Win a signed copy of Matched by Ally Condie

Ok, I know that I said I wasn't posting here anymore, and that's still true, but over on Once Upon a Distraction - a blog a couple friends and I have together - we are having a contest to win a signed copy of Matched by Ally Condie. It's going until the end of this month and it's super easy to enter. And let's be honest, who wouldn't love a signed copy of this fabulous book?

Just go here and read how to enter. And while you're there, take a look at the stories we've posted for February - these girls are pretty talented. And, if you're interested, my story is here.

I hope you're all enjoying the books that you're reading, and savoring that sweet anticipation for the books we can't wait to come out. Happy reading!!

Now it's time to say goodbye

Yes, you read that right. I'm saying goodbye to this blog. It's been great fun sharing my thoughts on the books I'm reading with everyone, but lately I have found it too stressful to be fun anymore. I have just enough of a competitive spirit that reading became a race instead of something I enjoyed.

So, I'm no longer going to be posting reviews here. But, I'm still going to be reading books, and if you liked my reviews, then come and find me on GoodReads. I've found that I can still share my thoughts on what I'm reading without the stress of the blog. (If it makes no sense, that's ok. It just feels different to me.) And I would love to see what you all are reading as well. It helps me find amazing new books to read.

But be aware that I will only be posting *full* reviews of books I absolutely loved. All others I will just use the stars to rate how much I liked it. These authors have worked so hard on their books that they bravely sent out into the world, and in my opinion, if I didn't like it, they don't really need to know the details why. It just might not have been my cup of tea, or something else that was unique to me and really doesn't matter. Others will and do love those books so who am I to say what I thought was bad? I wouldn't like it if people bashed books that I absolutely love, so I won't do it to others. But, if I fall in love with a book, I will write a full review saying why and expressing my thanks to the authors for being brave and awesome enough to write something that spoke to me so deeply. If they feel enough love, maybe they'll write more in the future. : )

So, there you have it. My long and rambling reasons why I won't be updating this site any longer. It's been a great experience and I've enjoyed discovering this community online, but I'm done now.

Thank you so much to those who followed me, and read what I had to say. You're all amazing. And unless we meet again on GoodReads, happy reading everyone!!!

- Jenn

Matched - Ally Condie

Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate . . . until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.

The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

I had to give myself a little time to let this book settle for me before I gave it a review. Because I absolutely loved it, but I really struggled with the pacing. It just felt like it moved slowly, even though all of it was fairly important to the story and the characters. It did pick up quite a bit at the end, so I'm hoping that now that most of the setup has been covered the next books will be as gripping as the end of this first book. But the story itself was extremely excellent. It reminds me a lot of The Giver, which is one of my favorite books. It's subtle in the same way, and a very emotionally moving book. 

I loved Cassia. Sometimes she made me crazy because she was trying so hard to make everyone happy when it was clear that it was impossible. But I can't say I would have done differently, especially considering the way the Society works. The flow of her evolution was absolutely beautiful as her eyes were opened to just exactly what the Society was like, and what that meant for her. She has such a strong inner spirit, and her internal fight to figure out what she wants and what she can even do it about it is encouraging as well as heartbreaking.

As for the love triangle, this is one of the most heartbreaking ones I've read. They are both such great guys, and they offer so much to her in different ways. Xander is sweet and caring and offers her the safe route. The path that is expected of her, the boy that she knows and feels safe and comfortable with is with Xander. But Ky is unknown and mysterious and dares her to be more than what's just expected of her. He pushes her to want more, and while it's dangerous, it's very alluring. I honestly love both of these boys, even though I'm rooting for Ky. But I definitely hope that everyone gets some kind of happy ending at the end of the trilogy.

I highly suggest this book. It's an excellent story and I'm dying to find out what happens next to everyone - even though I have to wait until the fall for Crossed to come out. This is the start of a great trilogy.

4/5

Matched
Ally Condie
Penguin Young Readers Group
384 pages
$17.99 (hardcover)

The Lost Saint - Bree Despain

Grace Divine made the ultimate sacrifice to cure Daniel Kalbi.  She gave her soul to the wolf to save him and lost her beloved brother.  When Grace receives a haunting phone call from Jude, she knows what she must do.  She must become a Hound of Heaven.  Desparate to find Jude, Grace befriends Talbot - a newcomer to town who promises her that he can help her be a hero.  But as the two grow closer, the wolf grows in Grace, and her relationship with Daniel begins to crumble.  Unaware of the dark path she is walking, Grace becomes prideful in her new abilities - not realizing that an old enemy has returned and deadly trap is about to be sprung.

