Review: My Sparkling Misfortune

Title: My Sparkling Misfortune
Series: My Sparkling Misfortune # 1
Genre: Young Adult- Fantasy
Author: Lara Lond and Alla Alekseyeva (Illustrator)
Publisher: Dream Books
Release Date: April 28, 2011
Book: E-copy sent by author

"Lord Arkus of Blackriver Castle readily admits that he is a villain and sees no reason why it should stop him from being the protagonist of this book. After all, Prince Kellemar, an aspiring hero, has defeated him in a rather questionable way. Bent on revenge, Arkus attempts to capture a powerful evil spirit who would make him nearly invincible, but a last-minute mistake leaves him with a sparkling instead a goody-goody spirit that helps heroes, watches over little children, and messes up villains plans. Bound to Lord Arkus for five years of service and sworn to act in his best interests, the sparkling is not easy to get rid of, and of course his understanding of best interests is quite different from what Lord Arkus has in mind."

What a great, twisted, fun  book! I absolutely adored it. I think seeing things from the villains point of view had me see a whole new perspective. It was nice for once, to see it this way. I have always wondered what goes through a mind of a villain. 


For one, the plot was great. I loved getting in to the storyline and reading about the villain. We as reader, always dislike the villain. We never really give him or her a chance to see who they really are. I also like how to mishap of this villain lead everyone to believe he is a hero! I was laughing my head off. I love his snarky comments and attitude. My favorite character was the sparkling. The sparkling is a magically creature that helps out heroes. I really liked how they became more than partners but true friend. You see even the villain has a heart. It just takes someone to take down the walls and see him.


The characters in the book I adored as well. As I said before, I loved the sparkling. He was super funny, super sweet, and did all the right things. He always made me smile and laugh. Overall, this book is great for kids who want a good adventure but with a twist! 


I give it 4 BITES!

Happy Reading!

Review: The Day Before

Title: The Day Before
Series: No
Genre: Young Adult- Contemporary
Author: Lisa Schroeder
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: June 28, 2011
Book: Galley grab

"Sometimes there's no turning back.

Amber's life is spinning out of control. All she wants is to turn up the volume on her iPod until all of the demands of her family and friends fade away. So she sneaks off to the beach to spend a day by herself.

Then Amber meets Cade. Their attraction is instant, and Amber can tell that he's also looking for an escape. Together they decide to share a perfect day: no pasts, no fears, no regrets.

The more time that Amber spends with Cade, the more she's drawn to him. And the more she's troubled by his darkness. Because Cade's not just living in the now--he's living each moment like it's his last."

This book is so heart wrenching. At first when I began to read it, I was confused. You were immediately dumped into the characters shoes, feeling hostile. As I kept reading, Ms. Schroeder began to unravel secrets little by little, making me finish this book in a mer amount of hours. I simply adore it!


The plot is simply fantastic! At times, I do get disappointed when the reader is dumped in the middle of what the character is going through and you have to read more and more to figure out what is going on. In this book, it just works that way. I like spending time on the beach with Amber and feeling invincible. She wanted nothing to do with whats was going to happen tomorrow, just what was happening now. I liked the way she didn't let those things get in her head.

Meeting the new character Cade was a great touch. Both of them had a great understanding of each other and did not push one another. What they needed is an escape from what they were facing and were a great comfort to each other. I think overall, they form a type of relationship, no, a secret place in which they can go to in one another. The trouble that they were both facing, was nothing what I was expected. As the reader, I felt for them and their anger. Two young teens facing such a hard decisions, now I can understand their need to get away. Heck, I wanted to get away myself!

The Day Before, is a great, fast, read that keeps you on your toes. Ms. Schroeder did an excellent job capturing the voice of two teenagers struggling with real life issues. Nothing is fake. The plot, the writing, and the way Ms. Schroeder connected it all had me holding me breath.

*There was some cursing* 

I give it 4 BITES!

Happy  Reading!

