Here Lies Bridget

Paige Harbison

Bridget Duke is the uncontested ruler of her school. The meanest girl with the biggest secret insecurities. And when new girl Anna Judge arrives, things start to fall apart for Bridget: friends don't worship as attentively, teachers don't fall for her wide-eyed "who me?" look, expulsion looms ahead and the one boy she's always loved—Liam Ward—can barely even look at her anymore.

When a desperate Bridget drives too fast and crashes her car, she ends up in limbo, facing everyone she's wronged and walking a few uncomfortable miles in their shoes. Now she has only one chance to make a last impression. Though she might end up dead, she has one last shot at redemption and the chance to right the wrongs she's inflicted on the people who mean the most to her.

And Bridget's about to learn that, sometimes, saying you're sorry just isn't enough….

My Take:

I love reading about good juicy villains.  You know, the ones you looooooove to hate, whether they be the school's horrid yet mesmerizing queen bee such as Regina George from Mean Girls, or the freakin crazy anarchist out to destroy just for fun a la Heath Ledger's The Joker.  Then of course you have your Heathcliffs (yes, I consider him a villain, get over it :), your Voldemorts, your Prince Humperdinks, the list goes on.  Unfortunately, Bridget is not one who, in my opinion, can be counted among the ranks of the delicious juicy villains.  She's just a big old beeyotch that you can barely stomach!  I didn't blame her friends for hating her or her boyfriend for leaving her even a tiny bit.  Yes Bridget, you are sad inside.  Yes Bridget, you have problems, your dad isn't around as much as he should be, you feel abandoned, blah blah blah.  I just wanted to take the character by the shoulders shake her and tell her to get over herself, we all have problems!!! **pants from overdoing the rant**  Anyway, despite the fact that I hated the main character (which you were supposed to, to a certain extent) I actually enjoyed the book overall.  I enjoyed the modern day Scroogey feel, and by the end, I found Bridget to be a character I no longer wanted to smack right in the face.  This book is definitely worth a read, just don't expect to enjoy Bridget until she's had a few dozen servings of humble pie shoved quite forcefully down her throat!  I really enjoyed a lot of the secondary characters, as they felt a bit more realistic, and I REALLY felt for Bridget's not so wicked step mother. I think I'm going to give Here Lies Bridget a middle of the road rating, solid, but not overly impressive: 3, Find a Used Book Store

Tell me what you think!  Who is your favorite juicy villain?  Have you read Here Lies Bridget?  If so, what did you think of it, and specifically of Bridget?  Hit the comments!

If Here Lies Bridget was a movie it would likely be rated PG for some material not suited for young ones (underage drinking etc)

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

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The Vespertine

Saundra Mitchell

The summer of 1889 is the one between childhood and womanhood for Amelia van den Broek-and thankfully, she’s not spending it at home in rural Maine. She’s been sent to Baltimore to stay with her stylish cousin, Zora, who will show her all the pleasures of city life and help her find a suitable man to marry.

Archery in the park, dazzling balls and hints of forbidden romance-Victorian Baltimore is more exciting than Amelia imagined. But her gaiety is interrupted by disturbing, dreamlike visions she has only at sunset-visions that offer glimpses of the future. Soon, friends and strangers alike call on Amelia to hear her prophecies. Newly dubbed “Maine’s Own Mystic”, Amelia is suddenly quite in demand.

However, her attraction to Nathaniel, an artist who is decidedly outside of Zora’s circle, threatens the new life Amelia is building in Baltimore. This enigmatic young man is keeping secrets of his own- still, Amelia finds herself irrepressibly drawn to him. And while she has no trouble seeing the futures of others, she cannot predict whether Nathaniel will remain in hers.

When one of her darkest visions comes to pass, Amelia’s world is thrown into chaos. And those around her begin to wonder if she’s not the seer of dark portents, but the cause.

My Take:

I was really excited to read this "Victorian Gothic" novel, but found myself disappointed upon completion of something quite silly and, to me, unappealing.  The story had some great elements I find interesting: historical setting, romance, creepy undertones and a bit of paranormal mixed in.  However, put together in this particular combo didn't float my boat.  Half the book felt like a regular historical fiction, then all of a sudden it got very paranormal and creepy culminating in the absolutely silly ending.  Just because a book is paranormal or fantasy doesn't mean you can suspend reality completely.  The characters' emotions and reactions should be anchored in realism and logic, but alas, it was not to be.  I hate to use this word, because I think it is pretentiously overused in the world of critique, but in this case, I think it is warranted.  The word is: contrived.  The plot didn't feel like an authentic turn of events and I found myself giggling (not a good giggle) as I finished it. The writing in general however was not without merit.  I think the author is a good writer, but maybe not so strong at the story spinning aspect of writing a book.  With a better plot, I believe the author would put out a good book.  While it wasn't the worst book I've ever read, I also wasn't able to get into it  and therefore must assign it a rating of  4, Borrow from a Friend. But hey, just because the book didn't work for me doesn't mean you can't enjoy it, if it looks interesting to you, check it out!

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel.

If The Vespertine was a movie it would likely be rated PG for some violence disturbing imagery.

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

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If you enjoyed this review, feel free to leave The Book Buff a tip in "Kate's Tip Jar" located on the sidebar.  All tips are anonymous and in no way affect any of my reviews, thanks a ton!

