Falling Under by Gwen Hayes

Falling Under (Falling Under, #1)
By Gwen Hayes
Publisher: New American Library, 2011
324 pages, paperback
Date Finished: 9/6/2011
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Coming of Age, Romance, Some Adventure

Theia Alderson has always led a sheltered life in the small California town of Serendipity Falls. But when a devastatingly handsome boy appears in the halls of her school, Theia knows she's seen Haden before- not around town, but in her dreams.

As the Haden of both the night and the day beckons her closer one moment and pushes her away the next, the only thing Theia knows for sure is that the incredible pull she feels towards him is stronger than her fear.

And when she discovers what Haden truly is, Theia's not sure if she wants to resist him, even if the cost is her soul.
~from goodreads.com~

~First Line: "Everything changed the night I saw the burning man fall from the sky."
~Last Line: "And together we fell under."

Review: When I started reading Falling Under, I was automatically  pulled in (like I was with all the other books being featured this week; LOL). Again, this was a completely new concept for me, but I really loved it.

As I met Theia and learned more about her past and her family and friends, I was pulled in even more! The way Theia was raised after her mother died, not being able to go anywhere or barely do anything -- I think it's all sort of ridiculous. But I guess when I reached the end of the book, it made sense as to why he was so protective.

The supernatural beings in this one were demons. Nope, no angels. That's what I loved about this one (among about a thousand other things) -- even though there were demons, there weren't angels trying to fight them back or anything. It was very nice anything :).

On to the male of the book: Haden. Half-demon, half-human. I love it! All he's ever wanted was to be completely human; it was pretty cool that he and Theia met every night in the demon world of Under. It was crazy cool, but so mysterious! Although I believe when she actually traveled to Under is was even better. For, you know, traveling purposes, of course :D.

Simple: Get. This. Book. No questions should be forming in your head. The book is amazing. Get it!

Quotes from the book:

"So he was a sweet-talking, cross-dressing, fortune-telling . . . surfer?"

"My makeup was an altogether different experience. Shellacked and powdered, I protested her heavy hand, but my objections were dismissed. As were my protests about the red halter shirt she put me in, claiming it was a dress. If my future included a street corner and a pimp named Ice Money, I'd be ready."

" 'Donny, it would be like opening a barn door during a stampede and expecting only the brown cow with the blue collar to enter. You can't control a stampede.' "

ARC Book Review ---> The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

     (Mara Dyer #1)  

By:  Michelle Hodkin

Published By:   Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Published Date:  November 2011

Pages:   Hardcover 450

Read:  August 2011

Book Cover Rating:  5

Tags:  Young Adult, Fantasy Fiction, Paranormal Romance, Suspense, Contemporary, Supernatural, Mystery  
Why the Mad Scientist read this book:  Picked up an ARC from BEA 2011.  I set this one aside because I had no real interest in it.  I was wrong. 

First Lines:   My mother thinks I'm dead.

Concoction of a Review:

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer was just a utterly beautiful read.  I do believe it rivals my blood red silver tipped parasol and that is something!

I admit that it is going to be rather hard to review this twisted tale without revealing too much of the goodness.  I LOVED the book so I have to gush about it.  Just a tad.

The best thing about this book...  It is full of Crazy!!

Mara is a dark haired beauty who has hallucinations, hears voices of her dead friends, and unexpected things are happening to her.  *sips tea*l Mara?  What can the Mad Scientist say?  She is just a little on the psychotic side.  Why?  Her best friend, boyfriend, and a friend all went to the great beyond when the abandoned asylum collapsed on them while they were searching for paranormal activity.  

What!?!

How did the building just collapse?  What if she is the only one who knows what happened?  What if she cannot remember what really happened?

Would you want to remember?

Mara's family move to Florida to get away from what happened.  Attempting at normal life did not work out so well for her.  She becomes the new target for the snotty prep queen of the school, Anna.  *Grr...* Leave Mara alone!  Psychotic episodes start to happen.  She does not know what is real or not.  Neither did I!!  I LOVED it!!

"Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, and all that jazz.  Anna used to be the abstinence poster girl, but post-Shaw, you could write a comic book about the many adventures of her vagina.  It could wear a cape." 
 -- Page 41

Time to swoon!!  *Fans Self* Yes, even deeply troubled girls deserve some European tousled hair hunk to look at.  Noah Shaw is just the lad for this!!  He is an arrogant ASS who happens to just be about the most sexy thing described lately.  He is a rumpled sight who just rolls out of bed.  Gorgeous tousled messy hair.  His contemptuous presumptuous ASS did not turn me away.
  

Here is how I picture Noah Shaw:  As William Moseley...

Lucky for the reader there is No love at first sight!  The romance builds up very slowly.  The sexual tension even had me on edge!  I loved how Mara brushed him off like he was NOT a swoonworthy mess!!  I must say... it is strong of her to be cautious instead of flouncing to his side like a ninny.

"How is it that you have friends, Noah?"

 "I ask myself that daily."  He chomped down on the plastic straw.

 "Seriously.  Inquiring minds want to know."
 -- Page 192

**Side Note:  The Mad Scientist   has a secret crush on High King Peter!  I watched the Chronicles of Narnia just to stare at him!  I'd love to mess up that hair!**

*Swoon*

"Your're distracting," I said truthfully.  