This book was an excellent middle book. I struggled with it in the beginning, but only because I hate when characters I seriously love are having so much trouble. But once it got going, it really took off and was almost impossible to put down. There were so many WTF?? and NO WAY!! moments, especially at the end, that it blew me away. And the ending was seriously one of the meanest cliffhangers I've read in a long time. She joins the ranks of Cassandra Clare, Maggie Stiefvater, and Richelle Mead as authors who make waiting for the next book SO much harder than it needs to be. Honestly ladies, you torture me.

While Grace is struggling to stay connected to Daniel and trying to find Jude, she's really discovering what she wants out of life and how to connect to her new powers. It's heartbreaking to see how Jude's leaving has affected the family and what that has done for Grace's options for her future. And my heart was aching over pretty much everything with Daniel. Bree has excellently written the characters in Grace's life so that you never really quite know who to trust, which makes for an exciting read. And the ending - the villain, the sacrifices, the consequences....so, so amazing. I was practically in tears by the time I was done. December seems much too far away to have to wait for the next book.

5/5

The Lost Saint
Bree Despain
EgmontUSA
416 pages
$17.99 (hardcover)

Graceling - Kristin Cashore

Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight—she’s a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king’s thug.

When she first meets Prince Po, Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change. She never expects to become Po’s friend. She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace—or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away . . . a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.

I read this book about 6 months ago and devoured it in a couple days. I really, really liked it, but was left feeling unsatisfied with the ending. After reading it again (slower this time), that feeling is still there, but not nearly as strong. I knew what to expect from the characters this time and it helped me to appreciate them better.

The great thing about this book is that it's a "non-traditional" romance story. Katsa feels no real desire for romance. She has no wish to marry or have children or any kind of happily ever after. She wishes only to live on her own terms. So she really struggles when love shows up. And even after that, she still doesn't want to belong to anyone but herself. It's an interesting point of view to read from. As far as leading men go, Po is definitely swoon-worthy. He's smart and funny, and a more than worthy love interest for Katsa's strong personality. I love him and his back and forth with Katsa were some of the best scenes in the book.

The most beautiful thing about this story - that I failed to notice in my first reading - is Katsa's evolution as a character. While there is a love story in here, the book is basically about Katsa. About how she grows and matures and really takes her own destiny into her own hands; whether it be her place in the kingdoms or her love life. It's exquistely written, and while I was wishing for a more solid conclusion at the end, it was still a good ending. I am keeping my fingers crossed, however, that in the future she'll write another book that will allow us to see Katsa and Po again. I want to know what they're up to. : )

5/5

Graceling
Kristin Cashore
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
480 pages
$17.00 (hardcover)

The Dark Divine - Bree Despain

Grace Divine, daughter of the local pastor, always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared--the night she found her brother Jude collapsed on the porch, covered in blood--but she has no idea what a truly monstrous secret that night held.

The memories her family has tried to bury resurface when Daniel returns, three years later, and enrolls in Grace and Jude's high school. Despite promising Jude she'll stay away, Grace cannot deny her attraction to Daniel's shocking artistic abilities, his way of getting her to look at the world from new angles, and the strange, hungry, glint in his eyes.

The closer Grace gets to Daniel, the more she jeopardizes her life, as her actions stir resentment in Jude and drive him to embrace the ancient evil Daniel unleashed that horrific night. Grace must discover the truth behind the boys' dark secret...and the cure that can save the ones she loves. But she may have to lay down the ultimate sacrifice to do it--her soul.

While werewolves seem to be getting as popular as vampires, it's always nice to read a new angle on the mythology, and this one is definitely a fresh take on werewolves. It blends popular myth with new origins and blends together nicely to make a great mythology for this world. But I won't say more, since it plays a part in the story. And a subplot also draws a parallel to the parable of the prodigal son, which added a great layer to the tensions in the book between Daniel and Jude.

