Review: Merlin's Harp by Anne Eliot Crompton

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire 


Released: March 1, 2010



My rating:  4/5

Goodreads synopsis:
Among the towering trees of magical Avalon, where humans dare not tread, lives Niviene, daughter of the Lady of the Lake and apprentice to Merlin the mage. Her people, the Fey, are folk of the wood and avoid the violence and avarice of man. But the strife of King Arthur's realm threatens even Avalon's peace, and Merlin needs his apprentice to thwart the chaos devouring Camelot. And so Niviene must use her special talents to help save a kingdom and discover the treachery of men and the beauty of love. A mystical love story, now back in print, sure to become a modern teen classic.

My Thoughts:
This was a tough review as I enjoyed the book when reading it but couldn't figure out WHY I liked it and then after I finished I kept seeing not-so-hot reviews.  I thought, well darn I better come up with something to defend this book! Sadly you will see my argument is fairly weak. I can see some of the arguments against  (time lapses made it a tad confusing in parts, slow moving) but I wonder if the reason maybe has to do with people having/not having an Arthurian background? I had to 'consult' my BFF, Jackie, on a few things to see what was added, altered or kept true to Arthur's story and there were parts of story I felt went undeveloped, but overall, I don't see my time was wasted reading this book and perhaps will even re-read it another day.  I came into this book expecting an Arthurian story (which fascinate me) and saw the Fey aspect as a bonus, plus I love variations on stories which is why I think I liked it. If this is also your cup of tea, then I think you too will like this one! (Though I must add Helen Hollick's Arthurian trilogy was amazing, so if you are looking for a purely Arthurian story, check her out!)

Review: Possessed by Kate Cann

• Publisher: Point 
• 
  
• Released: February 1, 2010

My rating: 3.5/5

My thoughts:
Rayne  needed a change of scenery. She was living at home with her mom  & little brother (whom she had to look after often) and the feelings towards her somewhat controlling boyfriend were changing. It was summer & time she finally did something for herself. She replied to a help wanted ad and landed a job at Morton's Keep. Little did she know this old place had a past the owner was trying to keep buried.

There are a number of characters in this book & Kate does a great job of making you think about which ones to trust. The problem: I never really connected with any of the characters as I was too busy questioning their motives. What I did love was that you know something is wrong, you just can't put your finger on it & want to see how it all plays out. This is the story of Rayne, an outsider,  in a town struggling to keep their gruesome past from repeating itself. Not a big part of the story, but the description of what happened in the house is stomach turning. Although I expected something bad, I found myself fixated on this part, meaning the nervous, on the edge of my seat feeling I was enjoying while reading was gone :( Maybe I'm a wimp but I'd have to say I really enjoyed this book...up to a point.

Review: Island Sting by Bonnie Doerr

Publisher: Leap Books

Released: December 15, 2009

Reading level: Ages 9-12

Paperback: 280 pages

ISBN-13: 978-1616030025




Teaser quote:
Sit in a boat? Wait for mom? Impossible. Kenzie had to do something.
Heart pounding, legs pumping, she propelled her bike with ninth-inning intensity. A runner screaming home in a tie game. Pedal, pump. Pedal, pump. (pg 59)


My rating: 4.5/5

My thoughts:

Kenzie and her mom have just moved from New York to the Florida Keys. Out exploring around her new place, Kenzie hears splashing in the canal nearby & finds what she thinks in a dog struggling in the water. Her first instinct is to save the animal, so she looks around for something to help, eventually falling in herself. Angelo, a local kid her age, comes to the rescue & not only saves Kenzie but also the endangered Key Deer. This is what sets the ball in motion for  Kenzie's mission to save the deer on the island. As she befriends Angelo they take it upon themselves, with help from some family & friends, to stop the poaching of these endangered deer!

Want to feel empowered? This book does the trick. Kenzie is a smart, resourceful & determined girl...albeit young, innocent, naive & stubborn too. It was great to see such a strong female character. I thought Bonnie did an amazing job of balancing the fine line of Kenzie being too adventurous & stubborn without making it seem too far fetched. This was a great adventure to follow with a bit of mystery, action, humor, friendship and a subtle message along the way of respecting your environment. A fun and truly hear-warming story that shows how anyone, with a little passion & devotion, can truly make a difference.

