Book Spotlight #1

Hey Everyone, 

So this new meme I'll be doing is called BOOK SPOTLIGHT and I will be showcasing books that I have read that deserve far more attention than the already have. What is different about this meme is I'll only be posting the book covers with a tiny description of why I think you should pick it up. I want this to be a short post but also give you some new reads to check out, and also give a bit of my feedback. So without further ado, I present BOOK SPOTLIGHT #1!!!

[This novel is such a beautiful yet heartbreaking story

and to me it doesn't receive enough attention. If you enjoyed 

"The Lovely Bones" then definitely pick this book up soon.]

|Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9266790-lark|

[This is one of my favorite books and Michelle is one of my

favorite authors. I don't think this book gets enough attention and

to me it's one of the best middle grade books ever written. So

if you enjoyed "The Spiderwick Chronicles" or "Harry Potter"

grab this book ASAP!]

|Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6581334-the-thirteen-treasures|

[This book is one epic story. I loved the 

dystopian world Kate created and I think it needs way

more attention, like millions of readers need to get

this book. If you enjoy YA dystopian novels then check out

Frost very soon.]

|Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13555538-frost|

. . .

Thanks for stopping by today! 

and I hope you enjoyed my new meme. 

Comment below if you would like to recommend

some new reads to me.

-R.D.

Review: Graveyard Shift

Graveyard Shift by Chris Westwood

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Now that was one awesome read!

I can't begin to describe how unique and wonderful this story is without giving spoilers. The story opens with our protagonist Ben Harvester, who meets the eccentric Mr. October in a cemetery. I loved the relationship between Ben and Mr. October because it was reminiscent of John Bellairs's Professor Childermass and Johnny Dixon, an old man and a young boy becoming friends. After Ben and Mr. October meet, they run into each other again, but this time things get a little more creepy. Soon Ben is initiated into a group who helps Ghosts.

But there is also another group that wants to use the ghosts for something sinister and Ben only has a small amount of time before they come after him. I loved the characters in this book. They came to life so wonderfully and I thoroughly enjoyed the small amounts of actions and creepiness. If you are looking for a middle grade book to give you the creeps but also take you on a fantastic adventure, pick up Graveyard Shift by Chris Westwood when it hits shelves 7/1/12. If you live in the UK you can pick it up now as Ministry of Pandemonium.

Thank you to Scholastic for sending me this for review.

-R.D.



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BOOK THOUGHTS: Snow White and the Huntsman by Lily Blake!

Snow White and the Huntsman by Lily Blake

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I did it!! I finished the book before I saw the movie at 5:00pm today.

MOVIE:
You know what? I loved the book and the movie. Charlize Theron is a wonderful actress and she went hard as the Evil Queen "Ravenna". Chris Hemsworth *Swoon* I love him and as "Eric" he was perfect. I can't see anyone replacing him. Now onto Snow White... Snow... Oh, Snow... Kristin... Snow... WHY? To be honest I still don't think she brought anything to "Snow White". I'm sorry Twilighters but she will forever be Bella frickin Swan. I wish they would have gotten Malese Jow. She would have made a wonderful Snow White. The movie was great, I loved the score, all of the actors except for Kristin. I loved her In "The Runaways" and "Panic Room" but not as Snow White. I also heard it will be a trilogy. What??? how? and why? The movie ended and everything is well. Why two more movies? how in the fuck will they pull this shit off?? I don't get it. I honestly don't get how there will be two more movies. It's insane.



BOOK:
The novel is a tie-in to the motion picture. What does this mean? it means that the author Lily Blake took the script and worked it into novel form. Lily Blake! you did a spectacular job converting the script into a book. I applaud you tremendously! The book was fast paced, full of action, and I couldn't stop reading it. Why can't more authors write books like this? the character development was perfect, the story line was set, and the writing was freaking awesome. Even though this is a novelization of a movie, it has become one of my favorites of 2012. This book was 220 pages, did you hear that kiddos? 220 pages! not 500, not 900, not 1000, 220 pages. And what a bomb ass 220 paged book that was. If there are any others besides me out there reading this, take pointers from Lily's writing, she knows how to give you everything in a small amount and I hope to read one of her own books soon. This is my opinion, you may hate the book and the movie but that is all you. I enjoyed both but I loved the book more. Also, there are differences with the book and the movie. Some things are explained better in the book and there are more scenes. All thanks to the writer.

