For the Love of Art - A Sketch of Erynn Mangum's Latest Masterpiece

Sketchy Behaviour

By Erynn Mangum

Rating: 4.3

Nothing's sketchy about Erynn Mangum's latest cute and easy-to-love novel Sketchy Behaviour! 

Our protagonist, Kate, has an artistic knack for drawing - sketching, especially. But her life is turned upside down one art class, when they're asked to sketch a known criminal, simply by listening to a given description and drawing what they 'see' in their minds. Because not only does Kate's drawing look exactly like the criminal in question, but the authorities use it to catch him and bring him to jail. 

Kate is a heroine. But fame comes with a price.

Now the criminal knows who she is. Now Kate could be a possible target. With around-the-clock supervision, trips to the police station and public parades, Kate's life has taken a turn - but whether it's for the worse, only she will be able to say. But what she does know is - at the end of all of this - there is one question left unanswered: does having the skills mean you're cut out for the role? 

A look inside forensics, the trials of entering a faith, the dynamics of family and the world of criminal hit-and-misses, Sketchy Behaviour will have you smiling - as well as gripping the book to you, enthralled, as you wait, with baited breath, the conclusion to Kate's rollercoaster tale.

Christmas Wishes to My Fellow Bookworms

A BIG Merry Christmas to everyone!! 

May you your Christmas be filled with joy, safety and memories for you and your loved ones. I hope Santa brings you plenty of good books to read, too!!

Best wishes, Booknut101 :D

Beautifully Broken - Shiloh Ravenwolf's Bewitching Tale

Beautifully Broken (Spellbound #1)

By Sherry Soule

Rating: 4.3

"If anyone had bothered to notice me, they would only see a scared fifteen-year-old girl with eyes of sable ringed by kohl liner and black hair that fell to her waist. They wouldn't see someone struggling to remain sane. Only an empty space where a real girl used to live."

Demons plague her. Ghosts haunt her. Gossip follows her.

Shiloh Ravenwolf's family are the food of Whispering Pines' gossipmongers - supposedly descendants of witches, they are believed to be behind a mysterious 'curse' on the town, a curse that might be responsible for the mysterious disappearances occurring of late. Shiloh's dreams and her waking hours are plagued by the supernatural. She longs to be able to confide in others, but who would believe her?

Trent Donovan may be hot but his house comes with a bucketful of sinister secrets.

As people disappear one by one, Shiloh takes on a job at Trent's mansion - but there's more to work on than architecture. The place is haunted, by a vengeful wraith who may not be the victim, but the murderer themselves. Left with a pile of grimoires, no guidance and a shaky relationship with the bad boy himself, Shiloh must make sense of the mystery that is Ravenhurst Manor.

A strange mark branded into her skin. A darkness branded on her soul.

Shiloh's family's secrets may just be darker than she realised - uncovering them may lead to finding answers that she'll wish she never knew. But Shiloh is desperate to solve the case, find those who have disappeared and to finally find out what happened to her that night. And why a Darkness she can't explain resides inside of her, ready to be let free.

Beautifully broken, Shiloh must see this through to the end - as the Thirteenth Daughter it is her heritage. And her fate.

Les Miserables Quick Review!

Want to read my review of the movie Les Miserables (2012)?! Check it out HERE (in the Books and Their Movies Section!)

Good Reads of 2012: DEMONS AT DEADNIGHT

Demons At Deadnight
By A&E Kirk

Rating: 5

“Ironic, is it not, that the great Divinicus Nex cowers in fear from that which should be her fated prey? A decidedly diametric circumstance."

What? It's irritating when the monster hunting you has a better vocabulary than your own. Maybe it could do my eulogy?” 

It's bad enough getting chased by demons. But demons with exceptional vocabularies? That just burns.

Aurora's been chased by demons, ever since her near-fatal accident. Why do they chase her? She doesn't know. All she knows is that they're always hot on her metaphorical tail, ugly and like to play with their food before they eat it. Food being Aurora, or the occasional stray yapping puppy. 

