Book Review and Giveaway: Desires of the Dead

Title: Desires of the Dead.
Author: Kimberly Derting.
Pages: 355.
Format: Hardback.
Series: The Body Finder Series, #2.
Publisher: HarperCollins.
Published Date: February 2011.
Summary:

"The missing dead call to Violet. They want to be found.
Violet can sense the echoes of those who've been murdered—and the matching imprint that clings to their killers. Only those closest to her know what she is capable of, but when she discovers the body of a young boy she also draws the attention of the FBI, threatening her entire way of life.
As Violet works to keep her morbid ability a secret, she unwittingly becomes the object of a dangerous obsession. Normally she'd turn to her best friend, Jay, except now that they are officially a couple, the rules of their relationship seem to have changed. And with Jay spending more and more time with his new friend Mike, Violet is left with too much time on her hands as she wonders where things went wrong. But when she fills the void by digging into Mike's tragic family history, she stumbles upon a dark truth that could put everyone in danger."

Cover: 5/5

Even though, I'm not sure if the pink thing is a flower or not, I just love this cover. The clean and slick black background not only makes the pink, but also the title and the author stick out much more. The cover is simple, beautiful and get it's point across.

Characters-

Favorite:

Jay's been my favorite since The Body Finder, but I found myself liking him more and more throughout the second book. He might not have been on Violet's side at one point in time (I don't want to give any spoilers!), but he's still such a sweet guy! Awwww(: When Jay became friends with the new boy in their school (Mike), they had a little bro-mance, but he still made sure not to leave Violet out.
If I had to pick a second character I really enjoyed, it would have to be Chelsea. She so bold, and outgoing, doing things I would NEVER do in public! But Chelsea added humor to the story, which was a huge plus(:

Least Favorite:

In The Body Finder, I felt like Violet could be someone that I wanted to be friends with. I understood her, and some of the things she was going through (obviously I can't spot the dead or it's murders, but just some teenage-girl-life things). But in this book, Violet seemed different. She was sneaking behind peoples backs, she got mad at Jay and didn't speak to him for days, and she also avoided the FBI.

I loved the roll Violet played, but it was a little frustrating that she could just never ask for help, always wanting to do it on her own. Come on Violet! Their your family, they love you and just want to help!

Story Line: 5/5

Ask anyone, "If you could have any super power, which would it be?". Most likely they answer won't be, "Uhhhh, I wish I could spot dead people, and their murderers!". Well, unless your in the force oooor your just ... a big weirdo. Violet, didn't exactly have a choice. The power runs in her family, even though it skipped her mom.

I had so much fun reading Desires of the Dead, even if the ending was a little sad. It held up to my high expectations, I set after falling in love with The Body Finder. I can't wait to get my hands on the third book! I hope we get to learn more about Violet's grandma, and how she dealt with this power, Jay and Violet's relationship, and maybe even include Chelsea and Mike a little more(:

In My Mailbox #15 (VLOG!)

Here's a picture(:


Shut Out, Kody Keplinger.

"Most high school sports teams have rivalries with other Schools. At Hamilton High, it’s a civil war: the football team versus the soccer team. And for her part, Lissa is sick of it. Her quarterback boyfriend, Randy, is always ditching her to go pick a fight or haze a freshman. And on three separate occasions Randy’s car has been egged while he and Lissa were inside, making out. She is done competing with a bunch of sweaty boys for her own boyfriend’s attention.
Lissa decides to end the rivalry once and for all: She and the other players’ girlfriends go on a hookup strike. The boys won’t get any action from them until the football and soccer teams make peace. What they don’t count on is a new sort of rivalry: an impossible girls-against-boys showdown that hinges on who will cave to their libidos first. And Lissa never sees her own sexual tension with the leader of the boys, Cash Sterling, coming. In this hilarious and romantic reimagining of Aristophanes’ Lysistrata, the battle of boys against girls is on."

Forever, by Maggie Stiefvater.


"The thrilling conclusion to #1 bestselling Shiver trilogy from Maggie Stievater
In Maggie Stiefvater's SHIVER, Grace and Sam found each other. In LINGER, they fought to be together. Now, in FOREVER, the stakes are even higher than before. Wolves are being hunted. Lives are being threatened. And love is harder and harder to hold on to as death comes closing in."

Pure, by Julianna Baggott.

"A dystopian novel about a society of haves, who escaped an apocalypse in a futuristic dome-covered city, and have-nots, who survived the nearly destroyed outside world. The have-nots are almost entirely marked or mutated in some manner.

PURE centers around the story of Pressia, a 16-year-old survivor with a doll’s head fused into her left hand, and Partridge, an unmarked Pure who has escaped the Dome to find his mother, certain that she has survived the cataclysm."

Wonder Struck, by Brian Selznick.

"Set fifty years apart, two independent stories—Ben's told in words and Rose's in pictures—weave back and forth with mesmerizing symmetry. How they unfold and ultimately intertwine will surprise you, challenge you, and leave you breathless with wonder.

Ever since his mom died, Ben feels lost.
At home with her father, Rose feels alone.

He is searching for someone, but he is not sure who.
She is searching for something, but she is not sure what.

When Ben finds a mysterious clue hidden in his mom's room,
When a tempting opportunity presents itself to Rose

Both children risk everything to find what's missing.

With over 460 pages of original drawings and playing with the form he invented in his trailblazing debut novel, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, Brian Selznick once again sails into uncharted territory and takes readers on an awe-inspiring journey."

