Sunday, March 17, 2013

Review: Megan Meade's Guide to the McGowan Boys

Megan Meade's Guide to the McGowan BoysMegan Meade's Guide to the McGowan Boys by Kate Brian
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Goodreads summary:


When she was nine, Megan Meade met a group of terrible, mean, Popsicle-goo-covered boys, the sons of her father's friend -- the McGowan boys. Now, seven years later, Megan's army doctor parents are shipping off to Korea and Megan is being sent to live with the little monsters, who are older now and quite different than she remembered them.

Living in a house with seven boys will give Megan, who has never even been kissed, the perfect opportunity to learn everything there is to know about boys. And she'll send all her notes to her best friend, Tracy.


My review:


This was one of those times that my real life probably got in the way of my starting out with a good impression. Put it down to having two teenaged boys (though honestly, she utterly nailed the teenage boy part of it) and the fact that I don't know any parent that would send their sixteen year old daughter to live in a house with seven boys - half of which were around her own age. Or put it down to spending 21 years as a Navy brat and another 21 as a Navy wife and knowing just how orders work...and that you're told well in advance of a change of orders, especially overseas. And that for two career officers of high rank (which they would be to have a sixteen year old daughter) to be sent to Korea, for two years, isn't something that's likely to happen.


Again - something probably only other service wives/brats would cotton to but since the premise didn't ring true, the story started out in the negatives. I was able to set it aside, though, because the story itself did grab me.

I loved Megan's emails to her BFF in Texas, and probably because I have two teen boys, I loved the way they acted...like boys. Walking around in their boxers without a care, leaving the bathroom looking like something out of a truck stop that hasn't seen a good cleaning in decades, all of that. I loved Miller, totally associated with Regina being so thrilled to have a girl in the house for a change. I hated Hailey with the intensity of a thousand suns an she totally earned it.

I seriously loved the way she showcased the soccer - and that Megan was a hardcore player. The author did an excellent job of explaining the action sequences in the practice - the way Megan took the ball up the field to how the illegal hits tripped her up and flattened her to the grass. I also loved that Megan was a serious player and took it all in stride. That part was brilliantly done.

In the end it comes down to...well, the end. Without too many spoilers it fell flat to me. No clear resolution at all. It just sort of...stopped. And mostly, the one defining thing was Megan's crush(es) with the McGowan boys and as the story wound down, after the dramatic climax, there wasn't any reunion. There was the main conflict resolution and then...boom, a motorcycle, an ultimate frisbee game, what could have been a great reconciliation and then...the end.

If we'd just seen that one reunion - the two together after their aborted Moment of Truth. But it wasn't meant to be. Still, I enjoyed reading it but it won't be one I go back to again.

Review: Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

Nevermore (Nevermore, #1)Nevermore by Kelly Creagh
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Goodreads summary:


Cheerleader Isobel Lanley is horrified when she is paired with Varen Nethers for an English project, which is due—so unfair—on the day of the rival game. Cold and aloof, sardonic and sharp-tongued, Varen makes it clear he’d rather not have anything to do with her either. But when Isobel discovers strange writing in his journal, she can’t help but give this enigmatic boy with the piercing eyes another look. 

Soon, Isobel finds herself making excuses to be with Varen. Steadily pulled away from her friends and her possessive boyfriend, Isobel ventures deeper and deeper into the dream world Varen has created through the pages of his notebook, a realm where the terrifying stories of Edgar Allan Poe come to life. 

As her world begins to unravel around her, Isobel discovers that dreams, like words, hold more power than she ever imagined, and that the most frightening realities are those of the mind. Now she must find a way to reach Varen before he is consumed by the shadows of his own nightmares.


My review:

A little change of pace. My reviews are going to be here and here only from now on. I'm not deleting the blog, just abandoning it as a failed experiment.

Hell with it. I'm game if you are.

The reason this one lands at 3 stars instead of 4 comes from the genius of the movie/stage play Amadeus. At one point, the Emperor declares that Mozart's opera has "too many notes." That's how this book felt to me - too many words.

Stephen King is a self-proclaimed sufferer of "diarrhea of the word processor" but with his stories, the words provide detailed histories, backstories. In this book, it was more like...endless description about things that really didn't matter. The whole scene with the report that went on....forever. I'd have more examples but, to be dead honest, I started skimming a lot of it.

I liked the characters fine but it was hard to form strong attachments around the endless scenes of Peril followed by expostion followed by lies/misdrection followed by More Peril followed by...you get the idea.

Still. The ending intrigued me enough to want to finish the series out. But for right now I'm planning on holding off until the third book is out, or close to being out.

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Review: Geek Girl by Cindy C. Bennett



Geek GirlGeek Girl by Cindy C. Bennett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Goodreads summary:

"Think I can turn that boy bad?" 17-year-old Jen turns her life upside down when, out of boredom, she makes a bet that she can turn school geek Trevor into someone like her. Instead, the goth girl finds herself sucked into his world of sci-fi movies, charity work, and even-ugh!-bowling. To truly belong with him-and with her new foster family-she must first come to terms with her violent past.

My review:

Have you ever picked up a book on Sunday morning, intending to read a few chapters, get an idea of the story while you finish your coffee....then look up, realize it's noon already, and you've read the whole thing?

It's not the first time it's happened to me, but this was the first one that had me crying over my coffee. And not at the parts one would think.

I'll grant that the story follows the usual pattern - the bet, the slow fall into unintended areas, the discovery, the aftermath - but Jen's voice is so refreshing, it all feels new again. I also liked the new spin - taking the geek and not making him popular, but making him bad.

And the reason, when Jen finally revealed it to herself, and to us, broke my heart.

I think what I loved most about this book was that it wasn't just a girl-meets-boy love story. There were other love stories intertwined - family, friends, beautiful secondary characters. And the moments that made me tear up were the ones from these secondary relationships.

I don't have any words for Trevor because he was, in a word, beautiful. He was also flawed in his own way, but not afraid to speak up when things just didn't make sense. Then there's the way my heart sped up every time this happened:







I have a feeling I could gush for hours on hours about the story but since I'd have to skate over the spoiler line, I won't. If the story of a young girl coming into herself, and to terms with a past she had no control over, appeals to you, this one's worth checking out.

Saturday, March 9, 2013

Review: Avow (and Awry) by Chelsea Fine

Avow (The Archers of Avalon, #3)Avow by Chelsea Fine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Goodreads summary:


Scarlet remembers. Everything. Her past lives, Tristan, Gabriel, Nate: she remembers it all--including how to get to the Fountain of Youth. But time is running out. 

Heather and Gabriel have been kidnapped by Raven, while the curse that has plagued Scarlet and Tristan for centuries has shifted, putting the star-crossed lovers in more danger than ever before. Water from the Fountain of Youth is the only thing that can save Scarlet and her loved ones. But the water comes at a price.

With lives--and hearts--at stake, Scarlet leads her friends on a dangerous journey to the Fountain of Youth. Where eternal life is possible, but death is certain.


My review:

I did some heavy wavering between three and four stars for this one - another time I wished desperately for half stars in there somewhere.

This is also going to be a combined review for both Awry and Avow for two reasons. First, work did not allow me the brainspace to review Awry when I finished it and second...they could have very easily been combined into one book. Thus the reasons for the waver between three and four stars.

Overall, the series itself was a strong one. Lots of action, great characters, dialogue that had me laughing out loud and a love story that truly touched my heart. It also had a triangle...but not. There wasn't any of the angst and chest-beating over 'whomever shall I choooose...' here. Or, at least, it didn't feel that way to me. With all the Team X and Team Y going around, it was refreshing to see the triangle explored the way it was in this series.

