Pale by Chris Wooding

Title: Pale
Author: Chris Wooding
ISBN: 9781781120910
Publisher: Stoke Books
Released: September 28, 2012
Series: N/A
Page #: 67
Source: eARC from NetGalley

Summary:
"The Lazurus Serum can bring you back from the dead - but when you come back you've changed. You're a pale, an outcast. It's the last thing Jed wants, but an accident changes everything and Jed's forced to discover the true cost of living forever."
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First Lines:

"We got the Pale on his way to school.
'Where do you think you're going?' asked Kyle. The way he said it, it wasn't a question. It was a threat." 
Page 1
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Review:

This is a very short book, so the review will be as well.  I'm always on the lookout for great hi-lo books for students. I know they go over like gangbusters for many kids, so I'm excited to find a new one. Especially when this one is in a different sort of genre than most of them are.

Jed lives in a time when death isn't necessarily the end of life. There is a serum that can keep people alive - but it changes the pigment in their skin. And the world looks at you like an outcast. He never wants that to happen to him or his friends.

I have been a fan of just about everything Chris Wooding has written. This short story is no exception. I think it's really well done and fully thought out within a few pages. I wasn't expecting it to be quite so rich, quite frankly. It's nice to see a hi-lo sci-fi/fantasy story. Especially because it covers some issues about differences in people and how people treat each other.

If you know readers who need those short stories, then I definitely recommend this one. It's a good one and it has plenty of possibility for discussion. So I think this one will go over well.
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Other Blog Reviews:

Libby Blog Review
My Chaotic Ramblings
Respiring Thoughts
Insomnia of Books
Itching for Books
We Throw Rocks at Cars
Reading Lark

Eternal: More Love Stories with Bite edited by P.C. Cast

Title: Eternal: More Love Stories with Bite
Author: Edited by P.C. Cast
ISBN: 9781935618010
Publisher: BenBella Books
Page #: 212
Source: From my public library

Summary:
"Love is Eternal... so are they.
Claudia Gray delves into the history of Patrice, from her bestselling Evernight series, and her doomed affair with a mortal World War II soldier.

Strange Angels author Lili St. Crow takes us to St. Mary's Catholic prep school where one disaffected girl can't seem to stay away from the boy she believes killed her best friend.

Wicked series' writer Nancy Holder reimagines Romeo and Juliet with an undead Romeo who's waited centuries for his beloved Juliet's return.

Heather Brewer, author of The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod, tells the story of a girl who wakes up kidnapped and locked in a freezing basement with the boy she loves, facing a monster she doesn't dare put a name to.

Rachel Caine returns to the setting of her bestselling Morganville Vampires series where her latest supernatural threat isn't to the residents' lives, but to Eve and Michael's bond.

And Shade author Jeri Smith-Ready introduces us to a gypsy community that harbors vampires, a girl caught between her family and her dreams, and the boy who gives up everything to help her."
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First Lines:

"The air in the USO canteen was hazy with cigarette smoke, thick with longing. It would've been hard to say who was more easily enchanted by romance in this place. Maybe it was the young men going off to war, desperate for comfort and perhaps someone to fight for."
Page 1 from "Bloodshed" by Claudia Gray
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Review:

I picked up this book because I have read and loved something by almost every one of these authors - a couple are ones I haven't read yet, but I have their book in my posession. So I'm getting there. But these stories were all really good. A few had surprise endings - or completely blew my assumptions of the story out of the water. Very well done book. I'm going to attempt to go through each story.


The historical Evernight story by Claudia Gray was wonderful. I loved how the school was still a focal point, but you really got a whole new view of it. And it also was an interesting take on what happens when someone is turned into a vamp without allowing it. It's also a look at how love can blind you to reality - especially when it's eternal.


I haven't read the series by Lili St. Crow, but I probably will try to after reading this story. The perspective in this story really is one of a crass high school girl and the way she lives her life. Thrown in is a couple of murders and a vamp on the loose. I found this one to be a bit more abrupt, but I think in longer form it would be wonderful.


Nancy Holder is another author I haven't read much by (I think), but I have one of her books in my TBR pile. There's something about Romeo that just bothers me. He probably would have in the old version too - but he's just so... obsessed. And crazy-seeming. But that's just Romeo for you, I suppose. :) I did love how the ending turned out, though.

