Review #124: Size 14 Is Not Fat Either by Meg Cabot

Dear friends! How are you guys? Hope your weekends were lovely :) I've got a review for y'all tonight, and I hope you enjoy it :). So sit back, relax, and away we go! 

Size 14 Is Not Fat Either is the second novel in the Heather Wells Series by the wonderful Meg Cabot. Goodreads speaks:

Former pop star Heather Wells has settled nicely into her new life as assistant dorm director at New York College--a career that does not require her to drape her size 12 body in embarrassingly skimpy outfits. She can even cope (sort of) with her rocker ex-boyfriend's upcoming nuptials, which the press has dubbed The Celebrity Wedding of the Decade. But she's definitely having a hard time dealing with the situation in the dormitory kitchen--where a cheerleader has lost her head on the first day of the semester. (Actually, her head is accounted for--it's her torso that's AWOL.)
 

Surrounded by hysterical students--with her ex-con father on her doorstep and her ex-love bombarding her with unwanted phone calls--Heather welcomes the opportunity to play detective . . . again. If it gets her mind off her personal problems--and teams her up again with the gorgeous P.I. who owns the brownstone where she lives--it's all good. But the murder trail is leading the average-sized amateur investigator into a shadowy world. And if she doesn't watch her step, Heather will soon be singing her swan song!

For my review of the first book, Size 12 Is Not Fat, click here. 

I LOVED this book! A great addition to this series. Heather grows a bit, while still being her kick-ass self. I loved the inventive way Meg set up the mystery, each revealed bit had my eyes bugging with me thinking "Holy Sh*t!" I mean it, each twist had me jumping like jump rope. And that ending, and that villain. I mean holy tightwad that villain scared the f&ck out of me, no joke. I got cold when the villain spoke. Well, he's one of the villains, but still O.O. I loved the tension and all the different aspects, like Heather's Dad entering the picture, the possibility of performing again, her relationships with the Cartwright brothers, all of it was just so good. 

Heather still kicked ass. Being a bigger girl like her, I know how she felt with that aspect of her. Plus we're both New Yorkers, and I feel like I think how she thought sometimes. I loved her determination to solve the mystery, and how unafraid she was of the increasingly dire situations. She is such a great character, and I really think if one of us were younger or older, we'd be great friends. Or she could be my awesome older sister. Cooper, dayum, Cooper. Ugh, he's so freaking sexy, sweet, and plain amazing. I can see why Heather loves him, even though he is a bit overprotective. You can see he cares for Heather, and I so wish he'd act on it. Magda wasn't in the picture as much as I'd like, but she was still a great character. Characters like Reggie and a student whom I forget the name of (XD) entered the picture, and added such great flavor to this novel. I really liked Heather's Dad. You feel how much he loves his daughter, and just wants her to forgive him. I admit he was a bit naive, but all in all he was excellent. Like I said, the villain gave me shivers. I mean it, damn. 

Ms. Cabot dazzled me again. She kept up the quality of this series, kept my interest, and like I said crafted an inventive mystery that yes, while a tad cliche, still creatively awesome. Cabot, in my opinion, is a genius and great author, who can move from genre to genre with ease. I also loved how she kept up with the song lyrics in front of each chapter, this time using lyrics from songs Heather wrote herself. I love that bit, especially it reflects Heather's emotions in that chapter. Seriously, I adore Ms. Cabot's works.

I'll next be reviewing Heroes Til Curfew by Susan Bischoff.

Until next time, viva la literature!

Review #123: The Dead Girls' Dance by Rachel Caine

Hey y'all! This shall be the last review of the night, and thankfully this deluge is ending with a glowing review :)

The Dead Girls' Dance is the second book in the Morganville Vampires Series by Rachel Caine. Goodreads doth speaketh:

Claire Danvers has her share of challenges---like being a genius in a school that favors beauty over brains, dealing with the homicidal girls in her dorm, and above all, finding out that her college town is overrun with vampires. On the up side, she has a great roommate (who tends to disappear at sunup) and a new boyfriend named Shane, whose vampire-hunting dad has called in backup: cycle punks who like the idea of killing just about anything.
Now a fraternity is throwing its annual Dead Girls' Dance and---surprise!---Claire and her equally outcast best friend, Eve, have been invited. When they find out why, all hell is going to break loose. Because this time both the living and the dead are coming out---and everybody's hungry for blood.

For my review of the first book, Glass Houses, click here.

