White Cat

Cassel comes from a family of curse workers -- people who have the power to change your emotions, your memories, your luck, by the slightest touch of their hands. And since curse work is illegal, they're all mobsters, or con artists. Except for Cassel. He hasn't got the magic touch, so he's an outsider, the straight kid in a crooked family. You just have to ignore one small detail -- he killed his best friend, Lila, three years ago.

Ever since, Cassel has carefully built up a façade of normalcy, blending into the crowd. But his façade starts crumbling when he starts sleepwalking, propelled into the night by terrifying dreams about a white cat that wants to tell him something. He's noticing other disturbing things, too, including the strange behavior of his two brothers. They are keeping secrets from him, caught up in a mysterious plot. As Cassel begins to suspect he's part of a huge con game, he also wonders what really happened to Lila. Could she still be alive? To find that out, Cassel will have to out-con the conmen.

It's been way to long sense I've been on and I apologize for that!! This book by Holly Black was just awesome! I can't say it was her best book, but that's only because I've only read a few =P. I love to read about dark magic and such like that so this book fit me pretty well! One of my favorite things about this book was the fact that was totally in the dark! i had no idea what was going to happen! I characters got on my nerves every now and then, but that what makes it seem real! lol

The Kepper of Light and Dust

Mia Lockhart is descended from Keepers-women who were warriors, healers, and protectors in ancient times. But as Mia practices her craft in South London, she has no idea she is being watched. Adrian Ashton is a brilliant scientist. He is also a skilled martial artist-and a modern-day vampire. He has mastered the art of draining the chi of his opponents-the vital energy that flows through their bodies. And Mia finds herself drawn to his dark genius, though she has given her heart to another... When Ashton targets the man she loves, Mia is forced to choose between them-and the choice results in a fight to the death in which love is both the greatest weakness and the greatest prize.

I was a little depressed to discover that even in books boys and girls can't seem to be friends without one falling in love with the other. That hurt. Other than that, I thought this was great! I've never read a book that had anything to do with things like chi and inner light before and I found completely intoxicating! I was a little confused about the whole vampire thing, but, it didn't effect anything for that matter. Bottom line, I thought everything in this book was so cool and new! Once again, I love happy endings, true love, and in this case, amazingly cute guys! jkjk...lol! XD If you do read this book, read the author's note! She is so cool! O.O

The Silver Phinox

on the day of her first betrothal meeting–and rejection–ai ling discovers a power welling deep within her. she can reach into other people’s spirits, hear their thoughts, see their dreams…and that’s just the beginning.
ai ling has been marked by the immortals; her destiny lies in the emperor’s palace, where a terrible evil has lived, stealing souls, for centuries. she must conquer this enemy and rescue her captive father, while mythical demons track her every step. and then she meets chen yong, a young man with a quest of his own, whose fate is intertwined with hers. here is a heart-stopping, breathtaking tale for fans of action, fantasy, and romance–of anything with the making of legend.

This book totally blew me away! I absolutely loooove reading about mythical Gods and legends and everything and everything that has to do with other cultures. One of my favorite things about this book, was that I could see it so vividly in my mind, that I remember just about everything that happened! And trust me, that's a stretch for me! The ending wasn't truly like anything I've ever read before. The author managed to keep it happy, yet, almost disappointing at the same time. More like a little bittersweet. But, it was more sweet than bitter so it was a great book for me!

Dream Girl

Claire Voyante has been having strange visions ever since she can remember. But the similarity between her name and her talents is purely coincidental. The name is French, and unlike the psychics on TV, she can't solve crimes or talk to the dead. Whenever Claire follows her hunches, she comes up empty - or ends up in pretty awkward situations. But that all changes on Claire's 15th birthday, when her grandmother, Kiki-former socialite, fashion icon, and permanent fixture at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel - gives her something a little more extraordinary than one of her old cocktail dresses: a strange black-and-white onyx cameo on a gold chain. It's not long before Claire's world becomes a whole lot clearer. And a whole lot more dangerous.

I'll try to keep this short, and sweet.I thought this was an awesome read! Seriously, if I hadn't, accidentally, read the second one first, I would have been totally stunned! So DON'T read the second one first!!!Lol. I have to say, I still like the cute guy a little better. I did think that it dragged on a little, but not to the point where I could hardly pick it up. I have to say this has to be one of the few books were I really liked the characters. Actually, I loved them! I thought Claire was adorable!

