From Goodreads: In the spring of her senior year, Donna Parisi finds new life in an unexpected place: a coffin.

Since her father’s death four years ago, Donna has gone through the motions of living: her friendships are empty, she’s clueless about what to do after high school graduation, and her grief keeps her isolated, cut off even from the one parent she has left.  That is until she’s standing in front of the dead body of a classmate at Brighton Brothers’ Funeral Home.  At that moment, Donna realizes what might just give her life purpose is comforting others in death.  That maybe who she really wants to be is a mortician.

This discovery sets in motion a life Donna never imagined was possible.  She befriends a charismatic new student, Liz, notices a boy, Charlie, and realizes that maybe he’s been noticing her, too, and finds herself trying things she hadn’t dreamed of trying before.  By taking risks, Donna comes into her own, diving into her mortuary studies with a passion and skill she didn’t know she had in her.  And she finally understands that moving forward doesn’t mean forgetting someone you love.

Jen Violi’s heartfelt and funny debut novel is a story of transformation—how one girl learns to grieve and say goodbye, turn loss into a gift, and let herself be exceptional…at loving, applying lipstick to corpses, and finding life in the wake of death.

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Disney-Hyperion was extremely gracious to allow me to read an ARC of this novel prior to its release today.  I must admit, I wanted to read this novel for the mortician aspect—I’ve always wanted to be a mortician.  I know it’s morbid, but I’ve always had a weird fascination with death, so I was easily able to connect with Donna on this level.  I had hoped for more of the story to center around the funeral home and actually putting makeup on dead people, but the focus of the book isn’t really about that at all, or even the job of a mortician.  Instead, this novel focuses on Donna Parisi’s coming of age.  Lost and forlorn, Donna still struggles with the death of her father, and she must battle her metaphorical ghosts and learn to move on.  While I enjoyed this portion of the story, I did find the narrative to be a bit too slow for my taste.  As Donna deals with different aspects of her life, such as her mother, love interests, finding a job, and deciding on a school for college, she seems to just glide along.  I’m more of an action lover, and this novel doesn’t really deal with that aspect much, though its real life parallels were interesting in their own right. 

Violi is a talented writer and this shines through as the story progresses.  The dialogue and situations occurring in the novel are very real, and I can just see them taking place.  I enjoyed watching Donna’s self exploration and her eventual epiphany as it all came together, and I think the characters in this novel are very lifelike—I actually see myself in Donna a little bit, though I’m ashamed to say it—she can be quite mean to those who love her.  The one aspect of the writing that I wasn’t a fan of, though, is the sexual portions in the novel.  I could have done without these segments, and I don’t think they really add anything to the novel.  While many readers may not find the sexual encounters explicit, I did, and these characteristics just aren’t my thing.  Granted, the scenes are fairly short, but just the same, I like my YA novels to be sex free; it’s a personal thing.  Aside from the sex, though, I think this was a sweet coming of age novel that many will enjoy.  Two and a half stars.

From Goodreads: Willow knows she’s different from other girls, and not just because she loves tinkering with cars.  Willow has a gift.  She can look into the future and know people’s dreams and hopes, their sorrows and regrets, just by touching them.  She has no idea where this power comes from.  But the assassin, Alex, does.  Gorgeous, mysterious Alex knows more about Willow than Willow herself.  He knows that her powers link to dark and dangerous forces, and that he’s one of the few humans left who can fight them.  When Alex finds himself falling in love with his sworn enemy, he discovers that nothing is as it seems, least of all good and evil.  In the first book in an action-packed, romantic trilogy, L.A. Weatherly sends readers on a thrill-ride of a road trip — and depicts the human race at the brink of a future as catastrophic as it is deceptively beautiful.

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Candlewick Press has been extremely gracious to allow me to read an ARC of this novel, through Netgalley, prior to its official release in the U.S. tomorrow.  I am very thankful for this opportunity, especially because this is a phenomenal book!  I was pulled into the narrative instantly, completely in love with this fresh look at the angelic world in YA literature.  It seems fallen angels took YA literature by storm last year, but Weatherly’s novel is completely different from the mainstream angel world, and I was drawn in by this new perspective.  Whereas many angel novels tend to deal with fallen angels trying to help humanity or gain admittance back into heaven, Weatherly takes an unprecedented look at angel invasions of our world: what if angels aren’t good?  What if angels actually drain our life force, and we are manipulated into believing that they are our salvation?  And, if this is the case, what do you do when all these angels in our world are out looking for you?  Weatherly does a superb job of mixing the token alien invasion scenario with that of the heavenly angel beliefs, leaving us with a purely original, phenomenal novel.

Weatherly shrouds the angel assassin, Alex, in much mystery throughout the novel, and I was highly intrigued by his character.  Alex’s story is narrated through the third person—complete with flashbacks that allow the reader small glimpses into his carefully guarded life, yet his background and lifestyle remain cryptic through most of the novel.  Willow, on the other hand, tells her story in the first person narrative, and her background quickly becomes know, creating a nearly instantaneous bond between her and the reader as her persona is completely virtuous.  Weatherly is one of the only authors I’ve read that has been able to switch back and forth between first and third person narratives with ease, keeping the reader on point, even as the switches sometimes occur between paragraphs.  The fact that Weatherly is able to maintain the flow of the story and not confuse the reader at the same time is a testament to her sheer writing capabilities.