The problem I had with Avow was the inordinate amount of time spent over Scarlet's memories - what felt like over half the book, some of which had already been alluded to in other flashbacks (which, to my mind, had been handled better in the previous two books via small chapter glimpses into the past. Was it interesting to see all of Scarlet's past lives? Yes. But it took me out of the current story and honestly had me skimming after a while to get to what I really wanted...Scarlet's last life before waking up in Amazon.

And, I'll say it. Even though this was Scarlet's story from start to finish, by the middle of Avow - or the middle of the present-day part of the book - I wasn't reading so much for Tristan and Scarlet but for other reasons. Reasons that shall remain uncommented on for possible spoiler issues. My favorite secondary character was involved and I'll leave it at that.

I enjoyed the series as a whole very much and due to cliffhangers, I'm very glad the entire thing was out before I started. Nothing like reaching that Noooooo ending and knowing the next book is sitting right on your Kindle, waiting for you to touch it and bring it to life.

Sunday, March 3, 2013

Review: Anew by Chelsea Fine

Anew (The Archers of Avalon, #1)Anew by Chelsea Fine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Goodreads summary:


Two years ago, Scarlet awoke in the forest alone, afraid, and unable to remember anything. Lost and confused, her life was a mystery...until she met a boy with a familiar voice. 

Gabriel Archer has a voice from her past, and Scarlet's determined to remember why. She immerses herself in his life only to discover he has a brother he's kept hidden from her: Tristan Archer. 

Upon meeting Tristan, Scarlet's world becomes even more muddled. While she's instinctively drawn to Gabriel, she's impossibly drawn to Tristan--and confused out of her mind. As she tries to piece together her history Scarlet realizes her past...might just be the death of her.


My review:

I seriously hate it when life gets in the way of both reading and reviewing. Unfortunately, this was one of those weeks. Sick with a sinus infection as well as stupid busy at work does not leave a lot of brainspace at the end of the day.

I'm very much hoping that this is not a disturbing trend.

Anyway, on to Anew.

Probably the strangest thing, to me, about this book, was reading one in third person again. So many YA books these days are first person, I kept having to shake myself that the main PoV was Scarlet and not "I." Thankfully, it was a quick transition.

I initially read the Kindle sample months ago (after falling ridiculously in love with Sophie & Carter) but in deference to my sometimes over-visceral reaction to any sort of triangle, I decided to wait until the third book was out (and then, of course, I got sidetracked by new and shiny.


I'll say this. I'm glad I did because when I got to the end of the first book...it was primal scream time.


The story itself is intriguing as hell and I've read my share of the paranormal. I was particularly drawn to the curse that is the center of the story. It's there and stated out clearly (which I like) but there's the element of why. Why would Raven craft such a curse? Then little bits start to come out. Things that make you think there's more to this curse than what Scarlet, and we as readers, have been told. Perfect use of keeping the reader engaged while still leaving questions to keep them wanting more.

There's Gamer Nate, whom I adore to bits, but the silly exterior hides much more, I think, and we get just enough of a hint to intrigue. He's like an iceberg character - so much of him under the surface and totally unseen.

I think I could write paragraphs about my love for Tristan, my frequent desire to smack the crap out of Gabriel, and how much I love Scarlet and how she copes with her world being upended. She gets angry, yes, but she doesn't hole up. She confronts both men, she finds ways to try and keep her life normal in spite of her amnesia and then learning her real story, her real past.

I doubt it will be any real secret based on my first line which camp I'm in, and I'm excited to see if my theories are correct, but not just that, I want to know all the whys that are being hinted at - why the curse, what happened leading up to it, and what's got Nate so serious sometimes.

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Review: Altered by Jennifer Rush

Altered (Altered, #1)Altered by Jennifer Rush
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Goodreads summary:


Everything about Anna’s life is a secret. Her father works for the Branch at the helm of its latest project: monitoring and administering treatments to the four genetically altered boys in the lab below their farmhouse. There’s Nick, Cas, Trev . . . and Sam, who’s stolen Anna’s heart. When the Branch decides it’s time to take the boys, Sam stages an escape, killing the agents sent to retrieve them. 

Anna is torn between following Sam or staying behind in the safety of her everyday life. But her father pushes her to flee, making Sam promise to keep her away from the Branch, at all costs. There’s just one problem. Sam and the boys don’t remember anything before living in the lab—not even their true identities.

Now on the run, Anna soon discovers that she and Sam are connected in more ways than either of them expected. And if they’re both going to survive, they must piece together the clues of their past before the Branch catches up to them and steals it all away.


My review:

There's something to be said about being laid out flat with a sinus infection. Not only do you get a lot of reading time, but family tends to steer clear of your sneezing moaning self so that reading time is largely uninterrupted. Bonus.

The only downside is, my brain doesn't appear to be as sharp as usual. So please to be excusing if I sound completely out there.

The story had a lot of the same elements as "Touch" - father involved with the super secret group, mother supposedly gone, a breakout from the Secret Government Agency, life on the run, etc.

To my mind, though, this one definitely had the tighter story. For one, there wasn't any insta-love between Anna and Sam. An attraction, sure. A connection, oh yeah. But it wasn't the automatic "omgwantyounow" I've seen before. Amazingly enough, that did nothing to pull away from the chemistry (and the inevitable heartache.)

Anna was lovely, Sam was a delightful hardass. Nick, Cas, Trevor, even Dad. The secondary characters were all fabulous and the story itself was very well written and tight. Just enough mystery to keep me interested, but enough progression so that I don't feel like I'm floundering in the dark. I loved the details with their tattoos, and the experiment. (And i have a very sneaky triangle suspicion I hope is wrong.

Already have the next one on my TBR list even though it doesn't have a title or cover image yet.

I know. Short review. My bad. The Kindlecave is a hospital ward today. I'll be better next time!

Saturday, February 23, 2013

Review: Wildcat Fireflies by Amber Kizer

Wildcat Fireflies (Fenestra, #2)Wildcat Fireflies by Amber Kizer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Goodreads summary:


Meridian Sozu is a Fenestra—the half-human, half-angel link between the living and the dead. She has the dark responsibility of helping souls transition safely into the afterlife. If people die without the help of a Fenestra, their souls are left vulnerable to be stolen by the Aternocti, a dark band of forces who disrupt the balance of good and evil in the world and cause chaos.

Having recently lost her beloved Auntie—the woman who showed her what it meant to be a Fenestra—Meridian has hit the road with Tens, her love and sworn protector, in hopes of finding another Fenestra. Their search leads them to Indiana, where Juliet, a responsible and loving teenager, works tirelessly in the nursing home where she and several other foster kids are housed. Surrounded by death, Juliet struggles to make a loving home for the younger kids, and to protect them from the violent whims of their foster mother. But she is struggling against forces she can't understand . . . and even as she feels a pull toward the dying, their sickness seems to infect her, weighing her down. . . .


My review:

Life seriously got in the way of reading and reviewing this week. Between work stress, kid stress and being sick as hell...yeah. Funtimes.

Finally wrapped up the second in the Fenestra series though and while it was a fine read, I think I'll be leaving the world here. The sad part is, there isn't a real defining reason why. I just got to the end of the second book and there was absolutely nothing pushing me to hit Overdrive for the third book. It was more of a "that's done" kind of feeling instead.

I wish I could pin it down to one thing, but I can't. The story was compelling (even though it did have more than a few holes in it) and I absolutely loved being back with Tens and Meridian agan.

I do love Tens, even more in this one than I did in the first one. I understand him a lot better than I did in the first book, and get what drives him to do the things he does...even when I want to reach through the pages and shake him for them.

