Review: Hard Spell

Stan Markowski is a Detective Sergeant on the Scranton PD's Supernatural Crimes Investigation Unit. Like the rest of America, Scranton's got an uneasy 'live and let unlive' relationship with the supernatural. But when a vamp puts the bite on an unwilling victim, or some witch casts the wrong kind of spell, that's when they call Markowski. He carries a badge. Also, a crucifix, some wooden stakes, a big vial of holy water, and a 9mm Beretta loaded with silver bullets. 

The story here was interesting, but I just never really got into it.  I didn't care much who the murderer was, or when one of the characters was in danger.  The writing didn't draw me in that way.  I think this is definitely a story that would appeal to men.  If you've ever wondered what's the difference between urban fantasy and paranormal romance, you can look to this book as a fine example of urban fantasy.  There is really no romance whatsoever.  Some books straddle both genres to where you can't tell which is which, but this one is very clear on what it is.

It almost has that style of the old TV detective shows, especially at the beginning of the book, where I wasn't really sure I'd be able to handle that style all the way through. But it's definitely readable, and I think fans of urban fantasy in particular will enjoy this. I give it a C, and may continue if this is a series.

Review: The Eternal Sea

After the thrilling journey that led Camille through the dangerous discovery of love, secrets, and a magical stone that grants immortality, Camille has everything she wants. She's escaped the men who wanted her dead, and now she is ready to build a new life with Oscar, her one true love. But things are not to be so simple. Oscar is acting strangely, and before they can even board a ship from Australia back home, to San Francisco, Camille learns that the journey is not over. If she does not follow the magic of the curse of Umandu, her life and Ocar's could be in grave danger.

I really enjoyed the first in this series, Everlasting, but just about gave up on this one. What is the deal in YA books where the guy treats the girl horribly for her own good? There is some reason why she shouldn't love him, so instead of treating her with respect and letting her make up her own mind, he is rude and tries to push her away. I loathe that aspect in storytelling, and this book had it in spades.

And then there's the love triangle. Oh, yay. The plot device authors use when they don't have enough brain power to come up with a story that will stand on its own. So with these two very big strikes against it, my enjoyment of The Eternal Sea was lessened quite a bit.

But then I remembered the books I read when I was a teen. I loved those Sunfire romances, where just about the whole plot was a girl choosing between two boys. So the problem is I'm not a teenager anymore (or an adult who would love to re-live my teenage years). It's not necessarily that the book itself is bad.

There are some interesting and unique elements here, and it's a quick, easy read. So all in all, not entirely a waste of a few hours. It's just definitely not on my list of best YA fantasy.  
Grade: C 
 
Links:
On Amazon: The Eternal Sea 
Author website: Angie Frazier

Review: Camera Obscura

CAN’T FIND A RATIONAL EXPLANATION TO A MYSTERY? CALL IN THE QUIET COUNCIL!

The mysterious and glamorous Milady De Winter is one of their most valuable agents. A despicable murder inside a locked and bolted room on the Rue Morgue in Paris is just the start. This whirlwind adventure will take Milady to the highest and lowest parts of that great city, and beyond – and cause her to question the very nature of reality itself.

I keep trying to read steampunk, and I keep finding that it's really not for me. There's something about it that just doesn't click or connect with me, and I have a hard time following the story or even caring. Unfortunately, Camera Obscura didn't change my mind about the genre.

That being said, I found the story quite interesting. Usually steampunk confuses me because I can't picture what the author is talking about and it's all weird, but Lavie Tidhar is very descriptive in his writing, and that really helped. But only for the first half or so of the book. After that I started getting more and more confused about what was going on. Even with a bit less than 100 pages left, if you were to ask me what the book was about I'd be hard pressed to tell you.

Milady was a great strong female character, but while the author was quite descriptive about some things, I felt he was very vague with others. We would get little hints about things here and there, but for the most part the reader is left to speculate about a lot with the characters in the book.

I'm not sure if, when writing steampunk, worldbuilding would be easier or harder. There didn't seem to be any rules about the way the world worked here, and the author could do and include pretty much whatever he wanted. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, because then you get lots of cool and different things, but it can also make things harder to follow when the rules of the world aren't clear.

I would compare my reading of this book to those times when you're half asleep and you can hear a conversation happening, but it's hard to follow, because you only get bits and pieces. There were times when the narrative even interrupted itself. For example:

They used to make garments there--one of the first places to use the Daguerre looms, machines that automated production . . . it had been a natural step for the factory to--
The elevator doors opened. They all filed out. Another white clean corridor. They walked down it and came to a door. The door opened into an antechamber.