While the novel is somewhat long, being over 400 pages, it is the perfect length to give the reader an in-depth look at the characters and their development without completely losing the reader.  As I read, I felt like I truly knew Alex and Willow, and the character development and romance of the story becomes extremely real as the characters are fleshed out as the story unfolds.  One of the reasons Weatherly is able to write such a long novel and still keep the reader interested also comes from her ability to blend action and romance together so as to keep the reader completely enamored as the story progresses.  I read the entire novel in one sitting and didn’t realize the time float by as I was that enveloped in the story.  Five stars.

I just read T.L. Peter’s short story, “A Sweeter Kind Of Rhythm,” and I must say, it is fantastic!  This short story follows the life of a violin as it recounts its many ups and downs over the centuries, changing hands between those that love it, and those that don’t.  When I was in high school, I used to write all my short stories for English from the viewpoint of inanimate objects—I think personification is my favorite literary device, and T.L. Peters captures this element beautifully through the voice of the violin.  It’s a heartbreaking tale of sorrow, yet redemption does come, and it’s a haunting tale with a magnificent theme—you need to read it to understand.

“A Sweeter Kind of Rhythm” was previously only online at the RED OCHRE LiT: A JOURNAL, but is now available from other vendors as well under the new title “A Sweeter Rhythm” (see links below); you should definitely check it out!  To read more about the author, T.L. Peters, check out his blog.

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/A-Sweeter-Rhythm-ebook/dp/B0053NY2P8

Barnes & Noble:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-sweeter-rhythm-tl-peters/1031340107

Smashwords:  http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/63425

From Goodreads:  Wallflower is four hours in the life of Molly Lenzfeld, sixteen-year-old New Yorker in Berlin.  It is Thanksgiving Day 1989, two weeks after the fall of the Wall.  Molly, the daughter of a German-Jewish mother who fled the Nazis in 1938, is off to her mother’s birth house in East Berlin.  On the subway trip from West to East wallflower Molly meets East German wildflower Mick Maier, nineteen.  It’s love at first sight, and for both, a journey into an unknown land, into the labyrinth of Berlin’s underground world, a terrain in which they discover each other, the absurdities of the divided city, and, of course, the wonder of love.

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Wallflower is a powerful novel examining the history of Germany and the Berlin Wall, which is, unfortunately, a subject that many young people are unfamiliar with today.  The Berlin Wall, it’s construction and destruction, is not something that many history textbooks get to throughout the year, and when I asked my students what the Berlin Wall was, they really didn’t know a whole lot about it.  As I teach a 10^th grade world literature class, I think Wallflower is a wonderful novella that my students would not only enjoy, but also learn from as the story unfolds.  I am not an expert on the Berlin Wall either, but I learned a lot through Rahlen’s beautiful prose.  The story seems to flow right off the page and, while it is educational, it does not overpower the reader with history, but rather deals with a love story, while subtly explaining the background of the Berlin Wall. 

Molly is a snarky, sarcastic character that I just loved.  I laughed aloud as I read her first person narrative, and I learned a lot about the Berlin Wall through her interactions with other characters and the story itself.  The four hours Molly spends in East Germany, recently reopened to the West after 28 years, is a beautiful story of love and redemption, and I actually cried at one point, in sheer joy, as Mick expressed his feelings as he crossed the wall for the first time in his life.  It’s a very powerful story, and I think all young adults should read it.  The writing style is beautiful and Rahlens effectively captures the essence of a divided country and the hardships East Germany endured after the Wall was built in 1961.

Of course, Wallflower is only a glimpse into Molly’s life for four hours, so not all my questions about the Wall were answered, but my interest was piqued enough to begin researching more about it.  As I researched, I found that Rahlens puts forth much more history within her short novella than I originally thought, and the very subtle details that she places throughout are actually huge ordeals in the history of the Berlin Wall.  I love this novella, and I plan to put this on the outside reading list for my students because it’s a story I believe all people should read.  Five stars.

Interested in more information about the Berlin Wall?  I found these sites helpful:

Berlin Wall Online

Chronik Der Mauer

Berlin.de

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

From Goodreads: It was only a nightmare at first, but Damont soon realizes that he can see into the future-a curse he has to live with for being the only son of a king dead for a thousand years, with a mother who is the goddess of time.

A man in black armor with a face as obscure as the shadows mantling him laughs wickedly. Who is he and why does he continue to haunt me, Damont wonders. Appearing only in his dreams, the man in the black armor stands alone and laughs high as if to mock him while the world around him burns to cinder. “They are not dreams, my son,” a voice calls out to him in a vision after the many nightmares-claiming to be his mother whom abandoned him when he was but a child. “They are shards of a broken world to come if you so take the path of your father.” If such a path does lie ahead beyond a throne that sits vacant for centuries, with an empire in the east growling for war, then Damont Langörn realizes he has but one choice: follow the visions and seek out the truth lost to both him and the world behind his lineage-but will he be strong enough to face such a malevolent foe of his nightmares?

With a vampire and a sorceress at his side, Damont begins his journey, but such a road is not an easy one to take if the gods themselves do not wish for his return as the king who would unite the world against their existence and bring demise to their very doorstep.

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Naqvi has created an ingenious world complete with gods and goddesses, vampires, sorcerers, kings and queens… and his style emulates that of Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy.  I was very impressed with the writing style and the story itself; Naqvi has a knack for storytelling, though I must admit that I found the sheer amount of historical background a little much for my taste.  Now, that being said, I’m also admitting that I had extreme difficulty reading Tolkien for the same reason.  I’m not a history buff and I tend to focus on the action of a novel more so than the vital background information, so I have a hard time reading through the histories of these types of novels.  Yet, as Naqvi emulates Tolkien’s style, and as Acadia is the first novel in this series, the historical aspects of the novel are really the foundation of the story, and it needs to be there.  Although it wasn’t my forte, as I thought the action was minimal compared to the vast history, Naqvi has created a wonderful backdrop of the rest of his series, creating beautiful descriptions of the lands and its people, and I believe that many readers will highly enjoy Acadia, especially if they are fans of Tolkien. 

