4 STARS | Full Moon Kisses by Ellen Schreiber

Title: Full Moon Kisses
Series: Full Moon #3
Author: Ellen Schreiber
Age Group: Young Adult
Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance
Elements: Werewolves
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Format: Hardcover
ISBN-13: 978-0061986536
Published: December 26th, 2012
Source: Library
Events: Wicked Valentine's Read-A-Thon | Review Copy Cleanup Challenge
Rating: 4/5 STARS
Series Reviews: Magic of the Moonlight
Purchase: Amazon

Beware of the full moon. A werewolf wants to take you into his world. Forever.

Celeste and Brandon know that Nash in werewolf form is bad news. But a new prediction from psychic Dr. Meadows has Celeste wondering: Which of them wants to turn her into a werewolf?

Still on Celeste's and Brandon's minds is the "cure" from Brandon's father. Brandon must face one dilemma he hadn't anticipated—if his dad's serum really does work, is he willing to give up being a werewolf for good? Is Celeste willing to give up her heroic werewolf boyfriend? And when Nash finds out there's a cure, will he try to take it from Brandon as they continue to deal with their rivalry, their competing affections for Celeste, and their struggles with their werewolf identities?

Then things grow still more complicated when a gang of sketchy guys from a neigh-boring town comes to Legend's Run just before the big Werewolf Festival. What, or whom, are they looking for?

The third installment in the sumptuous series about werewolves and the popular girl who loves one is full of danger, mystery, and undeniably romantic full moon kisses.

In the previous book, Magic of the Moonlight, Nash was turned into a werewolf. Now Legend's Run has two werewolves in town. Nash is desperate for a cure--so desperate that he asks Celeste to go with him to see Dr. Meadows. While Nash receives the answer he was seeking, Celeste is given yet another warning: Beware of the full moon. A werewolf want to take you into his world. Forever.

Every ten years, Legend's run hosts a Werewolf Festival and while everyone is excitedly anticipating the Fest, Brandon, Celeste, and Nash have real werewolf problems to agonize over. Brandon is being pressured by his father to take the cure, but he's not 100% sure he wants to. Nash wants a cure so badly that he's becoming reckless in his search for it. And Celeste has Dr. Meadows's warning hanging over her head and fears she'll be turned against her will into a werewolf. To make matters worse, there seems to be a pack of werewolves from a neighboring town that has come to Legend's Run for more than visiting the Werewolf Festival.

Full Moon Kisses is the final book in the Full Moon series. I have really enjoyed reading this series, and I'm kind of disappointed to see it ending after only three books. There is so much more that could be added to the story. And by the end I felt that there were some loose ends that weren't tied up. While the beginning and middle of the book were great with all the romance, hope, fear and danger, the conclusion felt kind of anti-climatic. There have been many series finales that had blown me away, but the ending to the Full Moon series just had me thinking, "Well, okay then, that's it."

So I'd say that readers will either love or hate Full Moon Kisses. I'm not going to say that it will be loved, because there were parts that I loved and parts that I didn't. And while, in the end, I ended up loving Full Moon Kisses, readers may not. It's a love/hate relationship with this one. Full Moon Kisses, by itself, is a great book, but as a series finale, it was just okay.

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Ellen Schreiber was an actress and a stand-up comedian before becoming an author; she was also a real-estate agent. She studied Shakespearean theater at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and comedy at The Second City of Chicago, which is where she lived for five years. As a novelist she has had several works published in Europe and America. Her brother, Mark Schreiber, is also an author. He helped her start her writing career. The Vampire Kisses series was her real break. The "VK" series stars Raven, a unique goth girl who has wanted to be a vampire since she was little and Alexander Sterling, the vampire that loves to paint. Ellen says that "Raven is a blast to write for, because when I'm writing about her rebellious exploits, I feel the excitement of the rebellion too."

Recently Ellen announced an new series called Once in a Full Moon about "romantic werewolf!" The first book in the series was released December 28, 2010.


Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2013 to my book blogs, Zodiac Book Reviews and A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books.

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5 STARS | The Calling by Kelley Armstrong

Title: The Calling
Series: Darkness Rising Trilogy #2
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Age Group: Young Adult
Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Romance
Elements: Shapeshifters, Psychic Abilities, Demons
Setting Location: Salmon Creek, Vancouver Island, Canada (fictional)
Publisher: HarperCollins
Format: Hardcover
ISBN-13: 978-0061797057
Published: April 10th, 2012
Source: Library
Events: Kelley Armstrong YA Challenge | A Winter's Respite Read-A-Thon | 2013 TBR Pile Reading Challenge
Rating: 5/5 STARS
Series Reviews: The Gathering
Purchase: Amazon

Maya Delaney's paw-print birthmark is the mark of what she truly is -a skin-walker. She can run faster, climb higher, and see better than nearly everyone else. Experiencing intense connections with the animals that roam the woods outside her home, Maya knows it's only a matter of time before she's able to Shift and become one of them. And she believes there may be others in her small town with surprising talents.

Now Maya and her friends have been forced to flee from their homes during a forest fire they suspect was deliberately set. Then they're kidnapped, and after a chilling helicopter crash, they find themselves in the Vancouver Island wilderness with nothing but their extraordinary abilities to help them get back home.

In THE CALLING, the sizzling second book in the Darkness Rising trilogy, New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong pumps up the romance, danger, and suspense that left readers of THE GATHERING clamoring for more.

