Reviewed by Mrs. Walker

I’ve always loved vampire stories, but since the mayhem surrounding the Twilight series erupted, I’m asked almost daily for “books like Twilight.”  So, I’ve been reading more vampire stories than ever.   The Vampire Diaries comes the closest of any to being “like Twilight,” but guess what – it was written more than 10 years BEFORE Twilight.  And, I have to wonder if Twilight author Stephanie Meyer may have been influenced by this vampire classic.

A few of the startling similarities:  Well, for starters, both Twilight and the Vampire Diaries are told in four novels.  Vampire Diaries novels are MUCH shorter, and each book contains two of the novels, so there are two books in total to read to complete the series.

Startling Similarity #2:  The premise:  Human girls meets vampire boy at high school, they fall in love, they battle all the human-in-a-vampire-world/vampire-in-a-human-world problems.  In this case, the “new kid” is the vampire boy, Stefan, for whom mega-popular Elena falls for immediately.  Stefan at first seems to entirely hate Elena, but we soon learn he’s simply masking an uncontrollable attraction to her (hmm, sounds familiar).  In Twilight the attraction is based on the smell of Bella’s blood, in Vampire Diaries, it is Elena’s uncanny resemblance to Stefan’s former love Katherine.

Startling Similarity #3:  The main characters.  Stefan is a brooding, guilt-consumed, reluctant, but ”good,” “vegetarian” (aka non-human diet) vampire who tries repeatedly to keep Elena from continuing a relationship with him for her own good.  Elena is strong-willed and pursues their relationship with complete abandon – the need to be with Stefan is more important than anything to her.

Startling similarity #4:  Evil vampire enters the picture and wants human girl.  Vampire boy must save human girl.  In Vampire Diaries, the evil vampire happens to be Stefan’s older and stronger vampire brother Damon with whom he once battled for the love of Katherine and whom he must now battle for Elena.

There are many other little similarities between the stories, so I can’t help but wonder how much Twilight might have been influenced by this series.  Others obviously share this thought.  Just Google “twilight vampire diaries” and you’ll find a number of websites where readers discuss which one they like better.   For me, I’m still a bigger Twilight fan, but if you’re jonesing for another story in a similar vein, I’ll quickly admit that Vampire Diaries is a good read.

Reviewed by Karlene Shippelhoute

Do you want to be popular?  Well, everybody wants to be – or at least Steph Landry does.  Ever since the “Super Big Gulp” incident in 5th grade, Steph has been the least popular person in her class.  But things are about to change?

Steph has brought in her secret weapon, a hand-me-down book called How to Be Popular!  She is sure that after her master plan is through, no one will ever say, “Don’t pull a Steph” again.  Who knows, she’s even hopeful she’ll get the guy too!

Reviewed by Karlene Shippelhoute

Jane Harris wants to know “what could possibly go wrong.”  She has only decided to follow her friends Holly & Mark to Italy to help them elope.  Jane, a cartoonist, couldn’t be more delighted that she’s going to Europe.  But when Jane hears that Mark’s best friend Cal is coming along too, she couldn’t be more disappointed.  Not even the beautiful Italian countryside can bring them out of their hate-at-first-sight relationship.  Little does Jane realize she may be forced to suck it up & deal with Cal if it means saving her best friend’s wedding.  Who knows, Jane may even find love of her own during this whole fiasco and learn that every boy’s got one (a heart that is!).

Reviewed by Karlene Shippelhoute

Kate Mackenzie works in the Human Resources department of the New York Journal.  Her boss, the T.O.D. (Tyrannical Office Despot) has put Kate in the most tough position of firing the most popular staff member in the senior dining room.  Aside from having to carry out this tedious deed, Kate is also struggling with her love life.  Her high school boyfriend is still sleeping on her couch and refuses to commit to a serious relationship.

Just when Kate believes things can’t get any worse, they do!  She finds herself wrapped up in a lawsuit for wrongful termination of an employee.  But the worst thing that happens is Kate realizes she may have just fallen in love, with the type of man she believes she despises most!

Also look for the third book in the “Boy Series” Every Boy’s Got One.