Review: Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

Publisher: HarperCollins

Released: March 2, 2010



Hardcover: 480 pages



(special thanks to the B&N's First Look program)



My rating: 5 / 5

My thoughts:
One night Samantha Kingston was a typical teenager, out with friends. She was part of the 'in' crowd and everyone was headed to a house party. But on the way home, something jumped in front of their car, they swerved off the road and Sam is killed. Sam is given a gift...she has the opportunity to relive her last day, fixing some wrongs as she see's things in a whole new light.

This debut by Lauren is simply striking. A great novel has the ability to suck you in, and this one goes that step further and makes you question yourself. The plot and character development are top notch, it really felt you were back in high school again. Each character is unique: some you love, some you hate and some you just plain feel sorry for. What I loved about reliving the day over and over again was seeing why each character acted the way they did. One of Sam's best friends, Lindsay, was shallow, snobby and just plain mean to others below her and yet by the end you realize why she's built herself up by putting others down. I loved seeing the vulnerable side of her. The progress Sam makes as she relives the same day  is also amazing to see. It's too bad she's realizing things after her death, but better late then never. I  wonder if the book offers something different for teen vs adult readers? As an adult reader myself, high school for me was portrayed perfectly in the book. Looking back I see how easily someone can go from being popular to an outcast just by one rumor and how people sold their souls just to try and fit in, even hurting those around them to get there. That's not to say what happens is right, just that it is what it is.

The book is a great take on the butterfly effect...what if you could go back in time and set things right.

Blog Tour: Under My Skin by Judith Graves

It is my pleasure today to be the 1st stop on Judith's Under My Skin blog tour (click here for more details). You can find my review of this an action packed, monster filled story at the bottom of the post.

  

Synopsis:

All her parents wanted was for Eryn to live a normal life...

Redgrave had its share of monsters before Eryn moved to town. Mauled pets, missing children. The Delacroix family is taking the blame, but Eryn knows the truth. Something stalks the night. Wade, the police chief's son and Redgrave High's resident hottie, warns her the Delacroix are dangerous. But then so is Eryn--in fact, she's lethal.

But she can't help falling for one of the Delacroix boys, dark, brooding--human Alec. And then her world falls apart.

A normal life? Now that's the real fairytale.

Interview with Judith:


Mel: Tell us a bit about The Skinned series. Where did the idea come from?

Judith: Skinned was a long time brewing. Between working full time as a library technician, playing in a folk-rock band, and life in general – I’d write scenes, picking away at this idea of different mythological beasties converging on one small town. After reading about a Cree creature, the Windigo, things began to fall into place, and I decided my main character would be a shapeshifter. From there – Eryn pretty much took over. ;)

M: How many books are planned for the series?

J: There are three books: Under My Skin (UMS), Second Skin, and Skin of My Teeth.

M: How do you come up with your character names (Eryn is such a unique spelling)?

J: Ah….the “y” in her name…lol…there’s actually a story to that. In an early draft of UMS, I had her name as “Erin”. She had this snarky line about how writers add “y”s to words to make them gothic – like “vampyre” for example. The line got nixed along the way, but the spelling of Eryn’s name is ever an inside joke to keep me from thinking too much of my writing. ;)

M: Have you ever experienced anything supernatural in your life?

J: If you go to the Class of 2k10 blog (www.classof2k10.com) during my book launch, you’ll hear all about a wicked little incident with a doll my aunt gave me once. Nuf said.

Excerpt from Under My Skin by Judith Graves

For the second time that day, I stared into the werewolf’s red eyes, bright with human intelligence though a wildness flickered in their depths. The stuff of nightmares stared back at me, through me, and called to the beast that lurked within. Finding me out. My body tightened against the urge to flee. To hide.

I waved my dagger to remind the beast, and myself, that I was the one in control. Or at least, I hoped I was. The security lights glimmered off the sharp silver blade, making my point for me.

Flinching, the werewolf turned his massive head away. Thank God, I didn’t have to bluff this time. Now I was all about the follow through. My doubts faded on a mind-blowing rush of power at the beast’s show of fear.

I took a bold step forward.