The story by Heather Brewer was the most interesting to me. She writes a story that is pure horror and terror... then twists up the ending giving the whole story a new light. It's very well done and I love how she writes. I would love to see how this story could have panned out if it were longer.

Of course I loved the story by Rachel Caine - but I'm a long time fan of the Morganville Vampire books. It's great to get a story from Eve's point of view. Honestly, it felt like she has more meat to her instead of Claire. I would totally read more about her. I kinda hope the new character she introduced is in the next novel.

And last, but not least, the story "Thirst" by Jeri Smith-Ready. I think I had the most confusing time with this one. Probably because it's set in a place/mindset that I don't get. But it's a great story of love and desperation. Shows what lengths someone would go to for someone they love.

All in all, I think this was a great group of short stories. Especially for those who are into the whole vampire thing. There are lots of variations on the same ole' story. I very much intend to pass this one along to my teens.
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Other Blog Reviews:

Cem's Book Hideout
Amberkatze's Book Blog
Poisoned Rationality

Zombies vs. Unicorns by Justine Larbalestier and Holly Black

Title: Zombies vs. Unicorns
Author(s): Justine Larbalestier and Holly Black
ISBN: 9781416989530
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Page #: 415
Source: From my public library

Summary:
"Which is better, the zombie or the unicorn?
Justine Larbalestier says that zombies are our own walking deaths. Funny, grim, and terrifying, they cannot be escaped. Unicorns are sparkly and pastel and fart rainbows.

Holly Black says that unicorns are healers, arbiters of justice, and, occasionally, majestic man-killers. Zombies drool and shed and probably carry diseases.

Some of today's finest writers have chosen their side, creating dazzling stories about both creatures. So read on, and decide for yourself:
Are you Team Zombie or Team Unicorn?
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First Lines:

"Since the dawn of time one question has dominated all others: Zombies or Unicorns?
Well, okay, maybe not since the dawn of time, but definitely since February 2007. That was the day Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier began a heated exchange about the creatures' relative merits on Justine's blog."
From the Introduction
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Review:

I'm just gonna say this... I dunno which team I'm on. I'm on team zombie for books and being freaked out by them. I'm on team unicorn for real life excursions. I'd much rather meet a unicorn than something that wants to eat my brains. blech.

This book took me ages. It's over 400 pages, but I think it was more because they were all separate stories. Makes it easy to put the book down and forget about it because your not mid-story. But I'm glad I read all of them because it was a lot of fun.

I think my favorite part about this book was the banter between Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier. Before every story, they had a little back and forth talking about how much they hate/love the story coming up. It was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed reading this collection of stories.

Unfortunately, there are tons of stories so I can't really go through each story like I generally do with short story books. But I'll just tell you that I really liked all of them. There weren't any that stuck out as not up to par - that's for sure. I think one of my favorites was the story "Purity Test" by Naomi Novik. All about a girl who helps a unicorn rescue some baby unicorns that had been captured by a wizard by pretending to be a virgin. Gold. Really. Not to mention snarky and fun.

I also was a huge fan of Carrie Ryan's "Bougainvillea." I think the reason I really fell for this one was because it was based in the world that Ryan has created with The Forest of Hands and Teeth. I honestly love those books and to see a different part of that world was wonderful.

Another of the stories I loved was Meg Cabot's "Princess Prettypants." Another unicorn story - set in real life... just wonderful. A girl uses her new pet unicorn to get back at the people in school. A lot of fun, really. I was also a fan of "Cold Hands" by Cassandra Clare. It's a not-so-hopeless-zombie-love-story. :). It really wonder how life would be if zombies existed and were accepted into everyday life. Very cool.

I plan on definitely recommending this book to people looking for great short stories. All of these authors are complete rock stars and I always look for more from each of them. I hope you all give this one a shot - or just read the team you're interested in. They're all easily marked for convenience. Zombie or Unicorn. Team Unicorn, I think? :)
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Other Blog Reviews:

The Book Smugglers
Stiletto Storytime
Dreaming in Books
Eve's Fan Garden
Reading Angel

Kisses from Hell by Kristin Cast, et al

Title: Kisses from Hell
Author(s): Kristin Cast, Alyson Noel, Kelley Armstrong, Richelle Mead, and Francesca Lia Block
ISBN: 9780061956966
Publisher: HarperTeen
Page #: 262
Source: From my public library

