The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong

Genre: YA fantasy

Series: Darkest Powers #3

Copyright: 2010

Pages: 320

Source: Own purchase for Kindle

Synopsis: Only two weeks ago, life was all too predictable. But that was before I saw my first ghost. Now, along with my supernatural friends Tori, Derek, and Simon, I’m on the run from the Edison Group, which genetically altered us as part of their sinister experiment. We’re hiding in a safe house that might not be as safe as it seems. We’ll be gone soon anyway, back to rescue those we’d left behind and to take out the Edison Group . . . or so we hope.

Review:

As a fan of Armstrong’s Otherworld series and her YA series I expect a lot when I pick up a  Kelley Armstrong novel and this keenly awaited final installation in the Darkest Powers trilogy did not disappoint. The Reckoning picks up where The Awakening left off and Armstrong wastes no time amping up the pace and the suspense while still allowing the genetically altered supernatural cast of characters to grow into their powers and develop as characters.

Chloe, Derek, Simon, Tori and Liz are just as captivating in this book. As they face off against The Edison group once again, there's danger, excitement, suspense, and yes romance. The romance is believable, it's sweet and teased out and comes to a very satisfying conclusion for this reader having been “Team Derek” from book 1. This trilogy will go down as one of my favourite YA series and  I thoroughly recommend it to young adults and young at heart fans of fantasy.

Whilst The Reckoning is the final book in the trilogy according to Kelley Armstrong's website it's not the end of the series. Book 4, The Gathering, featuring new characters comes out next spring. I'm going to miss the old gang, but hopefully they're just out for a  well deserved break not on permanent hiatus.

Check out my reviews of the first two books in the trilogy

THE SUMMONING

THE AWAKENING

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

A weekly event hosted by Sheila from One Persons Journey Through a World Of Books to discuss your reading week ~ the books you've read and those you plan on reading in the coming week.

Well the wheels fell off the bus again this week and reading and blogging came to a grinding halt. It's such a regular occurrence these days I'm thinking I should trade my bus in on a better model LOL. This week is looking just as chaotic but the reward is scrapbook camp at our favourite scrapbooking store Daisy Chain  Scrapbooks. Alaine and I leave Friday lunch time for a weekend of scrapping, relaxing and girly time and I can't tell you how excited I am about that.

If you live in U.S or Canada and you'd like to win a $60 Gift Certificate to be used at any of CSN's 200+ online stores you can enter my giveaway here.


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Completed Last Week:

THE MIDWIFE'S TALE by Gretchen Moran Laskas - definitely recommend this one to historical fiction lovers with an interest in midwifery and healing.

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This Week's Reading List:

THE HEALERS by Thomas Heric ~ page 156. This one is a bit like a horrific car crash, really disturbing but you just can't look away.

NEVER LET YOU GO by Erin Healy

LEVIATHAN by Scott Westerfeld  ~ chapter 18 (audiobook) Haven't decided whether to put this one aside for a week or two, I just don't seem to be in the right mood.

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Reviews still to do:

THE RECKONING by Kelley Armstrong

NEED by Carrie Jones

FORGET-HER-NOTS by Amy Brecount White

Win $60 Gift Certificate from CSN

Being an Aussie I can't take advantage of the extensive range that CSN stores have to offer, but I'm excited to offer readers of my blog another CSN giveaway. From bathroom vanity to bookcase, wine rack to welder, you'll find it in a CSN store. With a huge range of products in furniture, home decor, housewares, home improvements, outdoor living, baby and kids, school and office supplies, health and fitness, shoes and bags, and even pet supplies, there really is something for everyone and to suit all budgets.

One lucky reader will win a $60 Gift Certificate to be used in any of CSN's 200+ online stores. The gift certificate can be used to purchase anything your heart desires including larger purchases and many items include free shipping. This giveaway is open to U.S & Canadian residents only.

I could spend hours browsing the CSN stores but here's just a few items that caught my eye. 

Many of you know we have a new puppy in our family, so the pet shop was one of the first places I visited. Isn't the "Yeah, I'm a mutt, So What" t-shirt adorable?

Please be aware when choosing your product, some items do incur shipping charges or in the case of Canadian readers, international fees, but all charges are stated on website.

