Book Review: Ripple by Mandy Hubbard

Lexi is cursed with a dark secret. The water calls to her, draws her in, forces her to sing her deadly song to unsuspecting victims. If she succumbs, she kills. If she doesn't, the pain is unbearable. To keep herself and those she cares about safe, she shuts herself off, refusing to make friends or fall in love-again. Because the last time she fell in love with a boy, he ended up dead.

Then Lexi finds herself torn. Against her better judgement, she's opening up again, falling in love with someone new when she knows she shouldn't. But when she's offered the chance to finally live a normal life, she learns that the price she must pay to be free of her curse is giving him up. (From Goodreads)

Best Bits: The concept of sirens is fascinating, and Hubbard does a good job of piquing my interest. Lexi has killed her boyfriend without an inkling of why. I mean, that's rough. She's withdrawn, she has urges to swim/sing, and her dead ex's best friend is chasing her around (okay, that part might not be too horrible). Cole was dreamy, and my favorite part of the book. He was genuinely concerned about Lexi, when I, as the reader, was not. Their romance didn't feel too rushed, and I thought that Hubbard was able to realistically show what it would be like to develop feelings for someone you have to keep a world-changing secret from. Unfortunately that's where the love triangle comes into play, and so do my nit picks.  

Nit Picks: I really wanted to like this one. I've loved everything else I've read by Hubbard, but something about Ripple just didn't work for me. I think that it may have had to do with the way the book was set up. The book begins with Lexi after her first (accidental) kill, and the reader get flashbacks throughout the book that piece together what really happened. Perhaps if the story had started that night I would have been able to understand what was going through her mind as she cut off her friends, and had to come to terms with her terrible power. I'm not sure that the love triangle had enough time to grow. I could really get behind Cole (as I said in Best Bits), but her relationship with Erik was too insta-love for me (although I have a feeling this may have been Hubbard's intention, so take this one as you will). 

Lesson Learned: If you're cursed, make sure you actually tell your kids in case something happens to you.
Ripple 
By Mandy Hubbard
Published by Razorbill
260 Pages
Rating: C

Books, books, books (aka All These Pretty Books Got Released While I Was Away)

Since I've been M.I.A., a ton of great books have been released...sadly my TBR pile is gigantic. Honestly, I would take a photo but it would just show how far behind I fell when I changed jobs. SO, I'm going to post the books I can't wait to read (even though they've all be released already), and post a little blurb about why I'm excited.

For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund

Okay, so there are a few awesome things about this book. 1. It's inspired by Persuasion by Jane Austen. I think it's safe to say everyone knows my deep love of all things Jane. 2. It's by Diana Peterfreund. Her two series have cemented her in my list of "most awesome favorite super fantastic I'll read everything she ever writes ever" writers.

Published by Balzer + Bray

 
Timepiece by Myra McEntire

I really enjoyed Hourglass, the first in the series. The logical next step would be to grab this one, and after reading the synopsis I had an "OMG" moment. So, clearly I need to find out what is going to happen to Emerson! Bonus: It has a lovely cover.

Published by EgmontUSA

Ripple by Mandy Hubbard

It's now out in paperback...so I really have no excuse. This one looks a bit darker than the other books that I've read by her, and I'm excited to see how she does with it (my guess, quite well). Potentially about sirens, Greek mythological creatures. This one is definitely on my list.

Published by Razorbill


Take a Bow by Elizabeth Eulberg

I really enjoyed The Lonely Hearts Club, I thought it was funny and cute. That's basically what I'm hoping for from this one. Eulberg tends to deliver with laughs for me, and this one seems like it might be nice for the end of summer when I'm stressing to hand in my final paper (ever!).

Published by Point

So, about that TBR pile...it means that I will be reviewing mostly older books for a while. Who knows, maybe people will happens upon books that they missed when they were first released. If not, perhaps it will spark some conversation/debate here in the comments. Speaking of reviews, I feel like I need to revamp them. So, I'll probably be trying out something new, I'm just not sure if it will be something that you can see (i.e formatting) or it will be on my end in the planning stages.

