Witchful Thinking by H.P. Mallory

Title: Witchful Thinking
Author: H.P. Mallory
Narrator: Allyson Ryan
Series: Jolie Wilkins #3
Publisher: Random House Audio
Length: 11hrs. & 45 mins.
Format: audiobook


Description from Goodreads:

Jolie thinks she’s seen it all, but life continues to spring surprises. The latest shocker? She’s just been crowned queen of the underworld. Jolie may possess a rare gift for reanimating the dead, but she doesn’t know the first thing about governing disparate factions of supernatural creatures. She can barely maintain order in her own chaotic personal life, which is heading into a romantic tailspin.

First there’s sexy warlock Rand, the love of her life, from whom Jolie is hiding a devastating secret. Then there’s Sinjin, a darkly seductive vampire and Jolie’s sworn protector—though others suspect he harbors ulterior motives. As the two polar opposite yet magnetic men vie for Jolie’s affection, she must keep her wits about her to balance affairs of state and affairs of her heart. Overwhelmed, under pressure, and longing for love, Jolie decides it’s time to take charge—and show everyone that this queen won’t take jack,

My Thoughts:

      Witchful Thinking by H.P. Mallory is the third book in the Jolie Wilkins series. Before the review I just want to say how much I love the titles of this series. The may be cheesy, but they are just so cute!
      Witchful Thinking picks up where Toil and Trouble left off. The events of the last book have left Jolie a boat load to deal with. Previously having traveled back in time, bonded with Rand, been killed, brought back to life, and declared Queen of the Underworld by the Prophetess have completely overwhelmed our heroine. Poor Jolie doesn't want to be Queen. She wants a normal life with Rand...too bad Rand doesn't remember their time together in 1876 and she is scared to tell him about their forgotten past. Complicating their relationship even further is her feelings for the sinfully sexy vampire Sinjin, Rand's enemy, and her new bodyguard. Add in the fact that Jolie is destined to unite the underworld against the Lurkers... Jolie is in for one bumpy ride.
      Where to start? I loved the first two books, but just sort of liked this one. There is little if any action, but the drama is non-stop. Drama, especially the love triangle kind is always a favorite, but between that and her not wanting to be queen...there isn't really anything else to the book. Let's tackle one thing at a time. Jolie becomes queen of the underworld. Not only does she not want to be queen, but she displays no leadership qualities at all. Then there is Mercedes the Prophetess who is constantly pushing her along on every little decision. She is wholeheartedly unlikable and somewhat shady. For the majority of the book I kept waiting for Jolie to punch her and tell her to shut up because she is queen. Now, onto the love interests. Rand and Sinjin vie/shun Jolie's affections for 90% of the book. Rand supposedly loves Jolie, but keeps finding the smallest reasons why they can't be together. I don't know about other readers, but he is starting to come off as uninterested and wishy-washy. Then there is poor Sinjin. He seems to constantly pine for Jolie and is always there when she needs him. The problem is she "loves" Rand and despite having feelings for Sinjin, she doesn't quite trust him. I honestly feel sorry for him. She constantly yanks him around and quite frankly if he turns out to be shady and turns on her...she deserves it.
      Despite what it sounds like, I didn't absolutely hate this book. I liked seeing Jolie's power grow and anything that involved Sinjin was great. Witchful Thinking just felt like a filler/bridge book. A bunch of drama to build up to the oh-no-she/he-didn't bombshell of a cliffhanger H.P. Mallory leaves us with in the end! I refuse to give up on this series and Sinjin. I will continue with Jolie, but this installment was a bit of a let down. This book gets a 3 STAR rating.

**The audio was pretty good. This is the first book narrated by Allyson Ryan that I have listened to. At first some of the characters sounded a little over the top, but I got over it.

Insatiable by Meg Cabot

Title: Insatiable
Author: Meg Cabot
Narrator: Emily Bauer
Series: Insatiable #1
Publisher: Harper Audio
Length: 16 hrs. & 28 mins.


Description from Goodreads:

Sick of vampires? So is Meena Harper.

But her boss is making her write about them anyway, even though Meena doesn’t believe in them.

Not that Meena isn’t familiar with the supernatural. See, Meena Harper knows how you’re going to die (not that you’re going to believe her; no one ever does).

But not even Meena’s precognition can prepare her for what happens when she meets—then makes the mistake of falling in love with—Lucien Antonescu, a modern-day prince with a bit of a dark side . . . a dark side a lot of people, like an ancient society of vampire-hunters, would prefer to see him dead for.

The problem is, he already is dead. Maybe that’s why he’s the first guy Meena’s ever met that she could see herself having a future with. See, while Meena’s always been able to see everyone else’s future, she’s never been able look into her own.

