Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree, With Anyone Else But Me

Expected Publication: January 20th, 2015

First Frost (Waverley Family #2)

By: Sarah Addison Allen

St. Martin's Press

ISBN-13:  9781250019837

It's October in Bascom, North Carolina, and autumn will not go quietly.  As temperatures drop and leaves begin to turn, the Waverley women are made restless by the whims of their mischievious apple tree...and all the magic that swirls around it.  But this year, first frost has much more in store.

Claire Waverley has started a successful new venture, Waverley's Candies.  Through her handcrafted confections -- rose to recall lost love, lavender to promote happiness, and lemon verbena to soothe throats and minds -- are singularly effective, the business of selling them is costing her the everyday joys of her family, and her belief in her own precious gifts.

Sydney Waverley, too, is losing her balance.  With each passing day she longs more for a baby -- a namesake for her wonderful Henry.  Yet the longer she tries, the more her desire becomes an unquenchable thirst, stealing the pleasure out of the life she already has.

Sydney's daughter, Bay, has lost her heart to the boy she knows it belongs to...if only he could see it, too.  But how can he, when he is so far outside her grasp that he appears to her as little more than a puff of smoke?

When a mysterious stranger shows up and challenges the very heart of their family, each of them must make choices they have never confronted before.  And through it all, the Waverley sisters must search for a way to hold their family together through their troublesome season of change, waiting for that extraordinary event that is First Frost.

Review

       I generally like my magic and my reality clearly defined and in their separate boxes (or if mixed in the same box, it's obvious and for a specific reason).  Magical realism is a type of writing that I have very limited experience with, and before requesting this book I had read nothing by Sarah Addison Allen.  I'm glad I didn't realize it was a companion to a previous work, or I might not have tried reading it.  That said, I really enjoyed the idea that this ordinary southern family, the Waverleys, had magical powers passed down through the female line.  Everyone just accepts this as a fact, including the people of the town they live in.  It kind of reminded me of Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman, in that while not completely ostracized by their peers, the Waverley women (especially teenaged Bay) are treated like freaks - there for convenience and never to truly belong with the rest of the world.  It was a realistic attitude that I'm sure many people would adopt out of fear, if magic was truly real.

       The Waverley women are always restless in autumn, and nothing is exactly right again until first frost happens.  When the apple tree blooms, everything is good once again.  Until then, nothing is sitting quite right with the sisters or their own children.  Claire Waverley has gone from her catering business into a candy business, that while successful, is making her feel like her magic might be manufactured, and not real after all.  Sydney Waverley is desperate to give her husband Henry a son, a namesake to carry on the traditions of the men in his family.  Her hair gets redder and redder with desire, and she allows herself to be unsatisfied with her already full life.  Bay Waverley has a talent for knowing where things belong.  She knows that she belongs with Josh Matteson, but can't seem to make him understand that.  Then a strange old man rolls into town, claiming that Claire was the daughter of his friends and isn't really a Waverley - that her "mother" kidnapped her.  Will Claire let this con shake the last of her faith in herself and the magic, or will she band together with Sydney, Bay and their cousin Evanelle, to come out even stronger?

       Since I didn't read the novel before this one, Garden Spells, I had no previous impressions of the characters.  Therefore, I think I liked Bay the best.  She's the most in tune with herself and knows that she is a Waverley woman - that magic is a fact of her life.  She's not boy-crazy, and isn't being a total goof over Josh.  In fact when we get to know what her infamous note to him really said, it was really just an offer of friendship.  She isn't trying to push anything, but Bay knows they belong together and that she can help Josh, who is miserable and being crushed beneath his family's expectations.  I also really liked Evanelle, whose talent is giving people the things they need.  She was a hilarious, strong old lady and she cracked me up.  Sydney was my least favorite, mostly because she lets this young girl Violet, her receptionist (a teen Mom) walk all over her and steal from her.  All because she's obsessed with Violet's baby son.  She was so laser-focused on getting pregnant that she stopped talking to her daughter and basically used Henry as a sex-machine.  I empathized more towards the end, but the plot "twist" Allen had in regards to her was super predictable and made me roll my eyes.  I did like that Claire's daughter Mariah, the "normal" one of the family," did turn to have an unexpected gift.  Overall, I enjoyed reading this one and might attempt more magical realism in the future.  I might even backtrack and read Garden Spells.

VERDICT:  3.5/5  Stars

*I  received this book from St Martin's Press, on NetGalley.  No favors or money were exchanged for this review.  This book was published on January 20th, 2015.*

Somewhere, at the Edge of a Well...

Published: October 21st, 2014

Time's Edge (The Chronos Files #2)

By: Rysa Walker

Skyscape

ISBN-13:  9781477825822

To stop her sadistic grandfather, Saul, and his band of time travelers from rewriting history, Kate must race to retrieve the CHRONOS keys before they fall into the Cyrist' hands.  If she jumps back in time and pulls the wrong key -- one that might tip the Cyrists off to her strategy -- her whole plan could come crashing down, jeopardizing the future of millions of innocent people.  Kate's only ally is Kiernan, who also carries the time-traveling gene.  But their growing bond threatens everything Kate is trying to rebuild with Trey, her boyfriend who can't remember the relationship she can't forget.

As evidence of Saul's twisted mind builds, Kate's missions become more complex, blurring the line between good and evil.  Which of the people Saul plans to sacrifice in the past can she and Kiernan save without risking their ultimate goal -- or their own lives?

