Hoping For More: June 2011

Monday, June 27, 2011

Harry Potter Book #3

Title: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Author: J. K. Rowling
Series: Harry Potter #3
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Page Count: 480 Pages
Pub. Date: Paperback, 10 July 2004, originally published in January 1999 by Bloomsbury in London.
Rating: 5/5

Harry Potter is lucky to reach the age of thirteen, since he has survived the murderous attacks of the feared Dark Wizard Voldemort three times. But his hopes for a quiet term concentrating on Quidditch are dashed when a maniacal mass-murderer escapes from Azkaban, pursued by the soul-sucking Dementors who guard the prison. It's assumed that Hogwarts is the safest place for Harry to be. But is it a coincidence that he can feel eyes watching him in the dark, and should he be taking Professor Trelawney's ghoulish predictions seriously?

~My Review~

Now this one I loved! Just wasted a whole Saturday reading it and it didn't even feel like a waste. My love for Mr. Potter has been officially established. Better late than never right?

All of the character came alive for me in Prisoner of Azkaban. The mystery was riveting and the relationships are feeling more real and substantial. I don't think there is one thing about this book that I didn't love.

My Rating: 5/5

~ Other books in this series ~

#1 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
#2 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
#3 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
#4 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
#5 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
#6 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
#7 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

~ You'll like this series if you liked ~

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins, or Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

~Links 4 More~

Author Website: here
Add to your Shelfari: here
Add to your Goodreads: here
Buy it at Bookdepository (Free Shipping): here

B.J. Kenney

Prom Dates From Hell - Anthology Review

Title: Prom Nights from Hell
Author: Meg Cabot, Kim Harrison, Michele Jaffe, Stephenie Meyer, Lauren Myracle
Genre: Young Adult
Page Count: 320 Pages
Pub. Date: May 1st 2007 by HarperTeen (first published April 1st 2007)

Rating: 4/5

In this exciting collection, bestselling authors Meg Cabot (How to Be Popular), Kim Harrison (A Fistful of Charms), Michele Jaffe (Bad Kitty), Stephenie Meyer (Twilight), and Lauren Myracle (ttyl) take bad prom nights to a whole new level—a paranormally bad level. Wardrobe malfunctions and two left feet don't hold a candle to discovering your date is the Grim Reaper—and he isn't here to tell you how hot you look.

From angels fighting demons to a creepy take on getting what you wish for, these five stories will entertain better than any DJ in a bad tux. No corsage or limo rental necessary. Just good, scary fun.

~ My Review ~

I admit I bought this for the Stephenie Meyer story - eager to eat up anything she writes - but it was a pleasantly fun read. I love it when anthologies expose me to new authors I wouldn't have found otherwise and there were definitely a couple of those in this one. Not a mind blowing read, but fast and enjoyable.

My Rating: 4/5

~ You'll like this series if you liked ~

Immortal: Love Stories with Bite by P.C. Cast (Editor), Zombies Vs. Unicorns

by Holly Black (Editor)

~Links 4 More~
Read more about this anthology here : here
Add to your Shelfari: here
Add to your Goodreads: here
Buy it at Bookdepository (Free Shipping): here

B.J. Kenney

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Harry Potter Book #2

Title: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Author: J. K. Rowling
Series: Harry Potter #2
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Page Count: 256 Pages
Pub. Date: Hardcover, published in 2004 by Raincoast Books, originally published in June 1998 by Bloomsbury in London.
Rating: 4/5

Harry can't wait for his holidays with the dire Dursleys to end. But a small, self-punishing house-elf warns Harry of mortal danger awaiting him at Hogwarts School. Returning to the castle nevertheless, Harry hears a rumour about a chamber of secrets, holding unknown horrors to magicians of Muggle parentage. Now someone is casting spells that turn people to stone, and a terrible warning is found painted on the wall. The chief suspect - who's always in the wrong place - is Harry. But something much darker has yet to be unleashed.

~My Review~

This series is reminding me of magical Nancy Drew (which I loved as a child BTW). Harry finds himself right in the middle of another mystery at Hogwarts. I was happy that, again, I was kept guessing throughout the whole book, and I loved how it all unfolded.

Rowling does a great job of character development, it was easy to grow attached to the good characters and hate the bad ones. I particularly liked the suspense of Dobby the house elf. There was an air of mystery throughout the story that kept me reading.

I must say that I liked this one a lot better than the first, but I am still waiting to be blown away.

My Rating: 4/5

~ Other books in this series ~

~ You'll like this series if you liked ~

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins, or Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

~Links 4 More~

Author Website: here
Add to your Shelfari: here
Add to your Goodreads: here
Buy it at Bookdepository (Free Shipping): here

B.J. Kenney

Thursday, June 9, 2011

The Goddess Test - 4/5 Great Story

Title: The Goddess Test
Author: Aimee Carter
Series: Goddess Test #1
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Mythology
Page Count: 304 Pages (ARC)
Pub. Date: Published April 26th, 2011 by HarlequinTEEN
Rating: 4/5

EVERY GIRL who has taken the test has DIED.

Now it's KATE'S TURN.

It’s always been just Kate and her mom—and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate’s going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won’t live past the fall.

Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld—and if she accepts his bargain, he’ll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.

Kate is sure he’s crazy—until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she’ll become Henry’s future bride, and a goddess.

If she fails...