The supporting characters were a little weak this time around an I think that might be what kept me from really falling in love with it. Rumi was supposed to be cute and quirky with the obscure SAT words but all that did was pull me out of the story. Joi was a little...too much, I think. Too quick to accept, to quick to jump in and give them a place to live, etc.

For Juliet and her crew - again, there wasn't a strong connection to the newest fenestra in town. Maybe I'm just over "ten years of unimaginable suffering" in a character, but I really am. It's just too hard to believe that residents went in to DG and no one ever came to see them again. it's one of those "out of reality" things that seriously keep me from accepting a story. I know I'm reading about half-angels, but I'm sorry. If there are family members paying for care, they'd be there to see the place. If they were being paid from Medicare, they'd be inspected. Someone would have noticed something. Especially in small town Indiana.

Anywho. It's a good series and strong stories, it just didn't pull at me enough to have me continuing.

Review: Me & My Invisible Guy by Sarah Jeffrey

Me & My Invisible GuyMe & My Invisible Guy by Sarah Jeffrey
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Goodreads summary:

The cheerleader who has everything . . . ? Mallory Dane has a great family (at least on the surface), is popular at school (as long as she doesn’t make waves), and dates an amazing boyfriend, Todd (who happens to be completely made up). Boys—and sex—are something Mallory just can’t deal with, so she created her “invisible guy” to avoid it all. But when Liam Crawford comes along—a real guy, flesh and bones and strumming his guitar—Mallory starts questioning her fictional relationship. Is she really willing to give up Todd for Liam? And can she make amends for the lies she’s told—even to her best friend, Tess? What if your biggest, most embarrassing secret was broadcast to the whole world? Letting go of her secret will be easier said than done, and Mallory will risk everything—her family, Tess, cheerleading, her reputation, and most of all, her heart.

My review:

Another recommended to me impulse buy (starting to think I need to make a shelf for that, tbh.)

Another story that didn't really know what it wanted to be, so it tried to be everything. It almost succeeded. The almost is what kept me reading despite the issues - because even if it kept going from theme to theme, they were still brought together to a logical and fulfilling resolution. I was still cheering for Mallory, and her sister, her friends, her family, and I wanted to see if everything tied up. Surprisingly, it did.

I should put a warning on - if you're turned off by books that mention God, or have characters whose faith is a strong part of their character makeup, this probably isn't for you. I didn't find it overly preachy at all - and it could have been. Just putting that out there.

Still trying to figure out what the underlying theme was supposed to be. Lying is bad and will mess things up faster than you can blink? Premarital sex is bad and will mess things up exponentially, too? Lack of religion in your life can leave you empty/not all religious people are fanatical? Standing up for what you believe in is more important than being popular? Making the right decision is more important than making the wrong one for the right reasons?



Those are the main areas of the storyline as Mallory's story moves through a few months of her life that upend a life that's about as stable as lake ice in November. Sure it looks frozen solid, but one wrong move and it all goes to hell fast. The first crack splinters and leads to more and more until she's drowning in it.

The synopsis is pretty spot on for the story - the plot doesn't center around Mallory's relationship with her fake boyfriend, but on the fallout of what happens when she "breaks up" with him and still the truth gets out. One truth, then another, and another. Crack, crack, splinter, splash.

I did like the way Mallory stood up to every crack in the ice. Once she had made her decision, and her 12 steps, to stop lying - she really did stick to her plan. She did backslide once (which, to my mind, made it more realistic) but rectified it almost immediately. And though she kept trying to be everything to everyone, and sometimes did the right thing only because her hand was forced...once she did, she stuck to her reasoning. Even when it meant losing everyone.

Even then, she didn't back down. She owned it.

The love story was more a secondary thing - important, and even adorable - but this was more Mallory's story than it was Mallory and Liam's. And it really was a good one, even if it had a little trouble staying on course at times.


Sunday, February 17, 2013

It is...the most boring blog in the world



It took me reading through my blog reading list this morning for me to finally realize it.

Why only a few follow it, or the FB page, or the Twitter feed.

I seriously have....the most boring blog in the world.

You know. Sort of the exact opposite of this guy ---->



I don't do a lot of memes. I don't do cover reveals, I don't get books in the mail or ARCs, no blog tours or interviews. I don't host character inverviews, or guests posts.



I read books. Then I review them.


Snooze.





I'm actually pretty okay with this. I love reading and I'd read all the time if my family didn't believe that the second I open my Kindle is the precise moment that I'm NEEDED IMMEDIATELY. I've also found that I truly love writing about the books I read - the challenge of putting my thoughts into words, the Very Real challenge of keeping what I say restricted to thoughts about the books and characters - good and bad - and not a review that reads more like a summary.

I think the most fun I have is when I see a ton of pageviews go up for a book I found by accident - one I've never seen a ton of posts about/links to on Twitter/discussion topics on Goodreads. Especially if it's one I found and loved. If I can point someone else to a great story, one they might not have found without my boring little corner of the interwebs, It's a happy, happy day.

So for those reading this - thanks for stopping by and reading along.

From me to you...




Review: Reasons I Fell for the Funny Fat Friend by Becca Ann

Reasons I Fell for the Funny Fat FriendReasons I Fell for the Funny Fat Friend by Becca Ann
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Goodreads summary:


It’s stupid to fall for your brother’s ex. It’s even worse to enlist another’s help to win the ex over. But Brody is desperate and Hayley, his partner in American Sign Language, is more than willing to lend him a few tips. 

She’s the school’s matchmaker,’ and with her bizarre and positive personality, Brody finds her easy to talk to, even about the most awkward situations. Hayley’s tips seem to be working, but as Brody learns more about his matchmaker, he starts finding reasons to spend time with her, and not the girl he thought he was in love with. 

But Hayley isn’t ready to fall for anyone. Labeled the “Funny Fat Friend” within her group, her self image makes it impossible for Brody to share his feelings without Hayley shrugging it off as a joke. 

Convincing her Brody can, and did, fall for the “Funny Fat Friend” turns out to be harder than simply falling in love.


My review:

I think it's happened to all of us. You see a book the Amazon recommendation carousel, the cover snags your eye, the title snags your attention, the synopsis looks good, and, what the hell, it's only $3 so why not?

Then you read it and you groan...knowing suddenly why.


Every now and then, though, you get one like Reasons. You can't put it down, you hate the 'falling asleep' feeling and fight to stay awake so you can keep reading, first thing you do on Sunday morning after checking email is coffee, Kindle, and the next thing you know you've lost three hours.



That's what happened for me with this book. I've spent, literally, all morning reading because I needed to get to the next reason.

For the purists out there, let me add a small codicil. This is not A Deep Meaningful Read. This isn't a Groundbreaking Emotional Study. This is a boy's story of how he fell in love. It's his story, it's told entirely in his voice, and with all the good and stupid boy thoughts mixed in.

Yes, I'm still laughing at him calling his room the "ass room" because it smells like ass. Mostly because this is what my 19 year old and I both call his. And it does. I should own stock in Febreeze by this point.

Back to the story. This beautiful, touching, funny story. I loved the way it was laid out. Because of the title, you expect the chapter titles - but when you finally find out the reason, they mean so much more. Especially when they finally come out in the story itself. One of my favorite scenes.

I loved that the characters weren't perfect - they made mistakes, made me want to reach into the pages and shake some sense in to them. I also loved that not everything was explained out (like Hayley's aversion to swearing) because that wasn't what was important to Brody. The why didn't matter, just that she had that aversion and he tried to stop. It's one of those things you suspect will be discussed later, or off screen if you prefer, but not a vital-to-the-story thing.

