Bloodlines by Richelle Mead



                                                  3.5/ 5 stars                                                
When alchemist Sydney is ordered into hiding to protect the life of Moroi princess Jill Dragomir, the last place she expects to be sent is a human private school in Palm Springs, California. But at their new school, the drama is only just beginning.

Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Bloodlines explores all the friendship, romance, battles and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive - this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and every one's out for blood.

Description from Amazon.com

  My Thoughts; After anticipating the book for so long, I had built it up so high in my head that once I started I had to set it down for a little bit to get my mind in order. I absolutely LOVE everything about the Vampire Academy series. That being said I went into this thinking, okay, I am going to get to spend copious amounts of time with these people I having been missing dearly since the final book of VA. Well I was wrong... however...Adrian is a big factor in the book and that raised my spirits. I am just having a hard time adjusting to Sydney's POV. During the story she starts to feel as if she is becoming friends with the Moroi, but, she is still afraid. (I can't relate to this). I did enjoy the story, I gave it a 3.5 based on the difficulty I had transitioning from one series to the next. I will add this... Richelle Mead guaranteed I will pick up the next book simply by typing  the very last sentence. I will not spoil it... go read for yourself ;)

The first book in Richelle Mead's brand-new teen fiction series - set in the same world as Vampire Academy.

Shade/Shift by Jeri Smith Ready

  I wanted to give you my thoughts on Shade and Shift and could not think how I could do that without one review running over to the other so this one will be a two-fer!

5/5 Stars

Love ties them together. Death can't tear them apart. Best. Birthday. Ever. At least, it was supposed to be. With Logan's band playing a critical gig and Aura's plans for an intimate after-party, Aura knows it will be the most memorable night of her boyfriend's life. She never thought it would be his last.
Logan's sudden death leaves Aura devastated. He's gone.
Well, sort of.
Like everyone born after the Shift, Aura can see and hear ghosts. This mysterious ability has always been annoying, and Aura had wanted nothing more than to figure out why the Shift happened so she can undo it. But not with Logan’s violet-hued spirit still hanging around. Because dead Logan is almost as real as ever. Almost.
It doesn't help that Aura’s new friend Zachary is so understanding—and so very alive. His support means more to Aura than she cares to admit.
As Aura's relationships with the dead and the living grow ever complicated, so do her feelings for Logan and Zachary. Each holds a piece of Aura's heart…and clues to the secret of the Shift.

5/5 Stars

Aura’s life is anything but easy. Her boyfriend, Logan, died, and his slides between ghost and shade have left her reeling. Aura knows he needs her now more than ever. She loves Logan, but she can’t deny her connection with the totally supportive, totally gorgeous Zachary. And she’s not sure that she wants to.
Logan and Zachary will fight to be the one by her side, but Aura needs them both to uncover the mystery of her past—the mystery of the Shift.
As Aura’s search uncovers new truths, she must decide whom to trust with her secrets…and her heart




Descriptions are from Amazon.com



My Thoughts: I was browsing through some of my favorite book blogs one day several months ago and came across reviews for Shift the much anticipated sequel to Shade by Jeri Smith Ready. Ok it is probably important that I add that the closest book store to where I live (down here in Nowhere, Usa) is like 50 miles away. The first thing that popped in my head was, "Grrr, why must I always be the last to know about a series?" The second was to take a moment to silently thank my husband for the ipad he bought me for my birthday. Third, go to the ibook store, find Shade, hide my inner squeal because they had the book I was looking for, click download and wait the obligatory 30 seconds while it travels from out there in the book universe down to me. Okay...so yeah... that is also fourth, fifth and so on.
Anyway, I turn to page one and BAM automatic hook! No there was not several chapters as you get to know the main character and the plot. Ready had me from the first page. After the first couple of chapters I finally realized I had been holding my breath so I exhaled. That is the exact moment that I spoke silently to myself.... "This book is the best thing to happen to me all year!". Over-dramatic you say? Well I would have to agree because I can now say that Shade was not the best thing to happen to me all year. That moment actually came the next day when I once again went through the afore mentioned process and purchaed Shift! Which I might add was then promptly followed by the worst moment of 2011. Not twenty-four hours after I read page one of Shift, I flipped the last page and was greeted by the following; LOOK FOR SHINE DUE OUT....2012. 2012? Really? How can I wait a year? What will I do in the meantime? I'll tell you what I have done. I have become a complete stalker. I have found Jeri Smith Ready, not only on Facebook but I also found her blog which I now follow. I find myself stopping by regularly to see if there are any little tidbits of information. I am just shy of hiding in the bushes outside of her residence. I don't know where she lives so you can see how this might pose a problem ;)
Okay, I think I have made my feelings clear on this trilogy so I will wrap up by saying this. Yes, these are YA but they are mature YA. If you don't read YA because you think they are too, well, "young", give these books a chance you will not be disappointed. And just to throw this out there, in the highly unlikely event that Jeri Smith Ready were to ever stumble upon this review. I am so open to an ARC. I would probably drop dead from a heart attack but, Hey, at least I would go happy!!

