[Book Review] Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins

Summary (from Goodreads):
What if there were teens whose lives depended on being bad influences?
This is the reality for sons and daughters of fallen angels in Sweet Evil.
Tenderhearted Southern girl, Anna Whitt, was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She’s aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but it isn’t until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage, and her will-power is put to the test. He’s the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna.
Forced to face her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns?

This wasn’t the easiest book to read, in my opinion. But while there was a lot of things that I did not care for about the book, there was a lot of things that I did.

My sister took a three month course with our pastor about angels and all the information Wendy Higgins gave was accurate. Most of the times, authors don’t do all their research, but it seems Higgins really did. Also following the lines of being accurate, I felt the author did a great job of making it about demons and Neph, but not dissing God. As a Christian girl, I don’t like reading books that are solely out there to put down God. Also at the same time it wasn’t overly religious that can cause the book to be boring.

I felt the plot was a little weak a majority of the book. The whole idea of a daughter of a fallen one and a guardian angel is very intriguing, don’t get me wrong. I just felt like there needed to be more twist then there actually were.

As for the main character, Anna, I liked her a lot, but I felt like she was really just another teenage girl. Aside from her being half good, half evil, there was nothing that really made her special. She didn’t have a goal in life before finding out who she was. Hopefully that’ll change in the upcoming sequels. It took me a while to fall in love with Kaidan, but eventually I did start to feel bad for him and was rooting for him and Anna. Then there’s Kopano which in a way could make a love triangle, but for right now, Anna only has eyes for Kaidan. I hope Wendy Higgins touches on the whole triangle thing. Those are always fun.  

Now I have an ARC version and after confirming this with Wendy Higgins, I’ve learn that there is a different between the ARC version and the printed copy. So, this could or could not apply. The ending felt very closing almost as if it was a standalone. While there was some unanswered questions, I felt like the author could have left  it for the audience to fill in.

But since this isn’t a standalone and there is another book coming possibly next year… I’m looking forward to where the author takes the characters.

3 out of 5 stars for Sweet Wicked by Wendy Higgins.

[Book Review] Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs

Summary (from Amazon):
Grace just moved to San Francisco and is excited to start over at a new school. The change is full of fresh possibilities, but it’s also a tiny bit scary. It gets scarier when a minotaur walks in the door. And even more shocking when a girl who looks just like her shows up to fight the monster.
Gretchen is tired of monsters pulling her out into the wee hours, especially on a school night, but what can she do? Sending the minotaur back to his bleak home is just another notch on her combat belt. She never expected to run into this girl who could be her double, though.
Greer has her life pretty well put together, thank you very much. But that all tilts sideways when two girls who look eerily like her appear on her doorstep and claim they’re triplets, supernatural descendants of some hideous creature from Greek myth, destined to spend their lives hunting monsters.
These three teenage descendants of Medusa, the once-beautiful Gorgon maligned in myth, must reunite and embrace their fates in this unique paranormal world where monsters lurk in plain sight.

First off I want to say Tera Lynn Childs is an awesome human being. She’s sweet to all of her fans and just all around a funny woman. The first time I met her was just after Sweet Venom came out. The next time I saw her I had a few of her other books for her to sign. She asked me if I had read her book yet. Sadly my answer was no. This last time that I saw her at TLA, I had read some of her books, but still hadn’t gotten around to read Sweet Venom. Having told her yet another time that I hadn’t read her book just completely embarrassed me. So, I made it my goal to read her book and the Sweet Shadows arc I had gotten at TLA. One half of that goal was met this week.

I regret not reading this book sooner. I loved everything about it from characters, storyline, romance, voice. It all fit in perfectly.

Characters: Each of Tera Lynn Childs main characters has things about them that make them different. Gretchen, my favorite is the tom boy, I-am-going-to-finish-you-off-before-you-even-get-a-chance-to-touch-me has known about her destiny the longest and has the most experience with monster hunting. Grace is the second main character introduced. She knows she’s adopted, but that’s all she really knows. Little did she know that a move to San Francisco would completely change her world. Greer has no idea what’s going on when she is approached by her sisters. Three sisters. Three different personalities.

The storyline for this book was really great. I’m the type of girl that likes to try and predict what’s going to happen next. I couldn’t do that for this book. Instead I just sat back and enjoyed the journey the author put her characters in.

Although I would have loved to see more romance in the book, I can put it aside since I know this is only the first book in a trilogy. So, I know there’s bound to be more romance coming in the books that follow. Each of the three girls has their love interest. And although some boys are more likeable than others (at this point), I’m sure she’ll give us more scenes of the boys we haven’t really heard much of in this book.

I really admire how Tera Lynn Childs goes back and forth from character point of view. Every book that I read that has the character flip flop only does it better. Meaning I think Tera Lynn Childs has mastered it. It’s very clear which point of view the reader is reading from chapter after chapter. These girls are so different not only in attitude, but also in the voice Tera Lynn Child gives them.

Be on the lookout for my Sweet Shadows (sequel to this book) arc review. I know I’m looking forward to reading it.

5 out of 5 stars to Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs.

