Secrets can be Deadly....

Three months ago, Camelia's life was like anyone else's; average, ordinary and uneventful. That was before Ben came. The supposed murderer of his ex-girlfriend Julie two years ago, Ben's dark and mysterious past follows him to Camelia's small town high school. Despite what the town and school think of Ben and the rumors that follow him, Camelia finds herself drawn to him in an unexplainable way. But when Camelia is harrassed with strange photos in her mailbox taken of her from afar and obscene phone calls, Ben tells her she's in danger. The question is, who is the danger coming from? In this captivating novel, Laurie Faria Stolarz pulls you right in from the very first page. From the moment I picked this up I could not put it down. I found my heart pounding several times from the danger and the unsettling creepiness that seems to fall over you while you continue to delve deeper into the story.

This is the first book I've ever read by this particular author, but let me tell you, it will not be the last. Her writing is so attuned to the characters that you feel like you're the one with a stalker and she really instills that fear inside you and places a nice big lump in the back of your throat until it feels like you can't breathe. I also appreciate the depth of the best friend characters that she took time to develop and create. I find myself wanting to wear the clothes, or at least see them in person, that Kimmie; Camelia's best friend, designs and wears all by herself. You get reminded of Miranda and Gordo from The Lizzie McGuire show that used to be on the Disney Channel way back when from these two friends in Deadly Little Secret; Kimmie and Wes.

It's a good balance to add to a book so intense like this. This series could easily be my next new obsession if it continues to grow. I can't wait to read the next installment, Deadly Little Lies which is already out and on sale wherever books are sold and it's even in hardback! I recommend this book to anyone that loves a good page-turner and books that can chill you to the bone. I call Deadly Little Secret truly haunting and magnificent. If you wish to know more about this book or other great works by Laurie Faria Stolarz please check out her website at www.lauriestolarz.com .

Ever want some more?

When I very first heard about this book, I was told that it "sucked", that she had to kill the guy in the end and it was a horrible book that I shouldn't even bother reading. I don't remember who told me that, but I am very disappointed in myself for just believing them for so long and not checking it out for myself. Well one day I was at Wal-Mart scavenging for something new to buy and read, and I decided to really give it a chance. I told myself that if nothing else it might still have a good twist at the end or a decent story to it. Well let me just tell you that I learned my lesson in listening to other people's opinions before finding my own. I seriously really liked this book. I can't say 'loved' because it isn't the best book I've ever read, some of you even more avid readers and bloggers would probably even say it was predictable and just another 'typical vampire teenage love' story, and really? like we need more of those right now. Too bad for you though, it essentially has nothing to do with vampires. I know on the front cover of the book it completely looks like it's about vampires, in fact, through out more than half of the book I was convinced beyond belief that it was about vampires. But, alas, it is not, and for that I am happy. Ever was in a terrible accident. She used to be queen of her old high school. Blonde, popular, a cheerleader, now she's more like an empty shell, she's hollow and broken and keeps mostly to herself except for her two best friends who are the other two 'rejects' of their always typical high school. Then of course, the new kid shows up. He is smoldering, sexy, gorgeous and all around beautiful. Ever actually only knows this because she can read minds. She keeps her hood up and her crappy angsty music very loud, but still can't tune out everybody's thoughts on Damen. And even the slightest touch of a finger can reveal how her teacher's wife left him and how he does nothing but drink, and his kids despise him. Ever tries her hardest to avoid Damen; but something bigger than both of them draws them together and her effort is somewhat laughable compared to Damen's opposite effort to make her his. I would recommend this book to anybody who likes romance, danger, and very surprising and intriguing stories. If you're tired of stuff like 'Twilight' but you still liked 'Twilight' and just want something besides vampires (like myself) then just give this book a chance. I can guarantee that 'Evermore' will indeed leave you wanting more. Which is not a problem, seeing as how it's a series and the second book 'Blue Moon' is already out. For more on Alyson Noel and her works, please visit http://www.alysonnoel.com/.

The Fetch is to die for!

