Altered

by Gennifer Albin
3.5/5 stars
Farrar Straus and Giroux, 2013
387 pages
YA Dystopia

Source: Won from Heather at The Flyleaf Review

Yay-how fortunate am I to win a copy of this (and first book with the redesigned cover so at least I have matching copies). I was absolutely astonished at how Crewel ended, leaving me with the best cliffhanger I've read in recent memory.

My memory of the first book's ending meant that I expected we'd pick up right where Crewel concluded. However lacking the time to reread, I'm not quite sure if that happened. What I do know is that this book takes place in a brand new setting (leaving Arras behind) with a lot of new characters excepting our heroine and her two traveling comrades.  Because of this change, there is a lot of new information thrown at Adelice and the reader in regards to the creation of Arras and how it operates as well as the actual strands that can be weaved. I feel like almost everything that was shared was completely brand-new to add on to what we already knew from book one so there was no repetition but rather always moving forward. Consequently this book had a very different vibe from other second books because so much new information was shared but it also means that fans of book one might be disappointed. The overall vibe is less fantasy and more post-apocalyptic. Personally I was not always on board with the plot but...

What really surprised me about this book was my changing perspective on the romantic love triangle between Adelice and brothers Erik and Jost. I normally hate brother love triangles though I can tolerate the ordinary kind. Overwhelmingly my initial impression was that both boys were dull and Adelice needed to find some new companions. However my feelings rapidly shifted in this book and all of a sudden, I am Team ERIK :) Did anyone else come to share my appreciation whether or not you began the book that way?

Returning to the plot, though this book's cliffhanger is not as killer as its predecessor, the stakes are certainly raised and I am anxious about what will happen. Particularly the difficulties of communicating between Arras and Earth have me concerned about what will occur for Adelice especially as time continues to pass.

Cover: Groan-I am so unenthusiastic about this change. Crewel had one of my favorite covers (to my surprise as you know I'm a sucker for a girl in a pretty dress) and I find this so much blander. I think I would have liked this design more if I hadn't had the chance to fall for the original.

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Cracked Up to Be

by Courtney Summers
4/5 stars
St. Martin's Griffin, 2008
214 pages
YA Contemporary

Source: Won What Goes Around bind-up through Sammee at I Want to Read That; see my review of Some Girls Are

I have read all of the other currently published Summers novels but had somehow missed out on her debut. When I won this bind-up, I knew this was my chance to correct that grievous oversight! Something in the spoiler section really upset me but mostly my feelings are positive about this book.

Immediately I was engaged as the book opens with narrator Parker musing on four years of high school and the dark things that have hung over them. She personally has rebelled against this by drinking on school grounds, neglecting to complete homework, and generally completely overturning her image as "Perfect Parker" to the dismay and fear of her parents and school officials. As italicized sections tease, something went down at a party. This may have involved Parker's ex Chris, his new girlfriend/her frenemy Becky, and their other friend Jessie but the details are only fuzzily shared until the final revelations.

I had read about this book beforehand so I thought I knew what the secret was; I had gotten it muddled though so I was a little off-base but on the right track. Certainly I never would have guessed what actually went down. It's a dark secret for Parker to handle and it bothered me that she didn't share with anyone, not even a professional even as she repeatedly talked about wanting to end her life. Though present, her parents are pretty ineffectual and easily manipulated by Parker.

Parker is not a character everyone will like. I personally loved her sass and attitude, how she does not care what others are saying to or about her, and her determination to push everyone away. These kinds of prickly characters often appeal to me and Summers kept the narrative tight and on her instead of attempting to cover too much ground. She is awful to the people around her who somehow manage to stick around and who continuously try to get through to her.

I'm torn on the ending. On the one hand, it's not super happy and there are still some loose ends, which are not endings I tend to like. On the other hand, it was a perfectly realistic ending for this book and the kind I like would have been ridiculous.

Content: Lots of language, sexual content, and underage drinking: multiple instances of all these.

SPOILER

I could not believe Summers killed off Bailey. Among all of the moments that shocked, that is the one that just destroyed me. I started to have inklings about Jessie and Parker but Bailey's death completely blindsided me. Surprisingly as I skimmed some other reviews, he wasn't even mentioned but I couldn't skip over the emotional power this scene exerted on me.

END SPOILER

Period 8

by Chris Crutcher
4/5 stars
Greenwillow, 2013
282 pages
YA Contemporary

Source: From Jen Ryland/YA Romantics

I first read a Chris Crutcher book in 2011 as part of an YA Overlooked Book Battle (Whale Talk to be specific) and was blown away by his bold writing. I soon sought other books, finding that they tended to fall into a pattern and were branded by his distinctive writing style. Therefore I realized I would not be able to binge on all of his works in one weekend but would need to pace myself. Jen was kind enough to pass a copy on to me and it has been a while since I partook of his writing so I figured it might be a good time to do so.

