Review: Monsters

Monsters by Ilsa J. Bick
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A well-written YA series with plenty of drama and violence as a sort of "zombie" genre (though the author avoids that word). A good warm-up for my favorite season! I was satisfied with the ending but felt it could have delivered even more of a punch. As it was, Bick left one aspect of the plot as sort of a cliffhanger even though it's obvious how that particular plotline should resolve itself. Not that it wasn't a good ending - it was - but a really GREAT ending would have made a huge impression and possibly a 4th star.

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Review: The Fill-In Boyfriend

The Fill-In Boyfriend by Kasie West
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Yep. Brilliant. This story has everything. Romance, friendship, family dysfunction, funny dialogue, depth. And it is refreshingly clean. If it was a movie, PG. Maybe even G. The romantic chase was so genuine and juicy I couldn't put it down. Wonderful. I just barely finished this book and I wish I could pick up another of her books to start reading right this instant.

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Review: On the Fence

On the Fence by Kasie West
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Enjoyed the tomboy heroine angle. A delightful, quick read.

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Review: Airborn

Airborn by Kenneth Oppel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Love LOVE this. More of a 4.5. Think of pirate ships and brave cabin boys sailing through skies instead of ocean. Imagine if that world experienced an industrial revolution, and used mechanical airships that float on a new gas called hydreum. Picture an age where a cabin boy should not be seen speaking alone with an unchaperoned girl determined to continue her grandfather's research on undiscovered creatures on uncharted islands. That's exactly what this book does. And it was enthralling.

If you are one of the lucky few who saw and loved the overlooked gem by Disney, "Treasure Planet," it's kind of like that. Old-school swashbuckling crossed with new-school special effects.

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Review: A Court of Thorns and Roses

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Began as a really intriguing twist on "The Beauty and the Beast" fairytale. Still think it was a worthwhile idea, just wish Maas could have left out the sex. If I recommended this to anyone because I was so excited about it during the first third...I'm sorry! Because I didn't get to the raunch until halfway through. I take back the recommendation, disappointed.

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Review: Pivot Point

Pivot Point by Kasie West
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Seriously loving this author. Wish I could give 4.5. Several things to love here: West's easy, to-the-point, never-dragging way of story-telling. A modern-day setting with an imagined "alternate" universe where some people can do magic with their minds. A romantic relationship where both people feel real and flawed, yet right for each other. A bubbly and slightly troublesome friend. A loving and somewhat troubled family trying to do their best. A murder mystery that fits in with everything! And, just the right amount of cliffhanging leading into Book 2. Been torture waiting for my copy at the library.

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Review: The Eye of Minds

The Eye of Minds by James Dashner
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Original and intriguing take on life inside a virtual reality. Love the twist at the end. Not as astonishingly phenomenal as The Maze Runner series but a respectable cousin to it.

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