All in all, I got just what I wanted from this book - a pleasant surprise, a lovely story (and if we're honest, a written out fantasy for all the not-cute-and-skinny high school girls like me who were always playing wingman to their guy friends because they knew there wasn't any way the hot guy would ever be into them and covered that up with laughter.)

Saturday, February 16, 2013

Review: The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead

The Indigo Spell (Bloodlines, #3)The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Goodreads summary:

In the aftermath of a forbidden moment that rocked Sydney to her core, she finds herself struggling to draw the line between her Alchemist teachings and what her heart is urging her to do. Then she meets alluring, rebellious Marcus Finch--a former Alchemist who escaped against all odds, and is now on the run. Marcus wants to teach Sydney the secrets he claims the Alchemists are hiding from her. But as he pushes her to rebel against the people who raised her, Sydney finds that breaking free is harder than she thought. There is an old and mysterious magic rooted deeply within her. And as she searches for an evil magic user targeting powerful young witches, she realizes that her only hope is to embrace her magical blood--or else she might be next.

My review:

This is where I breathe that happy exhale of a beautiful book, a wonderfully complete story....






...and then let lose a primal scream because I have to wait wait wait for the next one in the series.






November, I tell myself, I only have to hold on until November. I can do that.








Now...onto the review.

I'm usually pretty critical when I read and as I sit here I'm trying really hard to find something to comment on, something that felt off or didn't resonate with me.

I've pretty much got nothing.

One of the things I see authors fall down on, especially in multi-book series. I don't mean trilogies - that formula's pretty basic. Same with a continuing series (one of indeterminate length where each book is its own story.) The challenge is a series that's 5-6 books long. You have the 6-story plot arc *and* the book story arc - one needs to be furthered while still keeping some mystery, the other needs to have a beginning, middle and end.

For Indigo, there was also the third plot element - the relationship between Sidney and Adrian. It had to have some movement to keep the readers engaged, but too much resolution too soon can make the second have of the story lose its pull.

All three. Perfectly executed. Sidney's questions about the Alchemists (and Marcus), her own position within that community, her magical abilities, the subplots with Eddie, Jill, Angeline, and her relationships with her father, her sister and Adrian. This entire mix of plot elements were all woven together in a story that made me laugh, made me angry, and made me sigh.

It also made me nearly pickle myself in a hot bath so I could finish reading it undisturbed, but that's not important right now.

I desperately want to fangirl-gush, but I can't do that without spoilers. But the gushing. It would be like spring thaw in the Rockies and my fangirl is the runoff.

Then there's that lovely little wrench at the very end, but that was covered in the primal scream.

A definite reread for me. Several rereads. And about fifteen-twenty Kindle bookmarks.


Thursday, February 7, 2013

Review: Epic Fail by Claire LaZebnik

Epic FailEpic Fail by Claire LaZebnik
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Goodreads summary:


At Coral Tree Prep in Los Angeles, who your parents are can make or break you. Cast in point:

- As the son of Hollywood royalty, Derek Edwards is pretty much prince of the school--not that he deigns to acknowledge many of his loyal subjects.
- As the daughter of the new principal, Elise Benton isn't exactly on everyone's must-sit-next-to-at-lunch list.

When Elise's beautiful sister catches the eye of the prince's best friend, Elise gets to spend a lot of time with Derek, making her the envy of every girl on campus. Except she refuses to fall for any of his rare smiles and instead warms up to his enemy, the surprisingly charming social outcast Webster Grant. But in this hilarious tale of fitting in and flirting, not all snubs are undeserved, not all celebrity brats are bratty, and pride and prejudice can get in the way of true love for only so long.


My review:

Meant to write this review last night, but the words were just not flowing.

Apparently, my writers block was short lived. I know the four people reading my reviews are relieved =)

This was one of the cutest stories I've read in a long time. It's not classic literature, it's not the next great American novel, and it's not breaking any new ground.

What it is, though, is a very enjoyable story of how first impressions can shape our relationships - both good and bad - and how sometimes we let those impressions get in the way of what might really be there waiting.

Elise was a joy of a character to read. I loved her sarcastic snap backs when answering questions, the elaborate stories she'd craft ("I'm not a miracle worker, man!") on the fly. I loved her relationship with her older sister...and seriously wanted to slap her other sister Layla.

Her parents were believably eccentric and odd, but they were consistent about it. The only thing that didn't seem to fit was the mother being all starstruck about Derek. For parents who wouldn't allow cell phones to be used in the house, and didn't want living in such a posh area to change them...she was practically crawling into limos and simpering to Derek.

I probably could have done a little less time with the beginning of the story, though, because I wanted the second half to go on a lot, lot longer.

Review: Hysteria by Megan Miranda

Hysteria Hysteria by Megan Miranda
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Goodreads summary:

Mallory killed her boyfriend, Brian. She can't remember the details of that night but everyone knows it was self-defense, so she isn't charged. But Mallory still feels Brian's presence in her life. Is it all in her head? Or is it something more? In desperate need of a fresh start, Mallory is sent to Monroe, a fancy prep school where no one knows her . . . or anything about her past.But the feeling follows her, as do her secrets. Then, one of her new classmates turns up dead. As suspicion falls on Mallory, she must find a way to remember the details of both deadly nights so she can prove her innocence-to herself and others.

My review:

What did I just read?

That was my first reaction when I finished the book. I actually sat there, looking at the Acknowledgements page and couldn't pull the frown off my face.


Seriously, what did I just read?

I'll start by saying I loved her first book, Fracture. I loved it a lot. It was a little paranormal but mostly it was about coping, and about choices and the life you want to lead over the one people tell you that you should lead. It was funny in places, emotional, heartbreaking and heartwarming all at the same time.

Her second book...It was like she couldn't decide what she wanted it to be. Paranormal? Contemporary? Was the main love story between a girl and a guy or two girls? Was Mallory being haunted? Stalked? Terrorized? And if so, by whom?

I get that Mallory was traumatized by what happened the night she killed her boyfriend in self-defense. Who wouldn't be? I also get that the human brain is a complex organ and has an amazing ability to protect even as it tortures.

I also get that writers want to keep mystery in their stories - the constant "who done it" storyline that keeps the reader engaged, the fun little hints and red herrings all leading up to that big Ah Ha moment when the plot reaches its climax and everything comes together, memories are recovered and the resolution leads us off into the sunset.

I never got the feeling that we had that moment with this story because it was trying to be too many different things at once. It didn't even feel like plot and subplot. There were Mallory's memories of That Night, her experiences at night, her relationship with Colleen, the restraining order against Brian's mother, Reid, Krista and Crew, and then Jason. And to me - they didn't compliment each other. Instead, they tended to work against each other, especially at the end.

Was it worth the read? Definitely. And Reid is just lovely and constant and wonderful. But it was a bit of a letdown, too. I'm hoping that this was only sophomore novel syndrome and that she'll come back with a third that's stronger.


Sunday, February 3, 2013

Review: Some Girls Bite by Chloe Neill

Some Girls Bite (Chicagoland Vampires, #1)Some Girls Bite by Chloe Neill
My rating: 3.75 of 5 stars

Goodreads summary:


Sure, the life of a graduate student wasn't exactly glamorous, but it was Merit's. She was doing fine until a rogue vampire attacked her. But he only got a sip before he was scared away by another bloodsucker-and this one decided the best way to save her life was to make her the walking undead.