Solid

Shelley Workinger

Eighteen years ago, a rogue Army doctor secretly experimented with a chromosomal drug on unknowing pregnant women. When he was killed not long after the children were born, any knowledge and evidence seemed to die with him - except for the living, breathing, human products of his work.

Almost two decades later, the newly self-proclaimed "open-book" military unearths the truth about the experiment, bringing Clio Kaid and the other affected teens to a state-of-the-art, isolated campus where they soon discover that C9x did indeed alter their chromosomes, its mutations presenting as super-human abilities. The military kids, who come from across the nation and all walks of life, come into their own as lighter-than-air 'athletes'; 'indies' as solid as stone walls; teens who can make themselves invisible and others who can blind with their brilliance.

While exploring her own special ability, forging new friendships and embarking on first love, Clio also stumbles onto information indicating that the military may not have been entirely forthcoming with them and that all may not be as it seems...

My Take:

I enjoy YA books, I enjoy paranormal/fantasy books, I enjoy YA paranormal/fantasy books.  But sometimes in the sea of vampires, werewolves, angels, faeries and demons a person can feel like they are drowning.  It was nice to get a life preserver thrown to me in the form of Solid.  The concept was different, it almost had an X-Men vibe to it with the genetic mutation and super abilities aspect.  The idea that a rogue government scientist was secretly treating pregnant women to cause their unborn children to have said super abilities just added a nice extra little layer of spice and intrigue.    I really enjoyed the pacing of the first half of the book.  It was setting up the storyline very nicely, but unfortunately, the second half felt very rushed and the conclusion was quite abrupt.  So while the ending didn't really float my boat, I am still looking forward to the next books in the series.  I like the characters a lot and I am invested emotionally in their relationships.  Solid was a quick and entertaining read and I'd recommend it to YA fans.  Its not going to change your life, but its a great way to kill some free time.  I think I'll give it a rating of a 3, Find a Used Book Store.

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

If Solid was a movie it would likely be rated PG for some violence and references to sexual content, but no actual content beyond "making out"

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

If you are interested in purchasing Solid, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!  Below you will find a link to both the paperback and the Kindle Edition:

I, Emma Freke

Elizabeth Atkinson

"I, Emma Freke, am not a freak.  Or maybe I am.  I just don't know."

There are five thing Emma Freke does know.

1. Her mother didn't bother to say her name out loud before she signed the birth certificate.

2. That might not be such a big problem if she weren't almost 6 feet tall at age 12,

3. And if her mother would take a break from being a New Age weirdo and give her a straight answer about who her father is,

4. And if she didn't find it impossible to talk to someone her own age.

5. There has to be a place somewhere where she fits in...doesn't there?

When a mysterious letter comes inviting Emma to The Freke Family Reunion, to be held at a campground in the wilds of Wisconsin, Emma thinks she may just find out why she is the way she is.  But once she meets her fellow Frekes, things aren't at all what she expected.  Maybe it's better to be her own freak than someone else's Freke.

My Take:

This book is absolutely wonderful!  There were so many things I enjoyed about this book, so I'll get started with my favorite: Emma.  Feeling completely out of place in the world and not fitting in with anyone in her life, including herself, she feels lost and frustrated.  Being abruptly thrust from her New Age free spirit mom's guidance into her Stepford-esque family reunion allows her to carve her own existence in between the two.  She is a very strong girl who doesn't realize how brave she is until she has someone to stand up for, because she never stood up for herself.  After asserting herself, she learns to become comfortable in her own skin, which isn't an easy feat for a 6 foot tall 12 year old girl.  This is a great book for any girl who feels like she is too adult to relate to the kids her age, but not quite adult enough to relate to grownups (that was me!) The plot moves well, and is predicable, but the book isn't so much about the events but about Emma's character evolution.  I, Emma Freke is really a timeless book for anyone to enjoy who was ever less than confident during the preteen and teen years.  Aside from the great characters in this book, I loved the writing.  It was funny, simple, subtle, quirky and fully engaging.  It's all told from Emma's point of view, and the author does a great job of sucking the reader right in and feeling what Emma is feeling.  I can't wait to read more from this author!  This book was easy to rate: 1Pay Full Price.  Everyone can relate to this book, because we all have a bit of a Freke in us.

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

If I, Emma Freke was a movie, it would be rated PG

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

If you are interested in purchasing I, Emma Freke, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

Don't Die, Dragonfly

Linda Joy Singleton

After getting kicked out of school and sent to live with her grandmother, Sabine Rose is determined to become a "normal" teenage girl. She hides her psychic powers from everyone, even from her grandmother Nona, who also has "the gift." Having a job at the school newspaper and friends like Penny-Love, a popular cheerleader, have helped Sabine fit in at her new school. She has even managed to catch the eye of the adorable Josh DeMarco. Yet, Sabine can't seem to get the bossy voice of Opal, her spirit guide, out of her head . . . or the disturbing images of a girl with a dragonfly tattoo. Suspected of a crime she didn't commit, Sabine must find the strength to defend herself and, later, save a friend from certain danger.