Summary:
"This irresistible collection features stories of love amid vampires by five of today's hottest authors - Kristin Cast (Tempted), Richelle Mead (Vampire Academy), Alyson Noel (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."
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First Lines:

"Emma wasn't Eric Dragomir's first girlfriend. Nor was she likely to be his last.
Of course, the latter statement was assuming Eric's father didn't interfere. As far as old Frederick Dragomir was concerned, Eric and Emma should have already been married."
Page 3 from Richelle Mead's Sunshine
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Review:

Short story books are always so hard for me to review because I want to talk about each of the stories. I will try to do that without going too far overboard. Wish me luck!

The very first story in the book was my stand-out, absolute favorite. This could have something to do with my love of the Vampire Academy series. Richelle Mead set this story years before the first of the VA books. It's the story of how two people come together and the lengths they go to get there. It's a great story - enough that I wish for more pre-VA stories to come around. I know there's more to be had :). It's a wonderful romance and I really wished to have more of it. But that was the only problem - too darn short. Ah well.

The second story in the book is from Alyson Noel - Bring Me to Life. Don't ask me why, but there's something about this story that reminds me of The Picture of Dorian Gray by Wilde. It's about a girl who is accepted to an art school in England. It becomes quite the mystery because none of the other students show up and she's left in a gothic mansion with nothing but strange servants around. I'm not gonna give it away, but there was a bit of a twist at the end that I really didn't expect. It was a really good one-off story.

Okay. So, the next story was super confusing for me. It was the story by Kristin Cast called Above. It was.... strange. I mean, honestly I had no idea what was really going on. I mean, I got it and all... sorta... but it sure didn't make me wish for more. In fact, it made me wonder if I should just stop after the first chapter. I feel kinda bad about not liking this story because I'm such a fan of the House of Night series. But man, not good. At least, that's my take on it.

Another story based on a series she's already written is the one called Hunting Kat by Kelley Armstrong. She includes the same experimenting company and situations, but with new characters. It's an action-packed story with lots to offer. I could totally see a whole new branch of books off of this one story. I really liked it and I always look forward to more from her.

And last, but not least... the story from Francesca Lia Block called Lilith. I was surprised that this story was only about 20 pages long. I was expecting more, I suppose. The way that it was written was a bit different - not a whole lot of dialogue. There's lots of character development in very little space. But with the length, I didn't get involved enough to care in the end. But I think it's a good start. It's been a while since I've read any of her stuff.

As a whole, this book was really almost half and half. I loved half of it, the other half was kinda "meh." I suppose you could pick and choose which stories you want to read, but I've always just read the whole book. I'm sure we'll see more of these "From Hell" short stories books. There are a few of them already. I'd recommend it, I think. Just saying that they weren't all for me.
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Other Blog Reviews:

The Norwegian Book Girl
Mina Burrows
Cem's Book Hideout

Breaking Up is Hard To Do by Various Authors

Title: Breaking Up is Hard To Do
Authors: Niki Burnham, Terri Clark, Ellen Hopkins, Lynda Sandoval
ISBN: 9780547014999
Publisher: Graphia
Page #: 300
Source: From My Library

Summary:
"First Love - the joy, the excitement, the tingles - nothing can compare.

Then it ends.
The sheer pain of it all - nothing can compare to that either. How can the human body endure so much? Will you ever get over it?
Luckily, the body can and you will, and here are four stories describing how.

Extraordinary authors Niki Burnham (Royally Jacked), Terri Clark (Sleepless), Ellen Hopkins (Impulse, Crank), and Lynda Sandoval (Who's Your Daddy?) give us four tales of falling out of love. From Toby, who loses his girl because he's afraid of sex, to Mia who has to get over the heartache of falling for a straight girl, to Dee, who discovers too late that it was a cruel joke, not love, and Lisa, who gets dumped because she's not pretty enough, each story shows the resilience of the human heart with a little humor, a little pain, and lots of truth.

Falling in love is amazing. Getting dumped sucks. Reading about someone else going through it - perfect."
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First Lines:

"I am, without a doubt, the luckiest guy int he entire West Rollins High School junior class. Here's why:
1. I almost have the 'rents talked into ponying up half the cost of a car."
Page 1 from Last Stand by Niki Burnham
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Review:

You know, I'm not sure what made me pick this book up. I've been reading more short stories lately, so perhaps that was it. It took me a long time to decide to get to it because it seems like stories about couples breaking up would be really depressing. Luckily, these authors did a great job pulling in the humor and the friendships from wrecked relationships.

