Full Moon Series by Ellen Schreiber

These two books were the epitome of crack candy!  I only read the second one because it was available to me and I honestly think they were written as one and randomly divided in to two!!  The storyline was beyond high school petty drama, I honestly thought I was watching one of those ABC Family teen movies!  The ones were the biggest issue is who to take to prom and whether or not their friends will like their outsider boyfriend.  So beyond ridiculous!!

The Rose Garden by Susanna Kearsley

I am afraid that her books are now becoming too predictable.  I do really love them, but they are losing the wow factor they had at the beginning.  I really enjoyed the whole smuggler aspect of this story line.  And I will say that while I suspected the stepmother knew something, the ending took me by surprise.

I think my favorite part of her books are the historical aspects, especially since they are from places I did not study in school.  I will some day buy all of her books and add them to my library!  She is a must have on my list...

Shadow Falls Series by C.C. Hunter

In my attempt to not read all of Susanna Kearsley's books in one sitting I came across this series.  I found them to be quite entertaining, perhaps a little more creative than some of the other crack candy series I have read.  The characters are a bit shallow in terms of their worries, but that it pardonable since they are teenagers.  At times they are more petty than necessary, but still fun to read!

The series itself is not over, there is another book due to come out in the spring.  I am sure I will pick it up in between reading other books.

Blood on Silk by Marie Treanor

I came across this book in my search for a crack-candy book to get me through Hurricane Sandy.  I was aiming for something like the House of Night series, but stumbled in to something way, way more racy!  I not going to lie and say it was not entertaining, and it definitely helped keep my mind of off the raging storm outside my window, but...I am conflicted by my want to read the next book.  I know, it is a bit ridiculous to feel guilty over a book.  I guess this goes to show why I have not read the 50 Shades of Grey books!

Mariana by Susanna Kearsley

I love this author!  At times I feel like I was cheated sometime earlier in life because I did not find her sooner, but I am very pleased I have now stumbled in to her glorious books.  The are so engulfing it seems reckless for me to knowingly pick up another one!  And yet I really cannot help myself, they are that good.

Like her last book I read, this one has a similar plot line but at the same time quite different.  I love the way she goes back and forth in time.  You get two stories in one, and both are unpredictable and with such great characters!  Oohh how I love all of Susanna Kearsley's characters...there is no shame in admitting that I will now get another one of her books!

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

I cannot even remember how I came across this book to be honest.  I was searching for recommendations and for some reason this stood out.  I am not even sure if it had any reviews or not!

I was well entertained with this book and may even read it again at some point.  The character were trying too hard to be complex at times, but they felt real otherwise...You know how sometimes you get really mad and at some point you realize you have no clue why you are that mad.  That is how I found these characters to get often, but I liked it.  I really enjoyed it though, the title is definitely fitting!

The Innocents by Lili Peloquin

I read this book entirely on one plane ride, granted it was five hours.  This is crack-candy at its finest..if there is such a thing! It definitely kept me entertained and intrigued.  Sadly this is a new series, so I have to wait until next year for find out what happens.  The problem with this addiction..oh well!  I will pick it up when it comes out, so I guess they win.

The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley

I LOVED this book!! I was very, very happy with it.  I found this through the Barnes and Noble recommendations and had no real expectations for it...and it knocked the wind out of me it was so good.  I am happily stunned by it, I laughed, cried, read through the night and basically finished it way too quickly.

The format of the actual telling of the stories was very creative, and not at all hard to keep track of.  And I really fell in love with the characters, they were so tangible and fallible that it was hard not to.  I could almost reason the need for a sequel...but it would take away from this great book!

I have already requested another of the Susanna Kearsley's books from the library.  I have to make sure I to put some space between them so that I do not run out.  I really hope the others are as good as this one. This is definitely on my to buy list!

What Angels Fear by C.S. Harris

I have had this book sitting on my shelf for a really long time.  It was giving to me by my grandmother with a stack of books she had finished reading and recommended that I read.  I did not have any real expectations nor did I have any clue what it was about.  I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly I was dragged in and then proceeded to devour this book!

I will say that this is not a book I would have chosen for myself.  However, I am most likely going to read other of Sebastian St. Cyr books in the future.  They are definitely a big step up from the crack-candy books I read in between real ones! 

True Believer by Nicholas Sparks

There are times when I just need a Nicholas Sparks love story!  I am not ashamed of this fact nor will I try to make it sound more glamourous than that.  He has a signature romance recipe that is like chocolate cake or a glass of wine, sometimes you just get a craving.  I got one and have now satisfied it...happily ever after!

