Once in a Full Moon: Review

Once in a Full Moon

by Ellen Schreiber

Celeste hangs with the popular crowd at Legend's Run High and is being wooed byNash Hunter, the football quarterback, but doesn't really feel that shebelongs. She only comes in contact with the new and enigmatic student, Brandon Maddox, when she passes him in classes, the hallway, and at lunch, but she suspects there is something different about him other than that he is a Westsider and comes from the wrong side of town.

On a dare, Celeste and her friends go to a psychic's shop for a reading. When it is Celeste's turn for a fortune, the psychic grabs Celeste's hands and warns, "Beware of a kiss under the full moon." Celeste and her friends laugh and mock the fortune teller. But on her way home from their outing, Celeste is blinded by a blizzard. Disoriented, she finds herself deep in the woods bordering town. She is overcome by snowfall and unable to see anything. Above her hovers the glow of a full moon. Just then, she sees beady eyes staring back through the falling flakes. She finds herself in the midst of a pack of hungry wolves. The wolves begin to howl. She can't outrun them, and the shortest tree branch is out of reach. They slowly approach her. At the last moment, a stranger pulls her from the hungry pack. He grabs a branch and fights the pack ofwolves until they retreat. In the scuffle the stranger is bitten. It is Brandon Maddox.

Celeste is enamored by her hero and can't get him out of her mind. Where Nash is a hero on the field and court, Brandon is a hero in reality. Celeste steals away from her friends to find Brandon, and they meet on a hilltop near his home. A cloudy sky lingers above them, and Celeste realizes she has fallen in love with a Westsider. But in the next few moments, Celeste will face an even biggerchallenge than falling for a guy from the wrong side of town. As the two lean in to kiss, the clouds pass, exposing the glow of a full moon. Brandon feels strange and pulls away. Something is about to change-him.

First Line: It began under the haunting glow of a full moon.

Favorite line/quote: "Beware of a kiss under the full moon. It will change your life forever".

My Review: I found this book to be extremely predictable and at times it felt like every other story out there in the Young Adult Paranormal genre. I did enjoy the fact that Ellen Schreiber gave teen readers a main character to look up to. Celeste volunteers at the elder home in her town. I think this sets a good example that today's teens need to give more to others than of themselves. But the very next page you find Celeste going along with the flow just to please her friends, afraid to rock the boat. In doing this Celeste comes off as a follower instead of a leader.

If you are hoping to read a deep, thought provoking story, this is not the book for you. While it has a bit more depth than Shreiber's "Vampire Kisses" series it remains fluff. A quick, enjoyable read that won't hold a lasting place in your heart.

My Rating: 3 stars

I would like to thank Net Galley for the chance to review Once in a Full Moon.

This book is set to releast 12/28/2010

Until next time...
Happy Reading!