Review DEAD IS JUST A DREAM by MARLENE PEREZ @HMHKids @MarPerez

Book Description

Publication Date: September 3, 2013

The people of Nightshade, California, are dying in their sleep, and fifteen-year-old warrior Jessica Walsh is determined to find the killer . . . or killers. Justice isn’t the only thing on Jessica’s mind, however. In fact, some days she’s not sure which is worse—having a creepy clown lurking outside her window or having her rock star boyfriend’s hot ex-girlfriend back in town. Nightshade is crawling with paranormal people like Jessica . . . and it’s possible that the anti-paranormal group the Scourge is back to get rid of them. Or are the disturbing works of a strange painter somehow at the heart of the mystery? Jessica is losing sleep—but she’s got to figure it out before the night terrors strike again.

About the Author

Marlene Perez is the author of eight books in the Dead Is Series, including Dead Is The New Black, an ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers. She lives in Orange County, California. Visit her website at.marleneperez.com.

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SOURCE: PUBLISHER

MY THOUGHTS

LOVED IT



Jessica is starting to get the hang of being a virago and things have been quiet in the town of Nightshade.  Her relationship with Dom, the lead singer in Side Effects May Vary is going well, that is until his ex shows up at the invitation of his mother.  With nothing to do one night, Jessica and her friends head off to a local art exhibit where the painting look like your worst dreams. After the show, they hang out at the beach where they see a strange ghostly horse and coincidentally, Jessica and two of her sisters are signed up for horse riding lessons at a new farm.



At the farm, Jessica sees a ghostly girl named Sanja, who confesses she is a Mara, a person who can cause nightmares and also the horse they saw at the beach. Soon after a murder is reported quickly followed by her brother's girlfriend going into a coma.  When another murder occurs, Jessica starts putting clues together that point to the murderer.  Daisy makes a wonderful appearance, helping Jessica solve the crimes with her psychic abilities.



This is a wonderful installment to the Dead Is series and I love how Jessica is learning to trust herself and her abilities more.  She is growing from an insecure freshman to a more secure person.  I love recommending this series since even the most reluctant reader can easily pick up on the characters and plot.  Parents:  this one is super safe, just some kissing and bit of alluded to violence.

REVIEW: Dead is a Battlefield by Marlene Perez @marperez

Book Description

Publication Date: March 6, 2012 | Series: Dead Is

Jessica Walsh is starting her freshman year at Nightshade High and trying to forget
about the tragic events surrounding her brother’s graduation. She wants to have a normal high school experience. But that’s easier said than done in Nightshade.
There’s a new guy at school who seems to be turning the girls into lovesick zombies.
And Jessica has other worries—like her crush on a cute but moody lead singer,
and the mysterious tattoo that appeared on her arm one day that lets her know whenever there is trouble brewing. Jessica learns she’s a Virago, a woman warrior chosen to fight evil whenever it threatens her hometown. But does a lowly freshman really have what it takes to keep Nightshade safe?

About The Author

Marlene Perez is the author of seven books in the Dead Is Series, in including Dead Is The New Black, an ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers. She lives in Orange County, California. Visit her website at www.marleneperez.com.


SOURCE:  AMAZON VINE

MY THOUGHTS

ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT


I have to admit I don't remember Jessica from the previous books in the series, but I will never forget her now!  Jessica grew up next door to Daisy Giordano and her boyfriend Ryan is her older brother Sean's best friend.  Jessica didn't think she had anything in common with the other paranormals living in Nightshade but that all starts to change when a tattoo like mark appears on her arm.  Flo from the diner immediately recognizes Jessica as a Virago, a chosen female warrior that battle all sorts of evil.  So, YEAH!  Girl Power!  As Jessica begins to realize her powers, a new store opens up on Main Street called the Look of Love and all sorts of things start to go wrong when a few of the girls in Jessica's freshman class start to follow the owner's son with cult like obsession.  Which leaves Jessica no choice but to find her backbone and fight for her friends. There is also some musical influence going on here as well, with the band Side Effects May Vary getting a new singer that becomes Jessica's crush.  


I knew that the story of the Giordano girls was at an end since the last book has Daisy, the youngest, going off to college.  I can see now that there is a whole new set of sisters with Jessica now in play.  I think there are six girls in the Walsh family so maybe there will be at least that many more books to go.  Maybe this is wishful thinking on my part, but I can hope!  I know there is at least one more book to come, Love is Killer Tune due in September, 2012, and I hope some of the minor characters are developed further like the hunky new lead singer, Dominic.  This series is one of my favorites to recommend to younger teens that tell me they hate to read.  They are quick and easy with just the right amount of excitement.  They are also very acceptable to parents. This is definitely a series worth seeking out if you want to enjoy yourself for a few hours.  