Immediately I was jarred with an italicized opening chapter that provided no context to me. What was going on? The next chapter situates us in the story introducing MC Paulie and his girlfriend Hannah as well as one of the main conflicts which is that he cheated on her. Having a zero tolerance policy for cheating, Hannah ends that relationship. The male propensity for cheating is brought up the following day in their "Period 8," a lunchroom gathering led by a teacher almost retired that allows all to speak about anything but expects confidentiality. When a classmate goes missing, that security is threatened.

The biggest lingering impression I have of this book is that it doesn't quite feel like the other Crutcher books I've read and loved. Yes, there is a male athlete at the center facing an array of problems, there's an unbelievably cool teacher, and all sorts of other issues for the classmates (there also seems to be way more swearing than I remember). I think the problem for me was that it went in the direction of thriller with a big conspiracy at its heart and yet I found that conspiracy the least compelling part and the short length didn't give much time to set it up nor to unravel it.

In general, I most enjoy the passionate protagonists at the core of Crutcher novels with insights into the punishing lengths they go to for the sport they love and debates over how to become the kind of adult they want to be. Those parts are still here to some degree. In case the water on the cover doesn't make it explicit, Paulie is a swimmer and period 8 naturally gives rise to some of those discussions as does Paulie's close relationship with the teacher.

Overall: I think I was underwhelmed based on my previous stellar experiences with Crutcher's books; it seems like he tried to do something a bit different and it wasn't really what I wanted.

Content: Language would be the big one but also references to underage drugs and light sexual content discussed.

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Two Girls of Gettysburg

Two Girls of Gettysburg by Lisa Klein
4/5 stars
Bloomsbury, 2008
390 pages
YA Historical

Source: Won in 2011 from The Maiden's Court

I won this book years ago but never gave it a read. When I realized that it was the 150th anniversary of the battle of Gettysburg though, I knew exactly what book I wanted to pick up to commemorate that occasion. As someone who grew up in Pennsylvania, I actually had a class trip to Gettysburg one year; sadly my big memory is that my bus broke down and we didn't spend much time there. I'd love to go back and visit now as an adult with a greater appreciation for the history.

This book actually begins in 1861 with main character Lizzie summarizing her life in quiet Gettysburg, Pennsylvania so far and soon jumping in to the war with her father and brother enlisting, prepared to do their duty. Their enlisting leaves Lizzie to help her mother and younger brother take care of the family's butcher shop and endure the privations of war. The other point of view is beautiful flighty Rosanna, cousin to Lizzie and born of the South with the feelings you might expect. As the years pass, the cousins are separated until a fateful chain of events brings them back together in Gettysburg.

One big surprise for me was the alternating POVs. Lizzie narrates for about the first 100 pages-the chapter headings always shared who was speaking and I was starting to wonder if Rosanna would ever get a chance to redeem herself as the picture presented by Lizzie made me dislike her though Lizzie's innocent love kept her connection to Rosanna strong. Thankfully Rosanna becomes a bit more sympathetic as two years of war push her to grow up and mature. Similarly Lizzie experiences great character development, becoming less selfish and discovering her inner strength.

This book reminded me a bit of Ann Rinaldi's In My Father's House, which follows a family who has the Civil War erupt in their back yard (the Battle of Bull Run) and then end in their home when they move to Appomattox. No one thinks the war is going to last long and certainly not that it will come up north. It shows war invading every part of the country, even the sleepy small places that might otherwise just ride out the storm. I also really appreciated getting more of northern presence; the only other Civil War book set in the North that I know is Little Women and the war parts aren't what is most memorable to me (and most others, I think.)

My favorite part of this book is near the end when Klein chronicles Lincoln's visit and the delivery of his famous Gettysburg Address. First the most famous orator in the country declaims for two hours. Then Lincoln steps up and delivers those simple words, which I've shared below in honor of the anniversary and because it's honestly that short.

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate, we can not consecrate, we can not hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

<Text copied from wikipedia; written by Abraham Lincoln; delivered November 19, 1863>

Etiquette and Espionage

Etiquette and Espionage by Gail Carriger
4/5 stars
Little, Brown and Company, 2013
307 pages
YA Historical Paranormal

Source: Won from saz101-she hosted a giveaway, ordered the book the day I responded, and it arrived a mere two days later; it's only now that I've had a chance to add it to my schedule. Thank you so much :)

While I liked Soulless, the first book in Carriger's beloved Parasol Protectorate series, I had even higher expectations of this YA novel set in the same universe simply because YA is my category. And though I did like my venture into this universe a lot (especially because it's set at a finishing school or in other words, a boarding school), I found it a bit on the young side. I guess I'm just a bit picky!

