ARC Review: Cinder by Marissa Meyert

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Pages: 387

Expected publication: January 3rd 2012 (Feiwel & Friends)

Series: Lunar Chronicles (1)

Final Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Further info: Goodreads | Amazon

Find the author online: Twitter | Website

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future. 

My Review

In the first chapters of Cinder, debut author Marissa Meyer's intricately woven retelling of Cinderella, we meet Cinder, a cyborg with courage, heart, and spunk.  Meyer does a fantastic job of weaving in elements of the original story - the step-mother and two step-sisters, though one is less wicked than in Cinderella, and a handsome prince.  There's even a ball, which Cinder longs to attend, all the while fearing she won't fit in.  Cinder's vulnerability and the scorn she faces from those who know she is a cyborg rang true and valid throughout the book, and it was how she handled that ridicule and her fear of never finding a place she belonged that immediately endeared Cinder to me.  I connected with her in the opening pages of her story, and at the end of Cinder, I felt a strong kindship with the spirited heroine.  Cinder herself is loyal to those she loves, strong, and no-nonesense at times; she has a huge heart and dreams of escape, of a better life - something surely we can all identify with. 

The plot of Cinder moves along very nicely; I was never bored, and unlike some novels, where scenes are thrown in to pad the bare areas, or stripped to keep the pace clipping along, every word felt like it ought to be savored, and each scene felt as if it played its part and purpose.  In that aspect, this book was what I was looking for - it was a good length, but Marissa Meyer knew when and exactly where to stop in order to leave me hanging. 

The world building was lacking in some ways - World War 4 was alluded to but nothing more - leaving me wondering what happened to the world as we know it, and how New Bejiing rose to power.  The plague constantly worrying the leaders served as an effective ticking timebomb, never giving the reader time to forget the looming threat.  I also wanted to know more about the Lunars, though I suspect they'll continue to play into the sequel/s.  Levana, the Lunar Queen, was ice-cold and probably because I loathed her, I of course wanted to know more about her. 

At time, the similiarties to Cinderella were charming and easy to spot, but never obvious in an annoying way; rather, they added to the story, whether it was advancing the plot, or making a character sympathetic or non-sympathetic.  Marissa Meyer clearly put a great deal of thought and heart into her characters - most of them were very well-fleshed out, and unique.  There were a few whom I wanted to know more about, that I am sincerely hoping we will see a lot more of in the sequel/s. 

One thing that let me down slightly was that early on, I predicted the book's twist, which was somewhat disappointing, especially considering I usually try NOT to think about how a book is going to turn out - I prefer to be surprised.  To me, the twist was very easy to see coming, but that didn't detract much from my enjoyment of the book. Cinder was still a superb read. 

Marissa Meyer knows how to write a book, plain and simple.  Relationships were explored, her characters have genuine and fascinating voices and personalities, even though Cinder's point of view was the only one we saw.  We have villians, and quirky robots, a fun menagerie of non-stereotypes.  The interaction between Kai and Cinder left me wanting so much more, and while there was not much romance, there was enough of a bond developing between them in a slow-burn, that I was hanging on the edge of my seat during their scenes.  The two of them fascinate me, and I especially look forward to learning more about Prince Kaito. 

Overall, Marissa Meyer's stunningly driven retelling of Cinderella, CINDER, is a fascinating twist on a beloved classic, managing to at once remind the reader of the age-old rags-to-riches story while breathing new life into the children's tale, bringing it into a new demographic.  I finished Cinder over the course of about two nights, and I simply had to keep reading, in order to know what happened next to our heroine, whom I deeply admired.  Cinder and its characters will stay with me, making the wait until the sequel, titled (for now) Scarlett, oh-so-long.   

Disclaimer

In accordance with FTC guidelines, I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  No money or compensation of any sort exchanged hands.   I review books with no intention of monetary gain; rather, I review books out of my love of reading.

ARC Review: Obsidian by Jennifer L Armentrout

Obsidian by Jennifer L Armentrout

Pages: 266

Published: 12.06.2011 (Entangled)

Series: Lux (1)

Final rating: 4 of 5 stars

Further info: Goodreads | Amazon

Find the author online: Twitter | Blog

Starting over sucks.

When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I’d pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring…. until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.

And then he opened his mouth.

Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something…unexpected happens.

The hot alien living next door marks me.

You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon’s touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I’m getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.

If I don’t kill him first, that is.

My Review

Obsidian, the first book in Jennifer L Armentrout's new Lux series, introduces us to Katy; the lead character was someone I immediately adored.  Katy is intelligent, self-aware, and feisty, when provoked.  She's also a book worm and a book blogger, so for me, reading this book and seeing terms like "Waiting on Wednesday" and "In My Mailbox" dotting the pages was a real thrill.   I was drawn to Katy right off the bat, for her good nature and that level below her surface that, once scratched, reveals a character with a ton of potential and a girl after my own heart.  Jennifer did a fantastic job of creating a lead female who is both identifiable and at times, unpredictable.  

The plot of Obsidian moved along fairly well.  There were a few moments where, for me, the pacing felt off, but for the most part I read this book always wishing I could read it a bit faster, because I had to know what happened next.  I've read a great deal more fantasy than sci-fi, so discovering this book was a treat for me.  I love the whole idea behind the Luxen, as well as how Katy takes the revelation that her neighbors are aliens in stride.   She isn't squeamish; nor is she rushing to get involved in their business - how she ends up involved is equal parts frightening, amusing, promising, and sexy all at once. 

I can't review Obsidian without mentioning Daemon.  Oh, Daemon.  He is THAT character, that I apparently love to fall for - the bad boy with a secret, good heart.  Snarky on the surface, but sink a deeper and you'll discover the boy who will do anything to keep his family safe, and who, when he does care about others, cares so much, but struggles to admit he does.  I fell pretty hard for him, although there were times when I wanted to slap him.  I feel like although Jennifer Armentrout gave us an awesome character in Daemon, and although yes, the sparks were off the charts between Daemon and Katy, that at times it was a bit much.  If there was one thing I'd have craved more of between them, it was more slow-burning scenes, and less snark.  (Though that was highly amusing, don't get me wrong.) However for the most part, when it comes to Daemon and Katy, I am STILL fanning myself. 

I really love Jennifer's writing style, too.  She captures the teen voice very well, but more than that, her characters are all people you can relate to, the type of girl or guys we've all known - some we were friends with, broke up with, or loved to hate.  Bravo to Jennifer for being able to reach out and not only tell a story, but draw me in and make me care about the characters I'm reading about.

My only other two complaints (and they're teeny tiny!) is that I wish the book had been longer, so I could have had more time with these characters, and that I wanted to know more about some of the secondary characters.  There were one or two who I hope in the sequel, ONYX, we get to see more of, since they didn't have very many redeeming qualities.  Overall, I am VERY excited for ONYX, and to give y'all a peek at the cover below!  So if you don't have Obsidian yet...run, don't walk to go snag a copy, because it is steamy, heart-pounding, and unforgettable.  

