Out of commission

It might be some time before I post again. Unfortunately, I had a wee bit of an accident while attempting to roller skate today. I discovered that gravity is still a heartless bitch. In my right arm: the top of my radius bone broke off & is floating by itself. The very top tip of my ulna bone broke off (little triangle piece). Also, the ball joint of my humerus is also multiply cracked. Short of it, I need reconstructive surgery & will need physical therapy. So far the nerves are okay & intact. Can feel my fingers & wiggle even though it hurts like the dickens. The orthopedic doctor said  they won't know about the ligaments until they do more scans or when they operate.
However, they don't have the resources here to do this surgery so they are sending me to Hawaii. 


If you'd like to stay updated, please follow me on Facebook or Twitter. Those are ultimately easier to update. I will try to remind hubby to tag me in status updates. 


Happy blogging & reading, fellow bookies! See you on the flip side of surgery. All my bookish love,
Marissa


PS - My Waiting on Wednesday is..... Surgery. Haha 

Tune in Tuesday (6): 80s Edition Redux

Tune in Tuesdays is hosted by Ginger at GReads to help spread the love of music!  I hope you enjoy and perhaps it will take you back.

That's right folks.  I am torturing you with a second week of my throw back to the 80s.  Blame my brother for my music tastes!  Some of the following tunes I can remember waking up to and listening to while getting ready to head off to school.  

Starship: We Built This City

Fleetwood Mac: Everywhere

The Bangles: Manic Monday

Nena: 99 Red Balloons (English version)

Do you have any songs that remind you of going to school or that you listen now while you're getting ready to head out the door to class?

Thanks for tuning in!

In My Mailbox: 9/25

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme sponsored by The Story Siren to highlight books we may have borrowed, purchased, or received in the mail. 

Welcome to my first In My Mailbox! I NEVER thought I'd get to do one of these since I get all my books through the Kindle so I'm completely ecstatic that I get to share this AWESOME first installment. I received two packages this week, one from Karen at For What It's Worth & one from Book Nerds Across America Blog with SWAG & I received some e-books as well.
Without further ado...

For What It's Worth Giveaway from Twitter during the original #TeamKilt Party:

From Jeri Smith-Ready herself via Karen:

-Death Cab for Cutie t-shirt from their Codes & Keys tour
-Death Cab for Cutie & Frightened Rabbit tour pamphlet signed by Jeri with a note

pointing to a picture of frightened rabbit declaring them Jeri & Zach's new band!

-ENTHRALLED swag signed by Jeri

From Karen:

-The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver, postcard

-Return to Paradise by Simon Ekeles, bookmark

-Class of 2k10, bookmark

-For What It's Worth, bookmark

-Intertwined series by Gena Showalter, bookmark

-How to Rock Braces and Glasses by Meg Haston, pocket mirror button

-Parasol Protectorate by Gail Carriger, button

-Wicked Game, Bad to the Bone, & Bring on the Night, mini cards

(BotN signed by Jeri)

From Book Nerd's Across America Blog for a small contest about their crush tournement:

-Die For Me by Amy Plum, bookmark, signed by Amy

Not pictured this week, E-books for review:

-Tower of Parlen Min by Matt Xell, from the author

-Double Clutch by Elizabeth Reinhardt, from the author

Purchased by me on the Kindle:

-Blood Spirits by Sherwood Smith

Review: Her Wiccan, Wiccan Ways by Traci Hall

Her Wiccan, Wiccan Ways
Rhiannon Godfrey Book #1
Traci Hall
Samhain Publishing
December 1, 2008
Kindle edition

Rhiannon Godfrey is a psychic prodigy, but her parents don't see things her way. They think she needs a "normal" high school experience. She wants to stay in trendy Vegas. In the small farming town of Crystal Lake, being Wiccan doesn't exactly help the Godfreys blend in. Beyond angry, Rhiannon neglects to inform her parents the farmhouse they just bought is haunted. Instead, she decides to use the resident ghost to prove that she belongs back in Dr. Richards's Institute of Parapsychology. Not that dispelling ghosts is her area of expertise, but really, how hard can it be? And then there's Jared Roberts. Totally hot. For a cowboy, that is. Only problem? He comes with an evil twin sister, the shallow and popular Janet. Janet's only goal is to make Rhee's life miserable. So when she and her friends decide it's time for a little payback, Rhee goes to her mother's book of spells. Janet needs to be taught a lesson, and what harm can come from a few words? Just one little spell. - Goodreads.com

