ARC Review - Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

I received an Advance Reader's Copy of this book through the Amazon Vine Program in exchange for a honest review.


Summary:  The fifty contestants in the Miss Teen Dream Pageant thought this was going to be a fun trip to the beach, where they could parade in their state-appropriate costumes and complete in front of the cameras. But sadly, their airplane had another idea, crashing on a desert island and leaving the survivors stranded with little food, little water, and practically no eye liner. 

What’s a beauty queen to do? Continue to practice for the talent portion of the program – or wrestle snakes to the ground? Get a perfect tan – or learn to run wild? And what should happen when the sexy pirates show up? 

Welcome to the heart of non-exfoliated darkness. Your tour guide? None other than Libba Bray, the hilarious, sensational, Printz Award-winning author of A Great and Terrible Beauty and Going Bovine. The result is a novel that will make you laugh, make you think, and make you never see beauty the same way again. 


There has been a lot of comparisons of this book to the TV show Lost. I can't really speak to that since I've never watched that show.  It did remind me vaguely of Survivor and Lord of the Flies - only with with teen age girls and a great deal more humor.


What I liked:   This is a funny, mindless read.  Several times I found myself reading aloud humorous passages to my husband. But of course, being a guy he didn't always get the humor.  It was action packed with perfect pacing.  I also liked that it was a light read. Of course, it has plenty of depth, if you want to get serious and think of it as  a commentary on feminism, commercialism and the shallowness of the cosmetics industry. Buty why spoil the fun?


What I didn't like? Even though I much prefer Bray's  Rebel Angels series, I can't think of anything I didn't like about this book.  It's an all around great summer read.

Ice: A Memoir of Gangster Life and Redemption-from South Central to Hollywood by Ice-T and Douglas Century

Amazon Product Description: 

My life’s been a great story / In the ultimate war / Should I ill or do right? / Make peace or go raw?—Ice-T, “Exodus”

He’s a hip-hop icon credited with single-handedly creating gangsta rap in the 1980s. Television viewers know him as Detective Odafin “Fin” Tutuola on the top-rated TV drama Law & Order: SVU. But where the hype and the headlines end, the real story of Ice-T—the one few of his millions of fans have ever heard—truly begins.

Ice is Ice-T in his own words—raw, uncensored, and unafraid to speak his mind. About his orphan upbringing on the gang-infested streets of South Central Los Angeles. About his four-year stint in the U.S. Army’s famed “Tropic Lightning” outfit. About his successful career as a hustler and thief, the car crash that nearly killed him, and the fateful decision to turn away from a life of crime and forge his own path to international entertainment stardom.

Ice by Ice-T is both a tell-it-like-it-is tale of redemption and a star-studded tour of the pop culture firmament. The acclaimed rapper and actor shares never-before-told stories about friends like Tupac, Dick Wolf, Chris Rock, and an antler-clad Flavor Flav, among others. Readers will ride along as Ice-T’s incendiary rock band Body Count narrowly escapes from a riotous mob of angry concertgoers in Milan, and listen in as the music legend battles the self-appointed censors over his controversial “Cop Killer” single.

Most of all, Ice is the place where one of the game’s most opinionated players breaks down his own secret plan for living, offering up candid observations on marriage and monogamy, the current state of hip-hop, and his latest passion: doing one-on-one gang interventions and mentoring at-risk youths around the country.

With insights into the cutthroat world of the street—and the cutthroat world of Hollywood—Ice is the inspirational story of a true American original.

This book was an impulse check out at the library. I was standing in line waiting to checkout and it was on the new non-fiction display. I enjoy watching Ice-T on Law and Order SVU.  I like to read the occasional biography. So I decided to give it a try.

For the most part, I enjoyed reading this biography. I felt as though I was getting an inside glimpse into what makes Ice-T, Ice T.  I realized that Ice-T is a lot different than my perception of Finn on Law & Order SVU.  I found it to be well written and interesting.

However, if you are looking for a biography that will provide a moral lesson for today's youth, this is not it. He does discuss his transition from crime to legitimate work, but he doesn't take a strong stand about the wrongness of his time as a criminal. He's very true to his beliefs, which makes for an honest read.

Also, if you have a problem with foul language, particularly the F-word, then you might want to skip this book.  If you want to learn about the man behind the image, then you should read this book, but if you have an "agenda", if you are looking for a motivational "don't do crime - take the straight and narrow path" story, you might want to search for another book.  

If you are looking for an honest account of this man's life then this is a good read for you. He's very true to himself and he doesn't pull any punches. He doesn't smooth over his mistakes. And while he might not provide a strong warning against a life of crime, I really didn't find that he was glamorizing it.  He does point out that there are risks and the price you pay if you get caught is high.

