From Goodreads: Unsure if she’s drowning or being saved, all Marlow wants to do is run away. Ensnared in a haunting love triangle, she realizes both boys have holes in their hearts; gaping spaces she can never hope to fill.

Scars from loving the same girl, a girl who managed to stay dead.

Now she is being hunted, for what she has become and what she never asked to be. Even as a Skeleton, Marlow isn’t the worst thing in the night—she isn’t even close.

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While I found the premise of this novel to be phenomenal, the story itself did not impress me as much as I’d hoped.  It felt rushed to me—moving too quickly without giving me the background information or characterization that I needed to really become enamored with the novel.

The novel starts off with Marlow running away from a party where her boyfriend, or ex boyfriend now, is hooking up with another girl.  Almost immediately, she becomes a Skeleton, and two Skeleton males are suddenly vying for her attention, and she’s drawn to them both.  Again, while the premise is good, it just moved too fast.  I never felt like I got to know any of the characters on a level that made me really feel for them, and though the writing itself was great, the story line had a few too many holes in it to really draw me in. It felt disconnected.

Of course, the fact that this novel is about Skeletons was really intriguing.  Their background was interesting, and I liked getting to learn a bit about them, where they come from, and what life is like for them, but I would have liked a lot more information, especially as the characters continued to put off explanations throughout the novel, and trying to piece everything together on my own was a bit difficult.  Two stars. 

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

How a Unitarian from Jersey writes about a Muslim Superhero

Have you ever gotten that feeling in the back of your head that there’s something not quite right about the way you think?  I’ve always daydreamed about things others have considered impossible or ridiculous.  I’m the loon who decided statistically charting various vampires’ awesomeness was a good idea.

So when the suggestion was made that someone needed to write about a Middle Eastern superhero my imagination went into overdrive.  Of course we need a Middle Eastern superhero!  Others have tackled this topic to great success, like Dr. Naif of the99.org, what’s different here is that I am not from the Middle East.

I sat down and started writing and a character named Recai Osman appeared on the pages before me.  With green eyes and red beard, Recai stood in the middle of a windblown desert, daring me to take the challenge.

And cue the theme to Beyond Thunderdome.

A problem soon presented itself.  It’s impossible to discuss the Middle East in any meaningful way without bringing religion into the conversation, and while I’ve studied Islam, I am not a Muslim.  I’m not Jewish either.  In fact, I’m about as far from the religious spectrum of the Middle East as you could get.  I’m a Unitarian Universalist.

UUism is based on the idea that we all have the right to our own path to Truth.  For some that Truth is God, for some it’s not.  What connects us within the UU church is the belief that the search is valuable and that there is benefit to having a supportive and respectful community with whom to share that search. (You can read more about our principles here: Our Unitarian Universalist Principles)

For me, the importance of an individual’s expression of faith within a community is huge.  I believe in God.  Because of this, I often find myself listening to the fundamentalist rhetoric of all religions with a frustrated sigh.  Why does someone have to be wrong in order for another to be right?

It was with this in mind that I thought about Recai.  What makes a good man?  What makes a good Muslim?  And in a society in which religion is such a prominent part of day-to-day life, what would be the shape of evil?

Recai is a faithful man; he’s erred and he’s sinned, but his belief in Allah and in humanity is solid.  Underneath his layers of confusion and self-doubt is a good man.  His day-to-day life has been isolated from the city he lives in: Elih, Turkey (Google it for a good giggle). What would happen if a flawed man was forced to confront real evil, real sin?  Could he rise to the occasion?

Islam and Judaism run throughout Shadow on the Wall. Some of the phrases and cultural idioms may be unfamiliar to Western readers, but I hope that you will see a little of yourself in the characters. The issues they face are written at high stakes, but the questions posed are ones we must all answer.  Who am I?  What do I stand for?  Although Shadow on the Wall has supernatural elements, I like to think heroes exist in life, and I like to think that religion can fuel the good in people.  Perhaps we’re all capable of great things.

Shadow on the Wall is now available at Amazon.com in Kindle and paperback. 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0983876908/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=pavarti-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0983876908

From Goodreads: The novel is the first in a series about the West family, proprietors of Westwood Thoroughbred Farm, and their friends and associates in the world of horse racing. Socially awkward George gives everyone at the racetrack a creepy feeling and is avoided by all. But he uses an online portal to create a very different alternate identity to romance a multitude of attractive women including Kate West and her brother’s ex-wife, Ava. When Mike West is forced to fire George, frustration and jealousy combine to make the voices in the jockey agent’s head unbearable. Soon people start turning up dead and the path of destruction leads right to the West family home.

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This very interesting novel touches upon the dangers of the internet.  I just had a class about how dangerous the internet can actually be, how people can easily fake their identity, steal yours, or infiltrate your entire life online, and it’s really scary.  Add to it a psycho freak that is stalking to you, and it’s game over.  While this book deals mainly with a man who knows his victims, he is able to garner so much about them, especially Kate West, based on what she tells him on an online dating site.  I knew there was a reason I never wanted to try dating online… and George and Kate’s story just solidified it.  Now, while the internet is a part of this story, there is so much more to it—about recognizing warning signs and steering clear of people who don’t act quite right, about being nice, but not too nice, and about not bullying people—anyone—because you just might be messing with a person who will eventually strike back, in the worst way.

