Ghost Huntress: The Guidance

Ghost Huntress: The Guidance
by Marley Gibson

It's been a few months since Kendall and her family moved to Radisson, Georgia. Things are going great: she's made some great friends, has a boyfriend, a ghost-hunting team, and she's psychic! The only person that isn't so happy about her being the talk of the town is Courtney Langdon, who just happens to be Jason's ex.

Courtney starts meddling with the paranormal, which gets her into some trouble. She wants to get the attention away from Kendall, but she has no idea what she is getting herself into.

Grade: A

Just like in The Awakening, Kendall is a snarky chica who is completely amusing. Some parts of the book kind of even freaked me out, because of the creepy soldier ghost who enjoyed toying with Courtney. I'm disappointed with the relationship of Kendall and Jason, but only because I want there to be more of it. I love them together, and like Jason told her in the book, ghost hunting has taken over her life, and she doesn't have that much time to spend with just him. Sad! But, I don't want to ruin what happens if you decide to read the series, so I will just leave it at that!

I'm pretty sure I liked the first book better, but I still enjoyed reading about Kendall and her friends! I definitely recommend this series if you're into the paranormal.

The Hourglass Door

The Hourglass Door
by Lisa Mangum

Abby Edmunds is starting her senior year. She's busy sending out college applications, spending time with her boyfriend, Jason, and managing the play at school, Much Ado About Nothing. Life is going smoothly. Nothing has changed. Same Abby, same lackluster life.

Enter Dante Alexander, the gorgeous Italian foreign-exchange student. Upon his arrival, Abby's world is turned upside down. The mystery, the spontaneity, the surprises, all of which Abby desires, are now in within reach.

But with Dante, there are secrets. He is always disappearing, or gone for days at a time, and he avoids all physical contact with people. But the time they spend together seems different from their time apart--it seems slow, or too fast, or even as though time has stopped altogether.

Grade: A+

I'm not even sure where I should begin. To put it simply, I adored this book. I loved Abby's character. Even though at the beginning she was somewhat annoying (because she did what she was told, and she made sure others were happy over herself), by the end, I felt a shift in her. She was a strong character, and you could tell by the last couple chapters how strong she really was.

A great book makes me feel emotional. An amazing book makes me cry, which is exactly what The Hourglass Door did to me. By the middle of the novel, I never wanted to put it down. I was so involved; I almost felt like I was Abby, which is really cool! I could go on and on about how much I loved reading this. I have the next book in the series, and I can't wait to get started on it! I definitely recommend this one.

Mistwood

Mistwood
by Leah Cypess

Isabel is the Shifter. She is bound to protect the kings of Samorna at all costs. When she is not needed, she resides in her forest, Mistwood. When she is needed, she goes to the castle.

When Prince Rokan comes for her in Mistwood, she does not remember why she had left Samorna many years ago. She doesn't remember how to change forms. Isabel knows her prince needs her to be the Shifter. But she also knows that he is lying to her. The truth can change everything though and Isabel must make a choice.

Grade: A

Mistwood is a beautifully written debut novel. Isabel is a confused character who in the end figures everything out. I'm not that big on reading fantasy, but I loved this storyline. I thought the idea of a Shifter was really cool, and the twists and turns in the plot kept me guessing on what was going to happen in the end. I didn't see the *almost* end coming, which always makes a good book even better.

My only problem with the novel was the actual ending. I didn't care for it because it was very abrupt, and it left a cliffhanger. I really wanted to know what was going to happen, but the story just ends. But other than that, as I said, this was a wonderful book, and I look forward to read more by Leah!

*reviewed for TeensReadToo
**Mistwood is on shelves now