Crave by Melissa Darnell

Crave by Melissa Darnell

 Release Date: October 25, 2011
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Series: The Clann, Book 1
Rating: YA 14+
Format: eGalley
Source: NetGalley
Buy: Amazon ❘ The Book Depository
Goodreads ● Website (Book) ● Website (Author)
Savannah Colbert has never known why she's so hated by the kids of the Clann. Nor can she deny her instinct to get close to Clann golden boy Tristan Coleman. Especially when she recovers from a strange illness and the attraction becomes nearly irresistible. It's as if he's a magnet, pulling her gaze, her thoughts, even her dreams. Her family has warned her to have nothing to do with him, or any members of the Clann. But when Tristan is suddenly everywhere she goes, Savannah fears she's destined to fail.


For years, Tristan has been forbidden to even speak to Savannah Colbert. Then Savannah disappears from school for a week and comes back…different, and suddenly he can't stay away. Boys seem intoxicated just from looking at her. His own family becomes stricter than ever. And Tristan has to fight his own urge to protect her, to be near her no matter the consequences…. 

First things first, THE COVER. Gor-ge-ous. That's the first thing that drew in my attention. The colors, the girl, that single word Crave on the cover– all of it, made my fingers inch towards the "Request" button and before I knew it, I had it for review. But that was one story. Actuality: I let this amazing AWESOME (going all Barney Stinson here) book wait and wait and wait until one day (February 26th to be exact) I decided to finally read it.
What have I done? Why did I wait so long?! That, fellow readaholics, is one question I don't think I can answer. The story was full of substance. I couldn't stop reading once I had started. It's been a while since I've read a paranormal book, and this was one which brought me back to the supernatural world of witches and vampires.

 Le characters...which I must say was the only real problem with this book. Tristan was fine enough, but Savannah kind of annoyed me. She seemed too acceptable of her new change way too soon, and she keeps on mooning about something that happened like years ago. Loved Tristan though– although he kind of was with the whole "mooning" thing as well. What I liked about him was that he took initiative and actually went against his parents for (wait for it...) lovvee. This story was a totally Romeo and Juliet... except add in magic and dream connecting and more un-normal stuff.

 This book was pretty long though. Around 400 pages, and if you think about, not exactly a lot happened in the story. I just wish that the story went at a faster pace, than it did, because even though I was completely focused on it and kept on reading it, I found myself thinking about other things in between, when there was just "filler-in" space. Other than that– fine with me.
Love the ending though. It both left me satisfied and curious to know what's next. In my thoughts: the perfect way to end a story.

 Overall, Crave was a novel with a bite, and bound me (excuse the puns) until I had finished it, leaving me wanting and hungry for more. I can't wait for Covet, book 2!


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Top Ten Tuesday – Week 32

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by the bloggers over at The Broke and the Bookish. Today's top ten is:
Top Ten YA "Fluffy" Contemporary Books

It was a choice of genre, and so I though, why not get out some amazing realistic teen fiction out there?


1. The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot. You seriously have not been a complete teen girl if you have not read this series, or at least the first book. I read this in grade 6, and it was the first YA book I read. And then... you know the rest :)


2. Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen. Like Meg Cabot, Sarah Dessen is another Queen of Teen. Picking one of their books is really hard. But I would have to say that Someone Like You's plot line really stuck with me, and I loved the characters. I'm sold.


3. Something, Maybe by Elizabeth Scott. LOVED THIS ONE. This has been the most recent Elizabeth Scott book I've read and so far I've loved it. The timing, the originality of the story– everything was pretty much perfect.


4. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares. Another "first" YA book. Fell in love with the series, and with the movies, and I can't wait to get to reading the fifth and last book, Sisterhood Everlasting.


5. The Lipstick Laws by Amy Holder. This made me laugh so much! I cannot honestly remember another time reading a book which made me giggle and snicker at the baddies.


6. Populazzi by Elise Allen. Even though I was a bit iffy about the main character at times, I found this an interesting concept for a YA contemporary.


7. The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han. Best summer book I've read so far, LOVED IT and loved the sequel It's Not Summer Without You even more. Can't wait to read the last one, We'll Always Have Summer!


8. Getting Over Garrett Delaney by Abby McDonald. Another cute and original contemporary. One of the only ones about trying to fall OUT of love :P


9. Moonglass by Jessi Kirby. The beach! the guy! the mystery of it all... the romance! Tell me, what's not to love? :D


10. The Fortunes of Indigo Skye by Deb Caletti. My first Deb Caletti book! This one was original (1 million dollar story people– what's not to love?!), and I can't wait to read more from this author.


