Grave Mercy **Robin Lafevers**

Publication Date: April 3, 2012
Genre: YA Romance/YA Historical/YA Paranormal/Suspense/Adventure/Mystery
Series: His Fair Assassin
List Price: $9.99
Sensuality Rating: G
Stars: 3.5

Synopsis:

 

Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf?

Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.
     Ismae’s most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?

 

 

 

Mocked by Destiny **Michele Richard**

Publication Date:  February 23, 2011
Genre: YA Romance/Contemporary/ Women's Fiction
Series: Mocked Series
List Price: $9.99
Sensuality Rating: PG
Stars: 4/5

Synopsis:

For Stella Richards, life in the charming town of Virginia Beach is not as magical as one would think. Sun, fun, and sand only guarantee one thing, unwanted visitors. Stella learned long ago to never befriend anyone visiting the beach. They're here; then they're gone, drifting in and out as the tide ebbs and flows. She vowed to never connect with anyone vacationing in Virgina Beach - until spring break. Stefan changed everything.

Stefan Sterling lives life never knowing where he will end up next. Bouncing from one Military base to another has hampered his ability to connect to those around him. That's what happens when your father is a high-ranking officer in the military. Raised in a world of discipline, control, and strangers, Stefan never expected to find anyone he'd want to be close to...let alone love.

A family curse verses a loving abnormality promises to keep Stella and Stefan on their toes. Was it an accident or could it be destiny? Will they be able to survive their families? And, is there ever a time when you can fully let go of the person who awoke your soul?

A story of love, sacrifice, and growing up before it's time.

Feathermore **Lucy Swing**

Publication Date: (??)
Genre: YA Romance/YA Paranormal
Series: N/A
List Price: $0.99
Sensuality Rating: G
Stars: 4/5

Synopsis:

When the one thing you live for is denied to you, do you let it go or do you fall?

Jade, like any other student at Brushwood High, awaits the start of the school year with a certain measure of dread. Worse, she is being threatened by a voice that only she can hear—a voice that lurks at the edges of her awareness, haunting her and warning her of something unknown. She has always been able to count on her two best friends, Claire and Nate, but can she confide in them now? About this? Would they even believe her?

Life takes a turn for the better when she meets Avan, a darkly handsome new student who, somehow, seems to drown out the voice and make her feel at ease.

But Jade soon comes to realize that good things don’t last forever. When everything spirals out of control, she is shattered by something she never saw coming. Dazed and despairing, she must now overcome tragedy and embrace her true existence and a new but dangerous love. Will she be able to save herself and those she loves, before it’s too late? Or will she let the surrounding darkness consume her?

Twyla Shift: Blood and Magic **S.M**

Publication Date: January 4, 2012 Genre: YA Paranormal/ YA Romance List Price: Sensuality Rating: PG-13 Stars: 4.5/5 Synopsis: Nineteen year old Anne has spent her entire life coping with the fallout from her clairvoyant dreams. After narrowly escaping a fire in her chemistry lab which claims the lives of two of her classmates she is kidnapped by a man she has a unusual reaction to, shifted into a strange shadow world from which she can’t escape, held hostage by witches and vampires, and forced to choose between her own life and her sister’s. With everything she thought she knew about her life a lie, and unable to rely on anyone but herself, she struggles to accept the new reality that she is thrust into, having to use her dreams to guide her. But with her life turned upside down and the stakes massively raised, it’s up to Anne to save both herself and the man she loves from certain death, and when the cards are dealt, can her dreams really help her?

Veiled Virtues **Jan Fischer Wade**

Publication Date: February 12, 2012

Genre: YA Paranormal, Ya Romance

Series: N/A

List Price: $5.95

Sensuality Rating: G

Stars: 3.5/5

Synopsis:

When Paige Stewart left America to house-sit in England, her only thoughts were to get away from her controlling mother and to have fun. Little did she know that her working holiday would turn into a battle between good and evil, or that she would be the epicenter of that battle. She certainly didn’t expect to be swept off her feet by a modern-day English knight. But when blood appeared on her keyboard and she discovered her childhood scars bleeding, her holiday took a turn for the eerie and dangerous, and when she ventured into the metaphysical shop run by Nathaniel Brightmore, she found much more than tarot cards and crystals.

Between the Land and Sea--Derrolyn Anderson

Publishing Date: March 19, 2011

Genre: YA Fantasy/Romance

Series: Marina's tales # 1

List Price: $0.99

Sensuality Rating: G

Star Rating: 5/5

Synopsis:

Marina is a privileged girl who’s had an unusual upbringing. Traveling the world with her scientist father, doted on by her wealthy and glamorous neighbor Evie, Marina’s life seems perfect.
Everything changes in the summer of her sixteenth year when she is sent to live with her Aunt Abby and Cousin Cruz in the lovely seaside town of Aptos, California.
Only a few weeks after arriving, sixteen year-old Marina has nearly drowned twice, enchanted the hottest guy in high school, and discovered a supernatural creature. If she can manage to survive some increasingly dangerous encounters with unpredictable mermaids, she might be able to unlock the mystery of her past and appease the mysterious forces that want something from her...
And maybe even find true love along the way.