My Take:  

Describe this book in one word, you ask?  Lackluster.  Nothing particularly special or memorable about this book, but nothing absolutely horrible either.  Pretty much all the characters were flat, except for one, Dominic, a boy the main character is none too fond of.  I found him interesting, but his character was completely unexplored.  I was really annoyed with all the typos (this was not an ARC, when I get an advanced copy I don't mention typos, but this was a final version on Amazon) and overall I just couldn't get into the book.  The book had a ton of questions and potentially interesting plot lines to follow, but the conclusion of the book was abrupt and only gave closure to what seemed to me to be the most boring subplot.  There were about half a billion questions left unanswered at the end of the book.  There is a very fine line an author must tread to achieve the perfect balance of answered/unanswered questions at the end of the first book in a series.  You have to give the reader a little so they feel fulfilled but leave them wanting more.  This book left me unfulfilled and not interested in reading the other books, just annoyed.  Because I hate being a negative Debbie Downer, I will say that the book had some interesting ideas, the cover is great (I'm a sucker for purple) and the pacing wasn't bad but overall I've got to give it a rating of 4 Borrow from a Friend

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

If Don't Die, Dragonfly was a movie, it would likely be rated PG for some mild language and some violence

If you are interested in purchasing Don't Die, Dragonfly, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!















If you enjoyed this review, feel free to leave The Book Buff a tip in "Kate's Tip Jar" located on the sidebar.  All tips are anonymous and in no way affect any of my reviews, thanks a ton!

Halo

Alexandra Adornetto

An Angel is sent to earth on a mission.  But falling in love is not part of the plan.

Three angels--Gabriel, the warrior; Ivy, the healer; and Bethany, the youngest and most human--are sent by Heaven to bring good to a world falling under the influence of darkness.  They work hard to conceal their luminous glow, superhuman powers, and, most dangerous of all, their wings, all the while avoiding all human attachments.

Then Bethany meets Xavier Woods, and neither of them is able to resist the attraction between them.  Gabriel and Ivy do everything in their power to intervene, but the bond between Xavier and Bethany seems too strong.

The angel's mission is urgent, and dark forces are threatening.  Will love ruin Bethany or save her?

My Take:

After I finished Halo, I knew it would be a polarizing book.  Many people are calling it a Twilight ripoff, but I am not one who believes that Twilight is the end all be all of YA paranormal, so I have to say I don't agree with that specific criticism.  I really enjoyed the book, but I would like to give a slight warning to some people.  I know a lot of YA paranormal fans really like the darker books that are super edgy and have the bad boy as the love interest.  Be ye therefore warned that the main character is an angel (figuratively and literally) and her love interest is a non-brooding good boy and the bad boy of the story is actually the bad guy.  If you are looking for edgy, you are in the wrong place.  I do like to read edgier books, but since in real life I like the good boys (bad boys always just seem like too much work for me) this book appealed to me.  It was a refreshing breath of air to read about a non-brooder and take a step back from the vampire/werewolf stuff.  Xavier was a character I really liked.  He was a popular jock (which I don't usually like), but his popularity came not just from his good looks, but his kind heart.  He also had a great sense of humor, something I can't resist.  I was very impressed by the writing in this book, especially since it was written by a teenager.  It was very descriptive, but not as much as say Tolkien, who can take a chapter to describe a tree (don't get me wrong, Tolkien is one of my all time favorite authors, I'm just saying few authors can pull it off, so its good that most don't try)  The book itself is a bit long and was a tad slow in parts, but I think it serves as a good setup book, as it is the first in a trilogy.  Some of the characters were a bit flat, such as the main character's stoic angel brother and sister, but I have a feeling their characters will be explored later on and given a bit more depth.  I am excited to read the next books in the series, and I look forward to more from this author.  She has undeniable talent and has some really great ideas.  2, Borders with a Coupon

Do you agree with my review, do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

If Halo were a movie it would likely be rated PG for some sexual discussion and mild language

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

If you are interested in purchasing Halo, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

If you enjoyed this review, feel free to leave The Book Buff a tip in "Kate's Tip Jar" located on the sidebar.  All tips are anonymous and in no way affect any of my reviews, thanks a ton!

The Doggy Divas: Roxy's Rules

Lauren Brown

From head of the pack to lone, lone wolf!

Roxy Davis is in the dog house.  Big time.  After kissing her BFF's crush over summer break, Roxy finds herself banished to the company of Monroe Middle School misfits Georgia and Kim.  And when things can't get any worse, the town dog walkers go on strike.  Dogs are running wild, giving Roxy the bright idea to recruit her fellow outcasts to start their very own dog walking business.

Roxy soon learns that pampering pooches will not only earn her points for cleaning up the neighborhood, but will also teach her a thing or two about friendship.

My Take:

I really enjoyed this syrupy sweet little book.  The plot focused on the classic "popular girl falls from grace and discovers true friendship with underdogs" storyline that is so common in books of this genre.  But plot isn't everything, the writing is much more important, and this book is very well written.  It is obvious that the author of this book is very in the know on what technology kids are embracing, namely Twitter and Facebook.  The author is also very in tune with tween girls and I felt that the book was quite authentic in the dialogue.  She didn't go overboard with the teenspeak, which is good, because when an author does that, they don't make their book sound younger but instead end up aging themselves.  There were lots of cute things about the book, but my favorite parts were the "Doggy Confessionals" which were featured at the end of each chapter.  The dogs were observant,very insightful and sassy, much more so that their human counterparts.  The Doggy Confessionals are definitely what sets The Doggy Divas: Roxy's Rules apart from other books with similar premises.  Overall I really enjoyed this book, but as with many of the books written for those of a younger demographic, there were definitely some logic leaps where you have to force yourself not to over think.  I don't really mind this, as I believe it to be a perfectly acceptable writing device in a book for a 9 year old girl. I tried not to think too hard on why a dog walker's strike would lead to dogs freely roaming the halls of the local middle school (why not just lock them up in cages and dog runs?), because ultimately, it didn't really matter.  The book isn't meant to be a deep character study into the human condition blah blah blah, its just meant to be fluffy fun, and it absolutely is.  This book is a great price and a good book for a young girl, I'd say, 2 Borders with a Coupon.