That was my top ten! Took a while, and it was hard not to include the "sad, almost made me cry" ones, but meh, got through it anyway :)


What's your top ten?
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The Juliet Spell by Douglas Rees

The Juliet Spell by Douglas Rees


Release Date: September 27, 2011
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Rated: YA 14+
Format: eGalley
Source: NetGalley
Buy: Amazon ❘ The Book Depository
Goodreads ◆ Website
I wanted the role of Juliet more than anything. I studied hard. I gave a great reading for it--even with Bobby checking me out the whole time. I deserved the part.

I didn't get it. So I decided to level the playing field, though I actually might have leveled the whole play. You see, since there aren't any Success in Getting to Be Juliet in Your High School Play spells, I thought I'd cast the next best--a Fame spell. Good idea, right?
Yeah. Instead of bringing me a little fame, it brought me someone a little famous. Shakespeare. Well, Edmund Shakespeare. William's younger brother.

Good thing he's sweet and enthusiastic about helping me with the play...and--ahem--maybe a little bit hot. But he's from the past. "Way" past. Cars amaze him--"cars " And cell phones? Ugh.
Still, there's something about him that's making my eyes go star-crossed....

The Juliet Spell was a story I enjoyed (for the most part). It's original, quirky, and I totally love Romeo and Juliet, so this was a great contemporary meets sci-fi "re-telling" (although it wasn't one). There were a couple of things I didn't like about the story though. Some that kind of took the interest away from the story and put me a little off-kilter.

 Miri's character was strong– but to be honest, I thought she was just a little to obsessed with getting the role of Juliet and Edmund. Okay, I get the part about Edmund, but honestly, would I lust after the role so much that I would turn to magic in some desperate attempt to gain that part? No. I've auditioned several times for school plays. I have been turned down and in no circumstance (even if I really wanted the part) have I ever become so desperate to do anything. Disappointed? Maybe. But never desperate.
Another thing that kind of ticked me off was the fact that she ignored Drew for the most part and kept on going after Edmund (more on him later). HELLO. There's a perfectly nice guy, who is practically doing all the work for you. I just thought that her ignorance was unsettling.
Now, EDMUND. I will have to say, I really did like him. He was well-developed, stayed in character for the whole novel. His speech was authentic, and to my own knowledge seemed Shakespearean, so he probably was one of the most interesting characters. BUT as the story progressed, he become one of those boys. Ick. Who chased after the pretty shallow girl Vivian and wouldn't listen to Miri's warnings about her. Just a little sickening.

 Drew was a really sweet character, but his long-winded explanations about time travel really lost me. Nothing much to say otherwise. Same goes with Bobby. I understand the whole jealously thing, but what I don't get was Miri's short-lived crush on him. That was just a bit weird.
Her parents were a little unsettling as well. Her mom quickly accepts the fact that Edmund is Shakespeare's brother and allows him to stay in the house, no questions asked. Not very realistic I must say. *SPOILER ALERT* and then her dad goes off to find himself, doesn't really pay much for child support and then BAM! Comes back to open arms. ...No comment.*SPOILER OVER*

 But what I did love was the whole theatrical experience of it. As I said before, I really love Romeo and Juliet and have seen it live and all, but to read about all the work going into one major production was really interesting. As well as learning more about Shakespeare's plays. I've read Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night's Dream and Julius Caesar, and so I loved reading about some of the background and plot to the other plays, which I might give a go after reading this book :)
The ending was satisfying though I must say, all though it was on the sad side. I thought it ended well– so a great beginning, great ending, and only the middle bits were a bit iffy. Sounds like an alright story to me.

 Overall, The Juliet Spell was one of those books that I'd been dying to read and had to put it off until recently. I enjoyed it immensely, and even though I felt the characters and story could have been developed better, it was enjoyable and didn't have any real "dry" spots. Give it a try– it's really worth a read! (especially if you're a Shakespeare fan...)


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Waiting on Wednesday – Week 47

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It's to spotlight upcoming books which I'm DYING to get my hands on.
This week's WoW is:
Take a Bow by Elizabeth Eulberg


From the fantastic author of The Lonely Hearts Club and Prom & Prejudice comes a story of all the drama and comedy of four friends who grow into themselves at a performing arts high school.Emme, Sophie, Ethan, and Carter are seniors at a performing arts school, getting ready for their Senior Showcase recital, where the pressure is on to appeal to colleges, dance academies, and professionals in show business. For Sophie, a singer, it's been great to be friends with Emme, who composes songs for her, and to date Carter, soap opera heartthrob who gets plenty of press coverage. Emme and Ethan have been in a band together through all four years of school, but wonder if they could be more than just friends and bandmates. Carter has been acting since he was a baby, and isn't sure how to admit that he'd rather paint than perform. The Senior Showcase is going to make or break each of the four, in a funny, touching, spectacular finale that only Elizabeth Eulberg could perform.

Release Date: April 1, 2012

 I've heard some amazing things The Lonely Hearts Club and Prom & Prejudice both which, unfortunately, I haven't gotten to read yet. I can't wait for this one though :)
What are you waiting on?
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