The Witches of Echo Park by Amber Benson (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Unbeknownst to most of humankind, a powerful network of witches thrives within the shadows of society, using their magic to keep the world in balance. But they are being eliminated—and we will all pay if their power falls…

When Lyse MacAllister’s great-aunt Eleanora, the woman who raised her, becomes deathly ill, Lyse puts her comfortable life in Georgia on hold to rush back to Los Angeles. And once she returns to Echo Park, Lyse discovers her great-aunt has been keeping secrets—extraordinary secrets—from her.

Not only is Lyse heir to Eleanora’s Victorian estate; she is also expected to take her great-aunt’s place in the Echo Park coven of witches. But to accept her destiny means to place herself in deadly peril—for the world of magic is under siege, and the battle the witches now fight may be their last…"

My Thoughts:

I'm a sucker for a book featuring witches so I knew as soon as I heard about this one that I wanted to read it.  I'm glad that I took the time to read this one as I found this book to be a refreshing change of pace from all of the mysteries and thrillers that I have been reading as of late.  It was an easy book to find myself immersed in and really a pretty good read.  I had a few qualms with it but overall I liked it a lot!  One of my favorite things about this book were all of the different characters.  The book focused on the various characters at different times individually which allowed for me as the reader to get to know them all a bit better than I usually would and especially with the secondary characters.  I liked this as the focus was of the story was more on the friendship between these women rather than on the mystery of what was coming.  Really as I sit here and think about it more, there is so much more that I want to learn about all of these women and their pasts.  That is a good sign in my opinion! 

While for the most part I really enjoyed this book there were a few things that detracted from my reading experience.  For one, the ending felt incomplete to me and I think that is because this book is really setting up for the rest of the series and what is to come.  I think that the author has lots more to tell with this storyline in future books which has me excited but I was left wanting with this one.  It is hard not to get into spoilers and specifics but what it came down to is that for me this book only tied down one small loose end when I thought there would be more.  This is could just be me as the reader and my personal preferences.  It wasn't a cliff hanger ending which I was grateful for but I just ended the book wishing for more.  That's the best way to put it.  Not the worst of complaints but really for me it took away from the book a bit.  I'm actually kinda curious to see how others felt about it and if I am in the minority (which is entirely possible). 

All in all I enjoyed this one for the most part and will definitely be continuing on with this series.  I was left with lots of questions and anticipation so I'm hoping that we get some of those answers in the next book. Plus, I would love to continue to get to know all of these characters some more!  If you are looking for an urban fantasy series focused on a unique group of women then this is a book not to be missed.  Recommended.

Bottom Line:  A solid read although I really wanted more at the end.

Disclosure:  Checked out from my local library.  Thoughts are my own!

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

From Barnes & Noble:

Tally is about to turn sixteen, and she can't wait. Not for her license -- for turning pretty. In Tally's world, your sixteenth birthday brings an operation that turns you from a repellent ugly into a stunningly attractive pretty and catapults you into a high-tech paradise where your only job is to have a really great time. In just a few weeks Tally will be there.
But Tally's new friend Shay isn't sure she wants to be pretty. She'd rather risk life on the outside. When Shay runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world -- and it isn't very pretty. The authorities offer Tally the worst choice she can imagine: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. The choice Tally makes changes her world forever.

My Thoughts:

I honestly felt that I might be the last person on the blogsphere to read this book. But I finally picked it up and am glad that I did. The world that Scott Westerfeld creates is completely new and unique to anything that I have previously read about. Tally begins the book completely obsessed with becoming pretty and the life that comes along with it. As the book progresses though, things change and Tally begins to grow and evolve as a main character. That isn't to say that Tally makes the best choices...in fact, there were times that she frustrated me like crazy. But it was such an interesting take on the importance of beauty to society and I couldn't help but like this book. I can't wait to see where Tally goes from here in the 2nd book and would recommend this to anyone looking for a good YA read!

My Rating: 4 out of 5

Challenges: 100+ Book Challenge, YA Challenge, New Author Challenge, Support Your Library Challenge

In The Woods by Tana French

From Goodreads:

As dusk approaches a small Dublin suburb in the summer of 1984, mothers begin to call their children home. But on this warm evening, three children do not return from the dark and silent woods. When the police arrive, they find only one of the children gripping a tree trunk in terror, wearing blood-filled sneakers, and unable to recall a single detail of the previous hours.