Turns out her savior was the master vampire of Cadogan House. Now she's traded sweating over her thesis for learning to fit in at a Hyde Park mansion full of vamps loyal to Ethan "Lord o' the Manor" Sullivan. Of course, as a tall, green-eyed, four-hundred- year-old vampire, he has centuries' worth of charm, but unfortunately he expects her gratitude- and servitude. But an inconvenient sunlight allergy and Ethan's attitude are the least of her concerns. Someone's still out to get her. Her initiation into Chicago's nightlife may be the first skirmish in a war-and there will be blood.


My review:

After my boneheaded move of returning this book to the library before I was finished, I hit the top of the hold list yesterday and was finally able to finish it off.

A rarity for me, I know, being an adult book rather than my usual YA, but I love vampires and I love Chicago. How could I not? Besides, I can get it at the library and not pay the outrageous Penguin Price. Win win all around.

Overall, it was a pretty strong story. Strong enough that even after a week's break from it, I was able to pick it right back up again without missing a beat. Considering the number of books I read, as well as the rest of the chaos in my life, online and AFK, that's saying something.

I like the worldbuilding in this one. Vampires out in the public eye, much of the Hollywood mythos (garlic, immediate death in sunlight, having to kill victims to feed) was discarded for this world. And it works to the book's advantage. One thing I love is the silvering of the eyes when they're angry or turned on. I dunno why, but I've always liked it when vampires have something other than a fanged response when they 'fang out' as it were.

I did like Merit as a heroine - drawn into this life utterly against her will but rather than bemoaning it forever, she took it, owned it, and made it her own. I especially loved when she kept showing up to Cadogan house in jeans despite their penchant for more formal attire. And I've gotta say it, I loved it when she decided to rock the leather.

I loved the secondary characters that populate the world, too. Merit's best friend is a stitch and I loved how 'omg so awesome' she was about Merit's turning and the way she kept Merit from going all morose about it with the jokes. Merit's grandfather was, of course, utterly lovely.

Since this is a continuing series (rather than a finite one), I knew nothing would come of the sparks between Merit and Ethan, though I wasn't quite prepared for the way that was knocked home in the scene with Amber. (Also, yeah, quite a rude awakening after so long reading YA...)

One thing I didn't really care for was the semi-contrived way she guaranteed there would be a triangle-like element to the series with the "boon" granted during what was, in every other way, a completely kick-ass scene for Merit.

I'm not going to jump right into the next book, but I will probably read more of them.

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Review: Meridian by Amber Kizer

Meridian (Fenestra, #1)Meridian by Amber Kizer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Goodreads summary:


Half-human, half-angel, Meridian Sozu has a dark responsibility.

Sixteen-year-old Meridian has been surrounded by death ever since she can remember. As a child, insects, mice, and salamanders would burrow into her bedclothes and die. At her elementary school, she was blamed for a classmate’s tragic accident. And on her sixteenth birthday, a car crashes in front of her family home—and Meridian’s body explodes in pain. 

Before she can fully recover, Meridian is told that she’s a danger to her family and hustled off to her great-aunt’s house in Revelation, Colorado. It’s there that she learns that she is a Fenestra—the half-angel, half-human link between the living and the dead. But Meridian and her sworn protector and love, Tens, face great danger from the Aternocti, a band of dark forces who capture vulnerable souls on the brink of death and cause chaos.


My review:

I was all set to start another book when I got the email from the library that my hold was ready for Meridian. I didn't remember putting the hold, but I scanned the synopsis and hit the download. The other book wasn't going anywhere...so I gave it a shot.


And was promptly hooked like a trout. To the point I was up until 3 am finishing it. I tried to go to sleep at around 1am (60% finished). Ten minutes later, my Kindle was open again.

I've had iffy luck with angel stories. There are the good (Unearthly series) and the bad (Fallen series) and several that fall somewhere in the middle. If the first book in the Fenestra series is any indication, this one's going to stay closer to the Unearthly side of that scale.

Meridian is an engaging and very real character. She's not perfect by any stretch. She's got her flaws, her whiny teenager I-didn't-choose-this-I-don't-want-it moments, and a touch of stubborn for good measure. But beneath that is a girl whose been ripped unceremoniously from her life, her family, and is suddenly thrust into a life that centers on what most people shy away from. Death.

One of the things that pulled me in was the way the author frames these half-angels and their reason for existence. The window between this world and the afterlife, the quilts Auntie makes in memory of those she's helped pass through. Meridian's heartbreak over trying to learn how to use her ability tugged at my heartstrings and brought tears to my eyes.

Tens is also everything a leading man should be. A little mysterious, a whole lot standoffish, but always hovering just on the edges to be there if needed. It took me getting further into the story before I realized the reasons behind his reticence. One it was revealed, though, I understood. And it rose him several levels in my estimation.

There's also a slightly dystopian edge to this surrounding the dark presence in Auntie, Tens and Meridian's life. The Pastor and his followers are frightening not only for what they do, but also for how easily such a situation could actually happen.

This is an emotional story in all the best ways. There is enough humor to balance out the sadness, a plot that pulls you in, a twist or two that pull in a few gasps, and a love that will warm your heart even when its fresh from breaking.

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Review: Deadly Little Secret by Laurie Faria Stolarz

Deadly Little Secret (Touch, #1)Deadly Little Secret by Laurie Faria Stolarz
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Goodreads summary:


Until three months ago, everything about sixteen-year-old Camelia's life had been fairly ordinary: decent grades; an okay relationship with her parents; and a pretty cool part-time job at an art studio downtown. But when Ben, the mysterious new guy, starts junior year at her high school, Camelia's life becomes far from ordinary.

Rumored to be somehow responsible for his ex-girlfriend's accidental death, Ben is immediately ostracized by everyone on campus. Except for Camelia. She's reluctant to believe he's trouble, even when her friends try to convince her otherwise. Instead she's inexplicably drawn to Ben...and to his touch. But soon, Camelia is receiving eerie phone calls and strange packages with threatening notes. Ben insists she is in danger, and that he can help – but can he be trusted? She knows he's hiding something...but he's not the only one with a secret.


My review:

I have not had good luck with books this week.

After abandoning one (though its technically still on pause for now.), this one came up in my library hold queue and I dove in. Wasn't long, unfortunately, before I wanted to dive right back out again. It wasn't a long, overly wordy story, though, and I did want to find out how it would end, so I pushed on to the end.



The story premise is pretty good, if not altogether unique, with some similarities to Twilight but without the vampires (boy saves girl from nearly being crushed by a car, boy has staklerish tendencies, boy is keeping secrets, etc.) These Twilight ties aren't the reason I came away with a lot of meh when I was finished. My problem was that there wasn't a lot of consistency. It's a case of the author wanting to keep the reader guessing about whether or not boy is protecting girl or the creepy stalker. I'm all for mystery - but when consistant characterization suffers? End the mystery and pair the two up to fight the bad guy.


Ben was continually "don't touch me" all over the place, but then out of nowhere (and sometimes only a minute after that "don't touch" bark, he's reaching for her hand.) Cue me blinking and rereading to see if I got it right. I'm still trying to figure out the "trying too hard" part - where he'd hold on for too long and somehow hurt the person he was touching. I don't know if that element added anything other than confusion for anyone else, or just me.

It all just seemed like a lot of potential that was unrealized.

I think what kept me from connecting with these two is how long it took Camelia to accept Ben as the good guy. She's defending him to her friends, she admits she's scared, and then when he comes over all she can do is level accusations at him. Repeatedly. Kinda made the kissing hard to swallow, too. If she didn't trust him, thought he was the one behind the pictures and notes and calls, then kissing should be coming in last. On the same token, if she trusts him enough to be kissing him, stop accusing him of stalking another girl.

