Speed Reviewing

 3 1/2 Stars

Tara Luna's life is complicated enough without moving to a new town during her senior year. How can she tell yet another set of new classmates that she talks to ghosts? How can she introduce them to Henry and Millicent, the ghost-couple who've watched over since childhood? And should she mention that she and her Uncle Pat have moved into a house haunted by a dead teen girl, who is already bugging Tara for help solving her murder? 

I ended up liking this book a lot, and I am eagerly waiting for the next one - "The Lunatic Detective"
This books started out... not slow, it was anything but slow. It seemed just kinda silly to me. But it did redeem itself after a little bit. It was very fast moving, and would be very exciting for a younger teen.
I loved that the ghosts appeared as wisps of smoke instead of real looking people. And I loved Tara but she seemed much younger than her 17 years to me.
I received this as an e-book from Netgalley and Bell Bridge Books.

 4 STARS

A beautiful young witch must choose between maintaining the anonymity of her coven and trusting the detective who would bring a heartless serial killer to justice. 
There is a monster on the loose, a serial killer murdering young women near Oklahoma City. On each corpse he writes his name in blood: THE TIN MAN
But while the villain claims to be heartless, he’s not beyond making a mistake. This time he left his prey alive, and ex-homicide detective Nick Lassiter plans to use her to crack the case wide open. Yet, Ravyn Skyler is nothing like he expects. She remembers little of the crime, and for a victim, she has a deep reserve of quiet strength. In her eyes he sees both helpless waif and merciless vigilante, and in her kiss he tastes both passion and power. Magic, mayhem and heart rendering emotions are brewing into something both Nick and Ravyn have no control over; all the while dark magic and evil minds are plotting to destroy them. Can they stop death before death stops them?

This was a freebie from B&N so I didn't expect much. Actually, I thought I was gonna hate it and probably quit reading it. I did not expect to like it as much as I did! This book started out with a bang, then got a little slow, but then picked back up and got really suspenseful again. I love books about witches, I don't know why (I hate books about Vampires). The one thing I loved about this book - I have always said "When a man commits Rape - He should be castrated!" This is the epitome of that! LOL read it and find out.
This book is very exciting, suspenseful, and even romantic in spots. Not bad for a free e-book!
The only thing I didn't like was foul lang. and sexual content (not recommended for young readers!)

 3 Stars

Today's knitters are chic, smart-and busy. Although they love to knit and enjoy making gifts for family and friends, they're constantly faced with the challenge of finding enough time to actually finish what they've started. Last-Minute Knitted Gifts solves this problem. Joelle Hoverson, owner of Purl, the hip knitting supply store in downtown Manhattan, has designed more than 30 fun, fresh, beautiful patterns, most of which can be made in less than ten hours-some in as little as two!

I was not that impressed with this knitting book. The first 35 pages were pretty much "blah blah blah" The patterns start on page 36. The patterns are pretty basic and simple. There are only really 4 patterns that I would ever use. This would be a good book for a beginner knitter but for an experienced knitter like myself, I would be bored with it.
There is a nice baby sweater that I do want to try!
This was an e-book download from Netgalley and "Open Road" Publishing Co.

4 Stars!

When Harper Scott’s older sister, June, takes her own life a week before her high school graduation, sixteen-year-old Harper is devastated. Everyone’s sorry, but no one can explain why.
When her divorcing parents decide to split up her sister’s ashes, Harper takes matters into her own hands. She'll steal the urn and drive cross-country with her best friend, Laney, to the one place June always dreamed of going—California.
Enter Jake Tolan. He's a boy with a bad attitude, a classic-rock obsession…and an unknown connection to June. So when he insists on joining them, Harper's just desperate enough to let him. With his alternately charming and infuriating demeanor and his belief that music can see you through anything, he might be exactly what she needs. Except...Jake's keeping a secret that has the power to turn Harper's life upside down—again. 

This book was very well written. I did enjoy it but... it was very slow and long in parts. The beginning seemed very long and took me a while to get into it. The whole first half seemed slow and uneventful.
Once you got past the first half it get better! I ended up really liking Harper (the main character) I liked her whole personality and she seemed very real to  me. I liked the way the Author had her comparing herself to her sister, this also seemed very real, something that a normal teenager would do.
I LOVED the ending of this book! All in all a good read, the good outweighed the bad.