I think I might actually try vlogging about the books I've got stacked up in my TBR pile. If I can handle  watching a video of myself counseling I can totally watch myself talk about books, right? Right?!

Mini-Reviews: The Reckoning, Generation Dead, You Wish, Maybe This Time

The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong

What a great end to the Darkest Powers series! It was full of action, and suspense, and delved deeper into each of their powers. I personally enjoyed seeing more of what it meant to be a werewolf. It certainly wasn't pretty, but I think it helped Chloe understand Derek a bit more. Plus, dare I say it, Tori actually seemed to mature a little. Unfortunately, the ending didn't really give me the closure I wanted. So, I'm hoping that Armstrong might give the characters a cameo in her newest series. I have to say, this is probably one of the most consistent series of books that I've read. I enjoyed each book equally, and the second book didn't feel like filler.

Rating: B

Generation Dead by Daniel Waters

You know how people went to see District 9 expecting a scary sci-fi film, and instead watched a film that was more of a subtle comment on society and human nature? Well, that's exactly what happened to me with this book. Scary, brain-eating zombies? Not here, my friend. After kids die, they come back to life...they aren't exactly the same as when they were alive, but it's clear that they aren't the mindless creatures seen in horror films. Quite honestly, it was more a book about intolerance, and the fear of things people don't understand. Still, I didn't love this book. It may have been my lack of connection to the main character, or problems with the writing itself. There was something that just didn't flow, and that is keeping me from giving it a higher rating.

Rating: C

You Wish by Mandy Hubbard

This book was so cute, and fluffy! Much like Kayla, I can't even remember the birthday wishes that I've made over the year. If they started coming true, however, I'd probably have a bit of a meltdown. While I sympathized with Kayla, I always thought that she definitely could have turned things around for herself. Instead of complaining about her workaholic mother, or secretly pining for her best friend's boyfriend, she could have actually tried communicating with them. I suppose that was just a sign of Kayla's immaturity at the start of the book.

There's something about Hubbard's writing that I love, though. She's becoming one of my go-to authors when I need a good laugh, and both of her books have done that. Her upcoming book looks a bit darker, and I'm excited for that, too. I'm just too impatient to wait until July.

Rating: C+

Maybe This Time by Jennifer Crusie

This wasn't your typical Crusie book. It still contained some romance, and her unique brand of humor, but there was a paranormal aspect to it. My ghost-loving self rejoiced! It's also the first book in quite some time that Crusie has written solo. I've enjoyed the books that she's co-written, but my favorite books written by her have been done solo.

Andie was sarcastic, stubborn, and fun. She was a great character, and I found it easy to like her. Her interactions with Alice brought a lot of laughs, and I enjoyed watching the kids open up to her. There were some serious moments, too. Possession, hauntings, death, and all this is happening in a house where kids live.

Rating: B

Waiting on Wednesday (September 15)

Waiting on Wednesday was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine. This weekly meme shares the upcoming books that I'm most excited about.

Ripple by Mandy Hubbard

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Eighteen year old Lexi Wentworth is cursed. For as long as she can remember, she’s spent every night swimming. If she doesn’t, she’ll regret it—simply walking will be agony, as if she’s stepping on shattered glass. Her body craves the water, demands the water, until she can’t say no.

But it's not the swimming that troubles Lexi. It’s the singing t ...moreEighteen year old Lexi Wentworth is cursed. For as long as she can remember, she’s spent every night swimming. If she doesn’t, she’ll regret it—simply walking will be agony, as if she’s stepping on shattered glass. Her body craves the water, demands the water, until she can’t say no.

But it's not the swimming that troubles Lexi. It’s the singing that goes with it.When she turned sixteen, her siren song killed the only boy she's ever loved. Now, she avoids the popular shores of the Pacific in favor of a long forgotten lake up in the mountains, where she can swim and sing in peace, far from the population of her oceanside home.

Until, that is, Cole Mills discovers her lake. He’s new to Lincoln City High, and he doesn’t know about Lexi’s reputation as an ice queen—a reputation she’s carefully cultivated to keep everyone around her safe. He pushes her, talks to her, forces her to dream of what life could be like if she weren’t a siren.