When I started this book I thought Rhiannon was a bit whiny and sulky but the further I read and learned more about her, I could understand where she was coming from attitude-wise.  She did feel like a very real person to me. Of course I'm fifteen years her senior so I felt like she was being immature but the 15 year old girl that lives inside my brain sympathized with her and could see why she felt animosity for being transplanted to someplace new. It's clear that Rhiannon felt safe and had a good thing going at the Institute.

I am not a follower of Wicca and am unfamiliar with the practices but it gave the story an interesting spin. Rhiannon is embarrassed by her family's beliefs and how they practice their religion. I'm sure that we can all related to being embarrassed by family members are some point in our lives. The paranormal/ghost aspect was very interesting. For me, it added creep factor without going overboard to the point that I needed a friend to go use the restroom, if you know what I mean, or sleep with the lights on.

Of course her issues with the girls at school and integrating into high school is typical for an outsider-trying-to-fit-in story. Rhiannon is determined and stubborn, sometimes to a fault and detriment to herself. She certainly is not a stranger to making bad decisions, that's for sure.

Overall, I was entertained and enjoyed the story. It didn't change my life or make me gush and bounce over the moon about it but that's okay. Not every book can be my absolute favorite and not every female protagonist is going to feel like my long lost best friend. It wouldn't be a book that I would suggest right off the bat if someone asked me for a recommendation. The following books in the series would make for interesting reads and I wouldn't be opposed to picking them up in the future for tickles and grins just to see where Rhiannon's story goes.

Waiting on Wednesday (7): Out of Sight, Out of Time by Ally Carter

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Out of Sight, Out of Time
(Gallagher Girls #5)
Ally Carter
Hyperion
Expected publication: March 20, 2012

The last thing Cammie Morgan remembers is leaving the Gallagher Academy to protect her friends and family from the Circle of Cavan--an ancient terrorist organization that has been hunting her for over a year. But when Cammie wakes up in an alpine convent and discovers months have passed, she must face the fact that her memory is now a black hole. The only traces left of Cammie’s summer vacation are the bruises on her body and the dirt under her nails, and all she wants is to go home.

Once she returns to school, however, Cammie realizes that even the Gallagher Academy now holds more questions than answers. Cammie, her friends, and mysterious spy-guy Zach must face their most difficult challenge yet as they travel to the other side of the world, hoping to piece together the clues that Cammie left behind. It’s a race against time. The Circle is hot on their trail and willing stop at nothing to prevent Cammie from remembering what she did last summer.

I kicked off my summer reading with the first book in the Gallagher Girls series, I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You and I was immediately drawn into Ms. Carter’s writing style.  I sped through the four books that had been published and yearned for more of Ally’s writing and THAT turned me to Heist Society.  I just couldn’t get enough of her writing!  I can’t wait to read Out of Sight. 

Boarding school for girl spies.  Need I say more?  Not to mention hot spy-boy, Zach.  (What IS IT about boys named Zach ladies?)  I am starting to believe that it is quite possible that naming a boy Zach means hot, mysterious, charm-the-pants-off-the-heroine main squeeze material. (It’s true.  Ask anyone from #TeamKilt.) 

If you haven’t tried out the Gallagher Girl series, I suggest you give it a try.

Tune in Tuesday (5): 80's Edition

Tune in Tuesdays is hosted by Ginger at GReads to help spread the love of music!  I hope you enjoy and perhaps it will take you back.

Since this is my birth month and I am a definite child of the 80's for the next two installments I am going to celebrate my birth decade.  So if you don't like the music from that era, go no further!