Memorable Quote

Our kisses slowed, becoming tender, and infinitely more.  It was like we were getting to know each other on an intimate level.  I was breathless and dazed, unprepared for all of this, but my body ached for more than just kissing and touching- for more of him.  And I know he did, too.  His powerful body shook, like mine.  It was easy to get lost in him, lost in this connection between us.  The world - the universe - ceased to exist. 

Disclaimer

In accordance with FTC guidelines, I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  No money or compensation of any sort exchanged hands.   I review books with no intention of monetary gain; rather, I review books out of my love of reading.

ONYX COVER

No one is who they seem. And not everyone will survive the lies…

In the meantime... purchase OBSIDIAN at Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository

ARC Review: Saving June by Hannah Harrington + Giveaway

Saving June by Hannah Harrington

Expected publication: 11.22.2011 ( Harlequin Teen)

Pages: 336

Final rating: 5 of 5 stars

Further information: Goodreads | Amazon

Source: NetGalley e-ARC

Find the author online: Blog |

‘If she’d waited less than two weeks, she’d be June who died in June. But I guess my sister didn’t consider that.’

Harper Scott’s older sister has always been the perfect one so when June takes her own life a week before her high school graduation, sixteen-year-old Harper is devastated. Everyone’s sorry, but no one can explain why.

When her divorcing parents decide to split her sister’s ashes into his-and-her urns, Harper takes matters into her own hands. She’ll steal the ashes and drive cross-country with her best friend, Laney, to the one place June always dreamed of going California.

Enter Jake Tolan. He’s a boy with a bad attitude, a classic-rock obsession and nothing in common with Harper’s sister. But Jake had a connection with June, and when he insists on joining them, Harper’s just desperate enough to let him. With his alternately charming and infuriating demeanor and his belief that music can see you through anything, he might be exactly what she needs.

Except June wasn’t the only one hiding something. Jake’s keeping a secret that has the power to turn Harper’s life upside down again.

My Review

Where to begin with Hannah Harrington's debut novel?  From the  opening lines, all the way to the final sentences, Saving June had a tight hold on my emotions and on my heartstrings.  I think part of that was the subject matter, while another part was seeing the journey Harper Scott, the main character makes over the course of the book.  Harrington has created a unique, identifiable character in Harper, the second daughter, who feels as if she has lived her entire life trying - and failing - to measure up to June, her older sister.  In the wake of June's suicide, Harper devises a plan: since she couldn't save her sister, she will take June's ashes to California, a place June always wanted to live.  And it's here that the book really begins to take form and resonate.  

Joining Harper on the road trip are her best friend, Laney, and Jacob Tolan.  The three make for an unlikely trio in Jake's van, Joplin.  Harper is weighed down by the loss of her sister, and the burden of watching her mother drown her sorrows in the nearest bottle.  Laney has a perfect life on the outside.  And Jake has secrets of his own.  Watching the three of them interact was a joy.  Both Jake and Laney made me laugh, and by turn, tear up more than once.  Laney is a wonderful foil to Harper, and I really enjoyed the glimpses Hannah Harrington gave us into their friendship, and the bond that they share.  And Jake, with his love of music.  I think I swooned over him more than once - about as often as I wanted to shake him for, as the summary promises, that infuriating demeanor.  

It isn't a straight shot to California.  The three stop several times along the way, for various adventures, ranging from tagging along on a protest and going to a punk rock concert, all of which is totally new to Harper.  Chapter by chapter, Harrington peels away at the surfaces of each of the three characters, in order to showcase their hidden quirks, and facets to their personalities.  There is more than meets the eye to each relationship the characters have with those around them, and I was fascinated by it all.  I absolutely loved how all three of their points of view on one subject or another were challenged at some point, forcing them to stretch their perceptions.  

And I can't do this book justice without mentioning Harper and Jacob's relationship.  Jake and Harper continually pushed one another's buttons.  They drove me absolutely crazy.  They would have a tender moment, and then one of them would back off and completely blow it.  I would think I had Jake all figured out, then he would prove me wrong - same with Harper.  These two really pulled me through the gamut of emotions - happiness, nervousness, sorrow, and hope.  In the end, they turned out to be really good for one another, although at one point, I had made up my mind that I loved them so much as they were, I didn't want them to cross the line into romance.  There was such a fabulous slow burn building between them, and a dynamic that I couldn't get enough of.  

But what made this book real for me, what caused it to stick out in my mind, to the point that sitting here writing this review a good week after I finished the book, I'm thinking back on parts and wanting to reread it, is the emotion.  I adored how music played into the book, and even that became an outlet for catharsis.  When Jacob played "Hey Jude," I played it, too.  I cried along with Harper more than once.  Hannah Harrington takes her characters on a journey - and as a a reader, I went along without question.  Harper's grief is so real, so genuine, that it affected me, reading.  The sorrow, the love, the memories - it all really caught a hold of my heart while I was reading this book.  (Side note: I listened to Miranda Lambert's "Over You" while reading this book and now it will always remind me of Saving June: "but you went away, how dare you, I miss you.  They say I'll be okay but I'm not going to ever get over you.")   I think the most striking emotional outlets for me were the parts that revolved around music: Jake and Harper dancing, Jake's song, etc. 

Overall I highly recommend this book.  I will most definitely be purchasing a finished copy.  In fact, I loved it so much that I thought I'd do a giveaway - US AND International!  Read on for details!  (P.S. If I reach 350 followers here by the time the giveaway ends, I'll add a SECOND winner...)

Memorable Quote

June is gone.  For the first time, the enormity of that hits me.  Every muscle aches, my heart most of all.  I am throbbing with how much I miss her.  It hurts worse than anything.  I don't know how I'm supposed to be expected to live day to day carrying this kind of pain.  I don't know how I'm supposed to go out there, spread her ashes and let her go. 

I want to stop running away from everything. 

I want to find something to run toward.   - Harper

Disclaimer

In accordance with FTC guidelines, I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  No money or compensation of any sort exchanged hands.   I review books with no intention of monetary gain; rather, I review books out of my love of reading. 

Review: The Calling by Ashley Lynn Willis

The Calling by Ashley Lynn Willis

Pages: 360

Published: 10.12.2011

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Source: received from the author

Further info: Goodreads | Amazon

Find the author online: Blog  | Twitter

Mandy Hardy lost more than a breast to cancer; she lost her fiancé when he dumped her a week before her mastectomy. Her ego bruised and her self-esteem battered, Mandy’s sure she’ll never fall in love again.

Justin Seward is a headstrong Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer with a heart of gold and the supernatural ability to command the seas. He had to hide his feelings while Mandy was engaged to his best friend. Now that she’s free, he’s vowed to make her his.

Together, they may hold the key to each other’s salvation. But when Justin’s past catches up with him, and Mandy’s ex-fiancé wants vengeance, they realize they might not live long enough for happily ever after. The Calling is a 360 page contemporary romance with a paranormal twist.