Lexi can’t stop herself from warming to him, from falling for him. Soon, he’s demanding answers, following her to the lake, unknowingly risking his life. How can she keep him safe when the one thing she wants most--to hold him close-- will endanger his life? (From Goodreads)

Release Date: July 21, 2011
Published by Razorbill

This one is a long way off, but I loved both of her previous YA books.

Teaser Tuesday (August 17)

What is Teaser Tuesday?
It's a meme hosted by Should Be Reading and here are the rules:Grab your current read...
Open to a random page
Share two teaser sentences from somewhere on the page
Don't include spoilers

"And when I finally look down, I scream and leap back, crashing into the gate and hitting my funny bone. Pain ripples up my arm.

The pony-the pink pony-its dark eyes widening, sort of jumps into the air and then plants all four feet, as if I've startled it."

You Wish, Page 36, by Mandy Hubbard

In My Mailbox (August 15)

In my mailbox was created by Kristi of The Story Siren, who was inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. Here are the books I got this week...

For Review:
Zombies Vs. Unicorns Edited by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier

It's a question as old as time itself: which is better, the zombie or the unicorn? In this anthology, edited by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier (unicorn and zombie, respectively), strong arguments are made for both sides in the form of short stories. Half of the stories portray the strengths--for good and evil--of unicorns and half show the good (and really, really bad-ass) side of zombies. Contributors include many bestselling teen authors, including Cassandra Clare, Libba Bray, Maureen Johnson, Meg Cabot, Scott Westerfeld, and Margo Lanagan. This anthology will have everyone asking: Team Zombie or Team Unicorn? (From Goodreads)

Part of Around the World Tours




Bought:

You Wish by Mandy Hubbard

What if all your wishes really came true?

Kayla McHenry’s sweet sixteen sucks! Her dad left,
her grades dropped, and her BFF is dati ...more What if all your wishes really came true?

Kayla McHenry’s sweet sixteen sucks! Her dad left, her grades dropped, and her BFF is dating the boy Kayla’s secretly loved for years. Blowing out her candles, Kayla thinks: I wish my birthday wishes actually came true. Because they never freakin’ do.

Kayla wakes the next day to a life-sized, bright pink My Little Pony outside her window. Then a year’s supply of gumballs arrives. A boy named Ken with a disturbing resemblance to the doll of the same name stalks her. As the ghosts of Kayla’s wishes-past appear, they take her on a wild ride . . . but they
MUST STOP. Because when she was fifteen? She wished Ben Mackenzie would kiss her. And Ben is her best friend’s boyfriend. (From Goodreads)

The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson

Mikael Blomkvist, crusading journalist and publisher of the magazine Millennium, has decided to run a story that will expose an extensive sex traffick ...more Mikael Blomkvist, crusading journalist and publisher of the magazine Millennium, has decided to run a story that will expose an extensive sex trafficking operation between Eastern Europe and Sweden, implicating well-known and highly placed members of Swedish society, business, and government.

But he has no idea just how explosive the story will be until, on the eve of publication, the two investigating reporters are murdered. And even more shocking for Blomkvist: the fingerprints found on the murder weapon belong to Lisbeth Salander—the troubled, wise-beyond-her-years genius hacker who came to his aid in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and who now becomes the focus and fierce heart of The Girl Who Played with Fire.

As Blomkvist, alone in his belief in Salander’s innocence, plunges into an investigation of the slayings, Salander herself is drawn into a murderous hunt in which she is the prey, and which compels her to revisit her dark past in an effort to settle with it once and for all. (From Goodreads)

What did you get this week?

Waiting on Wednesday (November 18)

This was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine. Basically, these are books that haven't been released yet, but that I can't wait for.

You Wish by Mandy Hubbard

Kayla McHenry’s sweet sixteenth sucks! Her dad left, her grades dropped, and her BFF is dating the boy Kayla’s secretly loved for years. Blowing out her candles, Kayla thinks: I wish my birthday wishes actually came true. Because they never freakin’ do.

