Once Was Lost By: Sara Zarr

Title: Once Was Lost

Author: Sara Zarr

PAPERBACK

Amount of Pages: 217

Release Date: October 1, 2009

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Geared Towards: Teens

From: Publisher (Review Copy)

"And I know what she means, what she's trying to get across. That a thing like this changes the way you think about everything and everyone, and you can never go back." (P. 102)

Summary (From B.O.B): When your father's a pastor, it's hard not to buy into the idea of the perfect family, a loving God, and amazing grace. But lately, Sam has a lot of reasons to doubt. Her mother lands in rehab after a DUI, and her father seems more interested in his congregation than in his family. When a young girl in her small town goes missing, the local tragedy overlaps with Sam's personal one, and the already-worn thread of faith holding her together begins to unravel.

Wdebo's Review: When I first started the novel I was skeptical, though the writing wasn't horrible, it was still not the best I have ever read. At first, it felt average and forgettable, but after a while the writing soon began to pick up speed and soon became very addicting.

The writing was simple which worked for the novel. I also enjoyed how Sara Zarr was able to thread all of these different stories into one full novel. Everyone has their own pains and they are all wonderfully written together. However, I think Daniel's part of the story was too much, I think it was just added in there and just kind of thrown away towards the end, there did not seem to be much of a statisfying end to that part of the story. I enjoyed how though it did talk about God and the messages that God is trying to send us, that there is not a heavyly written about, that it is there but not shoved into your face.

Sam complains about not wanting to leave her "home" and move away, I can understand that feeling but she is very adament against it, I wished that Sara Zarr could have exapndded on that idea so that I could have sympathized more with her wish.

I felt that the characters were also very well defined, each had their own personality that was distinct to themselves.

Cafe Cover Chat: I love this cover, so simple and gorgeous. (A-)

All in all, a great story for those who are trying to understand kind of what life is trying to tell us.

Grade: B+

Wdebo :)

New Soul-Yael Naim

Title: New Soul
Artist: Yael Naim
Language: English
TTS: None

Wdebo's Notes: Even though this isn't a new song, I absolutely love it. The whole song is soothing, calming and just over-the-toply addicting. I seriously love Yael Naim's voice.

Listen and Love!

Hope you enjoy! And please comment!

Wdebo :)

Get "Dreaming Anastasia" For FREE

So, you can now download the Kindle version of Dreaming Anastasia today for FREE, because of the almost release of Haunted. So, click HERE and download ^^
Wdebo :)

Wicked Woods By: Kailin Gow

Title: Wicked Woods
Author: Kailin Gow
PAPERBACK
Amount of Pages: 250
Release Date: November 29, 2010
Publisher: The Edge
Geared Towards: Teens/Paranormal Romance Lovers
From: Author (Review Copy)
Extra Info: First book in the Wicked Woods series (List on bottom)

"She was in a town full of vampires, about to be trained up into a vampire slayer by her great aunt, and have already convinced the rest of her school that she was a freak. Normal, Briony suspected, was no longer an option" (P. 45).

Summary (From B.O.B): Briony had to move to Wicked Woods, Massachusetts to live with her Great Aunt Sophie after her family disappears on vacation. The woods at the edge of Aunt Sophie's inn is filled with secrets and inhabitants both seductive and deadly. Among them is a beautfiul boy named Fallon who saves her one night in the woods. As Briony gets closer to Fallon, she learns he has a secret, as do most of the residents of Wicked Woods.

Wdebo's Review: I started this book because I read Bitter Frost [Click HERE for my review] and quite enjoyed it. When I first started, the beginning was slow and as the novel continued the writing became stronger and the storyline was interesting and flowed well. I like the idea of the whole vampire hunting group, I would totally want to join, even though I'm pretty sure I would get my ass kicked, or get bitten, or die before I even fight for like five minutes.

I liked the twists that Kailin would put into the story, the writing would continue and continue then there would be something that changes the course of the story. It kept the novel fresh and left no room for it to be dull.

However, there were a few things that bothered me about the novel. There were incorrect usages of certain phrases and the writing also bluntly states really obvious things, which I guess can be seen as a good and bad thing. Bad because, it just makes the reader want to go, "Yeah, obviously" but also a good thing because sometimes even the most obvious matters are hard to get, for me too sometimes, I'll be reading and suddenly think, wait, is this what the author was trying to say? And with this pointing-out, I am able to know that yes, indeed this is what I am suppose to think. Finally, I also don't like how many of the main characters are described as "perfect" on the outside. I guess that was one of main reasons I wasn't too fond of Briony, she sees people for their looks first, that is how she judges them, and is quite superficial, though it does seem like she matures over the course of the novel.