George is an absolutely horrible person.  I hated him from the get go and, as I read, hungrily awaited his demise—he is the epitome of evil.  I don’t care if he is a little bit psycho, or if his mother made him this way—EVIL.  Every time he was mentioned in the book, my skin crawled; I hate him!  Of course, he’s a key part of the novel and he’s constantly at the forefront of the story, so I spent a lot of time really angry while I read.  It amazes me that McDonald was able to evoke such strong, passionate feelings of abhorrence from me over a fictional character, but it is a testament of McDonald’s writing ability! 

I liked the pacing of the story, especially as the action picks up almost as soon as the story begins.  George begins his attacks and I kept checking my progress on the eReader because I was thinking it was almost over—and it wasn’t even close.  McDonald sets up her story so that the novel climaxes twice, with George beginning his killing spree, only to be found out and removed as a threat.  However, there are cracks in every system, and he’s soon back, unbeknownst to his potential victims, and it begins all over again.  I liked this because it’s very fast paced and, knowing what we do, the second time around is even more harrowing than the first.  It was very well done.

I was a little annoyed with the cops and the system throughout this novel, though; it almost seemed like the cops and security people had no idea what they were doing.  There were many times that I yelled out at them as I read because their mistakes were too often and too obvious, but even so, their errors help fuel help fuel the story.  Three stars.

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via Netgalley.

From Goodreads: 17-year-old Vicky Hernandez has a big problem. She’s dead. Or not quite. After discovering she’s been turned into a vampire, she tries to settle into a quiet suburb of Chicago and return to a normal life.

If only she could stop wanting to bite her boyfriend. Not to mention she is dying to find out who turned her, and why. She doesn’t have to wait long before they come to her.

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Bloody Little Secrets is a different type of vampire novel.  No sparkles, no vegetarians… real life vampires that can’t go about in the daylight, that use their glamour more often than not, and that yearn for blood.  But Vicky is a little different.  She doesn’t know who made her.  She doesn’t know why she can walk in the daylight.  She doesn’t mean to kill people.  All she knows is that the vampires hunting her are not the type of people she wants to get to know better, sending her on a journey to stay hidden and safe, while also finding her niche and fitting in with society.   But her creator will stop at nothing to get ahold of her blood and walk in the light, as she does.

I really enjoyed this novel.  Kirkpatrick is a phenomenal writer, and he characters are divine.  I absolutely adored Drake; he’s a very dreamy guy, and his treatment of Vicky, both before and after he knew what she was, makes him a keeper.  The whole novel was  very captivating and not sugar coated.  Vicky craves blood; she kills people—but not in the vicious man eating type of way that “evil” vampires like to kill people—it’s a necessity and an accident, but it’s more believable than a vampire who only eats animals, if you catch my drift.  Overall, this is a great read with a fast-paced story line and I highly recommend it to all.  Four stars.

I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

From Goodreads: Mona Berman is an expert at Happily Ever After – after all, she’s a best-selling Romance writer and happy endings are what she does best. So when her husband of twenty years leaves her for somebody 15 years younger, 30 pounds lighter, and French, she’s got a lot of adjusting to do, both personally and professionally. Lucky for her she’s got three savvy teen daughters, a few good friends, and Ben, the world’s sexiest plumber, to help her along the way. First she decides that her next book will be the anti-romance – her heroine finds the best part of her life AFTER getting dumped. Next her daughters tell her she needs to start practice dating, and summer at the Jersey shore is the perfect place for that. She’s also juggling her soon-to-be-ex, a loony aunt, and a match-making neighbor, while Ben is sending her romance-driven imagination into overdrive. Can Mona’s life imitate art? Can she write her own happy ending?

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This is a really cute, witty tale about Mona Berman finding life after being cast aside by her husband of twenty years.  I enjoy a strong female lead, and Ernst does not disappoint in her character, Mona, whose quirky ways and strong sense of self worth make her triumph over her disastrous break up.  I loved that Mona didn’t stop living, but instead began, dating, writing a new type of novel, and ultimately finding herself throughout the course of the story, and I highly enjoyed it.

I absolutely adored that Mona was a writer.  I’m always interested in books where the main character writes, I think mainly because the author is describing their own job, and it just intrigues me.  Ernst is a writer writing a writer, as it were, and I really get a kick out of authors that do this, especially when they do it well, as Ernst does. 

I loved the writing style as well.  It reads very smoothly, almost like a conversation with a friend instead of a novel.  Ernst doesn’t just tell a story, but she connects with her readers and shows the story as well, making it an overall great read that I highly recommend.  Funny and engaging, Ernst has produced a gem of a story.  Four stars.

