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Once in a Full Moon Ellen Schreiber Books

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Once in a Full Moon Ellen Schreiber Books

~2 (maybe less)/5
[Also available on my blog.]

I've had this book sitting on my shelf since it came out, as at that time I was quite a big fan of Schreiber's Vampire Kisses series, but I think maybe I'm a bit too old for it now. For Schreiber's type of storytelling in general, really. But even taking that into consideration, I still had a lot of problems with this book (and the Vampire Kisses book that I read right before this one, but that will be getting its own review).

This series is very different from Schreiber's vampire one, which I am glad for, but not particularly in a good way. Once in a Full Moon is about Celeste, who is dating a boy named Nash (whose name, I'm sorry, I keep relating to the Nash from the Soul Screamers series, but that Nash is much better), but really only to keep her friends happy, since she is totally not in love with him. But, really, she doesn't see why she's not, because he's so hot, you guys. Instead, though, there's Brandon, the new boy in her small town, who's caught her attention, and saves her, and gives her all these tingly feelings upon first sight. And he's such a nice guy, plus he's totally hot, too. The only problem is that he's from the wrong side of town, and her friends would never accept it, because, you guys, he's from the Westside of town. But she doesn't care about that, no, of course not, it's just everyone else that cares. Totally.

I don't like Celeste. She's supposedly very practical and nice and doesn't care for the Eastside/Westside rivalry, but I didn't really believe that. I didn't believe her. I believe that she's nice, because we are actually shown some nice things she does, even if they aren't all that backed up with selfless feelings. But we're told, about, three times that she practical and pragmatic, but are never really shown that it's part of her personality. And if she really didn't care about the rivalry thing, then why does she bring it up all the time? And why doesn't she ever show us that she doesn't care? She only ever says she doesn't, but then never tries to show her friends that she likes the people on the other side, or hang out with them or anything. She sticks up for Brandon a couple of times, weakly, but won't tell them that she likes him. And she is so superficial. Every time she describes the boys, and why she likes them, and why she should like Nash, it's about their looks. They're both so hot, and sexy, and they have chiseled abs, and Nash is on some sports team and everyone likes him. Nash is confident, and Brandon is nice; that's pretty much the only personality descriptions we get about them, ever, which tells us nothing, really.

And her friends. My god, was I annoyed with them. They're supposedly there for her, and yet are constantly pushing her toward Nash, who is a jerk. They don't care that she doesn't like them, but tell her that she's happier around him and that she should just forgive him already. Nash is just a pissy jerk who needs to get over himself.

I didn't mind Brandon, but I didn't really have any strong feelings for him, either. He likes Celeste for some reason, and he worries about her safety, but he's not controlling about it. He deals with the whole Eastside/Westside thing rather well, even though he has reason to be more upset about it.

Everyone at Celeste's school only care about what side of town they're from and how they look. And Celeste and her friends go to meet the town psychic, and the psychic is pretty much a huge despicable fake; that's all I have to say about her. And, again, Nash is just a huge jerk that only cares about what everyone else thinks.

Another of my big problems with this, is the writing. It's easy to get through, but it's not very pretty, or scenic, or nice, and it's repetitive. It's constantly telling the reader everything instead of showing them. Like telling us that someone is frustrated or is saying something 'seductively', but not showing us how we should know that. And the kissing scenes are just pathetic in detail.

And pretty much everything about the book is childish. The town rivalry is dumb, Celeste's thoughts on everything is superficial and not at all mature, how everyone has to be in love and falls into it so easily is childish, and the way the Brandon gets bitten and turned into a wolf is stupid and not believable at all. There's barely any mythological work here at all.

I can say that I was expecting him to already be a werewolf, so that was a nice surprise, but I don't see how being bitten by a real wolf and then getting kissed under the full moon is supposed to change you into a werewolf, and one that stands on two feet and can talk and is just a bit more hairy than normal, at that. Plus, why does he change on the nights when the moon looks full? It's not full, that's a different thing. And why isn't he dangerous, at all? And why couldn't he remember any of it until he got kissed again? None of it makes any sense to me.

The whole love thing is in both series, I believe. The fact that, as soon as you're dating someone, and sometimes even when you're not, that you're in love. Her friends are in love with their boyfriends, no matter how long they've been together, because they look happy. And Celeste is bothered by the fact that she's not in love with Nash, but is falling in love with Brandon. Because falling in love happens so easy and fast, right? It's an immediate thing, and it's such an important part in your life. Right?

Also, it bothers me that this is such an immature, childish book, and yet words like 'sexy' are used constantly. That's a bit of an unsettling contrast right there. And it's a tiny bit sexist, too. Like how Celeste points out that Nash is a bit cowardly, among other things. I probably wouldn't have noticed this too much, but I read a review (a very good review, with a low rating) that mentioned it, so I paid more attention, and it is there.