Review

       I saw this book on NetGalley and instantly geeked out - my trigger finger could not be deterred from the request button.  That said, highly geared for the downslide of disappointment and mediocrity that seems to be standard for second books in trilogies nowadays.  I definitely DID NOT get my expectations met - thank you God for small favors!!!  This continues to be the perfect example of how a time travel series should be carried out, especially one largely geared towards teens.  The mythology, explanations of the time travel, and of the overall impact of everything on the space-time continuum largely make sense and are fairly rock-solid.  They are fairly easy to comprehend.  Not to say this is a simple book, by any means.  The narrative is complicated in the best of ways!  There are so many things we get to witness in this book.  The assassination of JFK, for one, Houdini and his effect on the world, a mass murder of an entire village, Franklin Roosevelt on the campaign trail, and a lynching (kind-of).  Not to say that we aren't reminded of the events of the first book, with serial killer H.H. Holmes, as Kate seems to be suffering from a form of PTSD due to what happened.

       In this book, we follow Kate as she travels to different time periods to get hold of the CHRONOS keys of the stranded agents from her grandmother Katherine's time period, before Saul can get ahold of them.  We also get to see her try and rebuild her relationship with Trey, who doesn't remember her, and her growing conflict over the feelings she has for Kiernan, who had a relationship with a version of her from an alternate timeline.  Probably the most compelling thing about this one for me was the normality of Kate, in comparison to her decidedly abnormal life (school BBQs versus cults, Princess Bride versus Houdini, etc.).  Also, I liked learning more about Prudence and her role in the building of the cult.  It was especially interesting to learn the reasons behind just why she had likely become quite so insane!  It's kind of a sad thing to see in retrospect, as she's basically Saul's alternatingly willing and unwilling tool.  The shit really hits the fan in 1911 and when the book reaches its denouement after even more fast-paced, batshittery in 1938 Georgia (segregation and race relations play a HUGE part in this book), the cliffhanger left me with my mouth hanging open.  I don't want to say much more so as not to spoil it.  But anyone looking for an amazing science-fiction/fantasy, time-travel read should look no further.  Read this series, you won't regret it!!!  Already dying for the next one.

VERDICT:  5/5  Stars

*I  received this book from Amazon Skyscape, on NetGalley.  No favors or money were exchanged for this review.  This book was published on October 21st, 2014.*

Injustice: Gods Among Us, Vol. 1 (Injustice: Gods Among Us, Year One Series)

Published:  November 19th, 2013

Injustice: Gods Among Us, Vol. 1 (Injustice: Gods Among Us, Year One Series)

By: Tom Taylor, Jheremy Raapack (Illustrations), Various (Illustrations)

DC Comics

ISBN-13:  9781401245009

From the makers of Mortal Kombat comes the critically acclaimed prequel comic to the smash hit fighting game, Injustice: Gods Among Us!

Things in the DC Universe have changed after Superman is tricked into destroying the one thing he loves the most.  Now unwilling to let crime go unpunished, the heroes of our world must choose if they are with Superman or against him.  But not every country will submit to his new world order and neither will Superman's greatest threat -- Batman!

Collects #s 1-6 of Injustice.

Review

       So, I am more of a casual comic nerd than anything else.  I have my favorites, just like anyone who gets drawn in by comics.  In general, I make it a point to read off the wall rando stuff like Panthaa or Vampirella just for the hell of it.  But my must-reads are Hellboy (Dark Horse comics) and Green Arrow (DC Comics), usually.  The rest of the DC Comics characters I could usually do without, although I have a casual interest in them.  I had been curious about the game (I'm a fan of the original Sega Genesis Mortal Kombat games - yes, I'm old!) and finally played some single-battle mode with my brother.  I'll stick to my Genesis gaming-wise, as there are too many damn buttons for an X-Box 360 fighting game.  The story still intrigued me though as a fan of anything to do with alternate universes, so when I was in Comic City the other day I bought this Volume to see what the hype is about.  I definitely understand now!

       

       God, what can I say about the artwork and the story that hasn't already been said?  It starts with Superman finding out he's going to be a father and asking Batman to be the baby's Godfather.  Than the Joker targets Superman (wanting to win for a change, instead of losing to Bats again) and basically tricks him into killing Lois (and the unborn baby) and blowing up the entire city of Metropolis.  So Supes loses his city, his wife and his child all in one fell swoop.  Mad with grief, he decides that the superheroes in the world should use their powers to force the humans to stop their wars - an enforcement of peace on earth and all that jazz.  So he goes out and starts enforcing.  Batman is against Superman's tactics (which veer into "violence for the greater good").  He manages to convince some of the other heroes to join with him and oppose Superman.  But who can really oppose a man with godlike powers, with others that are the same backing him up?

       

       It's got questions of morality, and focuses a lot on making the right decisions, i.e. when to interfere and when not to.  Batman understands that even without the fighting/weapons, the conflicts still exist and aren't truly resolved.  It surprised me to see Wonder Woman (aka Diana) as Superman's right-hand man and top enforcer.  The Amazons sent her there as an emissary of peace and she's fighting bloody battles.  I particularly like the interactions between her and Ares, God of War, who she impales and taunts harshly.  The scenes with Aquaman and Arkham Asylum reiterate the fact that no one is safe from Superman's self-imposed reign of peace/terror (depending on your views).  Batman protecting the villains wasn't surprising in and of itself, as he doesn't believe in being judge/jury/executioner like Supes does.  It creates some scenes of comic gold, especially between Harley Quinn and Green Arrow, who are thrown together when he agrees to protect her from death via Superman.  The artwork is absolutely gorgeous, with every one of the characters coming across as flawed and human.  I especially liked the sequence with The Flash, where he's running on that Australian road, thinking about a kid that was playing superhero that got paralyzed because of Superman's tactics/orders - and his compliance.  It's an amazing moment of self-introspection and probably one the things that stayed with me most after I finished reading.