I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

From Goodreads: My name is Amelia Gray.

I am the Graveyard Queen, a cemetery restorer who sees ghosts. My father passed down four rules to keep me safe and I’ve broken every last one. A door has opened and evil wants me back.

In order to protect myself, I’ve vowed to return to those rules. But the ghost of a murdered cop needs my help to find his killer. The clues lead me to the dark side of Charleston—where witchcraft, root doctors and black magic still flourish—and back to John Devlin, a haunted police detective I should only love from afar. Now I’m faced with a terrible choice: follow the rules or follow my heart.

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Amelia Gray is back in this third installment of Steven’s Graveyard Queen Series, more prolific and intuitive than ever as she continues to break all the rules, engaging in contact with the dead.  Once again in Charleston, Amelia is thrust back into the company of Devlin, and like Steven’s previous novel, The Restorer, the ghosts of Devlin’s daughter and wife begin to haunt Amelia, more forcefully this time, as she attempts to piece together the murder of one of Devlin’s coworkers from the police force. 

Full of hauntings and mysterious, ghostly activity, The Prophet is an engaging read that will keep readers glued to the pages from start to finish.  Having read only the first book in this series, The Restorer, I still found that I was able to easily follow the novel—little prior knowledge is needed to piece everything together, and I’m not sure if The Kingdom, book two, relates to the events from book one and three at all.  Regardless, The Restorer and The Prophet fit together seamlessly, granting the reader a more in-depth look at the life of Devlin, his past, and the circumstances surrounding the deaths of his wife and only child, Shani.  Full of mystery and intrigue, this novel will have readers question everything they know, sleeping with the lights on, and wondering just how deceptive the characters in this novel really are.  Four stars.  

Harlequin has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read a copy of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its recent release.

From Goodreads: This book begins with a young and naive Elaine Brogan as she initially pursues her dream of a career as a photo model. After becoming entangled with a sleazy modeling agency, she decides to become a Secret Service agent, struggling through the arduous training academy. After her first disastrous assignment, she is transferred to Bulgaria. There, she meets Nick LaGrange, the love of her life.

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This is another series book, which ends in medias res, leaving the reader yearning for more, and yet, it’s such a good read, long enough to give the feel of a full length novel, that it didn’t bother me too much when it abruptly ended.  While I would much rather prefer a full-length novel to multiple shorts, Wells has actually put all three together for purchase on Amazon and Barnes and Noble, for only $4.99, and in my opinion, that’s a steal, especially as the storyline and writing is so well done.  But, if you want to check out the first portion of the series before committing to buy, it’s currently free on Amazon and Barnes and Nobel right now, which is where I obtained my copy for review.

The main portion of the story follows Elaine Brogan as she naively finds herself and her father the victim of a counterfeiting scandal, leaving her destitute and alone.  Resolved to join the Secret Service and take down the man who destroyed her life, Elaine throws herself into her studies and works diligently in hopes of revenge.  The story moves very swiftly, and Elaine soon finds herself working for Nick LaGrange in Bulgaria as he attempts to shut down the counterfeit ring taking Europe by storm.  Of course, things aren’t always what they seem, and while Elaine is indeed amazing at her job, she soon finds herself in a difficult situation, having to choose carefully between love and ethics.

I really enjoyed this story, save that it ended right in the middle of a climax within the story.  Wells is a very good writer and his story kept me captivated from start to finish.  While there were more references to sex than I would have liked there to have been, they weren’t overly erotic, which is good, although I really don’t see the point of adding detailed sex into the mix of a really good story anyway.  But, that aside, the characterization and story were very well done, and I am eager to read the rest of the series, which, like I stated before, is available, complete, on Amazon and Barnes and Nobel and, in my opinion, is worth it.  Four stars.

I obtained my copy of this novella for free from Amazon.

From Goodreads: When Wendy Geller’s body is found in Central Park after the night of a rager, newspaper headlines scream, “Death in the Park: Party Girl Found Strangled.” But shy Rain, once Wendy’s best friend, knows there was more to Wendy than just “party girl.” As she struggles to separate the friend she knew from the tangle of gossip and headlines, Rain becomes determined to discover the truth about the murder. Written in a voice at once immediate, riveting, and utterly convincing, Mariah Frederick’s mystery brilliantly exposes the cracks in this exclusive New York City world and the teenagers that move within it.

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This was a really interesting novel with an ending that I never expected.  Rain is a shy young woman, her cleft palate leaving her less than thrilled to speak aloud, causing her to spend much of her time in silence while observing the world around her.  Wendy Geller, Rain’s former best friend, is just the opposite, loud and outgoing, looking for love and acceptance in all the wrong places, and the circumstances surrounding her death leave her upscale preparatory school with mixed feelings.  While some believe Wendy got what she deserved, others, like Rain, knew the real Wendy and want her image cleared—it’s Rain’s last testament to Wendy, and through the enlightening flashbacks, the reader is given insight into both Rain and Wendy’s friendship, giving them a background and personality that sets them both apart from the narrow minded people around them. This proves to be an intriguing murder mystery and Rain sets off to unravel the truth, and though all evidence points in one direction, nothing is as it seems. 