One thing I was shocked by (a little, just because it was unexpected) in these stories was the huge focus on sex. I mean, I do realize that it's a big part of relationships today... and please pardon my old fashioned sensibilities... but there were times when I just wanted to scream at the characters. It was like the one thing some of those relationships revolved around. All this is not to say that it's not appropriate - not at all. In fact, I think it would do good for many teens to read about it. I just got frustrated at the focus.

I think my favorite story was the second one - Don't Mind Me by Terri Clark. I think this was the case because it seemed like it was less about the relationship and more about the dynamics of that particular school. It was really well put together and I ended up really rooting for some of those characters.

The story by Ellen Hopkins, Just Plain Lisa, was a little weird for me to read. I've never read anything in verse before, so this was my first taste of it. Honestly, it wasn't written any differently. It's almost more to do with the formatting of the text on the page, isn't it? If you've read this short story, please let me know if it's typical in terms of novels in verse. If that's the case, perhaps I'm missing the point of it. It was a good story, yeah... just the format threw me off.

And the last story Party Foul was pretty heartbreaking. I mean, it's a really good story... and it was one of my favorites... but what happens is just so emotional. Also, I'm sorry to say that the ending isn't all that realistic. I mean, things just don't happen that way in the real world - no matter how much we really wish they did.

I think this is a good grouping of stories that deal with a hard issue. Teens will absolutely identify with the characters in each of the stories. I'll be recommending it to people looking for romance stories - because, really, that's what they are at their core.
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Other Blog Review:

Library Girl Reads
YA Books and More
I didn't see a lot of reviews for this book. It's a few years old, but if you've reviewed it, let me know so I can link ya. Thanks!

Prom Nights from Hell

Title: Prom Nights from Hell
Author: Various
ISBN: 9780061976001
Publisher: HarperTeen

Summary:
In this exciting collection of paranormal tales, best-selling authors Stephenie Meyer (Twilight), Kim Harrison (Once Dead, Twice Shy), Meg Cabot (How To Be Popular), Lauren Myracle (TTYL), and Michele Jaffe (Bad Kitty) take prom mishaps to a whole new level - a truly hellish level. Wardrobe malfunctions and two left feet don't hold a candle to discovering your date is the Grim Reaper - and he isn't here to tell you how hot you look.

From angels fighting demons to a twisted take on getting what you wish for, these five stories will entertain better than any DJ in a bad tux can. No corsage or limo rental necessary. Just good, creepy fun."
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First Lines:

"The music is pounding in time to my heartbeat. I can feel the bass in my chest - badoom, badoom. It's hard to see across the room of writhing bodies, especially with the fog from the dry ice, and the flickering light show coming down from the club's industrial ceiling overhead."
Page 3 (from Meg Cabot's "The Exterminator's Daughter")
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Review:

Since there are only five stories in this book, I think I can easily review each one without this review getting too insane. I hope. Here goes:

"The Exterminator's Daughter" by Meg Cabot
This story set off the book with a bang. A literal bang of ketchup from a water gun :). I thought there were some really funny parts in this one - even though it was a life-and-death story (aren't they all). I like how it was from a vampire killer's perspective while digging deep into each character's story. That kept me really wanting to know what happens. I'd love to see a continuation of this one. So good!

"The Corsage" by Lauren Myracle
You know, there is a warning at the beginning of this story about how creepy it is... I should have heeded that warning. I know I've heard other versions of this story in the past, but there was something even more creepy about the way it's written in this story. I wasn't expecting it to be quite so... frightening. Perhaps it's because I read the story at night. But I really think the author did a good job portraying the story in a new way. Props!

"Madison Avery and the Dim Reaper" by Kim Harrison
I really only had one problem with this story - apparently it is a prequel to a book she's written... that I haven't read. So by reading this short story, I'm left without any sort of conclusion. I guess I could go pick up the full novel, but I'm not sure if I want to. I do think the concept is very cool - about warring reapers and who gets your soul and all that. Very cool. It just bothered me that the story wasn't complete. In my opinion, a short story should leave you more satisfied - doing that while getting you interested in more of the author's work. Guess this one just hit me wrong, sorry.

