Book Review: Forget You by Jennifer Echols

Summary: 

Why can't you choose what you forget...and what you remember?  There’s a lot Zoey would like to forget. Like how her father has knocked up his twenty-four-year old girlfriend. Like Zoey’s fear that the whole town will find out about her mom’s nervous breakdown. Like darkly handsome bad boy Doug taunting her at school. Feeling like her life is about to become a complete mess, Zoey fights back the only way she knows how, using her famous attention to detail to make sure she’s the perfect daughter, the perfect student, and the perfect girlfriend to ultra-popular football player Brandon.

But then Zoey is in a car crash, and the next day there’s one thing she can’t remember at all—the entire night before. Did she go parking with Brandon, like she planned? And if so, why does it seem like Brandon is avoiding her? And why is Doug—of all people— suddenly acting as if something significant happened between the two of them? Zoey dimly remembers Doug pulling her from the wreck, but he keeps referring to what happened that night as if it was more, and it terrifies Zoey to admit how much is a blank to her. Controlled, meticulous Zoey is quickly losing her grip on the all-important details of her life—a life that seems strangely empty of Brandon, and strangely full of Doug.

Review: 

This was another great read from Jennifer Echols.  While Going too Far was my favorite of Echols' two books, I really enjoyed Forget You.  I think Jennifer Echols is the new queen of YA romantic suspense!  Her writing makes me fall in love and leaves me guessing until the very end. 


I have to say that I wanted to slap Zoey for most of the book.  She clings stubbornly to the belief that Brandon is her boyfriend, when he is in fact anything but.  She hurts other people over and over by insisting that she and Brandon are together.  I know she has amnesia, but come on!  Anyone could see those flashing red obvious signs showing the truth about Brandon.

I thought the side characters were well developed and added a lot to the story.  I love Echols' writing style and her attention to detail.  I'm looking forward to her next release!

Just One Gripe: 

I really had a hard time identifying with Zoey.

The Best Thing About This Book: 

I loved being in the dark along with Zoey and finding out the truth about what happened one snippet at a time.

Appropriate for a younger audience: 

Probably.

Score: 

Characters: 4/5

Plot: 4/5

Setting/Imagery: 3/5

Originality: 3/5

Ending: 4/5

Total Score:  18/25

Book Review: Angelfire (Angelfire #1) by Courtney Allison Moulton

Summary:

When seventeen-year-old Ellie starts seeing reapers - monstrous creatures who devour humans and send their souls to Hell - she finds herself on the front lines of a supernatural war between archangels and the Fallen and faced with the possible destruction of her soul.

A mysterious boy named Will reveals she is the reincarnation of an ancient warrior, the only one capable of wielding swords of angelfire to fight the reapers, and he is an immortal sworn to protect her in battle. Now that Ellie's powers have been awakened, a powerful reaper called Bastian has come forward to challenge her. He has employed a fierce assassin to eliminate her - an assassin who has already killed her once.

While balancing her dwindling social life and reaper-hunting duties, she and Will discover Bastian is searching for a dormant creature believed to be a true soul reaper. Bastian plans to use this weapon to ignite the End of Days and to destroy Ellie's soul, ending her rebirth cycle forever. Now, she must face an army of Bastian's most frightening reapers, prevent the soul reaper from consuming her soul, and uncover the secrets of her past lives - including truths that may be too frightening to remember. 

Release Date:  February 15, 2011
Publisher:  Harper Collins
Age Group:  Young Adult
Pages:  464
Source:  NetGalley


Review:

I had a hard time getting into this book.  I'm not sure why exactly.  My best guess is that Angelfire felt like it took itself too seriously.  I think that the tone of YA books is hard to get right: too light and the book has limited crossover appeal, too heavy and the book feels weighed down.  The premise of Ellie's reincarnation was focused on really heavily, and that got old for me.

I also had a hard time connecting with Ellie: I felt like she was kind of a spoiled brat who always got her way.  When faced with adversity she finally rises to the challenge, which really saved the book for me.  Ellie's interactions with her dad were some of my favorite parts of the story.  I loved how she stands up to him!



There is a lot of fighting in this book, something that I think will appeal to a male audience.  Fight scenes are not my thing, but these were descriptive without being overly gory.