My Review

Cancer survivor Mandy Hardy is scarred both physically and emotionally when her ex fiance's former best friend, Justin Seward comes back into her life.  Author Ashley Willis's brave, yet hesitant main character won my heart within a few pages, although seeing Mandy struggle to accept the hopes Justin has for her, and for them, hurt my heart a little at times.  Deserted by her fiance just as she fell truly ill with breast cancer, Mandy is terrified to open up to someone again - even loyal, patient Justin.  But Justin stole my heart as he won Mandy's - slowly, and with infinite care and tenderness.  Having admired, respected, and maybe even loved Mandy from afar for years, Justin finally approaches her once Ty, her ex, is out of the picture, and what plays out across the pages of Ashley's parnormal romance is a beautiful, loving relationship that, while not without its bumps, really warmed my heart, and brought me to tears a time or two.  

This story is definitely a paranormal romance; however, it isn't the first in a series, and it is not on quite as large of a scope as say, JR Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood, or Gena Showalter's Lords of the Underworld, which I think is part of what I enjoyed so much about it.  I knew I was reading a stand-alone book, and that the struggle the two main characters were facing was more internal than external.  I think I loved that more than anything, because it allowed for so much character growth, and asked some really important questions, like ones Mandy had to ask herself: is one broken heart enough to close yourself off to love for good?  Anyone who has ever withstood a break-up will understand and sympathize with Mandy; even if sometimes throughout this book for me that was wanting to nudge her along, or give her a shaking.  

At its heart, The Calling is Mandy and Justin's story.  It's a story about beating the odds, in more ways than one.  Ashley Willis paints a vivid portrait of Mandy's battle not only to love again, but simply to let herself go and give herself permission to live her life to the fullest, without fear.  And for Justin, it means overcoming his own past - finding a way to mend what's left of his tattered family, and believing that he can have a future with the woman his heart has chosen.  

I really fell in love with Justin.  Ashley Willis definitely created a male worthy of swooning over in The Calling.  Justin is just enough of an alpha male to suit my tastes, which means along the way, we get some delightfully steamy scenes between him and Mandy, which were the perfect accompaniment to their relationship.  But he's also not without his issues, and seeing his growth during the course of The Calling just made me want to hug him.  Justin is caring and solid, a touchstone for Mandy, a friend, and a lover, and really, just everything any girl could want.  Yet Ashley also gives him enough attributes so that he still seems genuine, and not overly perfect.  

My only dislike about this heart-warming and satisfying read was the end.  The pacing was right on the money, and the plot was solid, as were the main and secondary characters and their relationships.  I felt like the end fell apart a little bit though.  A certain character's explanation for why he did some of the things he did didn't feel like it was ever truly explained, at least not to my satisfaction.  And while the ending was satisfying, the climax of the story fell a little flat for me, because in some ways, it just wasn't what I wanted for this couple.  But that is why Ashley is the author, and gets to determine the story that's told.  Overall, I really enjoyed this book!

Recommended for fans of: Lara Adrian, Gena Showalter, JR Ward, Jacquelyn Frank, Jessica Andersen

Memorable Quote

Justin’s warm lips pressed against Mandy’s, and her heart fluttered like a hummingbird, the flighty sensation making her dizzy. He kissed her in a way that only time and anticipation could warrant—starting soft and gradually becoming more demanding. His burning desire, the way he held her, and especially the way he touched her as if she were precious, all made her want more.

She buried her hands in his thick hair, her body stirring in ways she’d forgotten were possible. Why had she been so cautious with him? Even one hour of this, being touched as if she were a treasure, would have been worth a lifetime of heartache.

Disclaimer

I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.  No money or compensation of any sort exchanged hands.   I review books with no intention of monetary gain; rather, I review books out of my love of reading. 

Review: Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Published: 10.13.2009 (Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing)

Pages: 391

Series: Hush, Hush (1)

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Further info: Goodreads | Amazon

Find the author online: website | twitter

For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her...until Patch comes along. 

With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment, but after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is far more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel. 

For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life.

My Review

When I started Hush, Hush, I wasn't sure at first if this was the book for me.  With several parallels to Twilight, I was a little wary of the story; luckily, Becca Fitzpatrick quickly put all my fears to rest as she crafted a darkly thrilling novel that ended on a satisfying note, yet left me anxious for the sequel, to see if it answered the questions Hush, Hush, raised.  Yes, there is a lead female who is inexperienced when it comes to romance; yes, there is an instant attraction between the lead characters, and yes; there is the supernatural element with a threatening undercurrent.  But in no way does any of this detract from the story as the talented Ms Fitzpatrick waltzes toward a stunning finish.


While there were some areas I felt could use improvement, I found the story so enjoyable, and it definitely held my attention.  (I read most of it in one sitting.)  Nora and Patch's relationship was definitely what really hooked me.  From the start, Patch just exudes that "stay-away-from-me-I'm-not-good-for-you" vibe that I find appealing.  Added to that is the tortured side he reveals as the book unfolds.  That's pretty much a knock-out punch for me - bad-boy-with-a-good-heart is always going to make me swoon.  And Patch does have a heart though Becca Fitzpatrick had me wondering at points!  I love what Nora brings out in him, as well as what he makes her feel.  And I especially loved that their relationship was not unorthodox, that despite that instant spark of attraction, Nora fights it.  (Which led to some HOT moments!)


I was also a huge fan of the fact that Nora was a little more outgoing and confident than some YA heroines.  All too often authors just don't take the time to truly flesh out their lead female.  Nora wasn't quite as fierce as I wanted her to be (there were a couple moments I wanted her to punch Patch!) but she was pretty cool, and easily sympathetic.  I loved that she is able to keep a clear head about her own self-worth, and that even when she's falling for Patch, she is still able to make decision (good or bad) and that she remains her own person.  


I also loved all the humor in the book, especially Patch's darker humor.  All the characters had some good one-liners, even in unexpected moments.  Nora and Patch's banter had me cracking up at times.  And while I really dug the history and the reasoning behind what was happening to Nora, I also wished Becca Fitzpatrick had given us a little more depth.  I hope there will be more in Crescendo!  And this is really picky but some of the wording, like descriptive phrases and such seemed redundant.  Other than that, my only other gripe is that the prologue felt totally out of place.  I get why it was what it was, but I was hoping for more pay-off from what was begun there!  


Otherwise, I'm starting Crescendo soon, and for anyone who hasn't read Hush, Hush...why haven't you?  

Memorable Quote

“...I'm not good," he said, piercing me with eyes that absorbed all light but reflected none, "but I was worse.”- Patch

Review + E-book Giveaway: Take This Regret by Amy Lichtenhan

Take This Regret by Amy Lichtenhan

Published:

Pages: 252

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Further info: Goodreads | Amazon

Find the author online: twitter | site

There are some mistakes we make that we will regret for the rest of our lives. For Christian, it was the day he betrayed Elizabeth.

Christian Davison has a plan for his life. He is determined to become an attorney and to one day take his place as partner in his father’s law firm. Nothing will stand in his way, not even Elizabeth Ayers and their unborn child.

