Nobody by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (Review)

Nobody by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Published: January 22, 2013 (Egmont USA) / Hardcover
Grade: 3.5 stars out of 5

Sixteen year old Claire has always felt invisible and unmemorable, but she never knew why. So when a boy is staring straight at her, Claire is shocked and elated. That is, until the boy points a gun at her.

Nix is a trained assassin. He has never been caught and planned to never be for he is a Nobody –an ignored, unloved, practically invisible being. His next target is said to be Claire: a Null that feels no empathy, no compassion, a defective selfish being. But when his eyes meet hers, he feels a connection. He shouldn’t feel this way for a girl he just met, but he can’t help it. And what he has been told about Claire goes against what he has witnessed. Nix starts to question everything that he has been told….

Together, Claire and Nix will find the truth.

As a huge fan of Jennifer Lynn Barnes’s Raised by Wolves trilogy, I was excited to read an ARC of Nobody. Nobody, however, fell short of expectation, but had moments of wonders and positive glee.

Nobody is a fast-paced novel that can be easily finished in less than a day. If I didn’t have classes to attend I would’ve just kept plowing through the novel. Barnes’s writing draws me into her story and cajoles me to continue even if my mind says to sleep. Barnes’s writing style is brisk, but coupled with long sentences that paint the scene and emotions:

“A new mantra. New words, pumping through his veins, forming a strange duet with the old one.

Less than—
Shadow—
Less than—
Air—
Nothing—
Claire.”

I have a preference for these short brisk sentences mostly because I can be easily distracted. But these sentences have an amplifying effect that builds up emotions—anxiety, fear, happiness, etc. That said and done, Barnes’s writing might be distinct, but shortly finishing Nobody I quickly forgot about it. Perhaps Barnes’s exemplification of her characters being a nobody has extended to her entire novel.

Claire’s metamorphosis from a timid girl to a strong, take-action, fighting woman progressed far too quickly for my liking. Mayhap those traits were always there, but my initial judgment of Claire did not match her actions. Which can be a good thing, but in this case the development of Claire occurred too rapidly, which of course is a bad thing. Aside from that I do value Claire as a good support to Nix. She’s compassionate, understanding, determined and at times stubborn, and not one to be the damsel in distress. She is a multidimensional character whom I find interesting.

Nix, on the other hand, developed at a much relatively “normal” pace. As the book is split into both POVs it was easy to follow Nix’s thinking patterns and his viewpoint on life and his actions. Nix’s POV is more angst ridden than Claire’s and borders on that typically bad boy, “woe is me, you are too good for me” mindset. A Cliché, overdone, becoming a bore type of character. But hey, Nix is a man who takes action; when he says he’ll kill someone he will probably do so. I appreciate that.

Together, Claire and Nix have chemistry that sizzles and sparks. Typically I abhor insta-romance/love, but for Claire and Nix it was easier to believe. As a Nobody, they never experienced attention or affection. This joy of being around someone who sees you can quickly transform into love.

But enough about love.

Overall I find the novel more enjoyable as I read it, but forgettable as I finish. The climax was…shy of being explosive. The ending was neat and compact, leaving very little questions left to be answered. It’s a picture perfect ending for the two of them that makes sense. I repeat: the ending did not come from left-field just to smack you across the face. It makes sense to what Barnes has set up throughout the novel. Hallelujah!

Jennifer Lynn Barnes's website
Purchase your own copy of Nobody: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / Indie Bound

Source: thank you Media Masters Publicity and Egmont USA for a review copy

Struck

Struck by Jennifer Bosworth
Grade: 3 stars out of 5
Published: May 8, 2012; hardcover
Source: ARC from publisher

What Jennifer Bosworth wrote is something that is frighteningly possible. A massive religious cult, another massive cult trying to stop the other cult, no government stability, prices on basic needs sky-rocketing, etc. Of course in real life there is no psychics or magical beings who with withhold lightening.

In this dystopian novel, Mia Price is the only one who can either save the world or destroy it. Mia is addicted to being struck by lightening and will chase it in for that one hit. Like a drug addict, she keeps asking for more and it shows. With Lichtenberg Figures dancing all over her body, she dresses in black to not scare anyone. But people know who she is, what she’s done, and what she can do.

Jeremy wants to protect Mia, but from what and exactly from whom?

I’m conflicted with my response to Struck. I think it’s dangerous, sexy, and creative. But then again I think it’s creepy, underdeveloped, and too quick.

My biggest issue was Mia and Jeremy. Mia and Jeremy happened too fast for my liking. I found Jeremy really creepy in the beginning and exasperated at how quickly Mia was able to forgive Jeremy. The foundation to the relationship weak; their connection together too strong given the amount of time together. I found both characters lacking in development and background. Of course this is only part one of a series so I expect more later on.

What I did find fascinating was just the idea behind Struck. It’s something I’ve never read before and something I never expected to read. This book will hit a couple of sore spots for some, but I think overall it’s so interesting and unique that will make people curious and draw them in.

I love that Bosworth takes the most innate part of human and expands it. Why does Mia like to be struck by lightening? Because it gives her a high; it makes her feel alive. Why does the Prophet want to run the world? Because it’s power and control and the need to feel safe from anybody. Why do people join the two different cults? Because it gives them a sense of purpose, it makes them feel needed, they want to survive, they want the weight taken off their shoulder. The basic drive in humans is so powerful that it can cause mayhem. I love it; I love that it’s a raw emotion.

The action scenes were done well. The cult scenes were deliciously strange and haunting. The characters were set apart and individualized ‘cause nothing spells a bad book when I can’t tell where one character ends and another begins.

The climax had a pow to it. The ending was satisfying. Struck was a solid read that has a solid audience.

Cover C+/B-

case of a lightening strike: Lichtenberg Figure

The Summer My Life Began

The Summer My Life Began by Shannon Greenland
Grade: 3.5 stars out of 5
Published: May 10, 2012; paperback
Source: unsolicited ARC from publisher

What better way to spend your summer than figuring what you want to do for the rest of your life and love it too.

“Elizabeth Margaret--better known as Em--has always known what her life would contain: an internship at her father's firm, a degree from Harvard, and a career as a lawyer. The only problem is, it's not what she wants. So when she gets the opportunity to get away and spend a month with the aunt she never knew, she jumps at the chance. While there, Em learns that her family has some pretty significant secrets. And then there's Cade, the laid-back local surfer boy who seems to be everything Em isn't. Naturally, she can't resist him, and as their romance blossoms, Em feels that for the first time ever, she is really living life on her own terms.” 

The Summer My Life Began is a relaxing summer read with light hand of poor family relations.

Em spends her summer doing what she loves and what I somewhat enjoy doing, cooking. While TThe Summer My Life Began doesn’t include recipes, there are some inspirational dishes that can be mimicked. Delicious sounding dishes that I’m sure will make the taste buds tingle.

