Review: Past Midnight by Mara Purnhagen

Title: Past Midnight

Series: Past Midnight #1

Author: Mara Purnhagen

Genre: YA, paranormal, horror, mystery

Publication date: Sept. 2010

Published by: HarlequinTeen

Source: Borrowed from library

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Synopsis:

Let me set the record straight. My name is Charlotte Silver and I'm not one of those paranormal-obsessed freaks you see on TV…no, those would be my parents, who have their own ghost-hunting reality show. And while I'm usually roped into the behind-the-scenes work, it turns out that I haven't gone unnoticed. Something happened on my parents' research trip in Charleston—and now I'm being stalked by some truly frightening other beings. Trying to fit into a new school and keeping my parents' creepy occupation a secret from my friends—and potential boyfriends—is hard enough without having angry spirits whispering in my ear.

All I ever wanted was to be normal, but with ghosts of my past and present colliding, now I just want to make it out of high school alive…

My rating: ★★★★☆
Charlotte's parents have a very interesting job. They go around the world in search of "haunted" places, they film, then from the gathered info they make documentaries. But they don't exactly go hunting for ghosts...its more like, they go to these "haunted" place to try and debunk all the weird stuff that has been going on. They usually find some logical, scientific reason behind the "paranormal" activities. Usually.

Review- Kiss Me Deadly: 13 Tales of Paranormal Love

Title: Kiss Me Deadly: 13 Tales of Paranormal Love

Author: Various authors

Genre: YA, anthology, paranormal

Publication date: August 2012

Published by: Running Press Teens

Source: Borrowed from library

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Synopsis:

For those who thirst for accounts of paranormal romance, Trisha Telep has compiled some of the most thrilling takes of forbidden love in this collection. First crushes and last rites; dark spells and bright magic; forbidden lovers and enchanted beings -- and always, always the hungry games of desire. Pucker up for a darkly sweet collection of ghosts, shape shifters, fairies, unicorns, vampires, and demons in tales from today's biggest writers of the paranormal persuasion.

My rating: ★★★☆☆
Can I just start off by saying that this was (excruciatingly) long, lol! I thought I was never going to finish it! And I will admit, the only reason I picked up this book was because of Rachel Vincent's story takes place in the Soul Screamers world. And if you care to know, she is one of my favorite authors :)

1. The Assassin's Apprentice by Michelle Zink (3 stars): This was a pretty good story, but nothing that impressed me. It was about this girl seeking revenge on a demon after he killed her parents. She eventually does get what she wants with the help of Apprentice.

2. Errant by Diana Peterfund (2 stars): Apparently this story takes place in the world of the series Killer Unicorns. I have not read that series so I thought it was a bit weird, and, truthfully, I didn't really capture my attention.

3. The Spirit Jar by Karen Mahoney (4 stars): This was one of my favorites! And there is another story about Moth in the book The Eternal Kiss: 13 Vampire Tales of Blood and Desire.

Moth is a vampire and she is on a mission to retrieve a book for her creator. Sounds easy, right? If only it were...

Review: Familiar by Michelle Rowen

Title: Familiar

Author: Michelle Rowen

Genre: YA, paranormal

Stand alone release date: May 12, 2011

Published by: Running Press Teens

Source: Borrowed anthology from library

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Synopsis:

A Short Story originally published in the Kiss Me Deadly anthology.

When reluctant teen witch Brenda Collins is sent by her mother to a magical pet shop to pick out her animal familiar, she settles on a small tawny-striped kitten not realizing it’s a shapeshifter currently in hiding. Discovering the gorgeous but troubled Owen’s secret plunges the witch-in-training into a dangerous and romantic adventure that will test her magical abilities like never before.

Familiar is a stand alone 10,000 word young adult short story, originally published in the “Kiss Me Deadly” anthology.

My rating: ★★★★★
Brenda is a witch...and not a very good one at that. Why? Because she just isn't interested in practicing witchcraft like her very talented mother. but to get her insisting mother off her back, she decides to give it a try. First things first, she must pick out a familiar...a witch's pet who will keep her company and help her with magic. Only she doesn't realize that the cute, little , striped kitten she chooses is a actually a shifter in hiding (Owen, who i like to call a werecat even though he prefers shapeshifter :P)

Review: Hare Moon (The Forest of Hands and Teeth #0.5) by Carrie Ryan

Title: Hare Moon

Series: The Forest of Hands and Teeth #0.5

Author: Carrie Ryan

Genre: YA, dystopian, fantasy, horror

Publication date: August 2012

Published by: Running Press Teens

Source: Borrowed from library

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Synopsis: Tabitha can’t shake the feeling that something exists beyond the fences of her village. And when she sneaks out, past the gates and down the path into the Forest of Hands and Teeth, she meets a boy who teaches her heart things she never knew. But love in a world surrounded by so much death doesn’t come without its sacrifices, and Tabitha gradually realizes just how much she’ll have to give up to live among the Unconsecrated. From New York Times bestselling author Carrie Ryan comes an original story of love after the Return.

My rating: ★★★☆☆

Tabitha, the curious young gal that she is, knows that there has to be more beyond her fenced village... beyond the Forest of Hands and Teeth.

Review: Kisses From Hell

Title: Kisses From Hell

Authors: Kristin Cast, Alyson Noel, Kelley Armstrong, Richelle Mead, Francesca Lia Block

Genre: YA, paranormal

Publication date: August 2010

Published by: HarperTeen

Source: Borrowed from the library

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Synopsis:

Truly, Madly, Undeadly

This irresistible collection features stories of love amid vampires by five of today's hottest authors—Kristin Cast (Tempted), Richelle Mead (Vampire Academy), Alyson Noël (Evermore), Kelley Armstrong (The Summoning), and Francesca Lia Block (Pretty Dead).

From a fugitive vampire forced to trust a boy who might work for the group bent on destroying her to the legendary romance of two immortals whose love compels them to risk everything, this heart-pounding collection brings new meaning to the words "love you forever." Whether you're into romances that are dark and moody or light and fun, these stories will quench that insatiable thirst for enchanting tales of the beautiful undead.

My rating: ★★★☆☆
Sunshine by Richelle Mead (4 stars): This is a Vampire Academy story about how Lisa's parents met. I really liked it and because of it I decided to read the whole series :)