Overall, it was an impulse check out that turned out to be a rather good read.

Bookish Giveaway!

I just ran across a new blog that I'm excited to follow. And not because they are giving away a wonderful prize. I'm really looking forward to reading the reviews. Of course this means my mountain of a TBR list will never shrink. :)

Do you want to win some of these great reads?! I know I do! Head over to Evie Bookish and enter the 500 follower giveaway! There will be 3 winners and it's open internationally and there are TONS of ways to earn extra entries! It ends June 15th!

Check it out for the prize, but I think you'll stay for the reviews.

Splash Into Summer Blog Hop Giveaway

The Splash Into Summer Giveaway Hop is hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer & Page Turners. It officially starts at Midnight tonight.




This is open to anywhere Amazon ships as the prize is a $25 Amazon gift card.  You must be a follower and fill out the to enter.  You can get an extra entry by leaving a comment with the title of your favorite summer read.  Winner will be drawn randomly. Winner will be announced on June 1st.  

After entering here hop on over to I Am A Reader Not A Writer to visit other blogs on the hop.

Happy Summer Reading!

Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Dertling

Cover from Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7827221-desires-of-the-dead

Summary:  VIOLET AMBROSE'S SECRET IS OUT
Violet has a curious gift: the ability to sense the echoes emitted by murder victims.  Only her boyfriend Jay and her closest family know.  But when she locates the body of a missing boy sought by the FBI she puts herself firmly on their radar.

NOW SHE'S BEING WATCHED
As if dealing with regular calls from the FBI isn't enough, threatening notes are being left on her doorstep, and she feels disturbing echoes around the home of Jay's new best friend.  Violet needs answers fast...

WHO CAN SHE TURN TO?
Violet should feel closer to Jay now he's moved from best friend to boyfriend, but she hasn't told him what's worrying her.  She tells herself she's protecting him, but is their fledgling relationship strong enough to cope?

As Violet faces her fears alone she uncovers dark truths that lead her to danger...


Review:
Violet has a secret.  The dead call out to her. She can't hear them speak, but she can the imprints of their death and that same imprint is on their killers. Only her family and her boyfriend, Jay, know she has this ability.

She sees and hears the echos of the deadViolet has the ability to detect echos left behind by murder victims, the same echos that are carried around by their killers.  This has always been a closely guarded secret known only by her family and her best friend (and now boyfriend) Jay but it now looks like someone else has found out.  With the FBI constantly asking questions and someone leaving threatening notes for Violet she has a lot on her plate.  But why is she finding it so difficult to turn to Jay for help?

This is the sequel to Dertling's The Body Finder.  And while I liked the first book better, this one was a good solid read.  Rumor has it there will be more books in this series and I'm looking forward to finding out what Violet does with her ability.


What I Liked:  The difference: Paranormal is the buzz word in young adult novels these days. However, much if it is centered around angels, demons, wolves and vampires.  The Body Finder and Desires of the Dead is a refreshing break from the norm.

The pacing:  Even though I was not surprised the events in the book, I felt Dertling did a nice job of creating a suspenseful story. The pacing is just right for building that suspense.  And even though it is a sequel, it would work well as a read alone.  Dertling pretty much ties up all the loose ends in The Body Finder.


What I Don't Like:   Violet's friends. Jay is wonderful, but Chelsea is down right irritating. I suppose she's is to be the stereotypical selfish teenage girl.  She did come across as spoiled, but rather flat. She's incredibly annoying and I'm not sure why Violet puts up with her.

Violet's secretiveness and lack of self preservation: Violet keeps to many secrets to herself. You would have thought she would have learned her lesson from the first book. She keeps putting herself into situations that anyone with a bit of sense would avoid.

Lack of parental involvement:  I also found it disturbing that her parents are not more protective, especially after what happened to her in the first book.

These annoyances aside, it is an overall good read, one that sparks an interest in readers that will keep them coming back to see what happens next.

Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton

Cover from Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7285498-angelfire

Product Description

First there are nightmares. 

Every night Ellie is haunted by terrifying dreams of monstrous creatures that are hunting her, killing her.

Then come the memories. 

When Ellie meets Will, she feels on the verge of remembering something just beyond her grasp. His attention is intense and romantic, and Ellie feels like her soul has known him for centuries. On her seventeenth birthday, on a dark street at midnight, Will awakens Ellie's power, and she knows that she can fight the creatures that stalk her in the grim darkness. Only Will holds the key to Ellie's memories, whole lifetimes of them, and when she looks at him, she can no longer pretend anything was just a dream.

