Elixir By: Hilary Duff Book Review

Clea Raymond has felt the glare of the spotlight her entire life. The daughter of a renowned surgeon and a prominent Washington DC politician, she has grown to be a talented photojournalist who takes refuge in a career that allows her to travel to the most exotic parts of the world. But after Clea’s father disappears while on a humanitarian mission, Clea’s photos begin to feature eerie, shadowy images of a strange and beautiful man—a man she has never seen before.

When fate brings Clea and this man together, she is stunned by the immediate and powerful connection she feels with him. As they grow closer, they are drawn deep into the mystery behind her father’s disappearance, and they discover the centuries old truth behind their intense bond. Torn by a dangerous love triangle and haunted by a powerful secret that holds their fates, together they race against time to unravel their pasts in order to save their lives—and their futures.(Summary Thanks to Goodreads.com)
When I found out that Hilary Duff wrote an novel I was intrigued. Once I finally read the description I was so pumped to read it. So I finally picked it up and I was flipping pages and loving it. It only took me a couple of days to finish and I was dumbstruck by the ending. I shall explain. This is one of the reasons it took me a while to rate this novel, because the beginning I would have rated one thing and then ending another. 
I was so surprised that Hilary Duff (with help) could develop a book with so much potential. I adore the idea to a new Paranormal. I liked the characters, my favorite had to be the Protagonist Clea, she wasn't that oblivious girl who sometimes got on my nerves. I liked her from the first pages. I also like Rayna she actually reminded me of me (lol). I adore her friendship with Clea the reason is, because I could relate me and my best friend are that close.  I loved how mysterious Sage and Ben were it was like we thought we knew them, but we don't. The description in the novel were good, there were parts where I could picture what was happening, but then there were times where I had to stop and think.
If you asked if I like the book before the ending I would have said hell yeah. Once I read the ending, it ruined my overall judgement of the overall book. This book was a quick read. I think with time Hilary Duff will be an awesome add to the Young Adult Paranormal Authors. I love the cover. This picture doesn't do any justice to what the book looks like in person. It's has a matte finish. I would recommend giving it a try, but just be prepared for the ending. I don't know for sure if there is a sequel in this book, but with that ending I do see the possibility. 
My Blurb for this Novel: "This book had some awesome potential. Great beginning, but not so good Cliffhanger ending. I did really enjoy the book, and love the new add to Paranormal Characters."
.5Happy Reading  

Once Dead Twice Shy By: Kim Harrison Book Review

My name is Madison Avery, and I'm here to tell you that there's more out there than you can see, hear, or touch. Because I'm there. Seeing it. Touching it. Living it.

Madison's prom was killer—literally. For some reason she's been targeted by a dark reaper—yeah, that kind of reaper—intent on getting rid of her, body and soul. But before the reaper could finish the job, Madison was able to snag his strange, glowing amulet and get away.

Now she's stuck on Earth—dead but not gone. Somehow the amulet gives her the illusion of a body, allowing her to toe the line between life and death. She still doesn't know why the dark reaper is after her, but she's not about to just sit around and let fate take its course.

With a little ingenuity, some light-bending, and the help of a light reaper (one of the good guys! Maybe . . . ), her cute crush, and oh yeah, her guardian angel, Madison's ready to take control of her own destiny once and for all, before it takes control of her.

Well, if she believed in that stuff. (Book Summary Thanks to Goodreads)

So Once Dead Twice Shy for some odd reason I thought this book was about Vampires, it's not. So this book is about Madison a girl who dies on her prom (and some of you thought your sucked). So let me just tell you Madison was definitely not my favorite Character at the begging of the book. Madison was kind of frustrating. Once the storyline starts to pick so does your appreciation for her grows as the book goes on. 

So to fully appreciate the book I had to wait a day to review it, just because the book is small (Hence its packed). Due to it being short is the one bone I have to pick with the book, it personally should have been longer like that readers are not confused at the begging. Anyways once you pass the story feel kind of rushed, and that's why I didn't write my review.  I didn't write my review when I complete the book just because my review would have been "Wow I don't know how I feel!!" what good would that be right. So I have had time to thing and I liked it. I will so be picking up Early to Rise, Early to Death, just because the book finishes not with a cliffhanger I want more.

The Character, some where well developed but other were under developed (some not even for mystery). Slowly into the book you do appreciate that there are mystery to certain characters. Another thing recently a lot of books have be tricky this is definitely one. So by saying that do not expect anything just go in and read the book and appreciate it, because this book was definitely not predictable. Due to it not being predictable is probably why the rating of this book it higher.

So in conclusion I adore the book covers chosen for this series very eye catching. This book is definitely my first Reaper book and I think the whole new genre. I will definitely recommend this book to Young Adult fans out there. I will definitely be buying Early to Death, Early to Rise, because there are some question I still want answered.

Series Order:

Once Dead Twice Shy

Early to Death, Early to Rise

Untitled (Release April 2011)

I would Personally Rate this book: .5

Sucks to be Me By: Kimberly Pauley (Contest #2)

Mina Hamilton's parents want her dead. (Or undead to be precise.) They're vampires, and like it or not, Mina must decide whether to become a vampire herself. But Mina's more interested in hanging out with best friend Serena and trying to catch the eye of the too-hot-for-high-school Nathan Able than in the vampire training classes she's being forced to take. How's a girl supposed to find the perfect prom date and pass third-year French when her mom and dad are breathing down her neck--literally?

What can I say this book was totally unexpected. I was waiting for some mystery, a Romeo and Juliet love story, and crazy-ness that is around when Vampires are (I mean in a good way). This book was far off. Let me say I was a little disappointed, just because of all the anticipation I built up, so I was a little let down by it. Ok anyways, the book in general was cute, very chic lit, and it's like the everyday Vampire if they were among us, like lets say right now. I like the idea and this book is probably the first (at least that I have read that used the whole idea of an everyday vampire). I would probably say it might be for a teen not (a Young Adult novel that we adults read, unless your into the whole chic lit teen). 

    Characters my fave has to be George he kills me, Mina is cool and I get what the book title states and what the book is about, but I like that she is so oblivious to certain things around her, but man oh man she complains. Good thing though is this book had all your typical high school characters, you have Lorelei the cheerleader, we have Linda the nerd, George the class clown (but he's a unique class clown also has nerdy qualities) Aubrey and Nathan the hotties, and then ....... the goth kind of an outcast and also the villain in this love story. Characters were semi developed, but the were right in th book.

    The storyline could have been this amazing mystery or even adventure I think I would have appreciated it more in a a different storyline. Lets me say do not expect the unexpected unless you like it when you do not receive your moneys worth on expectation. The book was cute and I will definitely keep reading the series the characters may even grow.

If chic lit teen, Young adult fiction, paranormal romance.

I would Personally Rate this Novel: .5

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Kelly P.