This kind of thing was all throughout the book, which made for a writing style that felt like I was hearing a story from someone with attention problems. But for all that, there were some really neat concepts here, and I was drawn to keep reading because I wanted to find out what happened, so it definitely wasn't all bad. I think fans of steampunk may really enjoy this one.

Book Details

Title: Camera Obscura (Angry Robot)

Author: Lavie Tidhar

Genre: Steampunk

Page Count: 416

Publishing Info: Angry Robot, April 2011

Why I Read It: ARC from the publisher

Grade: C

Cover Thoughts: I've always said the cover on a steampunk is usually my favorite thing about the book, and this time is no different. This is a beautiful cover that actually goes along with the story.

Review: Sleeping Beauty: Vampire Slayer

Book Details

Title: Sleeping Beauty: Vampire Slayer (Twisted Tales)

Author: Maureen McGowan

Genre: Ya Fantasy

Page Count: 320

Publishing Info: April 1, 2011

My Review

Why I read it: netgalley review copy

The Plot: In this thrilling story full of adventure and romance, Sleeping Beauty is more than just a lonely princess waiting for her prince—she's a brave, tenacious girl who never backs down from a challenge. With vampire-slaying talents that she practices in secret, Sleeping Beauty puts her courage to the test in the dark of night, fighting evil as she searches for a way to break the spell that has cut her off from her family. In a special twist, readers have the opportunity to make key decisions for Sleeping Beauty and decide where she goes next—but no matter the choice; the result is a story unlike any fairy tale you've ever read!

The Characters: In a way, Lucette was the kind of kick-butt, strong heroine that I really like in YA books.  But in a different way, I found her pretty stupid and kind of annoying.  She just wasn't very likable, for me.  The only aspect to her parents that we are treated to is that they fight all the time.  That's almost all we really know about them.

The Setting: The set-up is a pretty typical fairy tale except for with a separate kingdom of vampires, which adds an interesting twist.

Who Should Read This? YA Fantasy fans

Final Thoughts: While I thought there were some fun and interesting aspects to this story, it failed to grab me.  Ultimately, it fell flat, and I thought the "choose your path" aspect was more annoying than fun. By the time I got to the last choice I really didn't care what she did, I just wanted to finish the story. It wasn't good enough that I'd go back and re-read to try different choices and paths.  The romance also seemed very abrupt, and I didn't buy it in the least. 

Grade: C

Cover Thoughts: The cover is pretty and eye-catching.  I like it.

 

Review: Alcatraz vs. the Shattered Lens

Book Details

Title: Alcatraz Versus The Shattered Lens

Author: Brandon Sanderson

Genre: YA Fantasy

Page Count: 304

Publishing Info: December 1st 2010 by Scholastic Press

My Review

Why I read it: 4th in a series

The Plot: The boy with all the wrong Talents has a lot to prove and, as always, little time in which to do it.  In this final adventure, Alcatraz faces an army of librarians--and their giant librarian robots--as they battle to win the kingdom of Mokia.

The Characters: Alcatraz seems to grow up a bit in this book, and as a narrator he is very likable and fun.  Throughout the series, though, I've never really been able to connect with any of the characters to the point where I really cared what happened to them.

The Setting: In this book, we are mostly in the fantasy land of Mokia.  The setting is fine, and Sanderson is capable of doing incredible world-building, but I think he saves that for his adult fantasy, and this is more about being clever and punny.

A Sample of the Writing:
Change.
It's important to change.  I, for instance, change my underwear every day.  Hopefully you do too.  If you don't, please stay downwind. 

Who Should Read This? People who have already read the first three books in the Alcatraz series--this series is for those looking for really, really light YA fantasy.

Final Thoughts: I've commented before on the humor in these books, and how some people might find it over the top.  Well, in this fourth book, it got to me.  There were some funny parts still, but a lot of the time it felt forced, and I actually got bored.  This is the first time I've felt like skimming while reading a book by Brandon Sanderson. 

Grade: C

Cover Thoughts: The covers in these are always fun.  And what's even more fun is that Alcatraz (as the narrator) refers to a cover from a previous book during the story.