I'm still trying to decide if the best friend, Kimmie, was supposed to be cute, and maybe some found her that way. To me? She was just flat out annoying. I wanted to crawl into my Kindle with a roll of duct tape and silence her for good. Could very well be that I've read too many Mean Girls-based books lately, but any "friend" who constantly, and openly, mocks and derides the guy you like....probably needs to look the word friend up in the dictionary.

There are more books in this series, but for me, it ends here.

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Previously in the Kindle Cave


Reviews:
Boundless (uber-squee)
Speechless (squee)
In the Band (squee)

Extraneous:
Previously in the Kindle Cave

Aborted reads:
Some Girls Bite Nothing against this book made it an aborted read - this one went down to my own Derpiness. I was returning my Kindle Library books...and returned this one instead of the one below it. And since I didn't like it enough to pay $13 for it at Amazon, I'm back at the end of the hold queue before I can finish.

Added to TBR:
Isle of Bones (Oh I made dolphin sounds when Tracey announced this one on Twitter....)
daynight (following Sab the Book Eater reading this one via Twitter, I had to add it to my list)
Deadly Little Secret (Found by accident during a library search and pounced.)
Saving June (Leapt onto the list right after I finished Speechless. Because it was that awesome.)

Current and Upcoming:
Everneath
Deadly Little Secret (both of these are upcoming because library books trump all in the rush to finish before they turn into pumpkins...)

And somewhere in there, I managed to get my 1000th page view. Group hug, everyone, and thanks for tuning in. <3

Check back next week. Same Kindletime, same Kindlestation...

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Review: In the Band by Jean Haus

In the BandIn the Band by Jean Haus
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Goodreads summary:


When family problems push Riley Middleton into giving up a percussion scholarship in another state and attending college from home, her friends push her to try out for a local rock band. Of course, Riley makes the band. She rules at the drums. 

Riley soon finds out rock bands have a different dynamic than marching bands, especially when each of her male band mates has a major ego and is a major player. Two of them relentlessly flirt with her. The other—a dark, sexy rock god she can’t help being attracted to— is a total jerk and pushes her to quit. She becomes determined to ignore his rudeness and his hotness. Even if she was interested in jerks, a hook up would probably get her booted out of the ego-ridden band, and playing keeps her sane. Behind the drums, the world and its troubles evaporate. 

If she wants to stay in the band, Riley needs to ignore the growing sparks between her and her band enemy. But as she gets to know the man behind the stage persona, ignoring him proves to be more difficult than flowing through a time sig shift.


My review:

Cute story. Not a long read or a heavily involved plot. There's a good bit of angst, a good conflict between the two main characters, It's what I'd call a perfect beach or long-car-trip read.

I think one of the things that drew me the most (apart from Romeo and Riley, but I'll get to them) is the brilliant job the author did with the cycle of depression/enabling. It never starts out as a conscious decision - just one little choice after another until those decisions are habits. You make dinner one night, then the next, and a week later you're making dinner all the time and the depressed has one less reason to climb out.

As a depression sufferer, I'm always interested to see how other authors handle the subject and I have to say it was very, very well handled here. Riley's mom has her moments of robe-and-bed, but she's mostly functional. Especially with Riley picking up her slack. She's not a caricature of the disease but a very well-written sufferer. It was hard to watch her hit bottom, but necessary for her, and for Riley, to find that bottom so they could both begin to climb back out.

Romeo. Oh Romeo (sorry. had to.) He was such a complete and utter jerk. At first. Of course. I thought it was going to head in the direction of 'love turning him around' until the first time Jamie came to band practice. it was the first glimpse he gave us that the dick persona was just that. A costume he pulled on and zipped up. The reasons for it melted my heart just as they melted Riley's and made the times he put it back on again that much harder.

Riley I loved to pieces even when I wanted to shake her. I saw why she was doing what she was doing, I even understood why she was doing it. I still wanted to slap her upside the head for it. What I really loved was her reactions to music - to when she played, the longing when she heard the drumline, the bubble she was in when she was onstage. I didn't understand a lot of the terminology, but I could hear the sounds she described perfectly.

Fabulous story, well written characters, and makes me want to read more from this author sooner rather than later.

Friday, January 25, 2013

Review: Speechless by Hannah Harrington

SpeechlessSpeechless by Hannah Harrington
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Goodreads summary:


Everyone knows that Chelsea Knot can't keep a secret

Until now. Because the last secret she shared turned her into a social outcast—and nearly got someone killed.

Now Chelsea has taken a vow of silence—to learn to keep her mouth shut, and to stop hurting anyone else. And if she thinks keeping secrets is hard, not speaking up when she's ignored, ridiculed and even attacked is worse.

But there's strength in silence, and in the new friends who are, shockingly, coming her way—people she never noticed before; a boy she might even fall for. If only her new friends can forgive what she's done. If only she can forgive herself.


My review:

I read and reviewed a book called Impossible a week or so ago. It was about the downfall and rebirth of a mean girl...and I remember thinking the whole time that in just another chapter, the heroine would take one of her many realizations and start to be a better person. It never quite happened.

The exact opposite can be said for Speechless.

Chelsea is a delight. Unabashedly wrong at the beginning, happy on her little throne as second to the throne and feels perfectly justified in what she does, and doesn't do, to stay there. Which, of course, means time for the catalyst to change. In this case, a drunken mistake borne out of years of gossiping without remorse.

The results are devastating for everyone and Chelsea begins her vow. I think this is what I liked about this story the most. Maybe not wholly original, but very well played out. And a hell of a talent for the author to have her main character completely mute for nearly three quarters of the book and still manage to have her forge friendships, find reconciliation with who she was and who she wants to be.

She broke my heart as the little realizations hit her, and she won me over with her stoicism in the face of bullying and harassment by her former friends and there was one scene that actually had me cheering out loud. I loved the way she took each new eyeopener and grew from it.

I was a little leery on this one because I'm big on dialogue playing a big part of telling the story, but I have to say it. Despite the fact that Chelsea was mute, she still managed to tell her story, and explain her path.

Sam was. Sam was brilliant. Strong, secure, and openminded enough to see past the girl taking a vow of silence, the girl partly responsible for his best friend nearly being beaten to death. Then Asha. Oh Asha! I think she's my favorite secondary character in a very long time. I adored her to death and I'm still dying over the "knit her a muzzle" line.

Brilliant story and definitely going on the favorites shelf.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Review: Boundless by Cynthia Hand

Boundless (Unearthly, #3)Boundless by Cynthia Hand
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Goodreads summary:


The past few years have held more surprises than part-angel Clara Gardner could ever have anticipated. Yet from the dizzying highs of first love, to the agonizing low of losing someone close to her, the one thing she can no longer deny is that she was never meant to live a normal life.

Since discovering the special role she plays among the other angel-bloods, Clara has been determined to protect Tucker Avery from the evil that follows her . . . even if it means breaking both their hearts. Leaving town seems like the best option, so she’s headed back to California - and so is Christian Prescott, the irresistible boy from the vision that started her on this journey in the first place.

As Clara makes her way in a world that is frighteningly new, she discovers that the fallen angel who attacked her is watching her every move. And he’s not the only one. . . . With the battle against the Black Wings looming, Clara knows she must finally fulfil her destiny. But it won’t come without sacrifices and betrayal.

In the riveting finale of the Unearthly series, Clara must decide her fate once and for all.


My review:

Today I have the not-insurmountable task of reviewing the third book in a trilogy...spoiler free.

Possible, I'm sure, but it's not going to be easy.

*throat clears* Right then. Straight into it.

