The Host by Stephanie Meyer and UnDead and Unwed by MaryJanice Davidson

In Stephanie Meyer's The Host, the world has been taken over by aliens. These aliens attach themselves to a human's spinal cord and use all humans as hosts while keeping their bodies intact. Enter a special "soul" named Wanderer. She's famous in her world because of her travels throughout the universe. She's experienced living with a host of almost every world the souls have occupied. They choose her to occupy the human of Melanie Stryder. Melanie is also different than most humans. She's considered wild since she was part of the human rebellion that would not accept the occupation of the souls. In all cases, once the soul occupies the host's body, the host's personality fades away. But Melanie won't go away. Her consciousness stays while Wanderer also occupies Melanie's body.

As Melanie fills Wanderer's thoughts, her mind drifts to Melanie's boyfriend Jared. Jared is still in hiding. Reluctant allies, both Wanderer and Melanie start on a trip to find Jared, a man Wanderer has never met. Though each has separate consciousnesses in the same body, Wanderer and Melanie form a kind of bond. A kinship through the trip to find Jared and beyond.

I read this book years ago when it first came out in hard cover. I was talking to my sister Donna the other night when she asked that I write a little blurb about this novel in my blog. I also thought it relevant since the movie is scheduled to come out in a few months as well. I, of course, will be going to go see it in March. I can't wait and am super excited like the nerd I am. Donna - this one if for you.

I absolutely loved this book. I've actually read this again about a year ago because I love it so much. This book epitomizes the ultimate love triangle. A very weird and unique love triangle but a love triangle nonetheless. For all of those Twilight fans, I wouldn't necessarily recommend this novel. If you're expecting another series similar to Twilight you will be sorely disappointed. I also wouldn't recommend this book if you're not into the whole science fiction genre. It also moves kind of slow when you are first reading it. It's hard to figure out what's going on in the first several chapters. The best way I can describe this novel is it's kind of like an onion. Each chapter is another layer you peel off that you receive insight into Wanderer's and Melanie's characters and story.

This novel also focuses and discusses what it is to essentially be human. Whether you like Stephanie Meyer as a writer or not, I feel you have to at least respect her creativity after reading this book. Imagine writing from an alien's perspective and having to experience different everyday things that we take for granted. Your mind is developed and has the capability to process complex tasks and problems but you also don't know how to wash dishes for example because you've never seen a dishwasher. Maybe a not so great example but you get the idea.

I just really fell in love with this book. Though I would say it is honestly targeted more towards women simply because of the whole love triangle aspect of the plot. As an avid read, I find it very hard to find a book or author that stands out and makes you take notice. To be able to find a story that you fall in love with over and over. For me, this is one of those books.
General rating for this book: A+

The first in the Betsy Taylor series, Betsy Taylor loses her job. Then she gets hit by a car and dies. She wakes up in a horrible pink suit and cheap shoes picked out by her step mother in a funeral home. With her intense craving for blood, she soon discovers she's now one of the undead. With her new status, she's having issues adjusting to her new liquid diet. When Betsy also has this innate ability to withstand other vampire's compulsions that are much older than her, all her new friends think she's the prophesied vampire queen.

The best way I can describe this book is Sex and and City meets Charlaine Harris. Betsy Taylor kind of reminded me of Carrie from Sex and City with her major obsession with expensive shoes and couture brands. Generally classified as a romance, it has many funny one-liners from Betsy and her other human friends. I remember Andrew looking at me weird when I was reading this because he caught me laughing out loud so many times.

Generally just a fun and quick read, I would recommend this book if you're looking for something entertaining and amusing. Even if you're not really one to like novels of a paranormal nature, I would still recommend this book. As with most of the books on my blog, this is targeted towards more of a female audience. But I'm currently reading a few other books currently that are unisex friendly. I'm finally trying to venture out more so stay tuned. Again just to wrap up, a quick and enjoyable read that's really funny. I'll definitely be reading the next ones in the series.
General rating for this book: A

Hidden by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast and Silver by Rhiannon Held

In P.C Cast's vampyre world, vampyres worship the goddess of night, Nyx. Vampyres do drink blood but usually in conjunction with a regular intake of normal food as well. They are also most recognized due to the distinct and individuality marks they have on their forehead and other extremities. Sunlight does weaken them but they can go out in the sun if they have to. Each major city has a House of Night where various "marked" vampyres go to finish their education and learn about being a new vampyre before they go through the final change. P.C. Cast herself describes the series as a "vampyre finishing school."

In the most recent installment in the House of Night series, Neferet's true nature is finally revealed to the Vampyre High Council. There's also a huge but mysterious fire that wrecks havoc on a portion of the grounds. Conflict and mistrust begin to break solid friendships apart. Two of Zoey's closest friends - the twins Shaunee and Erin - are barely speaking. This same mistrust and conflict leads Erin to stray from the more righteous path where she starts hanging out with the wrong crowd. Zoey's trust is also pushed to the limit because her former enemy, Kalona, is now the school's warrior and protector. With so much chaos going on at Tulsa's House of Night, Zoey wonders if her and her friends can actually overcome Darkness after all.

My mother-in-law was actually the one that introduced me to this series several years ago. This is definitely one of those series that you should start at the beginning. Otherwise you won't really know what's going on. This wasn't one of my favorites from the series. You can kind of tell that P.C. and Kristin Cast are gearing up for something major to happen and this novel is more of a transitional novel. P.C. gives her daughter half credit for these series because originally she was the one who went in and helped P.C. actually make each book more accurate for the targeted age group. Yes another YA series that I read and love.

I don't have as much to say for this particular novel but more for the series as a whole. Fun, cute and funny. Though it is technically a YA series, I do recommend it for any age group. The only thing I might complain about is P.C. Cast's obsession with Tulsa, Oklahoma. Granted I know that's where she's from and she's the author so she can make her books be wherever she wants but I've been to Oklahoma and there's nothing there. For the record, I've read other novels not in the House of Night and those take place in Oklahoma too. Not much originality when it comes to the location. But then again I'm not a best-selling author. Anyways, just read the series.
General rating for this book: B+

Andrew Dare is a werewolf and the enforcer for the Roanoke pack. He's responsible for tracking down any intruders in the territory. He finds a lone wolf that doesn't act or smell like any other wolf he's come across. When he gets to her, he finds she's been poisoned by silver being injected in her veins. She calls herself Silver. She's kind of crazy and can't shift anymore because of the poison. Because of the horrendous nature of this crime, Andrew is concerned about the threat this killer poses to every pack in North America. Both Silver and Andrew join forces to track down the killer and discover the secrets of Silver's origin and past.

I actually found this book while I perusing through Barnes and Noble awhile ago. This is definitely one of those books that sounded a lot better with the description on the back of the book. The description makes it sound more like a love story between Silver and Andrew. It is but it's not. I felt like Rhiannon Held needed to go one way or the other. Either make it a love story or a mystery. Not both. My personal feelings on the subject are that it's more a mystery. Andrew and Silver go across country to find her attempted killer and the person who destroyed her pack. There's obvious romantic tension between both main characters but it never really develops anywhere. I kind of feel like the author should have just kept that out completely and focused on the who done it aspect.

My general opinion is this book is just ok. I believe they made a note in the book that this is the author's first book. Not horrible for a first try. The e-ready version is $9.99 on Barnes and Noble. So I guess it's worth that. I actually think this might be better as a series as opposed to a stand alone novel. Then again, the author might make it a series. I honestly haven't been following her to find out. So to sum it up, an ok book and kind of worth the money.
General rating for this book: B