The Girl Who Chased The Moon by Sarah Addison Allen

I cannot quite say what I was expecting or hoping to get out of this book, but I can tell you that it was not what I received!  I guess since I came across it in relation to A Discovery of Witches, that is would be similarly themed.  The only thing it had similar was an extremely vague supernatural phenomenon.  I am not going to say that it was horrible...what it was was missing the rest of the story.

I think that is the reason I did not like it, I felt like it set the stage for a good story.  It had so much potential and then it just ended.  It needed another 200 or 300 pages and it could have been something worth reading.

Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness

I took my time reading this book, hoping to drag it out as long as possible.  Sadly, I was unable to hold out too long...it would never have lasted until the next one came out!!  I am sure I will re-read both of them before the next one comes, I cannot wait for the day!

I am honestly surprised by how amazing the book was.  I had very little expectations when I started the first one, and I was afraid that this one would not live up to the unexpected brilliance of the first book.  I will say that it did get a bit slow in some parts, but it was all so interesting that I did not mind it nearly as much as I would in other books.  Overall, though  it was very good and I wish I had the next book now!!

Outstanding Quote #6

The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious.  It is the fundamental emotion that stands at the cradle of true art and true science.  Whoever does not know it and can no longer wonder, no longer marvel, is as good as dead, and his eyes are dimmed.

~A Discovery of Witches

(Quote #5 was back in March)

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

This book was completely enchanting! I have fallen head over heels for it and wish it was not already over.  The characters were really great, and all of the imagination that went in to all of the small details.  Like the Bishop house...ohh I really loved everything surrounding the witches house!

And all of the alchemical poetry and verses, so incredible!  It makes we want to go study alchemy.  A topic that seems to have been zoomed over and skimmed way too easily in my studies.  I feel like I have been cheated!  The author must either be well versed in alchemy or spent days on end studying it in order to write this book.  Either way, it was extremely well incorporated and essential to the storyline.  I am so excited for the next book!

I tried to not finish this one too quickly, but ended up devouring it.  I stayed up late in to the night reading twice and had to force myself not to buy the next book immediately after finishing this one at 2am.  Now that I have written my post though...there is nothing stopping me :) !  

This is a definite must read on my list!!

Switched by Amanda Hocking

I was hoping that this would become my next crack-candy series.  After finishing the Eragon books I new that I would have to read something fluffy before beginning my hunt for the next series.  I will be the first to admit that I am a crack-candy book junkie, there is very little that I will not read if I am being honest.

This book was not at all what I was expecting, which was not much.  I have been reading a lot of books that include fictional and fairy tale type creatures/people.  This one went beyond my grasp, which I never really thought would happen.  I have had books that I didn't like because of the writing mostly, but the ideas behind the book I could always appreciate.  This was was a complete mystery to me, and sadly not is a good way.  

Inheritance by Christopher Paolini

I cannot believe I have finished the series!  Now the search for new great series will begin and I am sadly with not very high hopes.  But before I let that feeling get to far, I still have this post to write...

I absolutely LOVED this book!  The conflict had been built up so much in the previous books, at one point I was afraid it would be drawn out and unnecessarily long.  However, it was no where near that.  It was done perfectly, full with the climatic anxious feeling that makes you devour the pages!

The ending was not what I expected, but was the logical order of things.  I was not upset by it at all, it felt very natural and refreshing.

Fallen by Lauren Kate

This is another book I picked up while waiting for the next Paolini book to get to me from the library.  It had been cropping up here in there when I was searching for new things to read.  I finally decided to give it a try.  While it kept me entertained, it did not capture me enough to go in search for the next books of this series.  I might pick one up later one when I am in a similar situation, if nothing else catches my attentions first.  So basically, very unlikely!

Immortal Series by Alyson Noel

As with most of the crack-candy series I manage to ready, I feel that if I most them individually I am cheating!  This was a very entertaining series, which I read through quickly.  I found the immortal concept the author imagined to be very interesting and creative.  The characters were okay, at times I felt like it was trying too hard to create unnecessary conflicts.  The addition of random character throughout that had no real purpose was also a negative side to this series.

Brisingr by Christopher Paolini

I am truly enjoying these books.  I really hope that there is a happy ending somewhere in the near future for Eragon!  I am very impressed by his character and the development of it.  As far as characters are concerned I am finding Paolini a complete genius.  I cannot wait to see how it all turns out!


