After Obsession by Carrie Jones & Steven E Wedel

Aimee and Alan have secrets. Both teens have unusual pasts and abilities they prefer to keep hidden. But when they meet each other, in a cold Maine town, they can't stop their secrets from spilling out. Strange things have been happening lately, and they both feel that something-or someone- is haunting them. They're wrong. Despite their unusual history and powers, it's neither Aimee nor Alan who is truly haunted. It's Alan's cousin Courtney who, in a desperate plea to find her missing father, has invited a demon into her life-and into her body. Only together can Aimee and Alan exorcise the ghost. And they have to move quickly, before it devours not just Courtney but everything around her.

Filled with heart-pounding romance, paranormal activity, and rich teen characters to love-and introducing an exciting new YA voice, Steven Wedel-this novel is exactly what Carrie Jones fans have been waiting for. Meet your next obsession. (From Goodreads)

I was told that this would be a creepy read, and it didn't disappoint. Demonic possession, hauntings, and high school drama...What more could I ask for? Aimee's quiet life is turned upside down after her best friend Courtney's father disappears. Things get even more complicated when Courtney's cousin and aunt move to town. I was intrigued by Alan, whose Navajo background plays a big part in the story. This addition to the story was done really well, and I was glad to see Alan embracing his heritage. I have to add, props to Jones and Wedel for crafting a romance that doesn't involve a damsel in distress. That is my biggest YA (and adult romance) pet peeve. So, the fact that Alan and Aimee work together made their romance that much more believable. 

I think that the reason why I can't rate this higher is due to the split chapters and my lack of ability to really get to know Aimee or Alan. In general, I seem to have an issue with books that switch perspective every chapter. It tends to pull me out of a book, and stops me from connecting deeply to the characters. Some people really love getting to see inside the heads of two different characters, so this issue is just a matter of personal taste.

Overall, a spooky read that's worth picking up. I'm hoping there will be a followup book so that some of my questions can be answered. 

After Obsession

By Carrie Jones & Steven E Wedel

Published by Bloomsbury USA

320 Pages 

Received for Review

Rating: C

Mini-Reviews

It feels like it's been forever since I actually posted on here, I've been in quite a reviewing funk. I do have a review coming tomorrow for After Obsession, but here are a few mini-reviews that I thought I would post in the meantime. I'm not sure how regularly I'll be posting, but I have hope that I'll get back into the swing of things!

The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg

This was a fairly quick read for me, and I enjoyed it! It's actually the book that got me out of my reading/reviewing funk. Penny has Beatles obsessed parents, and bad luck with boys. When she starts a club (the aptly named Lonely Hearts Club) that swears off boys, she's surprised at how many girls want to join.

It was a cute fluffy read, and it's a bit more about friendship than it is about relationships. Yes, there is a romance aspect to the book, but it really touches on the way that teens can sometimes loose themselves in their dating lives and loose touch with their friends.

Rating: B




Wizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind

An awesome start to a super long fantasy series. I finally gave in to a friend who was determined to make me read it. I was so glad that I did! Even though the page length seemed a little daunting, I got through it pretty quickly. As soon as I finished I headed straight to the library to pick up the sequel.

Engaging characters, a great story, but to those who are a bit squeamish, there are a couple of violent scenes. Frankly, this book just has too much going on within it to break it down into a couple of paragraphs. If you like a good fantasy read, check this out.

Rating: A

Waiting on Wednesday (September 21)

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

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.


Published by HarperCollins
Release Date: May 2012 

Teaser Tuesday (September 20)

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.
"Richard came awake with a start. Warm midday light filled the room, and the wonderful, tangy aroma of spice soup filled his lungs."

Wizard's First Rule, page 103, by Terry Goodkind

Teaser Tuesday (September 6)

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.

"He is all eager cuteness. There's a big thump upstairs, which makes us jump."
-After Obsession, Page 10, by Carrie Jones & Steven E Wedel