Mini Reviews: Thumped by Megan McCafferty & The Last Echo by @KimberlyDerting

Thumped (Bumped #2) by Megan McCafferty

Hardcover, 304 pgs.

Expected publication April 24th, 2012 by Balzer + Bray

Source: Gift

THE CONCLUSION TO ONE OF THE MOST TALKED-ABOUT NOVELS OF LAST YEAR

It’s been thirty-five weeks since twin sisters Harmony and Melody went their separate ways. And now their story has become irresistible: twins separated at birth, each due to deliver twins…on the same day!

Married to Ram and living in Goodside, Harmony spends her time trying to fit back into the community she once believed in. But she can’t forget about Jondoe, the guy she fell for under the strangest of circumstances.

To her adoring fans, Melody has achieved everything: a major contract and a coupling with the hottest bump prospect around. But this image is costing her the one guy she really wants.

The girls’ every move is analyzed by millions of fans eagerly counting down to “Double Double Due Date.” They’re two of the most powerful teen girls on the planet, and they could do only one thing to make them even more famous:

Tell the truth.

Hilarious and sarcastic THUMPED was a fantastic follow up to BUMPED. In BUMPED I had to overcome the strange slang and the extreme world presented. In THUMPED I was prepared and I think enjoyed it more for that reason. While these books are certainly not for everyone, I personally enjoy them quite a lot.  

 The issues and complications are unique but make you think.  While I may roll my eyes and get the giggles I'm also thinking how easy our world could become this.  How ridiculous us human beings can be and how we can so easily forget our own humanity.

4/5 stars

 The Last Echo (The Body Finder #3) by Kimberly Derting

Hardcover, 358 pgs.

Expected Publication: April 17th, 2012 by Harper

Source: Publisher

 In the end, all that's left is an echo...
Violet kept her morbid ability to sense dead bodies a secret from everyone except her family and her childhood-best-friend-turned-boyfriend, Jay Heaton. That is until forensic psychologist Sara Priest discovered Violet's talent and invited her to use her gift to track down murderers. Now, as she works with an eclectic group of individuals—including mysterious and dangerously attractive Rafe—it's Violet's job to help those who have been murdered by bringing their killers to justice. When Violet discovers the body of a college girl killed by "the girlfriend collector" she is determined to solve the case. But now the serial killer is on the lookout for a new "relationship" and Violet may have caught his eye....

Kimberly Derting really stepped it up a notch for this one! I loved the others but this one was even better! The creep factor was up and I loved the direction this one took.

The characters are absolutely fantastic!  I think I'm liking Violet more and more.  Sometimes she makes some rash decisions but I think she's getting smarter now.  I also loved that there was some complications with the relationship with Violet and Jay but yet it didn't become a cliche or something we've all seen before.  I think it worked well.  

I'm really loving the turn that the books are taking and I love that the killers chapters were more frequent (at least they felt more frequent) and that we were able to get in his head quite a lot more.  It made this book unputdownable, for sure!  And I also enjoyed that this book had a few more branches, it wasn't just one story line, it had other things going on as well which upped the danger factor by several notches.  

This one ended perfect because we get a bit of a shock, but it's not quite a cliffhanger.  I'm anxious for more, but not DYING.  I thought it worked out just right.  

This is a series I mostly definitely recommend!

5/5 stars

Disclosure:  I received this book for review purposes.  All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way. 

Review: Darkness Calls (Hunter Kiss #2) by Marjorie M. Liu

Darkness Calls (Hunter Kiss #2) by Marjorie M. Liu
Adult Urban Fantasy
Mass Market Paperback, 303 pgs.
Published June 30th, 2009 by Ace
Source: Purchased

Demon hunter Maxine Kiss, inked with living tattoos, is on a mission to rescue the man she loves from a bloodthirsty army. To save him, Maxine has only one choice: to lose control-and release her own powers of darkness.

Yikes!  So many crazy emotions come from this one.  Some good and some bad and all very strong!  I felt like I was on an emotional roller coaster while reading it and it wasn't all good...