Twenty years later, the found boy, Rob Ryan, is a detective on the Dublin Murder Squad and keeps his past a secret. But when a twelve-year-old girl is found murdered in the same woods, he and Detective Cassie Maddox--his partner and closest friend&--find themselves investigating a case chillingly similar to the previous unsolved mystery. Now, with only snippets of long-buried memories to guide him, Ryan has the chance to uncover both the mystery of the case before him and that of his own shadowy past.

My Thoughts:

In The Woods was an atmospheric novel that kept me guessing until the end. As you can see from the summary, there is a mystery that is slowly unwinding and intertwined with the current case of a murdered girl. Not only was this a mystery though, in my opinion it was also a character study on Rob Ryan and the person he used to be, is now, and will become all being shaped by the events of the summer of 1984. Wow, for this being a debut novel it was awesome! French's main character, Rob, is simultaneously likeable and unlikeable as well as being a complete mystery for me as the reader. I never quite knew what he was going to do next as well as what his thought processes were with some of the choices that he made. I was instantly caught up in this tale and the author's writing. I knew all along that she was leading me somewhere but I didn't see the ending coming whatsoever. And while I was a bit disappointed (those of you who have read the novel will know why), I still realized that I really enjoyed this book. I HAVE to read more by this author and soon :) Highly recommended in my opinion!

My Rating/Recommendations: 4.5 out of 5 and recommended!

Challenge: Book Awards II Challenge, Support Your Library Challenge, 100+ Book Challenge, New Author Challenge, A-Z Challenge

Fables: Legends In Exile by Bill Willingham

From the back of the book:

Who killed Rose Red? In Fabletown, where fairy tale legends live alongside regular New Yorkers, the question is all anyone can talk about. But only the Big Bad Wolf can actually solve the case- and, along with Rose's sister Snow White, keep the Fabletown community from coming apart at the seams.

My Thoughts:

This was my 1st foray into graphic novels and I enjoyed the experience. It seems everyone and their brother are enjoying graphic novels and it convinced me that I must give them a try. I started with the Fables series as Ladytink and a few others seemed to be really liking these so it seemed like a good place to start. And it was! Legends in Exile is a fast-paced whodunnit filled with fairy tale characters. It was an easy read that I finished in one sitting...I just couldn't put it down. I knew that there were clues that I was missing but I just didn't care and let the story take me along for the ride. The pictures added to the story for sure and it was a neat experience all around. Except this is an adult story and it kept catching my son's attention. He wanted to know what Mommy was reading (usually he could care less) and wanted to look at all of the pictures too. There wasn't anything awful just not the type of book that I wanted him looking at :) So we busted out a Hulk graphic novel for him and he was content looking at his own pictures. There isn't much else to say about this one except if you are like I was and on the edge on whether or not to give graphic novels a try...well, just try them. It was definitely a worthwhile experience and I will be reading more in the future!

My Rating: Not sure how to rate this to be honest with you but I think I'll say a 4 out of 5. If I keep reading graphic novels I think I'll figure out a different rating system maybe with a focus on the illustrations and also the story.
Challenges: 100+Book Challenge, Year of Reading Dangerously, New Author Challenge, Support Your Library Challenge

P.S.- Will somebody that has already read this series be kind enough to leave the title of the 2nd book in this series in the comments? Thanks!

Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman

Summary from Barnes and Noble:

For more than two hundred years, the Owens women had been blamed for everything that went wrong in their Massachusetts town. And Gillian and Sally endured that fate as well; as children, the sisters were outsiders. Their elderly aunts almost seemed to encourage the whispers of witchery, but all Gillian and Sally wanted was to escape. One would do so by marrying, the other by running away. But the bonds they shared brought them back-almost as if by magic...

