Title: The Dirt
Author: Lori Culwell
Publisher: Booktrope Editions
Publish Date: November 22, 2011
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Pages: 206
Source: Publisher

Lucy Whitley cannot wait to get out of Palm Desert. It’s not a place for a frizzy-haired science nerd, particularly when her fashion-obsessed older sister Sloane is the head of a clique of pretty girls who rule the school – and practically the whole town.

Fortunately, life is about to change forever. Lucy’s dad is getting re-married, and then she can transfer to a boarding school in Connecticut, escaping all the mean girls and the endless whispers about the Whitley family scandal. Everything is going to be perfect – as long as the wedding goes smoothly.

Lucy lives in the shadow of her sister, Sloane. Pretty and popular, Sloane dominates the school with her posse of mean girls, while Lucy feels like she lives in the dregs. But while she might be the black sheep, Lucy's certain that life is about to change, and she's on the cusp of the something new. Her father's remarrying, her dream to leave Palm Desert is about to become a reality and all that stands between her and freedom is one little wedding. It will all go smoothly. It has to...but will it?

Ok, fine, I'll admit it. I'm starting to have a bit of a soft spot for the occasional contemporary story, but I will adamantly maintain that I am always looking for something that steps outside the mold into something just a little bit more than the average book. Veteran author, Lori Culwell, has crafted a sweetly fun, sardonically hilarious and dangerously biting novel with The Dirt, perfectly capturing two radically different sisters in an engaging light. With her fast-paced plot and delicately crafted prose, The Dirt resonates into a fun story that reads almost like a film, capturing your heart from start to finish.

Lucy is one of those characters that just brings the story to life. She's a full-bodied character that leaps from the pages with every emotion, action and inaction throughout The Dirt. She wants nothing more than to escape because she can't possibly see a way to making life in Palm Desert with her practically perfect sister, Sloane, around. In perfect contrast, Sloane was the embodiment of popularity. Conceited and snotty, she resonated disdain, perfectly deflecting Lucy's character. The Dirt, though perhaps hugging a bit too closely to stereotypes was a fun and fast read that locks you into the story of the characters and gives you a reason to read through to the very end. It begins with a bang and spirals through, giving you all the best of contemporary in a slim and engaging read - love, coming of age and a touch of wit and humor to lift your spirits.

The Dirt was a surprisingly fun read for me. It's not my normal cup of tea, but I actually really enjoyed it, in large part because it was so well crafted. I give it a 4 out of 5, and I highly recommend it to all YA fans, especially those who enjoy contemporary fiction.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

I am so, so, SO excited to announced that yours truly is going to be hosting the Spencer Hill Giveaway Week from January 23rd through January 29th! The week will feature awesome guest posts, interviews and, of course, a plethora of awesome giveaways from the authors behind Spencer Hill Press. The full lineup is below...please spread the word and, if you like, add the button from my sidebar to your site! Remember, there will be giveaways throughout the week, so get ready!

Monday, January 23, 2012 - Kate Kaynak (The Ganzfield series)

Tuesday, January 24, 2012 - Jennifer Armentrout (Half-Blood)

Wednesday, January 25, 2012 - Lisa Rogers (Angelina's Secret)

Thursday, January 26, 2012 - Daniel Cohen (Ancillary's Mark)

Friday, January 27, 2012 - Emily White (Elemental)

Saturday, January 28, 2012 - Ednah Walters (Beytrayed)

Sunday, January 29, 2012 - Kelly Hashway (Touch of Death) and Angie Townsend (Amarok)

Be sure to check out the event when it starts in less than two weeks, and get ready for a week of fun with some amazing authors from Spencer Hill Press!

Balthazar by Claudia Gray Review

Title: Balthazar
Author: Claudia Gray (Twitter)
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publish Date: March 6, 2012
Genre: YA, Paranormal
Pages: 374
Source: Publisher

Haunted by memories from his first days as a vampire, Balthazar has spent hundreds of years alone—without allies, without love. When he emerges from his isolation to help Skye Tierney, a human girl who once attended Evernight Academy, Balthazar has no idea how dangerous it will be. Skye’s psychic powers have caught the attention of Redgrave, the cruel master vampire responsible for murdering Balthazar and his family four centuries ago.

Having learned of Skye’s powers and the remarkable effect her blood has on vampires, he plans to use her for his own evil purposes. As they stand together to fight the evil vampire, Balthazar realizes his lonely world could finally be changed by Skye...just as Redgrave realizes that he can destroy Balthazar once and for all by taking her for his own.

Balthazar has, for all intents and purposes, a tormented past, and it's one that he carries with him every day of his life. But Balthazar can no longer hide from it when he makes this decision to help Skye, once a student at Evernight. His past follows him everywhere he goes though, and Balthazar doesn't know the evil undercurrent consistently boiling below the surface. Just when he finally discovers there could be redemption and happiness for him after all, Balthazar is thrown into a final battle that could end everything for good.

I have to admit that while I enjoyed the Evernight series, it was never really at the top of my list of absolute favourites. In a genre full of vampire novels, while the writing was solid, the story didn't sing to me. However, the character of Balthazar was always a beacon, so when I discovered that a companion novel to the series was being released, I was hooked. Claudia Gray has spun a mesmerizing tale of love and redemption in Balthazar, giving voice to the unsung hero of her beloved series. With clean, easy writing and a vivid, emotional plot, the story soars from start to finish, leaving the reader breathless throughout.

It's quite a feat when a vampire novel has me singing it's praises, but I have to say that Balthazar succeeded on many levels. Balthazar, though a vampire, felt human to me in the sense that he was open, honest and totally transparent. While on the one hand, Balthazar was a totally kickass vampire, on the other hand he was an rich, intoxicating MC with a soul that sears through the pages. Skye, too, was a fun character to explore in Balthazar. Whereas she was previously an afterthought, her spunk and character balanced Balthazar's with ease, bringing a sense of light to a dark and tumultuous plot. Furthermore, Balthazar deftly balances two very clear and distinctive POVs with ease, which is a success in and of itself. Most of all though, Balthazar seamlessly merged action, suspense, drama and emotion into a beautiful package that was well-rounded and a pleasure to read.

Overall, Balthazar was a brilliant start to a new series (I think/hope?). While it is a companion novel, I don't think it's necessarily imperative to have read the Evernight series, as the story does its due diligence and can stand alone. I give it a 4.5 out of 5, and I highly recommend it to fans of YA, as well as those who love paranormal and fans of the Evernight series.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.