And while Lucien seems like everything Meena has ever dreamed of in a boyfriend, he might turn out to be more like a nightmare.

Now might be a good time for Meena to start learning to predict her own future . . .

If she even has one.

My Thoughts:

I had some high hopes for this book. The amazing Meg Cabot tackles vampires...who wouldn't love that? Insatiable was a mixed bag of hilariously funny quips and retorts that were watered down with unbelievable intensity and a dowsing of insta-love. Insatiable bounces back and forth from the points of view of several different characters...some are good some aren't. Meena was a great character when she was going on about her love for her dog, hatred of vampires, and all things related to her neighbors. There is a quirkiness about her that I just couldn't help but love. Then the love interest was introduced...Lucien. Hot, sexy, intellectual, intense, bad ass, king of vamps, and all around boring. There was nothing remotely interesting about him. He was the stereotypical vampire and it was hard to really connect to him as a character, therefore making his relationship with Meena something I didn't really care about. They didn't know anything about each other with the excetption of a few sexual acts and they were ready to give up their lives to be with each other after two days. Perhaps it was the vampire mojo...guess I'll just have to accept that. In fact all of the vampishness was cliche and had me periodically cringing. Thank goodness there was another male character that saved the day and stole the show and that was vampire hunter Alaric. He is a vampire hunter with the taste for the finer things in life and has a serious side that made me laugh out loud and at the end of the day was the most redeeming part of the book. There is just something about him that pushed me to read further. Insatiable ends on one of those cliffhangers that makes you go WTF? With an extra chapter or two this book could have ended with no need for a sequel. The narration was good, but not spectacular, but if I continue to the sequel it will be on audiobook. This book gets a barely there 3 STAR rating.

Love Sucks! by Melissa Francis

Title: Love Sucks!
Author: Melissa Francis
Publisher: HarperTeen (July 27, 2010)
Series: AJ Ashe #2
Length: 288 pages
Source: Amazon.com
Format: paperback

Description From Goodreads:

AJ Ashe is moving on. Sure she still has not-so-sisterly feelings for Ryan, her ex-boyfriend-turned-step-brother, but there’s a new vampire in town and his name is Alexander Archer. Caught between the desire to move forward with Sexy Lexy and being drawn to her past with Ryan, AJ thinks life couldn’t get anymore complicated. Yeah, right. When her mother’s pregnancy is threatened, it looks like AJ’s long lost father is the only person who can save her. But Dad’s help comes with a price. AJ is forced join the evil side of her family, and a very creepy shape-shifting demon is there to make sure AJ cooperates. All this and she’s still got to plan the prom. Being a teenager is tough, but being a teenage vampire just flat out sucks. Pun totally intended.

My Thoughts:

Melissa Francis carries on the series with Bite Me! This was a fun and enjoyable read in the AJ Ashe series and far surpasses Love Sucks! by leaps and bounds. The tumultuous relationship between AJ and Ryan continues and gets even more complicated. There is an edition of a second love interest for AJ who I thought added a much need oomph to the book. Some of you might be thinking, really?, another love interest? I promise you Lex is amazing. He is definitely my favorite guy in the story. Readers learn a lot more background information about this world of vampires and witches, and AJ's family. The "big bad" of the series appears in this installment, but the whole story just seemed rushed. Don't get me wrong I enjoyed the book, but at the end I as thinking, that's it? I couldn't believe everything was wrapped up that fast. The addition of a third book would be really good, but I haven't seen/heard of one (if you know please tell me!). Overall I was just the tiniest bit disappointed and this disappointment outweighed what I liked. I give this book a 3 STAR rating.

Isle of Night by Veronica Wolff, The Watchers #1

Title: Isle of Night
Author: Veronica Wolff
Publisher: NAL Trade (September 6, 2011)
Series: The Watchers #1
Length: 320 pages
Source: Amazon.com
Edition: paperback

My (summarized) Description:

Seventeen year old Anneliese Drew, a genius with an I.Q. of 185 has managed to graduate a semester early and earn a full ride scholarship. She has waited her entire life to escape the tiny town of Christmas, Florida and her abusive alcoholic father and can't wait to start over at college. Her plans get derailed when an error in her transcripts occur and the registrar's office tells her she is technically still in high school. Drew meets the mysterious and ever sexy Ronan outside of the school and he has the perfect solution to her problem. He invites her to join a super "private school" she knows nothing about. After all, what does she have to loose? See, the thing Ronan doesn't tell her is that the school is really a training school for young women to become Watchers. The go to girls for the vampires...yes, vampires. Drew will have to be braver, out smart, out perform, and out live all of her class mates. She just has to make sure no one stabs her in the back...litterally.