This was my first book by Alice Hoffman and I adored it. I'm cheating a bit by using the summary for Barnes and Noble but I couldn't figure out where to start summarizing. This cuts it down and gives you the gist without the spoilers so now I can share my thoughts. I loved this book and my first experience with this author. There is the hint of magic throughout the story but this book is mainly about love. The things that people will or won't do for love as well as the joys and pain that love causes. The beginning of the story moves quickly through the early years of Sally and Gillian's lives and their experiences and hardships that come from living with the Aunts. It then moves on to their lives as grown women and the moment that they are brought together again. There are no chapters in this book, rather the story is broken down into four (I believe) sections. Each of the parts of the story were woven together into the perfect story that it was. I was captivated with this novel and don't care if that is a cliche. LOL! :)

One of the things that kept me on edge with this book is that you never knew what was going to happen next. Hoffman includes enough twists and turns to keep the reader slightly off balance and trying to figure out the ending. I loved it and was inclined to read later and later into the night. The author wrote about love throughout the story and one particular passage that I marked said:

"This girl had no right to demand anything more. What had she thought, that love was a toy, something easy and sweet, just to play with? Real love was dangerous, it got you from inside and held on tight, and if you didn't let go fast enough you might be willing to do anything for its sake."

After reading that, don't you just love the way the author writes? She writes in such a fluid, descriptive way that I was able to picture the characters in my head with the way that she wrote them. I would hazard a guess that this book fits in with the magical realism genre which is a first for me. It definitely won't be my last though and I am going to be reading more from this author soon. I finally got the chance to see why Hoffman is a favorite of so many. What a magical tale and a perfect way to end the Winter Reading Challenge!

My Rating/Recommendations: 4 out of 5 and recommended to those who enjoy a great story with magical elements!

Challenges: Winter Reading Challenge, Year of Reading Dangerously, New Author Challenge, 100+ Reading Challenge, A-Z Challenge ("P" Title), Support Library Challenge

Ramses, Volume I: Son of Light by Christian Jacq

I can't even begin to remember where I heard about this book but boy am I glad that I did. I was entranced by this novel which is about Ramses before he became king of Egypt. It begins with the first time that Ramses meets his father, the Pharoah of Egypt and Ramses is fourteen years old. From then on Ramses is never sure if his father is training him to be the next Pharoah or whether his destiny might lie as something other than king. The book continues on with the struggles that Ramses faces as well as the triumphs. Because not everyone wants Ramses to come to power including Ramses' older brother who plans on being Pharoah himself.

I loved this book! I was transported into Ancient Egypt with this novel and I was entralled. The writing was gorgeous and I was marking passages to share left and right. The best part of the book though was that the author captured my interest and I was caught up within the story. There were times that I just couldn't put the book down. Ramses was a strong and likeable character but realistic at the same time. He wasn't without his flaws and as the reader I wanted to see him overcome his enemies and become the future Pharoah. I'm really looking forward to the 2nd book in this series! Here is a little teaser to share a taste of this wonderful novel:

"A courageous man goes to the limit of his strength. A king goes beyond it. If that is not in you, you are not meant to rule and we will never see each other again. No test should daunt you. Leave, if you wish; otherwise, capture the bull."

All in all, this was a wonderful novel that I highly recommend to anyone that enjoys historical fiction. I'll be requesting the next one from the library asap. And this was my 3rd and final selection for the historical fiction reading challenge. I completed a challenge...woohoo :) I'll be posting a wrap-up soon for this one.

My Rating/Recommendations: 4.5 out of 5 and recommended to anyone who enjoys historical fiction!
Challenges: Historical Fiction Reading Challenge, New Author challenge, 100+ Book Challenge, Support Your Library Challenge, A-Z Challenge ("J" Author), 1st in a Series Challenge

Her Royal Spyness by Rhys Bowen

Lady Victoria Georgiana Charlotte Eugenie, otherwise known as Georgie, is 34th in line to the throne which basically amounts to not much. She decides to move out of her brother's house and into a small family owned house in London to make her own way. But then she gets caught up into a mystery involving her family and it looks like someone might be trying to kill her.

Her Royal Spyness is a fun beginning to this series that I will be looking forward to reading more of. I'll start by saying that this was such a fun read for me. I didn't even realize I had flew through the first hundred pages as I was just caught up in the story. Georgie has to try to make her own money which means finding a job which is unusual for a women like her. It was fun to read about her exploits throughout the novel and I enjoyed my time with her. The novel is set in the 1930's and it was filled with the atmosphere and details from that time period. I just loved it! This book had a Stephanie Plum-esque feel to it as the main character never knew what she was doing and caused more trouble than anything. All in all, a fun and enjoyable read and I will be looking forward to reading more by this author. It reminded me that I enjoy cozy mysteries once in awhile and was a great beginning to my theme for the Themed Reading Challenge.

