Reviews written by Alanna Shaw

When I read a synopsis that does nothing to capture the essence of a book, I can't help but chuckle. If you read the back of this book and never read the book itself, you would have no idea what you missed. ...

I can finally say that I have left my rock and joined the “in-crowd.” I finally read The Hunger Games. It’s true that these books have been sitting on my shelves gathering dust for at least a year, maybe longer. I have no excuse to offer for why I haven’t...

You’re either going to love it or hate it. I usually don’t read books with obvious religious undertones because I want to avoid the cliché that seems to always pop up in that type of book; however, I found myself reading First Date. The lure of the plot line had...

It’s hard to form an accurate opinion of a book when you start the series four books in. Mesmerize was the fourth book in the Mystyx series. I didn’t realize that when I started reading the book. I was a little confused by some of the descriptions, because they were...

This book was interesting. It’s a highly original story about people that never die. Well, except Ana. She’s a new soul. Because she is not five thousand years old like most inhabitants of Heart, she is stereotyped and treated like an outcast. Unwanted, even by her own mother. Li (mom)...

Well, I'm not sure what to think of this one. I should have expected an element of paranormal based on the synopsis, but I didn't anticipate the direction of this one. If Buffy the Vampire slayer went back in time to tell history, that would describe my impression of the...

This one didn't do it for me. I am SO disappointed to say that because I really like this series. I loved The Luxe books, but the second book in the Bright Young Things series falls flat. Now, don't get me wrong. It's still a good book; it just wasn't...

I’ve been on a pirate reading kick lately. This book is geared toward the younger readers. There are plenty of illustrations to help the readers’ active imaginations. I enjoyed the story a good deal. As I read, I had to remind myself that this is meant for middle grade readers....

I love a good fairy tale retelling. The story of Rapunzel has always been one of my favorite fairy tales. I think it's due to my obsession with long hair. I have never been a fan of comic books-- or the more sophisticated name used now "graphic novels"-- because I...

Where to begin with this one? Yikes… I knew pretty early on that this was going to be a big, steamy pile of werewolf poo. It was an easy read, so I was able to fly through it, but the story never got better. By the end of the first...

I have mixed feelings for this one. On the positive side, it is a FANTASTIC love story. Absolutely gripping. You can feel the passion radiating from the pages. Hot and steamy. Stiefvater’s writing style is wonderful as well. There were parts of the book that were almost poetic the prose...

It’s hard to say what I liked most about this book. Let me start by praising the author. Beth Revis has a beautiful writing style. It’s poetic at times without being wordy or flowery. It’s simple and dramatic. Poignant. I also...

I already announced that I thought this book was cute when I did my mid-book review. The premise behind a blood intolerant vampire strikes me as pretty darn funny. Of course, I'm the type of person that will smile at the mentioning of diarrhea and corny jokes in novels....

This was such a fun read. It's certainly a new take on the Medusa story (no turning people to stone here or slithering tresses). I am such a sucker for myth retellings, and this one did not disappoint. I LOVED the characters. Well, most of them. For...

I do love a good, thought provoking novel. When I picked up The Eleventh Plague, I thought it was going to be a zombie novel. I mentally prepared myself for rotting flesh and gore. Apparently, I misread the synopsis, or else read it when I hadn’t had my morning...