       

       There are three main character deaths in this (four if you count Jimmy Olsen) and they definitely won't be the last if it continues the way it started.  And I really hope that it does.  It's a brave new world, with Superman as the antagonist (which doesn't necessarily translate to "bad guy") and Batman as the protagonist.  There is particularly interesting, if albeit a little preachy, scene with Catwoman and Batman visitng the President and telling him that he has to do better, for the people that voted him in.  I think that's something that speaks to the general feelings of the American public, in our actual world we live in right now.  The cliffhanger left me reeling, but hopeful for another truly interesting comic volume.  One that makes me think, gives my eyes beautiful artwork to feast upon, has beautiful and funny dialogue and it just plain fun.  I highly recommend this to people who love comics, a good story, and just long for something different! :D

VERDICT:  5/5 Stars

One Of My Favorite Scenes

**No money or favors were exchanged for this review.  This book is now available in stores, online, or maybe even at your local library.**

Another Murder, Another Day...

Published:  August 12th, 2013

Sleepy Hollow

By: Dax Varley

CreateSpace

ISBN-13:  9781499785999

Katrina is still haunted by her encounter with the Headless Horseman -- the night he beckoned to her.  Now he has risen again, slashing heads and terrorizing the quiet countryside.  Her only joy during this dismal darkness comes when Ichabod Crane, a gorgeous young man from Connecticut, moves to Sleepy Hollow and their attraction turns to romance.  When the Horseman marks Ichabod as his next victim, Katrina, despite dangerous efforts to save him, sees no other choice than for them to flee.  But the Horseman awaits.  Now it's up to her to sever the horror and alter the Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

Review

       Another retelling of the original Washington Irving story, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.  I went into this excited, but wary, because as a retelling from the female perspective (Katrina) it was a bit of a dicey concept.  You're talking about a girl from the late 1700s.  Just how interesting could she be, without the author making her too modern for the novel to work in the context it's meant to be in?  And that kind of turned out to be the biggest problem for this particular book.  In making Katrina a strong, independent girl, with dreams that extended beyond her life in the Hollow, the author also made her home life a bit unbelievable.  She and her friend Elise are entirely unchaperoned and allowed to chase after young men like there's no tomorrow.  Elise's obsession with Ichabod and the way she is all up on him is decidedly inappropriate for the late 1700s - it would have been absolutely disgraceful in real life.

       Also, the mystery of the Headless Horseman riding again, the murders and his motive for them, was very boring once it was revealed.  You spend the entire book trying to figure out how everything ties together and then in the last few pages finding out the identity of the "Horseman" really didn't make any sense and the reason for his haunting was stupid.  It had no connection to Katrina, so it really was weird why he haunted her - he had no reason to, as she wasn't part of his revenge.  And the hinting at the original Horseman haunting her was never followed up on, which was also disappointing.  The killing of Brom Bones disappointed me too, especially after Katrina seemed to realize that he was the better choice, over Ichabod Crane anyways.  He rescues Katrina from an impossible situation and almost certain death (while Ichabod just sits back and watches it all happen!) and then oops; Sorry, he's beheaded too!  He spent most of the book seeming like an asshole, then in his last few pages he became someone I cared about.  Brom also had hella more personality than Ichabod (even if it was mostly annoyingness and sexism).

     The romance between Ichabod and Katrina was very lackluster, insta-love type stuff and his behavior is very rakish towards her for the time period.  The way they carried on was absolutely scandalous.  And no one does anything about it!  All in all, it did have some wit to it and was amusing to read at certain points.  But mostly this book was boring, with characters who acted averse to their historical time period and a badly thought-out mystery.  I would recommend that if you're looking for a Hollow retelling, that you read Crane by Stacey Rourke instead!

VERDICT:  2.5/5  Stars

*I  received this book from CreateSpace, on NetGalley.  No favors or money were exchanged for this review.  This book was published on August 12th, 2013.*

More Like Twisted Stupidity...

Expected Publication:  January 20th, 2015

Twisted Fate

By: Norah Olson

Katherine Tegen Books

ISBN-13:  9780062272041

When Alyson meets Graham Copeland, the new boy next door, she instantly feels like he's a kindred spirit -- shy and awkward like her, someone who has trouble making friends.  It's impossible to resist having a crush on him.

As usual, her sister, Sydney, sees things differently.  In Sydney's mind, Graham's odd personality and secretive past scream psychopath, not sweetheart.  Her gut is telling her to stay away from him, and to protect a love-struck Alyson from her own naivete.  But despite her instincts, Sydney is surprised to realize that a part of her is drawn to Graham, too.  

And the more Sydney gets to know him, the more she realizes just how right -- and wrong -- she is about everything.

Review (SPOILERS -BEWARE!!!)

       This book is being compared (by the Goodreads blurb at least) to the E. Lockhart book We Were Liars, and the Mara Dyers series by Michelle Hodkin.  I see NO resemblance to either of those books (which I both really enjoyed by the way) and the only way this comes even close is that it tries to be a psychological thriller.  The operative word in that sentence being "tries."  I will admit freely that I did not read this entire book.  It is less than 300 pages long, and when I was almost a 100 pages into it and absolutely NOTHING had happened yet, I decided to do something a true reader almost never does (unless they truly can't help themselves).  I skipped to the last few pages, so I could see exactly how it ended.  Boy was I glad that I didn't waste my time reading the other 200 or so pages!!!

       Basically, this book is supposedley about twin sisters.  One is a true goody-two-shoes, with the personality of a wet rag and the mental capability of a kindergartner.  The other one is emo because she skateboards and a genius because she knows a few big words.  She is a truly annoying little bitch, overusing the word 'philistine' because she thinks it's cool for some unknown reason.  A new boy moves in next door.  Graham is supposed to be a "bad" boy.  Cue the drama, right?  At least that's what the book jacket suggests.  But then at the end, I found myself reading an obituary for one girl named Sydney Alyson.  That's right, there is not a twin - she has multiple personality disorder.  What the actual FUCK???!!!  Why is this even necessary???  I just can't even abide that at all.  It is the cheapest cop out in the history of thrillers, and is just an excuse for lazy writing and shitty characters.  Yeah, next E. Lockhart my ass (I apologize if the cursing offends you, but this is one of my least favorite plot devices, by far).  I am just so over this crap.  Learn how to write and get back to me.  I just might read something else by you - anything but this book anyways.  It burned my eyeballs from my head with that "shocking revelation."  And not in a good way.

