What Lies Around The Bend...

"Sometimes the only way to survive is to keep moving. America is a vast, desolate landscape left ravaged after a brutal war. Two-thirds of the population are dead from a vicious strain of influenza. People called the sickness the Eleventh Plague. Fifteen-year-old Stephen Quinn was born after the war and only knows the life of a salvager. His family was among the few who survived and took to roaming the country in search of material to trade. But when Stephen's grandfather dies and his father falls into a coma after an accident, Stephen finds his way to Settler's Landing, a community that seems too good to be true. There Stephen meets strong, defiant, mischievous Jenny, who refuses to accept things as they are. When they play a prank that goes horribly wrong, chaos erupts, and they find themselves in the midst of a battle that will change Settler's Landing - and their lives - forever." Review: This book was surprisingly better than I thought it would be. How...

"Rachel and her mother live peacefully on The Property owned by Mrs. Moore, far away from the city, where the totalitarian government is most controlling. Rachel quietly tends to Mrs. Moore's orchids in her greenhouse - the one that overlooks the Line, where you can see Away. Going any closer to the Line is forbidden. And Rachel has heard that Away is an unimaginable and frightening place. But then she hears a recording - a voice desperately pleading for help - that could only have come from Away. Rachel wants to respond, but will she dare to Cross the Line?" Review: This book was REALLY hard to get into. That actual problem of the story doesn't take place until the middle of the book, but all the unanswered questions that pop up along the way made me want to keep reading. By the time I finished it, it left me wanting to start the sequel.

"At Moon Shadow, an isolated campground, thousands have gathered to catch a glimpse of a rare sight: a total eclipse of the sun. Three lives are about to be changed forever: Ally: Ally likes the simple things in life - labyrinths, stargazing, and comet hunting. Her home, the Moon Shadow campground, is a part of who she is. She refuses to imagine it any other way. Bree: Popular, gorgeous (everybody says so), and a future homecoming queen for sure, Bree wears her beauty like a suit of armor. But what is she trying to hide? Jack: Overweight and awkward, Jack is used to spending a lot of time alone. But when opportunity knocks, he finds himself in situations he never would have imagined." Review: I did not like this book at all. The summary gets you hyped up for this big adventure but, really, it's just a bunch of whiny girls, and guys following them around like puppies. The author just threw in astronomy to make it seem interesting. I was extremely disappointed. The...

"In the society, officials decide. Who you love. Where you work. When you die. Cassia has always trusted their choices. It's hardly any price to pay for a long life, the perfect job, the ideal mate. So when her best friend appears on the Matching screen, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is the one... until she sees another face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. Now Cassia is faced with impossible choices: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path no one else has ever dared follow - between perfection and passion." Review: This book was okay. It was like a modern, female version of The Giver with a sprinkle of romance. However, as a firm believer that love triangles are just an excuse to cheat, this one was no exception to my utter disdain. It definitely kept me interested but I don't think I'll finish the series, just because it didn't seem very original. Plus, the Giver was much better. ...

"Ava can't see or touch him, Unless she's dreaming. She can't hear his voice, Except for the faint whispers in her mind. Most would think she's crazy, but she knows he's here. Jackson. The boy Ava thought she'd spend the rest of her life with. He's back from the dead, As proof that love truly knows no bounds." Review: Okay, holy crap, this book was good. Not only was it right up my alley with the whole free verse writing, but it was a story of a girl with a not-so-lost-love with whom she needs to move on from. It kept me enticed, wondering if Ava is ever going to get over Jackson. I was concerned for her, as if I was a friend of hers. Well done Lisa Schroeder!!! So I say, yes, buy this book. You won't regret it.

WARNING: SPOILER ALERT: IF YOU HAVE NOT GOTTEN THIS FAR IN THE HOUSE OF NIGHT SERIES, STOP NOW. DO NOT READ. THIS IS BOOK #9 "Zoey is finally home where she belongs, safe with her Guardian Warrior, Stark, by her side, and preparing to face off against Neferet - which would be a whole lot easier if the High Council saw the ex-High Priestess for what she really is. Kalona has released his hold on Rephaim, and, through Nyx's gift of a human form, Rephaim and Stevie Rae are finally able to be together - if he can truly walk the path of the Goddess and stay free of his father's shadow. But there are new forces at work at the House of Night. An influx of humans, including Lenobia's handsome horse whisperer, threatens their precarious stability. And then there's the mysterious Aurox, a jaw-dropping gorgeous teen boy who is actually more - or possible less - than human. Only Neferet knows he was created to be her greatest weapon. But Zoey can sense the part of hi...

"A horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that Miss Peregrine's children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow - impossible though it seems - they may still be alive." Review: This book was phenomenal. This story is expertly woven by the author using pictures HE FOUND to put together arguably one of the best books I've ever read. Read it; it's not an option, you have to read it. I guarantee that you'll at least like it, if not love it!!!  It's a movie!