My older half-brother Patrick is probably mostly to blame for a large part of this list.  I can remember him listening to Duran Duran, Madonna, Michael Jackson, and even the Beastie Boys.  Seriously, thinking about it now I might have Pat to thank for my eclectic tastes!  Well, and my parents, too, but of course you always want to listen to what your big brother does right?  Without further ado, I take you back in time to the 80s.

Duran Duran: Save a Prayer

Madonna: Get Into the Groove

Michael Jackson: Billie Jean

Poison: Every Rose Has Its Thorn

What's your Tune in Tuesday pick? 

Review: Waterfall by Lisa T. Bergren

Waterfall (River of Time #1)
Lisa T. Bergren
David C. Cook, publisher
February 1, 2011
Amazon Kindle edition


In Waterfall, American teenager Gabi Betarrini accidently finds herself in Fourteenth-Century Italy . . . Knights. Swords. Horses. Armor. And Italian hotties. Most American teens want an Italian vacation, but the Betarrini sisters have spent every summer of their lives there with their archaeologist parents. Stuck on yet another hot, dusty dig, they are bored out of their minds... until they place their hands atop handprints in an ancient tomb and find themselves catapulted into the Fourteenth Century and in the middle of a fierce battle between knights bent on killing one another. –Goodreads.com

It has been a few weeks since I finished Waterfall and I am realizing now I should have written this review much sooner to capture the spirit of how I was feeling at the end of this book.  Can I just say I really, really, really want to know what happens next?!  There are two more published books in the series, Cascade & Torrent (which was just recently released) but I haven’t gotten a chance to purchase & read them as of yet.  However, I SO want to know what happens to Gabi & her sister.
With that being said, the Goodreads summary hits the high-lights of this book on the head: knights, swords, horses, armor…and Italian hotties.  I know my blog is fairly new but there are a few things I should share with you. I am a sucker for:

• Guys with accents
  
• Guys in armor
  
• Foreign settings
  
• Historical fiction

The list could go on and on and now with THAT being said… In both high school and college I studied Italian (although my grammar is still  rusty as heck) and even got to visit Italy.  This book reminded me of that so it immediately struck the right chord with me. I love Gabi’s thought process as she gets flung back into time.  She is worried about how to get back to her time, how to survive in a world without modern medicine, realizes how easy and what a blessing modern conveniences like indoor plumbing can be.  Gabi is a smart, considerate, and amazing protagonist.  She takes action and brings her modern knowledge into play to help those in need.  This girl is not going to sit demurely in the corner and let the boys fight her battles.  No, she is going to be right beside her new crush and his flirtatious best friend kicking butt and taking names.


The romance between Gabi and Marcello is not love-at-first-sight and I love that!  It was a slow build and felt so right.  It was courtly and chivalrous & *sighs* just perfect. 

There is a small undertone about religion but it did not interfere with the story.  However, religion was a very big part of the time period so it fit.  The time travel in the book isn’t quite explained.  It happens and you’re not sure of the “how” or the “why”.  BUT it isn’t confusing (for those of you that get worried when you hear the words “time” and “travel” put together).  However, I’m hoping that further into the story we will find out what mystical/magical happenstance brought Gabi & Lia back in time.

Was it a divine plan that took her and Lia back in time?
Will Gabi and Lia’s heroic efforts change the course of history?
What happens to Marcello & the rest of the characters at the end as well?

These are all things that we were left wondering but I’m hoping we’ll find out more in the next two books.  Head’s up: There is some Italian in the book but Ms. Bergren is very good about translating the phrases she uses. 

This book left me wanting but in a good way!  After reading this book, if you don’t want to travel to Italy or at least learn a few phrases of this romantic language, I’d be surprised.  This book screamed, “Marissa, READ ME!” and I am so very glad that I did.
I hope it will do the same for you!

Secret Life of Books Blogaversary Giveaway

Lucy at Secret Life of Books is having a

 Blogaversary Giveaway 

to celebrate 6 months of blogging!

Congratulations, Lucy!

Stop by her blog and check out her giveaway.  

Be sure to follow her blog via GFC and follow the entry rules.

