There’s nothing better than cuddling under a blanket, having a candle burning near you, and reading a good book, on a cold fall or winter night. Absolutely nothing better! Well … unless you have a good cup of tea or coffee in your other hand (sounds amazingly perfect!).

The book I’m reviewing today, is called Tempest by Julie Cross! I was sent this book through the mail by St. Martin’s Press, not really sure if it’s for my personnel blog, Turning Pages, or Burn Bright. But I had a great time reading it, so I’ll share my review on both sites 🙂

There is some sad news though, Tempest isn’t coming out til the beginning of next year (January 17), so not only are these my thoughts and opinions, but their also a huuuuge teaser, since you won’t be able to purchase the book for another two months! Sorry guys, but I really enjoyed it, and I would recommend going out, and getting it ASAP!

Has anyone ever asked you this question, “If you could have any super power, what would it be?” What was your answer? The power to hear what people are thinking, to be invisible, to be able to turn into a eagle, or have super strength? What if you had the ability to time travel, what would you do?

In Tempest, the main character Jackson, didn’t exactly have a choice. Not only was he born with the ability to travel time, but he was born as a time traveler. Even though, those two things might seem very similar, their actually totally different. In Tempest, there’s almost like another race of people, who have the same ability as Jackson. They’re not aliens, like in I Am Number Four, who come from a different planet. But they look and act like normal humans, the only difference is, they can go back in time, and change things to the way they want them to go.

After Jackson, tells his best friend, Adam, about his ability, they start running tests; seeing how far back he can go, and if people would remember him, when he time travelled.

Soon things start getting crazy, and Jackson’s whole life is turned around. His sister died years ago, he finds out his dad is not his real dad, and that he’s in the CIA, and his girlfriend, Holly is murdered. Now he has to go back in time, to save his girlfriend, and figure out who he really is, and where he’s really from.

To be honest, I don’t think I have one bad thing to say about this book! Since Tempest is only the first book in a trilogy, the ending was a bit open, but I really liked how everything played out. It had my attention in it’s firm grasp, from the first page, all the way to the last!

I loved Jackson and Holly’s relationship, even though the first time you meet Holly, they’re arguing and fighting. Holly was a blast, she made me laugh a few times throughout the book, the way she acted, and never fully trusted Jackson. She just really reminded me of a friend of mine. On the other hand, Jackson seems like the kind of guy who keeps his feelings to himself, and isn’t exactly the romantic. But he grows a lot by the end of the book. The things he says, and the way he treats Holly, is soo sweet!

If you know me well enough, you know I’m a sucker for sad movies! I cry at the Titanic, Toy Story 3, The Notebook, and any other sad book or movie, nomatter if I have read or watched it twenty times already! I just really enjoy stories, that touch my heart enough to make me feel sad.

When Jackson slips even farther into the past, he runs into his twin sister Courtney, who passed away a few years ago, due to cancer. This part made me cry so hard! He explained to her, that he was from the future, and that’s why he looks so much older. Then Courtney asks about her future self, but Jackson didn’t want to tell her what really happens. I just had to close the book. I could take it any more,  I just need a breather.

I couldn’t even open the book, and read the next two lines, without my eyes getting watery again. Jackson was saying goodbye, and telling how much he loved her.

Tempest, made me feel every emotion possible. I was laughing a few times about Holly, cried about Courtney, and was mad at Jackson’s dad. I really enjoyed Tempest, and I can’t wait to finish the trilogy and see it in theatres! 🙂

You can listen to an clip from the Tempest audiobook on the link below:

Tempest audioclip

• Reading level: Ages 14 and up
• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin (January 17, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312568894
• ISBN-13: 978-0312568894

Welcome to another one of my reviews! Today’s book is an ARC I recieved, The Radleys by Matt Haig; I’m not sure if it was for Burn Bright, or if it was meant for my personnel blog, Turning Pages. So instead of stressing out about, I just decided to review on both, I enjoyed The Radleys and Matt Haig’s writing that much, that I want to share my love with as many people as I can.

We all know it’s October, and we’re all looking for that spook factor, no matter if it’s a haunted house, movie or book. The Radley fits the description perfectly. The cover (well the cover of my version, I’m not sure what any other versions look like) screams creepy and Halloween at you.

To be honest I havent heard of The Radleys or of Matt Haig, before last week, when I ran to my mailbox, opened it, and ripped open (yes, ripped! I know I’m turning 17 on October 29th, but I still get excited about packages and recieving mail) that big yellow envelope inside.

The Radleys gives a different view of the whole “vampire” thing. It gives a more family aspect to the topic, instead of a hot guy, who when he takes his shirt off, glitters in the sun, even some (including me) like that. And sadly, there aren’t any cute werewolf boys in this book either.

One of the twenty million reasons to enjoy reading The Radleys, was getting to know Rowan, seeing how much he changed and grew throughout the story. At first he was the quiet type, who would never want to catch anyone’s attention, and wouldn’t know how to stand up for himself. By the end of the book, Rowan keeps his head high and stands up for himself against a bully. He finds the courage to talk the the girl he fancies, and has embraced the vampire lifestyle. I felt like Rowan did the most growing, even though he wouldn’t be considered the main character.

After having murdered someone, and having your parents tell you, that you’re a vampire, it would be normal to be in a bit of a shock, maybe feel some nausea and pains. But Clara the main character had the total opposite symptons, she felt better, and relieved. While it took her older brother, Rowan, a while to adjust, she took the bull by the horns.

Though Clara and Rowan were total opposites, I really liked reading about both of them.

