to see the world in a different light; this new vampire series is a new favorite addition to my library.I’m a sucker for “undying” love anyway!These books are not as mature as the Twilight Saga, okay for ages starting at around 13, but obviously entertaining enough for adults.
- The Darkest Powers Series A wonderful, excellent, awesome, exciting (can I throw in anymore adjectives?) Saga. Chloe has a problem – she sees dead people; ghosts. But that’s not all she can do…. She finds herself in a group home with other teenagers who are just as “crazy” as she is. In this Saga, teens band together, discover they are all “supernatural” and escape. The first two books
are about discovery of who they are and what they can do, and I believe, creating a friendship and bond that will last a lifetime. This is a very suspenseful series. I would recommend around 15-16 and up, it has some semi-graphic scenes (not sexual in nature…more un-dead in nature) – nothing a teenager can’t handle. Just the right amount of “fear” for me though, I’m a big wuss when it comes to scary stuff.
I also want to throw out there Barry Lyga and the two books I’ve read by him: The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl and Boy Toy. Yet another great author that I recommend. Fanboy and Goth Girl is a great book for younger teens, but I absolutely recommend Boy Toy be left to the more mature, it deals with a lot of difficult subject matter, and is quite explicit in details.
Young Adult books I read over the summer, recommended by the number of stars (5=best, 1=worst) after the author’s name:
Valiant – Holly Black**
Ironside – Holly Black***
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince – J.K. Rowling*****
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – J.K. Rowling*****
Tantalize – Cynthia Leitich Smith***
Vampire Kisses – Ellen Schreiber**
Kissing Coffins – Ellen Schreiber**
The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl – Barry Lyga****
Evermore – Alyson Noel***
Someday this Pain Will Be Useful to You – Peter Cameron*
Vampireville – Ellen Schreiber**
Boy Toy – Barry Lyga****
Evernight – Claudia Gray*****
The Summoning – Kelley Armstrong*****
The Awakening – Kelley Armstrong*****
Nora Roberts is her name, Romance is her game!
Oldie but Goodie:
Honest Illusions by Nora Roberts was recommended to me by some peers on a book website. I decided that I love Nora’s In Death series (under pseudonym J. D. Robb) I would give the book a try. And boy, it did not disappoint. Nora Roberts does an excellent job tickling the senses with this one. The book I received from Swaptree was old, and yellowed and well loved (with good reason) and was almost enough to discourage me from reading it. I don’t typically like older books – I don’t really know why. Magic, dazzle, sizziling love, danger, lawlessness – it’s all there and ready for your taking!
New and just as good:
The new Bride Quartet. I read the first book, Vision in White, and once again, the pictures that Nora Roberts paints using words, unbelievable. If you’re all into the lovey, dovey, gushy happily ever after….well, what better books to read than a series about wedding planners and their own love adventures?
The romance books of the summer, once again rated by stars:
Thirty Nights with a
Love Walked In - Marisa de los
Queen of Babble Gets Hitched – Meg Cabot****
Wife for Hire – Janet Evanovich****
Can You Keep a Secret – Sophie Kinsella**
Honest Illusions – Nora Roberts*****
Because She Can – Bridie Clark**
Vision in White – Nora Roberts****
Catch A Mate – Gena Showalter***
Glitter Baby – Susan Elizabeth Phillips***
What I Did for Love – Susan Elizabeth Phillips***
Acheron – Sherrilyn Kenyon****
There’s just something about Girls who kick butt!
I love reading books about empowered women, and especially one’s who’ve got mad skills. So I’ve been stuck on three series, that are similar and totally different at the same time.
- The Stephanie Plum series, by Janet Evanovich Stephanie is an Italian who loves men, to eat, and presumably to hunt down bail-jumpers and put them back into custody. She’s got a knack for getting into trouble, for blowing up her car (among other things) and for always getting her man one way or another. She is constantly having to fix her hair, whether it be because some psyco cut it, or because her self-esteem has plummeted and she needs a boost. These books are fun, hilarious, and sexy.
- The In Death Series, by J.D. Robb LOVE this series. Between butt-kicking cop, Eve Dallas and her sexy husband, Roarke, these books are always steamy and suspenseful. It combines the two things I love the most, getting the bad guys, and romance out the wazoo! Unlike Stephanie Plum, Eve Dallas is super serious about what she does and who she is. She’s got a trouble past, and she has issues getting over it at times. But she’s good…real good. I honestly believe these books are awesome on audio book – the narrator does an amazing job with the voices!
- Last and absolutely not least – the Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning This is a much
different take, instead of catching bad guys,
I’m not going to list out the books for you, because I’m reading them all in order – and there are a lot of them, to be honest it would be a waste of space. They all pretty much have the same rating. Just take my word for it – they’re good!
Coming up!
- Early next week I’ll be having a guest blogger, Loucinda McGary, who will be blogging about her new book, The Treasures of Venice. Come check out her blog,
and a chance to win her new book on September 2nd!!!
- Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins – Releases September 1st. I’ve been waiting a year for this 2nd book of the Hunger Games trilogy.
- Covet by J.R. Ward – Releases September 29th A new “Fallen Angel” series. If it’s anything like the Black Dagger Brotherhood series, it will be worth checking out.
I am so crazy over Catching Fire! I can't wait!! It doesn't come out until Sept 7th in the UK....one more week for me...bummer!
ReplyDeleteLike your site! Its right up my alley!