Our narrarator - Grace - is your typical good girl next door. She loves her family, does well in school, and tries to be a good person. But like all good girls, there's an inner voice begging for something to change; something to spice up her fairly predictable life. Enter Daniel - long lost friend and first crush for our girl Grace. The back and forth between Grace and Daniel is filled with sexual tension and suspense, since there are quite a few unknowns floating around and Daniel keeps leaving details out of his explanations to Grace. She's a morally strong character and I anxiously wondered which side of her would win - the side loyal to her family, who (with the exception of her father) hate Daniel after an incident 3 years prior, or the side loyal to her heart, which keeps pulling her to Daniel.

There's a fair amount mystery to the story, since you keep trying to figure out who is and isn't trustworthy and just what is going on in town. The ending took me by surprise and was a bittersweet conclusion to the first book in this trilogy. The next book - The Lost Saint - comes out on Tuesday and I can't wait to get my hands on it!

5/5

The Dark Divine
Bree Despain
Egmont USA
372 pages
$17.99 (hardcover)

Chasing Brooklyn - Lisa Schroeder

Restless souls and empty hearts

Brooklyn can't sleep. Her boyfriend, Lucca, died only a year ago, and now her friend Gabe has just died of an overdose. Every time she closes her eyes, Gabe's ghost is there waiting for her. She has no idea what he wants or why it isn't Lucca visiting her dreams.

Nico can't stop. He's always running, trying to escape the pain of losing his brother, Lucca. But when Lucca's ghost begins leaving messages, telling Nico to help Brooklyn, emotions come crashing to the surface.


As the nightmares escalate and the messages become relentless, Nico reaches out to Brooklyn. But neither of them can admit that they're being haunted. Until they learn to let each other in, not one soul will be able to rest.

I love Lisa Schroeder. Her style is simple, but because of it's simplicity the emotions come through loud and clear and feel more powerful. This is a companion of sorts to I Heart You, You Haunt Me. We get a glimpse of Ava, which was nice, and she provides the soundtrack to Brooklyn's healing.

The story takes place a year after Lucca's death and a just after the death of Gabe - who was friends with Lucca, Brooklyn, and Nico. The chapters switch back and forth between Brooklyn and Nico, so you really get a feel for how each is coping with their own grief. Brooklyn has disappeared into her own head and Nico has disappeared into the endorphins of running. It's hearbreaking to see them still struggling, and as they struggle with this new death, it's like they get pushed back a few steps.

I loved that they were being haunted by different people, in different ways for different reasons. Nico is such a sweetheart and he was the perfect person to help Brooklyn fight her way out of her depression. And she in turn helped Nico stop and look around instead of always running. The evolution of their friendship was beautifully written and felt very real. I absolutely loved it.

Basically, I loved this book. I've said it once and I'll say it again: Lisa Schroeder is a must-read author for me. I can't wait for her next book The Day Before to be released this summer.

5/5

Chasing Brooklyn
Lisa Schroeder
Simon & Schuster
412 pages
$15.99 (hardcover)

City of Fallen Angels Cover Revealed

This is very exciting because not only do I love Cassandra Clare's books, but I love the covers! They are always so beautiful and I'm incredibly excited to see what happens to Clary, Jace, and the gang. To see close ups of the cover and a link to an excerpt from the book, you can visit her blog here. She mentions on the blog that it is Clary and Simon on the cover, and that for all three covers of the second TMI cycle, there will be two people instead of just one like the first three books. Very cool.

April can't come fast enough, can it? : )

Last Sacrifice - Richelle Mead

Rose Hathaway has always played by her own rules. She broke the law when she ran away from St. Vladimir's Academy with her best friend and last surviving Dragomir princess, Lissa. She broke the law when she fell in love with her gorgeous, off-limits instructor, Dimitri. And she dared to defy Queen Tatiana, leader of the Moroi world, risking her life and reputation to protect generations of dhampir guardians to come.

Now the law has finally caught up with Rose--for a crime she didn't even commit. She's in prison for the highest offense imaginable: the assassination of a monarch. She'll need help from both Dimitri and Adrian to find the one living person who can stall her execution and force the Moroi Elite to acknowledge a shocking new candidate for the royal throne: Vasilisa Dragomir. But the clock on Rose's life is running out. Rose knows in her heart the world of the dead wants her back...and this time she is truly out of second chances. The big question is, when your whole life is about saving others, who will save you?