One thing that I love is how the book juxtaposes Em’s internal conflicts with her external ones. Just as Em finds her calling, family relationship starts to crumble. On one hand, I love that Em’s following her passion and that cooking seems to be so right for her. I, for one, would love to find something I am great at, can make a career from, and have so much passion for it. On the other hand, I don’t envy the pressure from the family to be perfect and something I’m not. Ultimately I was rooting for Em to be a chef and get out from her parents’ steel wings.

Her summer at her aunt’s place that sparked this new Em is a beautiful setting to the novel. I love how Greenland spent some scenes traveling throughout the town and giving it more atmosphere. The blossoming of Em’s new romantic relationship with Cade is sizzling. Cade is the local bad boy with a troubled past and a great future ahead of him. I was slightly iffy about Cade and Em because it seemed almost too soon and too quick, but the relationship grew on me.

The big hush-hush secret that runs through the family can be easily predicted. It is quite hinted throughout the novel. I didn’t mind it as much as others, despite it’s somewhat being a cliché, mostly because I never saw The Summer My Life Began as a life-changing novel. It’s a summer read meant for readers to enjoy, not dissected. I enjoyed it.

Read The Summer My Life Began if you’re looking for something light, but with a surprising hearty bite at the last minute. Some parts of the novel can be fleshed out more and I wished that the emotions can be stronger, but all-in-all a good read.

Cover B-

The Vicious Deep

You’ll have to forgive me for this review; it’s been almost 3 months since I’ve written my last review. Hopefully it’ll be like riding a bike….

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The Vicious Deep by Zoraida Córdova
Grade: 3.8 stars out of 5
Published: May 1st, 2012; harcover
Source: ARC from Sourcebooks for blog tour

You thought your family had secrets. For Tristan Hart, his family’s secret goes deep…deep into the ocean.

For 3 days, Tristan has been swept way in the sea by a crash. He was the only survivor. The big question on everyone’s mind is how? Someone has some explaining to do especially when a goldfish turned merperson comes popping out of the facet.

The first thing that was the most surprising was the fact that The Vicious Deep was written through a male’s POV via first person. Zoraida Cordova pulled it off well. Tristan Hart is one of those guys who is part jerk who knows that he’s hot and part sensitive guy that not many people know about. The first person POV helped immensely when drawing some the more subtle traits of Tristan: protective, loving, word-vomiting guy. But he’s still part jerk. There were moments in the book where I wanted to slap him upside the head, stomp on his toes hard, and say really mean things.

Tristan’s reactions to everything were realistic. The underwater kingdom that Cordova built was crafted amazingly. I enjoy the slight politics and balance between brutish and sophisticated lifestyle that the merfolk cultivated.

For me, I had trouble mostly with the pacing of the story and Layla, Tristan’s best friend and crush. I’m all for independent women, but I hated how she took every “no, don’t do it” as a challenge. There’s a difference between confident and reckless and Layla managed to cross that line for me many times. Tristan wasn’t the only thing I wanted to slap.

I loved the other characters. Love, love, love some of the secondary characters. Would a fifth “love” be excessive? No? Okay, I loovvveee some of them. The dad, mom, friends, and “cousins” brought so much to the book.

The second problem was that the pacing was rather slow for me. There were some scenes that I felt could have been cut out like the mall scene. The excess magical creatures, I hope would play a bigger role later on. Right now, it’s a little too heavy and too much of a wasted chapter. Perhaps I’m just impatient for the big showdown. (I’ve been told I’m quite impatient.)

In all, The Vicious Deep was a great adventure with its own great tale. I won’t look at mermaids/mermen the same way. With splashes of humor, action scenes that I can instantly visualize, and a great set of hero and heroines I look forward to the next installment.

did not like

Cover A

I prefer this cover a lot more. There's a greater appeal to the male readers than the older cover (which featured a girl on the cover), while still having appeal to the female readers. I absolutely love the eye-popping colors and how much it relates to the book. It's freaking awesome.

Bittersweet

Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler
Grade: 3.5 stars out of 5
Published: January 3, 2012 Buy from Amazon
Source: unsolicited ARC from Simon Pulse

I freaking love cupcakes. I’m one of those cupcake eaters that eat the cake first then make my way to the top because I save the best for last—the frosting. Hudson Avery is the Queen of Cupcakes; she’s a gal that I’ll love to be an assistant to. Just pay me in cupcakes and I’ll be happy.

But Hudson’s life right now isn’t so great. Her skating dreams are over; her mom’s dream of owning a diner will tank unless a new review will put Hurley’s Homestyle Diner back on the map; her dad is living a new life that doesn’t include his daughter or son; and Hudson is trapped in little Watonka, New York.

Until, that is, Hudson gets the chance to compete in a skating competition for a $50,000 scholarship.

I’ve been following Sarah Ockler ever since her debut novel, Twenty Boy Summer, and I eagerly wait for what she has for the readers. Bittersweet, formally titled the language of impossible dreams, is what you would expect from Sarah Ockler: good read with characters you wouldn’t expect and a storyline that touches the heart. Yet, for me, there’s always something missing about her books that don’t make me hold the book to my chest, carry it around and shove it in other people’s faces yelling “Read this!”

Maybe it was the characters that I liked, but thought could have been stronger. It’s easy to be empathic to Hudson, but it’s harder to like her. Maybe it’s because you can see a lot of yourself in her and that stuff isn’t so good. Hudson would a difficult friend to have; she locks herself in and is prone to live her own little world. Bittersweet is Hudson’s journey to finding her happiness in life and that journey isn’t smooth.

Will and Josh, co-captains to the Watonka hockey team, are more likeable than Hudson. But Josh, the boy that the reader will definitely pine for is less developed than Will. Since Josh is the main love interest I was disappointed seeing him fade to the back whenever Will comes to the scene. Will is much more dynamic than Josh with a stronger background story and a multifaceted personality.

Then I wished the readers knew more about Dani and Kara. They seemed interesting, but I knew them as Hudon’s friend and former best friend than Dani and Kara.

But I absolutely adore—love!—Bug (Hudson’s baby brother). He’s part mad-scientist, part explorer, part adorable brother who helps around the house, part son-whose-never-really-known-his-father. Bug is the comic relief to Bittersweet and yet he’s fragile enough that you want to protect him from everything that’s bad.

Bittersweet is topsy turvy: I like parts of it so much and other parts I wished were stronger. One thing that I did forget to mention was the cupcake concoctions underneath each chapter heading. Brilliant and delicious.

Bittersweet is just that, bittersweet. The sweetest of the cupcakes and the tingly feelings from young love versus the bitterness of divorce and its crumbling effects.

