Tempted by P. C. Cast, Kristin Cast

Originality- 18/20
Characters- 16/20
Remembrance- 7/10
Quote-ability- 7/10
Entertainment- 17/20
Ending- 9/10
Recommend to read- 7/10
TOTAL- 81/100
Grade- B

So…you’d think after banishing an immortal being and a fallen High Priestess, saving Stark’s life, biting Heath, getting a headache from Erik, and almost dying, Zoey Redbird would catch a break. Sadly, a break is not in the House of Night school forecast for the High Priestess in training and her gang. Juggling three guys is anything but a stress reliever, especially when one of them is a sexy Warrior who is so into protecting Zoey that he can sense her emotions. Speaking of stress, the dark force lurking in the tunnels under the Tulsa Depot is spreading, and Zoey is beginning to believe Stevie Rae could be responsible for a lot more than a group of misfit red fledglings. Aphrodite’s visions warn Zoey to stay away from Kalona and his dark allure, but they also show that it is Zoey who has the power to stop the evil immortal. Soon it becomes obvious that Zoey has no choice: if she doesn’t go to Kalona he will exact a fiery vengeance on those closest to her. Will Zoey have the courage to chance losing her life, her heart, and her soul?
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This one was surpisingly better than the rest in the series. I usually found almost all of the characters annoying because they were always hiding things from each other for the worst reasons. In Tempted they became honest and oh my gosh, the book didn't explode. Also a plus on the character front- Zoey cussed!

The action and information became a little overwhelming which I guess is better than the book boring me. I was constantly trying to put all of the information together while still getting more. I was glad that there was always something to think about, and my mind could never rest and just figure it all out. It's nice to have a little bit of mystery.

The relationship between Kalona and Zoey is getting more depth and maybe even truth to it. I'm on the fence just like Zoey. I'm not sure if Kalona is exactly evil, but I know for sure that he can't be trusted and I don't like him.

The ending was incredible. Not only was it semi unexpected it gave the entire series a huge turn. I think that the following books will have more to live up to, and I'm very eager to read them. I'm just very happy that things are actually happening now. There was just something about Tempted that kept me reading.

-Amanda

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox is a post where I tell you the books that I received this week either by buying them from the bookstore, going to the library or from my mailbox. Check out The Story Siren to learn more!

After Dark by Nancy A. Collins

What good is a designer dress if someone puts a stake through it?

It's the most important event of the season in New York's upper-crust vampire society. The Rauhnacht Grand Ball has everything you need for a night of scandal and intrigue: gala dresses, stolen boyfriends, forbidden love . . .

Then a team of vampire hunters shows up and ruins everything! The surprise attack by Van Helsings is the worst gate-crashing ever.

In the aftermath, half sisters Lilith and Cally scramble to regain their footing at the exclusive Bathory Academy—and in the world of high fashion, where both have star potential. When new suitors turn the romance up a notch, it's almost enough to make the half sisters forget their intense rivalry. Almost. But shared blood between vampires is not easy, and before long Lilith and Cally find themselves face-to-face again.

-Amanda

Perfect Match by Jodi Picoult

Originality- 17/20
Characters- 19/20
Remembrance- 8/10
Quote-ability- 8/10
Entertainment- 18/20
Ending- 9/10
Recommend to read- 8/10
TOTAL- 87/100
Grade- B

What happens when you do all the right things for all the wrong reasons? As an assistant district attorney in York County, Maine, Nina Frost prosecutes the sort of crimes that tear families apart. She helps clients navigate their way through a nightmare – even though the legal system is not always the faultless compass they want and need it to be. She learns that the easiest way to cross this devastating minefield time and time again is to offer compassion, battle fiercely for justice, and keep her emotional distance.

But when Nina and her husband Caleb discover that their five-year-old son Nathaniel has been sexually abused, that distance is impossible to maintain. The world Nina inhabits now seems different from the one she lived in yesterday; the lines between family and professional life are erased; and answers to questions she thought she knew are no longer easy to find. Overcome by anger and desperate for vengeance, Nina ignites a battle that may cause her to lose the very thing she's fighting for.

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Just like all of Picoult's books this one was extraordinarily written. The story was told by several different people including Nathaniel. It broke my heart when he would stop speaking and blame himself for the abuse, and everything else that was going wrong. I just don't know what it is about these books, they're able to talk about a touchy subject and make me feel like I am in each person's shoes.

The characters as usual were wonderful. The whole book was mostly character development which let me down a little bit. I found myself getting a little bored and hoping that something interesting was going to happen. Don't get me wrong, plenty of crazy stuff happens but there were several gaps. Thankfully they didn't last too long and I got pulled right back into the story.

My heart not only broke for Nathaniel but also his family. The family dynamic is so close and comforting it's hard to think about something so bad happening to them. There are so many twists in this book I was kept guessing until the very end. I wish I could tell you more but I don't want to spoil anything.

The ending was completely amazing. I felt like I could walk away from the book happy and realizing that Nathaniel wouldn't be hurting forever. I would recommend this book to anyone that has family problems to see that it could be so much worse.

-Amanda

New Years Resolutions

Here are some of my goals that have to do with the blog!

1. Post everyday. I really want to be able to keep up with my blogging.

2. Write longer and more detailed reviews.

3. Comment on other blogs.

4. Schedule blog posts.

5. Redo my blog to a semi permanent design.

-Amanda