Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

Weird as it is working for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, Evie's always thought of herself as normal. Sure, her best friend is a mermaid, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she's falling for a shape-shifter, and she's the only person who can see through the paranormals' glamours, but still. Normal. Only now paranormals are dying, and Evie's dreams are filled with haunting voices and mysterious prophecies. She soon realizes that there may be a link between her abilities and the sudden rash of deaths. Not only that, but she may very well be at the center a of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.  So much for normal.

I really loved this book. It was such a change from your typical paranormal romance. I've been finding it hard to sit down and give my full attention to a book lately, but this totally drew me in from the beginning. I found Evie's character to be such a wonderful change of pace. Instead of a mopey teenager, this girl actually had normal teenage girl interests. I mean, how many paranormal girls love pink and zebra print these days?

The love interest wasn't dark and brooding but, instead, had a sense of humor and acted as a teenager normally does when approaching romance. I don't want to delve too far into that and ruin it for anyone though. Let's suffice it to say he's the type of guy we'd all want to date instead of ride around on the back of a motorcycle with.

In short, this book was like a tall glass of ice water in the middle of the desert that is paranormal romance. Don't get me wrong - I love paranormal romance books, but this one set a new standard by blazing its own trail.

Sidenote: Every time the book said "communicator" I couldn't help thinking "Kimmunicator" from Kim Possible.

Publisher: HarperTeen of HarperCollins
Release Date: August 2010
Pages: 335
Rating: 4.5 stars

Cover Lover {1}

So, I know this type of thing is all over, but I haven't seen one with this name yet and I really love it. If anyone feels I'm not crediting them please let me know. I don't want to steal it.


Of course we all know you should never judge a book by its cover, but do we ever really listen to that?
Cover Lover showcases eye catching, intriguing, and beautiful covers.

My newest cover love is Between by Jessica Warman

Release date: August 2011

P.S. If you find it as intriguing as I, there's a small sneak peek on Jessica Warman's website. 

Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi

In America's Gulf Coast region, where grounded oil tankers are being broken down for parts, Nailer, a teenage boy, works the light crew, scavenging for copper wiring just to make quota--and hopefully live to see another day. But when, by luck or chance, he discovers an exquisite clipper ship beached during a recent hurricane, Nailer faces the most important decision of his life: Strip the ship for all it's worth or rescue its lone survivor, a beautiful and wealthy girl who could lead him to a better life. . . .

This post-apocalyptic world really packs a punch. The constant sense of danger was keeping me on my toes and the edge of my seat. The whole world seemed dangerous from Nailer's job of climbing around in rickety old oil tankers in search of copper wire to the ocean polluted with oil to invented creatures with part animal and part human DNA.

Nailer's world is one that can easily be imagined for ourselves. The fall of humanity was a problem that we hear about often in our current times, but anyone has yet to find a solution to our predicament. I often found myself wondering "could that be a near future" throughout the story.

One thing I really loved about this book was the way it made me think. It brought up questions about family, relationships, and loyalty. I was often wondering what the true meaning of each was and how much had to change before their meaning changes as well.

I found the lack of detail in some parts a little disappointing. It felt almost as if too much information was shoved into a small space. The half-men and the state of the world were large elements of the story, but I felt as if they were glossed over a little. I was left with a few questions at the end and a nagging feeling that they should have been answered. Overall though, this was a great read, so I urge you to pick it up sometime.

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Pages: 323
Release Date: May 2010
Genre: Dystopian, Post-apocalyptic
Rating: 4 stars

A Kiss In Time by Alex Flinn

Talia fell under a spell . . . . Jack broke the curse.I was told to beware the accursed spindle, but it was so enchanting, so hypnotic... I was looking for a little adventure the day I ditched my tour group. But finding a comatose town, with a hot-looking chick asleep in it, was so not what I had in mind.I awakened in the same place but in another time—to a stranger's soft kiss. I couldn't help kissing her. Sometimes you just have to kiss someone. I didn't know this would happen.Now I am in dire trouble because my father, the king, says I have brought ruin upon our country. I have no choice but to run away with this commoner! Now I'm stuck with a bratty princess and a trunk full of her jewels. . . . The good news: My parents will freak!Think you have dating issues? Try locking lips with a snoozing stunner who turns out to be 316 years old. Can a kiss transcend all—even time?

The synopsis of the book suggests an interesting take on Sleeping Beauty and that’s precisely what you get. Talia is quite different from Disney’s Princess Aurora, though. Talia is quite obnoxious and has a tendency to sway towards the side of cunning. She’s really not likeable at the beginning, but grows on you as she, herself, grows throughout the story.

Jack does a bit of growing as well. He starts out as somewhat of a slacker prince-charming with a bad home life. Over the course of the story, Jack manages to face some buried fears and grow into a bit of a more respectable prince-of-every-girl’s-wishes. I wasn’t head-over-heels for Jack myself, but I was totally rooting for him and Talia.

It was, at times, quite predictable, but it didn’t hinder my enjoyment of the book in the least. Sometimes, a nice, predictable love story is just what the doctor – err... – librarian ordered.

Publisher: HarperCollins

Pages: 371

Release Date: April 2009

Genre: Realistic Fantasy, Princesses, Fairy tale

Rating: 4 stars

P.S. You can find an excerpt on Alex Flinn's website.