Cover C+

I much prefer the old cover to the new one because a) Hudson bakes cupcakes, not cookies and b) hot chocolate is part of the story. Well there's also c) that doesn't look like a really good cookie I would eat.

The Thorn and the Blossom

The Thorn and the Blossom: A Two-Sided Love Story by Theodora Goss
Grade: 3.8 stars out of 5
Published: January 17, 2012 Buy from Amazon
Source: Quirk Books

When Evelyn Morgan walked into the village bookstore, she didn’t know she would meet the love of her life. When Brendan Thorne handed her a medieval romance, he didn’t know it would change the course of his future. It was almost as if they were the cursed lovers in the old book itself . . .

The Thorn and the Blossom is a very short love story so my review won’t be as long as it normally would be (close to 600 words).

The first thing you’ll notice about The Thorn and the Blossom is the way the book is printed. Like an accordion. Like a really cool accordion that doesn’t make music, but rather gives you a nice story to read. I freaked out a bit when I first got it and played with the book for 5 minutes or so. Warning: don’t read book while moving or in a moving vehicle. The book kept falling out my books and the pages were falling everywhere unless I had a death grip connecting the ends together.

taken from author's blog

With the story itself I was a bit let down. It was a bit rushed for my liking and the ending felt…unfinished. If Goss had shown us rather than told us the emotions that went through Evelyn and Brendan, I could have connected better to The Thorn and the Blossom. Then again I wonder how the increase in size will impact the binding of the story. Who knows, it might just collapse or fall apart when the reader opens the first page.

The Thorn and the Blossom packs quite a lot in very little. I read Brendan’s story first followed by Evelyn.  I have to admit that the experience, which I feared would be tiring and redundant, was quite charming, new, and fascinating the second time you read it from a different POV. Those subtle nuances that were dismissed earlier or assumed to be something else, becomes more important than you first believed.

The tale of Green Knight (or Man) and the Queen was hinted just enough for the reader to keep it in the back of their thoughts while still letting the characters be themselves. Rather than Brendan being the Green Knight, Brendan is Brendan. The comparison between the two cursed lovers was laced throughout the rest the novel almost seamlessly.

Evelyn’s story is magical (mixed with an odd psychoanalysis/mental illness explanation) while Brendan’s story is saddening (he has really back luck with girls and people close to him). Together it’s a beautiful haunting tragedy that just may have that happily ever after in the end. The two characters show how to move past a love if it doesn’t work out, but there’s still the possibility of coming back.

Cover B+

P.S. Apparently if you remove the sticker/book synopsis from the back of the slip, there's a picture of the Green Man. So I carefully removed the sticker and it was not worth it. It's just his face and it's about the size of my thumb nail.

Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez

Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez


Grade: 3.5 out of 5

Carmen Bianchi is a 17 year old accomplished violinist who’s dream is to win the Guarneri competition. There are only two main obstacles in her way—her nerves and her male British counterpart Jeremy King. The first obstacle is easily taken care since she takes Inderal to calm herself before performances. But Jeremy is an entirely different story. He’s just as competitive as Carmen, and extremely attractive. When he starts to flirt with her, Carmen is entirely caught off guard. In this novel of teenage rebellion, Carmen begins to question her own skills, her potential love’s motives, and even her mother’s intentions in an attempt to make sense of what it means to love music.

Let me take this opportunity to mention that I’ve been playing piano for 15 years. The first ten or so, I played classical music almost exclusively, and I did a couple concerts. I also played for my high school’s talent show one year. But there’s a reason why I play in public so little; I get incredibly nervous. Even with one person in the room with me, my fingers and rhythm fall apart. So I believe I understand PERFECTLY how Carmen feels when she plays for audiences without Inderal.

Carmen is a brilliant violinist but it’s rather hard to hear the music Carmen plays in the novel, and because music should be a big part of her life, she’s hard to understand. But I did appreciate the growing that Carmen did that shows she is more than just a violinist:

• She decided not to take pills even though her mother insisted.
• She made her own choices instead of just listening to her mother.
• She snuck out with her pseudo-boyfriend.
• She made quasi-educated conclusions about God and religion.

It justifies the ending, so even though I didn’t exactly like the ending, it wasn’t completely out of the blue.

However, her fights with her mother were hard to believe; she never fought with her mother before, and then when her mother says something reasonable that Carmen doesn’t like, Carmen takes that opportunity to start ignoring her mother for the first time in 17 years. Distrust almost overnight? It just feels too sudden.

I also didn’t like the romantic plot. This homeschooled, romantically-naïve girl meets Jeremy King for the first time, he’s rude to her, and then she agrees to go out to dinner with him. Does that make sense? Does anyone else stay out until 1am with a foreigner without telling anyone where your whereabouts? It sounds dangerous to me, but maybe it’s because I’ve never been the adventurous type. Jeremy’s just a tad bit too perfect too. He’s tall, blonde, blue eyed, etc. He’s one of those love interests that automatically falls in love with the main character and when his true side comes out he says standard lines like “I didn’t say anything I didn’t feel.” I wanted a bit more aggression instead of this sappy apologetic guy. It was incredibly human of him to want to win the competition for his disabled brother, and I didn’t want him to almost immediately renege on it. It was one of those statements that blur the lines between right and wrong. It was an exciting complication, but then it just dissolves. *sadface*

I was wavering between 3 and 4 stars, so I just decided to give it 3 and a half. The writing style didn’t make me cringe and it’s a quick read (took me 2 days and I’m a turtle), but the novel is missing something, and it has something to do with the characters personalities.

The cover is gorgeous, even though it’s missing a violin. Heheh

Don't Expect Magic

Don't Expect Magic by Kathy McMullough
Grade: 3.5 stars out of 5
Publication: November 8,  2011 Buy from Amazon
Source: unsolicited review copy from Delacorte Press
Follow Kathy of Twitter @kathymccullough

According the law of conversation of mass, matter cannot be created or destroyed. So how would you transform your ratty PJs for a slinky red dress? Through physics and chemistry…and you know, a handy fairy godmother to make it all happen. What if you don’t what to be a fairy godmother? Tough cookies, you really have no choice.

That’s where Delany is right now. Apparently her no-good dad, Dr. Hank, is a fairy godmother (who ever said f.g. has to girls?) and the gene is hereditary. 

Delany is far from what you would expect from stereotypical fairy godmothers. First off, she’s not really a people person. Her homemade kick-ass boot garners praise, but her attitude isn’t the most inviting. A bit rude, a little pretentious and definitely not bubblegum pink nice, Delany has trouble fitting in to her new school and her life ever since her mom passed away and she’s shipped off to her dad. She’s not well liked by her peers, teachers, and me, the reader. Her actions and personality gives off a bad vibe like she’s better than everybody. If a person is genuinely nice to you on the first day of class and she’s pretty popular, be on your toes because that person is obviously ought to get you. Should my hair stand up and the claws start jutting out if someone smiles at me or says hi?