Reviewed by Mrs. Walker

In this novel by the same author who wrote the Peeps series, the main character, Hunter is a teen with an eye for the next great fad.  He is part of a team of “cool hunters” who help companies market products to teens – an industry where there’s a LOT of money to be made.  Hunter soon meets Jen, a true Innovator – one of those types who defines her own style – the kind of person everyone looks at a bit funny but then quickly imitates.   Hunter knows there’s the potential to use Jen’s creativity for profit.  They become friends, but there’s clear signals that their friendship could be more.  Hunter and Jen are scheduled to meet with a PR rep at a shady location in Manhattan, but the rendezvous turns dangerous, and they become entangled in a very interesting missing-person adventure.  The story is moves quickly, has lots of action and an absorbing mystery while posing some interesting questions about our culture and commercialization.

Find it in the Fiction section FIC Wes.

Reviewed by Karlene Shippelhoute

If You are looking for a romantic book with a lot of variety then The Boy Next Door is for you!  Mel Fuller works for the New York Journal, one of the city’s leading newspapers.  She is faced with many problems after her 80-year old neighbor is mysteriously beaten in her own apartment. Mel is forced to walk Paco (her comatose neighbor’s 135 lb Great Dane) while still trying to get to work on time.  Aside from other things, Mel has to deal with celebrity photographers, annoying human resource reps., and a friend desperately trying to fit into her wedding dress.  If that’s not enough for you this book also has: Humor, Romance, Cooking Tips, Great Danes, Dolphin Shaped Driftwood Sculptures, and lots of interoffice emails. Also look for the 2nd book in the “Boy Series” Boy Meets Girl.

5 stars

Nick Andreas is rich, hangs with the popular crowd, plays on the football team, and has a great girlfriend.  HAD a great girlfriend is more like it.  As the story opens, we find Nick and his ex Caitlin facing off in a courtroom where she has accused him of physically abusing her – an incident he dismisses as a little “slap.”  As a result of the incident, Nick’s life begins to crumble – his friends no longer speak with him, he still longs for Caitlin, and he is forced to take an anger management course where he meets an assortment of boys and men dealing with issues of abuse and manipulation against the women in their lives.  Many of the boys come from families where they were also abused.    While Nick originally thinks he has nothing in common with the other guys in his group, he soon finds similarities which force him to take a hard look at himself. 

The story progresses in two directions:  we watch Nick’s life unravel after the trial while we are also slowly introduced to the details behind the story of Nick and Caitlin’s confrontation.  The final revelation is shocking.

Reviewed by Mrs. Walker

So, does the author look familiar?  Meyer, the author of the hyper-popular Twilight series, tries her hand at a bit of Sci-Fi.   Aliens have taken over the planet earth.  Known as “Souls”, these small, shimmering beings  implant themselves into human bodies (”Hosts”) and minds.  The  Souls are a peaceful group of aliens, but the price is that the original human spirits who inhabited their bodies are erased.  A small group of native earthlings still exist in hiding.  Melanie, a rebel earthling, is caught and implanted with a soul named Wanderer.  Melanie’s strong spirit refuses to be erased, and Melanie and Wanderer are forced to share one mind until/unless Wanderer can eventually eliminate Melanie’s presence.  But Wanderer begins to be moved by Melanie’s memories and emotions, particularly Melanie’s love for her younger brother Jamie and her boyfriend Jared, both of whom she left behind in hiding.  Eventually Wanderer and Melanie agree to try and find them both.  They find MUCH more than they bargained for.   There’s something here for all sorts of readers – thrilling science fiction adventure, moral delimmas, action, drama, and absolutely the most complicated love story you will ever find.  A bit long in the middle, but it’s SO worth the time and effort, as the end is completely fascinating and satisfying.

Reviewed by Mrs. Walker

Reviewed by Kayla Alves

This book was amazing! It’s about this senior guy who hasn’t had much luck with the ladies. His friends post a very embarrassing ad in the school newspaper which gets him swarming with tons of replies! He has a ton of dates but he takes a while to find someone he really likes. When an unexpected girl replies, his whole attitude changes.

Find 24 Girls in 7 Days in the Fiction section under FIC Bra.

Reviewed by: Tysha Bowling

Vivian’s a werewolf, and her love for her human half is not as strong as the love she has for her four-legged side. Not until she meets Aiden, a human boy who she thought understood what she felt like when she would change. But it turns out when she shows him her true side – the side that loves to run in the dark under the moon – he wasn’t sure. There’s more to the story, but if you want to know, then you have to read the book!

Find Blood and Chocolate and Annette Curtis Klause’s other hit The Silver Kiss in the Fiction section under FIC Kla.