The beast stumbled backwards, knocked into the bunny cage, and sent the trapped creatures into spastic scuttles.

I had him. We both knew it.

Then I slipped in the bunny blood. I cried out, flailing my hands in the air, trying to regain my balance, but my feet shot out from under me. I crashed to the floor. My head cracked against the linoleum.

I landed in a sprawl under the werewolf’s stinking jowls. His foul breath filled my nostrils as stars spun in front of my eyes. My athame flew from my hand, scraped across the floor, and came to rest a few feet away.

I twisted onto my stomach and reached frantically for the hilt. Oh, this was so wrong! My nails dug into the linoleum floor. I inched closer. My breath escaped in a ragged sob. My splayed fingers trembled. An inch. One inch more. So close. But not close enough.

My Rating: 4 / 5

My thoughts:

When Eryn's parents go missing, the Council decides it's best that she live with her Aunt & Uncle in Redgrave. On the outskirts to nowhere, they suggest a paranorm-free place like Redgrave would keep her safe as they search for clues to find what happened to her parents. When animals & kids go missing, someone needs to take the blame - the Delacroix family. Eryn struggles as she discovers there's more to this sleepy town then meets the eye!

Wow, this debut by Judith is action packed! If you love paranorm, this is one you need to check out. From vampires to werewolves to witches (well there's more but I don't want to spoil it for you), there's no holding back on beasties. Eryn is part wolven (shapeshifter) and part human. Her human father had created concoctions to suppress the wolf inside of her BUT with him gone, so were the meds. Hands down, she was my favorite character in the book, with her kick ass, sarcastic attitude. Her cousin, Paige, is one you love to hate, you can't help but laugh at what she does & sometimes just want to slap her! Of course, there's a hot guy, actually two, but ones a part vampire and we aren't really sure about him. There is a downfall to adding so many characters with so many beastly abilities and unfortunately this means that the plot sorta takes a  backseat for a big chunk of the book. Along the way questions are answered, but there were times when I wasn't sure exactly what the conflict in the story was all about. I think however, the very powerful ending more then makes up for this and I'm dying to see where book two takes us!

Review: The Mark by Jen Nadol

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Released: January 19, 2010

Hardcover: 240 pages

ISBN-13: 978-1599904313


Teaser quote:
We finished our tea, neither of us answering my question with the obvious response that it could be anything. Anything would be more likely than what I'd told her. It wasn't until we put our mugs down that Nan broke the silence.
"So, what now?" (pg 22)

My rating: 4 / 5

My thoughts:


Cassie has lived with her Nan since she was two, after her parents passed away. She has seen a glow around people ever since she can remember but never really paid too much attention. Now at age 16, she thinks she's figured out what it means and follows a man on the street. Sadly her theory is proven correct...those with the glow die that day. After Nan dies, she is sent to live with an Aunt she has never known. It is here that she starts to question her gift.

The premise of this book caught my attention...what would you do if you knew someone was about to die? Would you warn them? Would you do what you could to try and stop it? I love how Jen seamlessly incorporated the philosophical aspect into the book, having Cassie explore the moral aspects through attend college philosophy classes and through the  relationship with her TA, Lucas.

Cassie was a likeable character, very mature for her age and handles her gift way better then I think would at *cough* twice her age. Although the gift seems depressing by predicting death, the story is anything but. It's the story of a girl, trying to understand her past, and deciding what to do with the cards she's been dealt.

Now the ending, well it left a lot open but I was happy to see on Jen's blog that there is a sequel in the works :) I hope to see more of Jack, the friend back home who seems to really 'get' her. An amazing debut that I would highly recommend everyone check out.

Review: Numbers by Rachel Ward

Publisher: Chicken House Ltd

Released: January 5, 2009

Paperback, 304 pages




Teaser quote:

"Instead of backing away or hitting back, he got his arms and legs around me, and kind of wrapped me up, and squeezed. My arms were held down by my side, my legs had no where to go. I was held in close, my face pressed into the smelly place under his arms, and he sort of sapped the fury out of me. I could feel it going, feel my body relaxing. His chin was resting on top of my head, and we stood there for a bit, just breathing.