After Christian cuts her from his life, Elizabeth spends the next five years struggling to provide for her daughter and willing to sacrifice anything to give her child a safe, comfortable life.

For five years, Christian has regretted the day he walked away from his family and will do anything to win them back just as Elizabeth will do anything to protect her daughter from the certain heartache she believes Christian will bring upon them.

When Christian wrestles his way into their lives, Elizabeth is faced with asking herself if it is possible to forgive someone when they’ve committed the unforgivable and if it is possible to find a love after it has been buried in years of hate. Or are there some wounds that go so deep they can never heal?

They say everyone deserves a second chance.

My Review

In Take This Regret, we are introduced to two unforgettable characters: Christian Davison and Elizabeth Ayers.  They are both pursuing a career in law for different reasons, but an unexpected pregnancy changes Elizabeth's course.  Within the first few pages of the prologue, my heart went out to her - this strong female, determined to have her child, with or without Christian's support.  I immediately wanted to hug Elizabeth tight, and I so admired her courage.  Fast-forward five years: Elizabeth is a single mother; Christian is a rising star in his father's law firm.  But even though he has the life he has always wanted, until a chance encounter with the daughter he walked away from before she was born.  

Amy Lichtenhan propels the story forward with perfect pacing - there is action when needed, heart-pounding and intense at times, and other, slower periods where the reader gets to watch a changing Christian bond with his young daughter, Lizzie.  Wrapped around the pacing is the heart of this story: Christian and Elizabeth, and their love for their daughter.  We see Elizabeth struggle with letting Christian have any part in her life, just as we see him battle with the guilt and the shame he carries for having missed the first five years of her life.  Lichtenhan does an seamless job of lifting these characters and their emotions off the pages.  I cried, more than once, reading this story, because of what it made me feel.  

The characters were all genuine, people you would want to know, or have known, but Christian, for me, was by far the most fascinating.  An arrogant rich boy following in his father's footsteps when we first meet him, the growth he goes through, the changes he exhibits, and the humility he learns, are truly fabulous and well-told.  Elizabeth grows so much as a character, as well.  I thought a great deal about these two, when I wasn't reading Take This Regret, and about their relationship.  So much bloomed between them over the course of hte story, sometimes unsaid, often complicated, but to me, they felt so true-to-life.  Relationships happen, they end.  It's all of it hard work, and I feel like Amy did an amazing job of showcasing Christian's redemption, and Elizabeth's hesitation.   

I had a few issues with getting into the book.  The prologue rapidly switches point-of-view, which threw me off a lot, but after the first couple chapters, I was hooked.  I also was not okay with someone Elizabeth did, a choice she made that affected her daughter, and was glad, so glad, to see it all resolved.  And...I wish the book had been longer!  The story was wrapped up nicely, but those 252 pages flew by, and I would have liked a little more time with a few of the characters, especially Christian's mother, who also showed fantastic character growth.  There was just so much of that in the book that I'm still swoooning a little.  

Overall I would recommend this book for fans of both contemporary romance and women's fiction . Amy Lichtenhan's writing style is easy, natural, and her story-telling is spell-binding.  Take This Regret is a story with a strong, beating heart.  It will stay with you, even after you read the last page, because along the way, you didn't just meet characters: you made friends.  

Memorable Quote>

Why? I begged him with my thoughts, with my touch as I kissed him again. Why did you have to ruin us?   My mouth traveled to his jaw, kissed him there against the rough skin, fire against my lips and torment to my soul, where I mouthed out my deepest secret, “I love you, Christian.” 

Sickened and ashamed, I ripped myself away, escaped upstairs, and wept for a man I’d never allow myself to have. 

Disclaimer and Thank-You's

This book was sent to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.  No money or compensation of any kind changed hands.  I would like to thank author Amy Lichtenhan and The Writer's Coffee Shop Publishing House for allowing me to read this novel.

The Giveaway

Review: The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab

The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab

Published: 08.02.2011

Pages: 288

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Further info: Goodreads | Amazon

Find the author online: site | blog | twitter

The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children.

If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company.

And there are no strangers in the town of Near.

These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life. But when an actual stranger—a boy who seems to fade like smoke—appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true.

The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them. Something tells her she can trust him.

As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi’s need to know—about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.

Part fairy tale, part love story, Victoria Schwab’s debut novel is entirely original yet achingly familiar: a song you heard long ago, a whisper carried by the wind, and a dream you won’t soon forget. 

My Review

Sixteen year old Lexi Harris lives in the small town of Near - a town on the edge of the moor that could be anywhere and nowhere.  The Near Witch starts us out by slipping unobtrusively into her life, introducing us to headstrong Lexi, who is caught between trying to be the person who family wants her to be, and assuming the responsibility of taking care of her mother and younger sister, Wren, after her father's death.  Victoria Schwab then propels the story forward when a stranger appears in the anachronistic town of Near, stirring everyone's suspicions.  Near, it seems, has always been just what it is: a place where everyone knows one another, where an outsider is unheard of.  When the first child disappears shortly after the stranger's appearance, everyone except Lexi leaps to the conclusion that "the stranger" is to blame.

This is where the story really picks up, and Victoria introduces us to the colorful and vivid cast of characters who inhabit the town: her mother, who is more of a ghost than a person since Lexi's father's death, the Thorne sisters, Magda and Dreska (who were by far the most fascinating additions to the story), Otto, Lexi's uncle, Tyler, her would-be suitor, and her best friend Helena, among others.  Victoria does a very solid job of inter-weaving all these characters into the story, and fleshes them out well for the most part, although I think there were a few whom I wish she had devoted more attention to, especially Tyler, who sometimes seems a little flat. 

Nevertheless, the story holds up to the premise, as Lexi and Cole, as she names the stranger, begin a frustrating quest for the town's missing children.  I was immediately just as drawn to Cole as Lexi was, and just as loathe to suspect him of any wrong-doings.  As the clock ticked away, narrowing Lexi's chances of locating the children before her uncle's suspicions fasten on Cole, my heart definitely pounded at the delicious sense of mystery Schwab creates.  I enjoyed Lexi and Cole's interactions, as well as their connection.  The bond they develop is actually one of my favorite things about this book, as well as the fact that thankfully, there is no love triangle, and what romance there is is given time to flourish and grow, though it never overshadows the looming mystery of the whearabouts of the missing children.

The climax of the book was pretty much what I imagined it would be, and yet, in no way was it disappointing.  I did feel like it was all wrapped up just a little too quickly (ie with only about ten pages to spare), but it was very spooky really, which I loved.  This book was part historical fiction (I say that because with Near, while it wasn't geographically or historically pinpointed, I got the sense we were reading about "the old days,"), part folk lore, part scary story, and part romance.  I also loved the author's writing style - very dreamy and whimsical, very lilting, I do wish it had been a bit longer, so that Victoria could have spent more time on Lexi's relationship with her father, and possibly also the Thorne sisters too, but overall The Near Witch was a fantastic read, definitely one everyone should have on their bookshelves!
  