Since Don’t Expect Magic incorporates some science facts to help explain the supernatural, which by the way was a very nice touch and was well-thought out and something I definitely appreciate in a fantasy book, I’m going to bring in Darwin—survival of the fittest yadda yadda yadda. If I was Delany’s guardian spirit, I’d slap her and tell her to adapt and deal with it. Why make an enemy out of everyone? Assess the new environment, adapt to the new environment, and survive in the new environment. Or else you’re going to die. Or fail high school.

Things are touch and go for most of the book. I admit that it was hard to read through it, but once Delany’s personality approved, Don’t Expect Magic became a lot better for me. We start to get more of the fairy godmother business (again, something that I really appreciate in this type of story), further development of the father-daughter relationship, more humor and fun, and a stronger multidimensional main character.

The character of Dr. Hank, I felt, was ironic. Here was a man doing motivational books and speeches telling people how they should live their lives when he could barely live his own life. I quite enjoyed his character because of the way it changes throughout the whole book. He’s much nicer than Delany and you can feel the charisma from the pages making him more approachable.  The connection he has with Delany as a parent was a great emotional aspect to the book.

While the romantic interest in the novel seems more like a good friend, I could see potential. I wished, however, I knew more about him and that Delany and he had more dynamic conversations. I’m not entirely comfortable with where they came from and how they end up, but I can see it happening.

Don’t Expect Magic has a good moral: to never hide yourself in fear of what others think. It’s a debut that definitely shows promise of what Kathy McCullough is capable. Don’t Expect Magic has a unique story plot, a solid foundation, and a budding group of characters that just needs a few tweaks.

Cover B

I wished we could see more of the boots. The beach, while it may seem strange on the cover, does play a role in the story.

P.S. I now have threaded comments! :D

Catching Jordan Review & Catching Up with Miranda

Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

Grade: 3.5 stars out of 5

“What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though - she leads them as the captain and quarterback on her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys, and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university. But now there's a new guy in town who threatens her starring position on the team... and has her suddenly wishing to be seen as more than just a teammate.”

Who says girls aren’t athletic? This book says that girls can and are just as athletic as boys in a male-dominated sport. Jordan is an athlete that many can aspire to be: focus, determined, with a good head on her shoulder. And just as some women athletes are concerned about appealing to the opposite sex, Jordan goes through the same thing. Sometimes it’s easy to be one of the guys and harder to be a “girl”. When hot stuff comes up and messes with Jordan’s mojo, you can’t help but experience the same fluttering anxiety that she does. Because many of us have gone through that.

Catching Jordan extends its reaches from just sports fans, but to everyone who has experienced crushes…sometimes all consuming ones.

That’s not to say that football doesn’t play a big role. Expect detailed games and rules on how to play from Catching Jordan.

Characters I liked: Jordan’s dad. He may seem like a jerk but he has good intentions. Sports are dangerous; I understand his reluctance to let Jordan play football. Jordan is his “little girl” in a heavily dominated male sport that will treat her differently even if she is better than most guys.

Jordan’s mom: really encouraging and a great solid parent figure.

Characters I’m iffy on: Jordan and JJ. JJ is very crash and much like a stereotypical male who’s looking to get laid. He’s very protective of Jordan and does crossword puzzles.

Jordan, separate from what she stands her, I found very frustrating. Like most YA books it seems that as soon as hot new guy comes along, they lose most of their brain cells and common sense. She’s very ambitious and head-strong that fails to see what’s right in front of her. Instead she likes to live her own little world at times.

Characters I can learn to like: Tyler and Henry and Carter. Scratch the surfaces and these characters can offer so much more.

Catching Jordan’s potential far exceeds than what the novel offered. I could have loved the book so much more.

Cover B

Source: Sourcebooks Fire

Published: 2011 December 1; paperback

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And an interview with the lovely author!:

can totally see them in Superbowl

Do you think sports promote a healthy lifestyle or can it become an unhealthy obsession?

I think anything in life can become an unhealthy obsession - from video games to spending too much money to working out too hard. Any activity in life should be done in moderation. But overall - yes, sports and being active are very important to healthy living.

Do sports promote teamwork and companionship or does it promote aggression and competition?

I think it all goes back to the coach and/or captain. If the leader promotes teamwork and companionship, then the team is more likely to pick up those qualities as a whole. Likewise, the same goes for aggression and competition. But if a person ever feels like his or her coach or captain isn't doing right by the team, then it's that person's responsibility to step up and act in a responsible manner.

Curling = exciting!

What is fantasy football and how do you play?

Fantasy football is when you choose a team, using players from all of the different teams in the NFL. I am pretty lazy, so in the past when I've done fantasy football leagues, I usually just use an online site to manage the team and players, etc. But you can plan using regular ole paper and pen too.

Which teams do you think will make it to the Super Bowl? Who will win?

Green Bay will play either the Patriots or Baltimore. But I bet Green Bay will win.

What other male dominated sports do you think would benefit from a little female competition?

I'd love to see a female pitcher or outfielder in Major League Baseball. 

What is the most obscure sport you can think of?

Curling! Oh how I want to be on the U.S. Olympic Curling Team. Literary Agent Michelle Wolfson would be my curling partner.

What is your favorite sport and why?

Softball. It's my favorite because it's the only sport I'm truly good at!

Favorite mascot?

Wally, the Red Sox mascot, who is named after the Green Monster outfield wall in Boston. He's so green and cute.

What are some foods you enjoy after a good game/workout?

Whole wheat bagels with peanut butter or creme cheese. And pizza!

If I Tell

If I Tell by Janet Gurtler

Grade: 3 / 5

Jasmine “Jaz” Evans is witness to something that could be the title of a Jerry Springer Show—her best friend Lacey making out with her mom’s boyfriend, Simon. Jaz wants to tell her mother, but finds out that she’s pregnant with Simon’s child. Keeping this secret inside her, Jaz goes about her life trying to deal with school, work, and trying to fit in as a biracial teenage girl. Even when hot Jackson Morgan insists she open up, Jaz doesn’t quite know how to let her barriers down.

As I was reading, I put little notes, a little less than 40. 3 of them were actually bookmarks. 4 more were typographical errors that my inner grammar freak found in the text (it’s an eBook, so it’s forgiven). All the others were me criticizing the characters or mentioning how creepy the love interest is or just asking myself why I thought this would be good. Good news: the majority of these notes were written during the first hundred pages of the book. More good news: they were “replied” to in the last half of the book. When I went back through to check my notes for the review, I realized I judged prematurely, which for me was an appreciated slap in the face.

Things I liked: the writing style (Jaz sounded like a seventeen year old), the plotline (no dull moments), some of the characters (favorite: Ashley the lesbian swimmer with dyed hair), and the characters’ hobbies (swimming, guitar playing, volunteering, etc).