Maya and her friends are being evacuated from a burning Salmon Creek when they notice something isn't quite right. Mayor Tillson is unresponsive and Maya finds signs that he's been drugged. The pilot is acting suspicious, and as the helicopter loses control, a friend is lost. Injured, but having escaped their kidnappers, they find themselves lost in the wilderness of Vancouver Island. As they make their way back to Salmon Creek, secrets and revelations are brought to light, some of which are better left in the dark.

Project Phoenix is an experiment where the St. Clouds are trying to resurrect extinct supernatural types. Mina Lee had given Daniel a list of terms that included: benandanti, yee naaldlooshii, xana, and sileni. We know that the yee naaldlooshii were an extinct Native American skinwalker, and that that's what Maya, Rafe and Annie are. Sam reveals herself to be a benandanti and that she believes Daniel is one too. The benandanti were an extinct race of demon hunters who evolved into general evil hunters. Like the skinwalkers, the demon hunters hid their powers through intermarriage and the St. Clouds resurrected the genes to bring them back.

SPOILERS AFTER THIS POINT!!

Now, it isn't said in The Calling what the xana and sileni are, but I looked them up and found out what they are. The xana (ha-na) are female water nymphs or fairies. They are extraordinarily beautiful, usually small, slender, with long blonde or light brown hair. Their hypnotic voices can make one feel a sense of peace and love or feel suffocated and driven insane, depending on the purity of the soul. They can be kind, but are territorial. Serena, Hayley, and Nicole all fit this description. It would also fit with Sam's suspicion that Nicole was responsible for Serena's death. Nicole thought of Daniel as her territory and destroyed Serena for invading it.

Sileni were drunken followers of the Greek god, Dionysus, who ruled over the grape harvest, wine, ritual madness and ecstasy (or possibly followers of his tutor, Silenus, the oldest, wisest, and most drunken of Dionysus's followers). Silenus was believed to possess special knowledge and the power of prophecy when drunk. I feel pretty bad for Corey in this case, because this fits him and the emergence of his powers. Corey is known for his drinking and it seems to help keep his headaches away. It is while he is drunk that his visions come.

There have been some developments in each of their powers, but it'll be interesting to see how much more they could change in The Rising, especially when those who don't know what they are find out.

The man that held a gun on Maya and looked like her in The Gathering when they were escaping turns out to really be her father, like she suspected. But he's aligned himself with the Nast Cabal to search for her and her friends. He claims to have been searching for her and her brother ever since her mother ran off with them. Do I believe that? I'm not sure. Calvin Antone seems suspicious to me and like he's still hiding something.

Then they made it back to Salmon Creek, the town was completely deserted, their parents believing them to be dead. But the St. Clouds haven't given up on capturing them. Maya, Daniel, Corey, and Rafe split up. Rafe and Corey act as decoys so Maya and Daniel can get away and get help--they end up captured. As they are running, Daniel gets shot with a tranq and tells Maya to keep going. But Maya's not going to leave her friends behind and waits for her chance to rescue them. She Shifts into a cougar and...well...it's really awesome, she was amazing. But while Maya was able to free Daniel and Corey, they didn't make it in time to the helipad to get Rafe, Annie, Sam, and Kenjii.

Before all this happened, Rafe gave Maya a note, and it turned out to be memos on the Buffalo escape and the failed Genesis Project. Rafe left a contact his mother gave him and told Maya to find him and then come back for them. I believe this contact to be Simon and Derek's dad, Kit. The moment I've been looking forward to the most in this series is when the groups from the Darkness Rising and Darkest Powers series come together. I have a feeling it's going to be amazing.

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Kelley Armstrong has been telling stories since before she could write. Her earliest written efforts were disastrous. If asked for a story about girls and dolls, hers would invariably feature undead girls and evil dolls, much to her teachers' dismay. All efforts to make her produce "normal" stories failed.

Today, she continues to spin tales of ghosts and demons and werewolves, while safely locked away in her basement writing dungeon. She's the author of the NYT-bestselling "Women of the Otherworld" paranormal suspense series and "Darkest Powers" young adult urban fantasy trilogy, as well as the Nadia Stafford crime series. Armstrong lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, kids and far too many pets.


Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2013 to my book blogs, Zodiac Book Reviews and A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books.

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5 STARS | Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

Title: Halfway to the Grave
Series: Night Huntress #1, Night Huntress World Reading Order
Author: Jeaniene Frost
Age Group: Adult
Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, Mystery, Urban Fantasy
Elements: Vampires, Ghosts, Ghouls
Publisher: Avon
Format: Mass Market Paperback
ISBN-13: 978-0061245084
Published: October 30th, 2007
Source: Library
Events: 2013 Jeaniene Frost Reading Challenge | A Winter's Respite Read-A-Thon
Rating: 5/5 STARS
Purchase: Amazon

Flirting with the Grave...

Half-vampire Catherine Crawfield is going after the undead with a vengeance, hoping that one of these deadbeats is her father - the one responsible for ruining her mother's life. Then she's captured by Bones, a vampire bounty hunter, and is forced into an unholy partnership.

In exchange for finding her father, Cat agrees to train with the sexy night stalker until her battle reflexes are as sharp as his fangs. She's amazed she doesn't end up as his dinner - are there actually good vampires? Pretty soon Bones will have her convinced that being half-dead doesn't have to be all bad. But before she can enjoy her newfound status as kick-ass demon hunter, Cat and Bones are pursued by a group of killers. Now Cat will have to choose a side . . . and Bones is turning out to be as tempting as any man with a heartbeat.