My god, this book was fucking wonderful (pardon ze language). I'm sorry for cursing, but I can't help but do so to describe just how much I loved this book, and in essence the series. This book literally picks up where Glass Houses left off, and gets better and better from there. There was a LOT more romance in this book, but it only added, didn't take away from this amazing novel. I loved the twists and turns, and that ending was a major (pardon once again) HOLY SHIT!!!! moment. I mean it, dayum, the ending was fantastic and shocking. The pace was well done, the characters still intact, it was all amazing.

Claire is still fabulous. She goes through struggles with her feelings for Shane, the lengths she goes to in order to save him. She goes through a lot, and comes out better. Plus her relationships with Eve and Michael became stronger. I just love the dynamic between the four. Like I said in my review for Glass Houses, they have such a great relationship, banter, plus you can tell the friends truly care for each other. Eve got some serious growth in this book. You find out more about her history, and the dark shadow that stained it. You sympathize more with her, and just want her to be happy. Onto Michael, dayum. He also got some great development. Like Eve, you learn more about him and his family history. You also sympathize with him since he can't leave the house, therefore unable to help Claire with her efforts. What happens to him in the end it literally shocking. I actually gasped and yelled out "NO! NO REALLY?!?!?". Then there's Shane. Oh boy, he got the most development of all, since he is central to the plot. I feel so sad for him and what happened to him and his family. I just wanted to run to him and give him a hug. I also love how his relationship with Claire develops. They struggle with their feelings since Claire is underage, and therefore it's weird for them to be together, despite the fact that they're in love. Plus their banter is excellent. :) Then there's Sam. Oh Sam, you have become one of my absolute favorites in this series. He is truly wonderful, and I also wanted to hug him. Plus he has this one part near the end of the book that I just loved, even fist pumped and yelled out "YES! EFFING YES!!" I so hope Ms. Caine has added more Sam in the next book. Characters like Amelie still creep me out, but continue to be well developed and awesome. PS Shane's Dad scares the hell out of me *shivers*

Holy Sheeeet Ms. Caine, you write an excellent vampire novel. I don't know if I said this in my review of GH, but I love the concept of vampires being a kind of mafia, running Morganville how they do, treating the humans how they do. I don't know if the metaphor was intentional, but it's definitely interesting and thought-provoking. Ms. Caine continues to build up this world well, adding characters like Sam (swoon) and bringing the epicausity. I can officially say this is an all time favorite series and I can not WAIT to read Midnight Alley.

I'll next be reviewing Size 14 is Not Fat Either by Meg Cabot.

Until next time, viva la literature!

Review 122: Inner Demons by Sarra Cannon

Inner Demons is the second book in the Peachville High Demons series by Sarra Cannon. Goodreads says:

Becoming a Demons cheerleader was the last thing Harper Madison expected when she moved to the small town of Peachville. Now that she's an official member of the squad, her training can begin. Only, this is no normal group of cheerleaders. Harper isn't there to learn dances and cheers. She became a cheerleader in order to finally learn how to control the magic inside.

The Peachville Demons cheer leading squad is really a training ground for a powerful coven of witches called the Order of Shadows. The training opens up a new world for Harper. It's a world of beauty and magic beyond her wildest dreams, but also a world of pressure and impossible expectations.

A world where every secret hides an even darker secret.

For my review of the first book, Beautiful Demons, click here.

Ugh, this book was such a disappointment after BD. The first book was so damn good, and this was well, not. I literally could not find a single reason to finish it and see what came next. Honestly, the plot became just so generic, uninteresting and just not good.

Frankly, Harper became a bland character in this one. She didn't do much til the end, had serious brain farts, and just wasn't likable. None of the other characters felt real, or likable themselves. And the third member of the triangle, Jackson, had his own personality squandered.


Damn, what happened Ms. Cannon? BD was a genius and brilliant novel, and then this? I'm sorry, but you have so much in you, and I just can't fathom why you wrote Inner Demons this way. I'm sorry, but I can't continue this series. *Hangs head in silence*


I'll next be reviewing The Dead Girls' Dance by Rachel Caine.


Until next time, viva la literature!