Things I loved: the biracial-girl-trying-to-fit-in concept and the almost-rape scene. [Commence attempt to not spoil too much.] First, I think it’s important to know how a biracial person like Jaz feels about herself. When she argues with Tina, when she accidently explodes at Jackson, when she talks back to the nurse, even though she’s not necessarily doing the right thing, she is honest with herself for the first time. And maybe people like Tina and the nurse will read this novel and learn something and say “I really shouldn’t judge too quickly”. The second point I want to make is there’s a scene in this book that’s really important for teenage girls to understand. A boy can tell you he loves you, that you’re special and beautiful and the one for him, but that doesn’t mean you must open your legs. And if you don’t open your legs, and the boy gets mad and calls you a tease or whatever, do NOT blame yourself. It’s a piece of self-respect everyone should have.

Things I didn’t like: the main character, the love interest, the best friend and the believe-ablity. Jaz can’t handle her problems in a healthy way. The way Jaz avoided Lacey made me think she never liked her in the first place. Lacey, the BFF, just seems flat. When she tells Jaz her secret, I really think she could have mentioned that earlier. When Jaz asks Lacey why she didn’t tell her sooner, she says something like “I don’t talk about details” which is complete crap. I’m pretty sure if I had that secret, I’d tell someone like my best friend. But because Jaz doesn’t actually love her, they don’t have a true best friend relationship and the credibility of the story goes down the drain. I also dislike Jackson with a passion. Within days of meeting he’s super nice to Jaz, rescues her, pays attention only to her, gives her money for her guitar playing, drives her everywhere, and asks her to talk about feelings with him. He’s perfect. You know which other love interests are perfect? Twilight’s Edward, Fallen’s Daniel, and Hush Hush’s Patch. Perfect and not interesting. Also, like Lacey, Jackson has a secret that when he shares with Jaz and she asks him why he didn’t say something sooner, he says “I never got a chance to” or something. I went back to the beginning of the novel, pointed, and said “Here is where you mention it.”

The first half of the book bothered me, such that I wanted to give it 2 stars, but the second half was adventurous! So it gets a little extra overall. However, I won’t be recommending it to any one any time soon, and I’m probably not going to read anything else of Gurtler's.


Source: NetGalley, Sourcebooks eBook

The Adoration of Jenna Fox

The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson

Grade: 3.8 stars out of 5

As I type this review out all I can think about was how I should I posted this review before my review for The Fox Inheritance. Oh well; what's done is done.

Seventeen-year-old Jenna Fox has just awoken from a year-long coma—so she’s been told—and she is still recovering from the terrible accident that caused it. But what happened before that? She’s been given home movies chronicling her entire life, which spark memories to surface. But are the memories really hers? And why won’t anyone in her family talk about the accident? Jenna is becoming more curious. But she is also afraid of what she might find out if she ever gets up the courage to ask her questions. What happened to Jenna Fox? And who is she really?

The Adoration of Jenna Fox, like I said in my previous review, was very much a character driven plot. It's the world-building that makes The Adoration of Jenna Fox such a great novel to read. The philosophical and moral stance Pearson takes combined with the technological advances is light-years from where we are today. Yet it could be the future. Decades, centuries, millenniums away, but there is still a chance of whatever Pearson writes to be true.

I absolutely love the family structure for The Adoration of Jenna Fox. Jenna, obviously, is no longer the same since she came out of her coma. The family members' attitude all differ because of who she is now. Some overcompensate by overprotecting Jenna from a guilt, I presume, that came from not being able to prevent Jenna's accident. Some remain hostile towards Jenna because this is not the real Jenna. The real Jenna was someone they already said goodbye to. It's the shift when the new Jenna starts to take action, begins to live her life once again, that readers see a change in the family dynamic. Feelings are being understood rather than a hearing-but-not-listening demeanor.

I found the other characters, Allys, Ethan, and Dane, sort gave a different perspective to how to live life. You take life as it comes or you block out what life can give. I particularly enjoyed Allys and Ethan because of their opinion on just how much a human body can be changed before it's no longer a human , but an android or machine.

Again to reiterate: The Adoration of Jenna Fox had less action than The Fox Inheritance. Instead it delve deeper in the moral ethnics of society. Those who aren't really interested in general world-building and lack of a real plot may not enjoy The Adoration of Jenna Fox. Still, this is a sound novel that I plan to reread when I'm in the mood to be intrigued and challenged.

Cover B+

I much prefer this cover over the hardcover. This has an abstract feel rather than the symbolic meaning. 

Source: personal copy

Publication: 2009, September 1

Order the paperback edition from Amazon

Between

Between by Jessica Warman

Grade: 3.8 / 4 stars out of 5

Between by Jessica Warman was a read unlike many others.

When a constant thumping noise wakes Elizabeth Valchar up during the evening after her birthday party, she goes out to explore. By the side of the boat, Liz finds her biggest surprise of the birthday. Her own body.

Beautiful, rich, popular Liz is stuck in the limbo until she discovers what’s keeping her. With the unexpected help of Alex Berg—a former classmate who was killed by a hit-and-run driver—Liz explores the life as a ghost. Life with and without Liz isn’t as beautiful as it seems on the outside. 

Between by Jessica Warman will keep readers wondering who the murder really is. With an unexpected curveball throw at the very end, Warman does not disappoint with this highly publicized novel. Well paced with timely flashbacks, Warman keeps the book moving. Between brings up modern topics such as drugs, eating disorders, driving while drunk, and this overwhelming need to be better than someone else. The pressure to be the best forces people to do crazy things and Between takes that to the extreme.

While the concept and ending of Between were amazing, I found the characters to be unrealistic. It was just hard to swallow. Perhaps there truly are evil girls out there, boys with single-minded thoughts, and the cliché concept where popular always means rich, pretty, and mean. There were two characters that strayed from the pack, not completely, but enough to make a difference. I absolutely love those two characters because they had a bad side and a good side.

Then there’s Alex. He was a peculiar character.

But it is Liz that’s the most dynamic of her group. Her mother was anorexic. Her father had an affair. Her stepmom seemed to just swoop in right after her mother dies. And she’s keeping the biggest secret of all that’s eating her alive. This all comes together in the most interesting of ways especially when the mental stress transforms the physical body. Liz is nervous bundle of energy that just projects itself off the pages. I love the passion she has for running. I love the raw, intense, confused emotions that surrounded her in every chapter.