Sophronia always seems to be getting into trouble, exasperating her mother to no end and leading to her enrollment in finishing school. But this is no ordinary finishing school; rather it is training its students to not only be ladies but to also be assassins and spies. Sophronia seems to have found her perfect home if only it wasn't for pesky older student Monique and her secrets that Sophronia is determined to unravel.

Honestly I don't think the plot is that important for this book. What is important is the general tone and spirit of this book which is lighthearted and just plain fun. It reminded me a bit of Ally Carter's Heist Society and Robin Benway's Also Known As except with a historical and paranormal setting. Sophronia is a positive heroine-although she is upper-class, she notices and befriends those who would be considered beneath her. Although she has her scrabbles with Monique, she is mostly friendly and tries hard. I'd be fine having her for a younger sister (I think).

Another great bonus is the setting. The finishing school is not content to remain on the ground but instead floats above and is capable of traveling around England, allowing Sophronia to get up to some hilarious hijinks (including a great scene in the school for boys). The stage is set for many more adventures and I look forward to reading them as well.

Other Opinions: Pretty universally loved :)
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A Midsummer's Nightmare

A Midsummer's Nightmare by Kody Keplinger
4.5/5 stars
Poppy, 2012
291 pages
YA Contemporary

Source: Won an ARC from Once Upon a Twilight

I've really appreciated Kody Keplinger's frank and challenging portrayals of young women-they're not sweet, innocent, bland girls. They're real, making mistakes, living life, growing and changing. After liking The Duff and Shut Out, I knew I'd want to read her latest.

It opens jarringly with Whitley walking away from her latest hookup, giddy about spending the last summer before college with her beloved father and away from her shrewish mother who never got over the divorce. Except her father has a surprise for her: a fiance with two kids, sweet Bailey who immediately gloms onto Whitley as a much-desired older sister and hot Nathan, who in a surprise twist for Whitley, is the aforementioned hookup. Another surprise is their cozy house in a small suburban community, claustrophobic and worlds away from her father's bachelor pad. To cope with these starting developments, Whitley turns to booze and boys, her old friends. But in this small town, this draws considerable attention and censure, turning this into Whitley's midsummer nightmare.

I loved Whitley so much-her blunt honest voice clicked with me immediately and propelled me quickly through this delightful read. I honestly wish I had read this over the summer instead of this fall because it would be a great book to read by the pool or at the beach.  It has a strong voice, a summer setting, and a lot of funny moments that made it impossible to put down. But it wasn't just Whitley that I loved. I adored Bailey and Nathan (which is probably my favorite boy's name right now thanks to The Wanted) as well as a friend for Whitley named Harrison, who apparently featured in The Duff but who I don't remember at all.

Though I really loved this book, I did have two small-ish issues. Now I'm not icked out by Whitley and Nathan being stepsiblings due to my deep love of "Clueless" (although technically they were ex-stepsiblings at that time) but I would have enjoyed a bit more swoon between the two even though it probably wouldn't have compared to Bianca and Wesley, who have a cameo in this book!, in The Duff.  The other issue was in regards to her parents, who have a lot of failings in their characters. Although Whitley starts to confront those issues, I didn't feel like we got enough resolution and I would have liked a more solid ending there.

Overall: Definitely my favorite Keplinger (so far)-recommended for people who like fun contemporaries, complicated female leads, and the other Keplinger books!

Cold Fury

Cold Fury by TM Goeglein
4/5 stars
G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2012
313 pages
YA Paranormal Suspense
Book 1 in series

Source: Received from Jen Ryland/YA Romantics

Summary: Sara Jane has long thought there was something a little bit different and hidden about her family. But it's not til her sixteenth birthday that she discovers that her family is deeply entwined with the Chicago Outfit (or as you may call them, the Mob) and her parents and younger brother disappear, leaving Sara Jane behind to pick up the pieces and fight for them.

It's funny how one line can bring you completely on board with a character (or conversely totally turn you off). In this case, I fell for Sara Jane when she shared this about her family: "And the thing is, I loved being with my family because they were funnier and smarter and more interesting than most other kids' families" (pg 25 ARC). The reason this worked for me was because that's basically how I've felt. My dad is SO funny and my mom's a total nurturer and when we're all together, it can be really good. Having this line in the back of my mind throughout the book really kept me close to her.

This was necessary because while Sara Jane has an interesting time in the book, the way it is written was hard to read. There are many, many interesting plots (some of the more important are Sara Jane's missing family, their history with the Outfit, her uncle's simmering resentment against her father, and her boxing career although there is also some romance, some friendship, and a tiny hint of paranormal). But they do not all coalesce. Sometimes it seemed like we were shifting to focus on one plot and then mechanically moving on to a different part of the story. It did not flow as smoothly as I might have liked.

