Review: Glass Houses by Rachel Caine

Glass Houses by Rachel Caine

UK Publication Date: 26 May 2008
Publisher: Allison & Busby
Pages: 361
Series: The Morganville Vampires #1
Format: Paperback
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Vampires, Young Adult
Rating: 4 out of 5

Morganville is a small town filled with unusual characters - when the sun goes down, the bad come out. In Morganville, there is an evil that lurks in the darkest shadows - one that will spill out into the bright light of day.

For Claire Danvers, high school was hell, but college may be murder. It was bad enough that she got on the wrong side of Monica, the meanest of the school's mean girls, but now she's got three new roommates, who all have secrets of their own. And the biggest secret of all isn't really a secret, except from Claire: Morganville is run by vampires, and they are hungry for fresh blood...

Glass Houses tells the story of Claire Danvers, a brainy 16 year old, who has been sent to college in Morganville by her parents. Not only is Claire the youngest college student in Morganville, she is also having a hard time making friends. This isn't made any easier as she has to share a dorm with girls that torment her for just being her.

Claire, realising that she's had enough of dorm life, decides to try living off campus. After looking a few different places, she finds an advertisement for a roommate at the Glass House. But what Claire doesn't realise is that the occupants of the Glass House have secrets of their own.

Once Claire moves in the story really picks up and doesn't stop until its shocking climax.

I found Glass Houses to be an interesting read, with characters that I both loved and hated at the same time. Rachel Caine has created a intriguing and mysterious town that I cannot wait to find out more about.

I recommend this book to fans of vampire novels.
(please note this review was written back in November, but was never published on the blog.)

Review: Forgotten by Cat Patrick

Forgotten by Cat Patrick

UK Release Date: 6 June 2011
Publisher: Egmont
Pages: 277
Format: Paperback
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal
Rating: 4 out of 5

Here's the thing about me: I can see the future in flashes, like memories. But my past is a blank.

I remember what I'll wear tomorrow, and an argument that won't happen until this afternoon. But I don't know what I ate for dinner last night. I get by with the help of notes, my mom and my best friend Jamie, and the system works...

Until now. Everything's falling apart. Jamie's going off the rails. My mom is lying to me. And I can't see the boy I adore in my future.

But today, I love him. And I never want to forget how much...

I have to say that I really liked this book. Forgotten tells the story of London Lane. London is not your normal teenager. London has amnesia, with a difference. London is able to remember things that are going to happen, but everyday when she wakes up she can't remember what happened the day before.

Cat Patrick has written a debut novel that I found really engrossing. There was a few things that bugged me about this book. The constant reference to Luke's, Londons' boyfriend, eyes and how gorgeous he was at times got a little bit annoying, but I understand why this was necessary. I was surprised by the ending, I was totally wrong with what I thought was going to happen. It did leave me thinking that there could be a sequel, but I don't think this is going to be the case.

Forgotten is a compelling, fast read with plenty of twists to keep you guessing.

Review: Feast of Fools by Rachel Caine

Feast of Fools by Rachel Caine

UK Publication Date: 23 February 2009
Publisher: Allison & Busby Limited
Series: The Morganville Vampires #4
Pages: 367
Format: Paperback
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy
Rating: 4 out of 5

In the town of Morganville, vampires and humans have learnt to live in relative peace. Claire Danvers knows that after dark, her homework can take a backseat to staying alive. But this tenuous harmony is turned on its head with the arrival of Mr Bishop.

Bad to the bone, the ancient old-school vampire cares nothing about keeping the peace; staying at the top of the food chain is enough. What he wants from the town's living and dead is unthinkably sinister. It's only at a formal ball attended by vampires and their human dates that Claire realises Bishop's plan - and the elaborately evil trap he's set for the warm-blooded souls of Morganville...

I'm not going to say too much about this book, I have noticed that my previous reviews are starting to contain spoilers, which I don't want to do. I will say that this is another page turner with the same level of character development that the other books had.

I am still finding the character of Claire Danvers to be very intriguing, especially in this book. Claire seems to have developed an attachment to the Glass House that allows her to do something that only the owner can do.

I will say that I found the build up to the celebration a little bit slow, but, what happens at the celebration really makes this book gripping and again we are left on a cliffhanger.

Again I highly recommend this book and this series.

Review: Midnight Alley by Rachel Caine

Midnight Alley by Rachel Caine

UK Publication Date: 2008
Publisher: Allison & Busby Limited
Series: The Morganville Vampires #3
Pages: 365
Format: Paperback
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance
Rating: 5 out of 5

When Claire Danvers learnt that her college town was run by vampires, she did what any intelligent, self-preserving student would do: she applied for a transfer and stocked up on garlic. The transfer is no longer an option, but the garlic may come in handy.

