Beastly

Beastly by Alex Flinn is the modern day Beauty and the Beast.

I am beast.

A beast. Not quite wolf or bear, gorilla or dog but a horrible new creature who walks upright-- a creature with fangs and claws and hair springing from every pore.  I am a monster.

You think I'm talking fairy tales? No way.  The place is New York City.  The time is now.  It's no deformity, no disease.  And I'll stay with way forever-- ruined-- unless I can break the spell.

Yes, the spell, the one the witch in my English class cast on me.  Why did she turn me into a beast who hides by day and prowls by night? I'll tell you. I'll tell you how  used to be Kyle Kingsbury, the guy you wished you were, with money, perfect looks, and the perfect life.  And then, I'll tell you how I became perfectly...beastly.

The Breakdown:
1. Flinn pulls from several different tellings of Beauty and the Beast to develop her story for this book.  For the most part, she does a reasonably job at it.  I like that the story was told from Kyle/the beast's point of view rather than the beauty's.

2. My biggest problem with the book was that she broke up the different parts and did this chat room thing in between the parts.  For me, it made the flow of the book choppy. I think the book would have been much better without them.

3. Kyle is quite the piece of work at the beginning, but as the book progress, I could tell that he was seeing things very differently, and was becoming a better person.  Although, I have to admit that especially after seeing his dad and knowing what his mother did, made me wonder if they should not have been the ones punished for Kyle's attitude to towards. After all, we learn how to treat other people by watching out parents, so really this kid did not have a chance.

3. Lindy is not typically beauty.  She is not traditionally beautiful, nor does she have the doting father.  In fact, her father is kind of a scum bag, and gives her to Kyle so he can get his drugs back and not be arrested for his crimes. She is very smart, and sees past Kyle's appearance to get to know the person underneath,

4. I have to say, I think that they are a couple that never need each other more.  Both have pretty crappy parents, and it nice to see that they found each other for love and support.  Plus, there is Will, their blind tutor, that gives them the parental guidance that neither had before.

To Read or Not to Read:
Unless your really into retelling of fairy tales, I say skip it.

Currently Reading:
Die for Me
by Amy Plum

The Heist

The Heist is the first book of the Fox and O'Hare series co-authored by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg.

FBI Special Agent Kate O'Hare is known for her fierce dedication and discipline on the job, chasing down the world's most wanted criminals and putting them behind bars.  Her boss thinks she is tenacious and ambitious; her friends think she is tough, stubborn, and maybe even a bit obsessed. And while Kate has made quite a name for herself for the past five years, the only name she's cared about is Nicolas Fox- an international crook she wants in more ways than one.

Audacious, handsome, and dangerously charming, Nicolas Fox is a natural con man, notorious for running elaborate scams on very high-profile people.  At first he did it for the money. Now he does it for the thrill.  He knows the FBI has been hot on his trail- particularly Kate O'Hare, who has been watching his every move.  For Nick, there's no greater rush than being pursued by a beautiful woman... even one who aims to lock him up.  But just when it seems that Nicolas Fox has been captured for good, he pulls off his greatest con of all: he convince the FBI to offer him a job, working side by side with Special Agent Kate O'Hare.

Problem is, teaming up to stop a corrupt investment banker who's hiding on a private island in Indonesia is going to test O'Hare patience and Fox's skill.  Not to mention the skills of their ragtag team made up of flamboyant actors, wanted wheelmen, and Kate's dad.  High-speed chases, pirates, and Toblerone bars are all in a day's work... if O'Hare and Fox don't kill each other first.

The Breakdown:
1. If you are a fan of White Collar and Leverage, like me, you will love this book.   This book has the FBI handler-con dynamic with a bit of sexual chemistry between them.  The team put together by Fox is wonderfully quirky, and a pleasure to read.  Evanovich and Goldberg do a masterful job of putting the team together and setting the con. The story is funny and exciting, and a good read from beginning to end.

2. Kate O'Hare is definitely a career driven woman, but despite her little bit of a rough exterior, I really liked her.  I could totally relate to her issue of food spillage ending up on her shirt. She has a wonderful relationship with her father, in fact I enjoyed their scenes together just as much as her scenes with Fox.

3. Nick Fox is such a charismatic character.  He easily becomes the center of any scene he is in, drawing the reader in, making me really like him even though I know he is a criminal.  And the way he plans things out so meticulously makes the Type A personality in me jump for joy.