Cover B

Published: 2011 August 2; hardcover

Source: ARC from Walker for blog tour

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The Fox Inheritance

The Fox Inheritance (The Jenna Fox Chronicles #2) by Mary E. Pearson

Grade: 3.8 / 4 stars out of 5

Locke, Jenna, and Kara were best friends before their accident. Jenna was set free from their prison 260 years before Locke and Kara. Those 260 years allowed for resentment, guilt, and confusion to grow. The Fox Inheritance, like The Adoration of Jenna Fox, was the exploration of self. Who am I? What am I? These questions bounce continually in the mind of Locke when his mind is finally downloaded into a body created by a madman. But surviving in a dark hell by yourself changes a person. Their minds may be intact and their bodies may be better now, but they’re completely new people now.

While The Jenna Fox Chronicles may be centered on the mentality versus the physicality of a being, The Fox Inheritance brings more political unbalance, action, and the advancement of technology. Mary E. Pearson continues to raise interesting concerns on legal and moral consequences of dealing God’s hand: death. Pearson tells the struggle of living a new life through a new POV, Locke’s.

Pearson effortlessly blends the past and the present together when Locke relapses. I struggled to pinpoint Locke: Do I like him? Is he good? Is he weak? Is he worthily enough to be given a second-chance? My answers swayed back and forth and I appreciated the chance Pearson gave me as I thought longer and deeper about my impression of Locke. He was physically strong, weak mentality and filled with this anguish. One question that repeatedly came up was who he loved more? Kara or Jenna? Its answer wasn’t clear-dry as love typically isn’t. Even in the depth of vast technological improvements and ever-changing worlds, Pearson still captured the realism of human emotions. She brought pieces of contemporary elements in a fantasy realm.

With the continuation of a series, there is an addition of new characters. Several struck out to me. One in particular isn’t human or even part human. Dot (Dot Jefferson) is a Bot who is programmed to drive a cab. The purpose of her existence is just that: drive. She doesn’t need legs, the sense of smell, taste, or touch for her purpose. But she, like other Bots, dream. They dream to escape their caged world and long to live their lives their way. With Dot, readers experience the excitement of looking at a brand new world. Taking simple pleasures and being thankful for just that. She was full of life…of bubbly energy that was infectious.

I found the plot to be simple but the details complex. Pearson built a world in The Adoration of Jenna Fox and sustained it in The Fox Inheritance. There is some drag to the novel where things slow down and Locke gets lost in his mind; a frustration with Locke when his indecision halts the entire novel and forces me to chug right on through. The climax leaves more questions than answers.

I urge readers who more interested in philosophical novels to read The Fox Inheritance and its prequel, The Adoration of Jenna Fox.

Cover A-

Normally I'm not a fan of faces stuck in the middle of covers but I love in this case, the face is made up of pieces of a puzzle.

Source: ARC from Henry Holt for blog tour

Published: 2012, August 30; hardcover

Amazon: preorder now

Fury

*stay tune for a giveaway and other tour stops*

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Fury by Elizabeth Miles

Grade: 3 stars out of 5

"Sometimes sorry isn't enough....

It’s winter break in Ascension, Maine. The snow is falling and everything looks pristine and peaceful. But not all is as it seems...

Between cozy traditions and parties with her friends, Emily loves the holidays. And this year’s even better--the guy [Zach] she’s been into for months is finally noticing her. But Em knows if she starts things with him, there’s no turning back. Because his girlfriend is Em’s best friend.

On the other side of town, Chase is having problems of his own. The stress of his home life is starting to take its toll, and his social life is unraveling. But that’s nothing compared to what’s really haunting him. Chase has done something cruel...something the perfect guy he pretends to be would never do. And it’s only a matter of time before he’s exposed.

In Ascension, mistakes can be deadly. And three girls—three beautiful, mysterious girls—are here to choose who will pay.

Em and Chase have been chosen."

After rating Fury on Goodreads, I skimmed through several reviews. Things seemed to be split down the middle: half of the ratings were glowing, the other half, however, was than ecstatic about this new series. I could see both sides to the argument.

Fury was a new take on karma hitting hard. The bad guys never win and the Furies made sure of that. Elizabeth Miles took an old myth and weaved it into a modern high school. Miles wrote an angry novel with raw emotions that tugged the readers’ heart this way and that. She took a small detail like the lack of proper parental guidance for young teens (striving to be accepted in a world all about money) and molded that into the actions of the characters. The lack of love and attention was a recurring trait in the families that wormed its way to the core of Em, Chase, Zach; violence and blatant disregard for others being the strongest traits.

On the negative side, Fury lacks a clear direction. It focused on Chase and Em with some scenes together, but in some ways they could have stood alone in separate novels. It was only towards the end that something stronger than blackmail tied the two together for a more cohesive plotline. Another reason why Fury didn’t live up to par with the hype was the characters. A unique plotline is definitely good, but the weak characters took Fury down several notches.

I found many of the characters despicable. I couldn’t have it in me to feel sorry for their troubles they created it. I found it hard to like the characters. Chase and Em didn’t seem able to sort realistic thoughts from idealistic ones. They were dreamers who followed their hearts and not their brains. But brains are very important for common sense and seeing as how some actions and motives by those two were idiotic, they needed to think with their brains more. They were obsessive, not listening to good advice, and saying useless words. Sometimes sorry doesn’t carry much worth, but actions speak so loudly. SPOILER: I wished Em had help take down some of the photos of Chase instead of just pitying him for those who have read it.

The side characters—except for Em’s best friends—were also less than awesome in terms of being likeable. Chase and Em were able, however, to redeem themselves for several chapters before the climax exploded. In those brief moments, they shone. The guilt, anger, and relief descended upon them and it was a magnificent display of emotions.

Slower in the beginning that required the readers to grit their teeth and carry on through the mindless drama, Fury does pick up its pace in the end. The ending exploded with action and karma coming around full force. If Miles had written with the same intensity as she had in the beginning, I would have greatly enjoyed Fury a lot more.

One final thing about Fury was its open-endedness. How does this one character know so much about Furies? What are her ties to them? Why does a girl who kisses her best friend’s boyfriend gets targeted by the Furies when clearly there are eviler and crueler people in the world? How do the Furies target people? I ultimately wanted to know about the Furies than any other character.

Fury is Gossip Girls with a mythological twist that will have readers who enjoy drama salivating for the next book.

Cover B

Source: ARC from Simon Pulse for tour

Published: 2011 August 30, hardcover

Amazon: preorder

Black Night

Black Night (Black Wings 2) by Christina Henry

Grade: 4 stars out of 5

If obstinate dead people were all that Maddy had to worry about, life would be much easier. But the best-laid plans of Agents and fallen angels often go awry. Deaths are occurring contrary to the natural order, Maddy's being stalked by foes inside and outside of her family, and her two loves-her bodyguard, Gabriel, and her doughnut-loving gargoyle, Beezle-have disappeared. But because Maddy is Lucifer's granddaughter, things are expected of her, things like delicate diplomatic missions to other realms.

