R.L. Stine's "Temptation"

R.L. Stine's "Temptation"

There's a reason behind the old addage "Never judge a book by its cover", and this is it. The cover - awesome. The contents - what's the opposite of awesome? not awesome... 

To say that R.L. Stine's "Temptation" was a letdown is putting it mildly. Of course, this may be my own fault. I may have romanticized R.L. Stine to be better than he was. Afterall, I haven't read a book of his since I was probably thirteen. I didn't even know he was still alive.

When I was a kid, I remember thinking that "99 Fear Street: The House of Evil" was the scariest book of all-time. (Prior to that, it had been "Wait Till Helen Comes"). So, when I was doing a little Santa shopping, looking for books for myself, and I came across "Temptation", I thought, "R.L. Stine + Vampire romance?? It's like they reached into my head and made the perfect book!" (Please don't let that last comment effect your opinion of my taste. I am who I am.)  Boy was I wrong. During the reading of this book, I found myself referring to it multiple times as "the worst book ever." You'd think I'd just stop reading it, but nope. I'm a glutton for punishment.

To add to the deception that was the pretty sweet cover, there was a sticker that said "It's a mixture of (something) and The Vampire Diaries." (I didn't really read that first part. I saw "The Vampire Diaries" and yanked that business off the shelf.) Let me be perfectly clear, it is NOTHING like the Vampire Diaries. Maybe if the Vampire Diaries were written by a twelve year-old in a middle school creative writing class.

So, what's it even about? The book is comprised of two stories, both of which take place in Sandy Hallow, a touristy beach community, conveniently located by a small island which is home to bats and vampires. In the first story, a group of teens from Fear Street visit Sandy Hollow on summer vacation and fall victim to two evil vampires who have made a bet to see who can be the first to turn one of the teens into a new vampire.

The second is about a group of teenage boys returning to Sandy Hallow for summer vacation. One of the boys is there to hunt the vampires, but ends up spending most of his summer trying to convince his two friends that vampires exist and that the girls they are dating are evil blood-sucking fiends. Oh yeah, these girls ALSO have a bet to see who can be the first to make a new vampire.

The formula for the book is pretty simple. Group of teens + making out + vampire bites + stupid bets = best-selling book. It actually sounds like classic R.L. Stine, so like I said, falling for it is my own fault. It should have been a red flag from the very beginning.

BUY "TEMPTATION" ON AMAZON

Cassandra Clare's "The Mortal Instruments" Series

Cassandra Clare's The Mortal Instruments series

I know that I haven't updated in a couple weeks, but it's because I wanted to knock out this whole series before I reviewed it. I had previously reviewed Cassandra Clare's "Clockwork Angel", which is the first book in her prequel series "The Infernal Devices" and I really liked it. While I didn't think that The Mortal Instruments was quite as good, mostly because I preferred the ID characters, it's a very entertaining series.

The heroes of this series are Clary and Jace. Clary is your average sixteen year-old girl, growing up in Brooklyn with her overbearing mom, her substitute father figure, Luke (who reminds me of Luke from Gilmore Girls, plaid shirt and all) and her best friend, the awkward and nerdy Simon. At least she thinks she's the average teen until her life takes a head-on collision with Jace, a handsome and arrogant Shadow Hunter, a secret class of warriors who, hidden from mortal eyes, protect the world from demons. Clary shouldn't even be able to SEE shadow hunters, so the fact that she can proves that she isn't so ordinary afterall, and as it turns out, neither are the other people in her life. While Clary proves to be not-your-ordinary human girl, Jace also proves to be not-your-ordinary shadow hunter, and both characters are lead on long journey to battle the forces of evil and find out who they really are.

While Clary and Jace are both likable characters, the real appeal lies in their fellow characters, "people" like the paternal to everyone, father to none Luke, the feisty and self-assured shadow hunter Isabelle, the forever loyal BFF Simon and the flamboyantly gay warlock, Magnus (who you'll recognize if you've read the Infernal Devices.

The one thing that I didn't care for in the series was that the last book, City of Fallen Angels, ended in a cliffhanger. Of course, I assume this to mean that the series isn't finished, but when I finish a boxset, I like all of my endings to be tied up nice and neat. I'm highly impatient with cliffhangers, and now I'm left thinking "I need to know!!!" Other than that, the series is good. Perhaps not the best fantasy series ever, but definitely worth the read, especially if you plan to see the movies, the first of which, "City of Bones", comes out in March, I believe. To its credit, I can't think of another series that has vampires, werewolves, warlocks, demons, angels, fairies... If it had a dragon, it would have everything.

Speaking of the movies, I had no interest in seeing them, because I felt like it's the kind of story that is preset for a horrible film adaptation... until I saw the casting. Aidan Turner as Luke Garroway?? Yes, PLEASE! As for the rest of the cast, they're all pretty much exactly what I pictured for the characters (or in the case of some, what the cover of the book lead me to believe they would look like). Maybe the movies won't be so bad afterall.