VERDICT:  0.5/5  Stars (Goodreads would only let me go down to a 1 star - it's worse than that though.  One of the worst I've ever read!)

**I reviewed this book as part of Around the World ARC Tours, run by the lovely Princess Bookie.  No money or favors were exchanged for this review.  This book's expected publication date is January 20th, 2015.**

Talking In Your Sleep...

Expected Publication: April 28th, 2015

The Secrets We Keep

By: Trisha Leaver

Farrar, Straus, and Giroux (BYR)

ISBN-13:  9780374300463

Ella and Maddy Lawton are identical twins.  Ella has spent her high school life living in popular Maddy's shadow, but she has never been envious of Maddy.  In fact, she's chosen the quiet, safe confines of her sketchbook over the constant battle for attention that has defined Maddy's world.

When -- after a heated argument -- Maddy and Ella get into a tragic accident that leaves her sister dead, Ella wakes up in the hospital surrounded by loved ones who believe she is Maddy.  Feeling responsible for Maddy's death and everyone's grief, Ella makes a split-second decision to pretend to be Maddy.  Soon, Ella realizes that Maddy's life was full of secrets.  Caught in a web of lies, Ella is faced with two options -- confess her deception, or live her sister's life.

Review

       The premise of this kind of reminds me of a true story from a few years back, about two girls that were close friends and looked like sisters.  They were in an accident, and one of them died.  The other lost the ability to speak for awhile and was gravely injured, so she spent months being cared for by the other family, while her own family assumed she was dead.  All because she had no way to communicate her own name to them.  Probably my biggest problem with this book, is that the reasons Ella keeps the secret of who survived is ultimately selfish and to ease her own guilt.  The author makes a point to say that Ella in no way envies Maddy's popularity or "perfect" life.  But I believe on some level she must have, to be so willing to take on the mantle of that life for herself.  At first it wasn't so bad, because she legitimately didn't quite know who she was when she first woke up.  Everything was still fuzzy, which is understandable after a major car accident.

       What about the people that love her, Ella?  You have to be pretty mentally damaged and without self-esteem to believe that it's better to assume another identity and for people to think you're dead, than to tell the truth about the situation!  It's not like no one cares about Ella - her family and her friend Josh grieve for her fairly obviously.  Yet Ella, for some odd reason, has it in her head that just because everyone's relieved Maddy is alive, it means they're glad she was the one that was killed - that she's expendable, because she's unpopular.  WTF???!!!  That is why I had to DNF this book.  I sympathized with Ella's grief over losing her sister but had ZERO tolerance for/ability to emapthize with the predicament she gets herself in by assuming its easier to lie and "be" Maddy then it is to tell the truth.  In my opinion, she deserved every problem she got.  The grass is always greener and all that.  But what a selfish thing to do, by depriving everyone of their grief and taking advantage of the situation, so that she didn't have to deal with her own survivor's guilt.  What about when the truth comes out, as it always does?  How will anyone even be able to stand her then?  Just disgusted by the main character's weak willed nature.  Oh yeah, she's so brave for stealing her twin's identity.  SURE.  The true bravery comes from confronting your grief head on, and taking that bitch down.

VERDICT:  Did Not Finish Reading

***I reviewed this book as part of Around the World ARC Tours, run by the lovely Princess Bookie.  No money or favors were exchanged for this review.  This book's expected publication date is April 28th, 2015.**

In the Still of the Night

Expected Publication: March 3rd, 2015

My Best Everything

By: Sarah Tromp

Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

ISBN-13:  9780316324786

You say it was all meant to be.  You and me.  The way we met.  Our secrets in the woods.  Even the way it all exploded.  It was simply a matter of fate.

Maybe if you were here to tell me again, to explain it all one more time, then maybe I wouldn't feel so uncertain.  But I'm going back to the beginning on my own.  To see what happened and why.

Luisa "Lulu" Mendez has just finished her final year of high school in a small Virginia town, determined to move on and leave her job at the local junkyard behind.  So when her father loses her college tuition money, Lulu needs a new ticket out.

Desperate for funds, she cooks up the (definitely illegal) to make and sell moonshine with her friends, Roni and Bucky.  Quickly realizing they're out of their depth, Lulu turns to Mason: a local boy who's always seemed like a dead end.  As Mason guides Lulu through the secret world of moonshine, it looks like her plan might actually work.  But can she leave town before she loses everything - including her heart?

Review

     Lulu Mendez has always counted on the fact that her parents would pay for her college tuition.  So when after graduation she finds out that her Dad has made a risky investment and lost the money they would have used for her tuition, Lulu is desparate for a way to make money and finally get out of town.  When an unused copper still for making moonshine comes into the junkyard where she and her friend Roni work, to be left there in storage, it feels like a sign.  Lulu convinces Roni and Roni's boyfriend Bucky to give making and selling moonshine a try.  In the backwoods of Virginia, it seems like a sure bet to make some easy, fast money - illegal or not.  Not knowing where to even start, Lulu convinces Mason, a mysterious local boy from a notorious bootlegging family, to help them with the intital setup and process.  But the more time Lulu spends with Mason, the closer they get to falling completely in love with each other.  Can Lulu get out of town as planned and if she does, will her heart still be intact?