I feel like I would enjoy the next book in this series more, since it will bypass the world-building, which is what usually drags down first-in-a-series books for me.  I do think Angelfire was a strong debut, it just wasn't one of my favorites.

Just One Gripe:

The fight scenes felt repetitive.

The Best Thing About This Book:

The development of the love story.  it was heartfelt, tender, and forbidden---my favorite!

Appropriate for a younger audience:

Yes

Score:

Characters: 2/5

Plot: 2/5

Setting/Imagery: 3/5

Originality: 3/5

Ending: 3/5

Total Score:  13/25

Book Review: Planning to Live by Heather Wardell

Summary:

Determined to lose weight for her best friend's wedding, goal-obsessed Rhiannon flees her parents' Christmas Day feast to avoid overeating but her car skids off the deserted road into a tree. Trapped and bleeding, with her cell phone out of reach, she struggles to escape, and to accept that she's spent her whole life planning but hasn't ever really lived. Will she get the chance to change that?

Review:

This was such a powerful read.  I wasn't expecting to be so moved, or to take the book's message to heart like I have.  This book reminded me in such a good way of how I felt reading Gayle Forman's If I Stay.

Rhiannon is a thirty-something perfectionist.  She holds herself to unattainable standards and is always beating herself up about her weight and not being good enough at every part of her life.  She has a tragic past, which is revealed little by little as she reflects on her life throughout the story.  Rhiannon gets in a car wreck on the way home from her parents' house on Christmas Day.  The whole reason why she's driving home in a blizzard is so ironic, because she's trying to escape the temptation of fattening foods at her parents' house. 

The story starts with Rhiannon stuck in her car, just off the road, and she can't reach her phone to call for help.  While she waits to be rescued, she thinks back on her life.  The entire book alternates between Rhiannon in her car in the present day and flashbacks.  Sometimes this kind of writing style can be choppy, but it works well here and keeps the story moving at a fast pace.  I found this book impossible to put down.  Wardell grabbed me right from the beginning and I finished this book really quickly because I couldn't wait to find out if Rhiannon gets her happily ever after or not. 

Just One Gripe:
Don't judge this book by its cover.  The cookies actually play a large role in the story, and have a special meaning.

The Best Thing About This Book:
The best thing about Planning to Live is the positive message.  You'll feel better about yourself and will appreciate your life more after reading this book.  How many books can you honestly say that about?

Appropriate for a younger audience:

Yes

Score:

Characters: 5/5

Plot: 5/5

Setting/Imagery: 5/5

Originality: 4/5

Ending: 4/5

Total Score:  23/25

*I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an impartial review.

Book Review: Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Summary:

Clara has known she was part-angel ever since she turned fourteen two years ago. But now she is finally getting visions of what her Purpose-a rite of passage for every part-angel-is to be, and it happens to involve a gorgeous guy. Of course, there is the raging forest fire surrounding them, too. When Clara's Purpose leads her family to Wyoming, Clara finds the boy of her visions, Christian, but complicating her mission are her growing feelings for another guy, Tucker. As the day in her visions draws closer, Clara discovers that her Purpose may play into a larger struggle between angels and Black Wings-fallen angels who spread sadness and misery wherever they go. But when the fire erupts and both Christian and Tucker are in danger, who will she choose to save?
 

From debut novelist Cynthia Hand comes a riveting tale full of supernatural powers, forbidden romance, and the choice between fulfilling your destiny or following your heart.

Release Date:  January 4, 2011
Publisher:  Harper Collins
Age Group:  Young Adult
Pages:  448
Source:  NetGalley


Review:

This was the best angel book I have read yet (that includes Hush Hush, Covet, Angelfire, and Fallen).  Unearthly starts by introducing us to our heroine, Clara, who knows that she is part-angel. Clara's mom is part-angel also, and they have a really close bond.  I enjoyed reading about their relationship---it was nice to read about a young girl in YA literature who actually likes her parent(s).  


Clara is waiting to receive her Purpose---which she must fulfill as a part-angel, aka angel blood.  She starts having visions and knows that her Purpose is finally being revealed to her.  The visions include a forest fire and a handsome young man.  Clara and her mom figure out that the visions are taking place in Wyoming and Clara's mom moves the family to Wyoming in order to complete Clara's purpose.  