I really did like the novel, and I think many people will highly enjoy it, especially as the second edition comes out and small grammatical errors are fixed.  Naqvi is a very fluid writer and, though there are grammatical errors here and there, I must say that the dialogue throughout the novel really caught my attention.  Naqvi is writing about the middle lands, set in the 5000s, yet, as the novel encompasses an alternate world, it utilizes archaic language.  Naqvi does a phenomenal job keeping his characters dialogue on point, and they never once switch into slang, which is something I see many authors accidentally doing when trying to write archaic dialogue—mainly because it is second nature.  It is obvious that Naqvi has put a lot of time, energy, and love into his novel, and he even utilizes footnotes to aid the reader as the story unfolds.  Tolkien fans really should read this novel.  Three stars.

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

From Goodreads: Enter the lands of Leland Province, where dragon and human societies have long dwelled side by side.  Superstitions rise sharply, as a severe drought strips the land of its bounty, providing fertile ground for the darker ambitions of Fordon Blackclaw, Dragon Council Leader, who seeks to subdue humans or wipe them off the face of the land.

As the shadow of danger creeps across Leland Province, a young dragon named Kallon Redheart, who has turned his back on dragons and humans alike, comes into an unexpected friendship.  Riza Diantus is a young woman whose dreams can no longer be contained by the narrow confines of her village, and when she finds herself in peril, Kallon is the only one with the power to save her.  Yet to do so means he must confront his past, and embrace a future he stopped believing in.

A tale of friendship, courage, and ultimate destiny, Redheart invites readers to a wondrous journey through the Leland Dragon Series.

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Seventh Star Press has been extremely gracious in giving me a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review, and I couldn’t be happier to state that I just loved this book!  Gamber is a very talented writer, combining beautiful prose with an intriguing story about a world in which dragons and humans co-exist, though not harmoniously anymore.  I was intrigued from the very first chapter, and absolutely adored the narrative style Gamber employs in her writing, as the third person narration allows four separate stories to run simultaneously, leading up to their interconnections and beyond.  I really love that Gamber creates suspense and ends each chapter with a cliffhanger, making it impossible for the reader to put the book down.  Yet, the next chapter adds no respite as it changes to the story of another character, creating anticipation and more cliffhangers before the original character is brought back to the forefront.  It’s sheer genius—I read the entire novel in one sitting as I was that enamored with the characters and their plights; there was never any down time, and hence, no time for me to put it aside.  It created a real sense of mystery for me, and I highly enjoy when only bits and pieces of a story are revealed at a time…  I love novels like this! 

The story itself is very beautifully told, and Gamber does a phenomenal job creating personable characters and down to earth themes, all dealing with different aspects, such as social, psychological, feminist, archetypal, and philosophical issues.  I really enjoyed being able to analyze the characters and their actions on so many different levels, as that is what make a piece of literature excellent, in my eyes.  I was pleasantly surprised by the ending of the novel, and am eagerly awaiting the next installment of the series, set to release late this year.  Four stars!

From Orca Books: “I looked at his driver’s license. He was five foot nine, 150 pounds and had blue eyes. What do you know? Same as me. I almost laughed. Funny how we could be so much alike and so different at the same time. Andrew Ashbury got everything he could ever want and I got nothing. How did that happen? I stared at his face. What was so great about him? He was no better than me.”

Chris is tempted to become someone else.  When Chris finds a wallet on the street he tries to return it to its owner. In trouble at home and at school, he is struggling to do the right thing. However, as circumstances slowly start unraveling and his whole life appears headed down the drain, Chris realizes that the person who owns the wallet looks a lot like him and has a life he would do almost anything for. What if he switched identities? What if he became someone else?

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Orca Book Publishers is an organization that produces fiction for reluctant readers, especially readers on the lower spectrum, with a reading level between second grade and fourth grade.  I.D. comes from the Orca Soundings series, which is for those ages 12+, and is written in a way that the reader, especially a reluctant reader, can easily understand.  

As I read this novel, I was rubbed the wrong way by the main character, Chris.  He is a real jerk.  I have no sympathy for people who sit there and mope about how horrible their life is, but refuse to do anything about it.  I also can’t stand people who look at those around them and compare themselves; coveting what they have.  The sense of entitlement that our generation has is astounding, and it’s quite obnoxious.  Chris is a wonderful representation of the attitude many young people have nowadays–and it’s scary.  Grant is such a talented writer and she manages to capture Chris’ mentality and mannerisms perfectly.  Yet, while I was reading I was nervous because I couldn’t figure out how Grant was going to give him any redeeming qualities and also create a life lesson in her book.  Luckily, Grant took care of that at the very end of the novel.  It was like a punch in the gut, but in a good way.  Honestly, if Grant hadn’t ended the novel the way she did, I don’t think I’d be giving it high ratings at all–not because of the writing style (which is phenomenal)–because of Chris.  I dislike him so much, which is actually the purpose of the novel entirely and creates a wonderful life lesson in the end.   Four stars! 

Check out my Orca Book Publishers page for more information, titles, and reviews for reluctant readers!