Now Claire has pledged herself to Amelie, the most powerful vampire in town. The protection her contract secures does little to reassure her friends. All of a sudden people are turning up dead, a stalker resurfaces from Claire's past, and an ancient bloodsucker extends a chilling invitation for private lessons in his secluded home.

Midnight Alley starts off, as usual, where The Dead Girls Dance ended.  Claire has now signed herself over to Amelie, in hopes of protecting her friends.  Again this book is as action pack as the previous books, and once it gets hold it doesn't let go.

Claire is still my favourite character. With every book she becomes bolder and in this one she's going to need all the help and protection she can get. We are introduced to another vampire called Myrnin, who is working on a cure (not going to say what for) and Amelie assigns Claire to help him.

One of the things I like about this series, apart from the action and character development, is that we learn more about the history of Morganville as the story progresses.  How Rachel Caine is able to introduce new characters and still make the other characters as likable is a testament to her as a talent writer.

This is another highly recommended book.

Review: The Dead Girls Dance by Rachel Caine

The Dead Girls Dance by Rachel Caine

UK Publication Date: 2008
Publisher: Allison & Busby Limited
Series: The Morganville Vampires #2
Format: Paperback
Pages: 380
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Young Adult
Rating: 4 out of 5

Claire Danvers has had her share of challenges - like being a genius in a school that favours beauty over brains, dealing with the homicidal girls in her dorm and, above all, finding out that her college town is overrun with blood-sucking fiends. On the plus side, so far Claire and her friends have managed to survive getting on the wrong side of some of Morganville VIPs... Vampire Important Persons. But their temporary peace is in danger of collapsing, thanks to the arrival of her new boyfriend's scary father and his vampire-fighting supporters.

The Dead Girls' Dance is action packed from start to finish.  It starts a few minutes after the shocking climax of Glass Houses, with Michael dead and Shane's dad, Frank, looking to cause as much trouble as he can for Shane, Claire and Eve.

All of the characters in this book have started to grow on me, especially Claire. In Glass Houses I found Claire to be a bit whiny, but in this book Claire has really started to mature and we witness Claire taking a more active role in helping both her friends and the vampires.

The developing romance between Claire and Shane is written in a way that doesn't make it take over the book.  You can really feel the tension and passion growing that really helps when Shane is faced with his own mortality.

The vampires in this book are proper vampires. They burn when exposed to sunlight, although older ones seem have developed an immunity to it.

Although I found the ending a little bit bland I did enjoy reading Eve's Diary, which Rachel Caine included in this book, as it gave more insight Eve's character as well as events that weren't really touched upon in the main story.

Overall The Dead Girls' Dance is a riveting read and I highly recommend it to fans of vampire fiction.

Review: Playing In Traffic by Gail Giles

Playing In Traffic by Gail Giles
Publication Date: 2006
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Pages: 176
Format: Paper back
Source: Library
Genre: Young Adult, Psychological Thriller
Rating: 4 out of 5

Synopsis

Skye Colby? She's the multi-pierced Goth girl hanging around the internet cafes; always out at odd hours in stange places. All the boys call her slut puppy; the girls wrinkle their snub noses in distaste. Some people think she's brilliant, others say she's unstable. Skye is all those things, and more...

So why has she singled out Matt for special attention? Clearly, she has a dangerous agenda, but how can Matt resist the mystery and drama Skye trails in her wake? Despite warnings from people at school, Matt is totally mesmerised by Skye - She promises a way out of his dreary existence - but at what price?

My Thoughts

I saw this book quite a few times in my local library and didn't really know what to make of it, so I decided on a whim to give it a go and I am so glad I did. This is the first book I have read by Gail Giles and I have to say I was hooked from the start.

The characters are believable and I was instantly drawn to Matt. I really felt sorry for him. First of all his parents are never around, they are always working, so he's had to raise his sister Katy all by himself. Secondly he knows the secret about Katy, but can't bring himself to tell her and thirdly he's hooked up with Skye, the slutty somewhat mentally troubled Goth girl who only wants to know him when they are alone.

The story starts off a bit slow but it quickly builds to its dramatic climax. There are plenty of twists in the story to keep you hooked.  The only thing that lets this book down is its title, I can't see the connection to the story.

Overall Playing In Traffic is a quick, intense read. I would recommend this book to fans of psychological thrillers. I will definitely be reading more of Gail Giles books.

Review: Megan by Mary Hooper

Megan by Mary Hooper
Series: Megan #1
Publication Date: 1999
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Pages: 186
Format: Paper back
Source: Library
Genre: Young Adult,
Rating: 4 out of 5

Synopsis from back cover

Megan is fifteen. One day she finds out in the worst possible way, the worst possible news - she is pregnant.

