"The House of Dead Maids" (a historically haunted Lexi review)

Readers,

TODAY IS HALLOWEEN!!!!!

I just thought I'd let you know, lol. It's me and Ash's fave holiday!!! We dress up and go trick-or-treating which, this year, I'll be using to grab candy and hopefully find my dog as well.

Okay, onto a spooky book!

The House of Dead Maids by Clare B. Dunkle. Even this cover gives me chills!!!

Summary: "Young Tabby Aykroyd has been brought to the dusty mansion of Seldom House to be nursemaid to a foundling boy. He is a savage little creature, but the Yorkshire moors harbor far worse, as Tabby soon discovers. The ghost of the last maid will not leave Tabby in peace, yet this spirit is only one of many. Why do scores of dead maids and masters haunt Seldom House with a jealous devotion that extends beyond the grave? 

As Tabby struggles to escape the evil forces rising out of the land, she watches her young charge choose a different path. He is determined to keep Seldom House as his own. Though Tabby tries to befriend the uncouth urchin, her kindness cannot alter his fate. Long before he reaches the old farmhouse of Wuthering Heights, the boy who will become Heathcliff has doomed himself and any who try to befriend him." (Thanks, Goodreads!)

If you've read Wuthering Heights, or Jane Eyre, or have seen the movies, read this for sure! If not, read it anyways! It's a great scary novel for Halloween, and for whoever enjoys Southern Gothic novels as well. So much history and questions plague you throughout this novel, and you'll be wondering exactly what is going on while you read this. One thing is for sure: you'll be entertained the entire read!

In Conclusion: If you like creepy ghost stories, this one is for you!

Rating:

5/5 skulls


XOXO,
Lexi

"The Predicteds" (a choice Lexi review)

Readers,

This next novel is about genetic testing, questioning nature and nurture. Which one rules?It's always an interesting thing to think and talk about. So, without any more delay, here's The Predicteds by Christine Seifert.

Summary: "Daphne is the new girl in town and is having trouble fitting in. At least she has Jesse… sort of. He wants to be more than “just friends,” but there’s something he’s not telling her about his past. Something dangerous. When a female student is brutally attacked, police turn to PROFILE, a new program that can predict a student’s capacity for violent behavior, to solve the case. As the witch hunt ensues, Daphne is forced to question her feelings for Jesse—and what she will do if her first love turns out to be a killer." (YAAAY for whoever created Goodreads!!!)

Kind of predictable, but a very interesting look at the nature/nurture debate. Can you truly predict who is dangerous and who isn't? What are the repercussions of this, and what if it's not correct? Where does your personality lie? Is it embedded in your DNA, or did it develop thanks to how you were raised?

In Conclusion: It's an interesting look at the nature/nurture debate, so go for it if you're really into that debacle, or have debated about it before. It is very interesting nonetheless!

Rating:

3/5 tests


Hugs,

Lexi

"Spookygirl" (I'm Back! - a Lexi review)

Hello,

I'm back for the rest of the week. I still haven't found my baby (2 weeks and 1 day), but tons of people have seen him, so there's still hope. Prayers, good thoughts, anything really, is welcome. But I can't stop doing this and talking to my friends, and everything, but instead, hope for the best, prepare for the worst, but still go on in life.

So, let's get to the book, shall we? Spookygirl by Jill Baguchinsky. (That's such a mouthful!)

Summary: "Violet doesn't remember much about her late mother, but she is certain of one thing: she too can see ghosts and communicate with the dead. But when Violet discovers paranormal activity in the girls' locker room, she finds herself ill-equipped for handling the school's ghostly echoes. Through Violet's own investigation and with the help of some unlikely allies, Violet discovers there is a lot she doesn't know about her special skill--and more still that can stand in the way of its power. With sharp wit and determination, Violet sets out to uncover the truth behind her school's haunting, to finish the investigation that led to her mother's sudden death, and to learn why the only ghost she has ever wanted to see is the one that has eluded her forever."

So this novel can be cheesy in its events and names (if you read it, you'll get it). With the stereotypical goths, the story was kind of guess-able. You'll know what's going to happen before she does, which is seeming to become more the case in YA books. But the lines, thoughts, and general teenagers are just hilarious (and they're supposed to be). The take on ghosts is interesting, like why they're here and what they like. I REALLY like this novel, and it's a great take on ghosts, but based upon the other paranormal books I've been reading for fall, it's not the best...

In Conclusion: Not the best ghost book, but it's super entertaining, relatable, and funny. It's one of those "eh, read it or don't" books.