Details Reading level: Ages 12 and up Paperback: 240 pages Publisher: Graphia; Original edition (March 6, 2012) Language: English ISBN-10: 0547607342 ISBN-13: 978-0547607344

REVIEW: Dead Is Not An Option by Marlene Perez

Description

It’s springtime of senior year, and psychic sleuth Daisy Giordano is preparing to say goodbye to Nightshade High. But no college acceptance letters have arrived yet, and she’s beginning to worry about where she’ll end up come fall—and if it will be anywhere near her boyfriend, Ryan. But that’s not the only uncertainty Daisy’s dealing with. There’s a vamps-versus-shifters war going on in Nightshade, and things are so tense that there is talk of canceling the prom. The conflict is carrying over to the Giordano home, since Rose and Daisy are both dating werewolves and Poppy’s new boyfriend is a vampire.

Can the paranormal community in Nightshade finally find peace? And will Daisy and her friends survive graduation? All of these questions and more are answered in the latest explosive installment in the Dead Is series.

About the Author

MARLENE PEREZ is the author of many books, including the  Dead Is series, The Comeback, Love in the Corner Pocket, and Unexpected Development, an ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers. She lives in Orange County, California.
www.marleneperez.com

Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Paperback: 252 pages
• Publisher: Graphia (May 2, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0547345933
• ISBN-13: 978-0547345932

SOURCE:  NETGALLEY

MY THOUGHTS

LOVED IT

Daisy is now a senior in high school and waiting for her college acceptance letter.   Strange things are happening again in Nightshade, especially with her friend Sam and Sam's father, who was her dad's partner at the University.  Her father has survived his capture by the Scourge and accepts her were boyfriend Ryan with a bit more tolerance.  She is trying hard to solve the mystery of Lil and Balthazar who were turned into a jukebox and pig respectively by the witch, Circe.  There is someone who is trying to create tension between the vampire and werewolf communities and it is up to Daisy to figure out the source of crime. So Daisy, is off with the help of her sisters, Rose and Poppy to discover and put an end to the town's conflict.

This is a quick read and enjoyable to follow Daisy through the clues and puzzles that confront her.  It is wonderful to watch Daisy grow into her own and gain competence over her psychic abilities.  Some of the characters could have been a bit more developed and I would have liked to read a bit more about her friend Sam.  I really hope that we get to follow Daisy through her college years and see her develop her skills a bit more.  This is a great series for reluctant readers since it is very easy to grasp and follow through with all of the characters.  There is just a bit of kissing and maybe one bad word in the whole thing. 

REVIEW: Dead is Just a Rumor by Marlene Perez

Description

As the creepy little town of Nightshade prepares to celebrate its 200th anniversary—on Halloween, of course—many of its paranormal residents are receiving mysterious blackmail letters. Psychic teen Daisy Giordano and her sisters set out to find out who is behind the threats. But launching an investigation isn’t easy for Daisy with her overprotective father watching her every move. Though she’s is happy to have him back after the years he spent being held captive by an anti-paranormal group called the Scourge, Dad is having difficult time adjusting to home life—and the fact that his little girl is now a senior in high school. He even disapproves of Daisy’s boyfriend, Ryan. Can their relationship take the strain?

And Daisy’s got even more on her plate: A talented amateur chef, she has won cooking lessons with celebrity chef Circe Silvertongue. After nosing around (with a little help from Circe’s pet pig), Daisy begins to suspect the temperamental chef’s secrets aren’t only in her ingredients. . . .

The fourth installment in this favorite series is full of surprises and scares!

About the Author

MARLENE PEREZ is the author of Dead Is the New Black, Dead Is a State of Mind, Dead Is So Last Year, Love in the Corner Pocket, and Unexpected Development, an ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers. She lives in Orange County, California.  www.marleneperez.com

Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Paperback: 216 pages
• Publisher: Graphia; 1 edition (August 23, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9780547345925
• ISBN-13: 978-0547345925

SOURCE:  PURCHASED

MY THOUGHTS

LOVED IT

I have been recommending this series since I first discovered it and the latest installment is a wonderful addition.  I just don't know why it took me so long to read it.  It was the first book I bought for my new e reader.  Each book has Daisy solving a crime with her psychic powers, although her powers didn't really evolve until the second book in the series, Dead is a State of Mind.  You can easily read this one without having read any of them, but I think it adds to them by reading them in order.  

Daisy is the youngest of the Giordano sisters and each are paranormally gifted.  Daisy's psychic and kinetic abilities are just now really beginning to develop and she makes full use of her limited powers in solving a blackmail mystery that has visited the town of Nightshade, CA.  Daisy's father has recently returned to the family after being held by the Scourge, an anti-paranormal group.  Her father is still recovering from the effects of his capture and he reacts to Daisy as if she is still twelve, her age when he disappeared.  He disapproves of her were boyfriend, Ryan, who is also the chief of police's son.  

Daisy wins cooking lessons with a famous television chef, Circe, who adds more than just ingredients to her famous food.  Part of the story deals with the famous Jukebox, Lil,  at Slim's Diner which plays songs to communicate with Daisy which leads to what will happen in the next installment, Dead is Not an Option, or at least I hope!  Daisy helps unravel the blackmail mystery and maintains her loving relationship with her parents.  There is only some kissing and nothing else much to worry parents.  I highly recommend this to everyone since it is such an enjoyable series that will appeal to even the pickiest of readers.