     So, this book is written as a letter from Lulu to Mason, after everything has already happened.  I spent the whole book wondering if she was writing to him from college, if he was the one who had left town, or if Mason had died.  One of the three is correct, but I'm not going to tell you which one it was.  Suffice it to say, I didn't quite know what to expect from a book whose whole premise is about making illegal liquor to fund a college education!  Lulu doesn't have the best life, with an agoraphobic mother who can't even go on the front porch anymore and a father who is never home.  Not to mention, no one seems to understand her need to leave town and go to college.  Her best friend Roni just wants to get married to her high school boyfriend Bucky.  In the first scene of this book, a drunk Lulu meets up with Mason and pukes in his motorcycle helmet and he gives her a ride home.  Not exactly love at first sight.  This book definitely represents the fact that Mason has been raised to live, breathe, and love the business of moonshine.  The fact of his love/hate relationship with alcohol was a really realistic portrayal and I enjoyed that the author didn't take the easy road out.  I don't want to say much more, because this book doesn't come out for another seven months.  I will say I was practically crying by the end and this book is definitely a highly emotional coming-of-age, first romance story.  And a unique one at that.

VERDICT:  4/5  Stars

*I received this book as part of Around the World ARC Tours, run by the lovely Princess Bookie.  No favors or money were exchanged for this review.  This book's expected publication date is March 3rd, 2015.*

It's the End, My Friends

Expected Publication:  May 6th, 2014

After the End (After the End #1)

By: Amy Plum

HarperTeen

ISBN-13:  9780062225627

She's searching for answers to her past.  They're hunting her to save their future.

World War III has left the world ravaged by nuclear radiation.  A lucky few escaped to the Alaskan wilderness.  They've survived for the last thirty years by living off the land, being one with nature, and hiding from whoever else might still be out there.

At least, this is what Juneau has been told her entire life.

When Juneau returns from a hunting trip to discover that everyone in her clan has vanished, she sets off to find them.  Leaving the boundaries of their land for the very first time, she learns something horrifying: there never was a war.  Cities were never destroyed.  The world is intact.  Everything was a lie.

Now Juneau is adrift in a modern-day world she never knew existed.  But while she's trying to find a way to rescue her friends and family, someone else is looking for her.  Someone who knows the extraordinary truth about the secrets of her past.

Review

     I tried reading Amy Plum's other series, but hated it.  So I was understandably wary about reading this one, even if the idea of it appealed to my likes.  I bit the bullet and signed up for a book tour, figuring that I had nothing to lose.  And let me tell you, I'm really glad that I did!  As you can find out from the synopsis above, this starts out like a post-apocalyptic book but its really a fake-out.  Juneau has been raised her entire life in the wild part of Alaska, just far enough away from civilization that her city's elders got away with a truly big-scale scam.  Juneau and all the children of her "clan" have been raised to believe that WWIII happened thirty years ago, and the only people left outside their village are opportunistic drifters, who'd just as soon kill you as to look at you.  Oh, and they all also have the same genetic mutation (a starburst in their eye) and have been trained to be in touch with the "Yara," otherwise known as the lifeforce of the Earth/Universe and all its components.  The way its written is a lot like magic, but something slightly more on the mystic side of the coin than usual.  It's up to Juneau to rescue her kidnapped family and the others of her clan, but once she gets into the world it gets complicated.  Because she needs the help of Miles, a strange teenage boy, who is the son of someone who is hunting her down.  And he has his own selfish reasons for helping Juneau.  Can they work together or will their agendas collide to form a disaster of epic proportions?

     I liked how the main focus of this book is the adventure and the quest.  It goes from happy, post-apocalyptic village life, to the harshness of an unfamiliar modern world.  Also, this book is a dual-point of view between Juneau and Miles, who couldn't possibly be more different.  And the narrative voice reflects their differences very well, which is something that always impresses me.  Dual-narratives are a bitch, and lots of the time both characters end up sounding exactly the same and turning off/pissing off the reader.  Or at least me, when I am that reader.  Juneau is strong heroine, able to take care of herself by living off of the land and she may not know anything about the modern world, but she calculates her next move with some serious intelligence that I admire.  Confused at times, but always sure of her moral compass, Juneau is a character I admire.  Miles is thoroughly a modern teenage boy, and is spoiled and bratty to boot.  He clashes with Juneau immediately and I love how realistically skeptical his reactions to her life story, explanations about the Yara, etc. happen to be!  No blind acceptance on his part, and above all Miles is always looking out for himself and his own ends.  No insta-love to be found either!  There is grudging respect and the two of them do have some feelings building by the end of the book.  But no declarations of undying love are made. 

     I knew there was going to be a fakeout, in terms of the false apocalypse.  But I wasn't expecting it to be because of a pharmaceutical experiment that everyone wants the patent to!  I thought they were just brainwashing cultists who got taken away by the government, and arrested or something.  Instead, the Yara is something that is real, in the sense that the genetic mutation of the children and their exposure to the drug gives them their abilities.  Also, the clan's lack of aging plays a part in the way the plot progresses.  Yes, I do agree with other readers that there isn't a large amount of resolution when it comes to the missing clan by the end of the book.  We do learn more about mysterious/possibly villainous, cult leader Whit (once upon a time, Juneau's mentor).  I also happened to love the detour taken by Juneau at mountain-woman, hermit Tallie's hidden house.  She is definitely a great secondary character in a book that really only has three characters with a lot of focus (Juneau, Miles and Whit).  But the ending is also a gigantic cliffhanger, with life and death hanging in the balance!  I will definitely be reading the next book to find out what happens next and I really hope it doesn't suffer second book-syndrome!  I highly recommend this if you're looking for something different, fresh and fun to read.  It also is a pretty quick read as well, the 350-something pages flying by.

VERDICT:  4/5 Stars

*I received this book as part of Around the World ARC Tours, run by the lovely Princess Bookie.  No favors or money were exchanged for this review.  This book's expected publication is May 6th, 2014.*

We Cannot Make Amends

Expected Publication:  May 13th, 2014

Broken Hearts, Fences, and Other Things to Mend (Broken Hearts and Revenge #1)

By: Katie Finn

Feiwel and Friends

ISBN-13:  9781250045249

Summer, boys, and friendships gone sour.  This new series has everything that perfect beach reads are made of!