Cat has been told that all vampires are evil. After all, her mother was sexually assaulted by one, resulting in Cat's birth. Being a half-vampire gives her abilities perfect for seeking revenge against the creatures that once hurt her mother. So every night Cat goes out hunting...and on one such night she meets a vampire that changes everything she thought she knew about the undead she's been killing.

You would think right away that any relationship between Cat and Bones would be doomed from the start. Although she's half-vampire, Cat hates vampires with a passion. There isn't a vampire she's met that she hasn't tried staking before anything else, and that includes Bones. But being a Master vampire, Bones is a lot stronger than any of the others Cat has met before him. Cat's attempted staking of Bones is how their working and personal relationships began.

Though their working relationship starts before their personal one, I'll talk about their personal relationship first. We know that Cat hates vampires, so how could she possibly fall in love with one, right? Well, it definitely wasn't simple or easy. As Cat and Bones work together and she learns more about vampires, Cat comes to respect and admire Bones. That respect and admiration--slowly--becomes more. But there are namely three things driving a wedge between them--Bones being a vampire, Cat's own half-undead state, and her mother. While Cat comes to terms and accepts the first two, her mother is not so easily won over (in fact, she can't and won't be won over). Cat and Bones's relationship definitely has its bittersweet moments. "If you run from me, I'll chase you. And I'll find you."

Now back to their working relationship. When Cat tried to stake Bones, being the Master vampire that he is, he knocks her about the noggin and chains her up at him place. At first he doesn't believe her claims of being a half-vampire, but then she flashes her green eyes, a trait all vampires have, and after they tussle a bit, a partnership is struck. In exchange for helping Cat find her father, Bones wants her help with a bounty he's currently hunting. Being a half-vampire has given Cat a natural beauty that humans have to work hard for and the strength to take on the undead. Her human side gives her the beating heart and pulse to fool vampires into complacency. In other words, she's the perfect bait, while Bones is the extra muscle.

Which brings us to our villain. Bones has been tracking a vampire named Hennessey that he believes is behind hundreds of girls going missing--from Maine to Mexico, the Great Lakes area to now Ohio. He's running a kind of Meals on Wheels operation and he's got help in high places among the humans. Cat feels a personal need to take Hennessey down since she almost became one of those missing girls, and he took her mother hostage. "We're going to get him. We're going to stand over him on the ground, and every greedy bastard on his team, too, and then they'll know they were taken down by you...and your little Grim Reaper, who hasn't met a vampire she didn't try to kill first." Cat was amazingly awesome during their assault on Hennessey's hideout. Those vampires (and some humans) were just dropping like flies!

While the first battle against the "bad" vampires was a success, the war is just beginning.

Cat is approached by a special branch of the FBI called the Paranormal Behavior Division. Don William, the head of the division, claims that they've been looking for someone like Cat, and offers her a job. She knows that taking the job is the best way to protect both her mother and Bones. But accepting the job offer comes with sacrifices.

I loved everything about this book and I can't wait to read the next one!

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Jeaniene Frost is the New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author of the Night Huntress series, the Night Prince series and the Night Huntress World novels. To date, foreign rights for her novels have sold to nineteen different countries. Jeaniene lives in North Carolina with her husband Matthew, who long ago accepted that she rarely cooks and always sleeps in on the weekends. Aside from writing, Jeaniene enjoys reading, poetry, watching movies with her husband, exploring old cemeteries, spelunking and traveling – by car. Airplanes, children, and cook books frighten her.


Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2013 to my book blogs, Zodiac Book Reviews and A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books.

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5 STARS | The Darkest Passion by Gena Showalter

Title: The Darkest Passion
Series: Lords of the Underworld #5
Author: Gena Showalter
Age Group: Adult
Genres: Romance, Paranormal, Fantasy, Mythology, Urban Fantasy
Elements: Demons, Immortals, Angels, Deities, Fallen Angels, Harpies, Psychic Abilities
Publisher: HQN Books
Format: Mass Market Paperback
ISBN-13: 978-0373774555
Published: May 21st, 2010
Source: Library
Events: 2013 Sexy Showalter Reading Challenge | Bout of Books Read-A-Thon
Rating: 5/5 STARS
Series Reviews: The Darkest Night | The Darkest Kiss | The Darkest Pleasure | The Darkest Whisper
Purchase: Amazon

For weeks, the immortal warrior Aeron has sensed an invisible female presence. An angel-demon-assassin has been sent to kill him. Or has she? Olivia claims she fell from the heavens, giving up immortality because she couldn't bear to harm him. But trusting - and falling for - Olivia will endanger them all. So how has this mortal with the huge blue eyes already unleashed Aeron's darkest passion?

With an enemy hot on his trail and his faithful demon companion determined to remove Olivia from his life, Aeron is trapped between duty and consuming desire. Worse still, a new executioner has been sent to do the job Olivia wouldn't...

Aeron, Keeper of Wrath, has been freed from his blood lust curse thanks to the sacrifice his friend Paris, Keeper of Promiscuity, made by giving up the one woman he can't forget. Aeron has taken it upon himself to care for Paris, who has fallen into a dangerous depression, as a way to repay his friend for saving him. But Aeron can't understand Paris's draw to a human, with their short lifespans and weaknesses. And he feels that he has no need for such things.