It's finished. The final book in the Vampire Academy is out and the series is over. We know how Rose's story ends. I'll admit, I was both insanely excited and very sad to get it. This was it. I would finally find out who Rose would choose, who killed the Queen, and what Lissa's political future would be.

This book does not disappoint. From the very beginning it starts with bad news and crazy stunts and seriously does not stop the entire book. Something is always happening, some plan is being hatched and carried out, and the plot twists and surprises are enough to make you cry out in shock. And let's not even talk about the sexual tension in this book. It's saturates every page.

It really took me for a wild ride and I loved every single minute of it. The growth of all the characters, the way everything ended, and the intricate and complex way she brought everything together blew my mind away. There were a few storylines left hanging, but I'm not worried because we'll probably be getting more of those characters in the spin-off series - Bloodlines - due out late summer/early fall of 2011. I'm incredibly excited to see where she takes us next, because even after six books, I'm not ready to say goodbye to this world and the amazing characters in it.

Richelle, you amaze me with your incredible books, and I have to say, this was the best final book of a series that I have read in a very long time. I worship your awesomeness, and I look forward to all the books you have yet to write. Thank you for such an incredible series.

5/5 plus 5 stars and 2 thumbs up (seriously, it's amazing)

Last Sacrifice
Richelle Mead
Penguin Group USA
594 pages
$17.99 (hardcover)

Disappearing

Hello everyone, I hope all is well in your parts of the world and that the holiday season is treating you well so far. For those of you who are getting ready for Thanksgiving, have a fabulous and safe holiday. And for those who celebrate Black Friday - don't die in the massive, crazy crowds. ; )

Now, the final book in Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy series - Last Sacrifice - is coming out in just under two weeks. *insert fangirl squeal here* In honor of the series finishing, I'm attempting to read the first five books before the release. I know I'm cutting it kinda close, but the library suddenly got in a few books I was on the waiting list for, and I had to read those first. However, I'm still giving it a shot, so I'm not going to be posting as much for the next couple weeks.

I have finished Fade and Gone - the last two books in the Wake trilogy - and I'm working on the reviews, but with the holiday and my daughter's birthday, I'm a little busy at the moment. So, hopefully I'll have those for next week and you won't have to wait quite as long for a post from me. After that, the next review will be for Last Sacrifice, so be excited for that! I know I am. She's also coming to my town for her tour, so I definitely have to finish before then. : ) I'm so excited; she's awesomeness personified.

Until next time, happy holidays and happy reading!

Princess of Glass - Jessica Day George

Hoping to escape the troubles in her kingdom, Princess Poppy reluctantly agrees to take part in a royal exchange program, whereby young princes and princesses travel to each other's countries in the name of better political alliances—and potential marriages. It's got the makings of a fairy tale—until a hapless servant named Eleanor is tricked by a vengeful fairy godmother into competing with Poppy for the eligible prince.

This was a really cute companion/sequel to Princess of the Midnight Ball. It takes place 3 years after their curse is broken and Poppy is the princess we follow in her adventures in a neighboring kindgom. While the narrative switches between Poppy, Eleanore, and the Prince, I enjoyed Poppy's perspective the most. She was sassy and strong and not one to sit quietly in the corner. The Prince was shy but charming - even if he was a bit clueless at times. Eleanore on the other hand was hard to feel sorry for. While her circumstances weren't exactly ideal, she was a bit of a spoiled brat. She did eventually learn her lesson, but mostly she just bugged me.

What I really enjoyed what the fact that in essence it was a re-telling of Cinderella but it was so different that it wasn't until the very end that I put it together. So while it was a familiar story, it felt completely new. I loved that. My only problems were that the ending confrontation with the godmother felt a bit rushed and anti-climactic and the nightmares that Poppy had was never really resolved. Other than that, I truly enjoyed this book.

4/5

Princess of Glass
Jessica Day George
Bloomsury
272 pages
$16.99 (hardcover)

Nightshade - Andrea Cremer

Calla Tor has always known her destiny: After graduating from the Mountain School, she'll be the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But when she violates her masters' laws by saving a beautiful human boy out for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the very essence of the world she has known. By following her heart, she might lose everything— including her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice?

Isn't this one of the most beautiful covers you've ever seen? Everytime I see it on my shelf, I just have to look at it for a minute. It's gorgeous. *sigh*

Moving on...