My Rating/Recommendations: 4 out of 5; Recommended to anyone who enjoys a good cozy mystery

Challenges: New Author Challenge, Themed Reading Challenge, Support Library Challenge, 100+ Book Challenge, 1st in a Series Challenge, A-Z Challenge ("B" Author), TBR Challenge (Alternate), Winter Reading Challenge

Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs

What is it with so many books having two guys chasing after the same girl? On the risk of going off on a bit of a tangent rather than reviewing this book, I have to say that it is becoming quite common. I mean Jacob and Edward in the Twilight books, Adam and Samuel in this series, Ranger and Joe in the Plum series (I haven't gotten to that point in this series but have heard about it) and I'm sure there are more out there. Quite the dilemma for the heroine. I suppose it is the idea of two guys fighting over the girl that is appealing but anyways before I get off track... :)

Give a brief summary:

In the 2nd installment in the Mercy Thompson series, Mercy helps Stefan out and gets herself into a worldwind of trouble. Now she is dealing with sorcerors, demons, vampires, and werewolves and has her hands full. Plus, she is still trying to sort out her feelings between Adam and Samuel.

Likes?

Everything about this book and this series so far. Mercy's character is unique and likeable and I love that she is so headstrong. The world that Briggs creates draws me in and I get lost within the book. I love the chemistry between Adam and Mercy and am hoping that they eventually find each other. I also enjoy all of the other elements that Briggs includes within these novels including the fae, vampires, and other things that go bump in the night. This story was fast-paced and intense with a bit of edge to it that kept me turning the pages as fast as I could.

Dislikes?

None. Other than I am ready for some resolution between the Adam-Samuel-Mercy triangle that is going on. But it doesn't detract from the story in the least in my opinion so I can't really count that as a dislike. I just want to know which guy she chooses! Chalk it up to my impatience but it will be one of the reasons why I pick up the next book sooner rather than later.

Additional thoughts?

Hmmm...give this series a try! It is a great start if you haven't tried any urban fantasy in my opinion and might get you more interested in this genre. All in all, I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the 3rd book in this series. I'm liking this series so much that I might have to buy copies for my keeper shelf (which is rare for me).

My Rating/Recommendations: 4.5 out of 5; Recommended to urban fantasy and paranormal romance fans!

Challenges: Support Library Challenge, 100+ Book Challenge, 2nds Challenge, A-Z Challenge ("B" Author)

Grave Surprise by Charlaine Harris

Give a brief summary of the book:

Harper and Tolliver are back and this time Harper is showing her skills off to a college professor and his class. While it is obvious that the professor believes that Harper is a fraud, as only he has seen the secret records of how every person in the cemetary has died there isn't much he can say to discredit her especially when she finds an unexpected body. Before Harper and Tolliver know it they are caught up in the midst of another mystery with some clients from their past.

Likes?

Hmm...I liked everything about this book. It was nice to get back to Harper and Tolliver and once again I found myself caught up in the mystery. Their relationship shifted a bit in this book which has made me more interested in seeing how the rest of the series turns out. I enjoy Harper's character and can't help but root for her. Charlaine Harris writes with such fluidity that I find myself carried on in her stories and before I know it the book is already finished. Seriously, I flew through this one :)

Dislikes?

I can't say that I have any serious qualms with this series so far. I'm still a little bit weirded out by Tolliver and Harper's relationship but I think that is more from the fact that they haven't figured it out yet. I'll be interested in seeing the direction that Harris takes with this and personally I'm not sure which way I want it to go. LOL! I'm a bit wishy-washy on it.

Additional Thoughts:

The only thing that I want to add is that I obviously need to get going on the Sookie series if I am enjoying this one so much. I will definitely be picking up the 3rd book in this series and am planning on reading Harris' other mystery series as well.