Returning to a town she doesn't remember might be a nice change of scenery. Except it's not the scenery that's caught her attention.

It's the devilish and motley group of 'Hex Boys'. These guys are more tight-lipped than the FBI, and with more secrets to boot - plus, they come with a truckload of good looks and wit. Is it Aurora's imagination or do they know more they're letting on about the supernatural going-ons of the town? Going-ons that, until now, Aurora seems to be the only one noticing?

Oh, and she might light up like a Christmas tree at times. Yep - useful superpower? Check.

As demons threaten her family, childhood memories rise to the surface and tensions grow thick, Aurora needs to make a decision - whether to have nothing to do with the Hex Boys and to face the demons alone, or to trust in them and rely on their protection. Her life, and the life of her family, hang in the balance.

But are they 'Protective Hotties' or 'Charismatic Killers'?

Aurora doesn't know, but what she does know is that her new-found abilities need to be kept a secret. Not only from her family, but from the Hex Boys themselves...and even the one she's fallen hard for. 

Because if Aurora turns out to be the next Divinicus Nex, there'll be more than demons hunting her down.

My thoughts

AMAZING!! I'm in love with a book that take you on a thrilling journey - plagued with demons, hot guys, visions and bonfires, this book will have you begging for more!!

Ayden: 


I love you 'Mr Exotic'. From the moment you literally 'fell' into Aurora's life I was like "Please, please - let every chapter have him in it!!" My prayers were answered. Ayden's wit cannot be faulted and his flirtatious manner is heart-melting. And knee melting. :D


Matthias:


Him with his Aussie accent (even though technically we Australians don't HAVE an accent - but that's an argument for another time...!) and Milo drinking. And brooding. God, did he brood. But you have to love the over-protective types!

Blake:
Everytime Aurora walked into the room, he turned the charm on and was all like:


Jayden:


Smartest guy out there...except not very socially apt. :D Note: don't talk about the science of puberty, Jayden. Ev-er.

Tristan:


So cute!

And there might be another guy I forgot, but he was forgettable. I think it was Logan. Forgive me, Logan!!! His bow and arrow scene was pretty hot, though:D

Overall READ people - this book was excellent and the Hex Boys are to die for. ;P

What a Boy Wants...He Shouldn't Necessarily Get

What a Boy Wants
By Nyrae Dawn

Rating: 4


“We're guys. Half the time, we don't know who we are. It helps things become a lot easier if we know who you are.” 

Sebastian by day, the Hook-up Doctor by night - and never, ever Seb. 

Sebastian's got the answers, if you've got the money. 

Need a guy? Need him to notice you? Need to find the one true love of your life, or even someone to just date for the hell of it? 

He's got the moves, the lines and the best ways to get that guy you want. And he's never, ever, had a failure. It's 100% girlproof.

But Seb's attitude on falling in love is clear: love, true love, is for girls and idiots who want to get burned sooner or later. 

Seb should know. After all, his mother is the proof of more than enough failed relationships. 

And Seb's plan for simple hook-ups goes to plan...until the sight of his just-best-friend Aspen makes him feel weird inside. 

Really weird. And he can't stand to be away from her, or have other guys talk to her (or about her). 

What is happening to him? This isn't him - the Hook-up Doctor does not do love.

Or does he?


My thoughts:

A funny, enjoyable read, What a Boy Wants should really be titled What a Guy Settles For. 

Because that's what this story is about - don't 'settle'. We all tend to settle - oh, there's no 'perfect guy' or 'perfect girl' out there, so I'll just settle for what I can manage to find. You get what you settle for. 

But if you really want what you 'want' then you'll stand up for it and search for it, and keep searching for it because it's that important to you. 

Seb's realisation of what true love is, is a good try at getting readers to understand that it takes two sides to make a relationship work.

He doesn't see the good in himself and is all:

But eventually Seb grows to understand that how we view ourselves - and what we believe we deserve - are key factors in our relationships with others.

And guys don't understand girls, Seb? Well...the feeling sure is mutual!

