Book Review: Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey

Title: Cold Kiss

Author: Amy Garvey

Series: Cold Kiss #1

ISBN: 006199622X

Publisher: HarperTeen

Pub. Date: September 2011

Source: Library

Genre: YA/Paranormal Romance

Pages: 304
Rating: 2 Kisses


Synopsis (from Goodreads): It was a beautiful, warm summer day, the day Danny died.
Suddenly Wren was alone and shattered. In a heartbroken fury, armed with dark incantations and a secret power, Wren decides that what she wants--what she must do--is to bring Danny back.          But the Danny who returns is just a shell of the boy Wren fell in love with. His touch is icy; his skin, smooth and stiff as marble; his chest, cruelly silent when Wren rests her head against it.
          Wren must keep Danny a secret, hiding him away, visiting him at night, while her life slowly unravels around her. Then Gabriel DeMarnes transfers to her school, and Wren realizes that somehow, inexplicably, he can sense the powers that lie within her--and that he knows what she has done. And now Gabriel wants to help make things right.
          But Wren alone has to undo what she has wrought--even if it means breaking her heart all over again.

My Reveries and Ramblings: This book was okay. I was able to read it fairly quickly in one sitting. There was very little detail. It was pretty much plot driven. The characters were a bit flat to me. I wanted to know more about Wren’s power and why her mom wouldn’t talk about it, or why her dad left. I also wanted to know more about Gabriel. But instead most of the book was entirely devoted to how badly she messed up by bringing Danny back to life and how she loves and loved him so much. I just wish Ms. Garvey spent more time on fleshing out the characters. The plot is there, the characters, not so much. 
          Having said that though, I do think the story was good, albeit predictable. It felt more like a novella or short story. There just wasn’t enough...of everything. But i did enjoy it. I’m not the biggest fan of zombie books and there were quite a few moments where Danny creeped me out. But I loved the message in the book. The messages were of love, loss and grief. Wren has to come to terms with losing her first love prematurely. Most people have lost someone in their lives. So I can assume everyone can relate and sympathize with Wren’s battle: her desire to keep the one she loves and her need to let him go. 
          Overall, I thought the book was okay. I will probably read the sequel at some point. I really hope the author expands on the world and answers some questions left from the end of the last book.

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Playlist:
(Listen on Spotify)

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Book Review: Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz

Title: Spellbound

Author: Cara Lynn Shultz

ISBN: 9780373210305

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Pub. Date: June 28, 2011

Source: NetGalley

Genre: YA Romance/ Paranormal Romance

Pages: 324
Rating: 4 Kisses

Excerpt | Author's Blog

Synopsis (from Goodreads): What's a girl to do when meeting The One means she's cursed to die a horrible death?

Life hasn't been easy on sixteen-year-old Emma Connor, so a new start in New York may be just the change she needs. But the posh Upper East Side prep school she has to attend? Not so much. Friendly faces are few and far between, except for one that she's irresistibly drawn to—Brendan Salinger, the guy with the rock-star good looks and the richest kid in school, who might just be her very own white knight.

But even when Brendan inexplicably turns cold, Emma can't stop staring. Ever since she laid eyes on him, strange things have been happening. Streetlamps go out wherever she walks, and Emma's been having the oddest dreams: visions of herself in past lives—visions that warn her to stay away from Brendan. Or else.

My Reveries and Ramblings:  Oh. My. Goodness.  This book seriously surprised me.  Going into it, all I knew was that it was a YA paranormal romance.  Boy, was I amazed to discover there was so much more.  For starters, Cara Lynn Schultz successfully wrote from a teenager’s perspective.  I never once cringed at the language used.  (Don’t you hate it when a YA author starts throwing around the word “Yo”).  Actually, I really enjoyed Emma’s voice.  She was nice, funny, and completely relatable.  She has insecurities, like every teenager.  She worries about her hair, if she will fit in, and what Brendan thinks of her.   Also, Emma is not a push over.  Especially when it comes to the kids at school who constantly gossip about her.  Cue the jerk: Anthony.  He just makes Emma’s life a living hell at school (and outside it).  At first its just a matter of ego, but it soon turns into something much more dangerous.  As the story progresses, Anthony’s darker side surfaces.  He is seriously insane.  By the end, I was scared of him. 

