The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer

With The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner Stephenie Meyer reveals what it was like for one girl raised in her second life to have no guidelines, yet finding herself naturally abiding to ethics.  Bree's story was fresh and shed light on a Twilight romance that didn't involve Edward or Bella.  I bet you're all thinking "oh great another Twilight book" and honestly those were my first thoughts as well.  This book sat on my shelf in all it's intimidating Twilight glory and scary 178 page essay format since the release date.  Yeah thats right, I'll admit it, I was afraid to read this book.  Despite my subtle anxiety, Monday I finally gather up enough guts to read this novella.  Truth be told, it wasn't that scary.  I actually enjoyed the book.

In case you forgot Bree is the one vampire that surrenders to the Cullen family at the end of Eclipse, but is unfortunately murder by the Volturi.  After all, they can't grant second chances, that would make them look soft.  This short novella was surprisingly captivating, as was the character of Bree.  She brought to life, or rather 2nd life, a voice of young weathered honesty.  She may have been a newborn, but she wasn't naive; she was cautious and calculating.  In the end I actually ended up loving the continuous stream of consciousness, I am no longer afraid of no chapters!  This book had it's flaws, but it is defiantly a story I would pick up again.

2010 Debut Author Challenge

Ok so I recently came across The Story Siren's 2010 Debut Author Challenge and instantly knew I had to be part of it (even if I am a little late to the party).  She challenged everyone to read at least 12 debut novels, but seeing how both college and work are starting back I may not find the time to read 12.  However, it can't hurt to try, and seeing how I have already read 1 or 2 I may have a chance to reach let say...6.  I know 6 is lame, but with only a few months left and limited for reading...Well, a girl has got be be realistic.

Bold: I have read it

Crossed Out: I have reviewed it.

My 2010 Debut Author Reading List:
The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting
Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
The Secret Year by Jennifer Hubbard
Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers
The DUFF by Kody Keplinger
Forget-Her-Nots by Amy Brecount White
Flecks Of Gold by Alicia Buck
Fortune by Megan Cole

Flecks Of Gold by Alicia Buck

Despite what Mary Margaret Underwood thinks, she isn't your average high school student standing 5'10" with tiger gold eyes and a talent for going unnoticed.  But when one more of her mom's bad breakups force them to flee town and start over Mary senses something different about this place, particularly one of her new classmates, Kelson.  Well Mary's intuition proves right when her mom is suddenly kidnapped by Kelson in a flash of blue.  Running on pure adrenaline Mary instinctively performs magic she, until moments before, never believed existed.  Following after her mom to a world she knows nothing of.

Flecks of Gold is the  book review, books, Flecks of Gold, Young-Adultfirst novel from the pen of Alicia Buck, and after reading it I am certain she struck gold with this debut.  Magic, adventure, and even a little romance fill the pages to create this imaginatively original coming of age tale.  Buck placed a fresh outlook on the concept of magic, making its existence believable by portraying its elements similar to molecular structure. 

Flecks of Gold was so fun to read, not to mention captivating.  My one complaint was that Mary often didn't seem to pick up on things that were obvious to me as a reader.  Apparently she did, but she doesn't let the reader didn't know this until much later in the book.  Maybe the mentions were removed during the editing process?  Despite that I found myself not wanting to put the book down and flew though it in two days.  Now I have been left wanting more.  I can't wait to see what is yet to come from the creative mind of Alicia Buck.

*You can buy Flecks of Gold by Alicia Buck online at Amazon.com*

A Kiss In Time by Alex Flinn

A Kiss in Time is the second Alex Flinn book I have read this year (or ever), and I have to say it was my favorite of the two.  We all know the classic story of Sleeping Beauty, however A Kiss In Time is anything but classic.  Told from alternating points of view Alex Flinn was able to convincingly re-imagine this classic fairy tale into modern times.  Often making me question if such a story could actually happen, but I guess it isn't likely anyone could sleep 300 years without aging a day.

Princess Talia of Euphrasia is of course the sleeping beauty in this tale, never letting the reader forget that fact.  Talia starts off a bratty, spoiled, yet sheltered girl, and by the end of part one I was glad she pricked her finger on a spindle.  Harsh, maybe...but sleeping for 300 years did the girl good.  Even though she had been "frozen" at the age of 16, upon awakening at age 316, Talia realized it was time to grow up a little.  Her attitude transitioned at a natural pace, as did my adoration of her character.  In the end Talia's blunt thoughts, that she eventually learned should not always be voiced, are what kept me wanting to read on.

When we first meet Jaek O'Neill he is a pretty far cry from prince charming, but can you blame him?  After all he is a seventeen year old boy the 21st century.  Jaek's two biggest joys in life are partying and pissing off his seemingly distant parents.  It is in this frame of mind that he stumbles upon the beautiful Talia and awakens her with a kiss.  At first Jack's point of view was exactly as I would expect from a boy his age, but as the story evolved he's thoughts grew more honest in the purpose behind his actions.  For this reason (and some spoiler ones) Jack became my favorite character.  Weather I was reading his point of view or Talia's I was always delighted to read about Jack.

I would give A Kiss In Time 4 out of 5 stars.  I loved being in the world Alex Flinn has created, but I wish I could have gotten to know it better.  Occasionally a character would enter the story not fully developed, or without apparent purpose. and some sub-plots seemed to just stop.  These reasons account for the deducted star.  Despite all of that I truly enjoyed reading A Kiss In Time and found myself not wanting to put in down.  It is definitely a book I will be recommending to friends and family.