Black Night is as hot and action-packed as its prequel, Black Wings. From the very first chapter, Christina Henry will take readers from the ground to the sky, from angels to werewolves to vampires to faeries. It’s almost impossible to settle down before being rocketed off to the next fight-for-your-life adventure that Maddy Black seems to be dealing more of.

The beginning lagged in my opinion that took a while for the plot to finally pick up. Throughout the entire novel, there was one question on everyone minds: who is killing the werewolves? That answer is ignored until the very end, which puts it in an awkward position. There was already a climax that proved to be a showstopper and yet Christina Henry went as far as to create another climax at the end shocked me. I had wanted Henry to weave the two problem, Gabriel’s disappearance and the murders, together and yet they were as a separate as can be. It proved to be a clunky read.

A problem that I originally had with Black Wings reappears yet again: the onslaught of names and paternal/maternal linage. At one point in the book I threw my hands up and thought to myself that everyone must be related to one another by some distant relative. They could be cousins (second twice removed blah blah), uncles, sisters, or something. Halfway through I resigned myself to not caring and ignored whether or not if a new character was related to Maddy.

Maddy for the matter remains to be the strong heroine who can deftly kick butt. With a sword that can do almost anything by her side and magic powers that rival many, Maddy tries to protect her life and her loved ones. As her power grows, as do the number of enemies she accumulates. Yet despite that, Maddy is still that rock-headed girl readers know from before. For all her flaws, Maddy continues be one my favorite heroine because she’s soft and hard at the same time. She doesn’t pretend to know everything and is unafraid to ask for help or shed a little tear. Even then, she’s hard when she doesn’t show her fear, tears, and sadness in front of the enemies.

The cast of Black Night develop in a way that I would have never imagined. Strangers become familiar, and ones that we thought we knew suddenly casts a shell around them. Gabriel is first and foremost the male lead I liked from Black Wings. In Black Night, Gabriel does not appear much. When he is rescued, his relationship to Maddy is altered completely. For better or for worst is to be determined in the sequel.

J.B. and Nathaniel’s personalities are finally unleashed in Black Night. I was able to understand them better and connect them to a level further than another-guy-that-might-like-Maddy. Their lives do not revolve around Maddy, but undeniable it is affected by her actions. I may have felt a bit bad for Nathaniel after Black Night (surprisingly since I did not like him in Black Wings).

The humor takes the constant pressure and stress of fight scenes off the novel whenever Beezle, the animated comic-relief character, talks.

With added characters, Black Night becomes a political battleground with fists and magic instead of pens and heated words. Black Wings series starts to shape itself as the chapters go by and hopefully by the third book, readers will find themselves with the full cast and the climax as a high. I am counting down and preparing myself for whatever next Christina Henry will throw at readers.

Cover B

Source: unsolicited ARC from Ace

Published: 2011 July 26
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Sirenz Blog Tour (Review and Interview)

Sirenz by Charlotte Bennardo and Natalie Zaman

Grade: 3 stars out of 5

Authors Charlotte Bennardo and Natalie Zaman take the saying "those shoes are to die for" to a whole new level in their debut novel, Sirenz.

Meg and Shar are forced to live together meaning they must find a way to set aside their differences and be on friendly terms. It’ll be hard when they run into a melt-your-pants-off hot guy and an irresistible pair of red heels. Those claws will surely come out. Tragedy hits when said hot guy gets killed (mostly due to Meg and Shar’s fault) yet opportunity strikes when Hades offers the two girls the chance to redo what they’ve just done for the same price of their service. They’re stuck between the devil and the deep blue.

In this dual POV novel, Sirenz takes an interesting adaption on Greek gods and goddesses. It defied what my original thought on such myths and personalities with its almost reality television like humor. Don’t think of Hades as a disgusting bastard, but a hot badass. Don’t think of Persephone as a victim, but a sexy cunning mastermind. And don’t think Shar and Meg will go willy-nilly with whatever Hades wants. They’re going to fight back, however crazy they may act.

With surprising twists and sensitive humor, Sirenz will hold the readers’ attention. Focusing on actions and consequences, Bennardo and Zaman tell a delectable, sometimes over the top, story. However, choppy at times and shallow in the other, Sirenz keeps me torn from loving it. I had difficulty relating to both Meg and Shar because they become too focus at the task at hand. Of course, if I was fighting for my life I would react the same way. The progression of Meg and Shar’s friendship was realistic and well done as the pacing was not too quick. I did find both girls strong on their own but can see how if the novel focused on just one, it would be tiresome and annoying in the end. Together they compliment each other.

Sirenz, while slow at times definitely picks up the fast for one of the most unique ending.

Cover B+

Source: authors for blog tour

Published: 2011, June 8

Amazon 

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Interview with the authors:

Give any past experiences, was co-writing a book harder or easier than writing solo?

Char: Both! It was harder because I work in manic bursts and I had to compromise on conflicts. It was easier because I have a built-in cheerleader, muse and nudge, and I only had to write half the book!

Nat: Writing is hard no matter how you slice it. Co-writing is different, and has its own challenges. Compromise and communication is key: you have to be able to see the other person's perspective on things, and you have to be able to work things out.

Was it planned ahead that one person would write one character and the other person would write another character? Or did the earlier drafts just have one continuous POV

Char/Nat: Sirenz started out with the two POVs, it just seemed to be a given. We tried a single POV for an agent who requested it, but it lost a lot of its humor and sparkle.

In your opinion, who is the "hottest" Greek/Roman god?

Char/Nat: Hades! Well, at least the way we portray him. As Lord of the Underworld, how could he be tempting and conniving if he wasn’t alluring? It’s a given that most of the gods in the two pantheons are physically beautiful so why should Hades be an exception, especially since he’s brother to Zeus and Poseidon (and the oldest!)?

Do you think a reality TV show starring Greek gods and goddess will be popular?

Char/Nat: Why not? If vampires, werewolves, monsters, aliens and zombies can do it, why not the gods? There’s not a single show with either Greek or Roman deities on air, and they’re a very popular theme in books right now. The last time we saw them was in the Xena and Hercules series. It's time to bring 'em back! Hollywood? We’re home, waiting by the phone…

Which punishment would you prefer: feathers all over your body or claws replacing your feet? I have to ask since you are giving up on one or the other when facing the punishments: little black dress or patent red heels as a must have item in the closet?

Char: Spare me the feathers! Not only am I too vain to give up sexy little black dresses, but I’m really allergic to feathers! I’d find some way to disguise my claw-footed feet…

Nat: I'd take the claw feet. I could do summertime boots and make them work. For me it would be little black dress(ES). I do multiples when it comes to black, much to Char's chagrin.

Are you guilty of buying an expensive piece of clothing for a special event and then returning it the following day?

