From Goodreads: Moonset, a coven of such promise . . . Until they turned to the darkness.

After the terrorist witch coven known as Moonset was destroyed fifteen years ago—during a secret war against the witch Congress—five children were left behind, saddled with a legacy of darkness. Sixteen-year-old Justin Daggett, son of a powerful Moonset warlock, has been raised alongside the other orphans by the witch Congress, who fear the children will one day continue the destruction their parents started.

A deadly assault by a wraith, claiming to work for Moonset’s most dangerous disciple, Cullen Bridger, forces the five teens to be evacuated to Carrow Mill. But when dark magic wreaks havoc in their new hometown, Justin and his siblings are immediately suspected. Justin sets out to discover if someone is trying to frame the Moonset orphans… or if Bridger has finally come out of hiding to reclaim the legacy of Moonset. He learns there are secrets in Carrow Mill connected to Moonset’s origins, and keeping the orphans safe isn’t the only reason the Congress relocated them…
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This is a very intriguing story full of witchcraft and half-truths. Justin and his adoptive family of five have grown up learning that their heritage is one of debauchery and deceit. As the children of Moonset, they have been feared all their lives, shifted from one home to the next, treated like prisoners, and all for a good cause, according to Justin, who doesn’t want to turn out to be anything like his parents. However, not all is as it seems, and when the teens realize their safety is the last item on the Congress’ list, Justin and his family must fight back or meet the same end as their parents.

I have a real problem with adults that treat children/teens badly. And that’s all Justin and his family have ever known, really. The Congress has constantly moved them around, made comments about wishing they would have died alongside their parents, and stood back as entities threatened the teens, only stepping in at the last moment. I was heated throughout much of this novel, just like Justin, and while I do enjoy novels that give me strong emotions, I was so angry at the adults, and even some of the Moonset children, that it kind of took some of the fun out of this novel. No child/teen/adult should ever be treated the way these teens are treated—made fun of (by peers AND adults who are supposed to protect them), made to fend for themselves, refused help or training for protection, using them as pawns to draw out evil, constantly belittling them. Ugh. It sets my teeth on edge just thinking back on the story, and my shoulders are so tense right now it hurts.

Yes, the teens are the children of Moonset, but that doesn’t mean they’ll turn out just like their parents. In fact, the way the Congress treats them pushes them more towards acting out like their parents than if the Congress had been loving and caring from the very beginning… but then again, does the Congress want them to turn into their parents?? Perhaps… Tracey spreads a great message in this novel, one that speaks to the treatment of others as well as the fact that, regardless of our parentage, we are our own beings. And what I really liked about this novel is that, along the way, we realize that maybe, just maybe, Moonset wasn’t exactly what they’ve been chalked up to be. And neither is the Congress. Three and a half stars.

Flux Book has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its widespread release on April 8, 2013.

From Goodreads: Fiddlesticks killed her with his razor. Slit her throat and then forgave her.

Deep in the Appalachian woods stands the old Fiddlesticks cabin, the scene of a bloody double murder from decades past. Now the haunted cabin lures young thrill seekers who hope to hear the killer’s ghostly fiddle music. When a group of college students comes to call, Lisa Wilson–the daughter of a former North Carolina governor–is tragically murdered, and her flesh is mutilated with disturbing symbols.

Pisgah County sheriff Jerry Cochran is in hot water when the ball-busting politician shows up, threatening to tear the county apart in search of his daughter’s killer. But Nick Stratton–the handsome raptor center specialist and Lisa’s boss–is in even hotter water when evidence points to him as the prime suspect. As Nick turns to attorney Mary Crow for help, it’s up to the Pisgah County native to discover the truth. Did Nick do it? Or is there a deranged mountain killer on the loose?

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This mystery novel was a ton of fun to read.  I really enjoyed getting to know all the characters, especially as Bissell deeply fleshed them out for her readers.  This is my first Mary Crow novel, though it’s number five in the series, and what I really enjoyed was that this is a stand alone novel in which we get to know Mary Crow very well, regardless of whether we’ve read the other novels.  While I do love series novels that build off of each other, I also really enjoy the stand alone, and was very happy to see that this was the case with the Mary Crow novels.