My Rating/Recommendations: 4 out of 5; Recommended to mystery lovers but start with the 1st in this series

Challenges: Support Library Challenge, 100+ Book Challenge, A-Z Challenge ("G" Title)

**I've decided to use this format for books in series...I find it is hard to review them without giving away spoilers and this makes it easier :)

The Sunday Salon- Imitation In Death by J.D. Robb

Good morning everyone! I hope everyone is warm and cozy wherever they are. We just got a few more inches of snow here and it feels like winter may never end. That being said, yesterday was a perfect day to curl up with a book and that is just what I did. I gulped down New Moon by Stephanie Meyer and found that it was the perfect way to spend the day (aside from cleaning which couldn't be ignored). I also finished The Kingmaking by Helen Hollick this week and absolutely LOVED it! I'm excited to have found this new author and am looking forward to reading the other two books in this trilogy. I've picked up Wicked By Any Other Name by Linda Wisdom as my next read and am excited to begin it. Oh yeah, America and the Age of Genocide came back in from the library so I'm back to reading that as well. Yay! Well, that's my reading news for the week so on to the review:

Imitation In Death is a continuation of the In Death series featuring Eve Dallas and her husband Roarke. In this novel, Eve is dealing with a killer who imitates famous serial killers like Jack the Ripper. The killer leaves a note on the body of his first victim addressed to Dallas, and just like that Eve is caught up in a new case.

I really enjoyed this book and find that for me this series just gets stronger and better. I love the characters and their relationships with one another which is what makes this series for me. They grow from book to book and it is fun to see it. Eve is prickly and difficult but I just love her as the main character. And the ending of this book was great! I'm so excited to see how this changes or affects Peabody and Eve's relationship or if it doesn't change it at all. Of course, I love this series but if you haven't read it yet then give it a try!

My Rating/Recommendations: 4 out of 5; Recommended to those who enjoy mysteries, romance, and lots of character growth
Challenges: 100+ Book Challenge, Support Your Library Challenge, A-Z Challenge ("R" Author)

Call of the Highland Moon by Kendra Leigh Castle

If you all remember awhile back I got the chance to read Dark Highland Moon by this author and absolutely loved it. I was in the mood for a good romance and it fit the bill for me. Unfortunately, it was the 2nd book in this series and so I added the first one to my TBR list to go back to. I ended up requesting this one from the library when I realized I was craving another romance and happily this didn't disappoint.

Let's begin with a bit about the book: Gideon (a werewolf) has run to America trying to get his head on straight and learn to be the future leader of his pack. He is looking for something more but isn't sure what that is. Gideon has just decided to go back home and accept his responsibilities when he is attacked by a group of werewolves. Carly finds him in his wolf form on her doorstep wounded and brings what she thinks is a very large dog home with her. And the story begins...

I will admit that I am a sucker for a well-laid out romance once in awhile and this author can write one. I was hooked from the first page and barely put the book down unless I absolutely had too :) I loved the romance and chemistry between Carly and Gideon and couldn't get enough of their story. I wasn't sure how it was going to work between the two of them but the author pulled it all together in the end for me. The ending made the book for me and although I can't sure for sake of spoilers suffice it to say that it was awesome! I love the mix of paranormal and romance in this series and am so glad that I found out about this author. I would highly recommend this book to those who enjoy paranormal romances and of course the 2nd book as well.

My Rating/Recommendations: 4.5 out of 5; Recommended to readers of romance and paranormal romances (highly recommended!)
Challenges: Support Library Challenge, 100+ Book Challenge, 1st in a Series Challenge, Romance Reading Challenge

P.S.- I was lucky enough to score an ARC of the 3rd book in this series and am dying to read it! I'll wait till closer to the publishing date though and I think that I will reread the 2nd book while I'm at it :)

Circus of the Damned by Laurell K. Hamilton

**This interview/review format was borrowed from Bookfool. She's great at it and always has the most interesting reviews :)

Give us a brief summary (spoiler free):

Circus of the Damned brings Anita back and dealing with the possibilities of having to be Jean Claude's human servant. She is also involved in a police investigation where it looks like vampires are attacking people. Trouble is brewing and of course Anita is in the middle of it.

What did you like about this book?

I liked this book because we were able to see a different side of Anita. She is struggling with her feelings for Jean Claude, trying to date, and working insane hours as always. Before she knows it she is also dealing with multiple master vampires and trying not to be killed. I also liked ending of this book even though I can't share the details with you here for fear of spoilers. Suffice it to say that it came across as more realistic than previous books.