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I''d love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

If Doggy Divas: Roxy's Rules was a movie, it would be rated G, appropriate for all audiences

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

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The Lipstick Laws

Amy Holder

At Penford High School, Britney Taylor is queen bee. She dates whomever she likes, rules over her inner circle of friends like Genghis Khan, and can ruin anyone's life as easily as snapping her perfectly manicured fingers. Just ask the unfortunate few who have crossed her.

For April Bowers, Britney is also the answer to her prayers. With zero friends and nothing close to a boyfriend, April is so unpopular, kids don't know she exists. That is, until Britney notices her. One lunch spent at Britney's table, and April is basking in the glow of popularity.

But Britney's friendship comes with a price tag.

How much is April willing to pay?

My Take: 

Have you ever seen (one of my favorite movies) Mean Girls?  You know, before Lindsay Lohan was a total wreck?  Or maybe you've read the book the movie was based on, Queen Bees and Wannabes?  Well, if you are familiar with that plot line, you will also be familiar with The Lipstick Laws:  Popular girls with arbitrary yet strict rules take the new girl  under their wing and slowly get her to move away from her true friend.  True friend of new girl is the bitter ex-best friend of the Queen Bee and reasons for the fallout are mysterious.  New girl becomes just as bad as the popular girls, humiliation and boyfriend stealing ensues.  The Lipstick Laws is a much tamer  version, which is neither good nor bad, but the book was good in its own right regardless of the fact that the storyline has been done to death.  I thought the book was actually cute and enjoyable.  As with most books written for this age group, the main character learns the classic lessons: popularity isn't everything, finding true friendship, treat others as you would have them treat you, etc.  I enjoyed the main character and her self proclaimed "addiction" to stuffing her bra, which is fodder for most of the comedy in the book.  This book was fun, but I couldn't help comparing it to other versions with more accurate and biting commentary and insight into the jungle that is high school.  This is definitely a book a young teen would enjoy, but as they get older, they would probably not want to read it again because it has a lot of fluff and not enough substance.  Though it may not be a book you'd want to read over and over, it is a sweet feel good story and it is absolutely entertaining and worth that initial read.  3, Find a Used Book Store

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

If The Lipstick Laws was a movie, it would likely be rated PG for some adult references

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided by Net Galley in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

If you are interested in purchasing The Lipstick Laws, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

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Burned

P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Things have turned black at the House of Night.  Zoey Redbird's soul has shattered.  With everything she's ever stood for falling apart, and a broken heart making her want to stay in the Otherworld forever, Zoey's fading fast.  It's seemingly more and more doubtful that she will be able to pull herself back together in time to rejoin her friends and set the world to rights.  As the only living person who can reach her, Stark must find a way to get to her.  But how?  He will have to die to do so, the Vampyre High Council stipulates.  And then Zoey will give up for sure.  There are only seven days left.

Enter BFF Stevie Rae.  She wants to help Z, but she has massive problems of her own.  The rogue Red Fledglings are acting up, and this time not even Stevie Rae can protect them from the consequences.  Her kinda boyfriend Dallas, is sweet but too nosey for his own good.  The truth is, Stevie Rae's hiding a secret that might be the key to getting Zoey home--but it also threatens to explode her own world.

In the middle of the whole mess is Aphrodite: ex-Fledgling, trust-fund baby, total hag (and proud of it).  She's always been blessed (if you could call it that) with visions that can reveal the future, but now it seems that Nyx has decided to speak through her with the goddess's own voice. whether Aphrodite wants it or not.  Aphrodite's loyalty can swing a lot of different ways, but right now Zoey's fate hangs in the balance.

Three girls...playing with fire...if they don't watch out, everyone will get Burned.

My Take:

First off, a warning:  I've never really been a huge fan of this series, so if you are, remember to take my review with a grain of salt.  Now, on to the review.  Do you remember how in elementary school, swearing was very taboo, and if some kid did utter a swear word, a whole chorus of "oooooohs" and "ummmmms" and "I'm gunna tell teacher!" would erupt?  Then you go into middle school and the kids start realizing their parents don't know about their language at school, so all of a sudden all the kids are trying out curse words at every possible turn?  This is what Burned felt like to me, the characters were immature and the language sounded like a kid trying to sound cool.  The book really felt like it was trying too hard to be edgy, but it came off very inauthentic.  I also felt like the dialogue was not all that great, and didn't sound like how teenagers talk, but more an out of the loop adult's perception of teenspeak.  I've never really cared for Zoey, the main character, I feel like she is a self absorbed girl you just can't root for, so I did like that she wasn't the focus of the book.  With the ongoing vampire saturation of pop culture right now, a series really needs to be special to stand out, and for me, I just don't think this one makes the cut.  4, Borrow from a Friend.

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

If Burned were a movie, it would likely be rated PG-13, for adult content

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

If you are interested in purchasing Burned, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

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Quest for the Simurgh

Marva Dasef

The village magician has gone missing. His star pupil Faiza leads her classmates on a quest to find him. Gods and demons confront the four, who are unaware they will be facing a much greater task than finding the magician: saving the world from Armageddon. 