'You all right now?' he said after a while." (pg 98)

My rating: 3.5 / 5

My thoughts:

Jem has a unique ability - when she seems someone's face, she see's numbers. Their death date, to be exact. She's lived a rough life, no Dad & a drug addicted mom who accidentally dies of an overdose, leaving her an orphan. She's been around the block, no one seems to understand her, until she meets Spider, a school mate who slowly becomes more. A trip to London changes their lives forever as Jem see's today's date on multiple faces, causing her to think there is going to be a tragic accident and them to flee. She was right, but now news reports say police are looking for two witnesses who fled the scene just before the blast. Having no faith in the system and thinking they are going to take the blame, Jem and Spider decide it's best to run away and start fresh.
 
I loved the premise of this. I'm a huge numbers geek in real life, but sadly this story didn't focus on that aspect. The beauty in the story is not Jem's numbers ability (as I had hoped for), it is watching two people who feel they have nothing to lose, find each other. The character development in Jem is heartwarming. Even knowing Spiders death date, she is finally able to feel love for someone and sees good in the others around her. Spider, on the other hand, doesn't make it as far but you see some passion as he falls for Jem.
 
The storyline was unique and had me guessing how it would play out. The moral dilemma appears a number of times (if you know someone's death date, should you tell?) but really this story was about Jem & Spider just struggling to survive. I did have to giggle though as the book takes place in 2009 with an epilogue 5 yrs later. For 5 yrs it seems that we get a glimpse into the future  - which makes me wonder why they didn't write this in 2004 with a 2009 epilogue?

Review: Double Eagle by Sneed B. Collard III

Peachtree Publishers

Released: April 1, 2009

Hardcover:256 pages

ISBN-13: 978-1561454808



Recommended for: adventure lovers

Teaser quote:
"That night we returned to the fort armed with our new sand sifter, two buckets, Kyle's Coleman lantern, and some wooden stakes to mark out our grids.(pg 112)

My rating: 4.5 /5

My thoughts:
Mike always spends the summers with his Dad, a biologist. This year he joins him at the marine lab on an island just off the coast of Alabama. Mike and Kyle, son of a maintenance worker, quickly become friends, hanging out while their Dad's work. Talk of a salvage ship searching for golden coins & an old fort nearby provide the perfect summer adventure.The boys discover a unique gold coin, search for more & come across many dangerous situations.

I loved the way Sneed sets up the story, he gives the reader everything they need. The prologue provides the reader with a background into the Skink, the ship that went missing back in 1862 that the fortune hunters are searching for. The majority of the story takes place in 1973 and finishes with an update in late 2009.  The main characters, Mike and Kyle, are typical boys looking for something to do. I think the only difference between 1973 and now is that they didn't have access to cell phones, the Internet, gaming systems. To keep themselves amused, they created their own fun! An exciting story filled with twists and turns. Be prepared for a little history lesson too, as Sneed seamlessly weaves it into his story.

Although catagorized as ages 9-12, this is a fantastic adventure story for all ages to enjoy. I think what makes it work for the teen + reader is that most, if not all, can relate to treasure hunting...who didn't go off in search of treasure when they were younger? You know you've read a great book when you finish the last page, take a deep breath, close the book deeling satisfied. I highly receommend this book for anyone looking to go on a mini-adventure. I'm definately keeping this for my son as I know in a couple years he's going to love reading this too!

http://www.author-illustr-source.com/sneedcollard.htm

Review: Gone by Lisa McMann

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Hardcover: 224 pages

Released: February 9, 2010



Teaser quote:
"Wonders what it would be like if all of it had never happened to her, if she'd never read that damn green notebook, if she'd never ridden that train where it all started when she was eight. If she could actually be in control of her life, just once."

My rating: 3.5 /5

My thoughts:

Note: this is the final book in the Wake trilogy (see my review of book #1 here and book #2 here) and unfortunately this review will be full of spoilers....be forewarned!

Janie & Cabel have graduated and are enjoying their summer together, that is until she gets an emergency phone call about her mom. She rushes to the hospital only to discover her mom comforting somone she doesn't reconize...her father in a coma. Janie uses her ability to learn more about her dad but in the process uncovers another life path that Miss Stubin didn't consider.