"Kiss and Tell" by Michele Jaffe
I really liked this story. It started out as being very strange - not quite clear about what was going on. But as the story progressed, I really started loving the characters and rooting for them. I think there's more to be explored in the story, so hopefully we will see more along this line. There's something interesting about an annoying little girl being a prophet - almost like there's a lot of background that we don't get in this short story. I guess we'll see if anything comes from it.

"Hell on Earth" by Stephenie Meyer
This story was a very cool concept - demon from hell sent to make prom miserable for everyone. The only thing that put me off this story is the number of characters you have to keep up with. I do understand that in making chaos at prom there are lots of things going on. I just couldn't remember who was supposed to be with whom... why so and so was mad a that person... and so on. While there was a lot going on, I did enjoy the concept. Maybe if it were fleshed out a bit more in a full length novel it wouldn't be quite so much to take in.

All in all, I liked this collection of short stories. It's a great way to get a paranormal fix without getting too involved. I'll definitely be handing it to teens who get into the whole urban fantasy genre.

(note: I do agree with a lot of these reviews saying that these stories were more about beginning a new story line instead of a solid short story. It's an interesting collection, but more full conclusions might be nice.)
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Other Blog Reviews:

Love Reading X
Becky's Book Reviews
YA Vampire Books
Young Adult Book Reviews
Bookshelves of Doom

Immortal: Love Stories with Bite

Title: Immortal: Love Stories with Bite
Author: Various - edited by P.C. Cast
ISBN: 9781933771922
Publisher: BenBella

Summary:
"When you're immortal, true love really is forever.
Rachel Caine revisits the setting of her popular series, where the vampires are in charge and love is a risky endeavor, even when it comes to your our own family.
Tantalize author Cynthia Leitich Smith gives us a love triangle between a vampire, a ghost, and a human girl, in which none of them are who or what they seem.
Claudia Gray takes us into the world of her Evernight series, in which a pre-Civil War courtesan-to-be is courted by a pale, fair-haired man whose attentions are too dangerous to spurn - in more ways than one.
Vampire Academy author Richelle Mead brings us the tale of a young vampire on the run from the rest of her kind, and the human boy who provides the getaway car - as well as a reason to keep running.
Wicked series writer Nancy Holder immerses us in a post-apocalyptic New York where two best friends are forced to make a choice that may kill them both.
Rachel Vincent explores a new corner of her Soul Screamers universe with the story of a leanan sidhe capable of inspiring the musician she loves to new creative heights - or draining him, and his talent, dry.
Master fantasist Tanith Lee shows us what happens when a bright young woman with some supernatural savvy encounters a misguided (but gorgeous) young vampire.
And Kristin Cast, co-author of the House of Night series, introduces us to a new kind of vampire one with roots in Greek mythology, and the power to alter space and time to save the girl he's meant to love."
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First Lines:

"So... just what in the hell is it with you teenagers and vampires? Huh? Okay, I have my suspicions."
Page vii from P.C. Cast's Introduction
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Review:

That's quite the summary, huh? The back of the book does a good job of lining up the types of stories you're going to read so I don't have to! woo hoo :). As with many short story books, this one has quite the theme... vampire romance (obvs). And it's absolutely going to appeal to those Twihards and lovers of other wonderful vampire series. I mean, look at that cover!

I think my favorite of the stories comes from Richelle Mead. This isn't all that surprising considering my love of her Vampire Academy Series. This story is called Blue Moon and is really well fleshed out. I know that short stories sometimes lack a little.... umph. This one had me wishing for more chapters. It's all about a world where vampires rule and one girl has a prophecy to change it all - and she doesn't want to. So she runs away. It's a great base and the story is written wonderfully. Kudos Mead!

I had a little heart pitter patter when I saw there was a story from Rachel Caine (why are there so many Rachels?) that was based on her Morganville series. I'm a fan :). The normal series is written from Claire's point of view, but this one went a little deeper with Shane and his dad. It's a really interesting addition to the series... and I'm wondering if it's going to play a small part in the next book. hmmm.