 

Review: Here Lies Bridget

Book Details

Title: Here Lies Bridget (Harlequin Teen)

Author: Paige Harbison

Genre: Young Adult

Page Count: 224

Publishing Info: January 18, 2011 by Harlequin

My Review

Why I read it: netgalley review copy

The Plot: Bridget Duke is the uncontested ruler of her school. The meanest girl with the biggest secret insecurities. And when new girl Anna Judge arrives, things start to fall apart for Bridget: friends don't worship as attentively, teachers don't fall for her wide-eyed "who me?" look, expulsion looms ahead and the one boy she's always loved—Liam Ward—can barely even look at her anymore.When a desperate Bridget drives too fast and crashes her car, she ends up in limbo, facing everyone she's wronged and walking a few uncomfortable miles in their shoes. Now she has only one chance to make a last impression. Though she might end up dead, she has one last shot at redemption and the chance to right the wrongs she's inflicted on the people who mean the most to her.

The Characters: Bridget is a character you can't help but hate.  She's self-centered, mean, oblivious, and kind of stupid.  And since the story is told in first person, it makes it even worse.  But I'll give props to the author for writing a compelling enough story that even though I couldn't stand the main character, I kept reading.

The Setting: The setting really isn't very important here.  It's a typical high school setting, and I don't even remember if the book ever said what city they were in.

A Sample of the Writing: 
Nothing interesting ever happens or begins on a Thursday.
Friday and Saturday are the weekend.  Sunday is the end of the weekend, the last day of rest.  Monday is the beginning of another week.  Tuesday's a cool name.  Wednesday is "hump day," an expression I loathe.

Who Should Read This? Fans of YA high school dramas.

Final Thoughts: This book was short, and was very quick to get through.  That may have been the best part about it.  I was expecting something quite different when reading the synopsis, and what I got was more of a "mean girl" type story.  Bridget came off almost unbelievable in how mean she was, all the while being completely clueless about it.  The ending also seemed incredibly rushed, and we're left to wonder certain things, and I almost wonder if the author didn't really want to come up with the answers herself.  Not a horrible book if you're looking for an easy read to pass an afternoon, but there are definitely better YA books out there. 

Grade: C

Cover Thoughts: The cover is very eye-catching, but it gives you the impression that Bridget is dead in this story (as does the title), which is not the case at all.

 

Review: Restoring Harmony

Book Details

Title: Restoring Harmony

Author: Joelle Anthony

Genre: YA dystopia

Page Count: 320

Publishing Info: Putnam Juvenile, May 13, 2010

My Review

Why I read it: my daughter read and liked it and wanted me to read it

The Plot: The year is 2041, and sixteen-year-old Molly McClure has lived a relatively quiet life on an isolated farming island in Canada, but when her family fears the worst may have happened to her grandparents in the US, Molly must brave the dangerous, chaotic world left after global economic collapse—one of massive oil shortages, rampant crime, and abandoned cities. Molly is relieved to find her grandparents alive in their Portland suburb, but they're financially ruined and practically starving. What should've been a quick trip turns into a full-fledged rescue mission. And when Molly witnesses something the local crime bosses wishes she hadn't, Molly's only way home may be to beat them at their own game. Luckily, there's a handsome stranger who's willing to help.

The Characters: I really wasn't very fond of Molly, who I found to be a pretty uneven character.  She's sixteen, but there were times when she was supposedly the smartest person around.  All of the adults were looking to her to make the decisions and to lead them.  But then there were times when she was almost stupid beyond words, and what she was doing didn't even make any sense.  The secondary characters were kind of just there, I didn't care one way or the other.

The Setting: There were some things in the setting that were pretty typical of a dystopia.  We have the United States in the future that has fallen on hard economic times.  It felt bleak, but the main character never seemed to be in any true danger.  There was a mafia type group, but it was almost comical how inept they seemed to be, and how not dangerous.  So not quite as gritty as a lot of other dystopia.

A Sample of the Writing:

When the plane's engine took on a whining roar, my grip tightened on my fiddle case.  We lifted and skimmed across the waves.  All I could see through the window was a fine spray shooting out beside us.  In one swift motion, the old floatplane was airborne,  I squeezed my eyes shut.

Who Should Read This? Younger readers who want to try dystopia--tween and early teen readers.

Final Thoughts: This was a very quick read, and even though it's shelved as a YA, it definitely reads more like middle grade.  The writing and story felt very amateur.  My daughter, who is 13, really loved this one, so I think it will do well with younger readers.  I'm not sure I would read more by this author.