Read the book before you see the movie! :)

-R.D.




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Review: Trick or Treat

Trick or Treat by Richie Tankersley Cusick

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I wish they still made audiobooks like this! it felt like was listening to a movie.
I listened to "Trick or Treat" on YouTube(link here: ) and I was enthralled. I have never listened to an audiobook were nearly 9 different voice actors are included and sound effects, such as rain, music, bells, and birds were used. If you love YA Horror, you need to grab a pair of headphones and listen to Trick or Treat now. Richie is a wonderful writer and the actors, though a little cheesy, were believable and kept me wanting to carry on with the story. One thing you have to remember going to these "The Point Horror Tapes" is that they were recorded in the 90's. But I still enjoyed this one. I will be listening to more since there are about five more on that youtube page. I love 90's YA horror, I wish authors still came out with stuff like this, some do, but it's rare. I loved the suspense in this book and the ending was awesome.

-R.D.



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BOOK THOUGHTS: "Wake" by Amanda Hocking!

Wake by Amanda Hocking

My rating: 4 of 5 stars




[SPOILER FREE]

"Sirens exist, Mermaids don't." - Penn "Wake".

Thanks to St. Martin's Griffin for sending me an ARC of "Wake" by Amanda Hocking! I was wary on reading another Amanda Hocking book because I really didn't like Switched. After looking over the synopsis and reading the prologue, I decided to go on another Hocking adventure and this adventure I truly enjoyed. If you enjoy books that are mythology reboots, then pick up Wake when it comes out 8/7/12.

Now on to my book thoughts!

I dived right into "Wake" expecting a love triangle, a bitchy protagonist, and over caked romance. I was pleasantly surprised. There is no love triangle, Gemma is a likable protagonist, and the romance was set at the perfect amount. I loved the writing style! Amanda needs to write more books in third person POV. The book starts off with Gemma at the bay, swimming. You get to know her right away and then you are introduced to her sister Harper who is an overprotective, motherly gush-bear. The sisters's mother is in a home with mental issues and their father works on the docks of the town. Alex is our love interest for Gemma and I loved him. Daniel is Harper's love interest and I was drooling over him. Then we are introduced to the new girls in town. Penn, Thea, and Lexi. The boys in town can't get enough of them, so much so that some even begin to go missing. Let me tell you now, I hated these three girls. I wanted to smack Penn so bad. They remind me of the plastics in Mean Girls, except these girls can rip your head off and can breathe underwater. Things begin to grow tremendously intense once Gemma decides to hang with the girls for one night... and wakes up the next morning feeling too different. From there the story takes off and I enjoyed every bit of it.

That is where I will leave off, spoiler free! So I hope you pick this book up when it comes out
and I can't wait to read the second in the Watersong series. Thank you to St. Martin's Griffin for this ARC and I will gladly accept more in the future ;)

-R.D.

Review: Eighth Grade Bites

Eighth Grade Bites by Heather Brewer

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



This was a fun, spooky, and entertaining read!
I don't know when I'll dive into the rest of the series
considering I have ARC's waiting to be read but hopefully soon!
I'd say if you love the original "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and
the TV series "My babysitter's a Vampire" then you'll enjoy this.
I also really love Heather's writing, it's fast and she knows how
to tell a good story without throwing the boring bits in your face.
Loved it.

-R.D.



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GUEST VLOG: Zoraida Cordova on "The Vicious Deep"!

Thank you Zoraida for the guest vlog! hope all my readers check out her debut 

"The Vicious Deep"

which is available now!

FIND OUT MORE HERE:

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12246929-the-vicious-deep