Review #121: Kiss of Frost by Jennifer Estep

Kiss of Frost is the second book in the Mythos Academy series by Jennifer Estep. Goodreads says:

I’m Gwen Frost, a second-year warrior-in-training at Mythos Acad­emy, and I have no idea how I’m going to sur­vive the rest of the semes­ter. One day, I’m get­ting schooled in sword­play by the guy who broke my heart—the drop-dead gor­geous Logan who slays me every time. Then, an invis­i­ble archer in the Library of Antiq­ui­ties decides to use me for tar­get prac­tice. And now, I find out that some­one at the acad­emy is really a Reaper bad guy who wants me dead. I’m afraid if I don’t learn how to live by the sword—with Logan’s help—I just might die by the sword...

For my review of the Prequel and first book, First and Touch of Frost, click here.

This was such a kick-ass book! After those second book-slumps, it was a breath of air reading Kiss of Frost. The series continued naturally, mostly taking place in a fairly contained environment. But oh, Ms. Estep made it an action packed location, and an action packed book. Everything meshed well: The romance, the action, the friendships, everything. I loved reading the journey, and dayum the ending was so epic and amazing and twisty, I should have seen it coming but I didn't, and I so appreciate that. 

Gwen was even more kick-butt in this book. I loved how she explored her powers in this book, going on her emotional and physical journey. I still found myself rooting for her. Her trademark wit and sarcasm was still there. I wanted her to take her enemies down. Logan gained my respect in this book, despite some douchy tendencies. His back-story and his own emotional journey made me completely fall for him. Daphne was back and better than ever! She is still my favorite character, remaining snarky but sweet, and loyal to Gwen. I still love the friendship between her and Gwen. It was just like the friendship I have with my best friends, we snark at each other and tease a lot, but when the chips are down we're always there for one another. Oliver got a lot of surprising development in this book, taking me by surprise for sure. I liked how Ms. Estep took his character, and I can't wait to see where he goes in the books to come. And of course, Vic was Vic. Nuff said.


Dang Ms. Estep, you kick some serious bum. She built her world well, kept me intrigued, sucking me in from page one once again. Despite all of the praise I've been showering upon her, I still have one issue. She still keeps referring to characters as "the Valkryie" and "the Spartan," even after repeating that numerous times and even after referring to the characters by name. Even Daphne, and she and Gwen are friends! Ugh, I really truly hope that lessens, because it is the only peeve I have with this series. Other than that, fantastic work Ms. Estep!


I'll next be reviewing Inner Demons by Sarra Cannon.


Until next time, viva la literature!

Review #120: Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Beautiful Darkness is the second book in the Caster Chronicles by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. Goodreads says:

Ethan Wate used to think of Gatlin, the small Southern town he had always called home, as a place where nothing ever changed. Then he met mysterious newcomer Lena Duchannes, who revealed a secret world that had been hidden in plain sight all along. A Gatlin that harbored ancient secrets beneath its moss-covered oaks and cracked sidewalks. A Gatlin where a curse has marked Lena's family of powerful supernaturals for generations. A Gatlin where impossible, magical, life-altering events happen.Sometimes life-ending.

Together they can face anything Gatlin throws at them, but after suffering a tragic loss, Lena starts to pull away, keeping secrets that test their relationship. And now that Ethan's eyes have been opened to the darker side of Gatlin, there's no going back. Haunted by strange visions only he can see, Ethan is pulled deeper into his town's tangled history and finds himself caught up in the dangerous network of underground passageways endlessly crisscrossing the South, where nothing is as it seems....

For my review of the first book, Beautiful Creatures, click here.

Have you seen a trend with my last two reviews? Yup, it's the Meh Sequel trend. Except, this book was fortunately not too meh, or that bad. While I was bored and not enjoying reading BD for some parts, I was mostly interested. Not too terrible, and decent when it hit it out of the park. The last half was straight up wicked. I loved every second of it, and that ending was wonderful, although a bit derivative of the end of Beautiful Creatures. 

Ethan was still wonderful. I fell even more for his sweetness and devotion. I still just want to hug him. His journey continued well in this book, and you want him to succeed and help Lena. Speaking of Lena, she took a downward spiral in this book. I felt for her and how she dealt with Macon's death. I lost a loved one not too long ago, one I was incredibly close to. It's hard losing someone you love so much, and regret your last interactions with them. Although I wish she made better decisions and let Ethan comfort her when he offered. 

Ms. Garcia and Ms. Stohl kept me interested for the most part. They built up their world well. Their writing is still excellent. Despite being bored during some parts, as I said I was for the most part intrigued and invested in this book. I can't wait for Beautiful Chaos.

I'll next be reviewing Kiss of Frost by Jennifer Estep. 