As mentioned, I liked Sara Jane but given that this is more of a plot-driven novel, the other characters didn't make much of an impression. They were easy enough to keep track of while reading but after a few days, I have largely forgotten their names and actions. This is definitely not a novel for someone who wants to get all up-close with the characters. You have to be ready to go for a wild ride!

Send Me a Sign

Send Me a Sign by Tiffany Schmidt
4/5 stars
Walker and Company, 2012
374 pages
YA Contemporary Cancer

Source: Won from Bananas for Books

I saw this book appear on a couple of Waiting on Wednesdays posts and made a mental note to check it out as I adore contemporaries and had a good experience with another cancer story earlier this year, which made me less nervous about reading something so dark. Then I was lucky enough to win a giveaway for a copy and I have finally had a chance to dig into it. I end conflicted with my feelings.

First I want to say that this book was very readable. It can serve as one of the reasons why I love to read contemporary as I easily found myself pulled along. The world was familiar: the way people live, attending high school, what a hospital is like. Although cancer is an element, there is a lot of romance, relationship drama, and even some lightness (there is also an unrelated absolutely devastating event in the book; Mom-do not highlight to read this spoiler! Mia has to put her cat to sleep).

I also really loved the start introducing Mia as one of the Calendar Girls with her three best friends-she is Summer and this is supposed to be her fun time before they start their senior year. Instead Mia ends up in the hospital, urged on by her mother to keep her cancer a secret. The only peer who knows is Mia's long-time best friend and next-door neighbor Gyver (short for MacGyver-the unlikely name chosen by his very sensible parents. I really hate that name). Of course the stress of keeping the secret weighs on Mia in addition to fighting the battle for her life. But I was okay with this conflict.

I was less okay with the romance aspect. Pre-cancer diagnosis, Mia had been sort of flirting with/hooking up with popular Ryan, easy-going, hot, fun to be with. When she returns to school, he still pursues her and is among the first to find out about cancer. He really steps up to the plate and tries to be supportive and commit to her despite her own lukewarm feelings. Because there is also Gyver, who was obviously in love with Mia; she was so freaking dense in regards to that. Her waffling over her feelings for the guys drove me crazy. Initially I felt bad about this because she did have cancer and was dealing with a lot but then I reminded myself that she was a fictional character so whatever. I can't hurt her feelings because she's not real.

Overall: Surprisingly fun to read and difficult to put down but some elements that left me frustrated.

Cover: Love the blue although I wish the flower was one where the petals could be pulled off as that happened several times over the course of the book.

 

The Lady Most Likely

The Lady Most Likely by Julia Quinn, Eloisa James, and Connie Brockway
Avon Books, 2011
372 pages
Romance; Historical
3/5 stars

Source: Won

I just adore Julia Quinn; I think I've read all of her published novels and at some point I will read all of the Bridgerton epilogues. I've had mixed experiences with Eloisa James (problems with story choices) but the writing was enjoyable; and I'm not familiar with Connie Brockway but since I'm usually in the mood for a fluffy Regency romance, I figured why not?

The framework for these stories was delightful. Carolyn is requested to help her brother, Hugh, the Earl of Briarly to find a wife after an experience that might have left him dead. Hugh needs a wife and an heir, so that he can get back to his first love of horses. Consequently Carolyn arranges a house party with eligible young parties and starts matchmaking. Before and after the stories, we got to see Carolyn with her husband and what a great match they were! I liked them way more than I did the others.

The first story is between Hugh's best friend, another earl and the belle of the season, who Carolyn had hoped would marry Hugh. The belle is the beautiful but shy Gwendolyn whose demeanor comes off as snobby to jealous girls such as the earl's sister. When she begs him to distract Gwen so that she can have some suitors, he happily obliges. Thus do Alec and Gwen meet and fall in love. This was Quinn's story and I felt that it unmistakably had her signature on it. This was also my favorite of the collection.

The second story is from Connie Brockway and unfortunately features a trope I loathe. This is a trope of two young people who like each other and could move toward marriage. When he attempts this, her father deems him unworthy and said man leaves, never telling the woman why but leaving her to forever pine for him. In general the man also never apologizes for sucking. So while the writing was just fine and the shortness made this more bearable than other stories using this plot, I could not get over my loathing of it.

The last story was okay; it is about Hugh finally realizing that the woman of his dreams is his sister's widowed friend Lady Georgina, who seemed to be on the point of swearing never to remarry. What bothered me about this story was Hugh's sudden realization that Georgina was, in his words, "Mine." This was repeated and I just wanted to slap him and say that no, she was her own person.

Overall: In some ways this is the light fluffy Romance novel I wanted; there are lots of cute exchanges between all of the couples. But due to some personal pet peeves, I did not enjoy this.