4. Evanovich and Goldberg made not only great main characters, but the supporting characters are fabulous, too.  I especially enjoyed Kate's father, Jake, who has not qualms about helping his daughter on covert missions and packing her a grenade launcher for the trip. My other favorite is the wheel-woman,  Willie.  She is delightful and funny. She is full of life and always up for the next big adventure.  I do hope she is in more books.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read

Currently Reading:
Beastly
by Alex Flinn

The Beautiful Ashes

The first book of Jeaniene Frost's new series, A Broken Destiny, is The Beautiful Ashes.

In the world of shadows, anything is possible. Except escaping your fate.

Ever since she was a child, Ivy has been gripped by visions of strange realms just beyond her own.  But when her sister goes missing, Ivy discovers the truth is far worse-- her hallucinations are real, and her sister is trapped in a parallel realm.  And the one person who believes her is the dangerously attractive guy who's bound by an ancient legacy to betray her.

Adrian might have turned his back on those who raised him, but that doesn't mean he can change is fate... no matter how strong a pull he feels toward Ivy.  Together they search for the powerful relic that can save her sister, but Adrian knows what Ivy doesn't: that every step brings Ivy closer to the truth about her own destiny, and a war that could doom the world.  Sooner or later, it will be Ivy on one side and Adrian on the other.  And nothing but ashes in between...

The Breakdown:
1. As a big fan of Frost, I was pretty excited about her new series.  I liked even more once I started reading it.  The book has elements that remind me of the show Supernatural, which I also love. Angels, Demons, and humans of certain lines all players in an ancient war that is rushing toward a big battle.   Frost balances the human drama and the action all while setting up this universe.

2. Ivy is an interesting character.  She suddenly learns that the world is not what she thought it was, but she mans up and gets things done to save her sister.  She has a big heart.  She cares deeply for those around her, and sometimes risk everything to save innocents.

3. Adrian is a man with more secrets that stars. Frost slowly peels away each, keeping me guessing who he really is, and what his motives are.  Despite all that, I really liked.  Frost uses him to show that he is better than what he was raised to be.

4. Frost writes fantastic chemistry between Ivy and Adrian.  Even when they are fighting and avoiding each other, the spark sizzles between them. I am excited to see how their relationship evolves as the series continues, especially after the ending.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read

Currently Reading:
The Heist
by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg

Fable

Fable is the third book in Chanda Hahn's An Unfortunate Fairy Tale.

All that glitters is not gold.

When something precious is stolen from sixteen-year-old Mina Grime, she will do anything in her power to get it back, even if it means traveling to the dangerous Fae plane and battling one of the strongest fairy-tale villains yet.

However, nothing can prepare Mina for the dangerous obstacles she will face in the Fae world, or the choices she must make when love and life are on the line.

The Breakdown:
1.  This series is definitely getting darker as it progresses. In this book, you really get the sense that Hahn is channeling  the original Grimm fairy tales in the tone she is setting. I do have to admit that is was a little hard to get through the first half of the this book because the events were pretty heavy.

2.  At the end of the of Fairest, Mina was growing quite the spine, especially with she confronted the Story, or Teague/Jared's dark twin. She is becoming strong with the completion of each task. She is also dealing with her confused feelings for both Brody and Jared.

3. The ending of this one is going bring some major changes to the storyline and Mina's life. I cannot wait to see how the series will progress after this book. Oh, and this does answer a lot of questions about Jared and Teague's roles and the creation of the human and Fae books.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read

Currently Reading:
The Beautiful Ashes
by Jeaniene Frost

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

April Genevieve Tucholke's Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea is the first of her Between series.

You stop fearing the devil when you're holding his hand...

Nothing much exciting rolls through Violet White's sleepy, seaside town... until River West comes along.  River rents the guest house behind Violet's crumbling estate, and as eerie, grim things start to happen, Violet begins to wonder about the boy living in her backyard.

Is River just a crooked-smiling liar with pretty eyes and a mysterious past? Or could he be something more?

Violet's grandmother always warned her about the Devil, but she never said he could be a dark-haired boy who takes naps in the sun, who likes coffee, who kisses you in a cemetery... who makes you want to kiss back.

Violet's already so knee-deep in love, she can't see straight.  And that's just how River likes it.

The Breakdown:
1.  Tucholke attempts to give a gothic mystery and romance in this book. There are some elements are done really well, like the setting of a crumbling family mansion and the small seaside New England town. There are things that just fall flat.  She spends so much time setting up the romance between Violet and River, that the real mystery gets neglected.  It kind of comes out of left field at the very end.