I'll say it right up front, this is probably one of the best books I've read this year. I have tons of favorites, so that might not say much, but honestly, it was so incredible that it blew me away. I found it almost impossible to put down. It was rich in detail that completely sucked me into the story. It was seductive and mysterious and exciting. The characters were all so excellently written and there's still enough intrigue left to the story that I'm practically salivating for Wolfsbane - and it doesn't come out till July! I don't know if I can wait that long!

Calla is an excellent leading lady. She's tough and fierce and knows who she is - or so she thinks. She's also very smart. She's goes to an elite school and does her best, and while her mother wishes for her to act more like a lady, she's more of a jeans and tshirt kind of girl. I love her just for that. Ren was interesting to read about because while I wasn't a fan of him when he was acting all macho alpha boy, he did have this tender side that I'm intrigued to see more of. I can't decide if it's an act or genuine. And Shay is the excellent other side of this love triangle. He's also smart and good looking, like Ren, but where as Ren is blunt and aggressive, Shay is more tactful and shows what he wants without being a jerk about it. (I love him.)

This is one of the more interesting love triangles I've read in a long time. Calla is an intensely strong female. She's the alpha of her pack and is used to being in charge of things. She doesn't take crap from people and cares deeply for those around her. Neither Ren nor Shay are necessarily bad choices for her, they are more of a representation of what path she wants for her life. Ren is more duty and destiny - even though she does have feelings for him. Shay is more the unknown and freedom to choose her own paths. I'm completely Team Shay, so I'm biased against Ren, but I'm still intrigued to find out more about him. I feel bad for her though. She's such a fierce character. So strong. It's hard to see her rendered helpless in her love life for much of the book.

Another wonderful aspect of the story is the wolf pack dynamic and how it works in the way they all interact with each other, and how they are allowed to behave. Ren, as a male alpha, is more than allowed to play the field, while Calla, as the female alpha, is kept clean and pure until she is joined with her ultimate mate. It was very interesting to see how their wolf ways impacted all the relationships throughout the book, whether is was romantic, friendly, or family.

I'm in love with this book and I can't wait to read more. I'll be waiting in line at the store for each book release, anxious to find out what happens next. Andrea Cremer is officially a must-read author for me. Excellent!

5/5

Nightshade
Andrea Cremer
Penguin Group
528 pages
$17.99 (hardcover)

Covers!

I'm very much behind in "revealing" anything, but the covers for a few of the books I'm excited for have been released recently and they are beautiful! I'm so excited! So, to spread the beauty around, I'm going to post them here. I don't have any summaries of the books, but you can ogle at the covers. : ) (Note: I just finished Nightshade  - Wolfsbane is the sequel - and the review is coming soon!)

Enjoy!

Wolfsbane - Andrea Cremer - Release Date - July 26th

Awakened - P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast - Release Date - January 4th

The Day Before - Lisa Schroeder - June 28th

The Forgotten Locket - Lisa Mangum - May 9th

Firelight - Sophie Jordan

A hidden truth.

Mortal enemies.

Doomed love.

Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki—a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form.

Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away—if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.

Right off, I'm going to say that I really liked this book. And I'll also say this, it kinda reminded me of Twilight. Don't roll your eyes like that at me, I'm not saying it's exactly the same, nor am I saying that it's a bad thing. I adore Twilight, so in my book, this is a huge compliment. But the whole preditor and prey falling for each other...it felt familiar. But she wrote it extremely well, and I really liked the way she interpreted that dynamic.

Overall, I felt Jacinda was a very *real* character. She's very flawed, full of doubts, and to be honest, fairly selfish. But, she's 16, and in my mind, that all fits. While her selfishness sometimes gets a little old, I completely get where she's coming from. I like her. She's struggling against not only her family but her pride to stake out her independence. She refuses to be used by those around her, and she wants to live her own life, not the one all these different people have planned out for her.

Will. Oh, Will. Yet another fictional hero to add to my list of literary crushes. He's mysterious and conflicted, handsome and alluring. And once he decides what he wants, he's unwavering and committed. And oh, he's so, so sweet. *swoon* While he's a big part of this book, we don't really find out a whole lot about him. At least, I don't think so. I'm really hoping that his story is explored more in future books. But as long as there's more Will, I'll be a happy girl.

