sorahikaru13

This is a MUST READ for all. One of the years best!

And how amazing is the cover?

The Dark Divine by Bree Despain:




THE DARK DIVINE is absolutely stunning, amazing and yes, it is truly divine. Bree Despain has created a beautiful, dark and romantic masterpiece. The writing is gorgeous, the mysterious plot is enthralling, the characters are endearing and the love story is breathtaking. It is just phenomenal.

When the sexy, brooding and emotionally damaged Daniel Kalbi returns to his sometown in Minnesota, nobody is more thrilled than Grace Divine. After all, he was her childhood friend as well as her first love. A long time ago, Daniel was nearly part of her family. He was taken in by her father, pastor Divine, when his own father was abusing him. Daniel had finally found a place where he was loved, but it all ended when he suddenly disappeared under strange circumstances. Grace's brother Jude came home one night covered in blood and Daniel was never seen after that. Something happened and he had to have gone somewhere, but Grace never found out the truth.

When Daniel returns, Grace is still drawn to him, but the pull is even stronger and she doesn't know if she can control it. She knows that her brother now seems to hate Daniel and she still doesn't know why. Grace tried to keep her promise to Jude to stay away from him, but she's finding it more difficult to do this every day. The longer he's in town, the more she wants to be near him, even if it means breaking promises and rules. Grace knows that Daniel has had a rough life and she will not leave him alone with his problems. She could be risking more than her status as the pastors daughter because at the same time as Daniel's return, something else has made it's way to town. Something mysterious and sinister. People are disappearing and turning up dead, and there are rumors about monsters circulating. This has happend before but it stopped when Daniel left. Could Daniel be somehow be connected to it? Grace's love for him will either lead to his salvation or her own downfall when she finally discovers what really happened that fateful night years ago.

This story has plenty of twists and turns and it will keep you guessing at every one of them. The relationship between Daniel and Grace will leave you swooning and really hoping that love can conquer all. Daniel is pretty wonderful, too. What a fantastic story this is! It pulls you in, wraps you in softness, pulls at your heart, speeds up your pulse and drops you in a garden of angels and demons. Brilliant! Beautiful! Amazing! Darkly divine! Wow. Just... wow. 

Here is the book trailer:

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I LOOOOOVE This book!


Hearts at Stake by Alyxandra Harvey:




So, I'm kind of in love with this book. It's my NEW FAVORITE THING! Hearts at Stake is fun, romantic, action-packed and downright addictive. I can't wait for the next book! This is the start to a must read new series. I enjoyed it SO much, and I really hope that everyone gets themselves a copy immediately.

Solange Drake seemingly has it all. She's got parents who love her, seven older brothers who will do anything to protect her, a best friend named Lucy who is practically her sister and she's about to celebrate her sixteenth birthday. Sounds like life is pretty good, doesn't it? Well, there are a few problems. When she finally turns sixteen, she will also go through a possibly life threatening transformation and become like the rest of her family... a vampire. Not only that, but while she's on the verge of this change every male vamp within smelling distance of her has been intoxicated by her "sweet" sixteen vampiress-to-be pheromones, making life an unwanted rose-and-candy filled disaster. On top of all the birthday stress, she's also found herself to be the target of someones assasination plans because she's seen as a threat to the vampire throne. There is a bounty on her head and both vamps and hunters alike are after it. Her only hope to survive may be to trust one of her enemies, who, by the way, is pretty cute. Her butt-kicking parents, overprotective brothers and tough-as-nails best friend have her back, but there are a lot of people (and things) out there who want her dead. This all may not matter because she may not even survive her transformation. Oh, and Solange has also noticed that her friend Lucy and her brother Nicholas are acting kind of strange, what's up with that? With crazy prophecies, countless enemies and becoming undead there is one thing that's certain. If Solange makes it to sixteen, this is one birthday she will never forget.

Solange and Lucy take turns telling the story as they try to save each other, possibly fall in love and definitely deliver a few punches. I haven't had this much fun with vampires since Buffy!

sorahikaru13

The Cupcake Queen by Heather Helper:





This is a sweet and satisfying book with heart and substance. The cover is cute, and quite honestly makes me hungry, but I ended up devouring the book itself...and it was delicious!

Baking cupcakes, getting revenge, passing French, healing broken hearts, building planets, saving animals and making possible life altering decisions are some of the things Penny will face in only a few short months. Who knew small town life could be so crazy?