Grade: C

Cover Thoughts:  The cover is quite pretty.  Whoever designed it did a great job.

 

Review: Triumff: Her Majesty's Hero

Book Details

Title: Triumff: Her Majesty's Hero (Angry Robot) 
Author: Dan Abnett
Genre: Fantasy
Page Count: 416 
Publishing Info: Angry Robot, September, 2010

My Review
Why I read it: received review copy
The Plot: I really have no idea how to describe the plot to this one, and since I like the synopsis on the publishers website, I'll just post that here: 
Triumff: Her Majesty’s Hero is a ribald historical fantasy set in a warped clockwork-powered version of our present day … a new Elizabethan age, not of Elizabeth II but in the style of the original Virgin Queen. Throughout its rollicking pages, Sir Rupert Triumff drinks, dines and duels his way into a new Brass Age of Exploration and Adventure.  Find more about the book HERE.
The Characters: You know, the characters are so secondary to the plot that they're almost not worth mentioning.  There's quite a variety of characters, but the reader has no idea what motivates them, what they're thinking or anything.  It's all very surface stuff with the characters.
The Setting: This is England in 2010, but it doesn't feel anything like the one we know.  Because of Magick, there is really no technology, at least not where the story takes place.  Again, the plot drives the story, so while there are some (long) passages of place descriptions, like two pages describing a lodge, the world building overall is fairly minimal. 
A sample of the writing:
Some fourteen miles west of the Palace, the timbered Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park shook with the sound of tramping boots and yapping bow-hounds, those robust, lugubrious, liver-spotted retrievers from Abyssinia, noted for their reliability as hunting dogs, their extensive dewlaps, and their copious spittle.  "Drooling like a fine bow" is a common expression across the Unity.  Almost every physical aspect of a bow-hound seems to loll.
Who Should Read This? I have only read one book by Terry Pratchett, but from what I've seen around, fans of Pratchett should really like Triumff.  If you're into humorous fantasy, this might be for you. 
Final Thoughts: There were parts of this book that made me laugh, a few bits of action that I really enjoyed, but for the most part the style is just not for me.  It felt like the story got sidetracked at least once every page, so that we were given the history of every character, every place, some of the props--in great detail.  I think there's definitely an audience for this kind of story, but I generally wouldn't count myself among them.
Grade: C
Cover Thoughts: I love the cover.  It's quite possibly my favorite thing about the book.  I love that we have Triumff on the front, looking like the swashbuckling hero that he is, and we even have a swordfight.  It fits the story very well.

Review: Marysvale

Book Details

Title: Marysvale
Author: Jared Southwick
Genre: Fantasy
Page Count: 387
Publishing Info: Brigham Distributing, October 5, 2010

My Review
Why I read it: received review copy from the author
The Plot: We start out with our main character, John Casey, escaping from a small town.  He is chased by the Brean, which are big, darkish monstery things (we never find out what they are or where they come from).  He manages to get to a house on the outskirts of Marysvale.  From there he travels with a couple of sisters into Marysvale.  He starts to remember things from his childhood that he had forgotten.  Things he had seen.  And also, Marysvale is not a very good place, and once you're there it's hard to get out.  This story felt a lot like hearing a story someone was telling me, rather than being immersed in a story. 
The Characters: The good people in the story were suitably likable, and the villains seemed awful enough, but I just didn't really connect with anyone in the story. 
The Setting: It's hard to really get a feel for the setting.  Marysvale was an interesting enough place, but we really only got to hear about it from John (because the story is told in first person), and he's just arriving there.  The setting feels pretty bleak, with the monsterish Brean everywhere, so it's not some place I'd want to visit anytime soon.
Who Should Read This? Those who like their fantasy a little more mysterious.
Final Thoughts: While I didn't love this story, there were some very tense and exciting moments.  I'm not sure if I'll read the next book in the series or not.
Grade: C
Cover Thoughts: I think the cover is fairly generic, and I'm not sure exactly how it relates to the story, but it could be worse.  :)

Divanomics

Book Details:
Genre: non-fiction/self help
Page Count: 247
Publication Date: April 1, 2010
Why I read it: review copy from Tyndale
Grade: C

The plot:
Once upon a time, Michelle McKinney Hammond’s lifestyle centered around the finer things in life—designer clothes, five-star restaurants, and bag after bag of high-end nonessentials. Then one day, like many people, Michelle awoke to find herself on the losing end of a most unwelcome and unexpected financial downturn. In response, she quickly went from “spoiled” to “fabulously frugal,” and with courage and a sense of humor, she made the necessary adjustments in her life.
Now, Hammond, a self-proclaimed DIVA (Divine Inspiration for Victorious Attitude), shares what she learned about her own spending, desires, and needs and how she adjusted to life during an unpredictable economy. Divanomics is filled with money-saving tips on fashion, beauty, home decor, entertaining, diet, housing, and more.