As for the minor characters - Cassian, Xander, Tamra and Jacinda's mother - I wasn't a fan of any of them. Cassian and Xander are the macho male types I hate in life and in fiction, Tamra is extremely selfish, even when she complains that Jacinda is the selfish one, and her mother is overbearing, hating the pride for wanting to rule Jacinda but basically doing the same thing in her own way. *sigh* But, since this is the way that Jacinda sees them, and the book is from her perspective, I suppose that all makes sense.

The draki world is a great new fictional world. It's new and interesting and I'm deeply intrigued to learn more. I understood how it all worked - at least, as far as what I'm supposed to know so far - and I never got lost while reading. It had a nice steady pace and I had a very hard time putting it down. I must say, I'm very eager to read the next book, whenever it's set to come out.

And very quickly, can we talk about how gorgeous this cover is? Because it's amazing! It's what initially caught my eye, and I'm excited to see what they come up with for the next book.
4/5

Firelight
Sophie Jordan
HarperCollins
326 pages
$16.99 (hardcover)

Princess of the Midnight Ball - Jessica Day George

A tale of twelve princesses doomed to dance until dawn…



Galen is a young soldier returning from war; Rose is one of twelve princesses condemned to dance each night for the King Under Stone. Together Galen and Rose will search for a way to break the curse that forces the princesses to dance at the midnight balls. All they need is one invisibility cloak, a black wool chain knit with enchanted silver needles, and that most critical ingredient of all—true love—to conquer their foes in the dark halls below. But malevolent forces are working against them above ground as well, and as cruel as the King Under Stone has seemed, his wrath is mere irritation compared to the evil that awaits Galen and Rose in the brighter world above.

As far as fairytale retellings, this one was really well done. The writing was clear and the pace was fast without feeling rushed. Galen is officially a new book crush and Rose is a wonderful princess to add to the fairytale ranks. The story was very well written and actually had me guessing as to how it all would work out, even though I knew the basic story from when I was little. And I truly enjoyed how she switched from Rose and Galen's points of view so that I got the whole story without feeling confused as to who I was reading from. While some of the sisters felt like just names, the ones that did have a little more personality were fun and added to the story nicely. Galin's uncle bugged me a little but I can't really decide why - he just did. The King Under Stone and his sons were very creepy and suprisingly weren't the only villians in this rendition. Overall, I really liked it. And can I just say that I love the cover? Isn't her dress gorgeous? I think so.

4/5

Princess of the Midnight Ball
Jessica Day George
Bloomsbury
288 pages
$16.99 (hardcover)

The Golden Spiral - Lisa Mangum

His eyes. His touch. His kiss. Dante was unlike anyone Abby had ever met. Now he’s gone, and Abby will do anything to get him back . . .


The hourglass door has closed behind Dante, sending him back in time to hunt down Zo, Tony, and V. Abby knows that Dante, as a Master of Time, is the only one who can stop them from destroying time itself. She also knows that he will need her help. But almost immediately, things start to change, and Abby’s worst fears are realized when Zo begins targeting her past specifically.


As Abby’s world fractures around her, she must face a terrible truth: either Dante didn’t make it through the door, or he is lost forever. So with Dante’s blueprints in hand, she begins construction on a new door, a new time machine that will either save Dante—or doom him.


With each new change that ripples into her present, Abby s life continues to spiral out of control. Her relationships with Jason, Natalie, and even her family are threatened to the breaking point—and beyond. Zo’s power is greater than Abby ever imagined, but as she struggles to free Dante, she receives help from an unexpected—and unlikely—ally.

By now you all know my struggle with the middle books in trilogies. I appreciate them for what they are and I know that most of the conflict happens in that book as set up for the final installment. There's not a lot of resolution in a second book. Just lots of character development and, well, drama. Sometimes - especially with series that I really, really enjoy - all the drama gets to me and I will feel very unhappy with that book. But, I try not to judge too harshly, since it's serving its purpose and all is usually resolved in some way or another in the final book. So, having said that, keep in mind that if I rant, it's because the next book doesn't come out until May and I really, really want to know what happens next.