From Goodreads: A fallen angel haunted by her past.  Yearning for her immortal beloved.  Forever searching for answers.  Who will show her Mercy? 

Mercy has lost herself.  She can’t count how many times she’s “woken up” in a new body, and assumed a new life, only to move on again and again.  During the day she survives in the human world on instinct and at night her dreams are haunted by him.  Mercy’s heart would know him anywhere.  But her memory refuses to cooperate. 

But this time is different.  When Mercy wakes up she meets Ryan, an eighteen-year-old reeling from the loss of his twin sister who was kidnapped two years ago.  Everyone else has given up hope, but Ryan believes his sister is still alive.  Using a power she doesn’t fully comprehend, Mercy realizes that Ryan is right.  His sister is alive and together they can find her.  For the first time since she can remember, Mercy has a purpose; she can help.  So she doesn’t understand why the man in her dreams cautions her not to interfere.  But as Ryan and Mercy come closer to solving the dark mystery of his sister’s disappearance, danger looms just one step behind. 

Will Mercy be able to harness her true self and extraordinary power in time? 
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Disney-Hyperion has been so gracious as to allow me to read an ARC of this novel, through NetGalley, prior to its release today, May 17, 2011.  I must say, I was blown away by the story.  Mercy pulled me in from the very first page, and I was completely wrapped up in the story as I read.  While Mercy doesn’t know who she really is, or what she’s truly supposed to do, she does know that she takes over people’s bodies and lives their lives for them for a short period of time.  For me, this mysterious aspect of her life was alluring and created a strong connection for me as I had the ability to learn about Mercy right alongside of her.  But, that’s not the only mystery in the novel, and when there are two mysteries going on simultaneously, well, I’m in heaven.  Searching for a potential murderer+, while also searching for herself, Mercy must make hard decisions and follow her heart, though it may not be telling her the full truth. 

Lim is an amazing writer, and while I will admit that I think some of the portions of the novel are a bit choppy and rushed, such as the ending, I do not see it detracting from the novel on the whole.  In fact, I think this aspect aids the element of surprise and mystery that Lim is creating throughout the novel.  If the novel slowed down, I think some of that mystery would be lost.  The point is to move quickly to keep the reader on their toes, and Lim does a superb job with this.

I think Lim’s characters and prose are phenomenal.  Mercy is a kick butt protagonist, trapped in a self-conscious young woman’s body and, on more than one occasion, I found myself cheering Mercy on as she interacted with the snobs and evil around her.  Lim kept the surprises and twists coming throughout the entire novel, and the last twenty pages or so really made my jaw drop.  There is a huge cliffhanger, and I hate when that happens, BUT, luckily for us, the next two novels in the series will release this year, with Exile coming out June 9, 2011, and Muse releasing in October, so the wait time between the novels is minimal.  Five stars!

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This giveaway is now closed.  Thanks to all who participated!  Check out the sidebar for other great giveaways!

From Goodreads: Young Brent Everett and his feisty Rottweiler Gracie hook up with a good-natured but ethically challenged street preacher with a roving romantic eye.  Although Brent isn’t entirely sold on the preacher’s various money raising sidelines, he comes to love the raucous crowds flocking to the revivals.  All goes well until Gracie bites a heckler and is thrown into the pound.  After Brent rescues the dog, the two vagabonds enlist the aid of a gorgeous bodybuilder with a brutal left hook to ward off a bounty hunter on their tail.  The subsequent chase takes them to the harsh high country of Bolivia, where Brent discovers that there are limits to what even the preacher can get away with.

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This was a really good read!  I was pulled into the novel almost immediately as Brent begins his life story, starting with his difficult home life and his flight from all he’s known in order to save his dog.  This is a true coming of age story in which love conquers all, and I was enamored by it.

This story mainly deals with Brent and the Preacher’s travels all over America, setting up revivals, “counseling” women, transporting illegal immigrants, and caring for Gracie—a high strung, male dog that likes to bite.  What I really enjoyed about this novel is that Brent, having run off with the Preacher prior to completing middle school, is unaware that the Preacher is actually a crook–just like many revival preachers were back in the day.  Brent is oblivious, and the dramatic irony of the situation is phenomenal.  I really enjoyed watching Brent mature over the years and become aware of his surroundings, slowly pushing the Preacher in the right direction—to redemption—creating the wonderful theme of change and love. 

While this novel takes place in the present day, I found myself transported back to the past when revivals were big, especially in the south, and time seemed to move slower.  While life is difficult, the Preacher and Brent do seem to live a more carefree life than those of us conforming to society and nine to five jobs, and I loved reading about Brent and the Preacher’s triumphs and failures as they travel the United States.  I really enjoyed this aspect of the story; it is extremely well written and the visuals were perfect!  Four stars.

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

From Goodreads: When I was a boy I thought my father was the greatest fly caster on earth, so I grew up dreaming of following in his way and not of becoming, as my mother wanted, an accountant.

Today, I am a man who often relives the important events in my life, but when I think back to the five state casting tournaments my father won, most of their images and sounds have melted and flowed into downstream memories, except for the images and sounds of one special tournament.  Instead of fading over time, they ripened in my mind in more than just a visual way, and now they are almost as vivid as the moments of today.

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This is a very interesting short story about a young man coming to terms with his reality.  As a child, we all believe our parents are perfect, but as time goes on, we begin to realize that they too have their faults.  This is a nice, short, coming of age story in which the main character takes longer than puberty to come to terms with his father’s flaws and then, overcoming those of his own.  The imagery in this short story is, again, breathtaking, just like that of Kadish’s novelette, The Bad, The Good and Two Fly Fishing Women.  Whether you are a fly-fisher or not, this is a wonderful short story with great themes for all ages.  Three and a half stars.