I enjoyed this novel for the most part; Rain’s inner monologue was interesting, especially as she thinks back on all the good times she had with Wendy.  The mix of past and present in novels is one of my favorite elements for developing a story, and Fredericks did a great job bringing this story to life.  While I was expecting a little more of a thrill from this book—more intensity and excitement—it was still a good read, and the ending completely through me off balance.  Fredericks has created a very interesting novel that was highly enjoyable.  Three and a half stars.

Random House Children’s Books has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read a copy of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release on April 24, 2012.

From Goodreads: Briana Fox is the wildest girl in school. She and Kyle have been close for a long time…almost lovers. Kyle is afraid that if he pushes her, he’ll have his heart broken and lose his best friend. When Briana discovers a mysterious “power drug” in a cave, two government agents are desperate to find the source and turn Briana into a human experiment. Will Kyle risk everything to protect his love?

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I can’t say that I’m a fan of novellas that leave the reader hanging right in the middle of the action, forcing them to buy the next installment in order to get the whole series.  I’d much rather have a complete novel and pay one price for it, but even so, I did enjoy this novella.  Wells has written a very intriguing story about a water substance that repairs all ills, and Briana Fox needs it to survive after being run over by a speedboat.  But, without the water, all Briana’s wounds open again, pushing her closer to the death that should have come that fateful day in the water.  It’s a very intriguing idea, very well written, and Wells captured my attention in this short read—though as it isn’t a complete story, I was left hanging and have yet to pick up the next installment.  It’s definitely worth the read, though, and Wells is giving away this novella on his website for free right now: http://www.thegreenwater.com/, so I suggest picking it up and reading it for yourself. Four stars.

I obtained a free copy of this novel from Amazon.

From Goodreads: This time, Riley might really have bitten off more than she’s ready for. After practically begging the Council for a more challenging Soul Catch, she is assigned an actual Roman gladiator—Theocoles, the Pillar of Doom. How is Riley, a skinny twelve-year-old, supposed to get through to him? Then she meets the beautiful Messalina, who convinces her that her only chance is to become part of this world. To accomplish this, Messalina helps Riley through a dramatic, mystical makeover, transforming her into the beautiful and mature teen she’s always wanted to be. Finally, Riley can experience her first boyfriend and her first kiss. With a dream this enchanting, will she ever want to leave?

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I liked this novel, especially as Riley actually learns from her mistakes this time.  Riley tends to have a chip on her shoulder and an extremely low self-esteem, but refuses to listen to anyone around her when they try to help.  This time, she learns to trust others and actually listen to them, and I liked that she grew up a little—her bratty attitude is toned down a lot in the novel, which was a major plus, making me enjoy her character a whole lot more than in previous novels.

I really enjoyed the history Noel incorporated into her novel as well.  I haven’t read any YA novels that deal with Roman gladiators before now, and it was a really fascinating topic.  Though Riley must navigate the perils of the ghost realm and convince Theocoles to leave behind his earthly domain, the story has a very romantic feel to it, delving deep into Roman culture, and Riley even gets to participate in it.  I was happy that Riley also got to experience her teenage years, no matter how brief or under what circumstances.  Even though the world around Riley is fake, and she’s unable to remember her purpose, I really loved getting to see her as a teenager, and so did she.  Three stars. 

MacMillian Children’s Publishing Group has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release on April 24th.

From Goodreads: In a future world, Vampires reign. Humans are blood cattle. And one girl will search for the key to save humanity. Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a vampire city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten. Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of them. The vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself is attacked—and given the ultimate choice. Die… or become one of the monsters.

Faced with her own mortality, Allie becomes what she despises most. To survive, she must learn the rules of being immortal, including the most important: go long enough without human blood, and you will go mad. Then Allie is forced to flee into the unknown, outside her city walls. There she joins a ragged band of humans who are seeking a legend—a possible cure to the disease that killed off most of humankind and created the rabids, the mindless creatures who threaten humans and vampires alike.

But it isn’t easy to pass for human. Especially not around Zeke, who might see past the monster inside her. And Allie soon must decide what—and who—is worth dying for.

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This was a very long book, but Kagawa is able to keep readers’ attention as she develops her characters, weaving an intricate plot line full of love and betrayal. Now, while I wouldn’t say this is a romantic love story, Allie’s relationships with those around her constitute love in every sense of the word, in one way or another, and yet, betrayal is just as prominent throughout the pages. I highly enjoyed this mixture, especially as it set me on edge, unsure of who to trust or what would happen next.

While I originally found the story to be a bit slow in the beginning, Kagawa does a phenomenal job setting the background for her novel, introducing the characters, their plights, and explaining how Allie becomes a vampire, torn between her retreating humanity and her vicious desires. I really liked seeing the before and after Allie; though, truth be told, the after Allie was much more exciting than the before one, and I found that the story really picked up once Allie left the “safety” of her city and began wandering the forest on her own.