I recommend this to fans of Meg Cabot. This is one that younger readers will enjoy as well, and it would be a great choice for those who may not quite be ready for Sarah Dessen. The Cupcake Queen does take on the more serious issue of divorce, but it isn't too heavy for pre-teens. The romance in it is also as sweet as the cupcakes on the cover and it is a charming read with a positive message. It would make a great gift that you could feel good about giving, too.

Just a little, cute cupcake video:

HUNGRY?

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<3 Michelle

sorahikaru13

Pretty Dead by Francesca Lia Block:






There is just something magical and enthralling about Francesca Lia Block's writing. She is able to pull you into her words and make you feel them reaching out and touching you. Pretty Dead is not a long book, as a matter of fact, I finished it in about two hours, but I hung on every beautiful word and savored every second. I guess I'd compare it to a song written in a minor key with beautiful melodic lyrics, full of pain and sorrow, yet sweet and floating. So, basically, if you like Tori Amos, you should read this book (I had "Little Earthquakes" running through my head while reading it - "Give me life, give me pain, give me my...self again").

*I would suggest this to more mature readers of at least 16.


If you've never heard "Little Earthquakes" by Tori Amos, you should. She is my hero. Click below to listen:

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<3 Michelle

sorahikaru13

If you love YA books or you know someone who does and are looking for suggestions, I put together a list of great books to check out. I paired some up that go together and I also gave suggestions based on what you may have already read or what you like...

Michelle's YA Shopping Guide
Be someone's hero! Buy them some books!

Books that go together (Best of the Best):

For Anyone(Michelle's Picks):
Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink

Team Jacob:
Dark Guardians Series by Rachel Hawthorne
Need by Carrie Jones
Never Cry Werewolf by Heather Davis
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Team Edward:
Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey
Pretty Dead by Francesca Lia Block

Team Angel:
Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
Meridian by Amber Kizer

Team Faery:
Fairy Tale by Cyn Balog
Wings by Aprilynn Pike

Team Witch:
Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough
Wicked Series by Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie
Three Witches by Paula Jolin

Team Ghost:
Give Up the Ghost by Megan Crewe
Dead Girl Series by Linda Joy Singleton

Team Zombie:
Generation Dead by Daniel Waters
Generation Dead: Kiss of Life by Daniel Waters
Never Slow Dance With a Zombie by E. Van Lowe
You Are SO Undead To Me by Stacey Jay
Zombie Queen of Newbury High by Amanda Ashby

Team Human:
Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles
Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles
Lock & Key by Sarah Dessen

Cute, Sweet and Magical(A perfect match):
As You Wish by Jackson Pearce
Coffeehouse Angel by Suzanne Selfors

For the True Original:
Another Faust by Daniel & Dina Nayeri
Going Bovine by Libba Bray
How to Say Goodbye in Robot by Natalie Standiford
Intertwined by Gena Showalter
Lips Touch Three Times by Laini Taylor
The Seven Rays by Jessica Bendinger

For the Independent Spirit (Strong Female Characters):
Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E.Lockhart
Dust of 100 Dogs by A.S. King

For the Theater Lover:
Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev
Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston

For When Love Never Dies:
Immortal by Gillian Shields
Evermore by Alyson Noel
Blue Moon by Alyson Noel
Shadowland by Alyson Noel
Raven by Alison van Diepen

Books For Guys:
Alex Rider Series by Anthony Horowitz (Book 8: Crocodile Tears JUST RELEASED!)
Candor by Pam Bachorz
Chronicles of Vladimir Todd by Heather Brewer (Three books so far)
Dangerous Days of Daniel X by James Petterson
Doom Machine by Mark Teague
Gone by Michael Grant
Hunger by Michael Grant
In the Path of Falling Objects by Andrew Smith
Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld
Lockdown by Alexander Gordon Smith
Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
Ask and the Answer by Patrick Ness
Maze Runner by James Dashner
Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey
Night Runner by Max Turner

Scary, Scary!!
Bad Girls Don't Die by Katie Alender
Bonechiller by Graham Mcnamee
Devoured by Amanda Marrone
The Devouring by Simon Holt
Soulstice by Simon Holt
Sleepless by Thomas Fahy

If you Liked The Hunger Games, Read:
Candor by Pam Bachorz
Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
Maze Runner by James Dashner
Unwind by Neal Shusterman
Winter's End by Jean Claude Mourlevat

If you Liked City of Bones:
Devil's Kiss by Sarwatt Chadda
My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent
Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow
Betrayals by Lili St. Crow

If You Liked Wicked Lovely:
Lament by Maggie Stiefvater
Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater
Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston

If You Liked A Great and Terrible Beauty:
Bewitching Season by Marissa Doyle
Betraying Season by Marissa Doyle
Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink
The Luxe Series by Anna Godbersen