I received a copy of this short story from the author in return for an honest review.

From Goodreads: Stories tagged under urban life, oblique humor, romance, satire and even the purpose of life. In this book, you will find urban-style, simple prose, sprinkled with thought-provoking metaphors along the way.

Inklings offers a glimpse into the world of intelligent flash fiction, which, while not a popular genre in traditional publishing, is making an impact in online literature.

For an idea of what to expect, an introduction of five of the twelve stories in this anthology follows:

1. “Intoxicated by Impossibility” – The story of one guy who can’t fall asleep because of one girl who’s not even there. Or is she?
2. “Who Wrote the Rules?” – Existential angst clubbed with rebellion against The System.
3. “The Revolt of the Coconut Trees” – Inspired by an academic study published in the Journal of Trauma, 1984, titled “Injuries due to falling coconuts.”
4. “So What?” – What happens after the Storm.
5. “Cheeky” – A story about that chubby part of a certain person’s face.

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I really enjoyed reading this collection of short stories. What I love the most about them is that they range from profound to humorous, incorporating all genres in-between. There is an underlying meaning behind each piece, and though it may take a second look, a closer reading, to get to the heart of each story, it is well worth it. Warrier has selected profound topics for her flash fiction, such as humanity, love and relationships, coming of age, politics, and change, to evoke further contemplation among readers. Though the selections may be short, they speak volumes and push the reader further, philosophically, as the stories take hold of the mind. On more than one occasion, the reader may need to re-read sections of the text in order to grasp all aspects of Warrier’s reflective prose, as each selection incorporates multiple ideas, but as each piece is fairly short, a close reading of the text is easily manageable.

I especially enjoyed “So What,” as it is such a short, yet profound blurb about society. Originally, I laughed, but as I thought about it, and then re-read it, I began to see multiple meanings and underlying messages that are incorporated in this two-paragraph story. “The Revolt of the Coconut Trees” is another favorite of mine. Warrier’s writing style is beautiful and she takes a look at humanity and its presence in the world in this humorous telling of coconut trees fighting back. “Greenie” was a wonderful coming of age story that transcends all cultures and is very touching, and I love that all readers, on some level, are able to identify with this story. All in all, Warrier is an exceptional writer and her flash fiction is a must read. Four stars.

From Goodreads: My life had always been blissfully, wonderfully normal. But it only took one moment to change everything.

Suddenly, my sister, Georgia, and I were orphans. We put our lives into storage and moved to Paris to live with my grandparents. And I knew my shattered heart, my shattered life, would never feel normal again. Then I met Vincent.

Mysterious, sexy, and unnervingly charming, Vincent Delacroix appeared out of nowhere and swept me off my feet. Just like that, I was in danger of losing my heart all over again. But I was ready to let it happen.

Of course, nothing is ever that easy. Because Vincent is no normal human. He has a terrifying destiny, one that puts his life at risk every day. He also has enemies . . . immortal, murderous enemies who are determined to destroy him and all of his kind.

While I’m fighting to piece together the remnants of my life, can I risk putting my heart—as well as my life and my family’s—in jeopardy for a chance at love?

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HarperCollins has been extremely gracious to allow me to read an ARC of this novel, through Netgalley, prior to its release in bookstores today, and though I will admit that I was a little bored in the very beginning of the novel, it soon took off and I was glued to the pages.  I wasn’t sure where the story was going at first, as it seemed to dwell purely on Kate’s inconsolability in the wake of her parent’s death.  I didn’t realize it at the time, but the beginning is actually extremely important in terms of developing Kate’s disposition, as well as that of her sister, Georgina.  Once Vincent came into the picture, the novel really took off, and Plum continued to develop all of her characters.  While the most development happens with Kate and Vincent, the other characters do play a substantial part in the novel, and I enjoyed getting to know them all. 

I highly enjoy Plum’s writing style.  Plum is able to capture the true feelings of the characters through her realistic dialogue and characterization.  It’s extremely easy to read, and I did find myself sucked into the story, lost among the characters and the mystery they evoke.  Originally, I thought Die For Me was going to be another fallen angel novel (which I like), but it wasn’t.  Instead, Plum tackles the ideas of revenants and their job on earth as the undead.  I’ve never come across a book dealing with revenants on this level, and Plum has added some wonderful twists, including the numa, another group of revenants that clash with Vincent and his kindred.  This aspect of the story was really interesting, and I enjoyed uncovering the mystery along with Kate.

I appreciate that Plum allows time for the love between Kate and Vincent to blossom and become real; so many books jump straight from introductions to “love,” in such a short span of time, and it was refreshing to watch this love story develop realistically.  I also loved that the characters didn’t fall for each other blindly; there was real heart and thought behind their decisions, and they do make difficult decisions in order to protect themselves, as well as those around them. 

I highly recommend this novel, and I would love to see it on the big screen soon!  It is packed with action and suspense, and I think it gives Twilight a run for its money.  Four and a half stars.