This book was excellently written. I honestly had no idea where it was going - but in a good way. It kept me guessing and I really felt Abby grow into her role of being even stronger than she was in the previous book. I felt for her as her world kept changing around her and her desperation to save Dante not only because she loved him but because he could help her make things right. The emotions were very well written as her frustration became my frustration and her joy was my joy. While Dante himself wasn't a huge part of this book, his struggles were hard to wait out and I was constantly thinking "What's going to happen with Dante?" There was a lot more explaining going on about how the time travel worked and sometimes I felt a little lost - abstract thought is so not my thing - but there were quite a few things answered that made things make more sense. And Zo is one of those villains you just love to hate. He's horrible! Absolutely awful! I still don't quite understand what he wants with Abby and how he's using Valerie, but I'm sure that will be revealed in the next book. As for the ending, it was a classic "No WAY!" cliffhanger that has me very impatiently waiting for May with the final book The Forgotten Locket comes out.

4/5

The Golden Spiral
Lisa Mangum
Shadow Mountain Publishing
369 pages
$18.99 (hardcover)

The Hourglass Door - Lisa Mangum

His past. Her future. Can love bring them together in time?

Abby's senior year of high school is going according to plan: good friends, cute boyfriend, and college applications in the mail. But when Dante Alexander, foreign-exchange student from Italy, steps into her life, he turns it upside down. He's mysterious, and interesting, and unlike anyone she's ever met before. Abby can't deny the growing attraction she feels for him. Nor can she deny the unusual things that seem to happen when Dante is around. Soon Abby finds herself drawn into a mystery whose roots reach into sixteenth-century Florence, and she uncovers a dangerous truth that threatens not only her future but the lives of those she loves.

I really liked this book and I'm definitely left wanting more. Luckily the next book is in my possession and next on my list. There was a fair amount of setup with Abby - getting to know her and her friends, and how she sees her life and her relationship with her boyfriend. The way she and Dante get to know each other reminds me a little bit of Twilight, but once things start being revealed the similarities end.

I truly enjoy Abby and being in her head - since she's the narrarator. She's very relatable as a 17 year old girl trying to please those she loves while also trying to find her independence and figuring out what she wants out of life. She's very kind hearted and I find her an excellent herione. Dante is mysterious, sensual, and incredibly sweet, I loved him from the beginning. Some of the supporting characters didn't seem quite as fleshed out as others, but the villians were definiletly well written.

As for the mythology, it was very different from anything else I've read since for the most part everyone is just ordinary humans, but there are "circumstances" that make it otherwordly. It wasn't terribly hard to follow, but I still feel as though there are many things left unexplained or unexplored. This doesn't really bother me though, since it will be a trilogy and I have one more book to read and one more to wait for before I object to unanswered questions. I like how her "world" works and I find it a refreshing change from other paranormal romances I've been reading lately. (Although don't get me wrong, I love vampires and werewolves as much as the next fangirl.) I'm definitely excited to see what happens next for Abby and Dante.

4/5

The Hourglass Door
Lisa Mangum
Shadow Mountain Publishing
432 pages
$18.99 (hardcover)

Beautiful Darkness - Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Ethan Wate used to think of Gatlin, the small Southern town he had always called home, as a place where nothing ever changed. Then he met mysterious newcomer Lena Duchannes, who revealed a secret world that had been hidden in plain sight all along. A Gatlin that harbored ancient secrets beneath its moss-covered oaks and cracked sidewalks. A Gatlin where a curse has marked Lena's family of powerful supernaturals for generations. A Gatlin where impossible, magical, life-altering events happen.

Sometimes life-ending.


Together they can face anything Gatlin throws at them, but after suffering a tragic loss, Lena starts to pull away, keeping secrets that test their relationship. And now that Ethan's eyes have been opened to the darker side of Gatlin, there's no going back. Haunted by strange visions only he can see, Ethan is pulled deeper into his town's tangled history and finds himself caught up in the dangerous network of underground passageways endlessly crisscrossing the South, where nothing is as it seems.

Ok, this book was definitely more of an emotional read for me. The first book was so, so good but the main focus was Ethan's budding relationship with Lena and his introduction to her world. This book was much more about Ethan - I felt - than it was about Lena. Even though she remained his primary motivation for most of his actions, I really felt as though this was about him. It was so great to see him take charge of the situation and fight for what he wanted and not putting up with the stupid vague answers from the adults anymore. Lena just made me sad and slightly aggrivated (just like Ethan) and for most of the book I was so frustrated with her. By the end, most of it made sense, but it was tough reading whenever she was involved. There were definitely a lot of questions that were left unanswered by the end, but there's was also a lot that was answered. Overall the book was an emotional rollercoaster for me. I actually had to take breaks (I know!) because it was really getting to me. The angst and the loss and the confusion. It made me feel 16 again. And the twists they sprung on me - let's just say there were several times when I said "That did NOT just happen!!" I never knew what was going to happen next.

