Jessica's books

The One and Only Ivan
Pollyanna
Revolutionary War on Wednesday
Leprechaun in Late Winter
Ella Enchanted
The Courage of Sarah Noble
Plain Murder
Gone-Away Lake
Circling the Sun
Maggie and Max
The Haunting of Sunshine Girl
The Night Sister
Tuck Everlasting
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Bedknob and Broomstick
Mister Monday
Alice Through the Looking Glass
The Birchbark House
The Hobbit
The Witch's Daughter


Jessica's favorite books »

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Book Review: Once in a Full Moon by Ellen Schreiber

Synopsis (from Goodreads):  
Beware of a kiss under the full moon. It will change your life forever.
Celeste Parker is used to hearing scary stories about werewolves—Legend's Run is famous for them. She's used to everything in the small town until Brandon Maddox moves to Legend's Run and Celeste finds herself immediately drawn to the handsome new student. But when, after an unnerving visit with a psychic, she encounters a pack of wolves and gorgeous, enigmatic Brandon, she must discover whether his transformation is more than legend or just a trick of the shadows in the moonlight.
Her best friends may never forgive her if she gives up her perfect boyfriend, Nash, for Brandon, who's from the wrong side of town. But she can't deny her attraction or the strong pull he has on her. Brandon may be Celeste's hero, or he may be the most dangerous creature she could encounter in the woods of Legend's Run.
Psychic predictions, generations-old secrets, a town divided, and the possibility of falling in love with a hot and heroic werewolf are the perfect formula for what happens . . . once in a full moon.

My Thoughts:  This was the first book from Ellen Schreiber I have read and I have to say, it will most likely be the last book from her that I read.  I honestly have to say that this book was so bad it was all I could do to finish it. 

Celeste lives in Legend's Run where there is a legend about a werewolf.  It is suppose to be incredibly scary and horrible however everytime someone told the story I thought it was boring and lacking.  There was nothing scary about this legend at all. 

Celeste is way too nice.  She is a saint.  She has no backbone and claims she is madly in love with this boy from "the wrong side of the tracks" yet she puts up with her friends being cruel to him, is embarrassed to be seen with him, etc.  I just didn't see how she could be madly in love with the boy and then let him be treated like he was.

Celeste's friends, Abby and Ivy, are incredibly annoying and snotty.  I hated them.  I didn't want to read about them at all.  I didn't connect with any of these characters.  They were very shallow and boring.

The whole split town thing was off too.  The "east" side was rich and good.  If you were from the "east" side you were popular and accepted.  The "west" side was full of losers and such.  Why?  Because it was more country.  There were farms and a small town atmosphere.  So, just because you live a little out of the city (it literally seemed like it was only a couple of miles from the "right" side of town) you were losers?  Hmmm....yeah, just didn't ring true to me at all. 

The whole snow storm scene was a little weird as well.  I mean, Celeste is going to walk less than a mile to her house.  The weather is fine.  She can practically see her house from where she is, on the bike path which is right next to the road.  Next thing you know it is snowing so hard that she can't see very far in front of her.  She steps off the path (barely) and suddenly cannot find the path or road again and becomes lost.  Okay, just turn around, walk back the way you came and you will find the road.  She didn't veer that far off the path so I didn't see how she got so lost.  Then, she is confronted and saved by the pack of wolves and amazingly, the storm ends and she can see the roof of her house again.  So that was just a strange part of the story.  Then Celeste gets home and her parents reactions are just messed up.  I can't even explain it but it was not believeable at all.

The writing in this book just came off as very amateurish.  There was no substance, no creativity, no great spin on werewolves...nothing.  The ending was blah.  There is obviously going to be a second book but I will not be reading it.  So, yeah, I didn't like this book at all.  However, I just want to say, just because I didn't like this book doesn't mean you won't.  I know there are lots of people out there who thought it was great.  This is strictly my opinion. 

The one thing I liked about this book?  The cover.  It was awesome!

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