My Take:

This book took me a few minutes to figure out.  It is key, when reading a book for reviewing purposes, to identify the targeted audience.  When I read a book for preschoolers, I don't say, that cartoon duck lacked depth!  What was its motivation behind asking for grapes at a lemonade stand?  This is ridiculous because what does my 3 year old care about motivation?  You must always appreciate a book for what it is intended to be.  Anyway, it was tough to figure out if Quest for the Simurgh was for little kids, or teenagers.  I never really did find out for sure, but putting that confusion aside, I really enjoyed the book.  It featured interesting concepts and the plot flowed well.  Many fantasies are centered around fairies or dwarfs or elves, but the cool thing about this book was that it centered around mythology from ancient Persia.  Intrigued?  You should be.  I would really recommend this book to a fantasy lover looking for something a little different.  I really enjoyed it, but if you aren't already a fan of fantasy, I don't think this will be the book to convert you and thusly (my favorite word that does not exist yet I will continue to use it forever) I give the book a rating of a 3, Find a Used Book Store

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

If this book were a movie it would likely be rated PG for intense situations

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

If you are interested in purchasing Quest for the Simurgh, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing fro the following Amazon link, thank you!

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Nexus Point

Jaleta Clegg

When Captain Dace crash lands on a primitive planet, she finds herself on the run from villagers who are sure she's a demon, and the Space Patrol who's sure she's one of the bad guys.  Accused of stealing her own ship, facing death (or worse) at the hands of those who should be rescuing her, she must find not only some way to survive, but also escape.  Unfortunately, the world has other plans.

My Take:

People have been calling this book a "Space Opera."  Well, I didn't really know what that term meant, so I looked it up, and many people seem to think it means a dramatic and epic space adventure.  But really no one could agree on one definition anyway, and since I think that phrase is super cheesy, I will refrain from using it to describe Nexus Point.  I really saw this book as what would happen if the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises had a baby.  The book was quite epic and very enjoyable with a little bit of everything.  There was science fiction, romance, adventure, mythology and humor.  I very much enjoyed the inventiveness of the storyline and the strong protagonist.  Nexus Point was a bit depressing at the beginning, and tough to get into, but after that it was pretty fun.  I really enjoyed the book overall, but it was missing one very key element after all was said and done.  It didn't so much resonate with me when it was over, meaning, I didn't give it that much thought afterward.  This may seem arbitrary, but its an important factor with me.  3, Find a Used Book Store

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

If you are interested in purchasing Nexus Point, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

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Victor and the Sun Orb

Amy Nielsen

Victor, a fairy prince of Solandia, should enjoy a carefree life.  But from a early age, he finds himself very busy.

He learns complex magic and martial arts.  He's even taught how to live in a human world.  That's because his parents, Kind Godfred and Queen Magenta, know about a mortality spell that was cast on their son on the very day of his baptism.

A dark, hooded figure with eyes that burn like coal is to blame.  Victor's parents know that on his thirteenth birthday, their beloved son will be forced to leave Solandia and live with humans, perhaps never to return.

To find an antidote to the spell cast upon him as an infant, Victor must retrieve the mysterious sun orb, a source of magical power now in the hands of the dark, hooded figure.

As he sets upon his quest, a war between the forces of light and darkness erupts.  Good fairies wage battles with bad fairies, even as the power in their wands fades.

Enter a world of magic, and join the fairy prince as he fights for family, love, and friendship in Victor and the Sun Orb.

My Take:

First off let me tell you that the cover of this book is a bit misleading and really does a disservice to the awesome story.  The cover portrays a sweetness and light book you might buy for your 7 year old niece.  This is simply not the essence of the book.  The book is a wonderfully written YA mini-epic.  It isn't quite as epic as say The Chronicles of Narnia, but it absolutely holds its own.  Much like Narnia, this book is one that can be enjoyed at any age, teen or adult (hey I liked it and I'm in my early 20s).  It took a bit to really get into the story, but once you were in, you were in.  The strongest point was the writing in general, I thought it was awesome.  I think the author did really well in making it very readable, while at the same time, challenging the young teen reader.  I am looking forward to more from this author in the future.  The book was chalk full of real life lessons intermingled seamlessly with the elements of magic, which appeals to the kid in everyone.  The ending was sweet and predictable, but the book was really more about the journey rather than the destination.  I loved this book, and highly recommend it for young teens, 2 Borders with a Coupon.

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel.

This book is for younger teens, and would likely be rated PG

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

If you are interested in purchasing Victor and the Sun Orb, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

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The Aristobrats

Jennifer Solow

It's all about the attitude...

Parker Bell knows the secret to beauty is pretty simple--wearing the right clothes isn't as important as how you feel in them.  Popularity is like that too.  It's all about attitude.  You have to picture who you want to be and then just imagine that's who you already are.

This year Parker and her three best friends have finally made their way to the top of the populadder at Wallingford Academy.  Their Facebook Friend count has never been higher, and as Aristobrats, they've been groomed to lead the school to greatness.  But when the girls are assigned to produce the seriously lame school webcast, their popularity plummets!  Will this tragedy destroy everything they've worked for?  Or their friendship?  Or both?