Must've Done Something Good

Must've Done Something Good by Cheryl Cory
Thirteen Hundred Media, 2008
271 pages
Fiction; Chick-lit; Austen
4/5 stars

Source: Won a signed copy through firstreads

I was intrigued by this book due to its references to The Sound of Music (who doesn't love that movie?) and the fact that had a strong focus on sisters, a plot element I am a complete sucker for. What I didn't realize was the strong references to Pride and Prejudice, my favorite book, and my love for the spunky heroine Sylvie.

What I didn't expect was how much I'd like this. I mean, I won a free copy so I figured it doesn't hurt to try but I did keep my expectations low. This had the upside that I was tremendously pleased and enjoyed myself at every point. Of course, I loved the pop culture references, the aforementioned Sound of Music and general trivia (I rock at trivia games). But the characters were great too.

Sylvie is the main character; during turbulence on a plane trip, Sylvie promises God to do something good with her life. On solid ground, she procrastinates but her sisters prod her to apply for a job at a poor high school. When she receives the position, her life changes as she becomes involved in teacher squabbles, bonds with her students, and learns about herself. I also loved getting to spend time with her sisters as well as the romantic plot although I would have liked even more of that. I also loved Sylvie's interactions with her students. As a first-time teacher, she doesn't always know what she's doing nor is she on top of everything but she tries hard and she really cares about the kids.

I guess my main problem was the romantic element, which is obviously drawn from Pride and Prejudice and thus I was frustrated with Sylvie for not realizing that. I'm not sure how she's supposed to do that when she's the character who's caught up in the drama but that's not a favorite element of mine in books.

Overall: A very humorous story with a quick-pace and a good dose of sweetness; recommended for fans of The Sound of Music film adaptation.

The Iron Thorn

The Iron Thorn by Caitlin Kittredge

Delacorte Press, 2011

492 pages

YA; Steampunk; Fantasy

4.5/5 stars

Source: Won

I wanted to read The Iron Thorn because I remembered how much I had enjoyed Kittredge’s story in Kiss Me Deadly.   Some of the same things I remember liking about that story reappear here-a sympathetic heroine, evocative descriptions, and a story that drew me in.  However as a full-length novel, there is more opportunity for world-building and character and plot development.

The world is a sort of steampunk 1950s New England, based on the writings of HP Lovecraft, which I must confess I have never read or even really thought about reading (I don’t think he has many female characters in his canon).  Thus there are probably many references to his writing that I missed.  Regardless I enjoyed the world created and I’m going to attempt to break down the plot in an effort to give you insight into my impressions.

The novel opens on Aoife with her mother, who resides in an insane asylum in the city of Lovecraft (I think it used to be Boston but perhaps it did not replace one of our cities).  Consequently Aoife is a ward of the state with very little knowledge of her father and with an older brother who has also been deemed insane.  She goes to the School of Engineering, the only female student (in her year or overall, I’m not sure) where she takes comfort in numbers, iron, and the other tenets of the Lovecraftian faith.  Anything outside of this rationality is dubbed heretical and causes suspicion.  When Aoife receives a letter from her on-the-run brother, Conrad, she sets out to leave Lovecraft for Arkham, their family’s ancestral home.  Compounding her desire to find her brother is her fears about her possible pending insanity.  The theory is that it begins at the age of sixteen and Aoife’s birthday is approaching.  In order to escape, Aoife and her only friend Cal engage the services of a guide Dean and flee the city.

Once they have arrived at Gatestone, her father’s home, there is no sign of Conrad but there is an extraordinary house and collection of books just waiting for Aoife to learn about.  Through them she begins to discover her ancestral gift and the terrifying world of the Kindly Folk (who are misnamed; us YA readers may know them better as the Fae, a capricious and wily people).

Aoife was a great heroine.  She bristles at those who would treat her differently because of her gender and she’s incredibly headstrong.  She’s also loyal and curious, which is good for that spurs on her adventures.  Her best friend Cal alternately pleased and annoyed me.  I was glad that he traveled with her because she needed company but as the book progressed, his patronizing attitude toward her increased.  Then came a surprise that twists everything but confirms Cal as loyal to Aoife.  Then there was their guide Dean, the love interest.  Although many times his attitude was also annoying (calling her “princess), something about him made me melt; this was helped by his willingness to believe Aoife even when she feared she was going crazy and he always gave her a (figurative) shove to keep going.  Unfortunately Dean smokes, a habit he’ll need to kick if he wants to secure a coveted place on Bookworm1858’s Top Ten Boys in Books list.


Overall: A long, luxurious read full of details and atmosphere. While I loved this, I would definitely recommend doing a bit more research before you buy it to make sure that it really appeals to you.

Cover: Not a fan; I guess it conjures up darkness and fear but I don't find it very enticing.

Read for YA Debut Author Challenge.

