Haunted Week - Trick or Treated ~ Day 6

Day 6 of Haunted Week!!! Tricked or Treated?
Five books I've read that pleasantly surprised me, or was a nasty surprise.

The first two books on my list I felt tricked me.

#1 - My Blood Approves by Amanda Hocking,  I enjoyed Amanda Hocking's Trylle Trilogy. So I was disappointed with My Blood Approves, because I was expecting more from it. The first several chapters had too many similarities to a well known book. I am not one to give up on a book so I read on. It did improve as the story went on and it became a book I liked. I did finish the series and liked it.

#2 - The Girl With a Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson.  This book was recommended to me by my son in law. I had trouble getting into the story. At times it seemed to have way too much detail. I did like the mystery and suspense in the story.  Overall it was a good story, it just seemed to drag on and on for me.

The next three, pleasantly surprised  me and were definitely  treats.

#3 - City of Bones by Cassandra Clare. In January 2009, I stumbled upon a blog that had a link to Cassandra Clare's, City of Bones. Cassandra Clare had her book free to read online(for a limited time). I decided to give it a try. I found myself instantly sucked into the shadow hunter world. I couldn't stop reading it, and my back was getting sore reading it at my desktop computer. I made the decision to go to my local 24 hour grocery store and find a copy to buy. I found it, bought it and took it home to read and finished it that night. I became a huge fan and I have loved everything she has written.

#4 - Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen This book was an impulse buy. I needed something to read on the plane. I new the movie was coming out and decided it may be interesting. This book is amazing!! I love that this is a historical fiction story. It was wonderfully written. Sara Gruen obviously did a lot of research to create this world. I felt transported back in time.

#5 - The Host by Stephenie Meyer I would first like to say I do like Stephenie Meyer's Twilight Saga. I know there are some readers who do not like the books because they feel she is not a good writer. In her book The Host, she shows she has grown and improved as a writer. I loved this book. This story takes on the human complexity of relationships and the human psyche. This was a wonderful surprise and treat.