Pictue the Dead by Adele Griffin and Illustrated by Lisa Brown

Title: Picture the Dead
Author: Adele Griffin
Illustrator: Lisa Brown
Published: May 1, 2010 by Sourcebooks Fire
Special Note: This is an ARC review

Plot:

Jennie’s connection with her twin brother, Toby, grew stronger after he died in 1864. Now Jennie must rely on her ability to communicate with the dead to find out what has happened to her beloved fiance, Will, while he was off at war. The army says he died honorably in battle. His brother confides that he became a violent criminal and died in a prison camp. Jennie begins to doubt that anyone is telling her the truth.


This intriguing combination of historical romance, paranormal thriller, and clever mystery is illustrated by bestselling artist Lisa Brown. The unique visuals originated from real Civil War daguerreotypes that were transformed into eerie mementos for Jennie’s scrapbook.

With the help of a spiritualist photographer, the spirit of her dead fiance, and the clues she discovers and keeps in her scrapbook, Jennie must put together the pieces of this mystery before she loses her home, her fortune, and possibly her life

My Thoughts:

This book is so different than anything I have read lately. It's written in first person point of view, which I love, from the main character, Jennie, and is set in the Civil War period. Most paranormal novels today are set in today's time frame, so to be taken back in time by the author of this novel, Adele Griffin, was a breath of fresh air. Not only was I hooked right away--who wouldn't be when you find our the main character is communicating with her twin brother who just recently died in the war--but the romantic feel of the novel kept me engaged the entire time. Jennie's fiance also "falls on the battlefield" (who is also her cousin BTW---I know, I know, but that was totally accepted back then) and she turns to spiritualism to help her cope.

I won't tell you much more, because I don't want to ruin it for you, but I will say if you are looking for a historical paranormal novel with a strong female protagonist, this ones for you.

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: An Eclipse Novella by Stephenie Meyers

Title: The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: An Eclipse Novella (Twilight Saga)
Author: Stephenie Meyer
Genre: YA UF
Published: June 5, 2010, Little Brown Books

Fans of The Twilight Saga will be enthralled by this riveting story of Bree Tanner, a character first introduced in Eclipse, and the darker side of the newborn vampire world she inhabits. In another irresistible combination of danger, mystery, and romance, Stephenie Meyer tells the devastating story of Bree and the newborn army as they prepare to close in on Bella Swan and the Cullens, following their encounter to its unforgettable conclusion

My Thoughts:

Okay, okay...YES I did run out and buy this yesterday because I was wrapped into Twilight's spell  couple years okay, so I was a little excited to get a new book. I was not disappointed. I mean, we all know the chick dies, right, so there was no surprise ending or anything, but it was awesome to read about the "real" vampires in the Twilight Saga. Like Bella, Bree shows some self control in the beginning by holding her breath and turning away from a human "hunt". I really just liked reading the back story on the newborns and I know it'll make my ECLIPSE movie experience better. It's worth the time guys if you're a TWI fan! :)

We Hear the Dead by Dianne K. Salerni

Title: WE HEAR THE DEAD

Author: Dianne K. Salerni
Published: Sourcebooks Fire May 1, 1010
Genre: YA
Special Note: This is an ARC review

Plot:

It started out as a harmless prank. But soon enough, spiritualism was the fastest growing movement of the nineteenth century, and Maggie Fox was trapped in a life of deceit.

Meticulously researched by the author, We Hear the Dead reveals the secret of how the Fox sisters faked their rapping sounds and their motives for inventing the séance and founding spiritualism.

Maggie:

I began the deception when I was too young to know right from wrong. No one suspected us of any trick, because we were such young children. We were led on by my sister purposely and by my mother unintentionally. Only with the passing of time did I come to understand the consequences of my actions. As Doctor wrote to me: "Weary, weary is the life by cold deceit oppressed."

Kate:

My sister has used the word "deception." I object to her use of that word, for I do not believe that I have ever intentionally deceived anyone. Maggie has a different understanding of all the events that have happened since that night in Hydesville forty years ago. To her the spirits were always a game. For my sister Leah, they were a means to an end. For my mother, a miracle. And for me, they were my life's calling. I have no regrets.