Soon after moving, Clara discovers the boy in her vision is Christian, whom she instantly starts falling for, despite the fact that he has a girlfriend.  Her new friend Wendy's twin brother, Tucker, is a source of constant ridicule and occasional outright hostility to Clara.  Clara can't figure out why Tucker hates her so much, until she starts to think that he may actually like her.  What follows is a sort of love triangle, which is very nicely developed.   Clara ends up having to choose who she saves when the day of the fire finally comes.  Her choice and the consequences following are the crux of the story.  

While angels are not my favorite paranormal creature to read about (I really don't know why that is) I enjoyed Unearthly.  The writing was good, the relationships were very well-developed, and the love story was very tender.  I'm looking forward to reading more from Cynthia Hand.

Just One Gripe:

It felt a little slow to me.  This is a constant problem for me with first-in-a-series books.  The world building always feels slow to me.  I think this is more of a personal problem than a problem with the writing here.

The Best Thing About This Book:

The angel blood premise.

Appropriate for a younger audience: 
Yes

Score:

Characters: 4/5

Plot: 3/5

Setting/Imagery: 4/5

Originality: 4/5

Ending: 3/5

Total Score:  18/25

Book Review: Her Best Friend by Sarah Mayberry

Summary:

What's a girl to do when she's secretly in love with a friend and he's married to someone else? She gets over it. That's what Amy Parker has done. Rather than lose her best bud Quinn Whitfield with an ill-timed, crazy confession of affection, she's taken the smart route. She's eased away from him. Just enough to get past the unrequited bits. And you know, it's working.

Until the day Quinn announces he's now single. That's right. He's single. And he wants to hang out. With her. Get reconnected the way they used to be.

Oh, this is so not good for Amy's equilibrium. Daily doses of Quinn remind her of everything she loves about him. But if he's free…and she's free…well, maybe the time has come for one of those crazy confessions.

Review:

Thank you to The Book Vixen for sending me a free copy of this book!  I was a little scared when I saw the front of this book: I didn't like the cover much (I thought it looked kind of cheesy) and I wasn't sure what a Harlequin Super Romance was.  Does a super romance have more romantic scenes?  I really didn't know, and I guess I still don't, except that this was a fun, light-hearted read that I enjoyed.  There were surprisingly few romantic scenes in the book, although there was lots of tension and build-up.  The building up of a relationship is my favorite part, so I really liked that about Her Best Friend.  There was also a nice plot, something that it seems many romances lack.  I enjoyed this book a lot while I was reading it---it's not the kind of book that will stay with me forever but it was fun while it lasted. 

 
Just One Gripe:

The phrase "his/her/my best friend" was over-used. 

The Best Thing About This Book:

The romantic tension and happy ending.

Appropriate for a younger audience:

No

Score:

Characters: 3/5

Plot: 3/5

Setting/Imagery: 3/5

Originality: 3/5

Ending: 4/5

Total Score:  16/25

Sunshine Award

Christy from Southern Sassy Things has given us an award!

We're passing this award on to some of our blogging friends who add a bright spot to life:

The Book Vixen

Juju @ Tales of Whimsy

Sarah @ Sarah's Book Reviews 

Melissa @ I Swim for Oceans

Rummanah @ Books in the Spotlight

Some of these bloggers are not accepting awards, but we wanted to honor you anyway.  Thank you so much Christy!

Book Review: Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Summary: 

Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -the deliria- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the governments demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Haloway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.

Release Date: February 1, 2011
Publisher:  Harper Collins
Age Group:  Young Adult
Pages:  440
Source:  NetGalley

Review: 

This was an excellent read!  I enjoyed every single page, and found myself checking to see what page I was on to see how much longer the thrill that is Delirium would last.  I tried to read more slowly than usual, and even considered putting the book down to read something else for a while, but my efforts were in vain: Delirium is the kind of page-turner that is impossible to put down.

Parallels between Oliver's world in Delirium and other popular dystopian novels (for me, they were 1984, The Handmaid's Tale, and The Giver) will be inevitable.  I think it's nearly impossible to read a book and not compare it to others in the genre.  I know that it is hard for me not to compare books, especially when the book in question is as good as Delirium is.  Delirium is one of those books that will easily hold its own in comparisons.

