DEVOUR by Shelly Crane

TITLE: Devour

AUTHOR: Shelly Crane

RATING: 5 Stars

PAGES: ebook

PUBLISHER: Self-published by Author

SERIES: The Devoured, #1

SOURCE: Personal Library

Clara has it all. A wrestling star boyfriend, popular friends, all the right school activities...pretty much a perfect life...up until her parents died. Now she lives with the Pastor and his family and though they take good care of her, she feels alone. Then her boyfriend, Tate, starts to show signs of trouble when a new guy, Eli, comes to town. Clara is fascinated with him but hides it until something happens. Eli confesses to her that she gives him something he's never had before...something he needs. Everything is about to change for this normal pretty popular girl in a supernatural way.

(synopsis taken from Goodreads)

Oh my. I absolutely devoured 'Devour'! This addition to works created by a rising star of an author, Shelly Crane, blew me away. It's a fresh take-no vampires charming the school girl or preppy boy wooing the damsel in distress. Instead Devour is based on something newer to the word of Young Adult readings. Devourers. What drew me to this lovely read was not just the fact that in less then a year Shelly Crane has become a favorite author of mine but how different and catching this book is. Clara is your average American high school girl. She's fitting in, not really making a stand for anything yet is still a good person. Sure she stands by while her friends bully others but eventually Clara finds herself. And what an amazing journey that is! 

Set in the town of Big Timber, Montana we meet Clara, a high school senior who's recently lost her parents to murder only months ago. Not to mention her sister leaves her to fend for herself to re-enlist in the armed forces Clara is more then alone. But at least she has the Pastor and his family who took her in. I find Clara a refreshing heroine in Devour. She's not perfect. She makes mistakes, allows things to happen that she knows shouldn't. Too often authors build up heroines to be perfect in ways that they never make mistakes outside of relationships with their other halves. But Clara makes mistakes, and she actually learns from them. In Devour we watch her morph from an 'ice princess' into an actual human being capable of thinking for herself instead of following along in her group.

And then there's Eli. Gorgeous, violet-eyed Eli. Eli is an amazing counter part to this story. He's everything we females dream of in a guy: protective, gorgeous, honest, and he thinks with his brain! Really, it doesn't get much better then that ladies! From the very beginning of this story you're drawn to him and the mysterious air that surrounds him. We as readers find him just as unforgettable as Clara does. I love how Eli isn't afraid to let Clara know when he thinks she's acting wrongly i.e when the bullying occurs. Perhaps one of my favorite lines in the text was, "My conscience is clean. How's yours?" From this point on after Eli says that to Clara I noticed the biggest changes in her. Clara began to mature and realize the low things that were happening around her, and she took a stand on them.

I love the chemistry between Clara and Eli. And how he isn't attacking her like how Clara thinks of Tate's kisses. Instead, Eli is gentle with her. Not everyone enjoys being mauled all the time, and I think that it really says a lot about how deeply Eli has come to care for Clara. Ultimately their relationship is a constant roller-coaster ride but it's true and it's intricate. As you read Devour, you become attached to this couple that has seemingly impossible battles ahead of them and you cheer them on! As Eli quotes in Devour, "Accept the things to which fate binds you, and love the people with whom fate brings you together, and do so with all your heart."

When you read Devour expect a delicious ride on an epic love story. There are so many things occurring in Devour that it's easy to be devoured by the book yourself! Shelly Crane once more gives us something to keep us up late reading and smiling at. I'm certainly rooting for Clara and Eli and their adventures to be had in the second book, Consume, due out in Spring 2012! Until then, keep reading!

~ Book Crook Reviews

ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS by Stephanie Perkins

TITLE: Anna and the French Kiss
AUTHOR: Stephanie Perkins
RATING: 5 Stars
PAGES: 372
PUBLISHER: Dutton Books
SERIES: Anna and the French Kiss, #1
SOURCE: Personal Library


Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris - until she meets Etienne St. Clair: perfect, Parisian (and English and American, which makes for a swoon-worthy accent), and utterly irresistible. The only problem is that he's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her almost-relationship back home.

As winter melts into spring, will a year of romantic near - misses end with the French kiss Anna - and readers - have long awaited? 

(synopsis taken from Goodreads)

Let me start off by saying I absolutely adored this book. Anna was such a relatable character for me and she is easy to understand. She doesn't make you sit there and question her actions like some books do. Even though she's upset at first of being sent to Paris, France for her last year of high school by her father who's rather interested in creating an image within his peers by sending his only daughter to school without considering her feelings. What a jerk. Yet, going to France turns out to be the best thing to ever happen to Anna. 

Anna stays true to who she is, and she reacts in ways that most teenaged girls do. Being shipped to Paris for her Senior year in high school would be irritating for anyone who had so much going on for them back home. Anna does manage to adjust I mean, she is in the City of Light right? I love at how Anna is such an imperfect character. She's got her flaws. It makes her easier to relate to and really connect with. A gab between her teeth and a rebellious bleach stripe in her hair? I think that's why I ended up liking her so much. She's so real.

And oooh Etienne. I love the sound of his name when I read it and said it out loud. And Anna sums him up for us wonderfully. “I'm a little distracted by this English French American Boy Masterpiece.” And what a masterpiece Etienne is! I enjoyed following their relationship, it had everything a great romance has: complications, strange feelings, friendship, and finally love! I found myself rooting for Anna and Etienne, at times wanting to jump into the pages and smack Etienne when he was so obvious about his feelings yet held back on reacting on them. The chemistry between the two was amazing to watch develop also. I kept smiling every time they were together, waiting for the time they would both finally realize what was occurring between them. I loved the meaning of Point Zero and how the symbolism of it was closely related to their relationship. Instead of wishing on stars, they wish on kilometer zero by Notre Dame -sigh-. 

I happen to have many favorite parts in this book. I laughed out loud a lot and even quoted several of the lines to friends. I can say a part that has stuck with me the most is when Anna first comes to SOAP and realizes that she has to place her orders in French. I found these parts where she first noticed this and began taking chances on ordering to be humorous. I myself have been to France and have indeed attempted to order in French only to break into English! For those of you who have just as much trouble conquering a foreign language like me I'm sure you'll find this hilarious as well!

I'm a bit of a romanticist. I love love and all things involved and Anna and the French Kiss gives you a healthy dose of what it's like to fall in love and the challenges that come with it. Not every relationship is perfect and not every guy is a Prince Charming. But Etienne comes pretty darn close! This is perhaps one of my favorite reads because Anna, Etienne, and all their friends they have at SOAP are endearing characters. Stephanie Perkins shows us her talent for writing in this fun and witty read, and knows exactly how to keep a readers' attention! The language and slang used are appealing and humorous and not forced at all. Stephanie Perkin's debut book is enthralling and wonderful, an easy and light read perfect for all young adults and adults! I hope you enjoy Anna and the French Kiss as much as I did!


~Book Crook Reviews