Now she must hunt.

Ellie has power that no one can match, and her role is to hunt and kill the reapers that prey on human souls. But in order to survive the dangerous and ancient battle of the angels and the Fallen, she must also hunt for the secrets of her past lives and truths that may be too frightening to remember.

I found this to be a very enjoyable read. Lately, it seems I've been swamped with books, that instead of being enjoyable were just a chore to read.  Angelfire was a nice change of pace.

What I liked:  The main characters.  Ellie, though I think she has room to grow, is a very likable character. She came across as rather well grounded, concerned about many typical teen concerns (school, clothes, parties), but not overly spoiled or snotty.  Will is your typical brooding, dark and handsome love interest. 

The bad guys:  No, I'm not on their side, but I thought the Reapers were a nice departure from your usual demons out to destroy the world.

What bothered me: There were two things that I found disturbing.  Ellie's acceptance: When Ellie is "awakened", she seems to accept what is happening rather quickly. I guess that's to be expected when you are forced to fight the Reapers or die.  I just thought she might have questioned her sanity a little more. I think most teens would.

Ellie's father:  This isn't a criticism of the book. I just don't like him. He is certainly up for the bad parent of the year award.  I sometimes wonder if he's been possessed by a Reaper.

Over all this is a great book. If you like good vs. evil with a little bit of romance as well as action, then this is a book that you should read.  It is true that there are a lot of unanswered questions, but I think the author planned it that way on purpose as there are two more books yet to be published.  Angelfire is a new and interesting spin on what seems to be a fast growing popular genre of books about angels.  There is enough action and enough twists and turns (including a surprising revelation about Ellie) to keep readers turning the pages.

ARC Review: Rise of the Wolf: Wereworld Book 1 by Curtis Jobling

Imagine a world ruled by Werelords--men and women who can shift at will into bears, lions, and serpents. When Drew suddenly discovers he's not only a werewolf but the long-lost heir to the murdered Wolf King's throne, he must use his wits and newfound powers to survive in a land suddenly full of enemies. Drew's the only one who can unite the kingdom in a massive uprising against its tyrant ruler, Leopold the Lion. But the king is hot on Drew's tail and won't rest until he's got the rebel Wolf's head.

I received this book from Librarything’s Early Review program. I have to admit I wasn’t sure if I would like it.  Nothing against werewolves, but there are just so many good paranormal stories out there.  In the first chapter or two things seemed to be moving so slowly, I had just about decided this was going to be one of those laborious reads. But, I was wrong. All of a sudden this story really took off and it became a real page turner.

Though the wolf takes the lead in this story, it’s not just about lycanthropy. Therianthropism runs rampant in this story.  The Seven Realms is inhabited by were beasts of all kinds:  wolves, lions, foxes, stags, bears, rats, serpents, boars, and even sharks. I found that this made it more than just your normal run of the mill paranormal fantasy. This story has it all: a little romance, lost children, treachery, a little magic, and a little necromancy and of course, good vs. evil.  Leopold, the Lion Werelord and current ruler of Lyssia, stole the throne from Wergar the Wolf King. Leopold murdered the king and all of his children - or so he thought. 

Our hero, Drew, is the long lost son of the murdered king, hidden away by a loyal servant.   He knows nothing of who or what he is, until one night a monster attacks his family and Drew makes his first shift to the inner wolf.  That night is the first step that will lead Drew to his true history and destiny.

What I liked about this book:  The pacing. Even though it gets off to a slow beginning, once it gets started it really moves along. I was often reluctant to put it down.   Though there is some magic, I like that the story is more about paranormal creatures than it is about magic.  I like the fact that Drew inspires loyalty in those around him, NOT because he the long lost son of the old king, but because of his character.  For a young boy thrown into a fantastical situation, he really is very level headed.  The contrast between his level headed down to earth character and the haughty spoiled nature of Gretchen works well.  Though, Jobling could have worked a little more on the growth of Gretchen’s character.  Gretchen aside (and I think we will see her grow more in future books), the characters seem very well developed. There is nothing flat about this book at all.

The only thing that concerned me just a little is that the back of the ARC states that the intended audience is ages 10 and up.  To me the story seems a little older – perhaps for teens.  It’s a very clean story, perhaps a little scary with some of the creatures.  Somehow it just seems as though the story is for an older audience.

The back of the ARC also includes a quote from The Times (London) – “Superior to Eragon, and pure fun.”  I liked Eragon. But you know? I think I agree with The Times.

This book is scheduled for release in September 2011.  Book two: Rage of Lions is scheduled for release in 2012.