Gemma just got dumped and is devastated.  She finds herself back in the Hamptons for the summer -- which puts her at risk of bumping into Hallie, her former best friend that she wronged five years earlier.  Do people hold grudges that long?

When a small case of mistaken identity causes everyone, including Hallie and her dreamy brother Josh, to think she's someone else, Gemma decides to go along with it.  

Gemma's plan is working (she's finding it kind of hard to resist Josh), but she's finding herself in embarrasing situations (how could a bathing suit fall apart like that?!).  Is it coincidence, or is someone trying to expose her true identity?  And how will Josh react if he finds out who she is?

Review

     Gemma has been going out with Teddy for almost two years now.  She thinks they have the perfect relationship - so imagine her surprise when he dumps her in the candle aisle at Target.  And when she sees him less than a week later, and he's already with some other girl.  Her best friend Sophie is trying to pull her out of her funk, but things only get worse when Gemma has to spend the summer with her Dad in the Hamptons.  She hasn't been back there in five years, and doesn't want to go back now - especially after the horrible way she betrayed her (then) summer-best-friend Hallie.  So Gemma is not excited to go back, at all.  Then she meets Hallie's brother Josh, who mistakes her for someone else due to her new short, red hair and the name on her coffee being that of Sophie, and he introduces her to Hallie that way.  Gemma thinks she's been given a chance by the Universe to start over and make amends for all the wrongs she committed.  Instead it seems like the universe is out to get her and karma is getting its revenge, when nothing goes right (how was she supposed to know that bathing suit would fall apart?!).  But are things really as simple as that, or is there something more sinister behind all Gemma's mishaps...say, a little revenge?

     I will be honest - I read the first thirty percent or so of this book, and after that spent most of it skimming.  This book was extremely shallow.  I knew right when Gemma's bathing suit fell apart in the swimming pool (after she borrowed it from Hallie, who embarrassed her by telling her to dress formal to a pool party), that Hallie was behind it.  I mean seriously, like no one is going to recognize Gemma just because she dyed and cut her hair?  Yeah, right.  The whole thing with Josh was annoying because the first part of the book is all about how devastated Gemma was by the break up with Teddy and then the next thing you know, she's lusting after (and half in love with) Josh.  Honestly, the whole time I was reading this it felt like a Gossip Girl wannabe.  It had a bit more likeability and relatability to it than that, but at its core it was a shallow, revenge centered piece of fluff.  I was disappointed because it did show some moments of heart, especially in the scenes between Sophie and Gemma.  But I think Gemma stealing Sophie's identity kind of axed that out.  Overall, I majorly disliked it and didn't really find anything worthwhile in it.  Won't be reading the next one.

VERDICT:  1/5  Stars

*I received this book as part of Around the World ARC Tours, run by the lovely Princess Bookie.  No favors or money were exchanged for this review.  This book was published May 13th, 2014.*

When Audrey Met Alice Blog Tour - Review and Guest Post!!!

Published:  February 4th, 2014

When Audrey Met Alice

By: Rebecca Behrens

Sourcebooks Jabberwocky

ISBN-13:  9781402286421

First daughter Audrey Rhodes can't wait for the party she has planned for Friday night.  The decorations are all set, and the pizza is on its way.  But the Secret Service must be out to ruin her life, because they cancel at the last minute - citing security breach, and squashing Audrey's chances for making any new friends.  What good is being "safe and secure" if you can't have any fun?

Audrey is ready to give up and become a White House hermit, until she discovers Alice Roosevelt's hidden diary.  The former first daughter gives Audrey tons of ideas for having fun.....and more problems than she can handle.

Review

     This book is a half and half, between modern times and a hundred years ago.  It is a cultural snapshot of what it means to be the First Daughter, to the United States President.  For Audrey Rhodes, ever since her Mom became President, her life has sucked.  She was forced to leave behind all her friends, her school and her extended family to move to D.C. and into the White House.  And now that she's there, Audrey doesn't fit in at her new school, where being the First Daughter just makes her different from her classmates, difficult to hang out with and somewhat unapproachable.  Her parents don't have time for her anymore with their official duties and Audrey feels beyond lonely and alone.  After a failed party attempt, Audrey finds Alice Roosevelt's diary hidden beneath a floorboard.  Suddenly, there is someone who understands the harsh public scrutiny, expectations and stifling nature of being the President's daughter.  Alice's on the edge, adventurous style of living inspires Audrey to make some choices (maybe not the best kind) to spice up her life, and rebel against all the new rules she's under.  But when her decisions hurt others, her parents especially, can Audrey turn things around?  WWAD (What Would Alice Do)?

      I did feel really badly for Audrey.  Having that much attention on your daily life, and having so many imposed rules would definitely be difficult to adjust to.  Also, she's alone at school (except for a friend named Quint, who she may like as more than just a friend) and Audrey feels like her parents are ignoring her, other than to be a showpiece for them at events to boost approval ratings.  Alice's "journal" entries (all fabricated by Behrens, though inspired heavily by real events and much research) were very interesting to read about.  Alice led a very scandalous life, supporting gay marriage before it was socially acceptable, smoking (unladylike), visiting with foreign dignitaries, betting at the race track, carrying a flask and speaking her mind.  There was never a dull moment with Alice Roosevelt around.  That said, the book gives a nice contrast of how it takes some time for Alice and Audrey both to grow up, see the perspectives of those around them and be responsible for the consequences of their actions.  Throughout the book, the characters grow side by side, becoming more mature people.  But I felt like the secondary characters were extremely one-dimensional and only served to move the plot along.  The feel of this novel is very middle grade, and I feel like it would really appeal to middle-schoolers, who are still deciding their identities.  Audrey is a strong protagonist, who makes mistakes like the rest of us - a great role model for young girls.  I feel like because of my age though, I had a difficult time connecting to a protagonist who was fairly naive.  I'd recommend it to younger, middle school aged readers.  It could open some very interesting discussions about the changes in the focus of the media, celebrity privacy, and behavioral consequences.