I was surprised on many counts as I read, and livid on others, as the plot unfolds and Allie works diligently to hide her true nature and protect those around her from the real threats of rabids, ravenous vampires, and a band of travelers set on capturing them all. Their travels became extremely harrowing as the story continued, and I truly felt for all the characters, though I think Allie is my favorite, mainly because she’s the one the novel really fleshes out and focuses on. While Zeke was a great foil for Allie, and he ultimately changes for the better, some of his actions rubbed me the wrong way, even though I do understand where he is coming from. Overall, though, I really enjoyed all the characters, and am excited that Kagawa has set up her novel for a sequel, especially as this is one of those books that makes you feel like you’ve been on a long journey alongside the characters, and I really enjoyed this experience. Four stars.

Harlequin Teen has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read and ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release on April 24, 2012.

From Goodreads: The Cherokee believe when a person dies, their soul is reborn. Life is repeated. An endless cycle of lessons to be learned, love to be found, destiny to be fulfilled. For the past six months, in every flower, every bird, I’ve imagined my parents, relieved of their human forms.

Now, after five months at the Skye View Wellness Center, it was summer. A time for parties and friends, but that’s the last thing I want to do. So when my best friend Erin convinces me to attend a bonfire at Eagle Point, I can’t handle the crowd full of sympathetic stares or drunken class clowns who would use my tragedy as a way into my heart – or my pants. The solitude of the woods offers an escape, until I stumble upon a boy, unconscious and bleeding, his pockets stuffed not with identification but with poetry illustrating the beauty of dying. I’ve seen enough death. I will not leave this boy’s side.

Even after he wakes, when the only thing he can remember are visions of events that haven’t happened yet…

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I was very impressed by this story.  It’s not like any of Hildenbrand’s prior novels, and yet it’s still a captivating read, tackling the very real issue of grief, while still putting a supernatural spin on it.  But before going into this novel, readers need to be aware that it deals with tough topics, those of death and redemption.  And, truth be told, not all readers are going to understand Whisper’s feelings or struggle to move on with her life if they haven’t experienced such debilitating grief in their own lives, so it may seem very slow to some readers; it’s not an action novel (not until near the end, that is).  Yet, while it does start out slow, that’s the nature of this story; it’s not meant to be a fast-paced gripping novel, but rather one of love and grief.  Those feelings wouldn’t be portrayed correctly if it moved any faster than it does, and I, personally, enjoyed this slower paced novel, allowing me to connect with the characters in a more real, vivid way than action packed novels tend to do. 

While I’ll admit I was a little confused in the beginning as to where the novel was going, once Dylan showed up, everything fell into place and I loved that Whisper finally began to feel like she was getting stronger.  Her demeanor, up until his showing, made her out to be a very depressing character.  Now, while many readers will understand where she is coming from, some might not and may dislike the novel due to a lack of action in the beginning, but again, this is the whole point of the novel, to show how Whisper comes full swing, learns to continue living without forgetting, and finding joy again.

I think Hildenbrand did a phenomenal job fleshing out her characters as well, especially Whisper, making the reader really feel for them, whether good or bad.  For instance, I really understood Whispers grief, and her character drudged up some long buried feelings I had concerning my own grief.  Likewise, Taregan caused me to feel immense hatred, and yet, Hildenbrand was able to make me still feel sorry for him in the end; the fact that she actually made me feel for the one character I couldn’t stand is a testament to Hildenbrand’s sheer writing capabilities, and I really enjoyed this story, especially the Cherokee folklore, magic, and overall presence of the novel. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever read before.  Four stars. 

I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

From Goodreads: When Your Life Is Not Your Own…

Martyr—otherwise known as Jason 3:3—is one of hundreds of clones kept in a remote facility called Jason Farms. Told that he has been created to save humanity, Martyr has just one wish before he is scheduled to ‘expire’ in less than a month. To see the sky.

Abby Goyer may have just moved to Alaska, but she has a feeling something strange is going on at the farm where her father works. But even this smart, confident girl could never have imagined what lies beneath a simple barn. Or what would happen when a mysterious boy shows up at her door, asking about the stars. As the reality of the Jason Experiment comes to light, Martyr is caught between two futures—the one for which he was produced and the one Abby believes God created him to have. Time is running out, and Martyr must decide if a life with Abby is worth leaving everything he’s ever known.