From Goodreads: Made into the acclaimed film Stand By Me, The Body is a mesmerizing tale of four young boys and their quest to find a dead body, never realizing how much death will affect their lives and their friendship.
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I saw this movie when I was just a young tween, and let me tell you, I fell in love.  I’m not sure if it was the allure of the characters and their “bad boy” image, or River Phoenix, but either way, I watched the movie nearly every day that summer, and have watched it at least once a year ever since.  I don’t remember exactly when I realized the movie was based on a novella by Stephen King, but I do know that, even thought I vowed to find it and read it, I never did.  I’ll blame that all on the fact that, at the time, the internet was new and I didn’t know about searches, etc.  I did look through the college library in town, but I never found The Body and soon forgot about my dire need to read the story as new exciting things cropped into my life.

A few weeks ago, something triggered the memory that Stand by Me was originally a novella, and I began my search anew.  Perhaps I’m just not tech savvy, but I still had a very hard time finding it.  I searched Barnes and Nobel and Amazon, but neither site had the novella in stock for a reasonable price (over $30), and most of them were compact discs anyway—not what I was looking for.  Dismayed, I figured that by this point it was out of print and I was out of luck.  One of my searches, however, pulled up a novel called Different Seasons, and I was curious as to why.  Fortunately for me, I looked into it and found that The Body is actually one of four novellas within the novel, and it was cheap enough.  Yet, I decided to check my school library prior to purchase, especially since I only wanted to read The Body (King’s work is very heavy and I’m not a dire fan) and I’d finally found the actual title of the book it was in.  I’m happy to say that I did find it, eventually, and read it, all these years after my initial inquiry.

And truth be told, I like the movie better.  I know I’m biased, seeing as I’ve viewed the movie so often and fell in love with it automatically, while I’ve only read the novella once.  Of course, the novella is much more detailed and actually answered some of my questions, like why Teddy’s dad held his ear to the stove (it was actually both ears), and what happened between the older gang and the younger gang when they came back from their trek to find the body.  Yet, I think the director of Stand by Me did a superb job capturing the novella on screen and he held true to the important main aspects of the novella.  For instance, the dialogue is straight from the novella, and it think the movie, overall, is a superb retelling—they don’t make movies like this anymore, staying true to the book.

While there are a few discrepancies, such as it the novella taking place in Maine, but in the movie it’s in Oregon, there really weren’t that many changes, until the very end.  Stand by Me, of course, changes the ending around, but it’s still nothing too drastic.  The characters in the confrontation with the gun are switched—but I can’t decide which version is better, and, based on this switch, the focus of the entire novella/movie changes from one character to the next.  Whereas the novella seems to have a focus on Chris Chambers, the movie changes it to Gordie LaChance—but I like both versions, so I can’t decide which is better.  Another big change is the ultimate end of Gordie’s three friends, Vern, Teddy, and Chris.  I’m not going to ruin it for you, but if you’ve seen the movie, just rest assured that Vern and Teddy did not end up the way the narrator says they did in the movie (and I like the book’s version of this one better).  While Chris’s ending is very similar, the age range is wrong, adding a sense of melancholy to this coming of age novella/movie—which I think is what really makes it superb.

To be quite honest, King’s style is really hard for me to read—I think it’s the small print.  He does go off topic on occasion in the novella, and I’m glad they cut that out of the movie, because Gordie randomly launches into a very weird story about sex and hatred, and I was confused during those two chapters and I still don’t see their connection to the novella as a whole.  Yet, aside from that, the novella was great, and I have to give it five stars because it’s really a wonderful story—and of course the movie gets five stars… there’s no question about that!  I guess I recommend reading the novella if you’re an avid reader or want the true story concerning the end, but otherwise, you can get nearly the whole wonderful story from just watching the movie.

Buy the Novella: Paperback or Kindle

Buy the Movie (highly recommended): Blueray or DVD

From Goodreads: I had the dream again. The one where I’m running. I don’t know what from or where to, but I’m scared, terrified really.

Austin Parker is never going to see his eighteenth birthday. At the rate he’s going, he probably won’t even see the end of the year. But in the short time he has left there’s one thing he can do: He can try to help the people he loves live—even though he never will.

It’s probably hopeless.

But he has to try.

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Houghton Mifflin Harcourt has been extremely gracious as to allow me to read an ARC of this novel, through Netgalley, prior to its release in January 2012, for which I am eternally grateful!  This is an amazing novel, and I do mean AMAZING!  I highly recommend it.  Bostic is a phenomenal writer, and her debut novel comes from the heart.  Bostic has created such authentic, vivid characters that, as the reader, you can’t help but feel for them; it’s like they’re your best friends too.  I love Austin and Kaylee, and though the story obviously doesn’t have a fairytale ending, it does offer comfort.  I cried.  This is not the norm; novels very rarely evoke that much emotion from me.  Emotions, yes, but to the point of tears?  Not often.  Yet, Bostic ability to create very real characters, struggling with a very real sickness, is written with such love and care that it’s impossible not to make a connection and be saddened, and heartened, as you read. 

Bostic has taken a difficult topic, one that many have experienced, and created a tale of love and inspiration, as those around Austin must learn to let go and move on, just as he must come to terms with the sickness ravaging his body.  Bostic has touched a part of my soul through her writing, and I am excited to read more!  She’s an up-and-coming author to watch; if you like Gayle Forman’s novels (If I Stay and Where She Went), then you’ll love Megan Bostic!  Five stars.

From Goodreads: Amanda is fourteen when her mother deserts her to be with a new man.  Hurt and betrayed, Amanda loses faith in the world.  To soothe her pain, she retreats into fly-fishing, until she learns that her loving grandmother has terminal cancer.  Amanda struggles to find answers.  Then one day she discovers that her grandmother, against the doctor’s orders, has gone fishing somewhere on the Junction River.  Frightened, Amanda, along with Shana, her adopted dog, and Vernon, a grieving alcoholic, searches the river—but marches into an unexpected, terrifying event that, in a surprising way, helps her learn to forgive and to see the good in the world.