My Take:

Okay people, let's face facts-Prep School beeyotchy (hey this is a family friendly blog) queen bee books are a dime a dozen.  What's this?  A Prep School beeyotchy queen bee book sans beeyotchiness you say? hmmmmm...now my interest is piqued.  I'll be totally honest and up front, as a lot of the world works their butts off just to make ends meet (me included) I'm not always one to love the sort of characters who have everything they want without having to work and seldom appreciate it.  That being said, I think part of me secretly (or now that I'm telling you, not so secretly) wanted to dislike these characters.  As I sat there literally hot-gluing my shoe back together until I can get a new pair on pay day, found myself liking the girls, even though you can fit my apartment x3 into their closets.  They are actually nice girls who make a concerted effort to be friendly to the less popular on the "populadder."  Of course there are exceptions but hey, these are middle school girls, not saints.  The girls stuck together and put one another before themselves.  While the bulk of the book was centered around their girl's waning popularity and their attempt at reclaiming their rightful places (which refreshingly they had actually worked hard for, rather than a stereotypical entitlement complex) I didn't feel that the book was totally shallow.  The book was peppered with lessons about being yourself, and appreciating your uniqueness.  The main character herself acknowledged that she wasn't the prettiest girl, but that her confidence was what counted.  I liked some of the made up words and phrases, such as one used to illustrate the girls not wanting to be sheep fashion-wise or as they call it, being an "Abercrombie Zombie."  I liked the distinctiveness of each of the main girls, and while most of their superficial qualities (a no limit credit card, chauffers, vacations all over the globe) weren't relatable, their inner struggles were ones each young girl shares-wieght, appearance, puberty, "Does he notice me"?  The Aristobrats is the first in a new series, and I can't wait to read the rest.  This book left plenty of unanswered questions to explore in the next books, but tied the central conflict up neatly to give the book closure.  Overall I felt this book was entirely engaging and though the IMspeak was a bit much for me at times, this book wasn't written for moms in their 20s, but for 13 year olds, and I think the dialogue felt natural and would fit well within that world.  I'd love my little girl to read these books as I think they are very positive in message and very importantly...fun! The price on this book is killer so I rate it a 1, Pay Full Price Guilt Free!

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

If this book were a movie, it would be rated G, appropriate for all audiences

Now a few words with the author, Jennifer Solow:


When and why did you begin writing?
I was running an advertising agency in San Francisco. I had flown to New York and was sitting in a business meeting in downtown Manhattan on the morning of 9/11 (the 9/11). I’d always made excuses for why I didn’t write: I’ll wait until I have an office in my house. I’ll wait until the kids are older. I’ll wait until I retire. By the end of that day, in the ashes of the World Trade Center, I truly understood why I couldn’t wait to make my life everything I imagined it could be. In less than a month, I had left my job (and my paycheck) behind and enrolled in my first writing class. An assignment I began in that class went on to become a national bestseller.

What inspired you to write your first book?
Perfume. Namely, Vetiver Parfum by Annick Goutal. I imagined a girl who might wear that perfume: what she might be like, what she might think, what her dark secrets might be. Three years (and a lot of pots of coffee) later, I had a novel.

How did you come up with the title of your current book, The Aristobrats?
Like all good ideas, The Aristobrats, popped out of nowhere and had nothing to do with my own conscious thought. I had a list a really comatastic ideas for a title (e.g., “The Inner Circle” ….zzzzzzz) but I felt like there was something great out there somewhere and that I had to let it come to me. I think I was picking up my daughter from school when it kind of landed at me. It was an “aha” moment.

How did you come up with the names of your characters?  Do they carry any significance?
I spent a lot of time studying my favorite fictional group of friends: the Sex and the City girls. “Parker” is named after Sarah Jessica Parker so I’d always remember what I was trying to aspire to. I’d named a character “Ikea” in an earlier work that was never published. I just thought it was really funny and wouldn’t quite let it go. Plum gets some of her cues from a character I adore: Violet in The Incredibles. Kiki is just “Kiki”. She already had her name when she walked through my door.

How much of the book is realistic?
Wallingford Academy has a lot of similarities to my alma mater, Winchester-Thurston. I also have lifelong friends, not unlike the four friends in the Aristobrats. My mother is the headmistress of a private school, but she’s nothing like Miss Hotchkiss, “The Terminator.” Hmm…at least not that I’m aware.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
Mostly I wanted a book that I would be proud to have my own daughter read. There are lots of messages layered into the book about not being afraid to make mistakes, about living life to the fullest because our time here is short. But I think the most important message is that is doesn’t matter how many Facebook Friends you have – it’s the real friends who count. These are lessons for me more than anyone – the important things I need to remember.

If you had to choose one book to read the rest of your life, and nothing else, what book would it be and why?
It’s actually a play, but I’d read Hamlet. I think there are so many ways of reading that story so that it’s completely different every time. I’d never get bored – I’d just imagine new settings, new actors, and new interpretations each time I read it.
       
 If you had to choose something besides writing, what career would you choose and why?
I’d be a farmer. Or Lady Gaga. Or a combination of both.

Where can readers of The Book Buff find out more about you, The Aristobrats, and upcoming projects?