My review:
I'm not sure that I'm really the target audience for this book. Yes, I'd like to budget better and get tips for spending less money, but this book seemed to be more for people who had expensive tastes (something I've never had) and it seemed to be geared more towards single woman. Since I'm a married mother of three, my life looks a lot different than the authors.

I think if you're looking for a good book on budgeting and financing, check out something by Dave Ramsey. In fact, the author even suggests his books in Divanomics, so I think she's aware that she's not an expert on finance. What this book reads more like is sitting down for a cup of coffee with a girlfriend who found herself in financial trouble, figured out how to help herself, and wants to give you her advice and experiences.

I think what I liked best about the book were the little snippets at the end of each chapter called "What's a diva to do". These were basically a summary of the chapter, but in the form of a list of things you could try. Since I'm all about lists, these were good for me. This is a fun book about spending less, but a lot of the time I felt like she was too focused on getting stuff--like what she could get out of other people for free. There were times that it wasn't in a bad way, like trading clothes with your friends, but there were other times where it seemed like she was giving pointers for getting men (or others) to buy you things or give you things. It rubbed me the wrong way a little bit.

All in all, this was a quick read (when I actually picked it up and read it), but definitely not the best if you're looking to get your finances in order. If you're looking for something lighthearted about finances, though, this may be a good option. You can visit the product page for this book at Tyndale here.

Still Forms on Foxfield

Book Details:
Genre: Science Fiction
Page Count: 213
Publication Date: 1980
Why I read it: I like the author
Grade: C

The plot:
Fleeing the final war that would destroy Earth's civilization, a small group of Friends--Quakers--found refuge on the uncharted planet they named Foxfield. Somehow they managed to survive, with the aid of the bizarrely gifted native life-form, the Commensals--and, even more extraordinarily, they kept up the practice of their gentle but demanding beliefs. Then, after nearly a century of silence, Earth contacted them--human civilization had miraculously survived the war and had spread out to the stars, flourishing to an undreamed-of richness. And the Friends of Foxfield were a part of it--whether they agreed or not.

My review:
I've read a couple other books by Joan Slonczewski, and really liked what I've read so far. So since I've had this sitting on my shelf for a few years, I figured I'd better pick it up. I have to say I was a bit disappointed. I believe this was her first novel, and she has definitely improved (although she hasn't written anything recently), but Still Forms on Foxfield left a lot to be desired.

To start with, I just kept waiting for something big to happen, something that would surprise or excite me, and it never came. The ending kind of fizzled out, and I was left feeling like I had just wasted my time. There were times when I found my attention wandering, specifically when dealing with the Commensals, who I just never understood. They were the planets indigenous, alien (at least to the humans) lifeform, and I couldn't get a feel for them. I couldn't picture what they looked like, the science behind what they were doing, how they lived. None of it made any sense to me, and it felt like the author kept going into detailed scientific descriptions about them, which is fine if you're a biologist or really into science, but I'm neither of those things. It really took me out of the story.

I also didn't feel like there were any characters to root for. Allison, the main character, was okay, but it seemed like she always just went with the flow. The whole thing was just so blah, with very little excitement for being a clash of the cultures type novel. There were some interesting things, but they seemed to be few and far between, and I just wish they had been explored further. I don't think I would recommend this one, but I would very highly recommend A Door Into Ocean by the same author. It's one of my favorite science fiction novels.