TGIF (3): Book Disappointments

TGIF is hosted by Ginger at GReads.  Each Friday Ginger poses a question for us to share our thoughts on.  If you'd like to participate, head on over to her awesome blog and link up!

This week's topic:

 Have you ever come across a book you were so stoked to read, but it failed miserably in your eyes?

This is a tough question.  Who likes to say, "Oh yeah that book I thought was going to rock? Yeah, well, it kinda...didn't."  To be fair, I wouldn't say the books I didn't enjoy or couldn't finish failed miserably.  Really, it just meant that it wasn't my cup of tea or maybe they just didn't suit my need for a particular story at that time.  Sometimes I need to be in the mood for a particular genre.  When I have to put aside a book, I'm always disappointed because I wouldn't have purchased it if I didn't think I would enjoy it.

There are a few books off the top of my head that I either a.) finished and did not get the hype or b.) didn't finish because I lost interest.

-  Fallen by Lauren Kate

-  The Dark Enquiry by Deanna Raybourn

-  A Feast for Crows by George R. R. Martin

-  The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss

-  The Night Angel Trilogy by Brent Weeks

Now do not take me wrong, I have tremendous respect for these authors.  It really isn't their fault that these particular titles did not quench my reading thirst.  I could very well try these books again and my opinion might change.  At least that is what I'm hoping will happen.

How about you?  What book were you excited to read only to have it fall short? 

Stuck In Books Giveaway

  Stuck In Books is doing a 

Follower Appreciation Giveaway!

  The contest is international as long as Book Depository delivers to your country.  Stop by Valerie's blog and follow the directions to enter and to read the terms and conditions. 

Stuck In Books

  

   Help Valerie reach the 1,500 followers mark by the end of the contest and she'll add a second winner!

WVMP Giveaway Winner!

The WVMP Series Giveaway Winner for my contest is 

Margi

Even though the contest has ended, there is still time to sign up to join us for the WVMP series Read-Along in October.  The deadline to register for this fun event is Wednesday, September 28th. 

For more details about the event, please check out my main post HERE.

As a reminder, besides discussions about the books, participants will also get the chance to "Hangout" with the awesome author, Jeri Smith-Ready and characters Shane & Ciara will be tweeting with us.

Also, before you sign up for the read-along you need to know that the material contained in these books is geared toward an adult readership.  Explicit language, strong sexual content and fairly graphic violence are involved.  Please pass on this read-along if you are sensitive to any of these. 

Join me and the spectacular ladies of  What's on the Bookshelf, Fictitious Delicious, & Living Fictitiously for a great time discussing this kick-butt series by one of our favorite authors!

Waiting on Wednesday (6): Indelible by Lani Woodland

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Indelible

The Yara Silva Trilogy #2

Lani Woodland

Pendrell Publishing

September 27,2011

Yara is beginning to understand just how much her life will change now that her Waker abilities have emerged. She has come to terms with the fact that seeing ghosts is part of her life, but she isn't ready to let being a Waker dictate her choices. All she wants is a ghost-free senior year with her boyfriend, Brent, and her best friend, Cherie. But Yara soon discovers that there are more dark secrets in her school's history than just the curse she broke. While an angry ghost makes Yara question everything she thought she knew about spirits, she and Brent learn that there are long reaching consequences to last year's adventures. As new enemies emerge and old ghosts resurface, Yara finds herself in the center of another deadly mystery, and this time she has to contend with the living as well as the dead. -Amazon.com*

During the August YA Author Scavenger Hunt, I was introduced to the first book in the series, Intrinsical, and was immediately intrigued with this story.  It is NOT your average ghost story.  I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed the first installment and enjoyed the plot twists I never saw coming. It was a quick read because I couldn't put it down.  before I get to review-y about the first book, let me just end by saying that I really am looking forward to this next installment to see what feats Yara will have to endure this time around.

"As new enemies emerge and old ghosts resurface, Yara finds herself in the center of another deadly mystery, and this time she has to contend with the living as well as the dead."

Pretty intense!  What are book are you waiting on to read?