Memorable Quote

If the moor wind ever sings, you musn't listen, not with all of your ears.  Use only the edges.  Listen the way you'd look out of the corners of your eyes.  The wind is lonely, and always looking for company.

Review: A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young

A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young

Published: 06.21.2011

Pages: 272

Series: A Need So Beautiful (1)

Rating:  4 of 5 books

Further info: Goodreads | Amazon

Find the author online: blog | twitter 

We all want to be remembered. Charlotte's destiny is to be Forgotten...

Charlotte’s best friend thinks Charlotte might be psychic. Her boyfriend thinks she’s cheating on him. But Charlotte knows what’s really wrong: She is one of the Forgotten, a kind of angel on earth, who feels the Need—a powerful, uncontrollable draw to help someone, usually a stranger.

But Charlotte never wanted this responsibility. What she wants is to help her best friend, whose life is spiraling out of control. She wants to lie in her boyfriend's arms forever. But as the Need grows stronger, it begins to take a dangerous toll on Charlotte. And who she was, is, and will become--her mark on this earth, her very existence--is in jeopardy of disappearing completely.

Charlotte will be forced to choose: should she embrace her fate as a Forgotten, a fate that promises to rip her from the lives of those she loves forever? Or is she willing to fight against her destiny--no matter how dark the consequences.

My Review

When I first picked up this book and started reading, I was a little unsure.  I had seen a few reviews around Goodreads and Lisa @ Read Me Bookmark Me Love Me had told me how wonderful it was; even so, I went into this book with a little trepidation - and Suzanne Young proved my fears unfounded with the first few chapters!  I was immediately swept into the story, and into the life of the main character, Charlotte. 

Charlotte is, on the surface, a normal teenage: she goes to school.  She hangs out with her best friend.   She loves her boyfriend.  But she also has the Need, a term she uses to describe the compulsions to help others, compulsions that wash over her randomly, leading her to complete strangers.  If she ignores the Need, the symptoms - and the results - are not good.  So Charlotte juggles her everyday life with her confusion over the Need, and the complications it creates.  Charlotte is torn in two, and I really felt for her, and her struggle.  She wants more time with Harlin, her boyfriend, but she has this other task to perform, and as the book continues, and she begins to understand more about the Need, and her destiny, my sympathy for Charlotte increased twofold.  

I really came to love the premise of this book.  It's definitely unique, and Suzanne Young did a really admirable job with the pacing of the book.  I definitely did not get bored with the story that was unfolding.  However, my heart absolutely broke for Charlotte, as she started to comprehend what being a Forgotten means: she will, in time, only exist to her Seer.  Everyone she loves will eventually forget her, even those she has helped, whose lives she has changed.  And her choice: embrace or deny that destiny, really gutted me. 

I'm also anxious to see the sequel, because well, I loved several of the characters, including Monroe, Charlotte's doctor and friend, Alex, her adopted brother, Sarah, her best friend, and Harlin.  Oh, Harlin.  What can I say except WOW.  I loved loved loved his devotion to Charlotte, and their relationship, to me, was really unique and heartfelt.  I loved the extra special connection given to them in the latter part of the book.  And I enjoyed the fact that these characters were well-developed, and not stereotypical.  

I definitely need A Want So Wicked!  This book was heart-pounding - literally - and so emotional at the end, that it brought me to tears.  I finished it late one night and woke up thinking about it, and it has lingered with me.  I think I wanted it to be a little longer, and to be a little more in depth on some of the history of the Forgotten and the Seers, etc, but overall, definitely a read to move up on your TBR list!

Memorable Quote

His mouth twitched with a smile, and his dimples deepened. "Where were you running to, Miss Cassidy?"

My stomach fluttered as I stood there, forgetting where I was going.  Where I was supposed to be.  Instead, like it wasn't even my choice, I moved forward to stand incredibly close to him.

"I was running here," I said, sounding confident.   - Charlotte and Harlin's first meeting

Review: The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell

The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell

Published: 03.07.2011 (Harcourt Children's Books)

Pages: 293 (Hardcover)

Series: The Vespertine (1)

Rating: 4 1/2 of 5 stars

Further info: Goodreads | Amazon

Find the author online: site | blog | twitter

 The summer of 1889 is the one between childhood and womanhood for Amelia van den Broek - and thankfully, she’s not spending it at home in rural Maine. She’s been sent to Baltimore to stay with her stylish cousin, Zora, who will show her all the pleasures of city life and help her find a suitable man to marry.

Archery in the park, dazzling balls and hints of forbidden romance-Victorian Baltimore is more exciting than Amelia imagined. But her gaiety is interrupted by disturbing, dreamlike visions she has only at sunset - visions that offer glimpses of the future. Soon, friends and strangers alike call on Amelia to hear her prophecies. Newly dubbed “Maine’s Own Mystic”, Amelia is suddenly quite in demand.

However, her attraction to Nathaniel, an artist who is decidedly outside of Zora’s circle, threatens the new life Amelia is building in Baltimore. This enigmatic young man is keeping secrets of his own- still, Amelia finds herself irrepressibly drawn to him. And while she has no trouble seeing the futures of others, she cannot predict whether Nathaniel will remain in hers.

When one of her darkest visions comes to pass, Amelia’s world is thrown into chaos. And those around her begin to wonder if she’s not the seer of dark portents, but the cause.

 

My Review

"I woke in Oakhaven, entirely ruined."

I normally do not include first sentences, or passages from the novel other than to throw in one quote that stuck with me as I read.  But when it comes to Saundra Mitchell's The Vespertine, I have a feeling I am going to be talking a lot about the lyrical, poetic feel to this heart-wrenching and gorgeous novel.   From the captivating first sentence, to the breath-taking last sentence, until I closed the book, the words stayed with me.  When I was not reading this book, I was thinking about it, and longing to read just a few pages, to get back to the mythos Saundra created.  I have read a few reviews where readers had a difficult time getting in to this book, perhaps because of the setting, but I thought that was well-researched and well-fleshed out, and again, the language and the prose was just beautiful.

Amelia Van den Broek comes to Baltimore with a mission: to make a proper match.  I liked her immensely, and right away, though, because Amelia, our headstrong protagonist, immediately falls for a Fourteenth: someone just outside the right circles, who is paid to round out the number of guests at a dinner party.  Amelia and Nathaniel Hawthorne circle one another headily throughout this book, in a way that utterly enchanted me, and at times, took my breath away.  Their relationship was, for me, the biggest draw to the The Vespertine - their instant, irrevocable connection, and the way Saundra Mitchell explored it.  It wasn't love at first sight, but it was interest and fascination at first sight.  Nathaniel is forbidden; Amelia absolutely cannot marry him.  That was part of their mutual attraction, but the other part was that these two characters shared something unbreakable and, in my opinion, were absolutely right for one another.  The depth of their tenderness toward one another, in spite of some highly tense and breathless chase scenes, really rang true for me.  It's not a game for either of them.  I found them incredibly believable as a possible couple, even though in the sense that this book is a historical novel, "couple" isn't even the right term, not for what they were to one another.