If You Liked 13 Reasons Why:
**If I Stay by Gayle Forman** (One of my favorites!)
Crash Into Me by Albert Borris
Everafter by Amy Huntley
Hold Still by Nina LaCour

If You Like Fantasy:
Watersmeet by Ellen Jensen Abbott
Graceling by Kristin Cashore
Fire by Kristin Cashore
Eon: Dragoneye Reborn by Alison Goodman
Looking Glass Wars Series by Frank Beddor
Rampant by Daina Peterfreund

On Love and Loss:
Lipstick Apology by Jennifer Jabaley
Map of the Known World by Lisa Ann Sandell
September Sisters by Jillian Cantor
Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

Southern Gothic Stunners:
Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
Ruined by Paula Morris
Splendor Falls by Rosemary Clement-Moore

HAPPY SHOPPING!!

sorahikaru13

It's almost Halloween so let's get SPOOKY!


Tombstone Tea by Joanne Dahme:






This is a quick & spooky read that will make a great companion for a cold, dark night. It's not too scary but just the right amount of creepiness with a little history lesson and some quirky ghosts, some of which were actual historical figures. Tombstone Tea takes place in a very real place in Philadelphia, the Laurel Hill Cemetery that overlooks the Schuylkill River (for those who don't live in the SE Pennsylvania area, it is pronounced SKOO-KULL River). I happen to live near this place, and this book has made me want to take a little field trip. DURING THE DAY, that is. There is NO way I will be walking through the gates of this cemetery at night. Ohh, no. Brr...*chills*...

Jessie has recently changed schools and she really wants to fit in. She's spent enough time being different so this time she wants to make an effort to be normal. This sounded like a great plan, but somehow she still finds herself in an odd situation. The girls in her new group of friends dare her to spend the night in a cemetery to prove herself worthy of being a part of their group. Ok, it sounds scary, but Jessie can do this. It's only one night. It can't be that bad, right? Well, this one night is about to change her entire life.

When Jessie enters the cemetery, she finds out that she is not alone. It appears that the place is occupied by actors rehearsing for a "Tombstone Tea" where they are pretending to be the ghosts of the people burried here long ago. She is lead through the graves by a sweet and handsome boy named Paul who claims he works there at night. Together they tour the grounds, visiting the actors and their mausoleums or headstones, enjoying the show. As the night progresses though, Jessie notices that the actors are a little too into their roles and are actually starting to scare her a little bit, especially the one name Jenny. The night is cut short when she comes to a bone-chilling realization. These are not actors after all. They are ghosts, and some of them are not the friendly type.

The story then goes back to when some of them were alive and we find out why they are now permanent residents of the graveyard. We also find out what has caused some of these spirits to be so angry.

When Jessie is ready, she must go back to the cemetery to confront the ghosts and possibly help them to finally move on.

To learn more about the Laurel Hill Cemetery, as well as the other creepy haunts of the Philadelpia area (and there a lot of them), you might want to check out this book, Philadelpia Graveyards and Cemeteries (from Images of America) by Thomas H. Keels. It's kind of spooky but very cool:




Also, this is one of the ghosts in the story. His name was Elisha Kent Kane, and he was a real person. An Arctic explorer who was buried in the Laurel Hill Cemetery:



His actual mausoleum:

Ok, I am TOTALLY creeped out now and I think I need to go watch some cartoons or something...


Happy October!

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<3 Michelle

 

maxiekatt2

Forget everything you ever knew about unicorns…

The sparkly, innocent creatures of lore are a myth. Real unicorns are venomous, man-eating monsters with huge fangs and razor-sharp horns. And they can only be killed by virgin descendants of Alexander the Great.

Fortunately, unicorns have been extinct for a hundred and fifty years.

Or not.

Astrid Llewelyn has always scoffed ather eccentric mother’s stories about killer unicorns. But when one of the monsters attacks her boyfriend in the woods – thereby ruining any chance of him taking her to prom – Astrid learns that unicorns are real and dangerous, and she has a family legacy to uphold. Her mother packs her off to Rome to train as a unicorn hunter at the ancient cloisters the hunters have used for centuries.

However, at the cloisters, all is not what is seems. Outside, the unicorns wait to attack. And within, Astrid faces other, unexpected threats: from crumbling, bone-covered walls that vibrate with a terrible power to the hidden agendas of her fellow hunters to – perhaps most dangerously of all – her growing attraction to a handsome art student… and a relationship that could jeopardize everything.

Killerunicorns.org (you know ... just to be on the safe side).