Review: Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer

Synopsis from Goodreads: When Calla Tor wakes up in the lair of the Searchers, her sworn enemies, she’s certain her days are numbered. But then the Searchers make her an offer—one that gives her the chance to destroy her former masters and save the pack—and the man—she left behind. Is Ren worth the price of her freedom? And will Shay stand by her side no matter what? Now in control of her own destiny, Calla must decide which battles are worth fighting and how many trials true love can endure and still survive.

First, I'd like to mention that the first book in this trilogy is called Nightshade which I sincerely recommend you read. With that said, HOLY FREAKING FOLLOW-UP! This was an amazing story.When we left Calla she had just finished fighting the Searchers, among some other opponents, and was left in the dark about if she would live or die. When she wakes in Wolfsbane, she doesn't recognize her surroundings and starts to recall her capture. She is on edge as the Searchers approach her to bargain with her, a bargain that will help her save her pack. She and Shay are reunited and he helps her feel more comfortable around the people who have been her rivals for her entire life.

Calla goes through some serious doubt about her place in life, her destiny, and her feelings to the people she's always known and trusted and those who have always been her enemies. There is a lot of trouble in this novel with Calla's choices affecting many people and she begins to feel the weight of her decisions unbearable. But Calla is too strong to just give up and forces herself to make more life-altering choices and entrusts her life-and her pack's lives-with the Searchers. Shay helps Calla make decisions and tries to comfort her in times of confusion.

This was a great sequel to Nightshade because it answered most of my questions from book one and then gave me more to contemplate for the next book. I felt that this novel progressed well and made me eager to reach its final pages. Calla's options are some that make you feel overwhelmed. Even as damaged as she is from being ripped from the only life she has ever known, she is a strong heroine who is not afraid to do what needs to be done for the greater good of everyone she cares about. In an admirable show of courage, she shows passion for a better life, and understanding that this new future may cost her more than heartbreak.

Wolfsbane is a novel that will suck you in until the very end. Cremer has created a story with every possible component you could ask of an excellent novel; suspense, danger, romance, friendships, loss, twists, and wolves. As a wolf fan, I may be a bit biased but I feel confident in saying that if you purchase this book you will not be let down. Any fan of YA will love this story, adults included. If all of the above reasons aren't enough to entice you, the cliffhanger ending is a great reason to read Bloodrose, book three which releases in February.

Review: Shift by Jeri Smith-Ready

Synopsis: AURA'S LIFE IS ANYTHING BUT EASY. Her boyfriend, Logan, died, and his slides between ghost and shade have left her reeling. Aura knows he needs her now more than ever. She loves Logan, but she can't deny her connection with the totally supportive, totally gorgeous Zachary. And she's not sure that she wants to.

Logan and Zachary will fight to be by her side, but Aura needs them both to uncover the mystery of her past--the mystery of the Shift.

As Aura's search uncovers new truths, she must decide whom to trust with her secrets...and her heart.

First thing I would like to say would be OH MY GOODNESS! I really like Shade, book one of the Shade trilogy, but this book exceeded my highest hopes for book two. Oh Zachary, totally sexy, tall, dark and accent! I love Zachary. Anyone who knows me has heard my undying love confessions for Edward Cullen, but I would gladly give him to the next girl in line for Zachary.

Aura has been mourning Logan's Shade since his concert the night he was supposed to pass on. She put her life on hold and tried every night since then to get him to return to the world as a ghost. Finally, at the beginning of the book, she finds herself face to face with Logan as a shade. Not only does he change from a ghost to a shade, but he also becomes solid again. Aura and Logan cannot think of anything except their unfinished business on the night of his birthday, the night they were supposed to make love for the first time. But to both their disappointment, Logan loses his solid form after about fifteen minutes. When she tells Zachary about what happened, on the same night that he asks her to prom, he can't believe that after all of this time of patiently waiting for her to move on that she would attempt to be with Logan again, and he withdraws his invitation.

Aura spends a lot of time in this book understanding how it is she feels about Zachary and Logan. This book is a much sexier story than the first because Aura can't seem to control her urges. Aura finds herself stuck in the middle once again. At the same time that Aura is going through all her troubles over the boys in her life, she is faced with a new discovery about her past and the secrets that may have created the Shift, and her involvement in it. Worse, someone has been watching her and may know more about Aura than she would like. This book is absolutely amazing and the romance in it is breathtaking. The mystery of the Shift and all the clues that Aura, Zachary, and Logan are given are well thought out and make you want the third book, Shine, to fall into your lap at the end. This will be another of Smith-Ready's books that I will add to my list of favorites.

Review: Delirium by Lauren Oliver

From Goodreads: Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the governments demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.

When love has a mandatory cure and is known to lead people to death when left uncured, there is nothing Lena wants more than to lead a normal life. Living in the US, surrounded by borders to protect it's inhabitants from the Invalids and Sympathizers that live in the Wilds, she is safe and can live a life of happiness after the cure with the husband chosen for her and the career she is appointed to. She has always followed the rules and trusted her elders that the cure is the only way to avoid the deliria because she was told that it had made her mother commit suicide. Lean is counting the days until she will be safe from the sickness that took her mother away--until the day she falls in love herself. Lena goes through significant changes throughout the novel and is as strong a heroine as I've ever seen. Once she falls victim to the deliria, she stands up against what she feels is wrong, even when it means breaking all the rules. Even when she knows that she is sick, she doesn't care because love is worth the worst kind of sickness. Lena discovers that she can finally see through the fog that everyone living within the borders lives with.

This dystopian story is beautifully written and will make you keep turning pages. Oliver is descriptive and makes you fall in love with Lena and cast, makes you hate the government and the cure, and makes you swoon over and over. I wanted to cry for Lena, I wanted her to take chances for love because she was finally happy. I will be very impatiently awaiting the next novel in this trilogy and would recommend it to anyone and everyone. This is definitely one of my favorite books EVER! Lauren Oliver has worked her way onto my list of favorite authors.