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This is a really well done novelette describing life through an angry fourteen-year-old’s eyes.  I enjoyed it immensely, especially the superb imagery and description Kadish provides in regards to fly-fishing.  I never was much of a fisher, but I enjoyed it as a little girl.  The thrill of catching a fish still weighs heavy in my mind, and through Kadish’s prose I was easily able to envision Amanda as she trekked along the river, dredging up my memories of carefree summers and the palpable heat.  Although I’ve never been in Amanda’s shoes, I believe Kadish does a superb job capturing her thoughts, feelings, and overall struggle as she attempts to cope with her mother’s betrayal and her grandmother’s sickness.  I enjoyed the story, though some of the incidents do seem far-fetched, and while there is some discussion of religion, it is not an overbearing topic within the novel, but rather a touch upon the philosophical side of humanity.  Three and a half stars.

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

From Goodreads: The first time Juli Baker saw Bryce Loski, she flipped. The first time Bryce saw Juli, he ran. That’s pretty much the pattern for these two neighbors until the eighth grade, when, just as Juli is realizing Bryce isn’t as wonderful as she thought, Bryce is starting to see that Juli is pretty amazing. How these two teens manage to see beyond the surface of things and come together makes for a comic and poignant romance.

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One of my students recommended this novel for me, so I picked it up the other day.  It’s a pretty quick read, and for the most part I enjoyed it, but truth be told, I’m a little torn about this coming of age novel.  In terms of writing, I think it’s great.  Van Draanen is very talented and she created a cute “he said, she said” novel.  I really enjoyed reading both perspectives of each situation, and I can just imagine how this really happens in boy/girl relationships.  Van Draanen does a phenomenal job capturing the voices of her young teen characters, and I enjoyed that aspect of the novel very much.  However, I found the storyline itself a little boring.  I think part of this has to do with the fact that I’m not a young adult anymore, but even so, I wasn’t enamored with the story like I’d hoped to be.  Reading about chickens and trees isn’t really interesting to me, and although that is just a small portion of the novel overall, all the scenarios seemed a little drab for my taste.

Out of all the characters in the novel, the only one I actually like is Bryce’s grandfather—he’s the only one who seems to have his head on straight.  Juli, I think, is creepy.  She has a stalker mentality and is too easily hurt by others. Bryce, on the other hand, is just a jerk.  While I was originally on his side, his true colors began to show and I began to harbor a dislike for him.  I am thankful for the double-sided view though, as I was able to understand both viewpoints as each character told their experiences, but just the same, the characters irked me.  While it is obvious that the characters change as the story unfolds, my main complaint is that I feel the novel has no ending.  It just stops—and while it may allude to a happy ending, the fact that it wasn’t concluded is what I have a hard time with.  While some readers may enjoy this aspect of the novel, it just wasn’t for me.

So… I watched the movie too, since I’m putting this on the outside reading project for my students, and they’ll have to watch the movie if they choose this book for the project.  Well, I wasn’t impressed.  The acting was alright, and I was glad that the director stuck to the plot line for the most part, but it didn’t dazzle me.  I guess that is to be expected, because the book didn’t hold my attention either, but I was hoping that maybe the movie version would be a little more interesting for me.  I’m sorry to say it wasn’t, but again, my students seem to love this book, so I’m sure they’ll enjoy the movie as well.  Personally, I can only give them two and a half stars all around.

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From Goodreads: Reychel is a slave girl surrounded by magic, lies and manipulation. Her best friend disappears in the middle of the night leaving Reychel to face her fifteenth birthday, the day her master burns his brand into the back of her bald head, alone. She’s sheltered from the outside world and doesn’t have any hope for escape, but when people desperate for freedom ask for her help can Reychel learn to believe in herself?

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First and foremost, what a beautiful cover!  I’m always enticed to read novels based on the covers…  I know, I know, I shouldn’t judge books that way, but when there is such a gorgeous cover, I can’t help but gravitate to it.  Very, very beautiful!

Aside from the cover, though, I was also drawn to this novel as I read the first chapter on Jensen’s blog.  The story is very intriguing and my interest was piqued, so I bought it from Amazon and read it in a few hours (it’s a short read).

While I really enjoyed the story line, and Jensen has a very creative imagination and wonderful gift, I did find that the novel had a few elements that were not to my taste.  I love that the story moves quickly, which is a sure winner for young readers, however, I found that the rapid pace creates some underdevelopment throughout the novel.  Jensen introduces many new characters through the span of the story, yet I never felt like I truly knew any of them.  The characters swiftly move from one situation to the next, which made it hard for me to form a connection.  This, in turn, created a more choppy novel than a fluid one, yet this aspect also fits the novel well as it parallels the main character, Reychel, as she is pulled in multiple directions at once; her whole life being changed on a moment’s notice.

Another aspect I struggled with was the language within the novel.  There seems to be a disconnect between modern and archaic language, and as the novel has a more old-fashioned, historical feel to it, I found some of the dialogue ill fitting as the characters used slang on occasion.  Yet, as this is the first novel in the series, I anticipate that it will continue to get better as Jensen fleshes out the entire story and refines her work.  Anathema is just the beginning, or the foundation, if you will, of a great story.  While I was disappointed that there was not much action in terms of Reychel using her ability as The Cloud Prophet, it makes sense that it will take time for her to develop them.  To counter this, Jensen provides many other twists and turns to keep the action going, which I believe is a testament to her writing capabilities.