VERDICT:  3/5 Stars

*I received this book from Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, on NetGalley.  No favors or money were exchanged for this review.  This book was published on February 4th, 2014.*

GUEST POST

I’ve always been fascinated by first daughters. As a kid, I remember seeing old photographs of little Caroline Kennedy dancing in the Oval Office and messily playing with rubber cement on a White House carpet. I couldn’t stop wondering what it would be like to grow up in the White House. It seems like such a serious, powerful place—not one where you can have tea parties or build a tree house or play hide-and-seek with your siblings. But people really live there, and from the second I made that connection, I was obsessed with the idea of kids in the White House.

Before I began researching When Audrey Met Alice, I assumed most First Daughters would have to be pretty well behaved. It surprised me when I first started reading about Alice Roosevelt’s crazy exploits. If there was a rule, Alice would break it: from getting speed tickets while driving her runabout around town to smuggling contraband (often whiskey) in her elbow gloves. She got in trouble for letting photographers catch her placing bets at the racetrack and for dancing on the roof at a party. Alice was the original wild child, but there are other presidential daughters who got into trouble: Amy Carter for bring a book to an important state dinner; Susan Ford for ditching her Secret Service detail for a joy ride; Luci Baines Johnson for getting B grades in school; Jenna and Barbara Bush for getting underage-drinking tickets. And Chelsea Clinton recently revealed that she sneaked into the President Clinton’s inauguration wearing a too-short skirt, which she hid from Hillary under a long coat, until it was too late to change. It’s fascinating to figure out the ways in which First Daughters have misbehaved.

With two First Daughters at 1600 Pennsylvania right now, it’s interesting to think about how the Internet age affects their life in DC. For the most part, the media has respected the “unofficial agreement” to not report on the girls unless it’s part of official White House business (i.e., they can be photographed at a holiday event, but not on their way to school). A few stories have sneaked out, such as Malia attending a concert with her Secret Service agents incognito. Around the time I started writing When Audrey Met Alice, a photo of Sasha ran in one of the tabloid newspapers. It showed her in a rainbow-colored bathing suit, crouched on a beach in Spain during a trip with her mom. Sasha was drawing something in the sand, and looked like any other kid at the beach—except for the massive crowd of gawkers and paparazzi cordoned off behind her. That photo became my emotional shortcut while writing Audrey’s and Alice’s stories—because it illustrated that for all of the wonderful opportunities that come with being a First Daughter, there is a lot of scrutiny, and maybe a little loneliness. I hope When Audrey Met Alice makes readers think about how living in the White House might be challenging—but that it shows the fun of being a First Daughter, too!

AUTHOR BIO

Rebecca Behrens grew up in Wisconsin, studied in Chicago, and now lives with her husband in New York City, where she works as a production editor for children’s books. Rebecca loves writing and reading about girls full of moxie and places full of history. When she’s not writing, you can find her running in the park, reading on a beach, or eating a doughnut. Visit her online at www.rebeccabehrens.com.

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

PURCHASE LINKS:  Amazon, Nook

One More Time for the Operator

Expected Publication: March 11th, 2014

Ask Again Later

By: Liz Czukas

HarperTeen

ISBN-13:  9780062272393

Despite what her name might suggest, Heart has zero interest in a complicated romance.  So when her brilliant plan to go to the prom with a group of friends is disrupted by two surprise invites, Heart knows there's only one drama-free solution: flip a coin.

Heads: The jock.  He might spend all night staring at his ex or throw up in the limo, but how bad can her brother's best friend be?

Tails: The theater geek...with a secret.  What could be better than a guy who shares all of Heart's interests -- even if he wants to share all his feelings?

Heart's simple coin flip has somehow given her the chance to live out both dates.  But where her prom ends up might be the most surprising thing of all.....

Review

     I absolutely adore anything to do with alternate realitites, two majorly different outcomes to a choice of some sort, or just anything wonky to do with the space time continuum.  I should have known better to read a book about a girl named Heart who doesn't believe in love, and has to choose between two different prom dates!  I didn't really like Heart as a main character, and felt like she was a poseur and a complete pushover.  Instead of going with her friends to the prom in their group of No Prom-a Drama (gag me at that name, ugh) she lets herself be guilt tripped and or coerced into going to the prom with a guy she doesn't really want to go with (depending on your reality).  I didn't mind Heart's friend Ryan all that much, although his secret was such a plot device that he barely existed except to cause drama between Heart and the guy who (not-so-secretly) likes her for real.  I also don't get why he told Heart his secret, because yes she accepted him and didn't tell anyone about it, but she stereotyped him at every turn and was just an inconsiderate d-bag about it.  And her brother's friend is described as a big, dumb teddy bear of a guy but spends the majority of the book drunk and ignoring Heart - when he's not kissing her against her wishes (total sexual assault, and everyone just brushes it off and justifies it - including her brother and "love" interest!).  

     Her actual love interest is a boy from her drama class named Chase, who Heart calls Schroeder (he plays the piano like the Peanuts character), who teases her by calling her other body parts instead of her name (i.e. pancreas, etc.).  He's hot and cold to the extreme, never actually coming out and telling Heart he likes her as more than a friend/frenemie.  Schroeder spends most of the book as a belligerent asshole, treating Heart like crap because he's pissed she hasn't figured out he likes her - what, is she supposed to be a mindreader or something?  How does he not notice how overall oblivious and kind of dumb Heart happens to be?  His behavior throughout the book does NOT endear him to me as a love interest.  Their relationship will NOT be a healthy one, in any way, shape or form.  Also, everytime I read Heart's full name, I was calling her Heart Heart in my head (her last name is LaCoeur - "the heart" in French)!  It was distracting, sickening in it's cutesiness and it made Heart's Mom seem like a complete and utter moron (which might have been the point, to show what a deadbeat, dumb young teen Mom she was).  Yet another stereotype.  Either than or the author was trying to be clever.  In which case, EPIC FAIL.  Overall I really disliked it, and thought it was seriously superficial development wise in character and plot.  This book was a very bad type of shallow.  I spent most of the last half skimming it rather than reading closely.  I do not recommend this unless you are obsessed with Prom and like thick-skulled protagonists.  The only reason this gets as many stars as it does is for the premise, and due to the fact that I managed to finish reading it (barely).