BUY THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS ON AMAZON

BUY A CLOCKWORK ANGEL ON AMAZON

J.T. Geissinger's "Shadow's Edge"

Night Prowler Series - Book 1 Shadow's Edge

I'm not sure how I came upon this book, maybe from one of those "Top Fantasy/Sc-fi Books" lists, but I'm glad I did. In the world of paranormal fiction, The Night Prowler series has the potential to be one of the best. Admittedly, I'm basing this opinion soley off of the first book "Shadow's Edge", but that's how good I thought it was. 

So, what makes it so great? Simply stated, it's beautifully written. Every aspect of the book is wonderfully descriptive without being tedious. The characters are approachable and believable. But most of all, the premise of the story is fairly unique, especially in a genre filled to the rafters with vampires, werewolves and witches. 

The Night Prowler series is about a hidden race of ancient creatures, the Ikati, "people" with magical powers and the ability to shapeshift into panthers. They live in secluded communities and keep to themselves, following a strict Ikati Law to keep their kind protected. 

The main character, Jenna, is not aware that she is the daughter of a renegade Ikati leader, or that his former Ikati tribe has been keeping tabs on her. All she knows is that she is different, that is until the current Alpha, a tall, dark and handsome Englishman named Leander shows up with two other members looking for her. Jenna must return to their tribe with them to get the answers to who, what and just how powerful she is.

The book is engaging, vivid and just to reiterate - the hero is a sexy Englishman named Leander. Need I say more? Of course there's a romance, and sex scenes aplenty, but they have the added bonus of being laced with the panther's primal urges. I can't wait to start the next book in the series, "Edge of Oblivion".

BUY "SHADOW'S EDGE" ON AMAZON.COM

H.P. Mallory's "Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble"

"Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble" on Amazon.com

May I start by saying that I LOVE that "Paranormal Romance" is an actual genre now? It cracks me up, and man do I love my paranormal romances. I would definitely say that they are my literary guilty pleasure.

This series, "The Jolie Wilkins Series", was recommended to me by a fellow PR lover, and upon the first couple of pages, I had my doubts.

Jolie Wilkins is a 28 year-old psychic in LA, who doesn't date and is perfectly content with her life, running her psychic business with her best friend, Christa and spending her evenings at home with her cat.

Then, one day, a Adonis-esque stud of a guy enters her shop, tells her his name is Rand and that he's a warlock and her life is never the same. Jolie finds out that not only is she a witch, but after taking a job offer from Rand, she learns that she has the unheard-of ability to bring back the dead, a power which makes her a prized trophy in the brewing war between the Underworlders. 

Once thrown into the world of the creatures of the night, Jolie must learn her craft while fending off the advances of every hot magical being that she comes into contact with, including not only her new employer, but a Master vampire, a werewolf that she brings back from the dead, a ghost and the King of the Fairies. 

Despite my initial doubts, "Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble" is sexy, quirky, fun and a very entertaining read. Get a hot cup of cocoa and curl up, because it's a perfect read for a lazy day in.

BUY "FIRE BURN AND CAULDRON BUBBLE: BOOK 1 IN THE JOLIE WILKINS SERIES" ON AMAZON.COM

Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice"

Pride and Prejudice on Amazon

This is one review that I am particularly happy to write. No, not because it's one of my favorite books, but because I was finally able to remove "Pride and Prejudice" from my "To Read" list. Since my high school days, roughly 12 years ago, I have attempted to make it though this book 5 or 6 times, and have never made it more than 10% in. I just can't read Jane Austen. It's nothing personal against her, really. I'm not a huge fan of Brit Lit, but she does seem to catch my attention less than most.

So why continue on this quest to read it? Well, honestly, I was just determined to figure out this world-wide obsession with Mr. Darcy.

All I remembered of Mr. Darcy was that he was an arrogant prick who didn't seem any different than the British guy that I recently dated, who has now soured me on all Brits. So the quest began to read Pride and Prejudice all the way through.

If you aren't familiar with the plot line, the story is about a middle-class family, The Bennets, which is comprised of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet and their 5 daughters, Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Catherine and Lydia. Mrs. Bennet's sole goal in life is to marry her daughters off to affluent gentleman, and the she goes about this task with obnoxious zeal, much to the occasional embarassment of her two eldest daughters. 

Jane is the first Bennet daughter to make a "catch", in the form of Mr. Bingley, a rich, handsome and attractive man who has just moved to town. With him, he brings his close friend, Mr. Darcy, who just as I remembered is a wealthy, yet arrogant, stuck-up and extremely unpleasant person, who much to his own  chagrine finds himself falling for the lower-class-than-himself, Lizzy Bennet. 

