Shade

I won a copy of this book from Candace's Book Blog (Thanks again!) and was really excited to read it. I've never read anything by Jeri Smith-Ready so I didn't really know what to expect but everyone was saying good things about it and I LOVED the cover art. I thought it was a great start to a new series. I loved all of the characters and the idea of this different reality they live in. It didn't take place in the future, just a different present where most people can see ghosts. Well the cover summary can explain better than I can so here it is:

Best. Birthday. Ever. At least, it was supposed to be. With Logan's band playing a crucial gig and Aura's plans for an intimate after-party, Aura knows it will be the most memorable night of her boyfriend's life. She never thought it would be his last.

Logan's sudden death leaves Aura devastated. He's gone.

Well, sort of.

Like everyone born after the Shift, Aura can see and talk to ghosts. This mysterious ability had always been annoying, and Aura had wanted nothing more than to figure out why the Shift happened so she could undo it. But not with Logan's violet-hued spirit still hanging around. Because Dead Logan is almost as real as ever. Almost.

It doesn't help that Aura's new friend Zachary is so understanding - and so very alive. His support means more to Aura than she cares to admit.

As Aura's relationships with the dead and the living grow ever complicated, so do her feelings for Logan and Zachary. Each holds a piece of Aura's heart...and clues to the secret of the Shift.

Just want to warn some of the younger readers that this book (even though YA) does have sex, drugs, alcohol, and a little bad language.

Falling

When I saw a review on the back cover of Falling by Christopher Pike comparing this book to Hannibal Lecter I was a little afraid. I don't handle scary stuff very well and I remember trying to watch Silence of the Lambs years ago and freaking out. Surprisingly, I really liked this book. It was very graphic (murder, torture, sex scenes, language), just warning some of you. Actually, chapters 20 and 24 made me feel a bit ill. The ending wasn't what I expected or hoped for but other than that I really liked this book. Here is the summary from the back cover:

In Falling, Christopher Pike explores the depths of human emotion through two brilliantly etched characters: Kelly Fienman, who pays a terrible price to understand the nature of true evil, and Matt Connor, a classic antihero who captures the reader's sympathy. The reader is drawn deeply into the hearts and minds of these two people, who face their deepest fears - and ours.

The Friday 56

Rules:

* Grab the book nearest you. Right now.

* Turn to page 56.

* Find the fifth sentence

* Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like) along with these instructions on your blog or (if you do not have your own blog) in the comments section of http://storytimewithtonya.blogspot.com/

Title: Falling

Author: Christopher Pike

Page 56 sentence 5-7:

"Tony," she whispered, sitting back down. She realized she did not immediately think of her husband when it came to sharing - the very concept of doing things together. There was truth in what he was trying to tell her.

Token of Darkness

I've really been looking forward to reading Token of Darkness because I love the rest of Amelia Atwater-Rhodes' books. Sadly I was a bit disappointed by it. I'm not sure if I just built it up too much in my mind but it didn't feel like the rest of her books. Persistence of Memory kind of felt that way for me too but not as bad as this one. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a bad book and I still love Amelia but I think this would be my least favorite of all of her books (Hawksong is still #1). I hope whatever she comes up with next is as good as her older ones. This one is still worth reading and I liked the idea and characters. Here is the summary from the inside cover:

Cooper Blake has everything going for him - until he wakes from a car accident with his football career in ruins and a mysterious, attractive girl by his side. Cooper doesn't know how Samantha got there or why he can see her; all he knows is that she's a ghost, and the shadows that surround her seem in tent on destroying her.

No one from Cooper's old life would understand what he can barely grasp himself...But Delilah, the captain of the cheerleading squad, has secrets of her own, like her ability to see beyond the physical world, and her tangled history with Brent, a loner from a neighboring school who can hear strangers' most intimate thoughts. Delilah and Brent know that Cooper is in more trouble that he realizes, and that Samantha may not be as innocent as she has led Cooper to believe. But the only way to figure out where Samantha came from will put them all in more danger than they ever dreamed possible.