This book focused on Janie's internal struggle on how to life her life: continue as Miss Stubin only to develop crippled hands & become blind in a few years OR become a recluse like her dad & leaving everyone behind. Poor Cabel is the great guy he always has been, supporting her without really knowing what she is going through..and she was just about to leave him! Although I enjoyed GONE mush better then FADE, I was hoping for more insight into her mom & why she is the way she is. Yes, I know we were told about why her father left, that he loved her mom but I would have liked maybe to see more on this, maybe some closure, maybe something to bring her and Janie closer? I guess I really felt that this was too focused on Janie and her choice, the ending ties things up too quickly and there was much more in this story to be told. I ca see myself re-reading WAKE over and over again but as a series overall, I think it was just OK.

Review: Fade by Lisa McMann

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Released: February 10, 2009

Hardcover : 256 pages



My rating: 3 /5

My thoughts:
Note: This is the second book in the Wake trilogy (see my review of book #1 here) though I do try my best in all my reviews to keep them spoiler free.

Janie & Cabel have been assigned to a case together. Based on calls on the schools hotline, it appears there may be a sexual predator at school. Cabel continues watching the staff and students while Janie uses her ability to get inside dreams to see if she can uncover any clues.

After being sucked into WAKE, I was so excited to devour this. Again, it was another quick read but I didn't get the same rush while reading this. While WAKE was all about Caleb & Janie's relationship as well as Janie finally sharing her ability with someone & trying to understand it, this book is focused on the case. I didn't see much in terms of character development and the case wasn't all that exciting. I was also hoping to learn a bit more about secondary characters (her mom, Miss Stubin) and learn more about the side-effects of dream-catching...I kept flipping pages hoping but never did. At the end, I was ready to bite into GONE, book #3, knowing this was the final book & I may finally get my answers :)

Review: The Secret Year by Jennifer Hubbard

Publisher: Viking Juvenile

Hardcover:192 pages

Released: January 7, 2010

ISBN-13: 978-0670011537

Teaser quote:


"I didn't really believe all that stuff Julia had said about me being better at kissing than Austin. I figured she was just mad at him, and horny, and I happened to be there, so what the hell." (pg 21)

My rating: 5 /5

My thoughts:


For the last year, Colt and Julia were living double lives. Julia was from the rich side of town, had a long-time boyfriend and was a frequent visitor at the country club; Colt lived in the flats. One day they meet at the river & somehow, against the odds, they connect. Without anyone knowing, they met up almost every Friday, but tragedy strikes when Julia is killed in a car accident. Colt is finding it difficult to mourn her loss with no one to talk to - until Julia's brother discovers her journal. The journal never mentions Colt by name, but each entry is written to his initials and gives us a little more insight to Julia's thoughts over the last year. Can the journal give him some answers & peace of mind to move on?

I read this over a week ago but kept thinking about how to start my review. The fact that I'm still thinking about it is a big reason I'm giving it 5 stars. Any book that keeps you drawn into the story that long is a definite re-read in my books :)

I can't imagine having to deal with grief with no one to lend an ear. The character development is phenomenal as we watch Colt go through many stages of grief. I loved Colt and really felt for him as he struggles to come to terms with Julia's death. Julia I'm still on the fence about. Was it more about the game they were playing, the secret OR did she really care for him? Was she ashamed to have feelings for him OR scared of change? I wonder if Colt knew the 'real' Julia OR was she just as bad as the others who thought they were better then everyone else? See, I told you this book stuck with me! An awesome debut novel, I hope to see more form Jennifer!

Review: The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg

Publisher: Point

Released: December 29, 2009

Hardcover, 320 pages

ISBN-13: 978-0545140317

Recommended for: everyone, guys included as they could really learn something here! LOL

Teaser quote:
I wondered if it would've been too subtle to wear a T-shirt that said THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST, BUT I AM NO LONGER DATING.

I knew Todd wasn't a huge fan of reading, but he did like to stare at my shirts.

My rating: 5 /5

My thoughts:

After being crushed by the guy she's loved since she was a kid, Penny Lane decided it was time to avoid boys thus avoid all the troubles that come with them. She creates The Lonely Hearts Club (named after a Beatles song) and soon two good friends join, then a few more until almost all the female high school population is in on it. As time goes on, they soon figure out that maybe cutting off boys completely isn't the solution after all...the most important thing is each others friendship & support.