The rest of the stories in the book are wonderful as well - I just don't want to bore you with my take on each one. All of these authors are so experienced, it's almost like gliding through a simple obstacle course. Easy peasy. So seamless. As always, they're just impressive. :)

The introduction by P.C. Cast is absolutely wonderful. If you don't read this entire book, you at least need to read the intro. She writes about why vampires have taken off - what teens really love about it... and why she's so into it. It's really introspective and a great kick off for the rest of the stories.

I do recommend this book for those who are into the vampire romance stuff. It's definitely meant for the older teen - considering the amount of sensuality and such. ahem. It gets a bit steamy at some spots. But it's a great book and I'm glad to pass it along.
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Other Blog Reviews:

All Things Urban Fantasy
Tink's Place
There really aren't many reviews out there for this one... so be one of the few! :) At least that I could find. Did you review this one?

The Poison Eaters by Holly Black

Title: The Poison eaters and other stories
Author: Holly Black
ISBN: 9781931520638
Publisher: Big Mouth House

Summary:
"In her debut collection, New York Times best-selling author Holly Black returns to her Modern Faerie Tale series (Tithe, Ironside, and Valiant) in two darkly exquisite new tales, "Going Ironside" and "The Land of Heart's Desire." In the first story, "Te Coldest Girl in Coldtown," a girl is drunk on the street - but for a reason you'd never guess. Then Black takes readers on a tour of a faerie market, introduces a girl poisonous to the touch, and another who challenges the devil to a competitive eating match.

These twelve stories, two of which are published here for the first time and each of which is illustrated by Theo Black, have been published in anthologies such as 21 Proms, The Faery Reel, and The Restless Dead, and have been reprinted in many "Best of" anthologies.

The Poison Eaters is Holly Black's much-anticipated first collection of stories, and her ability to stare into the void - and to find humanity and humor there - will speak to young adult and adult readers alike."
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First Lines:

From "Coldest Girl in Coldtown":
"Matilda was drunk, but then she was always drunk anymore. Dizzy drunk. Stumbling drunk. Stupid drunk. Whatever kind of drunk she could get."
Page 1
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Review:

Ever since Tithe, I've been a huge fan of Holly Black's books. I have (and will) read anything she puts out there. There's something so real and touchable in the way she writes characters who are faeries or elves or vampires... and so on. She also does a wonderful job giving them a voice that is not completely rooted in their classification - such as... her faerie characters aren't just thinking about trees and seasons and parties... they worry about other "real life" stuff like relationships. It's just a very cool way to see them.

I think my favorite story in this anthology is the very first one in the book - "The Coldest Girl from Coldtown." It's a story about a girl fighting the vampire disease, until she has to go searching for her friends in Coldtown. That was one that made me wish it was a full-length novel. Of course, it's a vampire story... so it was a little different from what I'm used to from Black. But I really liked it and thought the characters were crazily flawed, but wished I could get to know them more. Such a good one!

Another that I really liked was the one called "The Night Market." That one was about an elf who cursed a girl and her sister is set out to make it right. I think my favorite thing about this one is that it seemed built on folk tales - like, stories passed down by word of mouth. That could have come from the maid-like character. But I also liked that it was set in the Philippines and the language that was used. It made the story very exotic for me.

And the last one I'm going to mention is the title story, "The Poison Eaters." This is about a girl who can kill with one touch. I think one thing I really liked about this one was the story going in circles a little bit. It's almost still a mystery what happened and how. But it's very cool and I wouldn't mind reading a full-length novel based on this one too.

The rest of the stories were very well written as well (just don't want to bore you to much going into each one). There were a couple that weren't fantastic, but that doesn't mean they were bad. Perhaps it was just my love of other stories that some paled in comparison. Isn't that always the way when it comes to short story books?! :)

I would recommend this to anyone wanting to read more of Holly Black's stories. It's a great "anthology" and I look forward to reading more of her stuff - she has plenty coming up. Check out her website or her blog for more info on upcoming projects!
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Other Blog Reviews:

Teen Book Review Blog
Book Reviews and More
Pure Imagination
Reading Rat
Once Upon a Bookshelf

Mistletoe: Four Holiday Stories

Title: Mistletoe: Four Holiday Stories
Author(s): Hailey Abbott, Melissa de la Cruz, Aimee Friedman, and Nina Malkin
ISBN: 0439863686
Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.

Summary:
"Curl up in front of a crackling fire with this collection of holiday treats from four of today's best-selling authors.