"I won't be.  I promise,"  Noah said.  "I'll get some crayons and draw quietly.  Alone.  In a corner."

Michelle Hodkin's story had the Mad Scientist at every page.  What an amazing debut and I am trying not to be torn because I want book two now!!  The story had me sending mental hugs to Mara and dreaming of dear Noah.  Plus all of the other characters were so well developed that I truly enjoyed them all.  Even her overprotective brother.  The story was sprinkled with Mara's snark which broke up the seriousness of the suspense novel. 


Overall, it is safe to say that The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is easily going to be my favorite read of the year.



Best Suspense Novel of 2011!! 

*Just an after thought... but when I seen this picture I though this is Mara and Noah! 


Anna Popplewell would make a beautiful Mara. 


What do you think?  Would these two work for this epic story? *

5 Blasts

This book is out now.  Go buy it because the Mad Scientist could sum them book up with three letters.  WOW!!

{ARC} Book Review ---> Every Other Day by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Every Other Day

By:  Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Published By:   EgmontUSA

Published Date:  December 27th 2011

Pages:   Hardcover 352

Read:  October 2011

Book Cover Rating:  5

Tags:  Young Adult, Urban Fantasy, Supernatural, Fantasy Fiction

Why the Mad Scientist read this book:  I actually thought that this was going to be a contemporary read.  It did have a time glass on it... Who knows what I was thinking?  

Concoction of a Review:

I just completed a book review of Bite Me which had a Vampire Hunter/Slayer now I venture not far to Demon Hunter/Slayer.  Contemporary, pft we can through that out the carriage and stomp on that right away!


Slayer books need something new.  This books offers up the idea of demons and such creatures as being endangered species.  Just like the bald eagle they are protected by the government.  What is one called when they are against government rule?  Terrorist.  Kali D'Angelo is just that... Every Other Day.

Here is how I picture Kali D'Angelo:  As Michelle Rodriguez... 

Every Other Day she switches between a crude demon killer and young girl who attends high school and tries to cope with living with only her father who is not... a mom. Kali does not understand where and why she has power to kick supernatural derriere.    When she is human we get to see how shrewd and intelligence during dangerous circumstances.

I heard the telltale sound of scales scraping against metal -- a light swoosh, a tongue flickering out to taste that stale and humid air.  Whatever it was, my prey was tasting for me.

As one would expect our protagonist to be a misfit at school.  Yet, she is faced with a decision to save one of her school mates.  Wait, she is not power vixen at the moment.  Will she do the right thing and risk her life?

One of the turn offs is her down and out attitude.  Sympathy was to be had at first but it would not stop.  However, I admit she did end up with a great band of misfits.  

Left with nothing but my own bloody fingertips, I let out a war cry of my own, raked my nails over its face, and fought like a girl.

*Free ARC from NetGalley which did not impede on my Mad Review.  It is completely honest and full of my thoughts on the book. *

Every Other Day was fast paced nonstop heroine action that was packed around a complex scheme!

4 Kisses


Originally Posted at Steampunkery & Book Reviews.

Book Review ---> Bite Me by Parker Blue

Bite Me

   (Demon Underground #1)

By:  Parker Blue

Published By:   Bell Bridge Books

Published Date:  September 30th 2008

Pages:   Softcover 229

Read:  October 2011

Book Cover Rating:  3

Tags:  Young Adult, Urban Fantasy, Supernatural, Demons, Fantasy Fiction, Paranormal


First Lines:   The stench of rotting garbage filled my nostrils as I scoured the dark streets of San Antonio for something to take the edge off. 

Concoction of a Review:

Vampire Hunter/Slayer is not a new concept.  However, I have not watched or read any of Buffy so I will not be comparing at all. 


The young Val Shapiro is the vampire hunter within Bite Me who is girl who is trying to find herself among a world she does not feel apart of.  One thing stands in the way... she is part demon.  Lola is the other side of Val, who has to feed and she loves lust from men.


Val found a way to dampen her powers from the demon blood in slaying vampires.  Using her unique status to keep her city safer.  Meanwhile, it is enough to keep the sassy Lola in check.  Yet, Val was still scorned by her family.


Here is how I picture Val Shapiro:  As Vanessa Hudgens... 

As we headed out toward the parking lot, Dan said "Why don't we take the truck?  It's less conspicuous."

He had a point.  With Fang sitting on the back of my motorcycle in his goggles we were more likely to draw attention than divert it.

[Fang the hellhound says] YEAH, THAT'S 'CAUSE I'M SMOKIN'!

She was used as a escape goat for things that went wrong.  Continually being blamed for anything that goes wrong.  Finally, she was told to stay away from her family.  


What was my favorite part of the book you may ask?  The Hellhound!!      *gasps*    Fang has his own personality who really brings some humor to the book.  Their interactions cut the seriousness at times and brought a smile to my face more then once and laughing out loud.

Overall, nonstop heroine action.  Great fight scenes!!  Intertwine that with fun sideline characters makes it a fun book.  The Mad Scientist will be looking forward to book two and three!   Try Me & Fang Me!!  

*Free ARC from NetGalley which did not impede on my Mad Review.  It is completely honest and full of my thoughts on the book. *

A fun but not original story of a young supernatural gal who is trying to find her place.  Nonstop action and fun fight scenes!!

4 Kisses


Originally Posted at Steampunkery & Book Reviews.