Bissell opens The Music of Ghosts with a bewildering murder, thrusting readers into the chaos as we watch and learn about Lisa Wilson and the events leading up to her untimely demise.  I really liked the way Bissell did this as, truth be told, I wasn’t really a fan of Lisa, but I was interested in her and her friends, and their sleuthing of the abandoned Fiddlesticks cabin piqued my interest from the very first page.  With Lisa out of the way, the novel moves quickly into a case of whodunit as the five surviving members in the cabin, as well as the others who had contact with Lisa throughout the summer, become prime suspects.  Enter Mary Crow.  Struggling with her own set of problems and her promise to never take a murder case, Mary must decide whether or not to follow her gut and, in so doing, brings about the demise of some, including former relationships, and the triumph of others.

This novel is a rollercoaster ride of emotions, focusing on Mary’s heartbreak, Jerry’s murder case, Nick’s innocence, and the very real possibility that someone very near to the Fiddlesticks murders is exacting their revenge.  Bissell kept me guessing the whole time.  Four stars.

Midnight Ink has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to it’s wide-spread release on April 8, 2013.

From Goodreads: Ashton Garrison walked away from a privileged life in order to hide from the one thing she’s not willing to face. She knows she left behind a trail of pain, but in the long run, her betrayal will hurt less than the truth. She now has one goal: Live life to the fullest with no regrets and no attachments. She has high hopes that a move to new surroundings will provide the escape she desires, but what Ashton doesn’t count on is how fate always seems to find a way to screw up any good plan. Sometimes, when love comes knocking, the pull is too strong not to answer. Suddenly, what she thought she wanted to escape from is what Ashton now wants more than anything.

Nathan Lockton has one mission: find his target and complete the task he was hired to do—no attachments and no emotion necessary. He’s done it over and over again. What he thought was a typical lost-and-found job has turned into a life examining moment as Nathan is forced to deal with something he has always ignored–his feelings. Now faced with a decision, Nathan must choose to either follow his heart or complete the job.

Love can come when you least expect it. The question is: if the odds are stacked against you, how far are you willing to go for the one you love?

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Tiffany King is breaking into the new adult genre, and I must say, she’s doing a lovely job of it!  No Attachments, slated to release at the end of April, is a breathtaking journey through the fragile lives of Ashton Garrison and Nathan Lockton.  Told from alternating points-of-view, readers learn these magnificent characters’ fears, deep-rooted secrets, and how far they’re willing to go to protect their hearts.  This poignant and often times hilarious novel looks at the gritty aspects of love and learning to let go of the past in order to harness the future.

I absolutely adored this novel.  While filled with sexual tension and ultimately, relations, King treads lightly on the topic, making it an art form rather than a vulgar exploration of sex.  King gives just enough information without overdoing it, leaving much to the imagination, but much on paper as well.  It’s a fine like to walk for authors of all genres, as too much too fast can tip the scales into slutty and trashy, but King’s novel is soft and refined, focusing on aspects of love and romance, and even a prude like myself highly enjoyed it.

Ashton’s secret is hidden through much of the text, but enough foreshadowing leads the reader to see the truth much earlier, and it’s one that will have readers hoping they misread the clues.  It’s a raw look at life and love, and while the beginning is light and romantic, the story builds to a crescendo, and readers will want to have a box of tissues nearby as the story takes a turn and all is revealed.  I highly recommend this novel to college-aged readers and beyond.  Five stars.

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

From Goodreads: A prequel to In Her Name: Empire, the events of First Contact take place a century earlier:

Led by Commander Owen McClaren, the TNS Aurora is embarked on an extended survey mission, searching for new worlds that could support human life. Drawn to an uncharted star system that appears to have not just one, but two potentially habitable planets, the crew of the Aurora discovers something even more unexpected: the planets are already inhabited, but not by humans. Approached by gigantic alien starships, the human crew prepares for humanity’s very first contact with another sentient race.

But nothing could prepare them for what fate has in store. For they have entered the domain of the Kreelan Empire, which has waited thousands of years to find another spacefaring race against which to wage war to honor their Empress. With all but one of the crew killed in ritual close combat, the aliens send Aurora home bearing the sole survivor: the Messenger, a young midshipman who carries with him an alien artifact that is humanity’s only sign of how much time remains until they are plunged into an interstellar war…

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In a word, this is long.  That’s not a bad thing, especially if you’re a sci-fi, fantasy, or space-odyssey lover.  I’m none of those things, and yet, I still enjoyed this novel, aside from the length.

