Sonntag, 30. September 2012

Death And The Girl Next Door (Darklight #01) - Darynda James

Title: Death And The Girl Next Door (Darklight #01)
Author: Darynda James
Rating: 3.5/5

Thanks to St. Martin's Press via Netgallery for allowing me to read this book before the official publication.

Lorelei's parents disappeared when she was little. Ever since then she's lived with her grandparents. She learned how to deal with it. But then things at school get difficult when new student Jared arrives. Lorelei tries to get to know him a little better, but Cameron, someone who always stood in the background, doesn't seem to approve it and seems to know Jared more than he admits. They both try to hide something and Lorelei is determinded to find out what that is.

I want to keep this review short. I guess I won't be able to help people to tell if they should buy and read Death And The Girl Next Door or not. I can tell you it's worth it. The story is great, the romance is great, it's such a good novel. I loved it. I want to read the second one right now!

First off, the writing was beautiful. Words weren't used too often and it was really thrilling and exciting too. Happens not nearly often enough in other books. So plus point for Death And The Girl Next Door. The characters appeared real and also not too imature, which can happen quite fast when you write young adult books. Of course I loved Jared and Cameron, though Cameron could have been a little more friendly, I think. I wish he would have confessed his love for Lorelei already, but then again I think that this couple is never going to happen in the series. Always want the couple you can't have.

Glitch was so funny, and Darynda made so hilarious dialogues. They were so awesome when they included Glitch. I had to laugh so many times. I've got to admit, that I kinda of disliked Lorelei's best friend Brooke though. I don't know what it is, maybe because I assume something's going to happen between her and Cameron (I hope not!). She just wasn't a character that I prefer.

So, I think I read too much angel stuff lately. Makes me tired. It has absolutely nothing to do with the book, it was very good, but I think I'll just go back to read realistic fiction for a while again. Or at least paranormal books without angels and hell and heaven and all that.

I recommend it to everyone who likes paranormal stuff with angels and secrets that the heroine wants to find out. If you search for some exciting read, a story that makes you forget that you had something in the oven or that you had an appointment (I'm trying to say if you search for a novel that makes you forget about the world for a second), then you should totally pick this one up.

Freitag, 21. September 2012

The Night She Disappeared - April Henry

Title: The Night She Disappeared
Author: April Henry
Rating: 3/5

It was an ordinary pizza delivery until Kayla didn't come back. Her friend Drew doesn't see a chance of her being still alive, but still agrees when Gabie asks for his help to find the kidnapper/killer. One thing's for sure: The orderer/kidnapper/killer didn't want Kayle - he asked for Gabie.

No matter how many times I write summaries, I will always suck. I don't know how other people/reviewers do that.

I expected this book to be a thrilling read. In some way it was, in some ways it wasn't. The storyline was good and the book idea was great, but I didn't feel this book as much as I would have wanted to.

So, Kayla is a teenage girl who jobs at Pete's pizza. This day, she switches shifts with Gabie, so she gets another day off. What nobody knows is that someone wanted this Wednesday to be his big day. Big day to kidnap Gabie. He calls, orders pizza, just like every other costumer would do. But then he asks if Gabie's on delivering shift, what makes Drew, who takes the order, a little uncomfortable. Yet, he sends Kayla off to deliver.

She never comes back.

Kayla, Drew and Gabie aren't the best of friends, but Drew and Gabie are curious to find out what happened with Kayla and stumble upon various traces.

Who I liked: Drew, at first at least. Typical underdog, you got to have to fall for. But something's changed in the middle of the book. I don't know what it was (ok, it probably has to do with Gabie), but I didn't liked him as much as before then.
I also liked the kidnapper. Not as in like - he was a well-written and thought-through character.

Who I didn't like: Gabie, and this time I really don't know why that is. I didn't connect with her I guess. I liked that she didn't stop believing in Kayla being alive, though. I'll give her that.

There's not much for me to say. I had higher expectations for The Night She Disappeared, but I enjoyed it. I still wish for a breathtaking kidnap novel neverthless.

Donnerstag, 13. September 2012

Guardian (Halflings #02) - Heather Burch

Title: Guardian (Halflings #02)
Author: Heather Burch
Rating: 3/5

Thanks to Zondervan via Netgallery for accepting my request on reading this book.

Nikki's in danger. Everyone she loves is in danger because of her. Now she's on a mission with two boys who own her hearts. Torn between them and the tasks she is facing, Nikki has to make the right choices.

In the second book of the Halflings series Guardian everything felt a little too forced for me. The plot wasn't too obvious, so by the end I had to ask myslf if there was a plot at all. Or at least one that made a little sense. I bet there was, but you have a hard time figuring out.

I really loved the first book, and this one disappointed me. I wanted it to be more real. Not as in "leave the angel stuff out", but in "oh my god, I can't put it down and I feel connected." It wasn't that for me. Even if series are a good thing, sometimes it should have only been one big, fabulous book. It can't feel too stretched out that way. (It shouldn't)

At some parts I didn't quiet understand the character's actions. While I loved Nikki in Halflings, I kind of got annoyed by her in Guardian. Also, I wasn't happy with the pairing (the couple). I could (and can) see that Mace has some burden to carry, so why is he so nice? He has his bad mood moments, but he always end up being Mr. Nice Guy. I liked him better in book number one.

Main character number three, and the most awesome one as well - Raven. I am mad at him. He lost his coolness because of Nikki, and because of her decision he does something dumb and leaves the crew. I can't stay mad at him for long though and I loved the scenes that incdluded him.

Maybe I focused too much on the characters in this review, but I can't say much about the plot. As I said, it takes some time to follow, but it was pretty exciting still. By the end, when readers get to know what's going on with Nikki, you're shocked. I wasn't excpecting that. You always thought you knew who and what she was. Then it changed.

So, once again: Guardian was not as good as Halflings, and though it didn't match my hopes and expectations, I still liked it, 'cause this is a good book series. I hope the third book will be better than the second, but I'm not thinking bad of this one. Looking very forward for book three now.

And I'm sorry if my review isn't that helpfull. I can recommend that if you read Halflings, you should read Heather Burch's second book in the series too.