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Noah's Castle

Title: Noah's Castle
Author: John Rowe Townsend
Genre: YA fiction
Page Count: 211
Why I read it: review copy from publisher
Grade: C

Synopsis:
Noah's Castle tells the story of a family trying to survive during a total collapse of the British economy. Money is worthless, unemployment skyrockets, and food and other goods become scarce. As conditions worsen and people begin to starve, how do people react? When does law-and-order break down and civilized behavior end? How do people balance the needs of their family against those of society? Noah's Castle examines these questions but doesn't provide easy answers, resulting in a unique and thought-provoking story of survival.
My review:
This book was first published in 1975, so it feels a little more dated than the young adult that's coming out right now. I'm not entirely sure of the reason for the second edition, except that there's a rise in dystopian YA literature, and the publishers saw a chance to market this book to that audience. For me, it didn't quite measure up to some of what I've read. There are books like Life as We Knew It, which was so haunting and real that I kept checking to see if the world really was ending, if I still had electricity and food in my cupboards. This one, while an interesting study on human behavior, just didn't grab me in the same way.

Because we hear the story only from Barry's perspective, who seems to think his father has taken a short train ride to crazy town, it's hard to get the full picture. We don't find out the main reason behind his father's actions until the very end of the story. Having known that throughout the book, I think I would have been better able to see things from his father's point of view, and the moral dilemma would have been more compelling.

I think this may be a good one if you're looking for a short book for your book group, as it could promote some interesting discussion.

Wildthorn

Title: Wildthorn
Author: Jane Eagland
Genre: YA Historical
Page Count: 359
Why I read it: Netgalley review copy
Grade: C

Synopsis:
Seventeen-year-old Louisa Cosgrove longs to break free from her respectable life as a Victorian doctor's daughter. But her dreams become a nightmare w...more Seventeen-year-old Louisa Cosgrove longs to break free from her respectable life as a Victorian doctor's daughter. But her dreams become a nightmare when Louisa is sent to Wildthorn Hall: labeled a lunatic, deprived of her liberty and even her real name. As she unravels the betrayals that led to her incarceration, she realizes there are many kinds of prison. She must be honest with herself - and others - in order to be set free. And love may be the key...

My review:
This book started off very mysterious. We, as a reader, feel just about as lost as the main character, Louisa. Through flashbacks, we begin to learn Louisa's story, which is fairly interesting, but not so much that I had a hard time putting the book down. Other times, when she was in the asylum, I couldn't ever really figure out what was going on or why. I think it was intentional, as we were supposed to be unraveling what happened along with the main character, but at times it makes it hard to read because there are never any explanations for what happens to Louisa--just a bunch of seemingly cruel people who don't want to really help the women at the asylum.

Louisa was a strong character. She was very much a feminist in her time, not wanting to follow the typical roles set out for women. Although sometimes it all seemed a bit over the top, as though the author wanted to make sure we really knew just how different she was. Mostly, it just wasn't as enjoyable for me as it could have been. I didn't care for any of the secondary characters, even though there were some heartbreaking stories in there, for some reason I just didn't connect with the writing or the story.

I absolutely love the cover of this one, but I can't say that I would heartily recommend the book. It may be one that I would say to look for at the library, but nothing beyond that.

Hero at Large

Title: Hero at Large
Author: Janet Evanovich
Genre: romance
Page Count: 320
Why I read it: e-book from library
Grade: C

Synopsis:
Dear Reader:

In a previous life, before the time of Plum, I wrote twelve short romance novels. Red-hot screwball comedies, each and every one of them. The romances were originally published between the years 1988 and 1992. All immediately went out of print and could be found only at used bookstores and yard sales.

I'm happy to tell you that those stories have now been re-released by HarperCollins, presented in almost original form. I've done only minor editing to correct some embarrassing bloopers missed the first time around.

Hero at Large was the very first book published. It's about a sexy guy who cooks a potholder in spaghetti sauce and charms a single mom and former world-class ice skater with the promise of a ride on his Zamboni. It's got broken bones, giant turkeys, cantankerous cars, and Aunt Edna.

This was the book that changed my life forever and made me a published author. When Hero finally reached the bookstores, I was almost arrested for loitering in Walden's. I stationed myself in the romance section and wouldn't leave until I saw someone buy my book. It took three days!

My review:
I'm a big fan of Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series (even though I wonder how long she can stretch it out without any character growth or plot development or anything, but that's a different review), so I've been trying to make my way through her older romance novels. This was her first published novel, and I think it's safe to say that Evanovich is getting better with time.

Although this was a fun, easy read, there just really wasn't much substance to it. It was a very typical romance, where the leads get together insanely quickly, fall in love, problems ensue, reconciliation, happily ever after. Don't be mad at me for giving away the plot. This is the plot of almost every romance novel I've read.

If you're a huge Janet Evanovich fan, and want to read everything she's written, pick this one up. Otherwise, I'd say skip it.