Whilst listening to I Think I Love You by David Cassidy (don't mock it, it's a classic!) yours truly read this heartwarming and sweet-as-sugar novel in one sitting. 

And let me just say, it was not only enjoyable to read, but I looked like a totally lunatic, grinning at the computer screen, sniffling and bursting into laughter at intervals.

Note to readers: Sometimes you will want to groan in disgust at the cheesiness of it all.

Sure, some of it was cute, but where it lost points with me was where it became cliche and often predictable. 

I (for e.g.) guessed who the 'mystery e-mailer' was by page 11. 

Also, Seb is your typical 'I've got a barbell in my eyebrow and all the girls trip over themselves to see me' kind of guy. Too cliche that he falls for the 'good' girl, who's grown to be hot and whose parents are hippies.

No, you did not read incorrectly. Aspen's parents are honest-to-God hippies.

I wanted depth. But I got the kiddie pool, instead.

But hey - I like kiddie pools!

It was a nice, light read and of course what earned it points with me was its humour and Nyrae's signature writing style, which I love. 

Her other novel Dizzy was a lot better than this book, though, and I was disappointed that What A Boy Wants didn't follow the same unique and fresh approach.

The Graveminder by Melissa Marr Review

Graveminder
By Melissa Marr

Rating: 4.5

'He cradled his bloody arm and tried to stand. "This isn't right. You aren't right. You aren't suppose to be here."

"But I am.”'

The town of Claysville has a well-kept secret...a very deadly one.

A secret pact between two worlds, whose consequences will affect the lives of one man and one woman for the rest of their natural lives. A pact which ensures the town's safety from its newly departed. A pact which seems to be crumbly as we speak.

Rebekkah Barrow wants to escape Claysville forever. But will she even have a choice?

Rebekkah, above all, longs for freedom - freedom to live her life, freedom to be herself and freedom from her tangled feelings for Bryon Montgomery, the man she left behind. But the death of her grandmother may pull Rebekkah into a fate she never wanted. A fate that will take what little freedom she has. The fate of a Graveminder.

Byron Montgomery would do anything for the woman he loves.

Including swearing an oath to protect her with his life. Including being her Undertaker and journeying with her into the depths of Death itself.

Death comes unexpectedly...but some deaths are too violent to be natural.

A member of the dead is not obeying the pact and people are dying, their flesh torn and their lives snatched from them. As Graveminder and Undertaker, it is Rebekkah and Byron's job to see that the undead is found and dealt with. 

They must protect both the dead and the living, no matter the price.


My thoughts:



The solution? Byron and Rebekkah work together!! Da da-da...team work!

And Rebekkah's so moody. It's like she constantly has PMS! Yes, I understand that her grandma died, but give Byron a break! The poor guy is trying to make this work, and everytime he's like "What's wrong?", she's all like:


As for the dead girl who's wrecking havoc, she's all:


But the book was seriously awesome. I love the rituals that Rebekkah's grandma does for the dead - the food and then the wine. I thought that was sweet, especially how she visits each grave and talks to them, spending time with them. 

A good read - check it out!!

Bite the Apple - Eve and Adam...Perfection or Not?!

Eve and Adam
By Michael Grant and Katherine Applegate

Rating: 4.7


“This much I know already... 

When Tommy and the Big Brains, in whispered, wry asides, talk about Project 88715, they call it something else. 

They call it the "Adam Project.” 


Miracles don't exist...or do they?

Evening Spiker has always loved biology, as well as the arts - her mother, Terra Spiker, one of the lead names in the scientific fields, although her methods are often less than savoury and her work is shrouded in mystery. After a freak car accident, Evening undergoes an operation at her mother's research facility. Her leg, cut off, is now healing...at a level that is far too good to be true.

Soul mates don't exist...or do they?

Evening's mother gives her something to pass the time - a kind of simulation where, through virtual DNA and technological commands, you can create a 3-D, virtual and yet startling realistic human being. And Evening's mother's task? To create the perfect guy. But...what is perfect? And that is a question Evening must answer for herself as she creates 'Adam'.

Freedom doesn't exist...or does it?