Spellbinder

Belladonna Johnson can see ghosts. It’s a trait she’s inherited from her mother’s side of the family, like blue eyes or straight hair. And it’s a trait she could do without, because what twelve-year-old wants to be caught talking to someone invisible?

It is convenient, though, after Belladonna’s parents are killed in a car accident. They can live with her the same as always, watching the same old TV shows in their same old house. Nothing has changed . . . until everything changes.

One night, with no warning, they vanish into thin air—along with every other ghost in the world. It’s what some people think ghosts are supposed to do, but Belladonna knows it’s all wrong. They may not be living, but they’re not supposed to be gone.

With the help of her classmate Steve, a master of sneaking and spying, Belladonna is left to uncover what’s become of the spirits and to navigate a whole world her parents have kept well-hidden. If she can’t find her way, she’ll lose them again—this time for good.

I loooooved this book! I think it would be even better for someone younger to start out on instead of something as powerful as Harry Potter. I loved how the main character Belladonna was so brave! The author (Helen Stringer) did a wonderful job of giving enough description, and not boring me to death with every little detail. I could see in my head what was happening the whole time, even though there wasn't as much dialog as I'm used to. I was a little dissapointed with the riddle it gave, but again, like I said, perfect for a younger kid how loved books about magic and whatnot. I think that anyone who was just starting out reading fantasy, would love the ending! Actually the whole book!

Royal Blood

In the Tudor Court of 1518, your friends and enemies can be one and the same…During the annual celebration of the Order of the Garter, Sir Michael Devereaux arrives in King Henry VIII’s court on a mission for his benefactor. The celebration’s endless feats and sumptuous women delight the charismatic newcomer, who becomes captivated by the enigmatic Princess Renee of France. But evil, it seems, has followed Michael to the court. Shortly after his arrival, an unknown killer claims several victims, including the Queen’s lady-in-waiting, and the powerful Cardinal Wolsey asks Michael to help with the investigation. As he searches for the killer, Michael is haunted by disturbing images of the victims – flashes of violence that lead him to doubt his own sanity. Michael soon realizes that the key to solving the crime is connected to both the Pope’s Imperial vault in Rome and a mystery from Michael’s own past – revealing a secret that is so damning, it could forever alter the future of mankind.

Basically this is probably one of the best books i have ever read. period. Usually when i read a book about old England, i prepare myself for dull boring historical re-enactments with a over creative love story with many sex scenes, and a lot of random killings...but this one definitely shocked me, it had random killings, and sex scenes especially, but it was a more down to earth believable tale. When i first started to read it, i fell in love with reading the womans side "Renee", she is the best example of French beauty that the author could have created, you will love her personality, and "Michael" would be the perfect example of a charming bad boy, that secretly just wants to be loved. The book is not cliche at all which was very surprising for its genre, and the last 3rd of the book was a complete surprise, the ending perfect and unexpected too.

-Gerry-

Finding the Forger

Bianca Balducci, every body's favorite teenage amateur sleuth, i back on the case, and this time the resourceful Baltimorean has her hands more than full.
On top of school, her two bickering friends, and boy trouble, Bianca is brought in to prove the innocence of Hector, Sarah's latest heart throb, who's considered the prime suspect in a clever switcheroo at the local art museum-several paintings have gone missing,l and forgeries hung in their place.
But things get awfully complicated when Connie, Bianca's PI older sister, is hired by the museum to formally investigate the crime.
And that's just the half of it. Doug, Bianca's fabulous new boyfriend, isn't paying much attention to her as she'd like, while a charming a rich Brit named Neville seems more than willing to take Doug's place. Can Bianca manage to keep Doug's affections while gently fending off Neville?
In this story of miss-assumptions, Bianca learns that things are not always as they seem, that all cases are not so open-and-shut, and that connected with every valuable painting is the possibility of forgery.

This wasn't one of my favorite books ever. I did however like how she added bigger words into the text and then wrote what they meant for the character's point of view. I surprisingly learned a few things. At the end though, I was done. I really didn't want to read anymore and I found myself finally just skipping to the end. I sorta knew who the bad guy was from almost the start though as well. So if you have a younger child who loves a good mystery, this would be perfect! But maybe not so much for older people.