It is predictable at times but not in a bad way, more in a "oooohh, I see where this is going & can't wait to see how this plays out!" kinda way. The story carries such a few important messages and really sticks to them from beginning to end...stay true to yourself, don't change for others, the importance of friends. I loved the character development, seeing everyone draw strength from each other. My favorite characters: Penny is the perfect leader, Tracy the strong & funny best friend everyone needs, Diane who discovered who SHE wanted to be and worked to get there and Ryan, swoon, does such a guy truly exist?

I loved her quirky parents who are total Beatles fanatics (hence their kids names Penny Lane, Rita & Lucy). Having grown up myself with a huge Beatles fan, my Dad, I loved catching lines from their songs incorporated into the story. I really hope the teens that read this can appreciate the awesomeness that is Beatles & catch the references. Did you know that the cover art is a play on The Beatles Abbey Road album cover?

This should seriously be required reading before entering high school. A fabulous debut that everyone must read...I know I'm going to be gushing about this for a while :)

Review: Scones and Sensibility by Lindsay Eland

Publisher: EgmontUSA

Released: December 22, 2009

Hardcover, 320 pages

ISBN: 978-1606840252

Reading level: Ages 9-12

Recommended for: lovers of all things cute

Teaser quote:
"Do not fear, Clementine," I whispered. "I will unite you with your one true love."
Indeed, I will bear the task with pride.
Hearing her mourning made me even more assured that I needed to rid my sister of boring Clint and introduce her to her soul's one true mate. (pg. 70)

My rating: 4 /5

My thoughts:

Polly's love for all things romantic takes over as she decides to use the knowledge she's gained from reading Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice & Lucy Maud Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables series to play matchmaker. There's her sister whose current boyfriend is not good enough for her, her best friends father who is looking for love in all the wrong places (the Internet) and two people in town that are single. Using deliveries from her parent's bakery as a guise, she sets out to ensure everyone finds their true love.

This was such a cute story that had me smiling from beginning to end. I couldn't help but giggle at Polly's conversations with others, as she tries so hard to sound like she's from a Jane Austen novel. She really was in her own little world, wanting to right things that weren't wrong and sticking her nose in places it doesn't belong. After a few traumatic events, she realizes that not everyone will be the same as the characters in her favorite books. A great debut novel by Lindsay that shows how cute & innocent kids can be.

Review: Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World

Publisher: Sourcebooks

Trade Paperback, 256 pages

Release Date: January 10, 2010

ISBN: 9781402229473

Recommended for: Pride and Prejudice fans

My rating: 4 /5

My thoughts:

What happens when you take a famous scene from an incredibly popular novel and change it up? Abigail Reynolds does just that in this Pride and Prejudice variation novel. This is the story of what would have happened had Lizzy said 'yes' when Mr. Darcy proposed the first time.

There where times that I wanted to shake Lizzy for being so stubborn & Darcy for being so tactless. They do not lead a happily ever after from the beginning, but then did you ever expect that of them? They play games, there are misunderstandings and it was fun to see the relationship develop. There is one steamy scene included (which of course I happened to be reading on my train ride home from work) so just be forewarned! Abigail's love of Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice shines through. This was an easy, fun read that I would suggest to all P&P fans.

Review: Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore

Hardcover, 240 pages

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books

Released: December 22, 2009

ISBN: 978-1599904306



Recommended for: magic & faerie story lovers


My rating: 4 /5


My thoughts:

Nimira is performing as a trouser girl when Hollin Parry approaches her with an offer to sing with a clockwork man. She jumps at the opportunity, seeing it as a chance to be saved. Little does she know the secrets that Mr. Parry has been hiding and how her life will change. It turns out, Nimira is not the only one who needs to be saved!

I have to admit that one third of the way in and I was worried that nothing had grabbed me yet. By the halfway point though I couldn't put the book down! In the end, I still didn't connect with the characters as much as I'd like to but found the plot was strong enough to make this a real page-turner.