The Radleys, was the perfect book for Halloween. It wasn’t so scary that you would have to read it in the morning because if you read it at night you would get nightmares. No, but it had the right amount of horror, romance, comedy, and style. The story line, really kept me on the edge of my seat from the very beginning of the story, all the way to the very end.

Matt Haig’s writing style is fabulous, I loved it! And can’t wait to read more from him!

• Pub. Date: December 2010
• Publisher: Free Press
• Format: Hardcover , 371pp
• ISBN-13: 9781439194010
• ISBN: 1439194017

Hi Everyone! Testing, testing, 1, 2, 3? …..Does this mic work? I have another book review for you guys, and it goes perfectly with the month of October. Today’s lucky book is Beyond the Grave by Mara Purnhagen; another e-book from Netgalley. I just finished it yesterday, and couldn’t wait to start writing my review!

Beyond the Grave was something new, something I hadn’t read before. I really enjoyed Mara Purnhagen’s writing style and I can’t wait to read more of her works. You might find this a bit dorky, but I love watching those paranormal ghost hunting shows. I don’t really know why, but I do and they interest me. I can’t watch them at night, right before I go to bed, because I am the biggest scaredy cat, and will just end up being having nightmares. But still, what isn’t cool about talking to the dead? You might even be able to communicate with one of your family members who had already passed away! But for Charlotte and her family, this is normal, and this is what they do. They go out to haunted houses, churches, prisons, and hospitals, searching for any kind of paranormal activity, recording their finds and making DVDs and TV shows. Watching it on TV is cool, but I don’t think I would ever want to actually do it!

In their most recent case, in a haunted prison, a entity, named The Watcher, actually attacked Charlotte’s mother, leaving her in a coma for months. Not only do Charlotte, and Shane almost lose their mom, but in a way their dad too. Instead of continuing on with his day to day life, and finishing the project they started, he barely ever leaves the hospital. Months have passed and Charlotte’s mother still hasn’t made much progress. Her family depends on the money that comes from the DVDs they make and sell. Not having enough footage means that they won’t be able to finish a DVD, and won’t earn any money. Without their father’s permission (of course, who would send their kids to the place their wife was almost killed?), Shane, Noah, Trisha, and Charlotte head back to the haunted prison to get some more footage.

Things between Noah and Charlotte have always been great! Noah seems like the sweetest guy in the world, never wanting to hurt or lie to Charlotte. But after coming back, things between Noah and Charlotte seem different; Noah isn’t being himself, and is acting distant. Not knowing what to do or who to turn to, Charlotte finds herself on the door step of her former high school enemy, Bliss. Putting their differences aside, Charlotte begins telling Bliss about everything that’s going on with her mom and dad, and even about the difference in Noah’s attitude. After losing both her mom and her boyfriend, Charlotte’s ready to do anything to get her family back. Which includes going back to the prison for the third time, to finally close the gate.

If you haven’t read Beyond the Grave, you definitely should! And what time better than now? It’s October and we should all be reading something scary 🙂

Mara Purnhagen – Beyond the Grave

Published by Harlequin 23 August 2011

Paperback, 256 pages

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awtlVW72WfQ&feature=channel_video_title

Get your copy and join them!

Reading level: Young Adult

Hardcover: 336 pages

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers; 1 edition (October 12, 2010)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1442408537

ISBN-13: 978-1442408531

Hello fellow book addicts. Welcome to my review of Mercy by Rebecca Lim! Before I start my “official” review, I just want to say I finished this book in less than two days. I love Rebecca Lim’s writing style and the story really kept me on the edge of my seat. I heard rumors that it is the beginning of a series; I hope to read and review the rest of them!

Mercy really kept me on the edge of my seat from the start to the finish! Imagine if you have no family, no friends, no home, and, as soon as you get used to something, you’re ripped away and forced to start all over again! No one actually wants that (well, I don’t! I love my life how it is right now), but Mercy didn’t have a choice; she’s a soul without a body. She doesn’t remember how old she is, or anything too far into the past.

But Mercy does remember a few things: her height, her hair and eye color, and some different facial features. Mercy jumps from one human girl body to another, never really sure how long she’ll be borrowing it for, or when she’ll be going to the next. It can happen anytime, and anywhere. She can’t leave by choice, no matter how badly she wants to. Mercy only has a vague recollection of who she’s inhabited recently, but knows nothing about her current body. This time inhabiting a body named Carmen, who is on her way to singing camp (with an exceptional voice), Mercy stays with a family that has been through quite a lot recently.

Two years ago, their daughter, Lauren, was kidnapped and never found. Not only has Ryan (their son) lost his twin sister, but in a way, his parents too. While Ryan still believes his sister is somewhere out there alive, his parents have accepted that Lauren is dead and will never come back.  But Ryan doesn’t want to even think about that, and continues searching, but now with Carmen’s help (not knowing it’s Mercy).

Throughout their hunt, Mercy even uses some supernatural powers to help Ryan find out information about his missing sister. By just touching someone, Mercy can sense what things might be nagging at their soul. Unsure of how long she’ll be in Carmen’s body, Mercy’s in a rush to find or find out what happened to Lauren, especially after hearing news about another girl being kidnapped.

I already gave you guys a lot of spoilers, and I don’t want to ruin the story, but two things I can say: it was AMAZING and it left me wanting to read more! I really enjoyed Mercy and can’t wait to read more from Rebecca Lim! Thank you again for stopping by, and checking out my review! Have you read this book? Comment below and let me know what your thoughts are! 😀

Mercy—Rebecca Lim

Published 17 May 2011 by Disney Hyperion

Hardback, 288 pages

ISBN:13: 9781423145172·

ISBN: 1423145178