It's safe to say that I am probably not going to be reading the next book. I just had too many problems with this one, and while I am mildly curious to see what happens, I don't plan on buying the next book. Or borrowing it.


Tags : Amazon.com: Once in a Full Moon (9780061986505): Ellen Schreiber: Books,Ellen Schreiber,Once in a Full Moon,Katherine Tegen Books,006198650X,FBA-|293536,Fantasy - General,Paranormal, Occult & Supernatural,Romance - General,Dating (Social customs);Fiction.,Popularity;Fiction.,Supernatural;Fiction.,Children's Books - Young Adult Fiction,Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9),Dating (Social customs),Fiction,Fiction-Romance,JUVENILE,Juvenile Fiction,Juvenile Grades 7-9 Ages 12-14,Legends, Myths, & Fables - General,Love & Romance,Monograph Series, 1st,Popularity,Supernatural,TEEN'S FICTION FANTASY,TEEN'S FICTION ROMANCE,United States,YOUNG ADULT FICTION,YOUNG ADULT FICTION Fantasy General,Young Adult Fiction Legends, Myths, Fables General,Young Adult Fiction Paranormal, Occult & Supernatural,Young Adult Fiction Romance General,Legends, Myths, & Fables - General,Love & Romance,YOUNG ADULT FICTION Fantasy General,Young Adult Fiction Legends, Myths, Fables General,Young Adult Fiction Paranormal, Occult & Supernatural,Young Adult Fiction Romance General,Children's Books - Young Adult Fiction,Dating (Social customs),Fiction,Popularity,Supernatural,YOUNG ADULT FICTION,Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)

Once in a Full Moon Ellen Schreiber Books Reviews

This is your typical girl meets boy, girl falls in love with boy, boy turns into werewolf (because of girl perhaps) and they live happily ever after...at least until the next book.

Except...it's fun and it's sweet. Celeste is strong-willed, but she's a typical high schooler who feels the pressure of her peers. She has a very cool boyfriend, but she just doesn't love him and feels that she's missing something. She meets Brandon, from the other side of the tracks and falls for him. But she fears being ostracized from her friends because of this. This kind of thing happens in real life. Been there, seen it.

Brandon doesn't turn into an "American Werewolf in London"; he becomes "Teen Wolf". Some people have a problem with this. But so what? It's a cute story, it flows well, and it's a page turner.

If you've read Ms. Schreiber's Vampire Kisses series, you'll probably realize that Nash is Trevor with a slightly better attitude. But Celeste is not Raven - she has more depth and she's less flighty/ Brandon is similar to Alex, but also with more depth.

I'll be reading the sequel next, and the third installment comes in December of '12. I'm looking forward to both. I recommend this book.
Brief synopsis

Celeste Parker isn't quite like her friends. Growing up in Legend's Run it's important which side of town you live on. And although Celeste is an Eastsider, she doesn't have the snobby, elitist attitude to match. Celeste prefers to be kind to everyone, including the less than desirable Westsiders. She volunteers at a retirement community and is an all around nice girl unlike her friends Abby and Ivy or her boyfriend Nash who are more concerned with themselves and their popularity.

All is going well for seventeen-year-old Celeste until loner Brandon Maddox moves to town. Suddenly her lukewarm relationship with Nash is not enough when she finds that she has a powerful instant connection to Brandon. But Brandon is a Westsider and her friends would never understand or approve. And when the myth of the Legend's Run werewolf appears to be more fact than fiction, who can Celeste turn to?

Review

Once in a Full Moon is author Ellen Schreiber's first book in this new series about werewolves and is a charming, easy read. The story moves along quickly and is just as much a story about loving a boy from the wrong side of town as it is a paranormal romance.

Although categorized as young adult, the greater appeal will be for a pre-teen and young teen audience. The characters are sweet and the romance is wholesome. And the story, while entertaining, does not have the depth and complexity of the YA novels geared toward older teens and young adults.

Celeste's character, while kind and selfless does not have the endearing and quirky personality that Raven in Vampire Kisses has, but perhaps as the series continues some of these traits will begin to emerge. There are also some elements to this story that give it an old-fashioned feel, and one not in keeping with the style of a modern day young adult book, such as the author's usage of the terms beaux, romantically forward, and amorous kisses.

Once in a Full Moon`s ending, while not a cliff-hanger, does leave the reader with unanswered questions for the next installment.

Readers looking for a light, uncomplicated story will enjoy Once if a Full Moon, but those looking for something more substantive will be left wanting.
~2 (maybe less)/5
[Also available on my blog.]