*I normally try to use Goodreads.com for book descriptions.  However, they have the wrong summary listed and so I used Amazon.com instead.  This is in no way an advertisement or endorsement for their company. 

Tune in Tuesday (4): Anniversary Special Edition!

Tune in Tuesdays is hosted by Ginger at GReads to help spread the love of music!  I hope you enjoy and perhaps it will take you back.

My DH and I at our reception. My man in uniform! 

This week's tune I would like to share is Dan Fogelberg's "Longer."  Today just so happens to be the 8th wedding anniversary of my husband and I.  During our wedding ceremony, my sister-in-law played this on her flute and then it was also our first dance as husband and wife.  

My husband and I dated long distance while he was serving the military and I was in college.  During car rides, my mom and I would listen to the oldies & easy listening stations and every time this song came on, I was reminded of my sweetheart that was so far away. 

What song did you dance to at your wedding?  If you're not married, what song would you like to be your first dance?  Or do you and your current squeeze have a song?  I would love for you to share it with me :-)

Since today is my anniversary this is an extremely short post.  Join me tomorrow for Waiting on Wednesday!

Review: Remembrance by Michelle Madow

Remembrance
Michelle Madow
Create Space
Kindle Edition, July 27, 2011

New Hampshire high school junior Lizzie
Davenport has been reincarnated from
Regency Era, England ... but she doesn't
know it yet.

Then Drew Carmichael transfers into Lizzie's school at the beginning of the year, and she feels a connection to him, almost like she knows him. She can't stop thinking about him, but whenever she tries talking with him about the mysteries behind her feelings, he makes it clear that he wants nothing to do with her. Reaching him is even more difficult because she has a boyfriend, Jeremy, who has started to become full of himself after being elected co-captain of the varsity soccer team, and her flirtatious best friend Chelsea starts dating Drew soon after his arrival. So why can't she seem to get him out of her mind?

Even though Lizzie knows she should let go of her fascination with Drew, the pair of them soon find that fighting fate isn't going to be easy. –Goodreads.com

First, let me tell you I enjoyed the book. Is it something that I will re-read? Probably not. While entertaining, I just didn’t fall in love with the story. I could identify and sympathize with the characters but it did not leave me wanting more of the story. For me, even if a book is a stand-alone novel, I still want to be left wanting more or thinking about what happened in the “happily-ever-after” and this time around I was okay with where the story ended.

After reading the summary from Goodreads, I thought it was going to be another retelling of Pride & Prejudice; it was and then again it wasn’t. If you read this expecting Lizzie and Drew to mirror Elizabeth Bennett & Fitzgerald Darcy exactly, you might be surprised. Yes, there are extreme similarities, but Lizzie & Drew are very far form their counterparts.

The love at first sight that happens is easily explained by the use of reincarnation which is okay -- at least it’s not instant-lust-ification-with-no-explanation. coughBella&Edwardcough*
In my opinion, Ms. Madow made it crystal clear from the beginning that Lizzie should no longer be with her boyfriend, Jeremy. Right off the bat I saw him as an egotistical, materialistic JERK-face. I just did not like his character at all. I could not understand why Lizzie was still with him. It was always my thought that Drew & Lizzie should be together. Drew was treating her how a boyfriend SHOULD treat his girl. I understand why Drew was standoffish and trying to distance himself from her. The explanation is a good one once you finally find out. You really do want to cheer for them getting together. However, I’m not sure the collateral damage was worth it…And here I get a little spoilery: (highlight to read)

I felt really bad for Chelsea and a little bad for Jeremy at the end. Funny enough, I felt those two should be together for most of the book.

The book is definitely filled with the themes of pride, prejudice, second chances, and destiny. However, not everyone gets the second chance to set things straight. Of course, most of the conflict in the book could have been avoided had the characters had more communication between each other, and not been in states of self-denial, but then where would the conflict be?

Okay so maybe I just realized I would like to know what happens with the people considered “collateral damage,” in my opinion. I’m just not sure it would warrant a sequel. Of course not everyone can have a happy ending like our lovers and that’s life. C’est la vie.

