Bunheads

Title: Bunheads
Author: Sophie Flack
Genre: Fiction
Sub-genre: Chick lit, women's fiction, dance
Pages: 294
Published: 2011
Publisher:  Poppy
ISBN:   0316126535
Reader's Annotation: Will Hannah get the roles she's long coveted?
Summary: Hannah, a principle dancer at the Manhattan Dance Company and is trying to become a soloist. Flack takes us through the ups of getting a singular solo to the downs of basically being told that weight is an issue.
My Evaluation: Wow... I don't know what to say but this book was really really good... The emotions that Flack pulls you in are just incredible. She makes you cry with Hannah, laugh with her, and ultimately pull for her to get promoted.
Rating:  4.7 out of 5

Series Part 2

Title: Seizure
Series: Virals, #2
Author: Kathy Reichs
Genre: Fiction
Sub-genre: Young Adult, Science fiction, Mystery
Pages: 496
Published: 2011
Publisher:  Razorbill
ISBN:   0099543885
Reader's Annotation: Things have finally settled down from the incident, or have they?
Summary: Tory and her friends (the Pack) have found out that the place where most of their parents work is going to be closed. They try to figure out a way to come up with the millions needed to keep their families together and along the way, figure out how to use the "powers" they've been given.
My Evaluation:  I enjoyed this book much better than the first. The story seemed to move much quicker and while I still think the whole "we have powers" thing is ridiculous, the story is well written and the historical issues and mystery is there.
Rating:  4.2 out of 5

New Series

Title: Virals
Series: Virals, #1
Author: Kathy Reichs
Genre: Fiction
Sub-genre: Young Adult, Science fiction, Mystery
Pages: 448
Published: 2010
Publisher:  Razorbill
ISBN:   1595143424
Reader's Annotation: Can Tory and her friends survive
Summary: Tory Brennan (Niece of the famous anthropologist Temperance Brennan from Reich's other books) lives with her father, whom she's now just getting to know. How will a mysterious dog tag change her and her friends' lives forever?
My Evaluation:  While not as detailed in terms of Forensic Anthropology like Reichs' other books, Virals is an excellent read, especially for those YA readers who like mystery. It was a little slow to begin with but once the story got rolling, I didn't want to put it down. The only thing that bothered me is the whole "super-powers" thing... extremely far fetched and isn't really true.
Rating:  2.4 out of 5

Funny man

Title: Most Talkative: stories from the front lines of pop culture
Author: Andy Cohen
Genre: Non-Fiction
Sub-genre: Comedy, autobiography
Pages: 288
Published: 2012
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
ISBN:   0805095837
Reader's Annotation: Stories that you refuse to admit you watch
Summary: Andy Cohen, producer and host of many Bravo TV shows, takes us on a journey of how he came to Bravo and the Real Housewives of _____.
My Evaluation:  While rather amusing, I was a little disappointed in this book... I was expecting a lot more stories about the Real Housewives and other Bravo stories. Instead I got more of a life story of him, which again while funny, wasn't what I was expecting when I picked up this book. 
Rating:  4.2.4 out of 5

Key to the Bones

Title: The Inquisitor's Key
Series name and number: Body Farm, #7
Author: Jefferson Bass
Genre: Mystery
Sub-genre: Crime, Forensics, Suspense, Thriller, historical mysteries
Pages:  352
Published: 2012
Publisher: William Morrow
ISBN:   006180679X
Reader's Annotation: How will Dr. Brockton solve the mystery of the bones and stay alive himself?
Summary: Dr. Bill Brockton, after being nearly blown away by an sniper, is mysteriously called to France by Miranda. As he and Miranda work to solve an ancient mystery, will both he and Miranda realize their feelings and stay alive at the same time?
My Evaluation:  ** spoiler alert ** I enjoyed this book, but not as much as some of Bass's other works... This book felt, at least in the beginning, rushed. I found it quiet annoying that Isabelle get's a one line mention that she's dead from the Japan Tsunami, when some of the previous book was spent wondering if she was carrying Dr. B's child... It was just so random and and seemed like a cop-out to get rid of her. While this is now the third book I've read detailing the papacy at Avignon, its not the best, as much as I hate to say it. I do like the fact that Bass focused on a small part of that history rather than the Templars (which the other two books did) and their dealings with the papacy there. But something still felt missing from this book... may be it was the ending in that Miranda saved Dr. B... but didn't really end it... It was a rather annoying ending.
Rating:  4.5 out of 5

Lost and Found

Title: Lost and Found
Series name and number: Rocky Pelligrino #1
Author: Jacqueline Sheehan
Genre: Romance
Sub-genre: Mystery, chic-lit
Pages:  278
Published: 2009
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
ISBN:  0061128643
Reader's Annotation: How will finding a hurt dog affect Rocky's life choice?
Summary: Rocky's life changes when her husband suddenly dies. She completely uproots herself and travels to an island of her childhood to gain some perspective on what to do with the rest of her life. She takes the job as the animal warden and discovers a injured dog. This dog will lead Rocky on a journey she may not be ready for.
My Evaluation: ** spoiler alert ** I'm not quiet sure what to make of this book... In some ways I really liked it but in others I didn't. I liked the overall story (women's husband dies, she goes off to find herself, finds a great dog to have, etc) but stuff kept getting in the way (long diatribes that didn't really add to the story, switching narrators including the dog's point of view!)...
Rating:  2.5 out of 5

Chosen

Title: The Chosen One
Author: Carol Lynch Williams
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Sub-genre: Teen, Contemporary, Religion, Romance
Pages:  213
Published: 2009
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
ISBN:  0312555113
Reader's Annotation: Will Kyra be able to chose between family and what her heart's desire?
Summary: Kyra is a 13 year old growing up in an isolated community that is following a religious leader. She is chosen to marry someone when she is in love with not only books but a boy. What will happen when her parents and community find out about her?
My Evaluation: Whoever thought this was a good book for young adults/teens needs something, I don't know what. It is completely not a young adult/teen book. Maybe okay for High school students but anything less, absolutely not. The concepts and images depicted in this book are of a rough nature and hard for younger readers to deal with. It was a very disturbing book... The writing was good but disturbing.
Rating:  2 out of 5