Bibliophile Support Group

Wow. All I can say is: wow. Okay, I can say more. But I was practically speechless when I finished this thrilling, exciting, out-of-my-mind suspenseful book! This is Kelley Armstrong’s first foray into the wonderful world of young adult fiction. She is a best-selling author of an adult series (I guess some of which take place in the same world as this killer, so I think I’ll be checking them out sooner than later). Fifteen-year-old Chloe Saunders is a relatable, sweet, sort of ordinary girl – often mistaken for much younger (I can relate). She’s not hated or loved by her peers. She’s not popular, but she’s not really unpopular either. But when an event that she has waited a long time to happen does happen at school – things start to happen. She’s never been that fond of the dark in the first place, especially after a nightmare that might be more truth than dream, but when an unfamiliar janitor starts running after her down the school halls, his face turning into a melting, waxy looking...

As much as I hate to give any bad or lukewarm reviews, I started this blog with the idea in mind that I would review books as I read them (meaning whether it myself just reading something for pleasure, rereading, or even getting a book to review from a reader review program) – and honestly state my opinion of them. Well, my honest opinion of The Humming of Numbers by Joni Sensel (who is a Washington resident, which is awesome!)… isn’t great. Actually, I didn’t even finish it. I know! I know! I hate not finishing a book. But there is always that principle that there are SO many fantastic books (like the one I’ll be reviewing next) out there that to force yourself to keep turning the pages of a book you are finding pretty darn dull is a disservice to yourself and the industry. Here’s the thing: Aiden is a monk in training in the 10th century. He lives a sheltered life with monks. I’ll admit the setting is rather off-putting. But the author is simply presenting the time period as it was....

I firmly believe that older books are just as important to blog about as newer ones. There is always going to be someone who missed the boat the first time around. That's why, after reading Meg Cabot's first in the bestselling series for the fourth time (yes, you read that right) - I decided to put it on here. I was one of those stuck up girls (not Lana, no worries - maybe a little Lilly) that saw the cover (at the time it was bright pink with a sparkly tiara) and scoffed. I didn't want to read a book that had "Princess" or "Diaires" in the title. Thing is, I loved the Mediator series by a certain Jenny Carroll , and when I realized Jenny Carroll and Meg Cabot were one and the same - I had to read it. And if you are one of those people that didn't read it because of the cover, title, etc. - THINK AGAIN! Hilarious (I mean, laugh-out-loud funny) and extremely entertaining, The Princess Diaries is the type of book you devour in less than a day because...

Are you a fan of supernatural thrillers (with a dose of humor, that is) like Meg Cabot's "Mediator" series? How about "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"? If your answer is yes to either question (and really even if it isn't), you should check out Rosemary Clement-Moore's new book. Her main character, Maggie Quinn, is one of those relatable characters that is a bit of an outcast, smart but not overwhelmingly in love with school, and has a razor sharp wit (think Veronica Mars) that we all wish we possessed. However, she also has another facet of her personality. She hates to admit it, but she senses something wrong about the fire and brimstone scent that seems to everywhere. She doesn't want to have a special "gift" - but she does. And when her classmates start to have, ahem, "accidents", she suspects more than mortal foul play is at works. Every character (from her slightly off kilter friend Lisa to the hottie college student who is willin...

Kimberly Pauley's first novel manages to have an irresistible mix of hilarity and originality, throwing all the vampire cliches out the window and providing readers (like me) a fresh, energizing novel. Instead of the shadowy, rogue sort of vampires we usually get in literature (which there is nothing wrong with of course - I love me some hot vampires), Sucks to Be Me introduces an unfamiliar type: accountants. Not to mention the fact that there are rules and regulations and a Ministry of Magic sort of government for the blood drinking species. Pauley's fun, entertaining novel doesn't try to compete with other types of vampire books - her's is on a different level. And the level is full of laughs! Mina is a teenager with a great sarcastic wit (but never mean spirited) who finds out that her parents weren't exactly supposed to have let her in on their immortal secret (she's known since forever), and she's suddenly faced with a decision: would she like to join ...

Marissa Doyle's debut novel is an entertainng mixture of the social scene of the 1837 London season and Harry Potter esque magical mischief. Now, right there, you're already intrigued right? So was I. The main character, Persephone, and her twin sister Penelope, both have a magical gift that must be kept under wraps since witches were burnt at the stake less than a century ago - but just because they can't make a huge fanfare out of it doesn't mean that they can't hone their skills for private use, right? Right. So they're longtime governess, Ally, does just that. Persephone is the more studious and shy, and is not in the least bit happy about her coming-out season. It means talking and dancing and (gulp!) boys . And when a childhood friend, whose quite the handsome gentleman now, returns to the fold, her nerves are even more frayed. At first Persephone and Penelope's characters felt a little off for me. I didn't love Persy's awkwardness right away -...

Meg Cabot's new winner is just as awesome as her other books. From the beginning she sets the tone of, Em, the main character: nice, shy, tomboyish, and awkward. Loveable? Of course she is! There's her unrequited crush on her best friend Christopher, her younger sister Frieda who lives on a different planet than her personality-wise, and the fact that she is ridiculed by her classmates. Regular, relatable Emerson Watts. Then something happens. The novel's great twist is reminscent of Meg's Mediator series (which I adore), though it's still completely different, makes the whole book turn on its head and start dancing the tango. Perfectly. I can't give away what happens in this twist because it would be literally causing a huge chunk of the plot to not be as exciting to you and it was to me. All I can say is: Frakktastic!!! Once again, Meg creates a likable character in an out-of-this-world experience that still manages to be fun, hilarious, and page-turningly su...