Dislikes?

Hmm...a dislike for me is that these books can be a bit gory. "Chunks of human flesh" is a bit of a turnoff. I tend to skim through those parts but I do love the action involved in the book. It keeps you on your toes wondering how Anita will manage to survive.

Additional thoughts?

I know I'm only three deep into this series but this one is my favorite so far. I related more to Anita and I liked seeing that she struggled with her feelings over Jean Claude. Plus, as I've said previously I liked the ending of this one. I'm anxious to see what troubles Anita gets herself into next. And I almost forgot that I enjoyed the character of the new zombie animator that was introduced. Although I've already forgotten his name ;) All in all, a good read and I will be continuing on with this series.

My Rating/Recommendation: 4 out of 5; Recommended to those who enjoy dark urban fantasy.

Challenges: A-Z Challenge ("C" Title), Support Library, 100+ Challenge

**I'm planning on getting a few more reviews posted as soon as I can. I hate getting backed up and I'm already falling behind for this new year.

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

I'm going to be honest here and admit that I had no idea how to even begin to review this book. Toni Morrison is already noted and celebrated as an amazing and important author of our time. This is her first novel and also my first time reading anything by her. I can't even begin to fathom what her other books might be like and how amazing they must be.
In The Bluest Eye, we are introduced to Claudia (our narrator) and her sister Frieda. From the beginning the reader also knows that while Claudia is narrating this isn't her story and unfortunately that this isn't going to be a happy story. Once I wrapped my mind around that fact I was ready to begin this novel.
The story is centered around Pecola Breedlove and her family known throughout town as the ugliest family. Throughout the novel there are times where we see past events from Pecola's mother and father's lives. Sadly, it is thru these events that shape the unfortunate events that are soon about to take place.
This isn't an easy read by any means but it is an amazing book. I can't say much else. Morrison is a gifted writer who through this novel is able to comment on society's obsession with beauty, race, and families. I think that some of the points she makes might have flown right over my head and this book would definitely warrant a rereading in the future. Just to give you a taste of Morrison's writing:

"Beauty was not simply something to behold; it was something one could do."

Morrison's writing is both stark and beautiful. Sorry, I would have shared more with you but I've already taken the book back to the library. While this wasn't a happy novel by any means it was such a great novel that I can't help but recommend it to anyone and everyone. Be advised that there are graphic parts that are cringeworthy and a bit painful to read. It is only painful because as the reader you become invested in the characters. I wanted a happy ending even if I knew that I wasn't going to get it. All in all, a book that will probably be considered a classic in the future. I am definitely going to read more of Morrison in the future!

My rating: 5 out of 5
Challenges: TBR Challenge, New Author Challenge, Support Library Challenge, Winter Reading Challenge, A-Z Challenge ("M" Author), and Book Awards Challenge II (Pulitzer Winner), Year of Reading Dangerously, 100+ Challenge

Full Moon Rising by Keri Arthur

Full Moon Rising is the beginning of a new (to me) series that I was excited to read. Riley Jensen and her twin brother are half vampire and half werewolf and both work for the government concerning supernatural creatures. Trouble begins to brew when Riley's brother disappears and a vampire shows up on Riley's doorstep. Can she find her brother without becoming a guardian like her boss wants her to?
I'm finding that I am a huge fan of urban fantasy and this didn't disappoint. Keri Arthur creates a world that draws the reader into it and I couldn't help but root for Riley to succeed. It was a dark world filled with creatures of the night and lots of suspense. Riley was also up against the fact that it was the week before the full moon which meant that she was basically in heat. There was a lot of sex in this book which may deter some readers. It didn't bother me as a reader as it pertained to the story line but like I said before it might bother some. All of the answers weren't found at the end of the book which makes me want to read the next book in this series soon. The ending was satisfying though and I couldn't help but hope that the story would go the way I wanted it to in the following books :) All in all, I enjoyed this book and am excited to have found another series that I will be following.

Rating/Recommendations: 4 out of 5 and a recommendation to those who enjoy dark urban fantasy.
Challenges: 1st in a Series, New Author, 100+ Challenge, A-Z ("A" Author), Support Your Library Challenge