"One day, someone's going to fascinate you, draw and ensnare you, and you'll crave her with every cell in your body. I hope she drives you insane. I hope, for a little while at least, she denies you, leading you on a merry chase. Perhaps then you'll understand a glimmer of my pain."

These men are more honorable and unselfish than their counterparts, the Hunters. Would a Hunter give up his own happiness to save another Hunter, like Paris did for Aeron? From what I've seen of them so far in the series, I think not. The Lords are far from the evil the Hunters accuse them of being.

After Aeron pretty much dares Cronus to bring him a woman who will "torment and deny" him, he meets Olivia. Only thing is, Cronus didn't send her and it's Aeron who torments and denies her. Olivia is the angelic presence that Aeron had felt watching him. But unable to fulfill her orders to kill him, she fell from the heavens. "So here I am. Yours." She fought her way out of hell to be with Aeron. The Problem? Legion hates Olivia and wants to kill her. But because of the sacrifice Olivia made to save Aeron's life, he won't allow it. Thus begins the catfight to end them all. Legion won't let Olivia have Aeron without a fight.

This leads Legion to literally make a deal with the devil. Lucifer offers Legion a human body more beautiful than Olivia's, and she'll be able to keep it as long as she can seduce Aeron into sleeping with her. But such deals are never that easy. Let's just say that if Legion fails, Lucifer's revenge against the One True Deity will be way easier to achieve. And he wants his High Lords to make it possible.

We meet a new Lordess in The Darkest Passion. Her name is Scarlet, she's Rhea's daughter, and the Keeper of Nightmares. Scarlet seems familiar to Gideon, Keeper of Lies, but he can't remember from where. "Well, well, well. Lies. It really is you. We're together again at last." Scarlet apparently knows Gideon very well, she even claims to be his wife. TO PART IS TO DIE. This line will be very important in the future.

A few other tidbits we learn in this book are that The Unspoken Ones will give the Lords the Paring Rod for Cronus's head; Olivia reveals some details about Ashlyn and Maddox's babies (yes, I said babies); and Cronus and Rhea are more like the Lords than they ever thought. Quite a lot happens in this book.

**SPOILERS** Finally, Danika finishes a new painting that fortells Aeron's death. According to Lysander, the only way to protect those he loves is for Aeron to die. Let me tell you, it broke my heart when Wrath said goodbye to Aeron, then my heart was shattered when the other Lords came out and saw what happened to Aeron. Their grief was palpable and I get teary just thinking about these strong warriors weeping for the death of their friend.

Something good did come of Aeron's death. There may be a way to free Baden, the former Keeper of Distrust and Aeron's best friend, from the afterlife realm Zeus created for the Lords. Aeron swears to Baden that he will find that way to release him.

The Darkest Passion, I feel, is the most emotional book in the series so far. My favorite book in the Lords of the Underworld series was Maddox's story, that is until I read Aeron's in The Darkest Passion. The next Lord to have his story told is Gideon in The Darkest Lie. Is Scarlet really his wife, or have they both been lead to believe in a lie?

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Gena Showalter sold her first book at the age of 27 and now, four years later, is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thirteen books, with eleven more on the way in a thrilling blend of genres: breathtaking paranormal and contemporary romances, cutting edge young adult novels, and stunning urban fantasy.

Her novels have appeared in Cosmopolitan Magazine, MTV, Seventeen Magazine, and have been translated in French, Italian and Korean. The critics have called her books "sizzling page-turners" and "utterly spellbinding stories", while Showalter herself has been called “a star on the rise”.

Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2013 to my book blogs, Zodiac Book Reviews and A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books.

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5 STARS | BLEACH Volume 53: The Deathberry Returns 2 by Tite Kubo

Title: BLEACH, Volume 53: The Deathberry Returns 2
Series: BLEACH #53
Author: Tite Kubo
Age Group: Young Adult
Genres: Japanese Manga, Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Paranormal
Publisher: VIZ Media LLC
Format: Paperback
ISBN-13: 978-1421549491
Published: December 4th, 2012
Source: Library
Events: Bout of Books Read-A-Thon
Rating: 5/5 STARS
Series Reviews: Volume 45 | Volume 46 | Volume 47 | Volume 48 | Volume 49 | Volume 50 | Volume 51 | Volume 52
Purchase: Amazon

The fact that I am so young
So immature
Seems unforgivable to
The decrepit
Perfect and faultless adults

Ichigo is rescued from the pit of despair once again by Rukia. And she's not the only member of the Soul Society who shows up to help out. Now having finally regained his true Soul Reaper powers, Ichigo faces off against Ginjo with no restraints.

Rukia has given Ichigo Soul Reaper powers once again! Now the whole of Xcution enters the battlefield. But Ichigo's not alone in the fight. He has so friends from the Soul Society to help him out.

Urahara created a sword that enabled Rukia to give Ichigo Soul Reaper powers again. And it wasn't just Rukia's spiritual pressure that did it this time--everyone in the Soul Society helped out.

"Soul Reaper power is something that springs from within him. You couldn't steal it from him even if you wanted to! Ichigo! They must be ignorant. They think this is enough to fill you with despair! They don't know the struggles you've lived through! Show them, Ichigo! That they cannot stop you with despair!"