Originally, I found myself admonishing Reychel for not being an assertive, strong character—she is quite wishy-washy.  Although she does begin to assert herself more towards the middle of the novel, she again relapses while in the presence of her master.  This character portrayal is actually quite superb on Jensen’s part, as Reychel has grown up in slavery.  She knows nothing but submissiveness, and so it makes sense that her character question everything.  I am glad that Jensen choose to portray Reychel in this manner in the first novel, though I do hope to see a more assertive Reychel begin to develop as the series progresses.

I did enjoy this novel, save a few personal objections, and I definitely think this is a great book for both MG and YA readers alike. and I am very excited to read the next installment, Oubliette, which comes out this June!  I do recommend picking up a copy of Anathema prior to the sequel’s release!  Three stars. 

From Goodreads: When Hollywood It Boy, Reid Alexander, arrives on location to shoot his next movie, his goals are the same as always-film another blockbuster hit and enjoy his celebrity status to the fullest while doing so. His costar is a virtual unknown with whom he had blazing hot chemistry during her auditions. The universe is lining up nicely to grant whatever he wants, as usual, until he’s confronted with unexpected obstacles on location like a bitter ex-girlfriend and a rival for the first girl to spark his genuine interest in years.

Emma Pierce just got her big break after more than a decade of filming commercials for grape juice, department stores and tampons, and more recently, bit parts in made-for-TV movies. Nailing the lead role in a wide-release film sent her agent, father and stepmother into raptures, and should have done the same for her. The Problem? Emma is experiencing a building desire to be normal, and starring in a silly, modernized adaptation of one of her favorite novels-opposite the very hot Reid Alexander-isn’t going to advance that aspiration.

Graham Douglas doesn’t fear playing the part of a nerdy dimwit; when it comes to choosing film roles, if it pays, he’ll do it. Besides, his friend Brooke Cameron snatched up the role of the bitchy hot girl and could use his help as a buffer, because her ex is the star. Graham has no problem keeping a handle on the situation, until he finds himself attracted to Reid’s costar, Emma, the girl Reid is pursuing full-throttle with his standard arsenal of charm, good looks and arrogance.

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Have you ever read a novel that causes your heart to pound and puts butterflies in your stomach, because it’s so good?  Well, this is one of those novels, and I highly recommend it!  I loved it!  This is just an absolutely fantastic read, and what a beautiful cover!!!  It’s such a refreshing novel too—I’ve never come across a book like this one, focusing on teenage celebrities!  I really enjoyed myself while reading this novel, and as our nation is always so wrapped up in celebrity activities, this is sure to be a pleasing fictitious tale for all.  Webber does a magnificent job creating a novel around such a fascinating topic, and I was glued to the story from the very first page.

The writing style is superb, and I love the way Webber chose to present the story through the back and forth perspectives of the two main characters, Emma and Reid.  By utilizing this writing technique, Webber allows the reader to step into both Emma and Reid’s shoes through their first person narrative, and it’s a breathtaking way to become one with the characters.  I also loved the inside view the reader obtains in regards to what happens on and off the set, as the actors and actresses come together to create movies for the public.  It was really interesting to read—and it’s a topic I’ve wondered about for years!

It’s a true love/coming-of-age story, and the characterization is just beautiful.  While I love to hate a few choice characters within the novel, Webber has portrayed them all realistically, and I found myself connecting with them all as I read.  The love story portion of the novel is also extremely beautiful, even though I occasionally wanted to shake the characters in regards to their choices, and I even found myself yelling at them, aloud, as I read.  I think that’s an aspect that makes the characters so believable, creating a bond between them and the reader.  Webber is an amazing writer, and she’s an up and coming author to watch!  I am very impressed, and excited for the sequel to this novel—I’m on pins and needles!  Pick it up STAT on Amazon!!  Five stars!

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

Check out all the books in this awesome series!

Between the Lines (#1)

Where You Are (#2)

Good For You (#3)

Here Without You (#4)

From Goodreads:  After the death of her free-spirited mother, sixteen-year-old Alex Lee must leave her home in northern California to live with her wealthy grandmother in Savannah, Georgia.  By birth, Alex is a rightful, if unwilling, member of the Magnolia League, Savannah’s long-standing debutante society.  She quickly discovers that the Magnolias have made a pact with a legendary hoodoo family, the Buzzards.  The Magnolias enjoy youth, beauty and power.  But at what price?

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Hachette Book Group has been so gracious as to allow me review an ARC of this novel, through Netgalley, prior to its official release today.  However, it pains me to say that this novel was not as enthralling as I hoped it to be.  I was drawn in by the synopsis, and Alex’s snarky attitude was a refreshing and hilarious aspect of the novel, but aside from her perspective, I have to say that this novel just isn’t for me.  I believe the premise for the novel is wonderful, and that many readers will enjoy it, but it just didn’t spark my interest as the story progressed.  I’m not sure why, really.  Crouch is a very talented writer, and I enjoy her style very much, but the mystery of the Magnolia League didn’t pull me in as I had planned, and I felt like it was very drawn out, lacking action.  While there is some suspense behind the true activities of the Magnolia League, I found much of the foreshadowing that Crouch implores to be too telling for my taste.  The novel does leave the reader with a huge cliffhanger, but for me, much of what happened was to be expected and, unfortunately, I personally have little interest in continuing this series.  Two stars.