Overall, the story was entertaining and the plot was creative with an interesting twist thrown in from a place you least expect which pulled together all the loose strings nicely. Michelle tied up all the loose ends, dotted all the I’s and crossed all the T’s, but as I said above, the collateral damage made it a hard sell for me to be okay with the ending. 

I've Been Tagged!

TAG! TAG! TAG! TAG! TAG! TAG!

I've been tagged. This is kinda fun. Watch out. I may tag you next.
It's not bad - it's a fun way to share a bit of information about yourself
with your readers. I will tell you 10 random things about me and then
tag 4 other people. Soooooo...hey, wait...I'm pretty open with my
biz so I guess I need to think to get some random unknown facts...

1. I graduated Magna Cum Laude from Temple U.
2. I was born on a rainy Monday.
3. My favorite movie is "Labyrinth".  Don't judge!
   "Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered, I have
   fought my way here to the castle beyond the Goblin City
   to take back the child that you have stolen. For my will is as
   strong as your's and my kingdom is as great.  You have no
   power over me." 
4. During my senior year of high school, I was in Italy for a full
   week. *happy dance* Visited Verona, Venice, Assissi, Florence,
    Sorrento, Rome, Pompeii...
5. I can play the piano, guitar, flute, french horn and a bunch
   of other instruments (with a little refresher on everything but piano).
6. During three summers of high school I worked as a lifeguard.
7. In my life, my ambitions have been veterinarian
   (I have allergies so there went that), Disney animation artist (I can't
   draw to save my life! so this is funny) Olympic swimmer,
   musical theater performer, teacher...and now *maybe* a writer
   someday.  My prospects were much more exciting when I was five....
8. My current favorite color is purple. 
9. I love tea! Mint, raspberry, vanilla, Darjeeling,
   Candy Cane Lane & Nutcracker Sweet
10. I am an alumnus of THIS famous high school in Philadelphia. 

And there you go. Do you know me any better now? I was tagged by:

Lavender Girl so go check out her blog! and now, I'm going to tag...

Kimberly & Brittney

Thamy

Tamara

Have fun and I am excited to learn more about you! Tag. You're it!  

TGIF (2): Books to Television

TGIF is hosted by Ginger at GReads.  Each Friday Ginger poses a question for us to share our thoughts on.  If you'd like to participate, head on over to her awesome blog and link up!

This week's topic:

Books to Television: Which books would you love to see made into a TV series or movie?
This question should be easy, right?  Wrong!  There are so many movie and television adaptations of books and sometimes Hollywood just does not do the book justice.  Major parts of story lines get the axe or the characters don't fit the image that I have conjured up in my head.  Therefore, choosing a series that I've read and loved and KNOWING it would be butchered in some way is pretty dang difficult.


If I had absolute faith and trust in a production company, I suppose here are some of my choices:

My Fantasy pick:  The Fionavar Tapestry Trilogy by Guy Gavriel Kay
The Summer Tree, The Wandering Fire, & The Darkest Road 
This is a work I would probably trust in the hands of Peter Jackson and the WETA Workshop to produce.  It is very much like the Lord of the Rings,  an amazing work of fantasy.  I love this series SO hard.  In one word it is truly EPIC. 

The second in the series is my
favorite and the book that introduced
me to Lady Julia

My Adult pick:  The Lady Julia series by Deanna Raybourn

Silent in the Grave, Silent in the Sanctuary, Silent on the Moor, The Dark Road to Darjeeling, & The Dark Enquiry
Victorian London murder mystery series, sassy main leading lady, dashing and mysterious leading man, this would TOTALLY deliver on the screen!  The costumes would be gorgeous and the locales would be breathtaking: London, the Scottish moors, & India.

My YA picks:  
Shade series by Jeri Smith-Ready 
Shade, Shift, & Shine (due out in 2012)
I am sure my fellow members of #TeamKilt are with me on this one and I'm sure Logan's fans would be too!  A big concern I would have is the CGI treatment of ghosts.  It would be interesting to see how Hollywood would handle them.  The series may not be completed yet but it has easily become one of my favorite series.  If you haven't read this series, you should.