What will she do?
How will her friends react?
How will her ex-boyfriend react?
How will her mum react?

My Thoughts

Megan, the first book in the Megan trilogy, tells the story of 15 year old Megan Warrell. Megan has just found out that she is pregnant and has no idea what she should do. Megan has confided in her best friend Claire, but isn't sure if she should her ex-boyfriend, Luke, and her mother. Although Megan does tell Luke, it's the reaction from her mother that hurts her the most.

I don't want to give too much away, but this is a must read for every teenage girl. Although I am far from being a teenage girl, I am a parent of a teenage girl and I have often wondered how I would react in this situation, hopefully better that Megan's mother did.

This is a quick read that grips the reader from the very beginning. Mary Hooper has created characters that, at times, I felt really sorry for.

Review: White Lies by Cathy Hopkins

White Lies by Cathy Hopkins
Series: Truth, Dare, Kiss, Promise #1
Publication Date: 25 April 2008
Publisher: Piccadilly Press
Pages: 157
Format: Paper back
Source: Library
Genre: Young Adult, Chick Lit
Rating: 3 out of 5

Synopsis from back cover

Cat's always been the perfect girl next girl. Thoughtful friend. Supportive girlfriend. Surrogate mother to her three younger siblings, a great help to her dad since her mum died. But now Cat's facing some major dilemmas.

A game of Truth, Dare, Kiss or Promise lands her in hot water when she's asked a truth she can't reveal. On top of this she doesn't want to hurt her boyfriend by telling him the truth, but she knows it's over between them.

Is it right to tell lies to protect people or keep the peace? Can the truth be too hurtful?

My Thoughts

I'd seen this book quite a few times in my local library so decided to take the plunge and give it a go. I will say that I enjoyed it, but I wasn't thrilled by it. I'm not sure if its the subject matter or the genre that I didn't get on with.

White Lies is the first chick lit book I have read and unfortunately it might be the last. Although I found the characters believable I just didn't find the story that interesting, again I think this has to do with the genre. As I said at the beginning of this review I did enjoy it.

At 157 pages White Lies is a very quick read that would appeal to fans of the Chick Lit genre. Overall White Lies is an enjoyable read.

Review: The Forgotten Echo by Jennifer Wylie

Title: The Forgotten Echo
Author: Jennifer Wylie
Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult, Short Story
Published: Feb 23 2011 by Echelon Press
Top Seller and top rated on OmniLit eBooks site
Word Count: 11 096
Rating: 5 out of 5

Synopsis:

Sometimes death is only the beginning...

Even after the bad day she's had, Cassy is still surprised to find herself shot, an innocent bystander in a drive by shooting. Bleeding to death in an empty parking lot, she knows she is going die.

What she doesn't expect, is the arrival of a strange, and unnaturally handsome, man who tells her he can keep her from passing on in return for being his forever. In desperation, she agrees but afterwards she is beyond dismayed to discover she has died.

To make matters worse, the stranger has disappeared, leaving her spirit to wander through a series of worlds unknown to her. Her existence is one of fear and loneliness, until she meets another like her and discovers she's not a ghost at all but something much more.

Teaser:

Before I do my review on The Forgotten Echo, here is a quick teaser to whet you appetite:

I barely made it to the parking lot before the yelling and shooting started.  A car speed by, passengers shooting at their rivals two feet from me.  In reflex, I turned as the car passed.  A bullet ripped through me like a punch to the stomach.  The force knocked me up against the side of a van.

Review:

The Forgotten Echo, part of the Immortal Echo series, by Jennifer Wylie is a short story that tells the tale of Cassy who is accidentally shot in a drive-by shooting.  Whilst Cassy is bleeding to death in an empty car park she is approached by a mysterious, but handsome, stranger who promises to save her life. All he needs is her last breath.  In giving her mysterious savor her last breath, Cassy has doomed herself to becoming an Echo.

After spending a week alone and facing strange creatures that seem to glow, Cassy meets a fellow Echo.  It is during this encounter that Cassy learns what she has become and who her mysterious stranger is.  If you think an Echo is like a ghost, then think again.  Echoes are so much more...

From the opening paragraph to the last, I couldn't stop reading.  Jennifer Wylie has created a story that grabs you and doesn't let go, even after you have finished reading it. The Forgotten Echo is a must read for fans of paranormal romance.

The Forgotten Echo is available to buy from:

Buy Links: 0.99

OmniLit: http://www.omnilit.com/product-theforgottenecho-518338-234.html
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Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Forgotten-Echo-Immortal-Echoes-ebook/dp/B004P5NQ1G
Amazon Uk: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004P5NQ1G
B&N: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Forgotten-Echo/Jen-Wylie/e/2940012227799