Nimira was head over heals in love but it was nice to see that it didn't make her weak, in fact it made her stronger. She was a smart, courageous character that carries Mr. Parry, who is a lost soul. You've got to love the role reversal, having a strong female character saving the group! I think it was harder to feel for the clockwork man because, well...he is a machine who only comes to 'life' partway through the book.

A beautiful story about the lengths one will go to save the one they love. If you love stories of sorcery, faeries, love, devotion & deception then check this out! A great debut novel Jaclyn, I hope to read more!


UPDATE: Bloomsbury is ceasing to supply copies of the US edition of Magic Under Glass. The jacket design has caused offense and we apologize for our mistake. Copies of the book with a new jacket design will be available shortly. (source: Bloomsbury website)

Review: The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova

Hardcover, 576 pages

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Released: Jan 12 2010

ISBN: 978-0316065788

Recommended for: mystery & fiction fans

My rating: 3.5 /5

My thoughts:

Artist Robert Oliver is stopped short of attacking a painting at the National Art Gallery. He is referred to Psychiatrist Andrew Marlowe, in hopes that their common love of painting will help bring Robert out of his self-imposed silence. With Robert refusing to speak, Marlowe is forced to search his past to find out what took him over the edge. As Marlowe meets the women in Robert's life, he discovers there's a mystery woman that seems to haunt Robert. Using letters Robert carries with him, Marlowe uncovers a tragic past that not only releases Robert from the hell he's been living but alters art history.

Elizabeth seamlessly weaves two stories into one through the use of 19th century letters and how they relate to Robert's story. Adding another layer to the story, chapters are told from alternating points of view as we learn about Robert from Marlowe, his ex-wife and his girlfriend. This story is filled with things that transcend time - love, anger, passion & mystery.

One of the things I love when reading is being given clues along the way & trying to guess the ending - boy, was I thrown for a loop with this one. Although everything wraps up nicely in the end, as Robert's actions & how they relate to the past were ultimately explained, I feel Robert's story was cut short. Now that we know the cause, is he 'cured'?

A read I really enjoyed at the time, but the more I think of it, the more I find things now that frustrate me in the story.

Review: Wish by Alexandra Bullen

Hardcover, 336 pages

Publisher: Point

Released: Jan 1 2010

ISBN: 978-0545139052

Recommended for: YA fans who like HEA

My rating: 3 /5

My thoughts:

Life is different for Olivia after losing her twin sister, Violet, to a tragic accident. Violet was the outgoing one and now Olivia is having to make new friends and living in a new town with her withdrawn parents. When Olivia brings a dress of Violet's to the local seamstress for repair, a new dress is returned to her instead - a magical one . She wishes for her sister and thanks to the dress, it comes true. Lucky for her, she is granted two more wishes.

We can all relate to growing up, the awkwardness of trying to fit in while at the same time discovering who you are. I enjoyed seeing Olivia develop into a stronger, more confident person. There were a couple of things that bothered me while reading the book though. First, I know it was to portray the 'bad girl' image but smoking rubs me the wrong way. The other is founding too many current trends/names mentioned which make me question how long of a life the book has (as trends change, will the reader connect the same way we do now?) This is a cute but predictable story of self-discovery with a HEA ending but it just didn't WOW me.

Review: The Dark Divine by Bree Despain

Hardcover, 384 pages

Publisher: EgmontUSA

Released: Dec 22 2009

ISBN: 978-1606840573

Recommended for: paranormal romance lovers

Teaser quote:

A frightened shiver rushed through my body. Part of me wanted to climb back into my room and lock the window. But most of me wanted to take him in my arms and run away from everyone and everything. (pg 182)

My rating: 5 /5

My thoughts:

It's been three years since Grace Divine last saw Daniel. Daniel lived next door, was her brother, Jude's, best friend and was taken in by the Divine's when his abusive father took off. But something happened between Daniel & Jude; Daniel disappeared and the family refuses to talk about it or him. Then out of the blue, Daniel returns & Grace wants to be friends again or at least lend him some help. Unfortunately Jude wants her as far away from Daniel as possible. While the subject is off limits with her family, Grace has always wondered what happened to cause such a drastic shift.