~My Review~

Kate has a choice; to keep someone alive she must trade the rest of her winters to live with a stranger in a mysterious mansion. She doesn't want any more death around her, but there is much more to this bargain than she knows.

Something different and innovative in the YA genre. Aimee's take on the mythology of Hades and Persephone was both lighthearted and heartbreaking at the same time. I didn't want to stop reading, and although I was ok with the ending, I feel like it could have been better. I am hoping that with more to the story I will get a more satisfying conclusion to Kate's story.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarlequinTEEN for the ARC

My Rating: 4/5

~ You'll like this book if you liked ~

Abandon by Meg Cabot, Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick, or Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini.

~Links 4 More~

Author Website: here
Add to your Shelfari: here
Add to your Goodreads: here
Buy it at BookDepository (free shipping): here

B.J. Kenney

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Mona Lisa Eclipsing

Title: Mona Lisa Eclipsing
Author: Sunny
Series: Monére, Children of the Moon - Book 5
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Page Count: 320 Pages
Pub. Date: Published May 2011 by Berkley Trade
Rating: 5/5

~Book's Description~
From the time she was an orphan, Mona Lisa knew she was different. As a Mixed-Blood daughter of the Monère, she rules her domain in the Louisiana Bayou. But she’s about to become the hunted as her mind begins playing tricks, and no one is who they seem.

Roberto Carderas, a dangerous drug lord of mixed Monère heritage, arrives in Cozumel to eliminate a rival. But the jaguar-shifter has encountered a much more valuable prize on the island: Mona Lisa, the first female Monère he’s ever met—and one especially vulnerable in that she has lost her memory. Now, with all knowledge of her real life as stripped away as her defenses, Mona Lisa can be manipulated into believing…anything.

Convinced that Roberto is her kind and sensual protector, Mona Lisa thwarts all attempts at her rescue—including those made by her desperate lover Dante. As Roberto’s devious scheme gets underway, Dante can only hope that the touch of his warm flesh will reignite total recall in the body and mind of the woman he loves. But escape for both of them could be as forever elusive as Mona Lisa’s past.

~My Review~

I love that there were no spoilers for the last quarter of the book, it took me by complete surprise and I loved it. I was starting to wonder what more trouble this poor girl could get herself in without it being overkill, but as usual Sunny has a way of keeping things fresh and exciting. I love where the series is headed with this new plot-line.

The mexican memory loss craziness of the majority of the book was thrilling and I loved getting Dante back in the picture. It had been awhile since I last read the other books (a year since I read them all back-to-back) so I was drawing blanks right along side Mona Lisa, which was fun. But if you want the effect of knowing when she doesn't, you may want a refresher.

Great job Sunny, as always :)

You can read the first chapter on Sunny's website here

My Rating: 5/5

~ Other books in this series ~
#1 Mona Lisa Awakening, #2 Mona Lisa Blossoming, #3 Mona Lisa Craving, #4 Mona Lisa Darkening. Also there are two short stories in anthologies: Over The Moon “Mona Lisa Three” (Set between 2 and 3), On The Prowl “Mona Lisa Betwining” (Set between 3 and 4)

~ You'll like this series if you liked ~
Demon Princess Chronicles by Sunny, Black Dagger Brotherhood by J.R. Ward, or The Demonica Series by Larissa Ione.

~Links 4 More~
Author Website: here
Add to your Shelfari: here
Add to your Goodreads: here
Buy it at Bookdepository (Free Shipping): here

B.J. Kenney

Harry Potter Book #1

Title: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (or Sorcerer's Stone)
Author: J. K. Rowling
Series: Harry Potter #1
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Page Count: 224 Pages
Pub. Date: Mass Market Paperback, published in 2004 by Raincoast Books, originally published in June 1997 by Bloomsbury in London.
Rating: 4/5

Say you've spent the first 10 years of your life sleeping under the stairs of a family who loathes you. Then, in an absurd, magical twist of fate, you find yourself surrounded by wizards, a caged snowy owl, a phoenix-feather wand, and jellybeans that come in every flavor, including strawberry, curry, grass, and sardine. Not only that, but you discover that you are a wizard yourself! This is exactly what happens to young Harry Potter in J.K. Rowling's enchanting, funny debut novel, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. In the non-magical human world--the world of "Muggles"--Harry is a nobody, treated like dirt by the aunt and uncle who begrudgingly inherited him when his parents were killed by the evil Voldemort. But in the world of wizards, small, skinny Harry is renowned as a survivor of the wizard who tried to kill him. He is left only with a lightning-bolt scar on his forehead, curiously refined sensibilities and a host of mysterious powers to remind him that he's quite different from his aunt, uncle, and spoiled, pig-like cousin Dudley.

~My Review~

I don't see the need for much of a breakdown of the story here, as it seems the whole word knows all about Harry Potter, the legendary wizard that never knew what he could do. The school for witches and wizards where students learn all about magic and how to play Quidditch - a combination of ordinary sports played in the air on broomsticks with 4 balls and 2 goals.

I have been avoiding this bandwagon for years but decided I should give the series a fair shot before the last film is out. I feel like I may have liked it better had I read it when it came out, before all the hype and while I was significantly younger. That said, the characters were fun and the story intriguing. I wasn't expecting the end and I want to read the next book so overall I would say it was a good read, just not as mind-blowing as people have made it out to be.