The second thing that literally brought this book up a full kiss was the fact that it a) has a tragic love story for a base; b) involves soul mates; and c) involves past lives/reincarnation.  As you know, I love books that contain even just one of those.  But this one contained all three!  The tragic love story: Emma and Brendan are cursed to fall in love over and over again only to be torn apart by an untimely death.  Something is different this time around.  They might have a shot at breaking the curse.  If they don’t hurry, it could all end, once again. 

Poor Emma.  In every life she is born poor.  This one was especially  brutal for her.  After her mom and brother die, she lives with her step-father who would rather drink and abuse her then man-up and be a father for her.  After getting into a DWI accident with Emma in the car (she gets injured), Emma escapes to her aunt’s home in NYC.  Going to the exclusive Vince Academy has Emma feeling even more of an outsider with all the rich students (think Gossip Girl). 

Yes, it does have a HEA.  But, you know, it was still a lot of fun to read.  The ending was suspenseful.  The romance was lovely.  And Brendan was just soooo cute.  You can’t see me, but I’m crossing my fingers hoping there will be a sequel. 

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Book Playlist:

Click here to listen to Cara Lynn Shultz's Playlist for Emma and Brendan 
(Listen on Spotify)

BR: Blood of the Maple by Dana Marie Bell

Title: Blood of the Maple

Author: Dana Marie Bell

Series: Maggie’s Grove #1

ASIN: B004RQD3XO

Publisher: Carina Press

Pub. Date: April 2011

Genre: Paranormal/Paranormal Romance/Supernatural/Fantasy/Romance

Words:  78,000

Rating: 3 Kisses

From: Net Galley

Buy: Amazon

Website: Author 

Extra: Read an Excerpt

Synopsis (from Goodreads.com): A seduction-gone-wrong leaves vampire Parker Hollis with a new vegetarian lifestyle and on the run from a vengeful witch. Moving to small-town Maggie's Grove, Parker meets a redheaded dryad with green, leafy blood that draws him in a way he hasn't experienced in decades. His new neighbor smells divine, and it isn't long before craving gives in to need.

In a unique community of supernaturals, tree-loving outcast Amara Schwedler has never quite fit in. She's scarred by a traumatic incident and feared by the local townsfolk. She's convinced Parker will look elsewhere for a mate once he discovers she's not one of the O-positive set, and can't believe it when Parker finds her irresistible.

When the witch who's been plaguing Parker's life discovers the newfound attraction between Parker and Amara, she takes out her anger on the town. Can the supernaturals of Maggie's Grove accept Amara and band together in time to withstand the assaults of the enraged witch?

My Reveries and Ramblings: I had such a hard time rating this book.  There were so many things I really liked about this book, but at the same time there were plenty of things that I didn’t like.  Blood of the Maple is about a playboy vampire, Parker, who moves to Maggie’s Grove with his best friend and ghost, Greg.  Maggie’s Grove is one of the only, if not the only, towns in the US that is completely supernatural.  Shortly after arriving, Parker meets Amara, a powerful dryad who lives next door.  They fall in love, but their relationship, and the town,  is threatened by Parker’s ex, an obsessive crazy witch who has been following Parker for years. 

       Amara is a really powerful dryad who was raised by a kind woman.  For reasons unknown to Amara, but revealed later in the book, the townspeople avoid her.  When they are not ignoring her, they are outwardly horrible to her.  Even though most of Maggie’s Grove hates her, she has a few friends, but she is still very lonely.  Amara spends most of her time in her garden and conversing with her tree. 