Clarity

Clarity by Kim Harrington
Point, 2011
242 pages
YA; Paranormal; Mystery
3.5/5 stars

Source: Won from Katie at Sophistikatied Reviews

I didn't realize when I won this that it's a mystery, which is what appealed to me the most.  I had several theories and I was kind of right but I didn't quite piece everything together.  Clare does not either until the moment of confrontation.

Which is odd, as she possesses certain psychic powers as does the rest of her family.  Her mother can read minds, her brother Periwinkle, Perry for short, can speak to the dead, and Clare can capture memories from objects.  Together they have a business that is very appealing to the tourists who go through town.

When one of those tourists is killed, Clare is surprised but pleased to join in the investigation for a variety of reasons.  First, no one wants an unsolved murder in town.  Second, competition for her mother has arrived in town and she wants to prove that her family is not faking their powers.  Third, the new cop in town has a hot son hanging around.  And lastly, Clare starts to suspect that her brother may have had something to do with the murder and she desperately hopes that is not true.

I was not really a fan of the romance; surprise, there's sort of a love triangle.  Mysterious new guy Gabriel hates Clare's powers and thus hates one of the defining characteristics about her; this does not stop her from crushing on him nor does it stop him from kissing her.  Her other love interest is ex-boyfriend Justin, who may have gotten a bad rap.  It seems that he was at a party, got drunk, and slept with another girl but I think it might have been rape because the girl may have been fully sober and aware of what she was doing while he was past the point of consent.  However Clare finds herself unable to forgive him (at least at this point).  This could very well be a series so there's plenty of space for development.  In fact there are many places where more could be elaborated and if this does become a series, I hope to see more depth added.

Overall: Cool mystery and heroine; hated the romance.

Read for YA Debut Author Challenge.

Fall For Anything

Fall For Anything by Courtney Summers

St. Martin's Press, 2010

230 pages

YA; Contemporary

4/5 stars

Contemps Challenge

Source: Received for review

Summary: "When Eddie Reeves’s father commits suicide her life is consumed by the nagging question of why? Why when he was a legendary photographer and a brilliant teacher? Why when he seemed to find inspiration in everything he saw? And, most important, why when he had a daughter who loved him more than anyone else in the world? When she meets Culler Evans, a former student of her father’s and a photographer himself, an instant and dangerous attraction begins. Cullen seems to know more about her father than she does and could possibly hold the key to the mystery surrounding his death. But Eddie’s vulnerability has weakened her and Culler Evans is getting too close. Her need for the truth keeps her hanging on...but are some questions better left unanswered?" from goodreads

Thoughts: Courtney Summers writes some of the most wrenching stories.  I read Some Girls Are earlier this year and was twisted by the mean girl plot and the general cruelty.  This is difficult in a different way as Eddie and her mom struggle following her father's suicide.  Neither wants to get dressed, wants to interact with people, wants to live the house.  Eddie is also pissed at her mother's busybody best friend who comes to live with them, to get them through this time.  I can't imagine what it's like to lose a parent, let alone through suicide. 

I was disappointed with Culler-he was too much of a cipher and I wanted him to be completely psycho and to threaten her life or something.  Instead he does prey on her vulnerability but in a quieter way (I hope that makes sense).  I also wanted an answer to why but sorry, there are no cut and dry answers.

One character I was really interested in was Milo, Eddie's best friend who is maybe in love with her?  I didn't feel that I got to know him well enough and their relationship was confusing. Sometimes she was jealous over his relationship with a girlfriend but she wasn't interested in him herself; she just didn't want to share him or let him have any relationships outside of theirs.

Overall: Dark, deceptively simple prose make for a haunting story.

Cover: I didn't understand the photographs at first but then I read that her father was a photographer and she still retains some of his pictures so it makes sense.

The book came out today so if you would like to purchase this book, here are links:

Book Depository

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Borders

A Suitor for Jenny

A Suitor for Jenny by Margaret Brownley
Thomas Nelson, 2010
309 pages
Inspirational; Historical; Romance
4/5 stars

Source: Won from Goodreads

Summary: Jenny is bringing her two sisters Mary Lou and Brenda to Rocky Creek in order to get them married to some eligible bachelors. While she has a system for picking out the right man to take care of them, her sisters have other ideas.  Marshal Rhett Armstrong is supposed to make sure she doesn't make a nuisance of herself but instead finds her intriguing.  Can God bring these two broken people together?

Thoughts: Her sisters kind of bugged me; I knew that they wouldn't listen to their older sister but they acted without a care for their reputations and futures.  I wish they had acted with a bit more dignity and appropriateness.

I really liked Rhett.  He was a good man.  I also liked Jenny and it was easy to root from them to get together despite their individual guilt complexes.

She got over her issues very quickly-I kept expecting to find out what she did (well I was pretty sure I knew what she had done but to have it clarified) and then it came out right at the end with very little explanation.  Rhett also struggled with guilt issues that he overcomes very quickly.  I'm not sure why either plotline was included when they were going to be dealt with so perfunctorily.