Kayla wakes the next day to a life-sized, bright pink My Little Pony outside her window. Then a year’s supply of gumballs arrives. And a boy named Ken with a disturbing resemblance to the doll of same name stalks her. As the ghosts of Kayla’s wishes-past appear, they take her on a wild ride… but they MUST STOP. Because when she was 15? She wished Ben Mackenzie would kiss her.

And Ben is her best friend's boyfriend.




Published by Razorbill
Release Date: August 2010

I really enjoyed Prada and Prejudice, so I'll definitely be picking this one up

Book Review: Prada and Prejudice by Mandy Hubbard

Prada and Prejudice by Mandy Hubbard

I chose to read this as part of the Everything Austen Challenge hosted by Stephanie's Written Word

To impress the popular girls on a high school trip to London, klutzy Callie buys real Prada heels. But trying them on, she trips...conks her head...and wakes up in the year 1815!

There Callie meets Emily, who takes her in, mistaking her for a long-lost friend. As she spends time with Emily's family, Callie warms to them—particularly to Emily's cousin Alex, a hottie and a duke, if a tad arrogant.

But can Callie save Emily from a dire engagement, and win Alex's heart, before her time in the past is up?

There's something very light and fun about the idea of a modern-day girl going back to the time of Austen. Perhaps it's the idea of meeting a handsome, charming man at a ball. What's the modern version of that? Meeting a cute guy at a club? It just doesn't have the same appeal.

I really enjoyed this book, particularly the character Callie. She grows immensely over the course of the book, and that's what made her so likable. At the start, she's very insecure, which typically results in some act of severe clumsiness. Eventually, she gains some confidence, and is able to make some new friends along the way. I think that's what makes her such a great character. In my experience, most girls experience some sort of insecurities over the course of high school, but Callie is able to overcome that.

While some parts may have been a bit predictable, I don't think it detracted from the reading experience. I knew what was going to happen, but I still couldn't wait to see how it would happen. I also liked how Callie brought some of her 21st century mannerisms into the 19th. Every time Callie accidentally used a slang word, I could imagine the other characters staring at her like she was mad. Callie also refused to let her new friend, Emily, be married off to a man she didn't love, no matter the cost. While I thought this was brave of both girls, I was actually worried about how that was going to end.

This is definitely a good choice when you need a quick, entertaining read. I can't wait to see more from Hubbard!

Prada and Prejudice
By Mandy Hubbard
Published by The Penguin Group
288 Pages
Rating: A-

In My Mailbox (July 5)

In my mailbox was created by Kristi of The Story Siren, who was inspired by Pop Culture Junkie. Here are the books I got this week...

Prada and Prejudice by Mandy Hubbard
Published by the Penguin Group

To impress the popular girls on a high school trip to London, klutzy Callie buys real Prada heels. But trying them on, she trips...conks her head...and wakes up in the year 1815!

There Callie meets Emily, who takes her in, mistaking her for a long-lost friend. As she spends time with Emily's family, Callie warms to them—particularly to Emily's cousin Alex, a hottie and a duke, if a tad arrogant.

But can Callie save Emily from a dire engagement, and win Alex's heart, before her time in the past is up?

Evermore by Alyson Noel
Published by St. Martin's Press

Since a horrible accident claimed the lives of her family, sixteen-year-old Ever can see auras, hear people’s thoughts, and know a person’s life story by touch. Going out of her way to shield herself from human contact to suppress her abilities has branded her as a freak at her new high school—but everything changes when she meets Damen Auguste…

Ever sees Damen and feels an instant recognition. He is gorgeous, exotic and wealthy, and he holds many secrets. Damen is able to make things appear and disappear, he always seems to know what she’s thinking—and he’s the only one who can silence the noise and the random energy in her head. She doesn’t know who he really is—or what he is. Damen equal parts light and darkness, and he belongs to an enchanted new world where no one ever dies.

Well, it was a slower week for me book-wise. On the bright side, I had a great fourth of July. Hopefully everyone here had a great fourth, too!