If I could praise any author more than J.K. Rowling herself (I'm a huge Harry Potter fan) it would have to be Laura Whitcomb. Her writing is so beautifully descriptive and intriguing, it makes you feel as if you are seeing everything she writes with your very own eyes. The Fetch is only her second novel, of course besides her how-to books to help young writers such as myself, and it like 'A certain slant of Light' deals with true love, death, and the world beyond our own. I wish I could sit with Laura and just pick her brain and ask her what sparked her interest with death and the after-life because the Aisle of Unearthing is so complex and original, I guarantee you have heard nothing like it before. I believe we all wonder at times what comes after death and how it all will be when we are nothing but ashes and memories, and Laura Whitcomb delivers not only an intriguing and believable concept, but one I would be happy with, if and when I were to die and fade away. The Fetch is about a death escort named Calder, who breaks his laws bestowed to him by his captain and Heaven, and falls in love with a mortal human. This book is set in the Russian Revolution and although on the cover it says "A supernatural romance" it truly does not have too much romance in it. It is deep and dark and full of suffering, but also compassion and enlightenment. If you want a book that you can lose yourself completely in, a book that makes you think, a book that like a movie makes you feel for the hero and hope for the best, then this is indeed, the book for you. I honestly don't know if I've ever read a more well written and thought out, not to mention really fucking cool, book in my entire life. My hat is off to Laura for doing it again, and if you want to follow my advice and check her out for yourself you can visit her website at www.laurawhitcomb.com.

Along for Sarah Dessen's Ride

Any girl that is between the ages of thirteen and seventeen has most likely read at least one of Sarah Dessen's teen fiction relationship novels. I myself have devoted hours of my time to dwell in the lives of the characters that she so effortlessly seems to create. For her new book 'Along for the ride', Dessen does it again. In this book the main character Auden is a book smart girl, with book smart parents and little to no friends. She has never kissed a boy and only almost got to go to the prom but was unfortunately stood up for her date's educational opportunity that could not be missed. After her parents divorce Auden is left with her very successful and seemingly close-minded mother and her political discussing dinner parties with grad students with whom she happens to have relations with a select few. Auden feeling like she has never really stepped foot or toe into the world of parties and boyfriends, decides to stay with her once successful author father and blond peppy step-mother for the summer before college. Auden soon discovers what her mother refuses to see, the fact that people are not always what they seem on the outside and to truly see someone you have to look harder and dig deeper. Conquering fears, defying parents, cute boys and bicycles, I think it's safe to say that any teenage girl who's still figuring out life could learn something from this book, as always the case with a Sarah Dessen novel. So go 'Along for the ride' and see what you can find. For more on Sarah Dessen and her works please go to www.sarahdessen.com

The Summoning gets an A+ from me

So with all this Twilight craze in every store in every city, I'm getting a little tired of the whole vampire thing. No offense to Twilight in any way, I liked the series and the movie was ehh, but author Kelley Armstrong offers a different paranormal option for teens that like myself, are over vampires at the moment. In The Summoning, the main heroine Chloe Saunders sees dead people. Stop thinking about The Sixth Sense right now because this book has lots more paranormal teens that will gladly surprise you with their talent and possibly scary abilities. There just might be another Jacob Black in this novel as well, but you have to read it yourself to find out more. Kelley Armstrong creates a strong sympathetic bond between you and the kids who are labeled as crazy and put in a psych ward where they're forced to take pills and are under constant watch by the Edison Group. So whether you are into the paranormal, werewolves, telekinetic powers, or books about a huge corporation scheme, there is something for you in this book. To find out more about Kelley Armstrong's haunting Darkest Powers Trilogy (yes, trilogy) go to http://www.kelleyarmstrong.com/aDarkest.htm.

A new Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist?

David Levithan and Rachel Cohn have indeed done it again. Their new teen angst and relationship problems book is nothing short of witty and touching. The book is called Naomi and Ely's no kiss list and it cleverly follows the relationship of two childhood friends who grew up together from across the hall of a dodgy but entertaining New York City apartment. This book was published in August of 2008, but there are rumors buzzing of it also becoming a movie, just like David and Rachel's Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist. In this new dynamic duo's hit, Naomi is deeply in love with her gay best friend Ely and in a attempt to protect their friendship they write "the no kiss list". This list along with their friendship gets greatly tested when Ely breaks the rules and kisses Naomi's boyfriend. There is dancing, drinking, sarcasm and cute gay boys galore in this page-turning teen fiction, but to find out more you will have to read it for yourself. By the way, a little birdie says miss Hayden Panettiere might be playing Naomi, but if it isn't true, you didn't hear it from me. Now go read this book! For More on Rachel Cohn and David Levithan, please visit their seperate websites at http://www.rachelcohn.com/ and http://www.davidlevithan.com/