Review: Vision

Title: Vision
Series: Vision # 1
Genre: Young Adult- Supernatural/ Paranormal
Author: Beth Ellisa Harris
Publisher: Self-published
Release Date: 2011
Book: E-book sent by author



"Nighttime haunts Layla and dark secrets beckon to a mysterious island where a strange woman holds the answers.

Layla is a Clear wanted by Bane for a deadly game. Ancestors before her didn’t survive, and the only way for her to survive, is to open her heart…and choose love…before death closes in.

Layla arrives in Cambridge, England, a sixteen year-old high school student from Portland, Oregon, to attend Sixth College. Everything in her life is going according to plan. But she soon discovers no one in her life are who they seem, not even her family. Her Clear abilities that allow to read thoughts are stifled, and she becomes suspicious of those around her.

But there are reasons why Layla’s abilities are blocked, and only after a dangerous encounter does she begin to uncover the truth about the new people in her life, her past and family secrets, while Bane plot to use her as a pawn for world destruction."

One thing that grab me about this book is the setting. Now while the setting was now, some went back to the past. I love time travel. And I guess I love it so much because I wish I can do it myself. I loved to be immersed in a book where I can feel the past and the characters.


The plot was also great. Not only did it entertain me all the way through, but it brought so much more to the story. The way the past was intertwined with the future really pulled me into the book. I enjoyed watching both the characters past and future come together. The romance was a major swoon. And I am such a sucker for romance. Give me a guy who says heart stopping things and you have me at hello! This love was intense. It was a type of love the had been longing since the past of the characters. Its was great seeing them come together and love one another.

I love the paranormal twist to the book. It was definitely a refreshment to see something new for once. Don't get me wrong cause I love other paranormal elements, but this one I haven't seen around. I love reading new twist to an classic.

Vision is a great one of kind book. Filled with a love from the past that comes to a future, it is something you can't resist. The book was dynamic in the storyline and it flowed really well. I look forward to reading more about adventures about Layla and her ever enduring love for Stuart.

*There was some cursing*

I give it 4 BITES!

Happy Reading!

Review: The Blackberry Bush

Title: The Blackberry Bush
Series: No
Genre: Young to New Adult- Contemporary
Author: David Householder
Publisher: Summerside Press
Release Date: June 1, 2011
Book: E-ARC sent by author

''Who are You, and what are you doing here?

Two babies—Kati and Josh—are born on opposite sides of the world at the very moment the Berlin Wall falls. You'd think such a potent freedom metaphor would become the soundtrack for their lives, but nothing could be further from the truth.

Despite his flawless image, Josh, an artistic and gifted California skateboarder, struggles to find his true role in the world, and his growing aggression eventually breaks him.

Kati, a German with a penchant for classic Swiss watches and attic treasure-hunting, is crushed with disappointment for never being “enough” for anyone—most especially her mother.

Craving liberation, Kati and Josh seem destined to claim their birthright of freedom together. After all, don't the “chance” encounters transform your life…or are they really chance?"

I must say that I really enjoyed this book. I was capivated from the very beginning in how their life's were intertwined and how it all came together  in the end. The plot was very good. I really enjoyed the feel of traveling into the past and seeing the characters then. All the secrets, and betrayals they habored, you really didn't think how it would connect with the future characters but it did. It also makes you think a lot. It makes you see how even things done in the past can have such a profound effect in the future generations.

As for the characters, I thought they were amazing. Mr. Householder, did a great job capturing all of the characters in all of their stages of life. Young, Old, new. I really could relate to what they were going through. So many families went through so much during the war. It was a great refreshment to read it from all kinds of points of views.

Which brings me to my gripe. I really didn't like the pov switching. For me, it did flow well, but you were constantly switching characters views over and over again. It was sort of nerving. I really wanted to stay in one person shoes for longer than a few pages. But, then again, after finishing it, I can see how the pov switches were nesscary.

The Blackberry Bush, is real, intense read like no other. The plot and writing is intense enough that is captures you right away. This book is definitely something you want to read if you enjoy war stories that are caught up in the web of secrets, betrayal and hurt.

I give it 4 BITES!

Happy Reading!