My Thoughts:

Drew is a farely unique character. She doesn't have your average stats, what with having ice blonde hair, short stature,a genius I.Q. , and uses her wits to stay alive. She isn't a soft and fuzzy character. She cares about the other girls, but in the end she is going to do what it takes for her to stay alive. No self sacrificing for this girl and I kinda like it. In fact I like all of the characters in this book from Emma and Yasuo the friends, Ronan the hot guy, and Lilac one of the biggest b****es I've ever read about. Isle of Night has some romance, but it takes a backseat to Drew's actual story/journey. I found this to be surprising and refreshing. From the cover I was expecting a love story, but the romance part of the book was more of a filler or background story. This only added to the book for me. Many popular stories tend to solely revolve around a relationship and in some ways weaken the female lead in my mind (maybe I'm weird), but Isle of Night stayed true to the tough theme. The characters in this book are right out of high school and a couple of years older. As I've said in several other reviews I think this is a much ignored age group. (The main character is 17 almost 18)There seems to be a lack of books written for this in between teen and adult group.
      The concept behind this vampire world is extremely intriguing, but I would've liked more "world building" or more background information on the vampires. Secondly, once I realized that this really isn't a romance, I would've liked a little more action/kick buttness or more romance. One or the other, it was an odd combination and could have used some tweaking. I give this book a 3 1/2 STAR rating.

Reign Fall by Michelle Rowen

Title: Reign Fall
Author: Michelle Rowen
Publisher: CreateSpace (January 1, 2012)
Length: 282 pages
Series: Demon Princess # 3
Source: Amazon.com
Format: paperback

Description from Goodreads:

Prophesies, demon slayers, dragons, homework… It’s going to be a hell of a week!

It’s been a dangerous ride for Nikki Donovan since she first learned she’s a demon princess. And the ride isn’t over yet!

She’s just found out that her best friend is a demon slayer in training, one who doesn’t know that Nikki is exactly the prey she’s sworn to hunt. Nikki’s demon king father has signed her up for lessons in how to master her erratic half-demon powers, and that’s on top of her regular homework! Also, she’s torn between two boys—Rhys, the faery king she’s prophesied to marry, and Michael, a Shadow whom she’s forbidden to love.

To top it all off, a dark force is haunting Nikki, something mysterious and evil that wants the demon princess dead…but who — or what — is it?

My Thoughts:

This third edition of the Demon Princess just affirmed how much I adore Michelle Rowen. I cannot wait until the next book to see how it all turns out. Nikki is a demon princess who continues to grow and come into her own. The debate between Michael and Rhys rages on. I stand firm on the side of team Rhys, this book made me love him even more. I will admit that seeing Michael's jealous side made him the teensiest bit more attractive. (I know I'm weird) The conflict between Maegan being a demon slayer and Nikki the demon princess was handled nicely, but there could have been more there. Hopefully the fourth book will show more depth into how this revalation has effected their relationship. Chris also makes an appearance and I hope to see more of him in the next one also. His story is really starting to be interesting. The "big bad" of the book was a bit of a let down.I thought there would have been more build up to the villain of the final book. As I've heard there is only supposed to be one more book in the series, I hope that the next installment brings a little more to the table. I love this series and liked Reign Fall, but being so invested in the story I was expecting a little more. I liked this installment, but I've come to love this series so much that I was expecting a little more. I give this book a 3 STAR rating.

*Team Rhys!

Bite Me! by Melissa Francis

Title: Bite Me!
Author: Melissa Francis
Publisher: HarperTeen (July 28, 2009)
Length: 304 pages
Source: Hastings
Format: paperback

Description from Amazon:

AJ Ashe isn't your typical seventeen-year-old vampire—as if there is such a thing! She's stuck in the middle of a huge fight between her two BFFs. Her ex-boyfriend—whom she's still totally in love with, by the way—is now her stepbrother. A former classmate—who, um, she may or may not have turned into a vampire—is stalking her. And now, apparently, the fate of humankind lies in her little undead hands. What ever happened to the good old days, when all a vampire girl had to worry about was the occasional zit and hiding her taste for blood?
My Thoughts:

Melissa Francis has gained a new fan! Bite Me! was a cute, short, and fun read. It wasn't spectacular writing or that the characters were out of this world, no it was the simplest thing of all. Bite Me! was pure romantic, supernatural, action packed drama in a big ball of fun. Every now and then you need to read a book that doesn't require you to look for the hidden meaning or soul search. The characters in the book were easy to connect to despite them being supernatural beings. AJ Ashe is a really good heroine. She has a "natural" teenage dialect and maturity, that I sometimes find missing in YA books, along with the ability to take care of herself. I loved the forbidden romance between her and her stepbrother Ryan. The tension and wanting between the two of them was off the charts. The family part in the book was a nice touch. It's pretty refreshing to read about a blended family that doesn't hate each other (there are comparisons to The Brady Bunch). There wasn't really anything wrong with this book. If I have to pick on something it would be that I didn't really like Malia. There is just something off about her (maybe it's supposed to be). Lastly, I never saw where it explained why AJ lost her memory of a certain night. Maybe I just missed it and if I did please comment and tell me. Bite Me! is a light and fluffy novel, but if I did have to come up with a lesson learned from the story it would be that a lack of communication will be your downfall every time.  I give this book a 3 1/2 STAR rating.

Authors You Might Not Know, But Definitely Should Pt. 1

Ok guys, the end of the year is winding down and I thought I would share with you some books and authors I’ve “found”. There will be two Authors featured on each post. Most of these are ebooks that I’ve read on Kindle. The highlighted title will be linked to their Amazon page.

                First off, one of my “new” favorite authors is Amanda Hocking. You have probably heard of her upcoming release of the Trylle Trilogy (which was amazing and have new amazing covers), but they weren’t my favorite. I absolutely loved her book called Hollowland. This was my first foray into ZOMBIES. Let me tell you, I’m a girly girl and had no desire to read about rotting corpses eating people. Amanda Hocking singlehandedly changed my mind. I read Hollowland and told everyone about it. Hollowmen the second book is now available. Don’t forget to check out the Trylle Trilogy and My BloodApproves.

              

  Next is Tess Oliver. My favorites of her books are Bitterroot Crossing and Camille. Let’s start off with Bitterroot Crossing. This was a good love story involving a disgruntled cowboy/outlaw ghost in a present day love triangle. I know what you’re thinking, “Seriously Brandi? Another love triangle?” Well, I just can’t help it. This one was good. I didn’t know who I wanted her to end up with in the end. Also the main character was really interesting in that she wasn’t perfect. In fact she was imperfect and I loved how at the end she didn’t magically get some superpowers or turn into a super ninja. Next is her book called Camille. Now think about this, combine Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, werewolves, and Victorian (I think) era London. How awesome is that? The main character lives with a mad scientist as his assistant in hunting werewolves and looking for a cure for lycanthropy. She meets a cute, young, and cocky street urchin who gets bit. It’s up to her to find a cure in time. This book was really good. Read it!

Hearts at Stake: The Drake Chronicles by Alyxandra Harvey

Hearts at Stake: The Drake Chronicles book 1

     Solange and Lucy are the best of friends. The two couldn’t be more different. Solange, well…she is the only girl in a long line of born vampires. Her 16^th birthday is approaching and causing all types of trouble for the vampire community. She is part of a prophesy that says a female born Drake will become queen. Lady Natasha, the currently reigning queen isn’t too happy about it. To make a bad situation worse, she is putto off pheromones that make other male vampires fall in love with her. All of the increased vampire activity has attracted the Helios-Ra, a human order of vampire slayers. Kieran, a new member of Helios seems to have taken a special interest in Solange and her family seeing as how they are accused of killing his father. Despite their differences there seems to be a strange camaraderie between him and Solange.

     Lucy is the kick butt, rebellious, only child of hippies. Lucy finds the whole vampire world normal, having practically grown up with the Drake family. The family even jokes that she might make a better vampire than Solange. Solange is her best friend and she loves her to death. Lucy will do anything to protect her even if it means teaming up with Solange’s pesky, annoying, youngest brother Nick. Lucy and Nick will have the time of their lives keeping Solange safe until her vampiric blood change.

                Hearts at Stake by Alyxandra Harvey is book 1 in The Drake Chronicles. The story is told from the alternating viewpoints of Solange and Lucy. I’m normally not a fan of this, but the author clearly labels the sections with whose viewpoint is. The transitions flow smoothly and really work for the book. I have to admit, I preferred Lucy’s point of view and story over Solange’s. I just found her spunky irreverent attitude more entertaining. The chemistry between her and Nick was also more developed. The book overall was really good. I could have done with a few more pages at the end to flesh everything out. I liked Lucy and Solange so much that I was a little disappointed to learn that the other books in The Drake chronicles follow the other members of the Drake family. This was a cute, short, hilarious, and romantic read. I really enjoyed it. I give this book a 4 STAR rating.

***Hearts at Stake Extras***
Hearts at Stake by Alyxandra Harvey is book 1 of The Drake Chronicles, contains approximately 256 pages, and was published on December 22, 2009 by Walker Books for Young Readers.  The next books available are Blood Feud (book 2) and Out For Blood (book 3) are now available.