Hicks has created a very real novel filled with multiple characters that all have a place and a story to tell, be they human or Krellan.  Beginning with the crew’s finding of life on two other planets, a battle of epic proportions begins as the Krellan Empire slowly prepares to take over yet another world, and it is here that Hicks draws in his readers.  If you’ve ever seen any of the Star-Trek movies out there, any, then you have a pretty good idea what the battles between ships looks like in this novel.  It’s amazing, fast-paced, and epic.  The Krellan warriors, all female, are huge, trained and built for war, and ready to die to honor their Empress, making survival of any who cross their paths a virtual impossibility. The first battle, ending in the death of all on the Aurora, save one, gives readers the much needed background to solidify this series, explaining both the Aurora crew and their purpose, as well as introducing the Krellan race.

Hicks’ ability to weave his story from multiple personas, focusing on the thoughts and feelings of all races, make for a riveting read as readers get to know the many characters. This novel deals mainly with war, fleshing out the characters and societies, but ultimately focusing on the ongoing assault from the massive female Krellan warriors.  There is much battle and blood-shed throughout this novel, but it’s not too gruesome or overbearing, as some novels are.  Instead, Hicks focuses on building up his world and characters in order to continue his saga, which, at this time, is now three series deep.  I highly recommend this novel for any of those who have enjoyed Star-Trek.  Four stars.

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

From Goodreads: There is no cure for being stung.

Fiona doesn’t remember going to sleep. But when she opens her eyes, she discovers her entire world has been altered—her house is abandoned and broken, and the entire neighborhood is barren and dead. Even stranger is the tattoo on her right hand—a black oval with five marks on either side—that she doesn’t remember getting but somehow knows she must cover at any cost. She’s right.

Those bearing the tattoo have turned into mindless, violent beasts that roam the streets and sewers, preying upon the unbranded while a select few live protected inside a fortress-like wall, their lives devoted to rebuilding society and killing all who bear the mark.

Now Fiona has awakened branded, alone—and on the wrong side of the wall.

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Wow.  Wow.  Wow!  This is a phenomenal novel; it’s an absolutely amazing, glued to my seat, wonderful, can’t get enough, kind of read.  But that cover?  Oh. God.  Someone please tell me they’re going to change that cover.  Truth: it’s hideous.  And, it doesn’t make me want to read the novel.  You can put a synopsis in front of me, and it might be the best synopsis in the world, but if the cover stinks, I’m only going to do a cursory glance before I move on.  Not pick it up, not fall in love with it, just pass it over.  Let’s be honest: we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover.  Ever.  Nope.  But we do.  It’s human nature.  If I’m in a bookstore with thousands of books to choose from, what book is going to stop me and get me to pick it up to read the synopsis?  One with a magnificent cover.  This book, unfortunately, is not it.  I would pass it by in a heartbeat, and so would my students in book club… I showed them a picture and they vetoed the novel before I even told them what it’s about!!!  They thought it was about bees and being stung.  Which, I guess in a way it is, but… it’s soooooooo much better than that.  So, to the powers that be, please do the author justice and change the cover so more copies of this magnificent story fly off the shelves and are eaten up by readers.  Seriously.  Okay, rant ended.

I absolutely adored this spectacular novel.  As you can probably tell from the above rant, I wasn’t expecting much going in, but I received a free copy of Stung at NCTE this past November, so I thought I’d give it a whirl.  And boy, was I glad I did!

The fight or flight mantra throughout the entire novel kept me on my toes, especially as the story unfolded and it became apparent that Fiona and Bowen were in so much more danger than I originally thought.  And the characterization?  Well, Fiona is a great character! I loved her struggle with her memory loss, and the mystery surrounding her was intense and fascinating! But Fiona isn’t the only character I enjoyed;  I loved them all!  I highly enjoyed getting to know every single one, from the creepy sewer dweller to the militia men, these characters are awesome, well fleshed out, vivid, and real! And as events unfolded, the sincere fear and stress I felt for the characters put my heart in my throat—I couldn’t put it down, and I just love that this entire novel, from start to finish, is shrouded in mystery.  As the reader, we don’t know why Fiona has the mark, why she’s sane and others with the mark are not, why she woke up four years older than when she went to sleep, or why she has a connection to Bowen from the very beginning.  But as the story fleshes out, we’re given glimpses into the past, which helps us connect the dots leading up to the grand finale that had me whooping for joy.  This is just a great read all around, and I loved that it kept me guessing throughout.  I wasn’t expecting the reveals Wiggins provided, and I really liked them; the answers made sense in this not so distant future world, and as the puzzle pieces came together, the novel continued to blow me away.  This is a must read.  Five stars.