Rapunzel's Revenge

Title: Rapunzel's Revenge
Author: Shannon and Dean Hale
Genre: YA Graphic Novel
Page Count: 144
Why I read it: browsing graphic novels at the library, and it caught my eye.
Grade: C

Synopsis:
Rapunzel is raised in a grand villa surrounded by towering walls. Rapunzel dreams of a different mother than Gothel, the woman she calls Mother. She climbs over the wall and finds out the truth. Her real mother, Kate, is a slave in Gothel's gold mine. In this Old West retelling, Rapunzel uses her hair as a lasso and to take on outlaws--including Gothel.

My review:
The idea for this story was interesting enough, but there just wasn't enough to really keep me engaged. I thought it was just okay in just about every aspect. The artwork, the plot, everything was good enough, but it was nothing exceptional.

The different take on Rapunzel was fun, and a good, empowering story for young girls. I think a lot of times with graphic novels, it really just depends on my mood. I've got to be in the right mood for them, and the current reading slump I'm going through is not it. I think this would definitely be a fun graphic novel for young girls, fans of fairy tales, and graphic novel lovers.

Candor

Title: Candor
Author: Pam Bachorz
Genre: YA Science Fiction
Page Count: 256
Why I read it: sounded good
Grade: C

Synopsis:
Oscar Banks has everything under control. In a town where his father brainwashes everyone, he's found a way to secretly fight the subliminal Messages. He's got them all fooled: Oscar's the top student and the best-behaved teen in town. Nobody knows he's made his own Messages to deprogram his brain. Oscar has even found a way to get rich. For a hefty price, he helps new kids escape Candor, Florida before they're transformed into cookie-cutter teens. But then Nia Silva moves to Candor, and Oscar's carefully-controlled world crumbles.

My review:
When I first saw the description for this one, I was excited for what I thought would be another great dystopia book, with moral conflicts and lots of action. And it really wasn't any of that.

The story moved fairly slow. I think so much could have been done with the setting and the idea, but there was a lot of unfulfilled potential here. I thought maybe at least it would get exciting, but it never did, and there was very little pay-off in the end for slogging through the boring.

I didn't care for the main character. I found him unsympathetic, and there weren't any other characters I could like. I wanted so much more from this story, and it wasn't at all what I was hoping for.

No and Me

Title: No and Me
Author: Delphine de Vigan
Genre: YA Fiction (translated from French)
Page Count: 256
Why I read it: ARC Tour
Grade: C

Synopsis:
At thirteen-years-old, with an unusually high IQ and a knack for observing things about other people, Lou Bertignac is not only the youngest in her class at school; she is also the most unusual. Painfully shy, she has few friends, save for Lucas, whose company helps her get through each day. At home, Lou's life is also difficult: Her mother hasn't left the house in years and her father spends his days crying in the bathroom. Lou's world is dark and sad... That is, until she meets No.

No is a teenage girl that Lou befriends for the purpose of her school project on homelessness. Despite the different worlds that these two girls come from, a friendship is soon forged between them. Unable to bear the thought of No not having a home or a family to keep her safe, Lou persuades her reluctant parents into letting her new friend stay with the Bertignac family. No's addition to the household forces Lou and her parents to face the sadness that has been enveloping them for so long — but not without some disruptions along the way.

My review:
I'm not sure what to say about this one. I liked the idea for the story, but it felt a little rushed and underdeveloped. I couldn't really figure out the main characters motivations, and had no idea what was going on inside any of the other characters heads.

This was a pretty quick read, but I'm not sure that I'd recommend it. It was very depressing, although I think it was supposed to come across as hopeful. Or maybe it was supposed to be depressing. I'm not quite sure what the a...more I'm not sure what to say about this one. I liked the idea for the story, but it felt a little rushed and underdeveloped. I couldn't really figure out the main characters motivations, and had no idea what was going on inside any of the other characters heads.

This was a pretty quick read, but I'm not sure that I'd recommend it. It was very depressing, although I think it was supposed to come across as hopeful. Or maybe it was supposed to be depressing. I'm not quite sure what the author was going for here.