Okay, first of all, Ichigo has always worn his power, just as Chad had said when he saw Ichigo's Fullbring. With his Soul Reaper powers back, thanks to his friends in the Soul Society, he has the Soul Reaper shihakusho, but there are also parts of his Fullbring in his new get up. And wow, his power now is far greater than before, thanks to what he learned of Fullbring. It's off the charts!

"That power you received is the result of the changes you made in the Soul Society in all of your battles. Accept it with honor."

Renij, Byakuya, Toshiro, Kenpachi, and Ikkaku also came with Rukia to restore Ichigo's powers, but there was another reason too. The second reason was Ginjo, the first deputy Soul Reaper. Ginjo gives all the other members of Xcution some of Ichigo's stolen power and the battle begins.

It was amazing how easily Kenpachi defeated Giriko. Kenpachi definitely got the weakest of the Xcution members as evidenced by his statement, "What a bore."

Ichigo is paired up against Ginjo, of course, but he's not alone. Uryu is there to help him out, although I really don't think Ichigo needs help. But we don't see any of their fight in this volume.

Toshiro is up against Yukio, and though Toshiro is having trouble finding Yukio, it's more of an annoyance than anything else.

Rukia is fighting Riruka, and we all know how Rukia loves stuffed animals. This could be a very difficult battle for her. "Don't think you can tempt me with these things!!"

Byakuya is against Tsukishima--this battle will be interesting.

Ikkaku is pounding fists with Shishigawara. Some of the hits they make make me cringe, it looks so painful.

And Renji, who never makes the first move against a woman, is fighting Jackie.

Some of the battles start and end in this volume, while others have yet to begin. Of course, the battle I'm most looking forward to is the Ginjo V.S. Ichigo and Uryu battle. Ichigo's battles are always really awesome and I can't wait to see this one in Volume 54. I'm also curious to see how Rukia gets herself out of the trouble she's in.

Twitter | Goodreads

The son of a town council member in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima. He never took drawing seriously until he was 17; after reading Dragon Ball he knew he wanted to be a manga artist. At the age of 18 he submitted his first concept for the series Zombiepowder but it got rejected. Zombiepowder was rejected multiple times until Kubo was 22, when it finally was accepted by Shonen Jump. It did not last long; it was cancelled after four volumes in late 2000.

His next series, Bleach, about a high school student who becomes a shinigami and fights hollows, was not such a failure. Bleach began regular publication in 2001. It has been running in Weekly Shonen Jump ever since.


Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2013 to my book blogs, Zodiac Book Reviews and A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books.

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4.5 STARS | BLEACH Volume 52: End of Bond by Tite Kubo

Title: BLEACH, Volume 52: End of Bond
Series: BLEACH #52
Author: Tite Kubo
Age Group: Young Adult
Genres: Japanese Manga, Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Paranormal
Publisher: VIZ Media LLC
Format: Paperback
ISBN-13: 978-1421543055
Published: December 4th, 2012
Source: Library
Events: Bout of Books Read-A-Thon
Rating: 4.5/5 STARS
Series Reviews: Volume 45 | Volume 46 | Volume 47 | Volume 48 | Volume 49 | Volume 50 | Volume 51
Purchase: Amazon

Will you count with me
My teeth marks
On you

Ichigo continues his training to master Fullbring and hopefully regain his lost Soul Reaper powers. But as Ichigo gets closer, Ginjo makes a startling move. Can Ginjo truly be trusted? And what lies ahead for Ichigo when he finally regains his powers...?

Ginjo has seemingly turned against Ichigo! With his friends threatened, Ichigo's Fullbring completes. But then Ichigo goes home and finds a disturbing sight. Tsukishima has invaded his family and friends. But they aren't the only ones he's gotten to--Ginjo finds Ichigo and tells him that Tsukishima got to the other Xcution members too. With his family and friends against him, Ichigo falls prey to desperation and despair. But hope arrives in the form of an old friend.

First off, Ginjo has blinded Ichigo and threatens to kill Orihime and Chad. That really gets Ichigo going and finds the strength to attack. So is Ginjo really an enemy? Turns out that it was all done to help Ichigo master Fullbring. Now that his Fullbring is complete, Ginjo has Ichigo train to build his strength and stamina to be able to handle using Fullbring. Ichigo's Fullbring is pretty cool--I like to think of it as looking like a futuristic version of a Soul Reaper. And the power he has is maybe even greater than just his Soul Reaper powers were.

It is after this that it became kind of heartbreaking for me. Ichigo's riding pretty high on his success with his Fullbring and returns home. But this is when his worst fears start coming true. Tsukishima has turned his friends and family against him. The very people he lives and fights to protect. Then Orihime and Chad, the ones who fought by his side, claim that every victory they've gained has been because of Tsukishima. "What did I regain my powers for?!!" This is when Ichigo begins falling into despair--and we all know that that is Ichigo's greatest weakness. The final piece that sends Ichigo plummeting into despair is when Uryu shows up and Ichigo can't know who he is sided with. But it wasn't Uryu Ichigo had to worry about. Ginjo shows his true colors when he takes Ichigo's newly achieved Fullbring from him. Ichigo's tears, his pain, really tore at my heart.

I noticed something that I think is significant. When Ichigo first met Zangetsu, the world was in a constant rain shower. But as Ichigo's powers increased, that rain stopped. When Ginjo took Ichigo's new power from him and he began to cry, Ichigo's world once again became a rainy day.

