Enclave by: Ann Aguirre

Publication Date: August 2012

Overview: 
New York City has been decimated by war and plague, and most of civilization has migrated to underground enclaves, where life expectancy is no more than the early 20's. When Deuce turns 15, she takes on her role as a Huntress, and is paired with Fade, a teenage Hunter who lived Topside as a young boy. When she and Fade discover that the neighboring enclave has been decimated by the tunnel monsters—or Freaks—who seem to be growing more organized, the elders refuse to listen to warnings. And when Deuce and Fade are exiled from the enclave, the girl born in darkness must survive in daylight—guided by Fade's long-ago memories—in the ruins of a city whose population has dwindled to a few dangerous gangs.

My thoughts: 
This zombie thriller is fun and insightful. If you don't like zombies there is more in it for you. Romance although it is slight at first but watching the relationship grow is very fun. Hardcore training and fighting is an everyday occurrence for these people. Surviving on little food to stay alive and keep producing more people to become what they should disgusts me. I don't think anyone should be forced to live as a Breeder. But then some don't desire to be fighters, but have no choice. And pickings are slim you have no choice in what you become they choose for you. Either builder, cook, breeder, and fighter....life is hard. 
Life was once normal but things change and people die, most don't live past 25, but when they do it's a miracle. I hope that everyone enjoys this book as much as I do.

My rating: 5 stars
Upcoming: Outpost

Anatomy of a Single Girl by: Daria Snadowsky

Publication Date: January 2013

Overview: After everything that happened—my first boyfriend, my first time, my first breakup—jumping back into the dating game seemed like the least healthy thing I could do. It’s not that I didn't want to fall in love again, since that’s about the best feeling ever. But as a busy college premed still raw from heartbreak, which is the worst feeling ever, I figured I’d lie low for a while. Of course, as soon as I stopped looking for someone, an impossibly amazing—and devastatingly cute—guy came along, and I learned that having a new boyfriend is the quickest way to recover from losing your old one. 
   The moment we got together, all my preconceptions about romance and sex were turned upside down. I discovered physical and emotional firsts I never knew existed. I learned to let go of my past by living in the present. It was thrilling. It was hot. It was just what the doctor ordered.
   But I couldn't avoid my future forever. 

My thoughts: Another great start to her love life. I have to say that this shows people how to recover and go on from a break up. I have always wondered what others felt and thought going through this situation,. I know it's a had experience an the author touches on that. And reaches beyond that to help Dom move forward and then BAM!!! She runs smack dab into the person she wants to avoid most. She thinks she can move forward with a friend from last year but finds he's already moved into a relationship. I don't know whether I was relieved or upset. I couldn't be happier for her and the fun she is going to have in college, but really want her to find a great man to stand beside her. And I don't know that she has!

My rating: 4 stars

Anatomy of the Boyfriend by: Daria Snadowsky

Publication Date: September 2008

Overview: An unflinching account of love, sex, and heartbreak—this generation's answer to Judy Blume's Forever.

My thoughts: I got this title through the author as a request. I was intrigued and astonished at her willingness to give me both title to read and review. I found this book to be a bit beyond what I believe and young teen should read. It's like 50 Shades of Grey meets Judy Blume. Some graphic and yet knowledgeable info for teens who are unsure how to go about sexual activities. We get a walk through account of how Dominique loses her virginity and falls in love. The awkward encounters of first timers and heartbreak as a relationship has it's highs and lows. I would give this to an older teen 16 and up, unless you allow your child more worldly experiences. I think this author is brilliant in her informative writing and emotionally grabbing moments. 

My rating: 5 stars
Up Next: Anatomy of a Single Girl

The Demon Lover by: Juliet Dark

Publication Date: December 2011


Overview: I gasped, or tried to. My mouth opened, but I couldn't draw breath. His lips, pearly wet, parted and he blew into my mouth. My lungs expanded beneath his weight. When I exhaled he sucked my breath in and his weight turned from cold marble into warm living flesh.
 
Since accepting a teaching position at remote Fairwick College in upstate New York, Callie McFay has experienced the same disturbingly erotic dream every night: A mist enters her bedroom, then takes the shape of a virile, seductive stranger who proceeds to ravish her in the most toe-curling, wholly satisfying ways possible. Perhaps these dreams are the result of her having written the bestselling book The Sex Lives of Demon Lovers. Callie’s lifelong passion is the intersection of lurid fairy tales and Gothic literature—which is why she’s found herself at Fairwick’s renowned folklore department, living in a once-stately Victorian house that, at first sight, seemed to call her name.
 
But Callie soon realizes that her dreams are alarmingly real. She has a demon lover—an incubus—and he will seduce her, pleasure her, and eventually suck the very life from her. Then Callie makes another startling discovery: Her incubus is not the only mythical creature in Fairwick. As the tenured witches of the college and the resident fairies in the surrounding woods prepare to cast out the demon, Callie must accomplish something infinitely more difficult—banishing this supernatural lover from her heart.

My thoughts: Callie is a woman who is new to the small up state New York.

She is plagued in her dreams by a demon, this demon comes to you while you are sleeping. It wrecks havoc with your world. Are you dreaming or are you awake? He makes love to the woman in her dreams, makes her wanting more and more. She has no idea how to fight him off and no clue that she even wants to. The idea of this makes me sick, it's like being raped by your dreams.

She soon finds that some of her towns people have the power to help set her free from this evil. Witches, fae, and vampires quite the bunch.

This book is quite graphic and when I first got it I thought it was for teens/YA, but found that it is set in the Romance department. I should also state that it is a slow start and seems to take forever to get there, but it does and it blows the door wide open. 

My rating: 3 stars

Up Next: The Water Witch

Crimson Frost by: Jennifer Estep

Publication Date: December 2012

Overview: For a moment, a face flashed before my eyes--the most hideous face I'd ever seen. No matter how hard I tried to forget what had happened, I saw him everywhere I went. It was Loki--the evil god that I'd helped set free against my will.

I should have known that my first official date with Logan Quinn was destined to end in disaster. If we'd gotten into a sword fight, or been ambushed by Reapers, I'd have been more prepared. But getting arrested mid-sip at the local coffee hangout? I didn't see that one coming. I've been accused of purposely helping the Reapers free Loki from his prison--and the person leading the charge against me is Linus Quinn, Logan's dad. The worst part is that pretty much everyone at Mythos Academy thinks I'm guilty. If I'm going to get out of this mess alive, I'll have to do it myself. . .

My thoughts: The book makes me angry, and considering I am so in love with this series, it's almost like a knife in the heart. I don't understand why her teachers don't fight back for her more. Why they can't take that stand and say they believe her and will be by her side no matter what. 

Anyone in their right mind would see the records of Vivian being gone from school and know that she is evil and is plotting things against good. But the government is blinded, much like other governments. 

Meeting Logan's parents is nerve racking for anyone not just Gwen. I probably would've been throwing up all morning. The whole experience with them should have been different and even the ending with evil making it's way into the open. 

The ending of this one is crazy and makes you really want to go back through and reread to see if you can get hints as to it leaning this way! Someone is very heartbroken and so am I. The other is heartbroken and has run away! Typical outcome but spectacular!

My rating: 5 stars

Up next: Midnight Frost