 Jennifer Solow
http://www.jennifersolow.com/

The Aristobrats
http://www.jennifersolow.com/the-aristobrats/

The video trailer for the book
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIDoIA7XivM

Jennifer on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Jennifer-Solow/139693322731542?ref=ts


Check out the Aristobrats quiz here...http://www.jennifersolow.com/the-aristobrats/
 

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

If you are interested in purchasing The Aristobrats, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

Guest Review: The Squire's Quest

Please join me in welcoming guest reviewer, John Smith.  He is a talented writer and I am excited to feature a review of his on The Book Buff.  You can find out more about him on his blog, which can be found here

Gerald Morris

And why is it, after all these years, that Terence is still just a squire, offering advice on how best to scrub rust spots from armor? But Squire Terence has more to worry about than his place on the social scale. For all the peace and prosperity that have made England famous across Europe, Terence is uneasy. After nearly six months without contact with the World of the Faeries -- not even from his old friend the mischievous sprite Robin -- Terence is sure something is rotten in King Arthur’s court. And while the squire is always on the watch for the latest plot of the enchantress Morgause, he now also has suspicions about Mordred, King Arthur’s misbegotten son, who has appeared at court. Is Mordred after Arthur’s throne?

In this ninth rollicking adventure in the Squire’s Tales series, Terence’s efforts to defend the Fellowship of the Round Table lead him on his farthest, and most fantastic journey yet -- a quest that ultimately brings Terence rewards he never imagined or expected.


My Take:

I’m a fan of Arthurian tales, and Gerald Morris’ versions of the stories are definitely enjoyable to read. Through the perspective of Terence, a half human and half faery, we follow along on the search for the traitor who will try to overthrow King Arthur himself. There is a great mystery in the land, and Terence has to try and solve it. I love this story because Terence is an unlikely character that no one expects to save the day. In stories like these, it’s usually the famous knights, like Gawain or Lancelot, who will swing their swords and win the battle. But this time, with the entire kingdom at stake, it’s a mere squire that will be the hero.

The only thing I don’t like about this book is that most of the townspeople in Camelot are stupid. They sing these annoying love songs about lovers who kill themselves for the stupidest reasons, and they think it’s all romantic and stuff. Besides that, this was a great story. And even though this book is the latest in the series, you don’t have to be well read in the previous books to enjoy this one. Using The Book Buff’s rating system, I would give this book a 2, Use a coupon at Borders, especially if you’re a fan of Arthurian tales.

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

If this book were a movie it would likely be rated PG-13 for some violence.

If you are interested in purchasing this book, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

If you enjoyed this post, let the author know!  Head on over to his blog, become a follower and leave a comment or two :)  Again, the link is  http://johnsmithbooks.blogspot.com/

Milrose Munce and the Den of Professional Help

Douglas Anthony Cooper
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No one except Milrose Munce knows that ghosts of former students live in his school. Not only is Milrose aware of these ghouls – he’s on a first-name basis with all of them. Of course, some are more likable than others: the third floor is the home to nearly all of his good friends. Most of them – like Imploded Ig, Deeply Damaged Dave, and Toasted Theresa – were the victims of science experiments gone wrong though they do manage to maintain a sense of humor about their demise. Then there are the ghost athletes who lurk in the basement – a pretty disagreeable group, the majority of them having died after a particularly clumsy maneuver on the school’s sports field.

After Milrose is given yet another detention for offering his teacher an answer that was just a bit too clever, his life takes an unexpected turn. He is sent to a hidden den in the school’s basement to receive Professional Help. Here, he and the quick-witted Arabella, a fellow captive, are put under round-the-clock supervision of the maniacal Massimo Natica. Fortunately for Milrose and Arabella, once they join forces with their ghostly friends, Massimo Natica doesn’t stand a chance.

My Take:

Milrose Munce and the Den of Professional Help was an interesting book to say the least.  As I read through it, I couldn't make up my mind as to whether or not I enjoyed the book.  I always read a book all the way through before totally making up my mind. I'm certainly glad I did with this one, because by the end I found that I did enjoy it.  There was a time or two where I wasn't totally sure what was going on, but the oddities (I mean that in the best way) in the book made it fun to read anyway.  I enjoy any book that puts a new twist on the paranormal, because that is a genre that is beginning to be a bit played out.  This book's almost irreverent take on ghosts and the afterlife was extremely refreshing and extremely funny, this is definitely one to check out!  This book had a very Roald Dahl-ish quality, which I love, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Matilda were childhood favorites of mine.  I give Milrose Munce a 3, Buy at a Used Book Store because it wasn't an earth shatteringly amazing book, but it was a fun way to pass the time. 

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I am totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

If this book were a movie, it would likely be rated PG for some lighthearted and darkly comical descriptions of death

If you are interested in purchasing this book, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!














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Saving Sailor

Renee Riva

A story set in 1968 about a quirky girl, a faithful dog, and one unforgettable summer...

  Set in a simpler time, Saving Sailor is a heartwarming tale of how hearts can change and relationships can be restored through love and forgiveness.

  After spending the first half of summer driving her Italian family crazy with her fake southern accent, A.J. finds a soul-mate on the other side of the island to divert her attention to. She is intrigued to learn that Danny shares her same love of star-gazing, and the bigger mysteries of life. Together they share an enchanting summer, along with A.J.'s faithful dog, Sailor. As A.J. and Danny endure family hardships together, they learn a lot about the price of betrayal. Set in a simpler time, Saving Sailor is a heartwarming tale of how hearts can change and relationships can be restored through love and forgiveness.