I was hoping that we'd see Sarah and Justin from the first book and we did receive a glimpse in to their life, which seems very happy! They are very much in love and have built a good life together.

Overall: Cute story but not as good as the first!

Cover; Her face looks really weird, I'm not sure if it's the angle but it doesn't look like it belongs in that hat.

The Ivy

The Ivy by Lauren Kunze with Rina Onur
Greenwillow Books, 2010
312 pages
YA; Contemporary
1st in series
3/5 stars

Source: Won from Goodreads Firstread program

Summary: Callie Andrews has finally arrived at Harvard where she meets her three very different roommates, cute boys, new enemies, and struggles with course work, peer pressure, and money troubles.

Thoughts: I was really excited about the premise of this book as I'm not familiar with many YA books set in college and like many of those raised on the East Coast, I have a fascination with the Ivies.

I didn't really like Callie; she's supposed to be so great and has four potential romantic partners but I don't know what they see in her.  I mean, she's blonde and from CA but is that really enough?

Of those guys, I did not like Gregory (at first-wait till you see why I do) because he WAS a jerk and his hotness did not compensate enough.  Plus I really hate when the idea that a guy who is mean to you actually likes you is promoted-so wrong! And he's a total whore with a revolving bedmate each night (it seems-this wasn't detailed every night but it could fit). But then it turns out that he loves to read, especially Jane Austen, especially Persuasion, and that almost redeems him except that the book ends with a cliffhanger and without him around.  I did not like Evan, her ex-boyfriend still in CA, nor did I like Clint but I did like Michael, who seemed like a really nice guy.

The other characters include Callie's three roommates who are French girl, NYC Prep girl, and Fundamentalist Christian girl.  They develop a bit more personality but not as much as they should have. The final other character is Callie's enemy as she is Clint's ex-girlfriend and is in a position to make Callie miserable.

While I can't say much of this aligns with my college experience at all (I'm not at an Ivy), I can see how some people at a college near me have a similar work hard, party harder mentality.  The social analysis of Harvard's chauvinistic instances and the realities of money were probably the most interesting part.  I actually go to a women's school so I deal with a whole different set of issues and I'm quite fortunate in the financial department although I am still working and will graduate with debt.  Plus I have no interest in paying thousands of dollars for exclusive parties; I like to read which is free when I get books from the library/my new love Netgalley. There is a focus on the "compromises" women make in order to be successful and Callie desires much more money in order to be able to compete with her peers.

The other thing I didn't like was that this was a collection of vignettes more than one coherent story and while it usually focused on Callie's POV, it also randomly shifted to some of the other people.  It was a bit disorienting.

Warning: Language, underage drinking, and some sexual content.

Overall: Intriguing beginning with a cliffhanger that left me curious for more. Not in love with the series.

Cover: I don't really like the cover-the red is overwhelming for me but that is very much a personal preference.

Invisible Girl

Invisible Girl by Mary Hanlon Stone

Philomel Books, 2010

279 pages

YA; Contemporary

4/5 stars

Source: Won an ARC from Khy at Frenetic Reader

Summary: Stephanie lives in Boston with her abusive mother and cowed father.  When her mother walks out on them, her father sends her to friends in California where she has the chance to remake herself.

Thoughts: Honestly I mostly wanted to read this book because the main character's name is Stephanie and I love seeing my name in print.

At about the halfway point, I was not enjoying this but I pushed through and ended up being pleasantly surprised.  The book opens in a confused way as Stephanie huddles in a closet and the reader tries to figure out her family situation.  Basically her mother is an alcoholic who beats her and her father is a loser.  So she is sent to California.

When in California she meets Annie, who seems nice but is quickly revealed as a mean girl in the vein of her father while her mother is rather spineless.  Stephanie tries to navigate this difficult world and eventually sees a chance of escape when a new girl arrives for the mean girl crowd to torment.

I guess I didn't like seeing Stephanie being a coward although she does love to read (woot!)  I liked when she FINALLY started standing up for herself.  Another problem for me was that they were only 14 but sometimes seemed a lot older.  I really do feel more comfortable with 16-18 year old main characters in YA-personal preference!  I'm glad that I got through it but I don't know who I'd recommend it to.

Overall: A satisfying ending that some readers might not reach if they don't want to muddle through mean girl antics.

Cover: It definitely reflects a girl who's desperate to hide herself.

Shade

Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready

Simon Pulse, 2010

309 pages

YA; Paranormal

First in series

Source: Won from Books Make Great Lovers

Summary: Aura is ready to celebrate her boyfriend's Logan 17th birthday-and it is going to rock! Except that he dies that very night. And because of some phenomenon, she and everyone her age and younger can see him and other ghosts. She was the First She had set out to explore why this is as well as keep Logan with her. There is also the mysterious Zachary, the last person not born with that ability, who is determined to help Aura remember to live.