Although most of Ichigo's friends have been turned against him by Tsukishima, those from the Soul Society have not. Rukia once again gives Ichigo hope.

This volume is one of the most emotional volumes in the series. Ichigo's pain and despair felt so real, as if I could feel it myself. Now that Rukia hase given hope back to Ichigo, Ginjo's going to have to watch out. No one hurts those Ichigo cares about and gets away with it.

Twitter | Goodreads

The son of a town council member in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima. He never took drawing seriously until he was 17; after reading Dragon Ball he knew he wanted to be a manga artist. At the age of 18 he submitted his first concept for the series Zombiepowder but it got rejected. Zombiepowder was rejected multiple times until Kubo was 22, when it finally was accepted by Shonen Jump. It did not last long; it was cancelled after four volumes in late 2000.

His next series, Bleach, about a high school student who becomes a shinigami and fights hollows, was not such a failure. Bleach began regular publication in 2001. It has been running in Weekly Shonen Jump ever since.


Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2013 to my book blogs, Zodiac Book Reviews and A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books.

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4 STARS | BLEACH Volume 51: Love Me Bitterly, Loth Me Sweetly by Tite Kubo

Title: BLEACH, Volume 51: Love Me Bitterly, Loth Me Sweetly
Series: BLEACH #51
Author: Tite Kubo
Age Group: Young Adult
Genres: Japanese Manga, Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Paranormal
Publisher: VIZ Media LLC
Format: Paperback
ISBN-13: 978-1421543048
Published: November 6th, 2012
Source: Library
Events: Bout of Books Read-A-Thon
Rating: 4/5 STARS
Series Reviews: Volume 45 | Volume 46 | Volume 47 | Volume 48 | Volume 49 | Volume 50
Purchase: Amazon

Don't put your finger
In my heart

Knowing Tsukishima is after Ichigo, Ginjo continues the Fullbring training at a secret base. Ichigo is mastering Fullbring at an incredible speed and regaining his lost powers, but is he ready to face Tsukishima just yet...?

As Ichigo is fighting Jackie and her Fullbring Dirty Boots, Tsukishima attacks! Ichigo fights him, but his Fullbring isn't quite there yet. Yukio uses his Fullbring, Invaders Must Die, to place Ichigo in a different dimension and away from Tsukishima. Ichigo's next training opponent is Ginjo himself and his Cross of Scaffold. Orihime is brought in to help with Ichigo's training. And Urahara and Isshin's plan moves forward with a little help from the Soul Society.

In Ichigo's battle with Jackie, we get a glimpse of how little they know about Ichigo's past experience as a warrior. "I was a Soul Reaper for only a short period. But in terms of experience...I got more then you guys." It's after this that Ichigo's Fullbring advances into a clad-type. "For Ichigo, wearing his power is his true form." This form of his Fullbring isn't complete, but it looks just like his shihakusho.

After Tsukishima's attack, Ichigo continues his training. His next opponent is Ginjo. Chad brings Orihime to help with this stage of training to heal Ichigo when needed. It's funny to see Riruka get a little jealous when she sees Orihime. She wants to dislike Orihime, but Orihime has a way of making everyone like her.

We see vague images of Urahara and Isshin going about their mysterious project, and with the help of a Soul Reaper. In the meanwhile, Ginjo takes drastic measures by blinding Ichigo. What is Urahara and Isshin up to? Who is the Soul Reaper helping them? What does it have to do with Ichigo? And now that Ichigo's sight has been taken from him, will he be able to defeat Ginjo? These are all questions I was left with by the end of this volume--I can't wait for the answers in the next volume.

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The son of a town council member in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima. He never took drawing seriously until he was 17; after reading Dragon Ball he knew he wanted to be a manga artist. At the age of 18 he submitted his first concept for the series Zombiepowder but it got rejected. Zombiepowder was rejected multiple times until Kubo was 22, when it finally was accepted by Shonen Jump. It did not last long; it was cancelled after four volumes in late 2000.

His next series, Bleach, about a high school student who becomes a shinigami and fights hollows, was not such a failure. Bleach began regular publication in 2001. It has been running in Weekly Shonen Jump ever since.


Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2013 to my book blogs, Zodiac Book Reviews and A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books.

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3.5 STARS | BLEACH Volume 50: The Six Fullbringers by Tite Kubo

Title: BLEACH, Volume 50: The Six Fullbringers
Series: BLEACH #50
Author: Tite Kubo
Age Group: Young Adult
Genres: Japanese Manga, Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Paranormal
Publisher: VIZ Media LLC
Format: Paperback
ISBN-13: 978-1421543031
Published: November 6th, 2012
Source: Library
Events: Bout of Books Read-A-Thon
Rating: 3.5/5 STARS
Series Reviews: Volume 45 | Volume 46 | Volume 47 | Volume 48 | Volume 49
Purchase: Amazon

Time always approaches from behind
Growling and flowing past our eyes
Stand your ground
No matter how much time shows its fangs
In order to wash you away to a beautiful past
Do not look forward
Your hopes creep up behind you
Only existing in dark turbid waters

After a long battle, Ichigo loses his Soul Reaper powers and is now living a quiet and peaceful life. But when a mysterious man named Kugo Ginjo approaches him, Ichigo might have a chance to regain hi powers. But what are Ginjo's true motives...?