To Enter:

Take a look at any of CSN’s 200+ stores and leave a comment telling me you're heart's desire. Don't forget to include an email address so I can contact you if you're the lucky winner.

Extra Entries:

+ 2 follower (please let me know)

+ 2 for blogging, tweeting, sharing the contest & leaving a link

Giveaway is open to residents of the US & Canada. No P.O.Boxes. Ends May 30th. Good luck to everyone!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

A weekly event hosted by Sheila from One Persons Journey Through a World Of Books to discuss your reading week ~ the books you've read and those you plan on reading in the coming week.

I'm tired and the week has just begun, hopefully this week isn't quite as hectic as last. On a positive note, I finished 2 books and posted 2 reviews last week ... it's the most productive I've been in months LOL. When you're used to reading 3 or 4 books a week, it seems like such a little thing to get excited about but hey it's the little things that count :-)

Thursday was a lovely day spent scrapbooking at Alaine's. I completed the layout below of my sister and I, the photo was taken 2 years ago on my 40th birthday.

Hope all the mum's had a lovely Mother's Day yesterday, mine was a day of mixed emotions. My mum loved roses and this beautiful poem expresses much of how I feel.

If roses grow in Heaven, Lord

Please pick a bunch for me.

Place them in my Mother's arms

and tell her they're from me.

Tell her I love her and miss her,

and when she turns to smile,

place a kiss upon her cheek

and hold her for a while.

Because remembering her is easy,

I do it everyday,

but there is an ache within my heart

That will never go away.

author unknown

Click on the titles to see my reviews

SAVING CEECEE HONEYCUT - 4.5 stars ~ delightful story

STARGAZER by Claudia Gray - 4 stars  ~ more enjoyable than Evernight

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Completed Last Week:

NEED by Carrie Jones - loved this one!

FORGET-HER-NOTS by Amy Brecount White - a really sweet read from International Book Tours

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This Week's Reading List:

LEVIATHAN by Scott Westerfeld  ~ chapter 11 (audiobook)

THE MIDWIFE'S TALE by Gretchen Moran Laskas

THE HEALERS by Thomas Heric

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Reviews to come

THE RECKONING by Kelley Armstrong

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman

Genre: General Fiction

Copyright: 2010

Length: 10 hrs, 4 mins or 306 pages

Book Source: Own Purchase

Synopsis: Twelve-year-old CeeCee Honeycutt is in trouble. For years, she has been the caretaker of her psychotic mother, Camille-the tiara-toting, lipstick-smeared laughingstock of an entire town-a woman trapped in her long-ago moment of glory as the 1951 Vidalia Onion Queen. But when Camille is hit by a truck and killed, CeeCee is left to fend for herself. To the rescue comes her previously unknown great-aunt, Tootie Caldwell.

In her vintage Packard convertible, Tootie whisks CeeCee away to Savannah's perfumed world of prosperity and Southern eccentricity, a world that seems to be run entirely by women. From the exotic Miz Thelma Rae Goodpepper, who bathes in her backyard bathtub and uses garden slugs as her secret weapons, to Tootie's all-knowing housekeeper, Oletta Jones, to Violene Hobbs, who entertains a local police officer in her canary-yellow peignoir, the women of Gaston Street keep CeeCee entertained and enthralled for an entire summer.

Review:
I found this book just delightful, like being wrapped in a warm blanket or relaxing in a garden swing on a warm spring day with the fragrance of jasmine or honeysuckle in the air. Beautifully narrated, the vivid imagery is a balm to the senses, it's a warm, tender, funny story that tugged at my heartstrings.

"A cool breeze lifted the hem of my nightgown. The birds began to chirp and sing and the first sparks of sunlight brought the dew drops to life.... When my fingers touched the back door, something inside me shifted - I could actually feel it. I knew Mrs. Odell was right. I felt the flutter of a page turn deep within me as a chapter in my Life Book came to a close."

