Shade

Summary:

Best. Birthday. Ever. At least, it was supposed to be. With Logan’s band playing a crucial gig and Aura’s plans for an intimate after-party, Aura knows it will be the most memorable night of her boyfriend’s life. She never thought it would be his last. Logan’s sudden death leaves Aura devastated. He’s gone. Well, sort of.Like everyone born after the Shift, Aura can see and talk to ghosts. This mysterious ability had always been annoying, and Aura had wanted nothing more than to figure out why the Shift happened so she can undo it. But not with Logan’s violet-hued spirit still hanging around. Because Dead Logan is almost as real as ever. Almost. It doesn’t help that Aura’s new friend Zachary is so understanding — and so very alive. His support means more to Aura than she cares to admit. As Aura’s relationship with the dead and the living grow ever complicated, so do her feelings for Logan and Zachary. Each holds a piece of Aura’s heart . . . and clues to the secret of the Shift.

Review:

I think this book was clever and original, even though it had a similar conflict as Meg Cabot's Mediator Series. The character development was very good. You sympathized with Aura's character and her dilemma. Jeri Smith-Ready really knows how manipulate the readers emotions. She develops a love triangle that had me going back and forth and still not totally sure who I think Aura should be with. The downside to this book is that it was a little vague on details which I'm sure she is saving for the next book. I still wish we would have had more information about the shift and the shades. I was also disappointed that there were so many loose end and a cliffhanger (many know I don't like cliffhangers). Still a good book and worth the read. I am looking forward to the next book, Shift, that comes out next year.

Only The Good Spy Young

Summary:

When Cammie Morgan enrolled at the Gallagher Academy, she knew she was preparing for the dangerous life of a spy. What she didn’t know was that the serious, real-life danger would start as soon as her junior year. But that’s exactly what happened two months ago when she faced off against an ancient terrorist organization dead set on kidnapping her.Now the danger follows her everywhere, and even Cammie “The Chameleon” can’t hide. When a terrifying encounter in London reveals that one of her most trusted allies is actually a rogue double agent, Cammie no longer knows if she can trust her classmates, her teachers — or even her own heart.In this fourth installment of the New York Times best-selling series, the Gallagher Girls must hack, spy, steal, and lie their way to the truth as they go searching for answers, recognizing that the key to Cammie’s future may lie deep in the past.

Review:

The one thing I like about this series is that it is a good series for all ages. Enough action, suspense and romance for a little older teens but not so much that younger girls can't enjoy them as well. I have really enjoyed the development and maturing of the characters and their relationships. With every new book I am looking forward to what will happen next. My only disappointment is that Aly Carter left you with a cliffhanger at the end of this book and the next book will not be released until early 2012. If you haven't read this series you have plenty of time to catch up.

Early To Death, Early To Rise

Summary:

Madison Avery is still trying to come to terms with her death and her role as the dark timekeeper (Once Dead, Twice Shy, 2009). With dark reaper Nakita and her mostly light counterpart Barnabas at her side, Madison is determined to prove that, given the choice, those who might be doomed in the afterlife due to their bad choices can in fact be convinced to see the error of their ways in time to save their souls. Her test case involves two teen boys and a computer virus that she knows will be responsible for deaths in a hospital. As she races against time and her nemesis, Ron, she develops new, frightening powers. The complexities of Madison's supernatural world are not very well explained here, so readers would do best to start with this book's predecessor. Harrison builds an interesting world rife with politics and tradition, but Madison does a poor job of clarifying the roles she and her co-workers play in moving people from life to the afterlife.



Review:

I thought that this book was better than the first. In the first book Kim Harrison tried to pack so much information in about this new world that Madison is a part of now. This second book was more about the characters. Madison has her first reap and is determined to do it her way. I enjoyed the interaction with the other characters. I was a little disappointed that more was not done with Barnabus's character but enjoyed the development of Nakita's character as well as some of the new ones. The book was interesting, fastpased and good clean fun. I loved when she got upset and said "puppy presents on a carpet". Cute.

Still Sucks To Be Me

Summary:

With vampire boyfriend George and best friend Serena by her side, Mina thought she had her whole life—or rather afterlife—ahead of her. But then Mina’s parents drop a bomb. They’re moving. To Louisiana. And not somewhere cool like New Orleans, but some teeny, tiny town where cheerleaders and jocks rule the school. Mina has to fake her death, change her name, and leave everything behind, including George and Serena. Not even the Vampire Council’s shape-shifting classes can cheer her up. Then Serena shows up on Mina’s doorstep with some news that sends Mina reeling. Mina may look a lot better with fangs, but her afterlife isn’t any less complicated!

Review:

Suck To Be Me is listed as one of my twin 14 year old girls favorites. However, the second book fell a little short. The story was good, the characters that you love are still the same, and Pauly's wit and creative speak was still there (craptastic is a houshold word now). It was just lacking a certain.......magic that the first book had. We all enjoyed the book and I would still recommend it to the younger teens. I just didn't love it like the first book. I am hopeful that the third book will bring back that spark that this one was missing.