HAILEY ABBOTT (Summer Boys) spins a scandalous tale of one hot New Year's Eve party that will leave you breathless.

MELISSA DE LA CRUZ (The Au Pairs) puts a fresh, sexy spin on a holiday classic about love, lies, and the perfect present.

AIMEE FRIEDMAN (South Beach) tells the sassy tale of a New York City fashionista who finds true love in a department store on Christmas Eve.

NINA MALKIN (6X: The Uncensored Confessions) takes you to Hollywood for a magical holiday encounter that's right out of the movies.

As yummy as a mug of hot cocoa, as tantalizing as a kiss under the mistletoe, these stories are sure to warm you up on a chilly winters night."
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Review:

I had intended to read this book over my holiday vacation a few weeks ago, but just didn't get around to it until today. Go figure. That's how things go sometimes, I suppose. I picked up this book because it sounded like the perfect holiday read while I was at home at the parents house - and I'm sure it would have been.

All of these stories are written by authors who have done successful chick lit books... so the theme through the whole thing is a lot of romance. Or lack there of. They were all pretty predictable, but that's one of the wonderful, safe things about chick lit. You can kinda see where things are headed.

My favorite story was probably the one by Nina Malkin - probably because it had a touch of the mysterious (but I've heard it's much like her new book. Hmm). I'm always a fan of Melissa de la Cruz, but I've only read her fantasy stuff up until this point. I really liked her story though - makes me think I might like her chick lit series too.

I've read a little by Aimee Friedman before (her graphic novel), but I liked this story better than that one. It was well done and had all the elements I was looking for in a holiday story. And I've never read anything by Hailey Abbott before, but her story was the easiest read. Hers was one that was pretty identifiable in real life - I feel like the coming-home-from-college-to-your-old-friends is a pretty well realized story. I did enjoy that one too.

I think this is a great read for the holiday season. It probably won't get much play for the rest of the year, but that's what it's intended for, right? It's also a fun collection of authors, so perhaps their fans will love this one.
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Other Blog Reviews:

Juiciliciousss Reviews
Shalonda's Blog
Mrs. V's Reviews

Geektastic edited by Holly Black and Cecil Castellucci

Title: Geektastic: Stories from the Nerd Herd
Author: various - edited by Holly Black and Cecil Castellucci
ISBN: 9780316008099
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Summary:
"Haven't you heard? Geek is the new cool! Acclaimed authors Holly Black (Ironside) and Cecil Castellucci (Boy Proof) have united in geekdom to bring together stories from some of the bestselling and most promising players in young adult literature. This collection includes stories from the following geeks:
M.T. Anderson, Libba Bray, Cassandra Clare, John Green, Cynthia & Greg Leitich Smith, David Levithan, Kelly Link, Barry Lyga, Tracy Lynn, Wendy Mass, Garth Nix, Scott Westerfeld, Lisa Yee, and Sara Zarr.

With illustrated interstitials from comic book artists Hope Larson and Bryan Lee O'Malley, Geektastic covers all things geeky, from Klingons and Jedi Knights to fan fiction, theater geeks, and cosplayers. Whether you're a former, current, or future geek, or if you just want to get in touch with your inner geek, Geektastic will help you get your geek on!"
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Review:

Short stories are a whole different thing unto themselves. There's not enough story to care about the characters by the end of the story, but the author has to immediately pull you in to make sure you're interested from the get-go. Some authors do this better than others :).

I picked up this book because it contained so many of my favorite authors. You can see them all listed in the summary. The ones that I was excited about really didn't disappoint. Their writing styles were really what I was looking forward to and they lived up to my expectations. But it's hard to get settled into their story just for it to end so quickly.

And though I do consider myself a geek, some of these stories were way more geeky than I could follow. Perhaps I fall more in the nerd category... which is a sad thing to find out. Alas, I did enjoy all of these stories. Full disclosure: there are a few that I kinda skimmed through (I'm not tellin which ones, that might be mean).

These stories are great for any geek - closet or otherwise. I'd definitely recommend it. If you don't consider yourself a geek, you will need to do some geek-like research before you read these stories. Wouldn't want you to get confused.

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Other Blog Reviews:

Julian's Take On Life
YAnnabe
Ultimate Book Hound
Wrighty's Reads
Presenting Lenore