The story then follows his attempts at both avoiding and pursueing the extemely independent, vivacious and opinionated Lizzy, as well as lightly following along with the relationships of the other Bennet girls. 

I will say that once I got about a quarter into the story, it started to pick up for me, and by the middle, I actually found it interesting enough to breeze through. However, by the end, I still didn't understand the Darcy-mania. Yes, he's a bit more humble and kind, but that's all the credit I'll give him.

I think I'd like to a see a modern-day film adaptation of the story, because it definitely lends itself to a "Mean Girls" type film, and it would actually be pretty funny.

BUY PRIDE AND PREJUDICE FROM AMAZON.COM

Nicholas Sparks' "A Bend in the Road"

A Bend in the Road on Amazon

I'm a HUGE Nicholas Sparks fan, probably in large part because I'm a breathing member of the female gender. His books are like crack to us. I've read almost all of them, and "A Bend in the Road" was on the short list of those that I've missed. It also turned out to be one of my least favorites. Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad story, but it just lacked the emotional tug that a lot of his others have. 

The story opens on the narrator, who is telling his story of a horrible moment in his life, a moment that years later, still haunts him. He tells the story of a young mother who was killed in a hit-and-run accident, in which he was the killer.

The story then cuts to the time of the event and follows the woman's husband, Miles Ryan, a sheriff's deputy in a small town (because all Nick Sparks books take place in small towns) and his fruitless investigation to find his wife's killer. The story takes the reader through Miles' struggles to raise his young son, Jonah, and his blossoming romance with Jonah's teacher, Sarah. 

Unlike other Nicholas Sparks stories, this one reads, for the most part, like a mystery novel. You spend the story wondering who the nameless, faceless narrator is, but once the source of the narration is finally revealed... In my case anyway, it left a "well,  that was stupid." taste in my mouth. I think the reason that I felt that way stemmed from the fact that the coincedence was so big, that it became unbelievable. His other books always seem tragic in their possibility, like a less ridiculous Shakespeare. 

One thing that I did really appreciate about this story, however, was that the male lead in it was a lot more rough around the edges than your typical always perfect Nicholas Sparks character. With most of his stories, you have to remind yourself that guys like that don't exist, or else they're a needle in a haystack to find. Miles Ryan, while a genuinely good person, is definitely flawed. He's kind when he wants to be, but he can be volatile and abrasive. He makes plenty of wrong choices and he's not quick to apologize. He screws things up, and he has trust issues. He's a very real character, and at times, I found myself disliking him immensely. It was a refreshing change for a Nicholas Sparks character, because Miles never really has that moment where he just becomes this great guy with an epic happily-ever-after. The ending of the story is more realistic than idealistic.

So, while not a bad read, it doesn't compare to say, "At First Sight" which is one of my favorite Nicholas Sparks books. (BTW, if you decide to read "At First Sight" make sure to read "True Believer" first.)

Steven D. Levitt's "Freakonomics"

Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner

The title "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything" is a little misleading. He actually only explores the hidden side of a dozen or so things, but what he does is explore is most definitely interesting. And with his weekly article in the New York Times, Mr. Levitt certainly has time to keep exploring everything.

This book, co-written by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner is one of the select must-reads from the Uncollege Reading List (uncollege.org), which is how I stumbled across it. However, before I even got to it, several people had asked if I'd read it. Surprisingly, every person who mentioned it, referenced the same chapter - one in which the authors explain the correlation between the legalization of abortion after Roe v. Wade and the unforeseen nationwide drop in crime during the 90's. 

To give you a bit more of an idea of what this book is about, "Freakonomics" is a compilation of how statistics and data can be examined to show relationships that you nay have never noticed. The authors show how they were able to use match result data to prove cheating among Japanese sumo wrestlers, the show the inner-workings and financial data of the Chicago crack regime, they show what facets of parenting do and don't contribute to the scholastic success of their kids, and plenty more, all with the numbers to back it up.

Of course, many of the points that they make can still be argued by the reader, however, the theories and insight are still interesting and worth the read. One particular study at the end of the book is actually very interesting today, since the list of the 2012 most popular baby names was released today. The article is about how you can take popular baby name list, and using that data, predict which names will be popular years down the road. Since the book was written in 2005, they predicted the popular names for 2015. Let's see how they compare so far.

Of the 2012 most popular girl names, they had on their list - Sophie/Sophia, Emma, Isabel/Isabell and Ava. Four out of ten. Not too bad.

Of the 2012 boys names, they had - Aidan, Jackson and Liam. Three out of ten. Still not bad for a guess made seven years ago. 

It still remains to be seen how they do for 2015 year. 

Anyway, whether you agree with them or not on their findings, if you keep an open mind, it's a quick and fascinating read.