Solo has been stuck as Terra Spiker's ward/assistant for as long as he can remember - ever since the freak car accident that killed both his parents. When Evening is brought in to the facility, Solo is stuck. His growing feelings for Evening may be the undoing of the plans he has laid out to take Terra Spiker - and her facility - down. Solo unveils secrets to Evening that she never knew, opening her eyes. And in turn, Evening gifts Solo with an understanding of what it means to have friends and how having something to save can be more important than bringing about ruin.

No one can play God...or can they?

But someone is one step ahead of Solo and Evening. Someone has the technology to make your biggest dreams a reality, to create something that rivals any masterpiece every created by mere human hands. But playing God has a price - for both the creation and the creator.

Eve and Adam is a dystopian novel to rival the best. So take a bite of the apple and read it today!

Race To the Finish ~ Avow by Chelsea Fine Review

Avow (Archers of Avalon #3)
By Chelsea Fine

Rating: 5+


'Tristan followed so close behind her she could feel his hot breath on the back of her neck. 

Again.

“Ten foot rule,” called Nate. 

“Bite me!” Tristan hollered back, more hot breath caressing her skin with his words. 

A wonderful shiver ran through her body. Damn him and his beautiful mouth and hot breath and his leather-smelling shirt.

She assumed he was headed to his own room in the basement, but when she walked into the guest bedroom, he followed her inside. She turned around to tell him to leave her alone, but his bright green eyes derailed her words. He was so pretty…

No! No. He was not pretty. He was in danger of dying. Focus on the danger, Scarlet. 

She glared at him. “What are you doing?” 
“I’m sleeping with you.” 

Was he insane? She lifted a brow. “I thought you were mad at me.” 

“I’m concerned. Not mad.” 
“Huh. Well either way you’re not sleeping with me.” 
“Yes, I am.” 

He was insane. “No,” Scarlet repeated. “You’re not. You could die, Tristan. We can’t touch and we certainly can’t…sleep together.” She felt her face flush.

A look of amusement crossed his face. “I meant sleep, Scar.” 

“Oh. Well.” She cleared her throat. “I don’t want to wake up next to a corpse, so, like…scram.”'


When your ex-fiance's supposed-to-be-dead (and apparently not dead) psycho ex-girlfriend appears on the scene...you know it's not gonna be pretty.

Raven's back. 

Why? She's bent on finding the Fountain of Youth. The same fountain that Scarlet, with her newly-recovered memories, knows the exact whereabouts of...a fountain that Scarlet doesn't want found, because of the deadly fate that awaits. 

The rules applying to the Fountain of Youth are stricter and more heartbreaking than Gabriel, Tristan and Nate ever imagined. There's no happy ending for any of them there.

But Scarlet may not have a choice.

Raven's got ammo - both Gabriel and Heather are abducted and if Scarlet wants to ever see them again, alive, she'll have hand over the map of the fountain's whereabouts. 

Meanwhile, readers delve into memories of a past Scarlet remembers with new-found clarity as well as select memories from Tristan and Gabriel. These memories fill in the gaps of our knowledge of the trio, the lives Scarlet didn't remember and the torturous relationship between her and Tristan.

Scarlet must make a choice, drawing on all of her lives and her experiences. Does she share the secret of the fountain?

Or does she sacrifice her happily ever after for the boys she loves?


My thoughts:

Note to God: Every girl needs a Tristan.
Note to Guys: If any of you are a Tristan, please let me know.
Note to Santa: Can I have a Tristan for Christmas?!


SO MANY EMOTIONS - I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M FINISHED!!! What a series!!







So beautiful *sniffles and swipes at eyes* 

Ah! I'm teary and so, so happy! I think I need to go cry about the fact I don't have a Tristan :/


I was a rollercoaster whilst reading this book - an emotional wreck. 

All thanks to Chelsea, who does a wonderful of job of including 100 million Tristan + Scarlet moments...the tension was swoon-worthy, let me tell you! 

And then when Raven comes in...and then Gabriel and Heather are hostages...and then the fountain...ah!