My Thoughts:

What is awesome about this YA novel is that it is based on a true story. These are the girls that started seances--how cool is it to learn the history behind that with an entertaining YA mystery? I think this will also appeal to readers who enjoy historical fiction, not just YA readers. The story of the two sisters held my interest through the whole book and once I got into the story I had to know if they could pull off their little game of deception. So, if you like historical mysteries, this ones for you.

Check out SourceFire Books HERE to win a copy of this title.

Shadow of the Moon: Dark Guardians #4 by Rachel Hawthorne

Title: Shadow of the Moon: Dark Guardians #4
Author: Rachel Hawthorne
Genre: YA UF--Series
Published: March 23, 2010 by Harper Collins

Excerpts and Blurbs:

I can feel every Shifter's emotions except Daniel's—the only one whose heart I long to know.


Hayden was born a werewolf, a Dark Guardian. But her ability to sense the feelings of fellow werewolves has made her life unbearable. She runs away, only to be tracked by charming, mysterious Daniel, a newcomer to the pack and the one Shifter immune to her powers. As she reluctantly follows him home, Hayden finds herself falling dangerously in love. . . .

My Thoughts:

Oh man, where do I begin? If you'r like me you've been on the edge of your seat waiting for this one to come out. I am a huge Rachel Hawthorne fan, and that's because she nails the story every time. I know the moment I open up the book I'm gonna love every word of it and this one is no difference. Rachel practically casts a spell on you when you are reading it, and gets you totally wrapped up in her characters. Every book in this series has a different main character, each one with thier own flaws and problems, and of course differrent love inerests. Well with the exception of book three, but that's a whole 'nother can of worms.

Hayden is a girl who just wants to be normal, and not get labeled as the freak of the pack because she can sense other wolf-shifters emotions. She runs away from her pack before the full moon that will cause her first transformation to occur. There is a creature out to claim not only her soul, but the unlucky pack member that claims her as his life-long mate as well. She can't allow that to happen, so she goes on the run, only to be persuded by Daniel, a shifter her pack elders have chosen to be her mate.

Daniel is different from every other person in her pack, she cannot sense his emotions at all. This makes Hayden suspious, and now she's worried Daniel could be helping the creature who wants to claim her soul.


I won't tell you how it ends, because this is a series you have to pick up and read. You can read the books out of order, because each book is a stand-a-lone, but all the same characters are in each book and it's nice to know their history before you get to their individual story.

Go pick this one up!

The Turning by Helen Ellis

Title: The Turning Book 1: What Curiosity Kills

Author: Helen Ellis

Published: May 1, 2010 by Sourcebooks

Genre: YA UF

Special Note: This is an ARC review

PLOT:

Mary Richards is a normal sixteen-year-old girl living in Manhattan. Well, almost normal. She goes to private school on the Upper East Side, having been saved from a life of squalor by an adoptive family. But she’s also slowly transforming into a cat.

Struggling to hide her physical metamorphosis, Mary discovers that she isn’t alone. A whole race of cat people prowls the streets of Manhattan at night, including Mary’s long-time crush, Nick. ---Description from Good Reads

My Thoughts:

The main character, Mary, caught my attention right away. I'm a sucker for the underdog girl at a prep-school surrounded by snotty rich people. Mary has a cool secret, plus she has a cute southern accent. What's not to like, right?! The turning is just as much a mystery to Mary as it is to the reader, you just have to find out what's going on, and why, right along with her. I was completely wrapped up in the story from the moment Mary started passing out and developing orange patches of hair on her body.

The love interest in this story, Nick, is very mysterious and it's not like he just suddenly appears, like the love interest does in most YA novels. This is the same boy Mary had been crushing on forever and I love it when characters have known each other for a while, it makes the romance feel real.

I read a ton of young adult urban fantasy and I have to say some of the twists the author, Helen Ellis, threw in this novel where very clever and highly original. I won't give away the twists, of course, I'll leave the mystery there for you to unwrap, but I will tell you I will be marking my calender for book two in this series.