I am afraid this post is going to have to be extremely short, anything longer will risk my giving things away.  I definitely think this is a series worth reading and one that will inevitably find a place in my library!

Grey Eyes by B. Alston & Q. Ramey

I picked up this book while waiting for the Brisingr to be available from the library. It was free on my Nook and looked better than the others available.

Having very little expectations when I picked it up was probably the best thing.  It was entertaining and a different approach to the mystical clashes of good and evil, as well as vampires and witches.  But not I do not feel encouraged to search out the next book of the series.  

I do however think it would very interesting to write a paper on all the different types of stories that have emerged since the sensational Twilight.  Especially all the variations of the vampire abilities and how they become vampires.

Eldest by Christopher Paolini

I am truly enjoying this series.  It gives me a very similar feeling to Lord of the Rings.  Epic tales such as these have a soft spot in my heart.  Battling evil with elves, dwarfs, magicians, humans and freaking dragons!  How can you not love it!  I mean, I want a dragon that will be my best friend and have my back!!

I am also very happy with the writing style, I find it very appealing and clean.  And no, it is not because I have been reading massive amounts of crack-candy books!  I like how the author always manages to draw me in, there are times when things drag on and I start to lose focus...and then BLAM! He throws you a curve ball!

Outstanding Quote #5

You know what I think? I think the butterflies are always there in your belly, in everyone, all the time...and some people's butterflies react to other people's, on a chemical level, like pheromones, so that when they're nearby, your butterflies start to dance.  They can't help it - it's chemical.

~The Daughter of Smoke and Bone

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

I was happily entertained by this book.  I found it to be very creative and full of endless imagination.  I have also come to realize the full extent of my obsession with the star-crossed lovers theme!  I know I should probably find something new, but it just does not get old.  I guess I am a sappy romantic and really love a happily-ever-after ending.  Which explains the outstanding quote I am going to be posting next...

But back to the book, it was very interesting and thrilling.  In the wake of The Night Circus I am afraid that most anything would appear dimmer than usual, but I did enjoy this book.  I would definitely not include it in to my crack candy book category, which is what I am going to continue reading now!!

Outstanding Quote #4

A subtle sweetness at the edges of the cold.

~The Night Circus

(Quote #3 is only a few days ago!!)

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

I could say that I am speechless over this book, but anyone around me would tell you that is a lie.  The truth is that I cannot seem to stop talking about it, I keep trying to find the right words or comparisons to describe it.  So far this is what I have come up with this...it has bits of the magic and excitement of Harry Potter, the fantastical aspect of Alice in Wonderland, the imagination of Willy Wonka, the lovestruck wonder of Twilight (the first book only)...and yet, it is like none of them. It is wild and brilliant, engaging and powerful, and spectacularly well written.  Oh my the writing style is like nothing I have ever seen and every thing I ever wanted.  So fresh and amazing!!

I wish I had not finished, but it was too good not to.  Oh the conundrums of great literature!! The Night Circus is a book I was proud to read and extremely eager to recommend.  Please, I beg you to read it!

Outstanding Quote #3

Though I have seen a great deal of the sights, traveled a number of the available paths, there are always corners that remain unexplored, doors that remain unopened.  

~The Night Circus

(Quote #2 is back in September 2010)

The House of Night Series by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

I am still missing the last book, but I was happily distracted by an incredible book which I am trying hard to not finish in one night!!  But back to The House of Night series, these were my crack candy books! There really is now other way to explain it.  I really did enjoy reading them, and they always seemed to end too soon.  I am actually glad I discovered them after they were all out, if not I probably would have gone crazy having to wait for the next book.  The authors always seemed to end the books in mid-sentence and it drove me nuts!

I liked the twist they gave vampires and the fact that they gave the current vampire trend a whole new look.  It was a lot less socially awkward than a lot of other similarly themed books.  It is, however, still young adult fiction and that is obvious in the writing style and story line. So, like I said, they are crack candy books!!

Eragon by Christopher Paolini

I have been wanting to read this series for a very long time. There always seemed to be some other book that took my eyes away from it, but I have finally picked it up! And finished it!! I truly enjoyed every bit of it and I am looking forward to the other two books.

I definitely enjoyed the character of Eragon more than I thought I would.  I have seen the movie and he seemed a bit winy, but the book makes him so much more manly!!  And all of the other characters too!!  I cannot get enough of them.