The Summer I Turned Pretty Trilogy by Jenny Han
The Summer I Turned Pretty, It's Not Summer Without You, & We'll Always Have Summer 
Who wouldn't want to see Belly & the Fischer boys on screen?  A young girl that is learning to navigate womanhood, love, romance, & growing up and two gorgeous boys that she has to choose between.  I would definitely love this one.


What would you like to see on screen?

Review: Soul Thief by Jana Oliver

**If you haven't read The Demon Trapper's Daughter -- Turn back while you still can but GO READ IT!**

Did you read it? Okay then. Now we can talk...

Soul Thief
Book 2 of the Demon Trappers Series
Jana Oliver
St. Martin's Griffin
August 30, 2011
US Kindle Edition

Riley Blackthorne is beginning to learn that there are worse things than death by demon. And love is just one of them… 

Seventeen-year-old Riley has about had it up to here. After the devastating battle at the Tabernacle, trappers are dead and injured, her boyfriend Simon is gravely injured, and now her beloved late father’s been illegally poached from his grave by a very powerful necromancer. As if that’s not enough, there's Ori, one sizzling hot freelance demon hunter who’s made himself Riley’s unofficial body guard, and Beck, a super over-protective “friend” who acts more like a grouchy granddad. With all the hassles, Riley’s almost ready to leave Atlanta altogether.

But as Atlanta’s demon count increases, the Vatican finally sends its own Demon Hunters to take care of the city’s “little” problem, and pandemonium breaks loose. Only Riley knows that she might be the center of Hell’s attention: an extremely powerful Grade 5 demon is stalking her, and her luck can't last forever… -Goodreads.com

After reading this book I'm not sure I can write a non-spoiler review. I shall attempt to do so...blindfolded. Just kidding, but seriously... 

I waited six months to read this sequel and let me tell you: it was WORTH the WAIT!  
 

In The Demon Trapper's Daughter (DTD), we met apprentice Demon Trapper Riley Blackthorne and the long cast of characters on both the good side and the bad side. Riley had it pretty rough in the first book: she loses her dad in more ways than one, almost lost her Demon Trapper boyfriend, the demons know her name...Let's just say if it could go wrong with the flick of Murphy's Law wand, it went WRONG. Riley just could not catch a break!

At the end of book one there is no doubt that Riley's soul is highly sought after from the good guys and the bad. Everything snow balled into an epic throw-down-knock-out battle at the end and now Riley has some pieces of her life to reassemble and a HUGE promise to keep.

This is where we find Riley at the beginning of the second book. The girl literally has the weight of the world on her shoulders. What I still love about Riley (besides that fact that she kicks ass) but also find frustrating is her need to try and solve all of her problems herself. She is learning to reach out and accept help...from everyone but Denver Beck. That is something that I hope will eventually change.

As far as second books in a series goes, I was not disappointed in the content. This time around we get the story from both Riley AND Beck (which lemme tell ya = fan girl SQUEEE!!!!). We get more of Mr. Denver Beck and I LOVED IT. He is so complex but simple at the same time. But maybe I just think that because it is not often that you get the male POV in YA books but I disgress...

Was I happy with the choices the characters made? No. They went in every direction but the one I was hoping for. Oh sure, I wanted to strangle Riley & Beck. A LOT. But was everything necessary for story progression and character development? Hell to the Yes.

Fair warning: You may not like where the story goes in this second book. I had my doubts. ~~~HOWEVER!~~~ I am placing my FULL faith in Jana Oliver's storytelling ability to take this story where it needs to go.

I started taking notes while I read Soul Thief and I wish I could share them with you, but alas they would be SPOILER-ISH TO THE MAX. Looking back at my notes I'm glad I was questioning things about characters, motivations and events from the very beginning. Twists and turns await you my friends.

If you thought the story was complicated in DTD, is just got even MORE complicated.  At this point it could be anyone's guess what we will find in book three. I, for one, will be squirming until that release date!