[Book Review] The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephanie Meyers



Summary (from Amazon): Fans of The Twilight Saga will be enthralled by this riveting story of Bree Tanner, a character first introduced in Eclipse, and the darker side of the newborn vampire world she inhabits. In another irresistible combination of danger, mystery, and romance, Stephenie Meyer tells the devastating story of Bree and the newborn army as they prepare to close in on Bella Swan and the Cullens, following their encounter to its unforgettable conclusion.

As a fan that has read all four of the Twilight books and loved them, I was really disappointed with this short novella. I got this book because I actually liked Bree in the movies. One of the reasons being, she was on two episodes of my favorite show Smallville and I kinda liked seeing how the actress grew up. With that being said, I felt more attached to the Bree in the movie than I did in this 178 page book.

Why? I’m not completely sure, but I’ve pinpointed some possible reasons that together could be the overall reason for not enjoying the book as much as I hoped I would.

Maybe it had to do with the fact that the main character, Bree never really showed that she was worthy of being a main character. She was just another average girl that could was turned into a vampire making her an average vampire.

The same thing could be said about Bella, but what makes this book different from the four other Twilight books is the romance. Stephanie Meyers tried to give some romance in this short novella, but I just wasn’t feeling it. Diego pretty much forces himself on Bree and the only time she really admits to having feelings for him is when something bad has happened (I’m trying my best not to give spoilers, but if you’ve seen Eclipse, you know the newborns fate).

With that being said, I did enjoy the last 40ish pages or so. I finally felt like Bree was becoming the character I was hoping she was from the very beginning. If the rest of the novella had been like this, I might have enjoyed it more.  

Now before I make this review longer than the actual book, I’m signing off. As always thanks for reading!

2 out of 5 to The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephanie Meyers.

[TV Tuesday] Review for Castle Season Four Finale "Always"

My morning has been full of Castle. Whether it be watching clips from last night’s “Always” episode or watching old interviews of the cast on Youtube, I haven’t been able to focus on anything else.

Last night’s season finale was one of the best episodes to date if you ask me. I say this for so many reasons: secrets being revealed, re-declaration of feelings, graduations, KISSING!

The episodes pretty much begins with Captain Montgomery’s house getting robbed. They quickly realize that it wasn’t just a random robbery and that the man was after his files…which take them back to Beckett’s shooting from the season 3 finale…which takes Kate back to searching for answers about her mother’s murder. If you, like me, watch every episode, you know that Castle made a deal with some people that would keep Beckett alive, but in return she had to keep away from the case. Well, that secret definitely comes out. Although, Castle tells Beckett that he kept this lead from her because he loves her and doesn’t want to see her get hurt, she’s still upset with him.

Beckett, Ryan, and Esposito continue this secret investigation from Captain Gates, but Ryan soon begins to worry if they’re in over their heads. Kate and Esposito follow a huge lead, the biggest yet, that ends with Kate going face to face with her shooter. But this is a fight that she doesn’t win. He ends up pushing her off the edge of the building and leaves her hanging for her life. Just when it all seems over, Kate hears Castle’s voice calling out to her. Only to find out it’s Ryan, Gates, and a team there to help her. Castle was never even there.

He was, however, at his daughter’s Alexis’s graduation.

The fallout of Esposito and Beckett keeping this investigation a secret, it surprising. Everyone expected them to be suspended. But what came as a shocker to me, was Beckett resigning.

After the fight, the graduation, the resigning, Kate shows up at Castle door and kisses him. He pulls away, but after Kate basically tells him that she just wants him, they start to kiss heavily against the door.

But just because Beckett is willing to let go of the murder case, doesn’t mean the people behind it are ready to let her go. The end scene shows the shooter in search for that information and saying “I’m going to put Kate Beckett in the ground once and for all.”

How the heck do the writers expect us to wait until September for new episodes? They’re trying to kill us, I tell you. There are so many things that I look forward to come season 5.

Firstly, I want to see Kate and Richard acting like a couple… but maybe keeping their relationship a secret from their family and friends until they can’t hold back anymore? I don’t know. Doing that could add more humor to the show, not that it needs it. Sneaking around. Trying not to be caught, but their friends and family knowing anyway but not telling them because they like seeing them all jumpy.

Secondly, what the heck is up with Kate quitting? I know she’s somehow going to have to find her way back to getting her job, but how and at what price?

Thirdly, Esposito and Ryan. Esposito wasn’t happy at all when Ryan told Captain Gates what they were doing. How is this going to affect their relationship?

Fourthly, Alexis graduating. I’ve always liked the Alexis character. She’s unique and that’s something I like. I wonder if the writers are planning on giving her another love interest. Maybe her college professor?

Lastly, Kate’s mother’s murder. Will we finally get the answers we’re looking for or will the writers leave us guessing.

So, here’s to a summer of waiting. I’ve already started to prepare myself for this by ordering the three Nikki Heat books online. I’ve been wanting to do it for a while and I finally did. Maybe reading these three books will help keep me sane until season 5. Or maybe they’ll leave me wanting more.