Book Review #34: Heist Society

Title: Heist Society.
Author: Ally Carter.
Pages: 287.
Format: Hardback.
Series: Yes, #1.
Publisher: Disney Hyperion.
Published Date: February, 2010.

Summary:

"When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her to the Louvre...to case it. For her seventh birthday, Katarina and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Austria...to steal the crown jewels. When Kat turned fifteen, she planned a con of her own—scamming her way into the best boarding school in the country, determined to leave the family business behind. Unfortunately, leaving "the life" for a normal life proves harder than she'd expected.
Soon, Kat's friend and former co-conspirator, Hale, appears out of nowhere to bring her back into the world she tried so hard to escape. But he has good reason: a powerful mobster's art collection has been stolen, and he wants it returned. Only a master thief could have pulled this job, and Kat’s father isn’t just on the suspect list, he is the list. Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat’s dad needs her help.
For Kat there is only one solution: track down the paintings and steal them back. So what if it’s a spectacularly impossible job? She’s got two weeks, a teenage crew, and hopefully just enough talent to pull off the biggest heist in her family’s (very crooked) history—and, with any luck, steal her life back along the way."

Cover: 5/5

Even though it doesn't really bother me, if book covers in a series don't match, I'm still glad they do(:
What I really like about this one, is her sly smile and her glasses. When you look into them, you can see one of the pieces of art she has to "steal" throughout the story. Awesome cover!(:

Characters-

In Heist Society, I really enjoyed all of the characters, from her little gang, to her dad and uncles. I must say, I didn't like Hale very much at the beginning of the book, but I found myself liking him more and more towards the end. But I do hope, that in the second book, Uncommon Criminals, that we get to know more about Kat's mom and the past.

Story Line:

It's like a family business, when the next generation gets old enough, they take over, doesn't matter if your family bakes, does construction, owns a farm, or steals. Some are okay with taking over, since their the next in line. But others like Kat, want something different, want something better for themselves, want more.

When you first get to know Kat, she's attending a private school. Well that is until she get's accused something she didn't do. She's been framed, and expelled.

As Kat walks out, expecting a cab, she sees a long limo waiting for her. To her surprise, Hale, a family friend sits inside waiting for her. From this moment on, everything changes. Will Kat be pushed back into her old life of theft? Will she accept the job? Is her father behind this? You'll just have to read the book to find out(;

When I picked this book up I was a little unsure if I would like it, but a lot of bloggers and youtubers I follow, said they had enjoyed Heist Society. Just like them I loved it! Before I even knew, I was already finished, and wanting more. Uncommon Criminals is the second book in the series, which I can't wait to start reading(:

Once Upon A Read-a-Thon Update #3

This last two days went by so fast, I can't believe today's the last day of the read-a-thon already. I had loads of fun, reading like crazy and joining mini challenges! I can't wait til next year, to do it all again(:

The read-a-thon doesn't officially end til midnight tonight, so everyone should be cramming in another book or two.

So far I finished Desires of the Dead, Hold still, Replay, and half of The Devouring! I hope to finish The Devouring and get started on Matched(:

What have you read so far?

Teaser Tuesday #16: Heist Society

Heist Society is this week's lucky book, I'm teasing about! I have finished and really enjoyed it. I'll be posting the review this Thursday....so tomorrow(:

#1.)"The desert air was dry, but there was no denying the smell of chlorine-and money-as Kat rolled the blueprints out onto the glass tabletop."

#2.)"It was was easy to feel alone there, lost in the chaos. But Kat was a thief. Kat knew better."

Once Upon A Read-a-Thon Update #2

To do a quick update (so I can get back to reading), I just want to let you guys know how far I got. I finished up Desires of the Dead, halfway through Hold Still, and about five chapters into Devouring!

My goal for today is to actually finish both Hold Still and Devouring, so I can finally get to Matched, which I'm really looking forward to reading(:

And since I did finish one book on my list, I figured why not just add one more? So I'm adding...

She's So Dead To Us, by Kieran Scott.

"When having money is all that matters, what happens when you lose it all?
Perfect, picturesque Orchard Hill. It was the last thing Ally Ryan saw in the rear-view mirror as her mother drove them out of town and away from the shame of the scandal her father caused when his hedge fund went south and practically bankrupted all their friends — friends that liked having trust funds and new cars, and that didn't like constant reminders that they had been swindled. So it was adios, Orchard Hill. Thanks for nothing.
Now, two years later, Ally's mother has landed a job back at the site of their downfall. So instead of Ally's new low-key, happy life, it'll be back into the snake pit with the likes of Shannen Moore and Hammond Ross.
But then there's Jake Graydon. Handsome, wealthy, bored Jake Graydon. He moved to town after Ally left and knows nothing of her scandal, but does know that he likes her. And she likes him. So off into the sunset they can go, right? Too bad Jake's friends have a problem with his new crush since it would make Ally happy. And if anyone deserves to be unhappy, it's Ally Ryan.
Ally was hoping to have left all the drama in the past, but some things just can't be forgotten. Isn't there more to life than money?"

Mini Challenge Day 2

This mini challenge, name your three favorite love triangles!

Mine are...

1. Jeremiah, Belly and Conrad from The Summer I Turned Pretty Series.
2. Puke, Megan, and Ash from the Iron Fey Series.
3. Jacob, Bella and Edward from the Twilight Series.

... I don't believe I've read a book, that has a love triangle with two girls, instead of two boys!