Lena is a different kind of heroine: she is a believer in the cure for the disease that is love and eagerly counts down the days until her scheduled treatment.  She wants nothing more than to be happy and content.  All of her beliefs are challenged; however, when she meets a young man by chance one day and starts feeling the beginnings of the deliria.  At first, Lena fights the impulse to be near him, and stubbornly clings to her hopes of placid normalcy after the much-anticipated treatment.  Over time, though, she can't resist the feelings being around him evoke and she gives in to love.  This part of the book really brought me back to how I felt when I fell in love with my husband.  Remember that can't eat, can't think feeling?  How all you wanted was to be with them?  How everything they did was perfect and you could spend hours in their presence and feel like only minutes had passed?  That's what I was remembering reading about Lena falling in love.  Lots of YA novels bring me back to this feeling (I think that's why I enjoy YA so much) but Delirium brought it to a whole new level.  I loved that about this book!

There is a lot of attention to detail in this book, such as the quotes from different publications of the time at the beginning of each chapter that tell us bit by bit about the world Lena lives in.  The imagery is outstanding without being overly descriptive---I could picture so clearly different places in Portland, it felt like I was right there with Lena.

Readers hoping for a mindless read and a superficial happily ever after will be disappointed.  This is the kind of read that people talk about, and feel the need to talk about after they've finished.  Delirium ended the way I wish Mockingjay would have ended.  If you want to know what I mean, you'll have to read it for yourself (or email me and I'll spill the beans).  I would recommend this book to anyone.

Just One Gripe: 

The ending felt a little predictable to me.

The Best Thing About This Book: 

The whole book is about Lena growing up.  I think her personal growth really made the book for me.

Appropriate for a younger audience: 

Yes

Score: 

Characters: 5/5

Plot: 5/5

Setting/Imagery: 5/5

Originality: 5/5

Ending: 4/5

Total Score:  24/25

Book to Movie News: Breaking Dawn & If I Stay

Breaking Dawn: If you haven't heard (and that means you have been hiding under a rock that avoids all Twilight news) then you know Renesmee has been cast and the Twilight gang is in Louisiana! This picture has been floating all around the internet of Mackenzie Foy (aka Renesmee). Doesn't she look A LOT like Kristen Stewart?! 

Louisiana is only 30 minutes away and I would be lying if I haven't thought of "just happening to have dinner near the cast of Twilight and reducing myself to school girl giggles"... 

BUT I won't do it for 3 reasons: 1) My mom would kill me 2.) my daughter already tells my husband (every time she sees something Twilight) "Look Papa that's Momma's Edward Cullen" and 3.) I will respect their privacy and hope they make a FABULOUS movie... then I will sit in a theater @ midnight with all my girlfriends and giggle like a little school girl!

If I Stay: is in the pre-production process and Dakota Fanning has been cast to play the lead role of Mia,  according to Variety. Katherine Hardwicke was originally going to direct the movie but a new director has been announced, Heitor Dhalia. If the movie is half as good as the book it will be a box office hit!

So what do you think, love or hate it?

 

Book Review: Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols

Summary:

All Meg has ever wanted is to get away. Away from high school. Away from her backwater town. Away from her parents who seem determined to keep her imprisoned in their dead-end lives. But one crazy evening involving a dare and forbidden railroad tracks, she goes way too far... and almost doesn't make it back.

John made a choice to stay. To enforce the rules. To serve and protect. He has nothing but contempt for what he sees as childish rebellion, and he wants to teach Meg a lesson she won't soon forget. But Meg pushes him to the limit by questioning everything he learned at the police academy. And when he pushes back, demanding to know why she won't be tied down, they will drive each other to the edge - and over...

Review:

I loved this book!  I read it in one sitting one day after work---I started it, wanting to read for about thirty minutes, and I didn't get up from my couch until I finished it two and a half hours later.  I was drawn into the story from the first page and could not rest until I found out how Meg and John's stories ended.

Meg at first glance seems like your typical wild child.  She constantly pushes the envelope.  As the story progresses, you glean little bits of her character until you realize that there is something deeper going on.  John is not all he seems either.  Both have secrets that they keep hidden to protect themselves.  When they finally let someone in, it's huge and neither one likes feeling vulnerable. 

This was my first time reading Jennifer Echols and I will definitely be back for more.  This story left me with a smile on my face, and I was still thinking about Meg and John the next day.