I was also a huge, huge fan of the plot.  By the synopsis's own admission, Amelia has visions, but what I loved so much was that they were woven into the story very well, and they were not the entire story.  There is a whole cast of delightful and spunky characters in The Vespertine, and they all weave into Amelia's sunset visions, which originate almost as an accident, then become a regular occurrence, as callers begin to pour into the home where Amelia is staying with her cousins.  The novel waltzes toward a climax, based on one of Amelia's visions, that does bring on the tragedy the synopsis hints at, in such a way that I was tearing through the pages to see what happened from that point on.

Another thing that greatly appealed to me was the few intervals in the present, where we saw a vastly changed Amelia.  The bulk of the story is told several months in the past, when most of the plot takes place, but the interludes with Amelia back home with her brother and her sister-in-law were particularly poignant, for this is Amelia after.  Shaken and bereft, we see her struggling to retain any sense of normalcy, and I thought those little breaks in the main plot were brilliantly done. 

I also want to applaud Saunda Mitchell on her development of her secondary characters.  There were several that I wish we had seen more of, but my favorite was Zora Stewart, Amelia's close-in-age cousin.  Zora is even spunkier than Amelia (who tries to cling to propriety sometimes) and I just fell for Zora.  I loved her side-plot, and by the end of the book, I wanted to see more with her (and it seems we will get to in the sequel, The Springsweet!)

The only reason that this is not a 5 star review is a simple one: I wish we had seen a little more info and back story on abilities like Amelia's, like where did she get hers?  She is not the only character in this book with "powers"...and I really really hope the sequel delves further into why those that do have them, do, what all they can do with them, etc.  It seemed like some of the abilities came out of nowhere.  Other than that...I loved The Vespertine, and will be swooning over it for a long time to come. 

Memorable Quote

The stars could have burned out around us, the moon could have fallen from the sky, and I wouldn't have known it. Not when he leaned indecently close and pressed his cheek against mine to murmur, "Tell me a secret."

I wanted him to tell me how he stopped time like that. How he read my mind. I wanted to admit I wondered if thoughts of me troubled him when he lay awake at night. But I could make none of that come to my lips....

Instead... I whispered back, "I've seen the future."

He didn't laugh. He didn't mock, not like he had done at Privalovna's performance. In the middle of our waltz, he stopped, nose to nose with me. He uncovered me with a look that somehow bared him, too.  And his question told me everything - that he stopped time because he needed me, that he read my mind because we were one. That I troubled his nights, indeed, because what he asked revealed it all.

"Am I with you there?"  - Amelia and Nathaniel

Review: The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong

Published: 05.12.2011 (Harper)

Pages:359

Series: Darkness Rising (1)

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Further info: Goodreads / Amazon

Find the author online

Sixteen-year-old Maya is just an ordinary teen in an ordinary town. Sure, she doesn't know much about her background - the only thing she really has to cling to is an odd paw-print birthmark on her hip - but she never really put much thought into who her parents were or how she ended up with her adopted parents in this tiny medical-research community on Vancouver Island.
Until now.

Strange things have been happening in this claustrophobic town - from the mountain lions that have been approaching Maya to her best friend's hidden talent for "feeling" out people and situations, to the sexy new bad boy who makes Maya feel . . . . different. Combine that with a few unexplained deaths and a mystery involving Maya's biological parents and it's easy to suspect that this town might have more than its share of skeletons in its closet. 

My Review

I have to say it: I love Maya.  (But then again, I love most of Kelley Armstrong's lead females!)  Maya comes across right away as strong and smart, independent and a little sarcastic, with a good nature.  Armstrong shows us this, in Maya's fun and caring interaction with her adoptive parents, and with her friends.  Maya has a few flaws but generally speaking she is the kind of narrator that I gravitate toward, and many times throughout the book, I wanted to hug Kelley Armstrong for giving us Maya.  I loved her progression form the start of the book to the end, watching her grow more and more in tune with herself, and seeing her reaching for new understanding about her past and her present.

The whole premise of this book really appealed to me.  I loved Maya's natural interest in animals, and how she appeared to almost have a healing touch with them.  I have to know more about her abilities and how she is going to deal with all she has found out about herself.  I really enjoyed Daniel as a character, and his...I guess the word is how intuitive he is.  I am really really looking forward to seeing where all that goes in the second book.  A few of the other characters almost came across as a little too stereotypical, but I think that is more because of it being a first book, and we, as the readers, are still getting to know the characters, I hope.  I know there are several I'm interested in learning more about.

The actual plot itself moved along very nicely.  Having read Armstrong's Darkest Powers trilogy, I was a little more familiar with where the story was going and with a few minor characters who were mentioned than other readers might have been, but all that did was draw me in more.  This book is set up similarly to the first book in the previous trilogy (this trilogy is a loose spin-off) so I was pretty comfortable with the book as a whole, and with all the supernatural elements. (I want to say so much more but I don't want to be spoilery.)


I have two gripes about the book, one being how quickly some of the revelations happened closer to the end of the book.  The lead-up, I thought, was done SO well, that I wish Armstrong had taken a little bit more time to slowly draw out all the information and confessions, especially considering how many of them were about Maya and her past/etc.  


My other gripe is with Maya and Rafe.  Don't get me wrong - I like them as a couple, but they moved so fast, way too fast for me.  And there was a really weird vibe to them.  She's awesome, and he has some hidden nooks and secrets, and I can partially understand it, their connection.  But on the other hand, I am a little uneasy when it comes to them.  So I'm torn.  I want to love them, and I do like them.  But I need more time with them in the second book to decide if I am invested in them or not.


Either way, I am excitedly anticipating The Calling.  Way to go, Kelley Armstrong, on another fabulous book!

Memorable Quote

It was completely fifth grade and completely silly and I loved it, because he wasn't afraid to be silly. It was like kissing him first - I could do whatever I wanted and not have to worry what he'd think of me. - Maya

Review: The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong

The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong

Published: 04.06.2010 (HaperTeen)

Pages: 400

Series: The Darkest Powers (3)

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Further info: Goodreads / Amazon

Find the author online

My name is Chloe Saunders. I’m fifteen, and I would love to be normal.  But normal is one thing I’m not.

For one thing, I’m having these feelings for a certain antisocial werewolf and his sweet-tempered brother–who just happens to be a sorcerer–but, between you and me, I’m leaning toward the werewolf.

Not normal.

My friends and I are also on the run from an evil corporation that wants to get rid of us…permanently.  Definitely not normal.

And finally, I’m a genetically altered necromancer who can raise the dead, rotting corpses and all, without even trying.

As far away from normal as it gets.