As CeeCee comes to terms with her traumatic past and the death of her mother, the reader accompanies her as she heals and discovers her sense of self, enveloped by the love of some colourful southern women. The charm of this book is not just in the cast of quirky characters, but the ambience created by the southern setting, the beautiful descriptions of gardens, homes, mouth-watering food, the strong female friendships, pearls of wisdom and giggle worthy moments. I fell in love with many of the characters, Aunt Tootie, Oletta, Mrs Odell and Oletta's hilarious Aunt Sapphire. The "black boomerang of karma" and slug saga cracked me up as did many of the antics of the eccentric Ms Goodpepper and horrid Ms Hobb.

Despite the sad beginning this isn't a sad story, it's an uplifting story infused with humour, a story of love and friendship and new beginnings. It evoked such a myriad of feelings in me, I cried and laughed and cringed and cheered. What more can I say, I was completely captivated by this wonderful debut novel, I highly recommend it in audio format and I look forward to more from Beth Hoffman.

Visit Beth Hoffman's website to find out more about the author and her work. Saving CeeCee Honeycutt is available from audible.com or  Amazon or The Book Depository (free international postage)

Stargazer by Claudia Gray

Genre: YA Fantasy
Series: Evernight  #2
Copyright: 2009
Pages: 329
Book Source: Own Purchase

Evernight Academy: an exclusive boarding school for the most beautiful, dangerous students of all—vampires. Bianca, born to two vampires, has always been told her destiny is to become one of them.

But Bianca fell in love with Lucas—a vampire hunter sworn to destroy her kind. They were torn apart when his true identity was revealed, forcing him to flee the school. Although they may be separated, Bianca and Lucas will not give each other up. She will risk anything for the chance to see him again, even if it means coming face-to-face with the vampire hunters of Black Cross—or deceiving the powerful vampires of Evernight. Bianca's secrets will force her to live a life of lies.

Yet Bianca isn't the only one keeping secrets. When Evernight is attacked by an evil force that seems to target her, she discovers the truth she thought she knew is only the beginning...

Stargazer begins at the start of a new school year at Evernight. It features the familiar gothic setting, a new supernatural element, some surprise new characters and many of the old characters I came to know and love, and yes I got my wish... more, more, more Balthazar! Stargazer is darkly romantic, intriguing and a very entertaining second installment in the Evernight series.

The Romeo/Juliet star-crossed lovers theme reaches an all new level with the Lucas/Bianca//Balthazar love triangle really complicating things. I must confess that once again I waas rooting for Balty but everyone knows you don't always fall in love with the most sensible choice... if only it were that easy.

For me Stargazer was a much more enjoyable read than Evernight, not so much teen angst, plenty of trademark twists and turns, enough action to keep the pages turning at a cracking pace even though very little is actually resolved, but *grr* to cliffhanger endings that have you kicking yourself for NOT having the next book at hand!

Hourglass was released in March 2010 and hopefully my copy is winging its way to me right now. The final book in the series, Afterlife is due for release March 2011. Visit Claudia Gray's website to find out more.

See my review of the first book in this series - Evernight.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

A weekly event hosted by Sheila from One Persons Journey Through a World Of Books to discuss your reading week ~ the books you've read and those you plan on reading in the coming week.

Well this week was a very busy one, which I didn't take into account when challenging myself to complete reviews, but I did manage to post one review and finish one book. Happily my chaotic week finished on a high note with my youngest son turning 16 on Saturday. We spent a fun weekend with family and friends playing card games, swimming, eating all Cal's favourite foods and we saw Iron Man 2 at the movies. Thought I'd share a few photos; Callum, (left) Anthony and of course beautiful Bella didn't miss out on the photo opportunity. Next photo shows Bella worn out from the big day and then ratbag Bella after she destroyed her teddy bear!

I'm hoping to have a competition up in the next day or two,  it's been a quite a while since I've had one, so be sure and check back. Have a wonderful week everyone :-)

Click on the title to see my review:

MY LOVE LIES BLEEDING by Alyxandra Harvey

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Completed Last Week:

THE RECKONING by Kelley Armstrong ~ exciting end to the trilogy

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This Week's Reading List:

NEED by Carrie Jones - page 102

FORGET-HER-NOTS by Amy Brecount White

THE MIDWIFE'S TALE by Gretchen Moran Laskas

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Reviews scheduled for this week:

STARGAZER by Claudia Gray

SAVING CEECEE HONEYCUT by Beth Hoffman