Ichigo begins training to master Fullbring and quickly makes progress in the first stages. But while Ichigo is with the members of Xcution, Orihime is attacked by Tsukishima. And while all of this is happening Urahara and Isshin are secretly planning something.

When Ginjo explains Xcution's mission to Ichigo, he mentions an interesting fact about Hollows. Why do they have holes in their chests? They lose their hearts from the pain of not being saved by a Soul Reaper, and that lost heart becomes their mask. Each member of Xcution has their parents attacked by Hollows before they were born. They want to remove their Hollow-like powers from themselves. And to do that, they need a Soul Reaper. That's where Ichigo comes in. It's really pretty interesting when you think about Ichigo, Chad, and Orihime and how they got their powers. Sure, Ichigo already had latent Soul Reaper powers because of his dad, but I'm thinking the Hollow power he got when his mother was attacked.

"Ichigo. You may think you're hiding it. But honestly, I couldn't stand watching you since you lost your powers. You wanna fight, don't you? It hurts you that you can't protect those around you, right? You don't have to hide it. Ichigo. That's what makes you who you are."

I think Chad's words are what finally made Ichigo accept Ginjo's help in regaining his powers. This is nothing new with Ichigo. It literally hurts him when he can't protect those he loves. He doesn't want power to be able to fight for fighting's sake, he wants power to be able to fight to protect.

Riruka's first reaction to seeing Ichigo is hilarious. She's got a HUGE crush on him!

Ichigo begins his Fullbring training inside Riruka's Dollhouse. While being chased by a giant talking stuffed pig, he tries to figure out how to use Fullbring. Eventually he realizes that he needs to use his Deputy Badge, but he also needs to know how to manifest his Fullbring. Now the first stage of Ichigo's Fullbring is pretty cool--it looks like Zangetsu's guard. "Things have changed, you're no longer helpless. A glimmer of hope and you're a completely different person. Experience or instinct. Which is it? Ichigo..." Hope is Ichigo's greatest strength, while despair is his greatest weakness.

Uryu was the first of Ichigo's friends to be attacked and this time it's Orihime. Tsukishima cuts her with his Fullbring, Book of the End. It has a strange power, though. It doesn't seem to really cut someone, but plant false memories. Orihime thinks of Tsukishima as a friends after this and doesn't know why. This leads Ichigo back to Ginjo to learn more about Tsukishima. He was once the leader of Xcution, but he changed his mind and disappeared. He's attacking Ichigo's friends to get his attention and to keep him away from Ginjo and the others. All things said, it's safe to say that Tsukishima is dangerous.

Ichigo begins stage two of mastering Fullbring by fighting Jackie and her Dirty Boots. I can't wait to see how Ichigo's Fullbring evolves. Every time Ichigo gains a new power is always very awesome.

Twitter | Goodreads

The son of a town council member in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima. He never took drawing seriously until he was 17; after reading Dragon Ball he knew he wanted to be a manga artist. At the age of 18 he submitted his first concept for the series Zombiepowder but it got rejected. Zombiepowder was rejected multiple times until Kubo was 22, when it finally was accepted by Shonen Jump. It did not last long; it was cancelled after four volumes in late 2000.

His next series, Bleach, about a high school student who becomes a shinigami and fights hollows, was not such a failure. Bleach began regular publication in 2001. It has been running in Weekly Shonen Jump ever since.


Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2013 to my book blogs, Zodiac Book Reviews and A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books.

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4 STARS | Dreamwalker by Andrea Heltsley

Title: Dreamwalker
Series: Persephone's League of Immortals #1
Author: Andrea Heltsley
Age Group: New Adult
Genres: Fantasy, Mythology, Paranormal, Romance
Elements: Witches, Psychic Abilities, Fae, Vampires, Deities, Immortals, Nymphs
Publisher: Andrea Heltsley
Format: Kindle Edition
ASIN: B0085I0H0M
Published: May 23rd, 2012
Source: SupaGurl Tours | AToMR Tours
Events: July Book Tour | September Book Tour | Once Upon a Read-A-Thon
Rating: 4/5 STARS
Purchase: Amazon | B&N

Noel Kennedy lost her boyfriend, her job and her dignity all in one week. Then something happened and she began to dream of this stranger she had never met. She couldn’t resist the man of her dreams named Jared especially when she met him in real life. Entranced, she slowly unraveled a world she was meant to stay out of. Her life was not what she thought it was once a sexy Boone stepped into the mix and shook things up. Can she escape a life of servitude or immortality for a chance at love?

Noel Kennedy's life changed once she began dreaming of a blond-haired, gray-eyed stranger who seemed familiar to her somehow. Things took a stranger turn when Noel saw the stranger in real life. But the stranger, Jared Townsend, wasn't the only one who found Noel. A danger very real and very unbelievable has found her too. With surprise revelations and long-lost memories surfacing, Noel must come to terms with not only her new reality, but also who she really is and a very uncertain future.

I didn't know what to expect from Dreamwalker, and I'm glad that I was pleasantly surprised by what I found. In Dreamwalker, Persephone is portrayed as the villain and not the victim, which is how she's usually described in stories featuring her. Persephone's League of Immortals is a group of slaves to those immortals that serve Persephone in exchange for that immortality. Then there is the rogue group that fights against PLI to keep their freedom and mortality, and protects others from being victimized and enslaved by PLI. It's all kind of confusing at first, but as Noel learns about this world, we learn along with her. So it gets better as the story progresses.