I stumbled onto Unearthly and remember only about five seconds passing from the end of that book until I was hitting up Google, looking (praying) for a sequel. Only to find that while one was planned, it was at least six months off.

I was a sad panda.

Then last January, the post-Christmas doldrums were wiped away for a brief time with Hallowed...and an ending that left me an even sadder panda.

Cue the past month and the run up to Boundless. Granted, it wasn't the insanity that was waiting for Breaking Dawn, or Mockingjay or even Harry Potter 7. I was still on pins and needles, though. I wanted things right for Clara after the loss of her mother, I wanted more about Sam, about her Father, about Jeffrey, about why Clara was so much more gifted than the others seemed to be, I wanted...(spoiler block) I wanted so many things.

All of which means, when the book arrived overnight on the 22nd and was waiting patiently for me on my Kindle...I immediately started reading (don't tell my boss.) I could only do so much and still put in a productive day, but I was sneaking pages on my iPhone app all day long. Then I got home, fed my family, and read until I was finished.

My husband asked me if everything was okay since I was so quiet. Thankfully, 20 years of marriage means all I had to say was "last book in the trilogy" and he understood fine. He knows how I get.

So, did I get what I wanted from the story?

All that and more.

Every question I had was answered. Loose ends were tied up just enough to leave me satisfied, but not so tightly that there isn't room to revisit this series at some later time, maybe years in the future.

The writing remains solid and descriptive without delving too incredibly deep into long exposition about the way the wind moves through the trees - it does what it needs to do. She sets the scene, and then lets the scene itself tell the story. The characters, their expressions, their actions, their words. It's a thrill when I find an author that knows, and embraces, the "show, don't tell" method of writing.

And God, did she ever show.

So much so, I've got a wicked book hangover going on and will probably reread the series now - start to finish - rather than pick up a new book.

I have to at least touch on the triangle. I spent years in the Harry Potter shipping war trenches as well as the Team Edward/Team Jacob madness. I don't so much steer away from books with triangles/boy choices now, but I am usually leery of them. I've had a few hits and some spectacular misses, some in which the ultimate choice has colored the whole series for me with the whole box of blare crayons.

That said, I think this instance was very well handled. There was no clear "good" or "bad" choice; all of them made mistakes, all of them thought they were doing what was right - for them and for others - and it was heartbreaking in so many ways that by the end, I think my heart was mostly superglue. And even then, she wasn't done with me. End result - satisfying.

For this book, and this series, the first 5+ star rating. The uber-squee.

View all my reviews

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Previously in the Kindle Cave....

Reviews:
What Happens Next (squee)
Impossible (blarg)
Foretell (squee)

Extraneous:
Entangled Pimp Post

Aborted reads:
Hounded (Unfortunately not my thing. Nothing against the writing - because the guy's sarcasm is killer - but sometimes you just know that the book's not going to resonate with you. I may revisit someday.)

Added to TBR:
Til Death
Taste
Something Like Normal
The Twelfth Keeper
What's a Witch To Do

Current and Upcoming:
Some Girls Bite (which may be pre-empted by....)
Boundless (Waving Team Tucker flag while nervously gnawing on my nails)

Stay tuned next week. Same Kindletime, same Kindlestation...

Review: Foretell by Belle Malory

Foretell (Wanderlove, #2)Foretell by Belle Malory
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Goodreads summary:


If you could provide anyone with the path to their deepest, darkest desires, would you?

Estelle Spencer has no choice.

With just a simple touch of her hand, wishes and dreams are instantly fulfilled. Her voice speaks of its own accord, lighting the way to good fortune.

But not everyone’s fortunes are desirable.

For most of her life Estelle hides in fear, living as a recluse in her sister’s shadow. Until the day comes when her existence is remembered.

Forced into running, Estelle meets Rex, a Romanian gypsy, and the only person who can help her hide. Together they search for a way to end the curse that controls Estelle’s life.

Before she destroys the world.


My review:

I feel horrible for the amount of time this was on my Carousel and kept getting pushed back for shiny new books. Part of that is due to library holds coming at me fast and furious, but I'll own the other part. What I like to call literary ADD.

I digress. I read it, I loved it, I kicked myself for not reading it sooner.

The best part? In the land of 3-book, 5-book, n-book (series that never end) story arcs, it was very refreshing to see this book wrap as a duology. There was definitely more to Wanderlove than one book could handle but, to my mind, pushing this into another two, three or more books would turn it into more filler, less plot.

Okay. That wasn't the best part. The best part was Rex. And maybe Essie. And a box of markers. (No, I won't elaborate that because it could count as a spoiler and I really try to keep away from that.)

The story was tightly told, enough detail to set the scenes and keep you in the character's world but no long stretches of purple prose that go on forever. (I want to know that the curtains are blue...I don't care why.) It kept me engaged to the point I was sneaking away to read again and went to bed last night intending to read a chapter or two...then stayed up until 3 am because I had to finish it, I had to know.

Another thing I loved is that it steps away from the more "traditional" paranormal (vampires, witches, fae) and centers on gypsies and past lives. They have subtle abilities - seeing the future, innate lie detection - and the story does a good job of showing the good and bad sides of each. How gifts can be blessings and curses at the same time.

Essie broke my heart in the decisions she made, especially for the reasons she made them. When the full nature of her gift was revealed, and what she saw when it happened. I'll admit it, I was sniffling back tears.

And then Rex. Lordy. Who could think cleaning a scraped knee could be so...so...sigh. I'll admit he wasn't my favorite in Wanderlove and maybe that was why I was so tentative to start this. Boy was that put away quick. I daresay I almost like him *more* than Gabe now. Especially the picnic. And a few other moments I won't spoil here...because I'll not only spoil it, I'll start gushing about favorite moments in pure insane fangirl fashion and there are a *lot* of them. :)

In short, a beautiful duology; one I will most likely read again.

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Review: Impossible by Komal Lewis

Impossible (With Me, #1)Impossible by Komal Lewis
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Goodreads summary:


Ashton Summers is on her way to becoming the most popular girl in school and nothing—or no one—is going to stand in her way. Especially not Luca Byron, her freak neighbor, with his tattoos, loud music, and distracting green eyes.

Luca Byron has three goals in life: get through high school with a low profile, make sure his garage band becomes something more than a hobby, and try to forget about his insufferable ex-best friend, Ashton, who he can’t get out of his mind.

The last thing Ashton and Luca want to do is rekindle their friendship, but when Ashton takes a tumble down the social ladder, Luca—with his new makeover—is the only one who can help her rise up again by pretending to be her boyfriend. At first, being together is unbearable and annoying, but things start to change as Ashton and Luca discover the real reasons they drifted apart seven years ago. 

Now, keeping their hands off each other seems impossible.


My review:

I knew I was going to have a rough time with this early on. Not the best phrasing, some questionable wording choices, choppy storytelling, etc, but I pressed on nonetheless. I love the boy/girl next door thing, always have, so I kept going just for the story.

I think I was at 60% on my kindle when I actually wondered out loud if Ashton would be a bitch through the whole damned book or if she would *ever* grow the hell up.

Unfortunately, the answer is not really. She has a few moments where I thought. "Okay, this is it. She's had this beautiful, touching revelation, *now* she'll grow up."

Every one of those moments ended in her reverting to bitch-form.

I swear to God, every time Luca went all mush about her, he lost points with me. By tens and twenties.

I could almost make allowances if the story was better constructed. There were too many stops and starts. Too many "I've been horrible...hold me" moments followed almost immediately by "but it's getting me what I want so it's okay" moments. How many times can one person have a self-revelation with absolutely no positive growth?