 I like Maxine.  I like her strong backbone, her strength that she fears she's losing or doesn't have enough of.  I love that even when a voice tells her to not grow close to anyone she doesn't listen.  She needs people and I don't think she'd survive on her own.  Although, she always has her faithful companions,  the 'boys'.  The 'boys' are tattoos when it's daylight and they are little dragon like things at night.  They are her protection.  They are her best friends. They are everything to her.  And they are the best part of the story.  Zee is the only one that can talk but they are all smart as in they understand language and all that.  They are like steel when on Maxine's body.  She can be hit by a bus and not be harmed.  When they are off her body at night they are fast and they can protect her from nearly everything.  They can eat anything (knives, guns, etc). 

Grant is Maxine's boyfriend.  In the first book he wasn't as important but he was there and I saw the love they had for each other.  In this book we see much more.  We find out more about Grant and his power and who he is.  And he's pretty freaking amazing.  I love that he's just part of her, there's no struggle in their relationship other then Maxine being afraid she's going to get him killed cause she's a target for demons and other such things.  Grant is also different as in he's not some kick ass dude.  He's of a gentle nature and all about saving everyone he can.  He's got a bum leg and walks with a cane.  He's a great character, I seriously love him.

The romance wasn't a focus in the story, it just was.  They love each other and every time they were together we really feel the connection.  There isn't any sex or anything.  But just the gentle kisses when they feel like they are going to drop dead or thought they had lost the other, etc were perfect.  I really liked how it was done in a way that made it not a focus but yet so important.

This book takes place all over the world.  Lots of traveling through space and landing in weird places. Home is Seattle, but they spend very little time there in this book.

It has constant action with no break.  Incredibly stressful and they are nearly killed over and over again.  Weird and twisted and extremely twisted things after them.  Very gruesome and gory scenes.   It was so constant as far as the action goes that it was actually too much.  I needed things to slow down a bit.  It seemed like every page Maxine nearly dies.  


The book was very dark.  I like there to be some lightness, some humor thrown in my urban fantasy,  and this doesn't have that.  Zee and the other boys (her tattoos, protection, etc) did put a smile on my face a few times as they are just adorable (even though they are suppose to be really scary, their mannerisms just made me smile) but other then that there wasn't anything to lighten things up.  Well, I guess the love between Maxine and Grant lightens it a bit, but not enough.  


 I have a lot of mixed emotions about this book.  I really love the world building and concept.  I like the characters and the plot is good but I really wish it was just a bit lighter and the action was toned down a bit.  I love, love, love Zee and the other boys though.  Overall it was a good read, I think I'll just take a bit of a break before I pick the next one up.


3/5 stars

Masquerade Read-Along Week One Chapters 1-8

Hi guys!  Today is the first day of the read- along for Masquerade by Cambria Hebert.  If you would like to sign up it's not too late!  Just go HERE and add yourself into the linky! 

I'm co-hosting a read-along for Masquerade by Cambria Hebert for the month of April. This is going to be a total blast and I hope that you'll all sign up! There's going to be prizes (see more below) and we're going to have loads of fun discussing this awesome book! It's only $2.99 for the ebook and Cambria will give an ebook away to each tenth person who signs up!

Note:  Some of you know that I'll be taking a break from blogging indefinitely.  I already committed to this read-along before that decision was made and so I'm still posting for it.  But you may not be seeing many more reviews because as soon as my posts run out I'll be done.  I'll still see you around the bookosphere though and you can find me on goodreads!

About the book:

Before. Everything was so much better Before. I wasn’t haunted by nightmares, my place at school was secure and my face was flawless. Now, I’m a freak and everything has changed. The worst part is that I can’t remember the night I was sentenced to the shadows. The memory has been stolen from me and I just can’t shake the feeling that someone, something is out there -watching.

Just when I think I have my life handled, Sam, with his intimidating golden stare and shiver inducing voice, makes me realize that I don’t know anything. He makes me see that my scars don’t matter. That they never mattered. I can’t help but fall for him, completely unknowing that he knows exactly how I got this way. Not knowing he was involved.

***

Heven has no idea how closely death stalks her. She has no idea what I have done to keep her alive. I fear the day she learns my secrets, finds out what I really am. But even then I cannot stop, I vow to make things right. Finally her hunter will be hunted, Heaven and Hell, faith and sin will battle, and we will be victorious. But first, Heven must learn to be what she never imagined. I know her strength is there – I feel it. If we are to overcome all odds, she must push past her flaws - her frailties - to become much more.