On the other hand, I do like the male characters. The hostility between the two brothers yet how they want to protect each other is a nice touch to the story ^^ I also enjoyed the whole writing about the relationships between the various groups, humans, werewolves and vampires, it was very well defined.

Cafe Cover Chat: I think the cover is ok...interesting, kind of spooky. (B-)

All in all, a great paranormal romance story for vampire and werewolf lovers.

Grade: B-

Wdebo :)

*****

Books in the Wicked Woods series:

1) Wicked Woods [This one!]
2) Shimmer [Review soon]
3) Silver
4) Silence
5) Sight

Sorry That I Loved You-Anthony Neely

Title: Sorry That I Loved You

Artist: Anthony Neely

Language: English

TTS: None

Wdebo's Notes: So I just started getting into Anthony Neely songs and this is one of my favs by him. So, he is American and Taiwanese mixed so he's quite good looking and I really do like his voice ^^ This song is so addicting and is stuck in my head, can't wait to go back to Taiwan so I can KTV this lol XD

Hope you enjoy! And Please comment!

Wdebo :)

The False Princess By: Eilis O'Neal

Wow, I haven't posted a review in forever, so sorry!! Anywho, enjoy!!

Title: The False Princess
Author: Eilis O'Neal
HARDBACK
Amount of Pages: 336
Release Date: January 25, 2011
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Geared Towards: Teens
From: Publisher (ARC)

"'So what should I call you now?' he said when we had our breath back. 'Savior of Thorvaldor? Soon-to-Be Master Wizard? Chief Councillor of Wise Words? My own love?'"

Summary (From B.O.B):

STRIPPED OF HER CROWN AND HER NAME,

SINDA MUST RACE TO PLACE THE

RIGHTFUL PRINCESS ON THE THRONE.

Princess and heir to the throne of Thorvaldor, Nalia knows her role in life. But everything changes when she learns, just after her sixteenth birthday, that she is a false princess-a stand-in for the real Nalia, who has been hidden away for her protection. Cast out with little more than the clothes on her back, the girl now called Sinda must leave behind the city, her best friend, Keirnan, and the only life she's ever known.

While struggling with her new peasant life, Sinda discovers that magic runs through her veins-long-suppressed, dangerous magic that she must learn to control. Returning to the city to seek answers, she isntead uncovers a secret that could change the course of Thorvaldor's history forever.

Wdebo's Review: Ever since I was young, I have always liked princess stories, such as those by Gail Carson Levine. So I was very excited to start The False Princess. Though in the beginning, I found the writing to be average and ok, but after a bit, the story line started to pick up and soon adopted a Gail Carson Levine like vibe and the writing was magical and exciting.

The story combined magic, royalty and romance wonderfully. Sinda's story was crafted expertly, I liked her character, except at certain moments I was annoyed by her, she was weak and indecisive and just made stupid mistakes; however, at other times she was strong and a great heronie. Though I thought that her magic would be a central focus of the story but through the writing I would forgete that she had magic, well until sparks started flying out of her, but I really wished she could have added more details to her magic usage. Now, on the topic of characters, I love Keirnan, he was super sweet and just got so gahh lovee!! :DD

Finally, there were many twists and turns in the story which kept the plot fresh and exciting. It was a great read.

Cafe Cover Chat: I like this cover, because it is pretty and I like it a lot more then the cover that was on my ARC. (B+)

All in all, a great story for readers that like Princess stories and fantasy plots, filled with adventure and romance.

Grade: B+/A-

Wdebo :)

For Myself-Alien Huang

-English Subbed-

Chinese Name: 為自己 (Wei Zi Ji)

English Name: For Myself

Artist: Alien Huang (黃鴻升/Huang Hong Sheng)

Language: Chinese (Mandarin)

TTS: HERE

Wdebo's Notes: I love this song so much!! Xiao Gui's voice is so addicting. And yeah, the song is very him ^^ And his tongue length is also very hypnotic. :) lol. But just a really great song and he is super cute here!!

Listen and Love!!

Hope you enjoy! And please comment!

Wdebo :)