My Take:

This book was a sweet little coming of age story, following a young girl full of spirit and compassion as she  tries to navigate the waters of her crazy Italian family, boy crazed older sister, and scariest of all?  Her very own growing up and budding womanhood.  My favorite thing about this book were the characters, the main character, AJ, was such a good solid kid, the kind of kid you read about and hope your children can emulate.  Her family, aside from the humor you know is going to come out of a heavily Italian family, is totally hilarious.  You've got a mom that loves to pretend to be Raquel Welch, signing autographs and causing an uproar, a dad that isn't afraid to show off his bright pink boat, and a grandma with so many statues of Saints littering her floor, one might confuse her house for the White Witch's domain in The Chronicles of Narnia.  The book is set in the 60s, a more innocent time, narrated by an innocent girl.  Throughout the book, we see AJ transform from the naive little girl, to the maturing adolescent as she attempts to make sense of events going on around her.  The events range from serious in nature, such as trying to figure out why a man would "have a sleepover" with a woman other than his wife, why her sister would subject herself to heartache after heartache, and overcoming the sadness that accompanies death and loss.  Many of the events are humorous, being locked in a confessional (AJ's greatest fear), or accepting the fact that she is having her first crush.  All in all, I think this would be a really great book for any young girl to read, it will help her figure out who she is, and learn to accept and love herself.  I rate this book a 2, Borders with a Coupon.

 Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

If this book were a movie it would likely be rated PG.  While it has elements of death and infidelity, it is designed to teach girls of that age how to deal with such themes in an appropriate way.  There is nothing graphic, for example, as mentioned before, the infidelity is described as "having a sleepover"

If you are interested in purchasing Saving Sailor, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

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The Pack

L.M. Preston

Shamira is considered an outcast by most, but little do they know that she is on a mission. Kids on Mars are disappearing, but Shamira decides to use the criminals most unlikely weapons against them the very kids of which they have captured. In order to succeed, she is forced to trust another, something she is afraid to do. However, Valens, her connection to the underworld of her enemy, proves to be a useful ally. Time is slipping, and so is her control on the power that resides within her. But in order to save her brother's life, she is willing to risk it all.

My Take:

I absolutely loved reading this book, but before I get into why it was so great, I want to get the bad stuff over with quickly.  There was a bit of awkward writing here and there throughout the book, and a few redundant phrases that were funny to me (pensive thoughts, secretly made a secret account, unattainably impossible) These phrases weren't a big deal, just a personal preference to not see those hanging around a good book.  Anyway, that's it, everything else, I totally loved.  The characters were great and I especially loved the growth each of the characters made throughout the course of the book.  Each and every one of them felt real and whole, especially the main character, Shamira.  Though she was cranky and more than a little aggravating toward the beginning of the story, you still felt for her and rooted for her.  As she grew into the leadership role she eventually took, you saw her soften her heart a bit and grow into a well rounded person.  I felt that the book had a great mix of the different elements that makes up a good action book.  There was a little romance going on, great action scenes, not too much violence for a YA book, thoroughly developed characters, and a hint of suspense and treachery.  The pacing was also well done, it was a teensy teensy bit slow at the very beginning, but picked right up and the book was a total page turner.  The Pack is a great book for any teenager or YA fan to read.  It is science fictiony, but doesn't overwhelm the reader with that aspect, it's just a great story.  I am excited to read more from this author.  Overall, The Pack gets a rating of a 2, Borders with a Coupon.

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

If The Pack were a movie it would likely be rated a VERY mellow PG-13 for mild language (a few H's and D's) throughout and violence throughout.  Some light sexual suggestiveness.

A Few words with the author, L.M. Preston:

The Book Buff: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

L.M. Preston: I considered myself a writer when I finished my first book. At that point I knew it was something that I wanted to do and loved doing it. That this wasn’t going away.

 TBB: Do you have a specific writing style?

LMP: I believe I do. Even though I write YA, Scifi, I aim to write in a easy to read and engaging manner. One of the main reasons I write this way is because my beta readers who were teens told me that they didn’t like scifi because it was so techy and the authors would write complex along with the complex issues they discussed. So I wanted to write a fun, easy read that even a teen that didn’t have great reading skills would devour easily.

 TBB: If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?

LMP: I would have kept Shamira blind longer. It was challenging to write in that manner, but many of my younger beta readers were frustrated that they couldn’t get a clear picture of the environment that surrounded her and they requested that she gain sight earlier in the book.

 TBB: How much of the book is realistic? Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

LMP: Many of my books have teen scenarios that I pull from my own childhood or from my kids. The dialogue between characters and the character types are composed of personalities I’ve known personally. In addition, growing up I wasn’t popular and was the butt of many jokes. I also had a blind friend that was very much like Shamira in her relation to meeting and trusting others.

TBB: What is your favorite interview question, and what is the answer?

LMP: What has made you the person you are today. I love this question. I’ve become the person I am today because of all the hurdles, trials, mistakes and tenacious spirit of hope that I have. These lessons I weave into my writing for young people, because my readers value being portrayed as smart, resourceful and fearless – which are the traits that most teens have.

TBB: What are you working on now?

 LMP: The Pack – Retribution, brings Shamira back where she struggles with being a leader and burying herself back within. Her trust and friendships are further tested. This is due out in Spring, 2012.

TBB: Where can readers find you if they are interested in learning more about your work?

LMP: I love people to check out my blog which is http://lmpreston.blogspot.com also I’m having a Virtual Book Release Party with a giveaway of a free hotel night stay among other party favors at http://bookpartylmpreston.blogspot.com

To find out about my upcoming books check out www.lmpreston.com

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

If you are interested in purchasing The Pack, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you! 

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