Just One Gripe:

After all that tension and build up the culmination of the book and the love story left me wanting more details!

The Best Thing About This Book:

The character development.

Appropriate for a younger audience:

Yes

Score:

Characters: 4/5

Plot: 4/5

Setting/Imagery: 4/5

Originality: 4/5 

Ending: 4/5

Total Score:  20/25

When I'm Not Reading

Hi everyone!  Today Missie @ The Unread Reader has featured me on her weekly "When I'm Not Reading" post.  If you want to find out what I do when I'm not reading, click here! 

This post was so much fun!  Do you want to join up?  You can create your own "When I'm Not Reading" post and be part of Missie's Thursday feature.  See her site for details.

Book Review: Afterlife (Evernight #4) by Claudia Gray

Summary:  (Contains spoilers for Evernight, Stargazer, and Hourglass)

The fourth book in this electrifying vampire series has all the romance, suspense, and page-turning drama that have made Claudia Gray’s Evernight books runaway successes.

Having become what they feared most, Bianca and Lucas face a terrifying new reality. They must return to Evernight Academy, Lucas as a vampire and Bianca as a wraith. But Lucas is haunted by demons, both personal and supernatural. Bianca must help him fight the evil inside him, combat the forces determined to drive them apart—and find the power to claim her destiny at last.

Readers have fallen in love with Bianca and Lucas, and they will be thrilled to read this exciting conclusion to their romantic adventure.

Release Date:  March 8, 2011
Publisher:  Harper Collins
Age Group:  Young Adult
Pages:  368
Source:  NetGalley  

Review: 

This was a perfect ending to a unique YA vampire series.  I have really enjoyed this series, and think Claudia Gray did a great job of setting the Evernight series apart from others of its kind.  The romance, plot twists and character development lend themselves to page-turning books that are very difficult to put down.  Gray surprised me  at least once in each of the first three books and did not disappoint with Afterlife.  I think I let out little shocked gasps of surprise at least twice.  I love being surprised like that!

I had a little bit of trouble with the addition of the wraiths to the story.  You may or may not know that I am really scared of ghosts and always steer clear of books with ghosts in them.  Mary Downing Hahn ruined me on ghosts when I read Wait Till Helen Comes as a child.  That book affected me for years.  I remember my mom praying with me that I would forget about Helen and that God would comfort me to help me believe that Helen was not coming for me.  Even now, I remember how scared I was: just typing the title and those sentences gave me chills!  Anyway, the point of that story was that ghosts freak me out something terrible but I was able to read the Evernight series without too much trouble.

Afterlife had more going on than its predecessors.  There were several layers to the story and the plot twisted in ways I was not expecting.  Just when I thought I had some of the characters figured out, they would go and surprise me again.  One of my favorite characters in the series is Ranulf.  I think he is so funny, and I love the camaraderie he and Vic have.  Some of the things Ranulf says are hilarious---and I can just picture him with his bowl cut and serious face.

And now for my thoughts on the ending: highlight the text below if you want to see how I felt.

I wasn't completely thrilled with the conclusion to Balthazar, Patrice and Vic's stories.  I wanted more details about what happens to them.  An epilogue would have been nice.  But, I was very happy with how things ended between Bianca and Lucas.  I thought it was so nice NOT to have the typical happily-ever-after, together-forever ending I was expecting.

I was so thrilled to get this book on NetGalley.  I did not treat the privilege of reading it early lightly, and I was so happy to find out how the characters I've loved from the beginning spend the rest of their existence. 

Just One Gripe: 

The wraiths did freak me out a little.

The Best Thing About This Book: 

The surprises.

Appropriate for a younger audience: 

Yes

Score: 

Characters:  4/5

Plot: 4/5

Setting/Imagery: 4/5

Originality: 4/5

Ending: 4/5

Total Score:  20/25

Book Review: Glimpse by Stacey Benefiel

Summary:

Zellie Wells has a devastating crush on Avery Adams, the son of her mom’s high school sweetheart. At her sixteenth birthday party, held in the basement of her dad’s church, she finally finds the courage to talk to him. Turns out, the devastating crush is mutual. As Avery takes her hand and leads her out onto the makeshift dance floor, Zellie is overwhelmed by her first vision of his death; shocking because not only are they both covered in his blood, but they’re old, like 35, and she is pregnant.  Afraid to tell anyone about the vision, (she’d just be labeled a freaky black magic witch, right?) Zellie keeps the knowledge of Avery’s future to herself and tries to act like any other teenager in love. When they get caught on their way to a secret rendezvous by her mom and his dad, they are forbidden to see each other.  Convinced that their parents are freaking out unnecessarily, Avery and Zellie vow to be together no matter what. They continue their relationship in secret until Zellie learns that their parents are just trying to prevent her and Avery from suffering like they did. The visions are hereditary, they’re dangerous, and if they stay together the visions will come true. Now Zellie must choose between severing all ties with Avery, like her mom did to prevent his father’s death, and finding a way to change Avery’s future.

Review:

Thank you to The Book Vixen for recommending this book to me and to Stacey Benefiel for providing me with a copy for review!  


I really enjoyed this sweet story about a preacher's daughter falling in love and discovering hidden truths about herself and the people around her.  Zellie (short for Hazel) is a perky young girl with a huge crush on Avery Adams.  She stares at him in church and at school and dreams of having the nerve to talk to him.  Little does she know that he secretly feels the same way.  I thought the interaction between Zellie and Avery was so sweet.  They were both so awkward and I really enjoyed the development of their relationship. 

The first part of the book introduces us to Avery, Zellie and their respective families.  Right away, we get the sense that something is different about Zellie: when visiting sick parishioners with her mom after church, Zellie correctly guesses what's wrong with every single person. This is a weekly game between Zellie and her mom and that's when we first get the inkling that something deeper is going on with Zellie.   

Zellie finally talks to Avery and they dance at her birthday party.  That's when the story really took off for me.  Like any first in a series, the world-building parts felt a little slow to me.  This is a struggle I often have with first in a series novels.  About halfway through, Glimpse starts going in a really neat and unexpected direction and that's when I couldn't put the book down.  I'm not going to say more because I don't want to spoil anything. 


I enjoyed the writing style, plot, and romantic suspense in Glimpse. I will definitely be reading the next book in the series, Glimmer, out November 1, 2010! 

Just One Gripe:

The first part felt a little slow.

The Best Thing About This Book:

The unique paranormal twist.

Appropriate for a younger audience:

Yes

Score:

Characters: 4/5

Plot: 4/5

Setting/Imagery: 4/5

Originality: 4/5

Ending: 4/5

Total Score:  20/25

Book Review: Death's Excellent Vacation edited by Charlaine Harris and Toni L.P. Kelner

Summary:

New York Times bestselling authors Charlaine Harris, Katie MacAlister, Jeaniene Frost-plus Lilith Saintcrow, Jeff Abbott, and more-send postcards from the edge of the paranormal world to fans who devoured Wolfsbane and Mistletoe and Many Bloody Returns.

With an all-new Sookie Stackhouse story and twelve other original tales, editors Charlaine Harris and Toni L. P. Kelner bring together a stellar collection of tour guides who offer vacations that are frightening, funny, and touching for the fanged, the furry, the demonic, and the grotesque. Learn why it really can be an endless summer-for immortals.

 
Review:

This book was a library impulse-grab.  I saw it on the new releases shelf as I was passing through and grabbed it immediately when I saw that there were a new Sookie Stackhouse (#10.1) and Night Huntress (#4.5) stories included. 

There are thirteen short stories by different authors in this book.  Please be aware that I read only the stories by Charlaine Harris and Jeaniene Frost.  I planned to read the others, but as you all know, I'm no fan of short stories and another book caught my attention in the meantime.  Imagine that!

Charlaine Harris' short story Two Blondes is my favorite Sookie short story yet.  Sookie and Pam are on what Pam calls a short vacation but what is really an errand for Eric.  Is it just me, or does Sookie run a lot of errands for Eric?  The girls get into some trouble, as is expected, and end up auditioning as dancers for a gentlemans' club.  Two Blondes was tons of fun!

Jeaniene Frost's short story occurs after the events of Destined For an Early Grave (Night Huntress #4).  Cat and Bones are on a job as a favor to Uncle Don.  They are protecting a young heiress from supernatural threats, and meet up with Justina along the way.  Justina is recovering from the death of Rodney and being turned into a vampire.  I just love these characters and Frost's world!  