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This is Christian fiction, so those strongly opposed to religious novels may want to stay clear of this story.  However, it’s a really interesting premise with some great morals and, even though I really hate preachy novels, I thought this was a good read overall.   While it’s true that the religious aspect does come on quite strong in some parts, including the quoting and deciphering of scripture, in retrospect, it flows rather nicely with the story as Martyr, a clone set to expire, has never thought of a Creator at all.  In every society, there is some type of higher being that is worshipped, and if not worshipped, the people of the society at least have heard of a higher being, but Martyr has never thought about it, nor has anyone ever brought it up to him.  Thus, watching Martyr’s reaction to Abby’s assertion that Martyr does indeed have a higher purpose in life and that God loves him was actually really interesting.  Of course, like a toddler, Martyr latches on to anything new—he’s never had a chance to see or experience anything outside the farm, and so it’s debatable as to whether or not Martyr really believes or is just in awe of this newfound Being, but that’s a debate for another time.  Regardless, this novel tackles some very interesting topics that YA doesn’t usually pursue, making it entirely unique in its own right. 

Religion aside, though, Williamson does a great job fleshing out her characters and her storyline.  I loved that Abby is a very strong female lead, a Christian, and yet a flawed individual.  Williamson does not make her out to be “holier than thou,” and Abby succumbs to the same temptations, thoughts, and actions that the rest of us do, which, ultimately, makes her human as a very likable character.  Martyr, of course, is very interesting in his own right, taking care of others and ultimately becoming a leader for his brethren, all who look like him and were cloned of the same doctor in order to find cures for diseases, including the doctor’s own disease, Lupus.  J.D. was not my favorite, but he was incredibly real.  As a teacher of high school, I see students like him all the time, and the fact that all these characters emulate real behaviors made them all the more real to me.  Overall, I really enjoyed this story and recommend it to those not opposed to a little overbearing religious talk here and there.  Four stars.

Zondervan has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read this novel, via Netgalley.

From Amazon: Grouped by some scholarly circles with Shakespeare’s late romances, while others consider it amongst his comedies, The Winter’s Tale is one of Shakespeare’s classic “problem plays.” A compelling mix of psychological drama and comic relief, the popular play tells the story of a royal family whose tragic beginnings ultimately afford them opportunities for reconciliation and redemption. Spanning the length of sixteen years, The Winter’s Tale remains one of Shakespeare’s most complex and underappreciated works.

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I feel like this Shakespearian play doesn’t get enough face time.  I first became aware of it when I was in High School, looking at the names of all the plays Shakespeare ever wrote.  We all know about his overly famous plays, like Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, but what about The Winter’s Tale?  I was intrigued by the title at the time, and the fact that I’d never heard of it before (and with a brother heavily into Shakespeare and acting, that was unusual).  I’ve never seen this title on a playbill, though I’m sure it must be preformed somewhere, and my curiosity about this play was peaked—though in High School I didn’t do anything about it.  Recently, I had to teach Hamlet, and as I was looking on Amazon for a copy for my Kindle, I once again came across The Winter’s Tale.  As it was a free copy, I scooped it up and read it right away, just to assuage my curiosity.

It was interesting.  In my opinion, it’s not really like Shakespeare’s other plays.  It’s a bit intense in the beginning, and though there are comedic scenes, I wouldn’t necessarily classify this as a comedy, nor a tragedy either.  A romance, I suppose, but for me, it’s a bit strange.  Through a little research I found that Shakespeare actually modeled his play off Pandosto, by Robert Greene (which I’ve never read), but I, personally, see much of Oedipus Rex in this play.  I know Shakespeare dealt a lot with Greek mythology in his works, and The Winter’s Tale seems to really follow that of Oedipus Rex.  I’m not going to give the entire synopsis away, or any spoilers, but, like Oedipus, King Leontes is a haughty man, paranoid.  He refuses to listen to oracles and attempts to do away with his newborn child by sending her away to die. While there are many differences between The Winter’s Tale and Oedipus, there are also many similarities and I found this rather interesting, especially because I really enjoy Oedipus. That being said, I’d like to see this play preformed someday, I always tend to like plays more when they’re preformed, so I’ll have to keep my eyes peeled for this one.  Three stars.

I picked up my copy of this play through Amazon Kindle when it was free.

From Goodreads: Hamlet is the story of the Prince of Denmark who learns of the death of his father at the hands of his uncle, Claudius. Claudius murders Hamlet’s father, his own brother, to take the throne of Denmark and to marry Hamlet’s widowed mother. Hamlet is sunk into a state of great despair as a result of discovering the murder of his father and the infidelity of his mother. Hamlet is torn between his great sadness and his desire for the revenge of his father’s murder.

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Apparently I read Hamlet in high school.  I also apparently went to see it with my class at a little theater somewhere, but my recollection of this is extremely vague and, as you can probably tell, didn’t impress me much.  Of course, in high school there is so much drama and not enough time to really appreciate classic works, and I also don’t think I was mature enough to really understand anything going on within the text—nor did I care. 

But that was then, and this is now.  Over the holiday this year, I read Hamlet, thinking it was my first time ever, in preparation to teach it.  I picked up a free copy for my Kindle and, in order to get the “play” experience, had my Kindle read it aloud to me as I followed along in my Folgers’ hardcover, annotating the text as I went.  This isn’t very much fun, for those of you who haven’t tried it—don’t.  But I did come across some very good stuff to talk about in class, such as the question of whether or not Hamlet was faking crazy, or really crazy, the treatment of women, etc… classic questions people have been analyzing for the last 400 years.  But nothing really sunk in for me.