The Emerald Talisman

Title: The Emerald Talisman
Author: Brenda Pandos
Genre: YA Urban Fantasy
Page Count: 280
Why I read it: ARC Tour
Grade: C

Synopsis:
To be normal, sixteen-year-old Julia Parker would shed her empathic gift in a second. Life has been difficult since her mother's mysterious disappearance ten years earlier - an event she witnessed, but can't remember. Julia's situation becomes more complicated after a near death experience from a blood thirsty stalker. As high school students go missing it is clear there is a connection to her own experience--past and present. Someone has to stop the madness and a chance encounter with a creepy psychic foretells that only Julia is the key to stopping the madness, but it may require the life of the one she loves.

My review:
This book and I just didn't click. I'm not sure if it's the writing style or what, but I had a bit of a hard time getting into this one. With that said, I can tell that this will appeal to fans of Twilight (another one that didn't quite work for me). The writing style seems to be very similar, and some other things as well.

The style is very descriptive, and I would say very internal as well. Since it was written in first person narrative, we really got to know the main character. We really didn't get to know the secondary characters very well, but that's to be expected as this story was very much about Julia, and also her relationship with Nicholas.

Even though this book wasn't quite my style, I believe many fans of YA fiction, and especially vampire YA will enjoy this one.

Rules of Attraction

Title: Rules of Attraction
Author: Simone Elkeles
Genre: YA
Page Count: 324
Why I read it: 2nd in series
Grade: C

Synopsis:
When Carlos Fuentes returns to America after living in Mexico for a year, he doesn’t want any part of the life his older brother, Alex, has laid out for him at a high school in Colorado . Carlos likes living his life on the edge and wants to carve his own path—just like Alex did. Then he meets Kiara Westford. She doesn’t talk much and is completely intimidated by Carlos’ wild ways. As they get to know one another, Carlos assumes Kiara thinks she’s too good for him, and refuses to admit that she might be getting to him. But he soon realizes that being himself is exactly what Kiara needs right now.

My review:
I didn't like this one as well as Perfect Chemistry. It was basically the same story, but with less likable characters. While I thought Perfect Chemistry was masterfully written, this one had me rolling my eyes a bit.

I did not care for Carlos at all. I found him self-absorbed and whiny, with a poor me, nobody has ever had it as hard as me, nobody from my background could come out on top attitude. Even though, as we know from the first book in the trilogy, that's exactly what his ...more I didn't like this one as well as Perfect Chemistry. It was basically the same story, but with less likable characters. While I thought Perfect Chemistry was masterfully written, this one had me rolling my eyes a bit.

I did not care for Carlos at all. I found him self-absorbed and whiny, with a poor me, nobody has ever had it as hard as me, nobody from my background could come out on top attitude. Even though, as we know from the first book in the trilogy, that's exactly what his brother Alex did--rise above the life he was given. So, even with the inevitable turn around, I still didn't like his character, and felt that it was too rushed when he goes from complete jerk to sweet, caring guy in about 2 seconds.

And was any of it a surprise? Not really. Not only because the story isn't all that original in the first place, but because we'd already read it in the first book. I think Simone Elkeles is a good writer, but I wasn't impressed with this one.

The Dark Divine

Title: The Dark Divine
Author: Bree Despain
Genre: YA Paranormal
Page Count: 372
Why I read it: local author
Grade: C

Synopsis:
Grace Divine, daughter of the local pastor, always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared—the night she found her brother Jude collapsed on the porch, covered in blood. But she has no idea what a truly monstrous secret that night really held. And when Daniel returns three years later, Grace can no longer deny her attraction to him, despite promising Jude she’ll stay away.

As Grace gets closer to Daniel, her actions stir the ancient evil Daniel unleashed that horrific night. Grace must discover the truth behind Jude and Daniel's dark secret . . . and the cure that can save the ones she loves. But she may have to lay down the ultimate sacrifice to do it—her soul.

My review:
Maybe I need to take a step back from reading these YA paranormals, because I'm getting irked with all the similar elements. Why does the male lead always have to be a "bad boy" who is always perfect looking with a bad attitude? And why does the female lead seem to always have almost nothing on her mind besides the boy?

This one was really no better or worse than the rest of what's out there, although I found it to be pretty slow moving, with not nearly enough action. The Dark Divine is well-written, though--enough that even though it was moving slowly I was inspired to keep reading.

It also seemed to take a little too long for the mystery to unfold. With Grace sitting back and not looking at what was right in front of her, all the while lamenting that she wants to know what's going on. In this sense the characterization was a bit uneven, for me.

I would probably recommend this to fans of YA paranormal, because it's really similar to the rest of what's out there, and if you like that, you'll like this.