My Review

Having finally found a safe haven, Chloe and her group of fledgling supernatural friends batten down the hatches at a home used as a retreat for the rebel group seeking to bring down the Edison Group.  Simon and Derek's father's friend, Andrew introduces the teens to a few other members, each of whom can help one of Chloe's friends, or her.  The plot slows down for a little while; instead of the group living on the road, fleeing the Edison Group, Kelley Armstrong shows us the full ramifications of their super-charged powers: Chloe being taken to train in a cemetery, and the disastrous turn of events, and Andrew and his friend's disbelief at what their enemies have done to the kids.  I immediately disliked a few of the new characters, but all things considered, I think that was the point.  And it was nice to have a change of pace, because with that came a switch in focus.  Chloe's struggle over her feelings for Simon versus her feelings for Derek was guided into the forefront, in a way that was so well done that I teared up more than once. 

I am a huge fan of this pairing.  I love that they are unorthodox.  There will never be a perfect first date with these two, and they are not all hearts-and-flowers.  They're complicated, and unsure.  They have a tentative friendship backed by a bond forged out of their circumstances, a friendship that over the course of this book is tested, and found solid, a friendship that is beautifully allowed to grow into something more. Their interaction never once feels forced, and I wanted more scenes with them, even though a large portion of the book was kind of woven around them.

I also enjoyed seeing some character development from Tori.  Over the first two books, we saw glimpses into why she is the way she is, but in this book, Armstrong showed us the real Tori, a girl who has more talents than just her magic.  Tori starts to prove her usefulness and ends up helping the group a good bit in the book, and I was really pleased to, by the time I closed the book, be able to say that I liked her.

The plot picks back up when the group starts digging into an attempt on Derek and Chloe's lives from other werewolves.  I sped through the last 150 pages or so, because the climax of the book was drawing near.  And I was pretty satisfied.  The very ending felt a little too rushed for my taste, but it wrapped up enough yet left enough open for future books (I heard these characters may show back up down the road!)  There were a few plot arcs that left me sort of wishing for more - one connection between two characters that I truly truly hope Kelley Armstrong will explore down the road, and one that was just left dangling, again, hopefully to be brought back up in later books, or else I will be disappointed.  I'm also still curious to know more about the history of the Edison Group, and I'd love more info on that and on the teen's parents and all of their involvement.  But overall I really enjoyed this - I'm digging the YA/Paranormal vibe like crazy.  : )

Memorable Quote

I looked up at him. His green eyes glittered in the dark, reflecting the moonlight like a cat's. His scowl had vanished. The defiance was gone, too, replaced by a tightness around his mouth, a worry that clouded his eyes; and seeing that quicksilver change, I wanted to...
I don't know what I wanted to do. Kick him in the shins seemed like a good option. Unfortunately, bursting into tears seemed more likely, because here lay the root of the problem, the contradiction in Derek that I couldn't seem to work out, no matter how hard I tried.

One second he was in my face, making me feel stupid and useless. The next he was like this: hovering, concerned, worried. I told myself it was just his wolf instinct, that he had to protect me whether he wanted to or not, but when he looked like this, like he'd pushed me too far and regretted it . . . That look said he genuinely cared. - Chloe

Review: The Awakening by Kelley Armstrong

The Awakening / Kelley Armstrong

Published: 05.01.2009 (Harper Collins)

Pages: 360

Series: The Darkest Powers (2)

Rating:  4 of 5 stars

Further info: Goodreads / Amazon

If you had met me a few weeks ago, you probably would have described me as an average teenage girl—someone normal. Now my life has changed forever and I'm as far away from normal as it gets. A living science experiment—not only can I see ghosts, but I was genetically altered by a sinister organization called the Edison Group. What does that mean? For starters, I'm a teenage necromancer whose powers are out of control; I raise the dead without even trying. Trust me, that is not a power you want to have. Ever. 

Now I'm running for my life with three of my supernatural friends—a charming sorcerer, a cynical werewolf, and a disgruntled witch—and we have to find someone who can help us before the Edison Group finds us first. Or die trying. 

My Review

Chloe Saunders is on the run with an unlikely band of allies - half-trained sorcerer Simon; too-powerful witch, Tori, and untested werewolf Derek, when the group is seperated, and Chloe, Tori and Rachelle (who may or may not have powers of her own) end up comfortable, spoiled prisoners of the Edison Group...the group who, Chloe discovers, is responsible for genetic mutations performed on her and her friends - not to mention various others - to tamp down their powers.  But in Chloe and Tori's case, the experiments back fired.  And having discovered the plot they were all unwittingly part of, none of them are the same.  Chloe's innocence has been flaking away with every new development, but The Awakening is the transitional book in the trilogy - the story that takes intelligent but sheltered Chloe from her normal world and fully thrusts her into the middle of the supernatural world.  And Chloe, to her credit, handles it pretty well.  Kelley Armstrong doesn't really write shrinking violets, from what I've seen.  She writes characters that, even if they stumble from time to time, are ultimately capable of making their own choices, and learning along the way, all of which Chloe does over the course of this book.  After she escapes the Edison Group and reunites with Simon and Derek, and reluctantly, Tori, the four delve head first into the quest to locate Simon and Derek's father and, hopefully, a safe haven in the storm brewing all around them.

As dire as their circumstances are (Chloe now has a bounty on her head, placed there by her grief-stricken father, who knows nothing of what's going on,) sending the group to the streets was what this book needed to be, while transitory, also enough to keep me reading.  Nowhere is really safe for Chloe, Derek, Tori, and Simon, as Kelley Armstrong proves more than once, sending different threats their way, while all the time, Chloe's powers continue to manifest themselves in new and unexpected ways.  Armstrong shows us glimpses behind Tori's tough exterior, and proves, subtley, that there is more to Tori than meets the eye.  All four characters struggle to come to some sort of understanding of what their powers mean, what they are capable of, and how to survive on their own, away from small comforts and trusted loved ones. 

But the real star of this book was Derek, and his relationship with Chloe.  Briefly separated from the others, Chloe and Derek are thrown together and experience a couple of harrowing ordeals (a pair of werewolves, Chloe talking to an elderly woman in a restaurant who turns out to be a ghost,) and Derek's second attempted Change.  Through all of this, the two become closer, and Armstrong gives us a few rare glimpses behind Derek's gruff facade.  There's a real guy there, a guy who cares a lot about those around him, and slowly, a sweet bond develops between him and Chloe.  There isn't romance there, not just yet, but there's the hint of something more, something really meaningful, and Kelley Armstrong writes what IS there so well that I immediately wanted more of Derek and Chloe, when they weren't in the same scene. 

Overall I was pleased with this book.  I had a few hang-ups (people are always "swearing," and I guess because it's a YA novel the words themselves aren't allowed, but to me, it happened far too often and got a little annoying, "he swore, "it was my turn to swear," etc) but mostly it was a good book, and a little better than I remembered it being (I had previously read this book last year.)  The pacing is pretty solid and keeps the book moving along nicely toward its climax.  By the time I finished it, I felt like I had gotten to know the characters better, and was definitely ready for the third and final book, The Reckoning.