Until next time, viva la literature! 

Review #119: Fate by Amanda Hocking

Hello again guys! Here's another review for ya :)

Fate is the second in the My Blood Approves series by Amanda Hocking. Goodreads states:

Alice Bonham thinks she's found a balance in her life between the supernatural and real life Milo. Jack - her sorta vampire boyfriend - keeps her at arm's length to keep her safe. As for his brother Peter... she's not sure where he's at. When tragedy happens, Alice finds herself struggling with a terrible choice..










For my review of the first book, My Blood Approves, click here.

Look, I love Amanda Hocking. Truly I do. Her Tylle Trilogy is one of my favorite series. I even plan on buying a physical copy of Switched today. I also loved the first book in this series, My Blood Approves. Unfortunately, I really didn't like Fate. It was just so......boring. Nothing truly happened, apart from the beginning and the ending. Ok, there was a bit of an antagonist during the book, but that was resolved by the end. I feel like Alice just whined and complained a lot. It felt mostly like a series of random occurrences tied together by a flimsy string. I  couldn't stand it. 


Like I said, I feel like all Alice did was whine and complain. All she did was bitch about how isolated and left out of her vampire group she was. She dragged her feet, not having much life to her. I admired her struggle in the beginning, but after that, I did not like her at all. Jack turned into an Edward Cullen type, losing all of his awesome qualities that made him, well, awesome. He turned his relationship with Alice into a push-pull thing. Ugh, it's a shame of what he became. Milo, also one of my favorite characters from MBA became a bit of a mess. He turned into a jealous mess for the most part, although his love for Alice still shone through. None of the other characters, such as Mae, had the same spark to them, although I got some respect for Peter in this book.


Ms. Hocking, I don't know why you took this book in the direction you did, but I don't think I'll be continuing with this series. I still love you, and will read your other books, just not this series.


I'll next be reviewing Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl.


Until next time, viva la literature!

Review #118: Diamond in the Rough by India Lee

Hello my wonderful friends! It feels like ages since we've seen each other, even though it's only been a week xD. Regardless, I have some reviews for ya, lets go!

Diamond in the Rough is the second book in the Hidden Gem series by India Lee. Goodreads doth says:

Summer maybe here, but sixteen-year-old Gemma Hunter won't have much time to relax. The world is hungry for more Queen Bee, her pop star alter ego who has recently become music's newest sensation.

Despite an official relationship at home with longtime crush, Lucas, Gemma can't resist exploring her life as a celebrity it girl. However, it isn't long before she finds herself becoming too friendly with the front pages of tabloids. And despite the media’s love for spinning Queen Bee’s social life into scandal, Gemma can't stop wreaking havoc with intoxicating TV star Zoe Mercury and indulging in a less than appropriate relationship with international superstar, Tyler Chase.

It was easy keeping things clean with two very separate lives, but now that the line between them is blurring, staying good isn’t going to be easy.

For my review of the first book, Hidden Gem, click here. 

After a great first book, well....................this book was so disappointing. It basically made Gemma into the typical Hollywood Bad Girl, used a love triangle, and just wasn't as good. Ok, so the first book was not Pride and Prejudice, but still. Hidden Gem had a sense of realism and fun to it, with realistic characters. Diamond in the Rough felt like a bad episode of Hannah Montana. The sense of fun and realism just wasn't there. Although I admit the ending was a bit predictable, part of it shocked me a bit. It was a nice twist, and I wonder what Ms. Lee will do with it in the third book. But overall, this book was just meh, not very good.

Gemma, like I said earlier, turned into a Hollywood Bad Girl in this one. Influenced by another Hollywood Bad Girl, plus she doesn't know what to do about Lucas and Tyler. My head hurt reading about the decisions her character made. Honestly. I just could not find anything to like about her in this book. Lucas was still alright, and I felt so bad for him after what Gemma put him through. Then there's Tyler. A Justin Bieber-esque pop star who is still pursuing and sort of dating Gemma. Honestly, I liked him a lot. He was one of the few redeeming qualities. No, he wasn't perfect, but I thought he was sweet. None of the characters in this book, save for Lucas and Tyler had much development in my opinion.

What happened Ms. Lee? You wrote such a good first book. This book was so freaking disappointing. I just hope the third book gets better, although I don't think I'll be buying it.

I'll next be reviewing Fate by Amanda Hocking.

Until next time, viva la literature!