I've had this book sitting on my shelf since it came out, as at that time I was quite a big fan of Schreiber's Vampire Kisses series, but I think maybe I'm a bit too old for it now. For Schreiber's type of storytelling in general, really. But even taking that into consideration, I still had a lot of problems with this book (and the Vampire Kisses book that I read right before this one, but that will be getting its own review).

This series is very different from Schreiber's vampire one, which I am glad for, but not particularly in a good way. Once in a Full Moon is about Celeste, who is dating a boy named Nash (whose name, I'm sorry, I keep relating to the Nash from the Soul Screamers series, but that Nash is much better), but really only to keep her friends happy, since she is totally not in love with him. But, really, she doesn't see why she's not, because he's so hot, you guys. Instead, though, there's Brandon, the new boy in her small town, who's caught her attention, and saves her, and gives her all these tingly feelings upon first sight. And he's such a nice guy, plus he's totally hot, too. The only problem is that he's from the wrong side of town, and her friends would never accept it, because, you guys, he's from the Westside of town. But she doesn't care about that, no, of course not, it's just everyone else that cares. Totally.

I don't like Celeste. She's supposedly very practical and nice and doesn't care for the Eastside/Westside rivalry, but I didn't really believe that. I didn't believe her. I believe that she's nice, because we are actually shown some nice things she does, even if they aren't all that backed up with selfless feelings. But we're told, about, three times that she practical and pragmatic, but are never really shown that it's part of her personality. And if she really didn't care about the rivalry thing, then why does she bring it up all the time? And why doesn't she ever show us that she doesn't care? She only ever says she doesn't, but then never tries to show her friends that she likes the people on the other side, or hang out with them or anything. She sticks up for Brandon a couple of times, weakly, but won't tell them that she likes him. And she is so superficial. Every time she describes the boys, and why she likes them, and why she should like Nash, it's about their looks. They're both so hot, and sexy, and they have chiseled abs, and Nash is on some sports team and everyone likes him. Nash is confident, and Brandon is nice; that's pretty much the only personality descriptions we get about them, ever, which tells us nothing, really.

And her friends. My god, was I annoyed with them. They're supposedly there for her, and yet are constantly pushing her toward Nash, who is a jerk. They don't care that she doesn't like them, but tell her that she's happier around him and that she should just forgive him already. Nash is just a pissy jerk who needs to get over himself.

I didn't mind Brandon, but I didn't really have any strong feelings for him, either. He likes Celeste for some reason, and he worries about her safety, but he's not controlling about it. He deals with the whole Eastside/Westside thing rather well, even though he has reason to be more upset about it.

Everyone at Celeste's school only care about what side of town they're from and how they look. And Celeste and her friends go to meet the town psychic, and the psychic is pretty much a huge despicable fake; that's all I have to say about her. And, again, Nash is just a huge jerk that only cares about what everyone else thinks.

Another of my big problems with this, is the writing. It's easy to get through, but it's not very pretty, or scenic, or nice, and it's repetitive. It's constantly telling the reader everything instead of showing them. Like telling us that someone is frustrated or is saying something 'seductively', but not showing us how we should know that. And the kissing scenes are just pathetic in detail.

And pretty much everything about the book is childish. The town rivalry is dumb, Celeste's thoughts on everything is superficial and not at all mature, how everyone has to be in love and falls into it so easily is childish, and the way the Brandon gets bitten and turned into a wolf is stupid and not believable at all. There's barely any mythological work here at all.

I can say that I was expecting him to already be a werewolf, so that was a nice surprise, but I don't see how being bitten by a real wolf and then getting kissed under the full moon is supposed to change you into a werewolf, and one that stands on two feet and can talk and is just a bit more hairy than normal, at that. Plus, why does he change on the nights when the moon looks full? It's not full, that's a different thing. And why isn't he dangerous, at all? And why couldn't he remember any of it until he got kissed again? None of it makes any sense to me.

The whole love thing is in both series, I believe. The fact that, as soon as you're dating someone, and sometimes even when you're not, that you're in love. Her friends are in love with their boyfriends, no matter how long they've been together, because they look happy. And Celeste is bothered by the fact that she's not in love with Nash, but is falling in love with Brandon. Because falling in love happens so easy and fast, right? It's an immediate thing, and it's such an important part in your life. Right?

Also, it bothers me that this is such an immature, childish book, and yet words like 'sexy' are used constantly. That's a bit of an unsettling contrast right there. And it's a tiny bit sexist, too. Like how Celeste points out that Nash is a bit cowardly, among other things. I probably wouldn't have noticed this too much, but I read a review (a very good review, with a low rating) that mentioned it, so I paid more attention, and it is there.

It's safe to say that I am probably not going to be reading the next book. I just had too many problems with this one, and while I am mildly curious to see what happens, I don't plan on buying the next book. Or borrowing it.