       After escaping from his ex, who was trying to make it so he could only drink from her blood, so they will be together forever, Parker is stuck drinking plant-like blood.  Before Amara, Greg would make a smoothie with a few drops of his blood mixed with certain plants.  After Greg dies and becomes a ghost, they move to Maggie’s Grove, where Parker falls in love with Amara and the final showdown with his ex takes place.

       Maggie’s Grove is such a quant town.  It’s like a supernatural version of Stars Hollow from Gilmore Girls.  Everyone knows everyone.  The beings that inhabit Maggie’s Grove are shapeshifters, vampires, psychics, witches, dryads, etc.  When Parker’s ex threatens the town to get to Parker, everyone comes together to fight her. 

       I loved the fresh take on the supernatural.  The problems I had with this book had to do with all the random sex scenes.  Some were appropriately placed but I felt that others were just unneeded.  Yes, I know this is a paranormal romance-stressing the romance, but still. Having said that, I still liked this book and will definitely be reading the sequel when it comes out.  

Book Trailer:

Playlist:

Book Review: Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

Title: Nightshade

Author:  Andrea Cremer

Series: Nightshade #1

ISBN: 039925482X

Publisher:  Philomel

Genre: Paranormal, Romance, Young Adult, Fantasy

Pages: H-454

Synopsis (From Goodreads):  Calla Tor has always known her destiny: After graduating from the Mountain School, she'll be the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But when she violates her masters' laws by saving a beautiful human boy out for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the very essence of the world she has known. By following her heart, she might lose everything— including her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice?

My Reveries and Ramblings: Calla, an alpha werewolf, is set to be mated (or married) to Ren, another alpha werewolf.  When patrolling the woods, Calla comes across Shay in the woods injured and threatened.  By saving his life, she could be sentenced to death.  She doesn’t think she will ever see him again.  When he shows up at school, Calla is asked by her future master to watch over him.  Their newfound friendship turns into love and Calla must not only choose between Ren and Shay but also between playing it safe or learn the truth. 

       Okay, so for starters-I love Ren.  He is attractive, an alpha, hot, nice, caring, hot, confident, hot, and oh, did I mention-hot?  As you can tell-I’m completely team Ren.  Now that I got that out of my system, I can continue.  Calla, the protagonist, is strong, both physically and mentally.  She’s not a push over.  She and her “pack” all attend Mountain High School with Ren and his “pack.”  Andrea Cremer puts an interesting spin on werewolves and the paranormal.  This isn’t your normal werewolf story (you know, all that full-moon-tortured-soul stuff).  This is a love story that forces the reader to feel torn and conflicted.  The characters are very realistic (besides the paranormal element) and layered.  Each one has realities that they are forced to face.  Because they serve their masters they do not have a choice in who they marry (although, they can make requests) or where they live.  Disobedience usually involves death.  The other option, though, is to suffer at the hands of a dark shade-like creature that reminded me a lot of the dementors from the Harry Potter series.  There were several suspenseful scenes; and of course there is a bit of a cliff hanger.        

       I read this book in one day (at the airport and on my flights).  When I finished it, I wasn’t really sure what to think.  I liked it and I didn’t like it.  I thought it was interesting and definitely creative.  I liked the world Cremer built.  However, I really didn’t like Shay.  I wouldn’t mind him being like the “best friend” but I just don’t like him.  Also, I didn’t trust him.  He kept pressuring Calla to do things that if discovered she could be punished/killed.   I decided about a day after I finished it that I liked it and that Shay was the reason why I felt odd about it. I give it 3 kisses.  I can’t wait until the sequel Wolfsbane comes out. 

*If you read the book, highlight the area below, if not then I’m warning you that there are spoilers:

That last scene when Calla asked Ren to give her and Shay some time to get away really showed how much he loved her.  Then she just ripped his heart out (not literally).  That made me so mad.  Poor Ren.  

Book Trailer:

The Playlist:

*note- I included some of the songs from Andrea Cremer's playlist for Nightshade.  Click here for a complete list of all the songs that she used.