Noel's power is that of a dream walker, a clairvoyant who can enter dreams, have visions, and even see the future with training. She shares this power with Jared and Samara. The only reason her powers awoke was because Jared was sent to awaken them and performed a ritual to do so. For Noel, who is untrained, this ability can be very inconvenient--when a vision is coming upon her she suddenly nods off. I would have to say that the dreams that Noel has and enters are the most descriptive parts of Dreamwalker, besides the Underworld, though that is more like a nicely wrapped nightmare.

Noel and Samara have the ability to magnify each others powers. This would make them the most powerful clairvoyants in the world. They would be able to manipulate their visions and see the future in its entirety. This is the power of the Maristolla family. Members of the Maristolla family are highly sought after because of their extremely powerful abilities. Noel and Samara's power is what makes Persephone want them as her new initiates. Like they say, with great power comes great responsibility. But it also comes with great sacrifice, as Noel and Samara know very well.

Now if you were caught between having to choose Jared or Boone, who would it be? Noel finds herself in this very situation. Her soul says Jared, but her heart and mind tell her Boone. At the beginning, I was all for Jared. He was the mysterious dream guy. But then Noel met Boone, who is very much in the now. He was there for her whenever she needed him, and because of his abilities as an empath, he really seemed to understand her. So by the time she had to choose one or the other, I was hoping that she would choose Boone. As for who she chose, you'll just have to read Dreamwalker to find out. And believe me, it's worth it. There are some really steamy scenes!

With the conclusion of Dreamwalker, I am extremely excited for the sequel, which comes out sometime in 2013. With all the uncertainties and questions left up in the air, I can't wait to find out what happens next.

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I am a biology nerd who loves reading just about anything paranormal and some chick lit. I love my Italian greyhounds, my family, sunshine and summertime and most of all books! When I am not writing, I am reading. I have been writing on paper and in my head since grade school. It is pretty bad when you are at your job and daydreaming about writing a scene. I have fallen victim more than once, so I decided to make a go of it :) I am an entertainment girl! I love all things books, music, movies and television. Coffee is my best friend and I think I should own a Starbucks by now..lol.


Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2012 to my book blogs, Zodiac Book Reviews and A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books.

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4 STARS | Immortal Hearts by Ellen Schreiber

Title: Immortal Hearts
Series: Vampire Kisses #9
Author: Ellen Schreiber
Age Group: Young Adult
Genres: Paranormal, Romance, Fantasy
Elements: Vampires
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Format: Hardcover
ISBN-13: 978-0062070081
Published: May 15th, 2012
Source: Library
Events: Bout of Books Read-A-Thon
Rating: 4/5 STARS
Purchase: Kindle | Hardcover

Athena "Stormy" Sterling is coming to Dullsville, and Raven is both excited and panicked in anticipation of Alexander's little sister's visit. Alexander tells Raven that she and his sister have a lot in common, but can the mini-Raven be everything she hopes for? Alexander calls her Stormy for a reason.

Stormy's visit stirs up the perfect immortal whirlwind. Raven is forced to take a good look at what it would really mean to be a vampire in the Sterling family, aside from some of the things she already loves, like shunning the sun and sleeping in a coffin with Alexander. When Raven compares her life with Stormy's, she can see that it's not all starry skies and black roses. But Raven knows she's always wanted to be a vampire.

Alexander is as romantic and dreamy as ever, and though he keeps showing Raven how much he loves her, will she ultimately be able to convince him that it's the right thing to turn her?

This final chapter of Vampire Kisses' nocturnal romance will keep all mortal and immortal hearts racing.

Immortal Hearts brings us the conclusion of Raven and Alexander's story. With the arrival of Alexander's little sister, Stormy, Raven gets a better look at the life of a Sterling vampire. For Stormy, life as a vampire has been lonely and secluded. So Raven knows that being a vampire isn't all good, but she also knows that she wants to be with Alexander for eternity. The only things she questions is whether Alexander wants to change her and if their futures are going in the same place.

I have loved this series since book one, but as the series went along, I just became more and more frustrated. Raven's nagging about being turned and Alexander's reluctance and indecision just started to irritate me. It's sad to see the series end, but it's also a relief to have a solution.

What saved this book for me was Stormy. I absolutely loved her! She was just so adorable, I don't know how anyone could not like her. She loves her brother very much and that trait gave her a sweetness that none of the other female vampires have in this series. She's just a young girl who wants to hangout with her friends and not be kept in seclusion by herself. I would love to be Stormy's friend!

The series wouldn't be complete without one final attempt by Jagger and Luna to split Raven and Alexander up--although it wasn't as grand as all the other attempts. I also thought that the happily ever after, with everyone in attendance, was too happy. I mean, Jagger and Luna just tried to break them up, but now they are all smiles? But for a series as unbelievable, outrageous, and totally hilarious, it was the perfect way to end the series. Almost like how a play ends with the cast gathered together to celebrate. And then the curtain falls and it's THE END.

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New York bestselling author, Ellen Schreiber wrote her first novel after reading a young adult novel on a plane ride to Los Angeles. First published in Europe, her books were then published by HarperCollins.

Schreiber has been busy writing ever since—the Vampire Kisses series, Blood Relatives manga, Teenage Mermaid, and Comedy Girl.


Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2012 to my book blogs, Zodiac Book Reviews and A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books.

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