Masquerade Read Along ; April 1-April 28

Read Along Schedule

April 5th – Chapters 1-8 – hosted by Stephanie at Five Alarm book Reviews
April 12th – Chapters 8-16 – hosted by Candace at Candace’s Book Blog (That's here!)
April 19th- Chapters 16-24 –hosted by Heidi at Rainy Day Ramblings
April 26th Chapters 24-31 – hosted by Veronica at Mostly Reviews
May 3rd – Announcement of Giveaway Winners – hosted by the author – http://www.cambriahebert.com


April 5th – Stephanie at Five Alarm Book Reviews

Chapters 1-8

5 discussion questions:

1. If you were disfigured like Heven (by some sort of accident) do you think you would have reacted the same way as her? (loss of self confidence, hiding yourself, etc)

It's so hard to say but I suppose at least to some extent I would.  It's just like on fat days (or fatter days) I don't really care about dressing nice or putting on makeup.  

2. Do you think that Kimber’s plan for revenge against Cole (for kissing another girl) is a good idea?

No way!  It was frustrating watching her kind of sabotage things for herself.  At least that's how it felt, she was just screwing things up even more.

3. In the beginning chapters, Heven is very drawn to Sam but won’t admit it due to her own insecurities. Kimber begins to “date” Sam… do you think that Heven should have spoken up? Do think Kimber should have seen Heven’s real feelings?

I think Kimber should have seen Heven's real feelings but I think Heven is so use to hiding that it's second nature to her.  And Heven feels she has no chance at all with him so I guess I understand why she wouldn't have admitted it or spoken up.

4. Masquerade is broken in four separate POV’s: Heven, Sam, The Hate and The Hope. Do you think having multiple POV’s adds depth to the story? Why or why not?

I feel like we get to know them better and their objectives, or true feelings.  I think the short bits of The Hate and The Hope works well but has me dying of curiosity for more!  

5. A great source of strength for Heven is her grandmother. Who do you think yours is/would be?

I suppose my mom is but we are so different so I think sometimes it's hard for me to tell her everything.  Other times I don't hold back and feel comfortable telling her everything.  So I'm not sure if it's because of our rocky past (I was a horrible teenager) or just our differences (she's super religious like Heven's mom), I'm not sure.   

Next Weeks Questions:

April 12th – Candace at Candace’s book blog 

Chapters 8-16 
5 discussion questions:

1. Sam is admittedly drawn to Heven before they even meet. Why do think this is? 

2. In an earlier chapter The Hope states that Sam must prove himself. During these chapters Sam does some things – bad things – (covering up murder, fighting, hiding a body, etc.) all to protect Heven and his true identity. Do you think he was right to do these things?

3. In chapter twelve Kimber says some thing’s to Heven that make the reader wonder about their friendship. Do you think there is any truth Kimber’s drunken confessions? If so where do you think Heven and Kimber’s friendship goes from here?

4. Heven is changing, becoming more confident. Do you think that after something like this (her accident and disfigurement) happens to someone that she can ever go back to the person she was before? Do you think she will want to?

5. Toward the end of these set of chapters, Heven finds out Sam’s secret, who he really is. She has a strong reaction. Do you think you would react the same way? Why or why not?

Prize Packs:

The giveaway will be open to all who participate in the read along each week. There will be a Grand Prize and a Runner up prize pack.

Grand Prize:
A signed paperback copy of Masquerade
A PDF ARC of Charade (Heven and Hell #2)
An Ecopy of Between (A Heven and Hell novella due out in April)
Two signed Bookmarks
A Bubble Tea pack to include everything you need to make and enjoy your own bubble tea. (tea mix, colored tapioca pearls, fat straws and a drinking cup)
Necklace with Masquerade mini book charm made by Southwest Sky Jewelry

Runner Up:
A signed Bookmark
A sticker of the Masquerade cover
A copy of Between (A Heven and Hell Novella)
A $10 Amazon gift card

Links to buy Masquerade:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble