I mentioned before that I attend the MWG 2010 conference and it was great. This is another keen story of what went down that weekend. I was able to meet some GREAT Missouri writers and marvel at their poise and prose. I know I sound like a nerd, but I am, so there.

 I met Jennifer Brown while at the conference. She is the author of HATE LIST, an edgy young adult novel. I am reading it now and it’s great. I am so impressed with the way she intertwines the past and the present. I can’t write like that. My writing is so immature compared to hers. I have a lot of work a head of me to be able to write anything as lovely.

 Not only is Jennifer a super writer, but an ultra cool girl. Jane (conference friend) and I were chatting at happy hour. I was sipping my vodka and diet while we complained that the Durry Inn wouldn’t sell drinks. Seriously, they don’t sell drinks. You get a drink voucher for three drinks per night you stay and that is all. It’s totally insane, but totally not the point of this story. We were standing there talking and there was a woman standing alone near us. She was propped up against a pillar, looking content and sipping her drink. Being the super social that I am, I called over, “Jennifer, you can come talk with us.” I waved her over with a big smile. Little did I know she was a real author, not just a wanna be like me.

 We all talked and laughed and had a great time. It’s funny how the whole thing happened because she writes young adult and I was feeling like a teenager that weekend. Being in a new crowd always makes me feel like I am fourteen standing in the lunchroom without a specific table to run to or a group of friends calling me over. I hated that feeling. It’s still so easy to curl up in a corner or pretend like I’m reading so I don’t seem as desperate as I really was. Isn’t that ridicules! I am a strong, pretty, confident woman and still can be that insecure teenager in a heartbeat. *sigh* Maybe we don’t ever really grow up, just grow older.

 The novel HATE LIST is tapping into those buried memories of High School. I know it’s good, when I can actually relive some of it. I wish I would have the book as a teen. Maybe I could have used it, like some kind of book therapy. It dives into the mind of a teenager, which is of course the scariest place to be. The insecurities, envy, hate and utter confusion of being a kid is laid out for the reader. It’s honest and true. Everyone should read it, young and old, because it’s an exceptional account of real feelings and real emotions in an all too real school shooting.

I give HATE LIST 5 out of 5 Bran Stars!

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I finished BEYOND THE DARK this weekend. It was super steamy,but, oh so good. I’ve never read an ADULT paranormal romance before. I was surprised and a little embarrassed. All I kept thinking was, do people really say this stuff or think this way? After I relaxed a little I really enjoyed it. The stories were short, but just enough. I didn’t read one of the four stories. The first few pages confused me so much (Diane Whiteside) I gave up.

It was too funny when my son (12yrs) picked up the book and asked me what it was about. I snached it away and told him he was too young to read it. He smiled and went on him merry way. Of course if it was me at 12 I would sneak a peek when my mom wasn’t around. Thank GOD he’s a better kid than I was. At least I think I so.

Over all I give it 4 Bran Stars.

What are you reading?

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Wings

Written by Aprilynne Pike

Aprilynne Pike

Wings is well in a word…Faeryastic! I loved the book. It was a new twist to an old fairytale. This was my first Faery book and I really, really loved it. It was recommended by Jackson Pearce, fellow author and funny gal..Thanks!

 The book centers around Laurel, a beautiful, sweet, strange teen. Laurel is an excellent character. She is as human as you or me, but not quiet just a human. Adopted by her loving parents she grows up home schooled. When she starts public high school she has to make friends and learn to be a normal girl. All the while she struggled with her own weirdness she found a connection in a great guy, David. David is calm and sweet, the kind of guy every girl would love to be best friends with and even more.

 The slowness of the first half builds up to a very dramatic ending. I kept fighting the urge to read ahead. Enter the handsome and mysterious Tamani. He is the kind of character you want desperately and love to hate the fact that he’s actually not able to be real. David could be real he could be a guy you know or grew up with. Tamani is something different, something strange and mysterious. I wanted to know all about him. I want to know what he can do and how he does it. I really want to know if he and Laurel are going to pollinate… You’ll have to read Wings to know what I mean by that.

 I really do recommend this book, it’s a great read.

 I give it 4 1/2 Bran Stars!   

 + 1/2 Bran Star

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At First Sight

Written by Nicholas Sparks 

Nicholas Sparks is a well known author of books (and movies) like Nights in Rodanthe, The Notebook, etc.. I picked up this second hand book for $.50 at a flee market. It’s a good thing too because I would never pay full price for this novel. I expected to love it, he’s a NYT Best Seller. It was the most awful book I have ever read! I know that sounds harsh, but really, it was terrible.

The story starts off bumpy, a sad man pining for some lost love. Then poof to the past where this NY writer (so cheesy writing about a writer) leaves NY for a small town girl he fell in love with in a day. I am a believer in love at fist sight, that’s what my novel is about, but this was stupid. The book is written in a man’s voice, Jeremy. He’s an ok character but boring. He never really does anything. Most of the book is spent in his head talking about his thoughts, which are shallow and stupid. He loves Lexi, she is his soul mate. OK that’s great. But then he gets some random e-mails and begins to question her love, her honesty, and the baby she is caring. I mean, COME ON! If you love someone unconditionally why would some random e-mail upset you? It just doesn’t make since. Why wouldn’t you just talk about it? The whole thing was dumb. I found myself reading the first three pages of a chapter then the last three, all the crap in the middle just sucked eggs.  

 He actually complained in chapter 15 about being rejected (sexually) after they got married. He remembered the exact date! What a tool. Then there is a problem with the pregnancy, which is drama but not the kind I like. Then when it was time to go to the hospital he took a long shower and clipped his nails. Who does that? What kind of husband/father is that selfish? Then he does the unthinkable, blames the baby. I won’t give away the end. I can say that the very last chapter was the best in the entire book.

Bottom line, Jeremy is a jealous hysterical man most of the book. You can just skip CH 1 through 18. Start at 19, it finally gets interesting. I can see what Sparks was trying to do. He wanted to show true love and true loss, but fell short.

 I give this book two Bran Stars.

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“Marked”

 By P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Marked is a young adult book set in today’s world, with a twist. The most beautiful, most powerful and utterly yummy people are all vampyres. When you are “marked” with a sapphire crescent moon right on your forehead, you are then a fledgling vampire. This is the story of Zoey Redbird’s new life. She leaves old friends, some that won’t go away, for the new and exciting life as a fledgling at the House of Night school for vamps.

 Is it believable? Sort of. I like the supernatural elements, but its context is confusing to my system. Maybe I am lacking imagination, but I can’t see my world with vampyres running around. I guess the idea of bringing that world to “light” is just a little hard to imagine. I think it’s much easier when it’s underground and maybe just maybe it could be true. What is the deal with the spelling of vampyre! My Microsoft Word keeps trying to change it to vampire. I read on Amazon that the P.C. just liked the spelling. I say, go for it. It’s different and cool. It helps brand the books. It’s a good marketing tool.

 The only thing I really don’t like is all the boy drama. I know it’s a teenage book, I know that as a teen there is a lot of boy drama, but it’s still a little irritating to my thirty something mind.

This is my Sylvia

 There were some good characters, Stevie Ray, and some bad, the twins. OMG, the twins were so ridicules. I can’t stand the way they call each other “twin”, all the time. It actually distracted me when reading. They brought in sex (just a little) and the cursing isn’t bad, it’s believable (sadly) for teens to talk like that. Of course the “hag from hell” Aphrodite is defeated in the end. Although I can see the proverbial “writing on the wall”, she will have a much bigger role in the books to come. She has too; her personality is one that you love to hate. I love Zoey’s grandmother, Sylvia, and it’s not because that’s my daughters name (but it helps). She is sweet old Cherokee woman with a kind soul, she is well written and I wish I could sit down and have tea with her. Zoey is “special” everyone knows it but her. She is strong, yet vulnerable. She is young and still learning about herself. I like her, I won’t say love, but she’s growing on me.

to four Bran Stars.

P.S. You can get “marked” on the official House of Night website, too cool! Also check out the pictures of your favorite charaters. Zoey looks WAY to old to be 16.

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Vamped

Written By, Lucienne Diver

The story begins catching; digging out of your own grave is always interesting. The lighthearted story is about a teenage vampire socialite. She loves, hates, and fears as all teens do. Fighting to keep her fashion sense and save the group of newly vamped teens, she battles stronger, older and sometimes scarier vamps.

 Here what I liked about the book. The main character, Gina Covello, was quick witted and had an air of superiority. She was a great teen drama queen, which could hold her own in a battle. I loved the language and point of view of the book. The writing was an easy read. The author left a lot of loose ends, creating the need for a second book (which i think is called Re-Vamped?).

 Here is what I didn’t like. The story began at her death, that’s fine, but it lost her humanity. Because I, the reader, never saw her as human, it was hard for me to relate on that level (my level). It was strange to me that she automatically loved the boy that turned her, but not because he turned her. It was an awkward transition. I would have liked to see more relationship development between the two of them. Maybe it’s because it’s a teen book, it just seemed too shallow. The story was good, although it happened so fast. Bam, she’s a vamp, bam, she’s in trouble, bam, she saves the day (all in about a week). I like a story that evolves into something. I think it was too unreal for me to be entirely sucked in.

I give Vamped four Bran Stars! It’s a good easy read that will make you laugh and remember your outrageous teenage drama. If you are a teen, you will love it. This would be a great gift for any girl that’s in love with vamps.

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I have been reading quite a few books in the past few months. I am trying to fit them in while completing my own MS. I will be posting book reviews. I’m starting my own rating scale, 1 to 5 “Bran Stars”. My husband always calls me Bran Star, so I thought it was fitting.

1 Bran Star – Blah! Don’t waste your money.

2 Bran Stars- Borrow from a friend (if offered). Read if it’s all you’ve got handy (ie bathroom book).

3 Bran Stars- So-So, borrow from Library or friend. OK reading to past the time.

4 Bran Stars – Good Buy, you will enjoy the story and keeps you entertained.

5 Bran Stars - Must Buy and re-read until your eyes glaze over.

Look for the first post soon!

“Marked”   

“Betrayed”

“Vamped”   

I know – I’m on a vampire kick – I can’t help it – I’ve got Twilight fever

Nov 20 is just around the corner!!! Yeah “New Moon”!!

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