I loved seeing more backstory on Macon, Marian, and Ethan's mom. It was all very enlightening, and I really felt it added a great layer to the story. (Can I just say that sometimes Marian made me want to hit something? The rules just make me angry. Anyway, moving on...) I loved that Link was more involved. He really feels like main character now and I love him more than ever. I also liked the evolution of Ridley, and I'm hoping we see much more of her in the next two books. The two things that gave me the most turmoil in this book were the new characters - Liv and John Breed. While I now am more reconciled with the first, I have no idea how to feel about the latter. For the majority of the book I loathed the very mention of him, but by the end, I just don't know. *sigh* I suppose I'll just have to wait and see what the deal is with him.

All in all, and excellent second book in this fantastic series. I can't wait to see what happens next to Ethan, Lena, and everyone else in Gatlin.

5/5

Beautiful Darkness
Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Little Brown
503 pages
$17.99 (hardcover)

Beautiful Creatures - Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

There were no surprises in GatlinCounty.
We were pretty much the epicenter of the middle of nowhere.
At least, that's what I thought.
Turns out, I couldn't have been more wrong.
There was a curse.
There was a girl.
And in the end, there was a grave.


Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power, and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.


Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.


In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

*slightly spoilery*

Ok, words cannot even express how much I love this book, but I'm going to give it a shot. It was so fresh and original for me that I completely devoured this book in 2 days the first time and 3 days the second time around. It's honestly that good. The story was always taking me by surprise and even when I thought I knew what was going to happen, it was rare that I was right. The writing itself is rich and completely wraps me up in this small town in the south. The descriptions, the accents, and the characters make me feel like I'm actually in Gatlin. It was never hard for me to envision in my head what I was reading. I was THERE. I LOVE that.

As for the characters, they don't disappoint. Lena is quirky and different and while she embraces her uniqueness to a point, there's still that 16 year old girl in her that wants to blend in and have the same experiences as all the other kids in school. And even though she's a Caster and not a Mortal, she's still struggling to find her place in the world around her, like everyone else. I love her hesitancy to put herself out there, because I'm just like that so I could completely relate - and I'm 25, not 16. And while I'm no poet - not by a long shot - I LOVED the scenes in her room where her thoughts would appear on the walls and mirror in poem form. It helped me understand her thoughts better, since the majority of the book is from Ethan's point of view.

And Ethan - oh Ethan - I love, love, LOVE him. He's the definition of "sweet boy next door" for me. He's a complete sweetheart and it was really fun to see a love story from the boy's point of view, which I don't find very often. He truly cares for Lena and for his family and anyone else in his life that he cares about. He struggles to stand up for what he thinks is right, like any 16 year old trying to find their voice, but he never struggles to see the wrongs in the antiquated traditions in his town. I love that through his relationship with Lena he is able to find himself more, and try to stand up to the prejudices in Gatlin. And his friendship with Link always made me smile - reminded me of my brothers and their friends. :)

The "minor" characters were also so well developed that they really didn't seem like minor characters at all. I love Amma and Uncle Macon even though sometimes they frustrated me to death, while the stunts that Mrs. Lincoln and Ridley pulled always surprised and infuriated me. Marian the Librarian was fantastic and I'm hoping I get to learn more about her in later books.

All in all, this was one of my favorite books of the year, and I've already got my little sister and two of my friends reading it as well. I have to share the awesomeness! I just started Beautiful Darkness and I can't wait to see what happens next!

5/5

Beautiful Creatures
Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Little Brown
563 pages
$17.99 (hardcover)

Forever Cover Revealed!!!!

Gorgeous, right?? I was just wondering last week what color Forever was going to be. (I love that each book is a different color - and that the type inside MATCHES!! It's so fun!) Believe it or not, I was actually thinking that red would look fabulous with the blue and green of the previous books. The other one I was contemplating was purple, but now that it's out, red definitely looks fantastic! It comes out July 2011, which seems forever away! (Haha!) But there are so many other good books that will come out to keep me company until I can finish the series and find out what happens to Grace, Sam, Isabelle, and Cole.

Are you excited? Don't you just LOVE the cover??