Char: NEVER! If I buy something, I keep it! (Unless damaged.) I hate when people do that, like we can’t see the deodorant tracks, smell the sweat, or brush off the crumbs! Besides, it gives me an excuse to schedule another upscale outing…

Nat: I tend to be cheap with the clothes ($5 Vintage dress—yes!) and splurge on shoes and bags which I abuse the second I use them. FINAL SALE.

Since both Meg and Shar share a pair of lucky cat charms, I wanted to know if you guys own a pair as well?

Char/Nat: That particular scene from the book used to have a different lucky charm for the girls, but we had to change it because of copyright issues. Since we both have cats, Maneki Neko kitties seemed a natural fit—and they were easy to find. We both carry pink and black kitty charms—and we gave them out as swag too!

Have you ever worked as an intern and just hated it?

Char: No, never even thought about working as an intern (too stupid?) although I worked as a reporter/photographer for a small paper and made so little money I had to decide gas in the car or food for me. It was like being an unpaid intern.

Nat: Never had the pleasure. But I did have some “real” jobs that were less than stellar.

I was reading the acknowledgments page and wanted to ask Charlotte what she meant when she called Natalie a "straight man".

Char: I’m the jokester, prankster, tease. It’s a personal goal to make Nat blush, laugh, gasp, pee her pants or faint. Managed most of them.

Nat: Um, no. Maybe the blushing, I'll give her that. For the record, in a comedy team, the “straight man” delivers the more droll, serious lines, expressions, etc. This would make Char my “funny man.” I actually looked this up to make sure I got the definition right—and read that if a woman is the “funny man” she's called a “comic foil.” So many labels—go figure! 

And finally the last question: what was the last book you finished? Would you recommend it?

Char: Frankenstein’s Monster by Susan Heyboer O’Keefe. It’s an adult book, so there are some moments that aren’t appropriate (imho) for YA readers. Susan has crafted a story from the monster’s perspective, staying true to Mary Shelley’s original style. It’s literary yet not stuffy and a reader can go seamlessly from Shelley to O’Keefe. I’d recommend it.

Nat: I'm reading and rereading Laini Taylor's Daughter of Smoke and Bone. I was lucky to snag an ARC when we were at BEA in May. Wowzers is it good. Sorry you have to wait till end September to get it though...

Queen of the Dead

Queen of the Dead by Stacey Kade

Grade: 3 out of 5 stars

The Ghost, Alona, had agreed to be the “assistant” for The Goth, Will. Except now there’s another ghost-seer in town and Will is more than curious about the girl and her connections to his now dead father. 

It’s been ages since I finished the prequel to The Queen of the Dead, and for whatever reason I recall it being a fun, flirty, and new take on forbidden romance. Or perhaps it was a fun book and I’m not losing my mind. I’m rambling. The Queen of the Dead was much more action packed than I first anticipated. Some of the humor is lost, which was what made the first book so great. The Queen of the Dead held a more serious note revolving around the consequences of death and the affects it could have to a family.

As readers are acquainted to the society of nowadays ghost busters, Will’s life becomes better known. His father was another ghost seer and had been part of a bigger picture. A picture that seemed to not include Will. When Will becomes involved with the same society, it brings more questions than answers as much as it frustrates me. It also brings forth more drama between him and Alona. The course that the book takes definitely surprised me. I became the audience and didn’t voice any opinions with the new change in pace. I just sat and thought about it; the book was very different than I hoped, but not in a completely bad way.

The romance seemed to sway in The Queen of the Dead, which was another reason why the book wasn’t as fun as the first. I found Alona to be hard headed and childish and the temptation to hit her grew. As with any road, there are a few bumps and this time, expect some bruises.

With any continuation to a series, smaller details are explored and the death of Will’s father, Will’s best friend, and Alona’s death are put on the spotlight. Hopefully the third book will continue on and delve deeper into the tragedy.

The ending is one big shocker. There is no way I could have predicted the outcome. Kade keeps the readers on their toes in anticipation for the next installment.

Cover C+/B-

the mood of the cover was different than the one in the book

Published: 2011 May 31

Source: review copy from Hyperion

Amazon

Haunting Violet

Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey

Grade: 3 stars out of 5

When her mother’s fake séance goes wrong, Violet is forced to step up. Her newfound spiritual powers will either make her the newest superstar or kill her when an avenging young girl wants Violet to solve her death. 

I fell in love with Alyxandra Harvey’s debut novel (Hearts at Stake), but fell shortly out of love with her two sequels. For me, Haunting Violet was a welcoming read as it strayed away from the vampires and into the realm of ghosts. Different readers have different preferences when it comes to books. I, myself, love paranormal romances. They’re like chocolate. But gluttony is a sin and too much can give a girl a stomachache. Haunting Violet was just another paranormal romance that had me intrigued, but I soon discovered (in addition to many other paranormal books) that it was a disappointment.

Before I start talking about what I found troubling about Haunting Violet, let’s start with some happy thoughts. I found the premise exciting. Violet was a well-likeable girl who didn’t throw tantrums when things didn’t go her way. Her love interests were sweet and one of them bordered on sexy (but not the dark, dangerous and bad sexy). One particular character that stood out that I am sure many of the readers will not like was Violet’s mother.

I found her to be such a fascinating character that has had her ups-and-downs. She was a housemaid that was forced to go to on her own when she was found pregnant. She created a world for herself, clothed and fed Violet. There is a deep level of resentment she holds against Violet and it’s understandable. While she wasn’t the most well-liked character, she was one of the strongest and I could feel her charisma through the pages.

I found Haunting Violet to be less than stellar and in need of a clear direction. The random bumbling to towns and the hazy plotline left me turning to another book. What I expected was a good mystery with an air of forbidden romance as Violet deftly lays down the clues of the death. Instead I read about Violet suddenly founding herself fancying her mother’s helper Colin (who, as Harvey keeps bringing up, used to always tease Violet and hide bugs in her things when they were younger). Her new self-consciousness around him is only bolstered when the charming (and again as Harvey keeps pointing out, the wealthy) Xavier tries to court Violet. Kissing two guys in one day? What a scandal!

Haunting Violet is an endless barrage of names and gossip that serves absolutely no purpose besides confusing the readers from trying to figure out the murderer. And that’s really hard to do when the entire thing gets dropped for a couple of chapters as Violet suddenly has amazing spiritual powers and understands the “third eye” from reading a book. In one day. I wished that Harvey spent more time taking time to explain the little details. Her mother’s affair; Colin’s history with his mother; Marjorie, the family’s maid I’m guessing, seems to vanish in thin air; Lord Jasper’s “powers” and his dead wife.

Haunting Violet has a good framework. It was the finer points, the lack of details or too many details in certain areas that drove the book to nowhere.

Cover B-/C+

I originally love the cover, but now I find the colors a bit muted and the girl awkward.

Published: 2011, June 21; hardcover

Source: ARC from Walker Books for review

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