Bloomsbury USA Children’s Books has been extremely gracious in giving me an ARC of this novel for review prior to its release on April 2, 2013.

From Goodreads: In The Gateway, Glenn G. Thater transports us to an age of high adventure where knights battle supernatural horrors, magic is real but hidden, and the line between good and evil is all too thin.

The Harbinger of Doom saga centers around one Lord Angle Theta, an enigmatic warrior of unknown origins and mystical power. No mortal man is his match in battle. No sorcery can contain or confound him. No scholar or sage can outwit him. But for all his skills, he is but one of us; a man, a human, who shares our faults, our dreams, and our ambitions. He boldly strides across the land, fearless, peerless, and cloaked in mystery; all his will bent on righting such wrongs as he deems fit.

Until the day the Gateway opened and turned the world on its head. On that fateful day, Korrgonn came and washed away our dreams. And his outre’ realm of Nifleheim set its unholy mark upon our world and claimed it for their own. Only Theta and his companions see the enemies aligning against us. Only they foresee our end coming- the end of civilization, the end of the world of man.

Only they can hope to turn the tide of madness and preserve all that we hold dear. But no man, not even our greatest hero, can stand against the Lords of Nifleheim and the dark armies at their command. Fiends that infiltrate unseen within our ranks, that tear down our temples and our traditions; that devour us from within, unseen, unknown, unheralded, and unopposed until the hour grows far too late. Through the murk and mist that hangs before our eyes, one man only sees true. One man pierces the veil of magic that blinds us all and marks the world as it truly is, revealing secrets, secrets of Angle Theta, so horrifying as to shatter a man’s mind and call into question the very nature of good and evil.

When mad sorcerers open a gateway to the very pits of hell, releasing outre demons of darkest nightmare upon the world, only the intrepid knights of House Eotrus stand in their way. Claradon Eotrus takes up the mantle of his noble house to avenge his father and hold back the tide of chaos that threatens to engulf the world and destroy mankind. Claradon recruits Angle Theta and Gabriel Garn, mysterious knights of mystical power to stand with him. Theta and Garn take up their swords one last time against the coming darkness — a darkness from which only one will emerge.

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I was pleasantly surprised by this novella.  It’s a quick read and the rather long synopsis above says it all: War. With supernatural beings.  Much of this novella hinges on a very epic battle that reminded me so much of the awesome battle scenes on screen in the Lord of the Rings movies.  Those were amazing scenes, and Thayer aptly paints a riveting picture of a very different battle raging, in this novella, at the gateway as warriors fight to close the portal and keep evil at bay.  Some will perish, some will triumph, and some will get away in this awesome fantasy novella that sets the stage for the full novels in the series.  Based on this novella alone, I’d be more than willing to try the first novel in the series, even though I’m not really much into fantasy, as it were.  Four stars.

From Goodreads: Sixteen-year-old Sophie Bloom wishes she’d been taught the following:

a) Bad boy’s presence (TrOuBlE) + teen girl’s brain (DraMa) = TrAuMa (Highly unstable and very volatile.)
 b) The Genus Greekulum Godissimus is notable for three traits: 1) awesome abilities, 2) grudges, and 3) hook-ups, break-ups, and in-fighting that puts cable to shame.

Prior to the Halloween dance, Sophie figures her worst problems involve adolescent theatrics, bitchy yoga girls, and being on probation at her boarding school for mouthy behaviour. Then she meets bad boy Kai and gets the kiss that rocks her world.

Literally.

This breath stealing lip lock reawakens Sophie’s true identity: Persephone, Goddess of Spring. She’s key to saving humanity in the war between the Underworld and Olympus, target numero uno of Hades and Zeus, and totally screwed.

Plus there’s also the little issue that Sophie’s last memory as Persephone was just before someone tried to murder her.

Big picture: master her powers, get her memories back, defeat Persephone’s would be assassin, and save the world. Also, sneak into the Underworld to retrieve stolen property, battle the minions of Hades and Zeus, outwit psycho nymphs, slay a dragon, rescue a classmate, keep from getting her butt expelled from the one place designed to keep her safe …

… and stop kissing Kai, Prince of the Underworld.

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Unfortunately, this book isn’t for me.  It’s a very interesting take on the Persephone myth, but in all honesty, I felt it moved a little too quickly and the humor was a little too forced for my tastes.  It’s a very well written story, and the plot is there, but overall, I thought that it jumped forward too fast and didn’t necessarily fill in all the gaps or feel real, as it were.  Sophie finds out the truth about her heritage alongside her best friend, and neither are really phased by the power and mythology aspect staring them in the face, and I found that to be a bit unreal.   Likewise, I wasn’t a fan of Sophie, or her ex, Kai, and seeing as they’re the main characters, that made it hard for me as a reader.  Sophie’s humor and the way she tells the story just rubbed me the wrong way, but in all honesty, I think that teen readers will really enjoy her.  While my older self found her a bit juvenile, I think teens will love her humor and biting remarks, which is why I think this novel would be a great read for younger teens.  Likewise, while Kai is not really my style, and I didn’t care for him in the least, I can see where teens would swoon and really enjoy him.  Overall, this one novel might just be a little too young for the likes of me, and that’s okay.  I personally, can only give it two and half stars, though.

Te Da Media has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read a copy of this novel, via Netgalley.

From Goodreads: People in Merit, Wisconsin, always said Jimmy was . . . you know. But people said all sorts of stupid stuff. Nobody really knew anything. Nobody really knew Jimmy.

I guess you could say I knew Jimmy as well as anyone (which was not very well). I knew what scared him. And I knew he had dreams—even if I didn’t understand them. Even if he nearly ruined my life to pursue them.

Jimmy’s dead now, and I definitely know that better than anyone. I know about blood and bone and how bodies decompose. I know about shadows and stones and hatchets. I know what a last cry for help sounds like. I know what blood looks like on my own hands.

What I don’t know is if I can trust my own eyes. I don’t know who threw the stone. Who swung the hatchet? Who are the shadows? What do the living owe the dead?

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This is one of those books that punches you in the gut, mainly because you cringe for the main character, his bad decisions, and the fact that this really could happen.  We learn the sad and often gruesome details of this story through the penitent letters of Ben, an extremely sad character who, a victim of circumstance, was at the wrong place at the wrong time, both literally and figuratively.  We often ask ourselves, “what if?” when dealing with tragedy.  This entire novel hinges on the “what if” as Ben slowly recounts what happened in his hometown of Merit, a place set in its bigoted ways, as he looks back on his not so distant past.

Jimmy is a young teen who, faced with narrow-mindedness and prejudice, looks for a different means of expressing himself.  Upon the revelation of some sexually charged photos published in a national magazine, both Ben’s and Jimmy’s lives are thrown into turmoil as Ben struggles to clear his “good name” and Jimmy attempts to appease his father and pastor.  One lie leads to another, and suddenly the world is turned upside down for Ben, though at no fault of his own.  Yet, as he attempts to make Jimmy understand, the unthinkable happens.  Murder.  In a small town.  A hate crime.  And Ben saw it all.

I have to admit, when the novel first opened, I wasn’t exactly sure where it was going to go.  It starts off rather slow, and we learn that Ben has indeed escaped his small town, but he hasn’t escaped his memories, and it is these memories that slowly eat away at his mind.  Hence, the letter format that Bick employs as Ben attempts to purge his soul.  It is ingenious, and it isn’t until the very end that readers understand the purpose of the letters. Thus, I highly recommend that, though the graphic nature of the novel is tough at times, readers should continue onward to the conclusion.  It is an amazing, sad story.

This is a breathtaking novel that is all the more scary because it could easily happen, though society would like to think that we are beyond this brutality.  The Sin-Eater’s Confession is a eye-opening novel that stares intolerance in the face.  Gruesome and graphic, yet palpable and poignant, Bick’s novel is not one you’ll soon forget.  Five stars.

Lerner Publishing Group has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read a copy of this novel, via Netgalley.

From Goodreads: A bittersweet masterpiece filled with longing and hope, Jennie Shortridge’s emotional novel explores the raw, tender complexities of relationships and personal identity. Who is Lucie Walker? Even Lucie herself can’t answer that question after she comes to, confused and up to her knees in the chilly San Francisco Bay. Back home in Seattle, she adjusts to life with amnesia, growing unsettled by the clues she finds to the selfish, carefully guarded person she used to be. Will she ever fall in love with her handsome, kindhearted fiancé, Grady? Can he devote himself to the vulnerable, easygoing Lucie 2.0, who is so unlike her controlling former self? When Lucie learns that Grady has been hiding some very painful secrets that could change the course of their relationship, she musters the courage to search for the shocking, long-repressed childhood memories that will finally set her free.

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This novel takes readers on a journey through Lucie’s soul, uncovering her past, illuminating her present, and glimpsing her future, should she choose to accept them.  It’s a very lovely tale that shows just how hard starting over really is, especially if we’ve lost sight of ourselves along the way.

Something has happened to Lucie Walker.  She wakes up knee deep in the freezing bay, unsure of her surroundings or how she came to be there.  Her finance, Grady, comes to the rescue once her story goes public, but if Lucie can’t remember her past, how can she build a future, let alone live in the present, with a man she doesn’t know?  Told from three different perspectives, readers learn Lucie’s fears, Grady’s secrets, and Helen’s memories, all leading up to the realization that those past lives are not necessarily the truth, and that, no matter our age, we all can change.

I really enjoyed this novel.  I was a little afraid going in because I don’t always enjoy adult fiction, but I really loved the writing style and the mystery surrounding Lucie’s background.  The multiple points-of-view made is extremely interesting and gave much needed insight into the characters’ thoughts and feelings, and though I wouldn’t say this is a romantic novel, it’s real and poignant.  Four stars.

Gallery Books has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release on April 2, 2013.

From Goodreads: With Sam and Kayla missing, Kiera, Potter and Murphy head for the Dead Waters. Here they hope to find their missing friends and the answers to why their flesh keeps cracking like that of a statue.

Knowing Potter has lied to her, Kiera is struggling with her feelings for him. Therefore, Kiera tries to keep Potter at a distance, scared that she might get hurt again.

With Skin-walkers and statues close behind them as they make their journey to the Dead Waters, Kiera can’t help but fear she is being led straight into a dead end.

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I just died a little bit.  But just a little, because I know O’Rourke is going to fix it.  He can’t leave it like that, can he?  Well, he can, but, will he?  Good God, I hope not!  This one time I’m hoping that I’m right in my inkling about the ending.  About what really just happened, about what sucker punched me in the mouth and ran off with my breakfast.  Seriously. I never saw it coming, and then it was there, and I gapped and screamed and yelped like child.  Because… that cliffhanger is mean, but perfect, as it were.  I’m just hoping… fingers crossed, that this once, just this once, what I think will happen will actually happen, because it’s the only way I see out of this dark tunnel.  But on the upside, O’Rourke had a vast imagination and he’s already twelve steps ahead of me.  *Sigh* the wait for the next two installments of series two might put me in the grave.

This is another fabulous Kiera Hudson read, full of raw anger, lust, and love.  Yes, there is a fairly graphic love scene in this novel, so no, I wouldn’t give it to your kids, but it’s perfect, especially as Kiera and Potter have come such a long way from the beginning of the first series, 13 books ago.  That’s not to say that there haven’t been some graphic scenes like this in prior novels, but… this one is the most graphic, in my opinion.  It also symbolizes the extreme love, passion, and freedom Kiera and Potter feel around, and for, each other.  So, truth be told, I loved it.

This novel also sheds light on the mysterious statues that seem to be following Kiera, Potter, and Murphy throughout the second series, and, of course, it all comes to a head as we learn just who the Wolf Man really is, and what he really wants.  O’Rourke has created another masterpiece, and I highly suggest it for those who have read the previous series.  And… there’s a treat for us readers at the very end of the book.  Keep scrolling through your ereader to see it after you finish the last page.  I promise, you won’t be disappointed! Five stars.

P.S. If you haven’t yet started this series, well, pick up Vampire Shift right now and get started.  Seriously.  It’s only .99 cents and worth so much more than that.

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

For MORE Kiera Hudson by Tim O’Rourke:

Kiera Hudson Series 1

Vampire Shift (#1)

Vampire Wake (#2)

Vampire Hunt (#3)

Vampire Breed (#4)

Wolf House (#4.5)

Vampire Hollows (#5)

Kiera Hudson Series 2

Dead Flesh (#1)

Dead Night: Potter’s Secrets (#1.5)

Dead Angels (#2)

Dead Statues (#3)

Dead Seth (#4)

Dead Wolf (#5)

Dead Water (#6)

From Goodreads: “Robbie,” my dad said. “You told me yourself how Billy has been behaving. And you know the case against him-he had a grudge against the victim, he was found with the weapon, he was at the scene. Motive, method, opportunity.”

Robyn’s best friend Billy has been a mess ever since her other best friend Morgan dumped him. To make matters worse, Morgan started dating hockey star Sean Sloane right afterward. Billy is a vegetarian and an animal rights activist-he wouldn’t hurt a fly. But when Sean winds up dead on the ice, Billy becomes the prime suspect. Can Robyn prove her friend’s innocence?

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This is my fourth McClintock novel and I must say, I really do enjoy her YA novels. The three that I read prior to this one were all part of the Orca Soundings books for reluctant readers, which I stumbled across a few years ago, and which my struggling readers really enjoy.  Orca Sounding books are written by many different authors, and they’re engaging in that the storyline is at teen level, but the writing is for that of second through fourth grade readers.  This is very helpful when students read below their grade level, especially as the stories are engaging and help promote a love of reading, which is key.

Change of Heart is the seventh book in the Robyn Hunter series, but it stands completely alone, as I suspect all the novels in this series do.  It wasn’t until after I finished reading the novel that I realized it was part of a series, but in truth, it doesn’t matter either way.  McClintock introduces the characters quickly and begins the story, giving readers just enough background and information, and the best part is that, though it’s not an Orca Sounding book, it’s still written for the reluctant reader.

Robyn Hunter is stuck between a rock and a hard place here as her best friend, Billy, is charged for murder.  Truth be told, it doesn’t look good—from the initial fighting and stalking to the possession of the weapon with his fingerprints and victim’s blood on it, everything points to him.  But Robyn doesn’t believe it.  And she’s the only one.

I wouldn’t say that this is Robyn is necessarily a modern-day sleuth, but she does slowly begin to piece things together, more-so through perseverance than ingenuity.  It was very interesting to see how the puzzle fit together, and I liked that, each time I had a suspect, more information was presented to change my tune.  However, I wasn’t really a fan of depressed, angry Billy, shy Robyn, or pissed off Morgan.  That being said, I enjoyed the novel, but the characters made be a bit angry.  I think this would be great for a seventh or eighth grader, though.  Three and a half stars.

Lerner Publishing Group has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read a copy of this novel, via Netgalley.

From Goodreads: There are some things you can’t leave behind…

A broken-down camper hidden deep in a national forest is the only home fifteen year-old Carey can remember. The trees keep guard over her threadbare existence, with the one bright spot being Carey’s younger sister, Jenessa, who depends on Carey for her very survival. All they have is each other, as their mentally ill mother comes and goes with greater frequency. Until that one fateful day their mother disappears for good, and two strangers arrive. Suddenly, the girls are taken from the woods and thrust into a bright and perplexing new world of high school, clothes and boys.

Now, Carey must face the truth of why her mother abducted her ten years ago, while haunted by a past that won’t let her go… a dark past that hides many a secret, including the reason Jenessa hasn’t spoken a word in over a year. Carey knows she must keep her sister close, and her secrets even closer, or risk watching her new life come crashing down.

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Two words: Phenomenal. Tissues. (You’re going to need a lot.)

If you’ve read Chelsea Fine’s novel, Sophie and Carter, another great novel depicting children forced to grow up before their time in this cruel world, then you’re no stranger to having your feet knocked out from under you, and that’s exactly what Murdoch does to her readers in her fantastic novel, If You Find Me.

Raw. Emotional. Gut wrenching. Triumphant.  This novel pulled me in from the very first page and kept me up late into the night as I read, unable to put aside this beautiful novel that so captivated me.  Carey’s story is one of heartbreak, gripping readers as the plot unfolds, all leading up to the night that everything changed for Carey and Jenessa.  The prose, imagery, and characterization are absolutely phenomenal, and I am in awe of Murdoch’s writing style.  Poignant and tragic, our heroine Carey steals the stage as her emotions overflow, unable to release the past, afraid of the future.  Her life has been one of extreme hardship, caring for her little sister, Jenessa, and hoping to survive another day.  This powerful novel is a must read for all lovers of YA; it’s emotionally overwhelming, but amazing all the same.  Easily one of the best novels I’ve read this year.  Five stars.

St. Martin’s Press has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release on March 26, 2013.