This is not just your typical "good girl falls for bad boy" story. Grace is not a weak character. Her major flaw is innocence but she makes up for it with being stubborn yet open-minded when necessary. You can't help but feel for Daniel and what he had to endure growing up. He is fighting to prove he's better than where he came from. Throughout the book, I really felt the characters' emotions & was deeply drawn into the amazing story Bree created. Although much is wrapped up plot-wise & there's a satisfying ending, you can't help but wonder what happens next and it's easy to see that Bree has so much more in store for these characters. I'm really hoping for a sequel, can you tell?!

I know it's early in the game, but I think it's safe to say this is going to end up being a top 10 read for 2010. Yay, Bree on writing such an awesome debut!

On a side note: You know you've read an amazing book when days later, you wake up and remember a dream you just had when you hardly remember your dreams...then you realize it was probably brought on by the story you just finished. I woke up almost in tears after a dream where I was talking with my old neighbor. I haven't seen the family in ages and here I was talking to Eric's mom. When I was younger, Eric, was my best friend, we did everything together. He even tried to teach me how to pee standing up like him - hey I was three. Talk about true love LOL.

Review: Wake by Lisa McMann

Paperback, 224 pages

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Released: Dec 23 2008

ISBN: 978-1416974475

Recommended for: all YA readers

Teaser quote:

Carrie sits up in her sleeping bag and screams.

Janie screams too, but it catches in her throat.

Her voice is horse.

Her fingers are numb.

Her body shakes from the nightmare.

My rating: 4 /5

My thoughts:

Ever since Janie was a kid, she knew she was different. When in close enough proximity to someone who's sleeping, she gets sucked into their dreams (or nightmares). She finds it frustrating to be only an observer. Since discovering her "talent", she can't enjoy sleepovers and is even finding school hard now that she's older and people are falling asleep in class! When Caleb comes into her life, he is exactly what she needs. As he learns more about her ability, he shows her she has more control than she thought. And Caleb, well, he sure isn't the type of person she thought he was!

All this talk about the upcoming release of Fade had me running to the store to start with book one of the series, Wake. The writing style (short, choppy sentences told in third person) had me a bit worried in the beginning but didn't take long to get used to and soon enough I was hooked! This is a real page turner that makes for a quick read. Set aside a few hours to read this as, once you pick it up, you won't want to put it down. Then as soon as you finish, you'll be looking for books #2 (Fade) & #3 (Gone - to be released Feb 9 2010).

I would have given it a 5 but there was one part of the plot that bugged me. You know when something happens/doesn't happen & you are scratching your head wondering why the character did/didn't do something that seemed so obvious, ya that happened. I'm sure it'll come up in Fade but still, why say nothing here?! Grrr.

Review: Men Are Stupid, Women Are Crazy

Hardcover: 256 pages

Publisher: Simon Spotlight Entertainment

Published: September 15, 2009

ISBN: 978-1416595052

Recommended for: every women curious how men think!

Teaser quote:
HOWARD: "This book is not going to break us up!" I yelled again.
Unless it does. Then I'm stupid. And alone. I'm a lonely stupid man wishing I had me some more crazy.

JENNY: "Fine, fine," I said in the way women for centuries have been saying "fine" when we really mean "not fine."

My rating: 4/5

My thoughts:

A hilarious look at the differences in the brain wirings of men and women. It makes me think of that old adage 'men are from Mars, women are from Venus' as we really are completely different creatures when it comes to expressing ourselves!

The book is written by a real-life couple who also happen to be writers of some great TV sitcoms. It's told almost like a 'he said, she said' story, with Howard starting the topic followed by Jenny's reaction. I seriously laughed out loud when reading this book...both at the writing & at seeing how my actions could be perceived by a guy. I'm not sure if it was because I easily related to Jenny (and her craziness) that I laughed more at her writing. Don't get me wrong, Howard was hilarious too, but for a completely different reason...men aren't so great at picking up subtleties, lol. Me this Christmas, a prime example - we did a big family gift this year so when hubby asked what I wanted, I said 'nothing as we spent so much already!'. Well Dec 24th hubby says, "You know I didn't get you anything & I'm like 'What! I need something to unwrap under the tree! It could be a chocolate bar, anything!'. You guessed it, I got chocolate :)

The more I think about it, the more I wonder just how different a guy's take away would be after reading this! A great read that makes you realize how silly we all are when it comes to relationships.