This is the Conundrum.....

Okay, so, I have been both anxious and nervous to read Bloodlines. When I saw that there was going to be a spin-off I was like, "YES!! Wait....spin-off? As in different characters??" I was terrified thinking how this has potential to be either an awesome idea or an epic failure.
So today is finally here and I have my copy, as it lay beside me just waiting to be read, I can't seem to make myself turn that first page......

Why-why must I get so emotionally involved with these fictional characters??
Stay tuned for my thoughts

Selena

OMG it is down to the last hours!!! Go Zach

 At this moment I am a little bit torn, but the truth is no matter the love I have for Jace and the whole MI series, the thing is (she sighs deeply) I am head over heels, butt crazy in love with Zachary Moore. "Who is Zachary Moore?", you may ask. Well let me just tell you or better yet. Stop what you are doing and cancel all plans you may have for the next two - three days. Drive to the nearest book store and buy "Shade" and "Shift" by Jeri Smith-Ready. I know you will not have time to finish reading before voting is closed but why should you feel as though you have missed out. In the meantime go vote fo Zach because, I promise, you will be sad that you missed it!!! Go Zach

Oh yeah!! Look for "Shine" due out 2012 


The YA Sisterhood: The Grande Finale: Jace vs Zachary (Match #24): "We have reached the final match in the 1st Annual Summer Crushin' Tournament! What started out as a silly, fun thing to try between my siste..."

Ink Exchange (Wicked Lovely Book 2) by Melissa Marr

3/5 stars


Unbeknownst to mortals, a power struggle is unfolding in a world of shadows and danger. After centuries of stability, the balance among the Faery Courts has altered, and Irial, ruler of the Dark Court, is battling to hold his rebellious and newly vulnerable fey together. If he fails, bloodshed and brutality will follow.
Seventeen-year-old Leslie knows nothing of faeries or their intrigues. When she is attracted to an eerily beautiful tattoo of eyes and wings, all she knows is that she has to have it, convinced it is a tangible symbol of changes she desperately craves for her own life.
The tattoo does bring changes--not the kind Leslie has dreamed of, but sinister, compelling changes that are more than symbolic. Those changes will bind Leslie and Irial together, drawing Leslie deeper and deeper into the faery world, unable to resist its allures, and helpless to withstand its perils. . . .


  My Thoughts: Several months ago I read Wicked lovely (book 1) by Melissa Marr. While it was a good book, I was left with that feeling where you are not really sure what to do next. I thought to myself, "Did I really enjoy this enough to invest the time to read the whole series?"
  Well, I was sitting in my living room the other day, thinking...."Okay, something is missing!" And then it occurred to me that I didn't have anything new to read. So, I went into the ibook store and purchased Ink Exchange. I didn't want to get to involve with something new simply because August is the month of several of my most highly anticipated book releases. So, obviously I am planning my reading schedule very carefully.

 Sorry, I am rambling! Where was I... Oh yeah...

  I was pleasantly surprised by Ink Exchange. I went into it totally expecting it to pick up right where Wicked Lovely left off. But, no! What I got was a brand new story. Yes, the characters were the same, with a few additions, but the POV changed. I LOVED this about the book. Niall was just Yummy. Irial, dangerously tempting. Keenan, urrgh... I know he means well but still. And Aislinn, well she is a little too "everything is better with ice cream" type for me. The story kept me interested for the most part and all though I did not devour the book like I have done with others, I think that next time I am at a point where everything on my reading list has been checked off I will definitely check out "Fragile Eternity (book 3)".

Book-to-Movie Dramarama and the Power of Positive Thinking

You can find Anna Reads on facebook or at www.annareads.com

So I thought I would tell you a little about myself...

  My name is Selena. I am an oilfield wife (husband works on offshore rig) and a mother of two boys. I love my life but sometimes I just need an escape from reality. Some would say "Calgon, take me away!", not me I say "Hello break from reality!" by cracking open a really good book. That being said, I should probably mention that when I read, "reality" is definitely something I want to forget. I am a complete and total fantasy nut. I read mostly YA but suggest me a good paranormal book/series and I am all over it.

  I believe in letting people see me for who I really am so I'm going to tell you my biggest, not so secret, secret. Okay, here goes! Do you want to see me go from (what I believe) a well rounded, relatively sane adult, into a complete and total fan girl/borderline psychotic? Well, here is how you can accomplish that task just by saying a few simple words..... "What do you think about the Harry Potter Series?" That is right, I am one of "those people". So if you ever ask me what is the number one book I recommend that is your answer. =)

 Okay, so if you are still reading after my confession you are either;
 1. Someone who shares my overwhelming obsession with books
or
2. Really bored!!

So, which one is it? If you answered 1, YAY!!


Check back from time to time to see what I am reading, it just might be one you want to gossip about.
please feel free to leave me a comment and tell me what you are reading. Or just to say, Hi!