Rating:

3/5 keys

Posting & Doggies (a Sunday post by Lexi)

Readers,

This week, my baby (a 6-lb. Yorkie) ran down the road and immediately disappeared. Weird, huh? We're sure somebody picked him up. But this week has been super hard on me, which means I've been sad and sleeping, but still reading. Actually reading more than usual. But I couldn't bring myself to posting, or really writing at all. However, I needed to talk to you guys and tell you why I haven't been around. I hope that you guys forgive that. I will be trying to get on and posting this week. I mean, I wrote a paper within minutes, but cannot bring myself to write anything person. It's hard because Boo (Boo Radley, my Yorkie) is my baby boy. He's truly my baby. I can't sleep at night without that little bit of weight snuggling my stomach or the space behind my knees. (Hence, the whole sleeping during the day thing.) Prayers are welcome!!! Here's a pic of my baby:

XOXO,

Alexis

"The Ghost of Graylock" (a phantom Lexi review)

Ah, Readers,

Today, Ash, my little brother, and I went to Dallas's Fan Days, which is pretty much ComicCon at a different time of the year. Tomorrow, (we did 3-day passes) is taking pictures with Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy in "Harry Potter") and John Barrowman (Doctor Who, Torchwood, Arrow, Desperate Housewives, etc.)!!!!! We're both so excited!!!!!

Now, to today's book!!! The ghost story called The Ghost of Graylock by Dan Poblocki!!!

Summary: "Does an abandoned asylum hold the key to a frightful haunting?

Everyone's heard the stories about Graylock Hall.

It was meant to be a place of healing - a hospital where children and teenagers with mental disorders would be cared for and perhaps even cured. But something went wrong. Several young patients died under mysterious circumstances. Eventually, the hospital was shut down, the building abandoned and left to rot deep in the woods.

As the new kid in town, Neil Cady wants to see Graylock for himself. Especially since rumor has it that the building is haunted. He's got fresh batteries in his flashlight, a camera to document the adventure, and a new best friend watching his back.

Neil might think he's prepared for what he'll find in the dark and decrepit asylum. But he's certainly not prepared for what follows him home. . . ."

The back story was good, the mystery great, but it was too predictable for me to give a high rating to. It's a good novel, and the characters were okay, but it didn't hit me like the book Project 17 did. These characters weren't really easy for me to relate to, even though I've been in some of the same situations in life. I think that it was a great idea, just not as thoroughly executed like it had the potential to be. I wanted it scarier, more tense, and waaaay creepier for a novel about a haunted (abandoned) asylum.

In Conclusion: Eh, skip it.

Rating:

3/5 ghostly mists

"The School for Dangerous Girls" (a confident Lexi review)

YAY READERS!!!

First let me say that we're over 5,000 views now!!! We love the love and support that everyone's been showing us!!! Thank you, and keep reading!!! Invite your book-loving friends, family, etc. The more readers we have, the more interviews, and eventually book giveaways that we'll be able to have. So stick with us, you guys!!!

So I read a book last night. Had to know what was going down in this novel, so putting it down was just not an option. It's called The School for Dangerous Girls by Eliot Schrefer. Here's the cover:

Summary: "Angela's parents think she's on the road to ruin because she's dating a "bad boy." After her behavior gets too much for them, they ship her off to Hidden Oak. Isolated and isolating, Hidden Oak promises to rehabilitate "dangerous girls." But as Angela gets drawn in further and further, she discovers that recovery is only on the agenda for the "better" girls. The other girls -- designated as "the purple thread" -- will instead be manipulated to become more and more dangerous . . . and more and more reliant on Hidden Oak's care." (Gracias again, Goodreads!)

Another great find for October, though this one is more gritty and realistic, as well as violent. So Angela has her secret of her past, as do each of the girls that go to the school. There are tons of ridiculous rules at the academy, and once you're deemed bad, you're gone. Never seen again by your peers. The secrets of the school start to slowly leak out, and then you're hooked on this novel.

Why so many rules? Where are the girls who disappear? And just how do they rehabilitate these "dangerous" girls?

Sound intriguing? It is.

The characters are whole, and well-written as well as thought out. I love the interaction, though wanted more descriptions when it came to the school itself. I also had a few questions as well, but the ending was satisfying, so I didn't dwell to hard on them. The plot was so fun with every twist and turn. Just when you think it's all been laid out and you know what's going on, BAM! another twist or secret comes along, and you just no longer are so sure.

In conclusion: Read it if you're into mysterious stories and boarding schools.


Rating:

4/5 rolls


XOXO,
Lexi

A Booklover's TV Guide (a tuned-in Lexi review)

Our Beloved Readers,

There's tons of junk we watch (admit it; you've seen at least a clip of "Honey Boo Boo"). There are actually good programs out there, and on crunchyroll.com/hulu.com... So let me list my top five that you should watch if you love good stories...

"Sleepy Hollow"

Deep storyline that's full of twists and turns. Like watching a novel! (Btw, Ichabod is sexy.)

"Doctor Who"

Learn and be thoroughly entertained while falling in love! (Start with the Ninth Doctor; fall in love with the Tenth.)

"Elementary"

I'm going to get yelled at by those who watch "Sherlock" on BBC, but I haven't seen it yet. So, this one is a great twist on Sherlock Holmes! A British cutie (Sherlock) is a recovering addict, and his new handler is a chick (Watson). Hilarious and great!

"Instant Star"

My guilty pleasure. Four seasons long. Watch a regular girl rise up and fall and rise again in this awesome show where a girl becomes a star on a TV show. (Love this.)

"Princess Hours (Goong)"

An awesome Korean drama that lasts 24 episodes! A clumsy girl who's just as messed up as us is set up with a snot-headed prince. Trust me on this one; it's great.

Hope y'all enjoy!!!!!

XOXO,

Lexi