2. I found that the characters were not very likable. Luke who was always rude to his sister. Sunshine who more like a frenemy to Violet, and is a little be on the trashy side.  River with his questionable morals, and possible lack of conscience. Violet is a little more likable, but she still gets a bit too in her head at times.  Honestly, the best character was Jack with his strong spirit and  his is one smart cookie.

3.  The romance between Violet and River felt forced at times, especially since she can't make up her mind if she loves or hates him. She knows he lies about so much of his life and activities, but yet she keeps going back to him.  It makes her appear weak.

4. I did like the copious amount of literary references.

To Read or Not to Read
Skip this one

Currently Reading:
Fable
by Chanda Hahn

Fairest

Fairest is the second book in Chanda Hahn's An Unfortunate Fairy Tale.

Mirror, Mirror,on the wall,
Who is the Fairest of them all?

In the sequel to UnEnchanted, Mina Grime discovers that all is not fair when it comes to the Fae and their tales, especially when they don't all play by the rules. Barely surviving the Story's first fairy tale quest, Mina still has hundreds to go before she can end the curse on her family.  But a new player arises to challenge Mina while new rules revamp the game she has just barely begun to understand.

All the while, people are mysteriously disappearing, including Jared, whom Mina must finally determine to be friend or foe.  And the loss of her greatest weapon, Mina must try to outwit a deadly hunter. Can Mina survive the most difficult quest yet while protecting those she loves from falling victim to one of the lethal tales of all? Or will she become a pawn when she strikes a bargain with the Queen of Fae?

The Breakdown:
1. I like that Hahn keeps the story exciting, and keeps bringing new twist in this book.  There are new revelations about Mina's role as a Grim, like she is not always the princess in the tales.  Plus there are new Fae characters that make their appearance.

2. This book is a little darker than the first one.  Mina struggles with jealous of Nan in this book, and dealing with the Story while not having the support she had in the last book because Brody and Nan no longer remember the events of the last book.

3. This book does give us more of Jared's secrets.  We learn more about his loyalty and who exactly he his, and why he helps Mina. Plus we get to see Jared's Fae family, and they are not nearly as pleasant as him.

4. I was a little disappointed on how things turned out between Mina and Brody in this book. Then there is the growing attraction between Mina and Jared.  It will be interesting so see how Hahn ends up playing out the love triangle in the future books.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read

Currently Reading:
Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
by April Genevieve Tucholke

Gates of Thread and Stone

Gates of Thread and Stone by debut author Lori M. Lee is the first of the series of the same name.

In the Labyrinth, we had a saying: keep silent, keep still, keep safe.

In a city of walls and secrets, where only one man is supposed to possess magic, seventeen-year-old Kai struggles to keep hidden her own secret- she can manipulate the threads of time.  When Kai was eight, she was found by Reeve on the riverbank, and her "brother" has taken care of her ever since.  Kai doesn't know where her ability comes from- or where she came from.  All that matters is that she and Reeve stay together, and maybe one day move out of the freight container they call home, away from the metal walls of the Labyrinth.  Kai's only friend is Avan, the shopkeeper's son with the scandalous reputation that both frightens and intrigues her.

The Reeve disappears.  When keeping silent and safe means losing him forever, Kai vows to do whatever it takes to find him.  She will leave the only home she's ever known and risk getting caught up in a revolution centuries in the making.  But to save Reev, Kai must unravel the threads of her past and face the shocking truths about her brother, her friendship with Avan, and her unique power.

The Breakdown:
1. I absolutely loved this book.  The setting, characters, and the story all came together so perfectly.  I did not want to put this book down. The post-apocalyptic world, which I love post-apocalypse settings, worked so wonderfully, and the way Lee describes the setting makes it easy to picture the world she has created.

2. I really liked the loved and loyalty between Kai and Reev.  The way they made their own little family and lookout for each other in this world was great.  Kai never gives up on Reev, even when it would have been the easy way.

3. The relationship between Kai and Avan was so adorably awkward.  They were both attracted to each other, but each had trouble expressing their feelings.  I love that their relationship keeps growing and that they remain loyal to each other through all challenges they face.

4. Lee might be a budding master of secrets and subplots.  There are things that happen that I did not even realize were important until much later.  Plus so much is not what it seems, and there were quite a few shocks in the end. I cannot wait to see where Lee will take this series.

5. My only complaint is the use of the word mahjo during the book. I felt like the definition of the word changed several times during the story, whether it was magic, magic users, the gods or the descendants of the gods.  I felt like it was until the end that I got a grasp of what the word really meant.

To Read or Not to Read:
Must Read

Currently Reading:
Fairest
by Chanda Hahn