Both of these short stories were great fun; however, they left me wanting more, as all short stories do.  For fans of the series, they are not to be missed!  I would not read these short stories if you have not read the books in order yet, as they do contain spoilers to the previous books. 

Just One Gripe:
The same as all short stories---I just want more!

The Best Thing About This Book:

Getting a sneak peak into the worlds in between novel releases.

Appropriate for a younger audience:

No

Score:

Characters:  5/5

Plot: 3/5

Setting/Imagery: 4/5

Originality: 4/5

Ending: 4/5

Total Score:  20/25

Book Review: Dead Politician Society: A Clare Vengel Undercover Novel by Robin Spano

Summary: 

After the mayor falls down dead in the middle of a speech, a clandestine student society claims credit for his demise.

Clare Vengel is given her first undercover assignment: to pose as a student and penetrate the society. A streetwise amateur mechanic, Clare finds university a foreign land, and has trouble creating an in with the suspects. She quickly alienates a popular professor and loses the respect of police superiors.

When another politician is killed, Clare kicks herself into high gear. She forges friendships with students and makes inroads into the secret society.

As the body count rises, Clare realizes that the murderer she has to unmask is someone she has come to consider a friend. She only hopes that the friend doesn't unmask her first.

Release Date:  September 1, 2010
Publisher:  ECW Press
Age Group:  Adult Fiction
Pages:  240
Source:  NetGalley

Review: 

Have you ever changed purses for the season and unexpectedly found a twenty dollar bill in the bottom of your old purse?  Whenever that happens to me I immediately spend the money on something totally frivolous like Godiva chocolate or a manicure.  It's the best guilty pleasure, isn't it?

I had that same feeling reading Dead Politician Society.  This was an unexpected find and I really enjoyed it.  I discovered this book when I read an interview with Robin Spano on Daisy Chain Book Reviews and left a comment.  Robin then responded to my comment and told me that her book is available for free on NetGalley.  Yay!  The summary really intrigued me so I requested the title and then started reading immediately after approval.

Dead Politician Society is written in the third person and alternates point of view from chapter to chapter.  We follow several characters throughout the story, with the main character being Clare, the undercover cop.  Clare is a real fly-by-the seat of your pants type of girl.  I like living vicariously through these types of characters, since I am so Type A that I could never live so moment-to-moment.  Clare's new to the force and this is her first undercover assignment.  Politicians around Toronto have been dying due to what police think is poisoning and the police suspect a popular political science teacher.  Clare goes undercover as a college student to learn more.

Clare bumbles her way through the investigation, being constantly castigated by her unappreciative boss.  She narrows the list of suspects and does some good police work in the process, which is wholly unappreciated by her superiors.  Clare figures out who the killer is but the reader is left in the dark until the very end of the story.  When we do discover the culprit, it makes perfect sense; however, it was the person I was least expecting.  I like being left in the dark like that---it kept me turning the pages until the very end.

Overall Dead Politician Society was a lot of fun.  Despite the heavy subject matter, it was a light-hearted read.  I'll definitely be on the lookout for Robin Spano's next book!

Just One Gripe: 

The characters were my favorite thing about this book.  However, until I got to really know them all, it was a little confusing just because there were so many characters featured in each separate POV chapter.

The Best Thing About This Book: 

The well-developed cast of characters: Matthew the cad, Johnathan the lovesick computer geek, Susannah the liberal, and Annabel the intrepid reporter; these are just a few of the characters followed throughout the book.

Appropriate for a younger audience: 

No

Score: 

Characters: 5/5

Plot: 4/5

Setting/Imagery: 4/5

Originality: 4/5

Ending: 4/5

Total Score:  21/25

Pre-Order A Signed Copy of Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

Maggie is hosting a GREAT giveaway to promote the release of the final installment of the Wolves of Mercy Falls series, FOREVER. If you follow our book reviews you know that this series has been a heated debate between Kelli & I :) Although I will say, we are now on the same team after reading Linger. I had a chance to meet Maggie a few months ago and she was awesome! Yiiu can see pictures on our facebook page.

Forever is available for pre-order @ Fountain Bookstore (click the link). I am going to order from them this time *fingers crossed I get a doodled wolf in my copy... wink, wink Maggie*

To see the covers of all three books click HERE for the announcement. 

To see reviews: Shiver & Linger.