Memorable Qoute

"There was no closing my eyes and sliding back into that blissful dream of normal. This was my normal now."  - Chloe

Review: Stolen by Kelley Armstrong

Stolen by Kelley Armstrong

Published: 2004 (Plume Books)

Pages: 468

Series: Women of the Otherworld (2)

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Further info: Goodreads / Amazon

It was in Bitten, Kelley Armstrong's debut novel, that thirty-year-old Elena Michaels came to terms with her feral appetites and claimed the proud identity of a beautiful, successful woman, and the only living female werewolf. 


In Stolen, on a mission for her own elite pack, she is lured into the net of ruthless Internet billionaire Tyrone Winsloe, who has funded a bogus scientific investigation of the other races and their supernatural powers. Kidnapped and studied in his underground lab deep in the Maine woods, these paranormals: witches, vampires, shamans, werewolves are then released and hunted to the death in a real-world video game. But when Winsloe captures Elena, he finally meets his match.

My Review

Picking up approximately a year after Bitten left off, Stolen plunges us back into the world of Elena Michaels and her fellow Pack members.  Checking out one of the frequent "werewolf sightings" that the Pack investigates, Elena, while being chased through the streets of Pittsburgh, is asked to accept something she feels is implausible: other supernatural creatures exist.  I found it very human of Elena to doubt the existence of witches, shamans, and half-demons, a touching reminder of her dual nature, yet at the same time, I was surprised at her unwillingness to believe the impossible.  I was, however, very glad to see Kelley Armstrong widening her mythos to include other unearthly beings.  

While attending a council meeting, sort of an AA for the supernatural, Elena still maintains her distance from the idea that other otherworldly creatures are alive and well (or in the case of vampire Cassandra, dead and well.)  It isn't until she is kidnapped and put behind glass in billionaire Ty Winsloe's lab that Elena realizes she may be in over her head.  Even though this book started out slowly for me, by the time Elena woke up in captivity, I was hooked, once again.  

 

Elena does not do well in a cage of any kind.  She's a strong enough character that I was not pleased seeing her a prisoner.  Separated from her Pack, Elena is totally cut off from the outside world, unless she can accept the help of a witch to communicate with Jeremy, her Alpha.  I found myself several times anxious for her, and for her fellow captives, any of whom Tyrone Winsloe is likely to, at any point, decide he is through with, and would like to hunt.  

 

Child-witch Savannah and half-demon Xavier Reese add to the tension.  Savannah appears to have mysterious powers beyond her age and ability, and Xavier, despite having joined up with the bad guys, is such a breath of fresh air in this book, that I wanted to thank Kelley Armstrong for writing in his character.  (Aside: I have no clue if he shows up again but I sure do hope he does!)

There were a few things I didn't like about this book: the pacing in the beginning was way off, and I found two of the plot twists to be a little too predictable.  As well-developed as some of the new characters were, others rubbed me the wrong way; Paige, one of the Coven witches, comes off as insolent and unlikable.  She narrates the next book so I am hoping in that one, we will see her become more of a sympathetic character. 

What I did like: every bit of Clay and Elena's interaction, limited though it was, and new characters Adam, Savannah, and Xavier.  And as I mentioned above, I am thrilled to see other supernaturals brought into play, and their addition handled very well.  I am excited to continue this series, and to see where Kelley Armstrong takes these characters.  I am a big fan of paranormal romance and I feel like this series is mixing that genre really cleverly with urban fantasy.

Review: Tresure Me

Treasure Me

Pages: 415

Published: Christine Nolfi - sold by Amazon digital services

The Author: Christine Nolfi (links to the author's Goodreads page)

Petty thief Birdie Kaminsky has arrived in Liberty, Ohio to steal a treasure hidden since the Civil War. She’s in possession of a charming clue passed down in her family for generations: Liberty safeguards the cherished heart.

The beautiful thief wants to go straight. She secretly admires the clue’s author, freedwoman Justice Postell, who rose above the horrors of slavery to build a new life in Ohio. According to family lore, Justice left South Carolina at the dawn of the Civil War. Heavy with child, she carried untold riches on her journey north. As Birdie searches for the treasure, she begins to believe a questionable part of the story: a tale of love between Justice and Lucas Postell, the French plantation owner who was Birdie’s ancestor.

If the stories are true, Justice bore a child with Lucas. Some of those black relatives might still live in town. Birdie can’t help but wonder if she’s found one—Liberty’s feisty matriarch, Theodora Hendricks, who packs a pistol and heartwarming stories about Justice. Birdie doesn’t know that an investigative reporter who has arrived in town will trip her up—as will her conscience when she begins to wonder if it’s possible to start a new life with stolen riches. Yet with each new clue she unearths, Birdie begins to discover a family history more precious than gems, a tradition of love richer than she could imagine.  (summary from Amazon.com - book page)

The long story short: Birdie Kaminsky is a petty thief who wistfully dreams of going straight.  A treasure hunt - hopefully her last heist - sends her to Liberty, Ohio, where while sifting through the clues to this treasure, Birdie meets a colorful and vivacious cast of characters - the townspeople of Liberty.  She also meets Hugh, a reporter who may be onto her - and onto her shady past. Overall I found this book to be engaging and lively, a fast-paced thriller and a leisurely stroll through the sleepy town of Liberty all in one. 

Final rating: 4 of 5 stars

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When author Christine Nolfi approached me requesting that I consider reading and reviewing her debut novel Treasure Me, I jumped on the chance after reading the summary.  I had a feeling the book (provided to me in exchange for an honest review) was right up my alley; however, it took a few chapters to meet the characters and settle in to the canvas Nolfi was painting. At first I was a little unsure if I had made the right choice - but around page 50 or so I fell heart and soul for the story.

Birdie's struggles between the aching wish to strike it big so that she can start - not just over, but a new life - felt poignant and real.  As she reluctantly waits tables while she waits out her time in Liberty, stealing money when she can from the patrons of the Second Chance Grill, they begin to weave themselves into her life so seamlessly that it was easy for me to tell Birdie had found where she belonged...even if she didn't.  Reporter Hugh Schaeffer (down on his luck and potentially unemployed) who comes to Liberty to write an expose on the family he profiled only a short time ago, throws her even further off her game. 

Hugh and Birdie's interaction crackled with unleashed sexual tension, which was humorous and a little tense!  What I liked best was what we saw in unexpected moments from both of them - the desire to comfort and care for one another.  Despite repeated jabs about their possible liaison being only a fling, it was clear early on that both Birdie and Hugh were starting to care deeply for one another, despite, or maybe because of, their own individual issues.

As the hunt for the treasure intensifies, so does Birdie's relationship with Hugh.  She wavers between opening her heart to him, and to the townspeople of Liberty (vivacious Delia, who waits tables at the Grill, bossy but lovable cook Finney, and crabby but utterly endearing Theodora, among others) and leaving as soon as she finds what she came for.  The end results were unexpected and pleasantly surprising and heart-warming on several levels, and by the time I finished the book, I can honestly say that I felt like - I - had just spent awhile in Liberty, meeting everyone, learning the local history and lore, and like they would all invite me - and Birdie - back any time.