Slight pet peeve, too. When I was writing Harry Potter fanfiction year ago, I bent over backward to make sure I used Britishisms because my story was set in England, the characters British. If I can do that for a fanfiction, I don't think it's too much to ask that other authors do that when they set their stories in America (ie - at a party, we'd have candy and chips, not sweets and crisps.) /Rant

So. It could have been an interesting love story, but when the writing isn't tight, and the main character seriously hard to like? It's more like homework than pleasure reading. Blarg.

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Entangled Needs Bloggers!


I am sure by now most of you have seen this going around the blogosphere, but I am going to share it with you as well. This is exciting and a great opportunity for all bloggers.

HEAD OVER TO Kate Evangelista's blog TO LEAVE YOUR DETAILS

Calling all bloggers!

Calling all bloggers!

Entangled needs you! *points at you*

Be part of The List.

Here's what you need to know:
One of the awesome publicists at Entangled is compiling a list of bloggers.

Here are the requirements:
Do you have a blog?
Do you love to review books? (of course, who doesn't)
Do you want access to books before they release?
If your answers to these questions is a resounding "YES" then you're the right blogger for the job.

They want you! Now's a great time to join The List.

If you want to be a part of The List, here's what you have to do:

1. Add Til Death to your Goodreads TBR pile:http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16129271-til-death

and

2. Leave the following in the comments section on Kate's blog HERE:

a. Your Name

b. Your Blog URL

c. Your Goodreads Name

d. Your Email Address

Additional Option: URL to your blog post about this call for bloggers.

Priority will be given to those who help spread the word by creating a post on this call for bloggers on their blog. *smiles*

If you have any questions, let me know in the comments section and I'll reply right away.

Don't miss this exciting opportunity.

Be part of The List today.

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Review: What Happens Next by Colleen Clayton

What Happens NextWhat Happens Next by Colleen Clayton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Goodreads summary:


Before the ski trip, sixteen-year-old Cassidy “Sid” Murphy was a cheerleader (at the bottom of the pyramid, but still...), a straight-A student, and a member of a solid trio of best friends. When she ends up on a ski lift next to handsome local college boy, Dax Windsor, she’s thrilled; but Dax takes everything from Sid—including a lock of her perfect red curls—and she can’t remember any of it.

Back home and unable to relate to her old friends, Sid drops her college prep classes and takes up residence in the A/V room with only Corey “The Living Stoner” Livingston for company. But as she gets to know Corey (slacker, baker, total dreamboat), Sid finds someone who truly makes her happy. Now, if she can just shake the nightmares and those few extra pounds, everything will be perfect... or so she thinks.


My review: 

I actually finished reading this morning, but I wanted to give myself time away and occupied with other things to let my feelings and the story filter through my brain before I tried to review the book on the whole.

Sid. Apart from the red hair, I was Sid in high school. Not fat, but pudgy enough to feel less attractive than the girls she hangs out with - and that's a scarydamn place to be. Not for the first time, I'm happy I went through it in the 80s. For all the bad hair and legwarmers, the threat that ultimately lead to her downward spiral wasn't there. Not yet.

The story itself. Hard as it was to read, it felt very real to me. The rationalizations, the way her mind twisted everything and the self-assurance that she had everything under control. Full codicil here - I've never suffered from an eating disorder, so I can't say whether this meshes with a real struggle. I just know that it read very genuine to me.

A word about Corey. Or a few. And lots of love. I'll admit to wondering where the connection was for him, and why he stayed after the two screaming outbursts, until the confession on the night of her birthday. Then it clicked and it wasn't as unrealistic as I'd first thought. The final fight, of course, when she completely snapped, had me crying. Crying for her, crying for him. The confession right before it.

I think what I loved most about this story is how...natural it was. From the way that one action, that one run, made Sid feel something not miserable and how that blossomed into her path to self-destruction. How she seemed to normal to everyone else, how she convinced herself it was fine, the small bursts of temper that hinted at the iceberg underneath. And I like that it wasn't wrapped in a pretty bow at the end. The story reaches its conclusion, the loose ends are tied up, but the reader is left to take these characters' futures onward in their own imaginations.

I, for one, hope for New York.

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Review: Crimson Frost by Jennifer Estep

Crimson Frost (Mythos Academy, #4)Crimson Frost by Jennifer Estep
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Goodreads summary:


For a moment, a face flashed before my eyes—the most hideous face I’d ever seen. No matter how hard I tried to forget what had happened, I saw him everywhere I went. It was Loki—the evil god that I’d helped set free against my will.

I should have known that my first official date with Logan Quinn was destined to end in disaster. If we’d gotten into a swordfight, or been ambushed by Reapers, I’d have been more prepared. But getting arrested mid-sip at the local coffee hangout? I didn’t see that one coming.

I’ve been accused of purposely helping the Reapers free Loki from his prison—and the person leading the charge against me is Linus Quinn, Logan’s dad. The worst part is that pretty much everyone at Mythos Academy thinks I’m guilty. If I’m going to get out of this mess alive, I’ll have to do it myself…


My review:

I had this on preorder from the second it was available, so it was delivered to my Kindle at 3am on Christmas Eve. I had this grand plan. I was going to hold on to it for a month, maybe two. Keep the wait between books 4 and 5 a little less.

As you can see, I didn't make it. I regret nothing.

I stumbled onto this series by accident...and it was the happiest stumble ever.

So onto Crimson Frost. Without spoiling anything, I have to say that when I realized just *why* she called this one "crimson" frost, my heart dropped into my stomach. There may or may not have been a primal scream in there, too.

God. My emotions.

I felt for Gwen, wrongfully accused in front of the whole school full of Mean Girls who already mostly look at her with contempt at best. I have to say I love the way she handled it (yeah, the scene with the gyffon at the library steps had me freaking cheering in my chair. When the thing started growling, I made many, many happy sounds.)

And Logan. I can't help it. I still get shivers when he calls her Gypsy Girl. He's strong, badass, but mostly I love the way they banter with each other and how just...comfortable they were together. After three books of dancing around and denial it was just so lovely to see them together and even see Gwen a little nervous about it.

Speaking of nerves - Alexi and Oliver. That was an unexpected and utterly delightful side plot.

I still, of course, want to kick Linus in his big stupid face.

I said recently in my review of Obsidian that I hated middle books in longer series because they're just that - filler to get to somewhere else. Not this one. It told it's own story, beginning, middle and end as well as furthering the main plot arc. It was exciting, engaging, maddening (plot-wise) and delightful...yet still makes me want book 5 to be available soon. Like yesterday.

And all of this...with nary a love triangle in sight. Glory.

Monday, January 7, 2013

It's Monday! What are you reading?


It's Monday! What are you reading? is hosted by Shelia over at Book Journey. This is where we can share the books that we've read last week and the books we are planing to read this week!

I was originally planning on doing a wrap-up post yesterday, but pulling muscles in your back tends to curtail one's blogging a wee bit. Thanks in no small part to Salonpas patches, I can at least wrap up what I'm reading :) I'll try to wrap up again on Sunday.

This week is, finally:

I say finally because I got this the day it came out. My Grand Plan was to try and hold onto it for a month or two, to keep the wait for Book 5 feel shorter. I failed abysmally. I know it's going to be over too soon and I'm going to wail and rend garments when I have to wait again...but for now, I'm happily living in Gwen's world with her, Logan, Daphne and Carson and OMG Oliver is breaking my heart.

Last week I read (I do love having time off work and nice, empty weekends):




And this was added to the Legion of Doom




As an aside, you can also find links to my updates on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. Links are on the right.


Peace out until next time!