Then I went to school and began reading it aloud with my students.  While I still think that actually seeing it performed would be the best way to learn and appreciate Shakespeare, I found that reading the text (two more times) aloud in class, listening to student questions, and asking some of my own, taught me a whole lot more about the text, and actually learned to enjoy it as well.  Imagine that.  I hope my students took away as much as I did from our class discussions…

Overall, I really like Hamlet.  Yes, I walked into it griping and putting it off as long as possible—I really don’t like reading Shakespeare, only watching it—but it’s such a well written, cryptic play!  Yes, the language is difficult and it really helps to have a version with translations, but it’s so well put together, with sonnets, soliloquies, murder, mayhem, saucy jokes… it’s just a great tragedy that I recommend others read, if they haven’t done so already.  The characterization is superb, and though fictional, Shakespeare really knew his characters and where he wanted them to go.  I wish he had written some novels as well… I bet those would be superb!  Four stars.

I obtained my copies of this novel from school and from Amazon Kindle (free).

From Goodreads: In the model community of Candor, Florida, every teen wants to be like Oscar Banks. The son of the town’s founder, Oscar earns straight As, is student-body president, and is in demand for every club and cause.

But Oscar has a secret. He knows that parents bring their teens to Candor to make them respectful, compliant–perfect–through subliminal Messages that carefully corre…moreIn the model community of Candor, Florida, every teen wants to be like Oscar Banks. The son of the town’s founder, Oscar earns straight As, is student-body president, and is in demand for every club and cause.

But Oscar has a secret. He knows that parents bring their teens to Candor to make them respectful, compliant–perfect–through subliminal Messages that carefully correct and control their behavior. And Oscar’ s built a business sabotaging his father’s scheme with Messages of his own, getting his clients out before they’re turned. After all, who would ever suspect the perfect Oscar Banks?

Then he meets Nia, the girl he can’t stand to see changed. Saving Nia means losing her forever. Keeping her in Candor, Oscar risks exposure . . . and more.

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If you liked The Stepford Wives, there’s a very good chance that you’re also going to like Candor.  In this novel, however, it’s the children that are brainwashed and not necessarily the wives, though that reference is there as well.  I really liked the concept of this novel, and I liked the writing style, yet, it made me really angry.  Not at the author, mind you, Bachorz does a phenomenal job fleshing out the story, but I spent the entire novel angry at Oscar’s father, and all the parents in the community, for doing this to their children.  It’s not just a phase either, once someone begins listening to the Messages, they can never stop—those that have had their brains explode—and the fact that Mr. Banks knows about this side effect and still has no issues with what he does, made me livid. 

I have a hard time liking a book when I dislike over half the characters, and though I thought Oscar was an okay guy, trying to beat the system and help those new to the community save themselves, he’s also a very selfish young man.  Although he begins to change throughout the novel, coming of age, as it were, I still prominently disliked him, especially because of his treatment of those around him, using the system to his advantage.  I mean, in the long run, I don’t know how else he could have attempted to defeat the Messages, and I guess that what he chose to do is really the only thing he could, but I just wanted it to end so differently.  Nia is such a cool character, a lot like me, actually, and I really wanted a happy ending, something to make up for all the atrocious parents and overly perfect kids, and I didn’t get it.  I’m not one of those people who needs a happy ending every time I read a book, but for something like this, where people are so blatantly manipulative and atrocious, I was really rooting for a happy ending.  So, reader beware… this book might make you angry, but it’s very well written and, overall, I liked it well enough.  Three stars.

I obtained a copy of this book from the public library.

From Goodreads: A beautiful woman is murdered in a small town in Virginia and Homicide Lieutenant Hank Donaghue is the prime suspect!

Donaghue is on vacation when he stops overnight in Harmony, a quiet little town where very little happens. Until, that is, the police kick down the door of his motel room in the middle of the night and drag him off to jail on suspicion of having strangled a woman behind a bar. Although he insists he’s a cop himself and had nothing to do with it, the local chief of police won’t listen. An eyewitness claims he saw Donaghue go behind the bar where the murder took place – and the victim was Chief Askew’s wife!

Stuck in a cell in a small town, surrounded by cops who are convinced he’s a murderer, Donaghue must find a way to free himself and find Marcie Askew’s killer before it’s too late. When he’s finally allowed to make a phone call he dials the number of the one person he knows can help him out of this mess – Detective Karen Stainer.

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Donaghue and Stainer are back in McCann’s latest crime novel, expertly unraveling the mystery surrounding Marcie Askew’s murder, the police chief’s wife.  A woman with many secrets, Donaghue and Stainer have their work cut out for them as the scour the town for answers, interview reluctant witnesses, and dealing with a small town police division set in their ways. 