My Opinion:

          Between the and Sea has made me a lover of mermaids again! A few months back, I read this book that was so strange and creepy, it put me off mermaids for awhile (I thought forever, but Ms.Anderson has saved me from never touching a mermaid novel ever again.Thank you!) and I had a very wary feeling starting the book. Fortunately, I am now able to begin a mermaid based novel without having any biased feelings, anymore.hat is written in first person. I'm not a big fan of first person, but this novel was done superbly and I can't complain.

          Author's purpose of righting Between Land and Sea is to bring you on a journey through the eyes of a teenage girl learning new and exciting thing's about herself. Hopefully, you will enjoy and want to learn more by the end of the book. It is obviously a fictional piece of writing t

 This mermaid based novel is about a girl learning about her unique heritage that has been kept secret and finding true love. I extremely enjoyed it, and hope you will give it a shot.

         

The Good:

• The prologue instantly drew attention. It was written to pull a reader into the book and not let go until the last page. Very well done.
• The informal writing style helps readers to connect with the characters in the book. Her work is clear and coherent, and very original, which is always a plus.
• Character development is very successful; when I was reading Between Land and Sea I could  picture each character acutely. By the end of the book, I felt as if I knew each character on a personal level.
• Reader instantly becomes addicted to the plot, characters, atmosphere. One of my favorite aspects of the novel was the setting! I wanted to know more about Aptos, California. The way Ms. Anderson describes it made me want to visit. From what I can tell, she is a very descriptive and talented writer and belongs on a best seller list!
• The whole idea of Between Land and Sea is so unique and original. It was not disappointing in the least. I loved learning about the mermaids.
• I was especially interested in the different ethnic jargon Ms. Anderson used in the novel. Not only did she tell of Marinas travels around the world, but she backed them up with little phrases that Marina "learned" as well as cultural knowledge. This shows the reader, the author took time to research. readers appreciate that kind of thing.
• I love Aunt Evie! What teenage girl doesn't want an "Auntie" to take her under her wings and buy her a bunch of designer clothes?

Normally, I would have a "The Bad" list, but since this is five stars and I can't seem to find anything  wrong with it or anything that I didn't like, so we'll move right along to recommendations!

Beyond (The Academy)--T.P. Boje

Publishing Date: September 9, 2011

Genre: YA Paranormal Romance

Series: The Afterlife # 1

List Price: $0.99

Sensuality Rating: G

Star Rating: 4/5

Synopsis: 

Have you ever wondered where you go when you die?
Meghan is 16 when it happens to her.
She wakes up on a flying steamboat on her way to a school run by Angels in a white marble castle.
It is a school everybody has to go to before they are let into Heaven.
On the boat she meets Mick who has been dead for more than a hundred years but still looks like a teenager. He helps her past the difficult beginning at the new school in a new world filled with heavenly magic.
One day some of Meghan's roommates find a mirror in the cellar of the school and they persuade her to go through it with them - well knowing it is strictly against the rules of the school. Meghan ends up back on earth where she meets Jason. But Jason is in danger and Meghan knows something important. Something that is a matter of life and death. Soon she is forced to choose between the two worlds. The one she belongs to now and the one she left.

Five *Christie Rich*

Publishing Date: August 10, 2011

Genre: YA Paranormal Romance

Series: Elemental Enmity

List Price (Digital): $0.99
Sensuality Rating: G

Summary:

          "Rayla Tate was just a child when her mother disappeared from her life forever. Raised by her aunt Grace in a small town, she has lived a relatively uneventful but extremely sheltered life. She doesn’t know it yet, but she is special. She has been hidden from the Fae who have lived secretly among us since the beginning of time. Descended from an ancient blood-line of Elementals, only she has the power to crown the first Fae high-king.

          Sick of provincial living and the dictates of her aunt, Rayla flees the safety of her home and runs away to college with her best friend. However, excitement over her new found freedom is short-lived when she finds herself being chased by a mysterious stranger on her way to school. She is drawn to him immediately but resists the compulsion she feels. He disappears into the night, but she is certain he is following her.

          Rayla struggles to deal with the encounter while she adapts to her new environment. To make matters worse, Aunt Grace reveals that Rayla will soon be hunted by a pack of fae lords, each hoping to claim her power for his own. She soon finds herself surrounded by stunning men. Are they Fae, or is this just normal college life? More importantly, who can she trust when she can’t trust herself to be near them?" -Amazon

My Opinnion:

           While I LOVE a good a paranormal romance, this one just didn't do it for me. Dark, deadly, mysterious men are always attractive. Unfortunately, I think in this book, there are too many macho male characters. Rich didn't give each individual character enough development, so it was extremely hard for me to get involved in the story. I couldn't become Rayla or fall in love with Zach (or any of the Fae lords), so what's the point in finishing the book?

          Five was too fast-paced. It's great for a story to start out action packed, but when the characters are going and going and going and the novel doesn't seem to have a stopping point, it gets annoying. Rayla learns about the Fae lords were after her in a SINGLE call. That hardly appears believable. 

          Another thing, the way Rayla is attracted all the Fae lords like bees on honey was irritating. Even if she can't help the irresistible draw of all those brawny men due to the magical draw of Elementals to Fae lords, it still feels a bit slutty to me. 

          All in all, while I liked the originality and paranormal feel, Five disappointed me more than it caught my attention.