It's the Holiday Season

For the last couple of weeks, my life has been extremely hectic (as I'm sure was everyone's).  I came right from my finals to working in retail. Christmas, as you know, is the busiest season for retail.  Back to school might be the only other time it gets super busy, but they don't hire extra people to help out.  Anyway, the store was really busy this past week especially, and I have been trying to get as many hours in as I can, so that doesn't leave a lot of room for reading.  Or rather, I should say, working, family visiting, holiday obligations, shopping for gifts, taking back presents, planning new years doesn't leave a lot of time for reading.  But alas! I actually managed to sneak in some time.

I have read a couple of books that I would like to give a small summary and review on.  These books I read in hardback version from the library, but since I got a KINDLE FIRE (yes, I shouted that.  I'm really excited about it :-D) I will slowly be trying to convert everything over into digital format.

                                 
Jinx by Meg Cabot

Meg Cabot is one of my favorite YA authors to read when I need something light, girly, and funny.   And that's exactly what I needed, so I picked up this book.  Jinx is a girl who moved to her aunt and uncle's house in New York, NY because she was having some issues in her hometown. Her cousin Tory doesn't like Jinx, and decides to make Jinx's life as hard as she possibly can for her.  Of course, there is romance involved, and a few OMG moments that I didn't expect. But to me, this book got a little weird with all the witchcraft involved.  This book seemed like a cross between the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Charmed.  Usually I love Meg Cabot's books, but I only gave it two stars on Goodreads because I felt it was just okay. However, if you've never read Meg Cabot and you aren't sure now that you read this review, please read her books! I do enjoy almost all of them.



The next series I read, I've wanted to for a long while:

The Morganville Vampires by Rachel Caine 

The first book in the series

Glass Houses is the first book in the series. I've only read the first and second book so far, and there are 15 total as of 2013 (some are being published this year).  So, that's a lot of books.  I have to say I wasn't too taken with her other series, The Weather Warden (about people who control the weather), so I wasn't in a rush to read these.  It wasn't until I saw on one of my book forums that I follow that many people were recommending it.

Anyway, this series is about a very intelligent young girl, Claire, who is able to go to college early because she is so smart. Her parents wanted her to enroll at a college close to home, and that school is in Morganville, TX. Claire soon realizes that the whole town isn't really what it seems and that it is overrun by vampires.  Now, before you go "Not another vampire fluffy sparkle book," know that these vampires are written the way I think Bram Stoker originally intended.  They aren't nice, are barely human, and they don't mess around. The interesting twist to this story is that the vampires have placed a psychic, magical field around the town so that once people leave they forget that vampires even existed there. And if people do remember, the vampires come after them.

So far this series has been part horror, part drama, a little romance, and even a hint of dystopia, because the humans are so oppressed in this town.  This series shows many people's negative sides, a lot of violence, and how far humans will go to keep the vampire's protection.  In Morganville, you are either protected by vampires and look the other way, or you are their food. The vampires monitor the television, internet, and take a census of who enters and leaves the town. Rachel Caine has a writing style that is non-stop action, and what you think will happen does not.  This is a fast-paced, intriguing, and at times anxiety-causing series.  But, it is a nice refreshing change from all the vampire love stories out there.  Give this series a try!



I'm off to get my kindle fire working....have a good day everyone :)