I really enjoyed watching this novel unfold, especially as Donaghue and Stainer are the perfect team and their witty remarks make for a very fun read.  There is an art to writing crime novels, and McCann has perfected it, giving the reader just enough insight to allow him/her to make educated conclusions about the murder, only to throw new information into the mix, changing the pathway of the novel completely. 

Donaghue and Stainer are also fleshed out more in this second novel of the series, giving the reader more background information, especially about Stainer and her love for guns.  While there is a little more technical talk about guns and police business than I am interested in, it is blatantly obvious that McCann knows his material and has really done his research, adding validity to his story, and his characters, as the novel unfolds. I definitely recommend this novel.  Four stars.

I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

From Goodreads: Four years ago, Martin Liu was found dead in an alley and the physical evidence suggested it was a drug deal gone wrong. Homicide Lieutenant Hank Donaghue didn’t like the feel of it, but it wasn’t his case and it ended up going nowhere.

Now Donaghue and Detective Karen Stainer are drawn into the Liu cold case when an out-of-town graduate student is beaten up by gang members after asking the wrong questions about the victim. Donaghue and Stainer discover that Martin Liu’s cousin, Triad enforcer Peter Mah, has taken an active interest and is tracking down suspects on his own to extract his own deadly brand of vengeance.

As Donaghue and Stainer race to contain the violence sweeping their city, they must confront the troubling fact that new evidence, including the names of the men responsible for Martin’s death four years ago, seems to be coming from the most unlikely of sources – a three-year-old boy!

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If you love murder mysteries, police dramas, and a few elements of the supernatural, then this is the story for you.  Four years ago, Martin Liu was found dead in a backstreet alley, a drug deal gone badly, or so police thought.  Now, with a young child making claims of remembering who killed him in his past life as Martin, the case is reopened with renewed fervor as not only the police try to find the killers, but Martin’s cousin, Peter Mah, also seeks revenge. 

This just blew my mind away, especially the references to reincarnation.  I don’t necessarily believe in reincarnation, but McCann’s novel will definitely make you think, and as creepy as it may seem, the elements of this story aren’t too far-fetched at all.

This is a very well written crime novel, full of suspense and intrigue as Hank Donaghue and Karen Stainer work diligently to uncover the truth.  I loved the different factions coming to a head, Chinatown versus the police, in a race to see who can find the killers first. I also really enjoyed the complex characters in this novel as well.  Not only are the main characters, Donaghue and Stainer , fleshed out into intricate beings, but even Peter Mah and the deceased Martin are given strong identities, making them easily likable.   I highly recommend this novel to anyone looking for a good read.  Four stars.

I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

From Goodreads: Imagine finding your first love, only to be ripped apart by the apocalypse. Peyton Anderson will never forget the day she was forced to make a choice–between her family–and Chris Parker, the boy she’d given her heart. Now, four years later, as she steps from the fallout shelter and into a dead and broken world, he’s the only thing on her mind.

All Chris “Chase” Parker wanted was to take Peyton away and keep her safe from harm. But he waited for hours in the rain on judgment day and she never showed–breaking his heart without ever telling him why.

Now the two of them have been thrown together once again, reluctant chaperones to a group of orphan children in a post-apocalyptic world where the dead still walk…and feed. As they begin their pilgrimage to the last human outpost on Earth, can they find a way to let go of old hurts and find the love they lost–all while attempting to save what’s left of the human race?

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I was blown away by this novel.  While initially confused by the back and forth nature of the story, each chapter alternating between the past and present, by chapter four I had figured out this writing technique and found myself quickly falling in love with it.  Instead of giving the reader all the information up front, or glossing over the past in order to write the present, Marcusi alternates between the past and present to divulge this beautiful story of the zombie apocalypse.  This technique also helped build suspense as Peyton and Chase touched upon certain elements in the present that weren’t yet fully explained in the past, allowing the reader to begin piecing facts together and come to his/her own conclusions before Marcusi hands them the truth.  I really enjoyed this, and found that Marcusi did a phenomenal job stringing the reader along, giving him/her just enough information to fit the puzzle pieces together correctly, while also keeping the reader’s interest as this tale of love and survival unfolds.  And I loved every minute of it. 

What I really liked about this novel, more than anything else, was being able to watch Peyton and Chase fall in love twice, four years apart.  Through our glimpses into the past, and our knowledge of the present, Marcusi gives the reader a true love story chalked full of mystery, suspense, and intrigue as the characters strive to make it to the rendezvous point and, ultimately, save mankind.

Peyton’s ex-scientist father is “crazy,” and his non-stop talk of the end of the world, along with his strict training of Peyton set the tone for this amazing novel.  Having the ability to equip his daughter with the technology and parts she’ll need to survive, including retractable razor blades in her fingertips, GPS, and permanent contact lenses allowing her to see in all light and pick up heat sensations around her, this novel is sure to be a hit with all readers, young and old.  I wasn’t expecting this kick-butt addition to the novel, but found it ultimately amazing and am eager to read this wonderful novel again.  Five stars.

NLA Digital Liaison Platform LLC has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read a copy of this novel, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.