Thoughts: I was psyched for a couple of things in this book. First off, both guys were pretty hot and neither were major tools like in a lot of paranormal fiction. I can see the appeal of both although, for me, the living guy always wins. I know that's not a popular choice in YA (um, Team Edward?) but it's just how I feel. I also got teary-eyed toward the end of this as she looked to say goodbye to Logan so he could pass on. Then it ends with a cliffhanger that will lead us in to the second book to explore what special powers Zachary and Aura have as well as why. There is a good mystery here and I'm formulating some theories, which will probably inevitably be wrong, but hey no harm in guessing.

I am a big proponent of strong female friendships in books (because I think that's super important to have in real-life whether it's with school friends or family or whatever) and this book lacked in that. Aura does have one pretty good friend but they don't interact as much as she does with Logan and Zachary.

I was a bit confused about how exactly shading and the ghosts work although I assume part of that is because the author is teasing us so that we continue reading (good job!) And sometimes the book was a bit slow but I didn't mind.

Content: Language (especially one scene at the end); sexual content; drugs and underage drinking. The drinking seemed accepted, making me wonder if I missed something or if in this alternate world, they have different laws.

Overall: Very curious to find out more about this world and what is going to happen next.

Cover: Very atmospheric; I love the dark purples and the red is a cool focus point. It is also relevant to the world of the story.

Wherever Nina Lies

Wherever Nina Lies by Lynn Weingarten

Point, 2009

311 pages

YA; Contemporary

Rating: 3.5/5

Source: Won from Book-Lover Carol

Summary: Nina and Ellie were sisters but one day Nina disappeared. Ellie, of course, misses her sister and while others have given up, she still believes her sister is alive, out there somewhere. Then she meets Sean who is uber-supportive and they set off to find where Nina might be.

Thoughts: I was interested in this book because of the sister relationship. I like to think that my sister and I have a pretty good relationship and that she would be devastated were I to disappear as Nina does in this book.

Now I'm not really sure how to write this review without spoilers so SPOILER WARNING ahead. Ellie has tried to move on with her life since Nina disappeared but she knows that her life is still empty. Then she finds a drawing done in Nina's distinctive style and decides to follow this clue to a party where she meets Sean. They hit it off and end up going off, following different clues on the path to Nina.

About three-quarters of the way through, there is a "twist." While Sean has seemed like a pretty nice guy up to that point, this is when it is revealed that he is actually crazy and is using Ellie in order to get to Nina. This happened really quickly although there were a few clues that something was wrong. And while I didn't figure out all of the details of the twist, once I read that there was one, I knew it would revolve around Sean.

I also was disappointed in the friendship that Ellie has with Amanda. I always want strong friendships in my books but Ellie and Amanda have a big falling-out over Sean and I'm not sure how they can move on from there although in the end, it seems like they have.

I did love the sisterly relationship. Ellie just knows that Nina is still alive and they manage to end up with an even stronger relationship at the end of the book despite their years of estrangement. I feel like it helped me understand my (younger) sister better as I'm sure I hurt her with my teenage callousness at times although I hope that we are building a stronger relationship now.

Note: There is quite a bit of language and sexual content in this book although I found it pretty easy to glide over.

Overall: I was enjoying it until the *twist* which seemed really sudden and the ending wrapped up too quickly, 3.5/5.

Cover: I like it-I like the cut-out letters and the pink that comes out. I'm not the biggest fan of covers with real people on them but since her face is mostly covered, I like it more.

There Are No Words

There Are No Words by Mary Calhoun Brown

Lucky Press, LLC, 2010

113 pages

Source: Won from Maggie at Bibliophilia. Thank you!

Summary: Jaxon is a mute, literate, autistic girl who lives with her grandparents. One night she travels back in time and meets Sarah, Dewey, and Oliver Pack, her grandfather's best friend who died in a 1918 train accident. She ends up realizing that she traveled back in time in order to save Oliver-can she do it?

Thoughts: I really liked the concept and I found it very charming that Jaxon got to go back in time and affect it. It was pretty predictable but I found it engaging and I read it fairly quickly. I also appreciated the inclusion of additional resources for parents and educators although I'm not either.

I was a little confused about the time period. Her grandparents were 12 during WWI yet by the end Jaxon is using a computer. I'm not sure they'd have access to a computer in sixties or seventies when I assume this book starts. I also caught several typos which always disappoints me.

Overall: 4/5. Different from what I am used to seeing and enjoyable.

Cover: It reminds me of "This Property Is Condemned" which is not a good movie unless you are a huge Natalie Wood or Robert Redford fan but I still mostly liked it.