VERDICT:  1.5/5  Stars

**I received this book as part of Around the World ARC Tours, run by the lovely Princess Bookie.  No favors or money were exchanged for this review.  This book's expected publication date is March 11th, 2014.**

All The Things We Didn't Say

Expected Publication:  April 10th, 2014

The Museum of Intangible Things

By: Wendy Wunder

Razorbill

ISBN-13:  9781595145147

Loyalty.  Envy.  Obligation.  Dreams.  Disappointment.  Fear.  Negligence.  Coping.  Elation.  Lust.  Nature.  Freedom.  Heartbreak.  Insousiance.  Audacity.  Gluttony.  Belief.  God.  Karma.  Knowing what you want (there is probably a French word for it).  Saying Yes.  Destiny.  Truth.  Devotion.  Forgiveness.  Life.  Happiness (ever after).

Hannah and Zoe haven't had much in their lives, but they've always had each other.  So when Zoey tells Hannah she needs to get out of their down-and-out New Jersey town, they pile into Hannah's beat up old Le Mans and head west, putting everything - their deadbeat parents, their disappointing love lives, their inevitable enrollment at community college - behind them.

As they chase storms and make new friends, Zoe tells Hannah she wants more for her.  She wants her to live bigger, dream grander, aim higher.  And so Zoe begins teaching Hannah all about life's intangible things, concepts sadly missing from her existence - things like audacity, insousiance, karma, and even happiness.

Review

     Hannah has a thing about stability and sticking to the status quo.  She just wants to take care of everyone in her life and make sure things stay on track, the way they are supposed to be for everyone.  Hannah keeps her alcoholic Dad on the wagon and goes to his AA meetings, does everything at home for her Mother who has pretty much given up on life, keeps her hotdog cart business running to make money for community college, and keeps her best friend Zoe in check.  Zoe is the best thing in Hannah's life and it's up to her to keep Zoe from losing herself in a disease she refuses to acknowledge - bipolar disorder.  But then everything comes crashing down around Hannah.  She and Zoe are caught listening in on classes at the local private school, so their days of extra lessons are over.  Hannah's Dad falls off the wagon, goes on a bender and steals all of her college money from her savings.  Zoe doesn't get into the artsy University she wants to go to and heads into a downward spirl of grand delusions, hallucinations and manic days.  When Zoe throws herself into a bizzare road trip, she drags Hannah along for the ride.  Learning important life lessons while trying to keep  Zoe off the ledge she's teetering on, Hannah is becoming someone who's not afraid of life.  But can she save Zoe from herself before it's too late?

     I have a confession to make.  I was reading this book expecting a fun, crazy road trip book centered around two best friends from a dead end town.  I got that, but I also got a disturbingly realistic, and yet touching look at mental illness and the way it affects everyone in its path.  As I started reading this, my family had just committed my mother to the hospital for bipolar disorder, when she ran out her medication (with no possible way to get more) of 15 years and went into a severely psychotic manic state.  So I was reading this book, having just experienced a scarier version of what is portrayed in this book.  In this book Zoe thinks she's on top of the world, that she can do whatever she wants and there won't be consequences, because she's almost superhuman.  She doesn't need to eat, sleep or slow down because the aliens have been preparing her to come be with them.  

      Hannah is Zoe's anchor.  They have a system to bring Zoe back from the brink, that has been in place since they were children.  But it isn't working anymore, and when Zoe goes off the rails, Hannah feels like she has no choice but to follow her.  She still thinks that she can save Zoe from herself, the malfunction of her own body chemistry.  Hannah has spent her life trying to fix everyone and everything around her.  She allows herself to be the "other" woman for the boy she likes because she can't speak up, allows her parents to treat her like dirt and steal from her, and lets Zoe have all the adventures for her.  This is a story about two best friends, who are all each other has in the world, but it still isn't enough.  Hannah and Zoe love one another, but nothing Hannah does can shut out the voices, because Zoe has given up.  She is locked in her own mind and her despair with her shitty life, and can't make herself come out of it - she doesn't want to.  I won't tell you how it ends, suffice it to say that it's very bittersweet and not the traditional happily ever after.  I had problems with the ending, because it didn't flow with the rest of the book and felt somewhat contrived.  It had a bit of the "look, these are the dangers of mental illness."  There is some humor in this book and I love the sarcastic repartee between the girls throughout the book.  But Zoe's actions, funny to her but soon enough not to Hannah, become more uneasy to watch as the book moves on - less and less humor to be found.  All in all, and great portrait of best friends, the sacrifices we make for love (not necessarily the romantic kind) and the harsh realities of mental illness.  But all of it is done with that quirky, slightly ethereal Wendy Wunder edge.  I highly recommend it.

VERDICT:  4/5  Stars

**I received this book as part of Around the World ARC Tours, run by the lovely Princess Bookie.  No favors or money were exchanged for this review.  This book's expected publication date is April 10th, 2014.*

Sugar and Spice, but Nothing Is Nice

 

Published:  January 7th, 2014

Salt (Salt #1)

By: Danielle Ellison

Entangled Teen

ISBN-13:  9781622663484

 

Penelope is a witch, part of a secret society protecting humans from demon attacks.  But when she was a child, a demon killed her parents -- and stole her magic.  Since then, she's been pretending to be something she's not, using her sister's magic to hide her own loss, to prevent being sent away.

 

When she's finally given the chance to join the elite demon-hunting force, Penelope thinks that will finally change.  With her sister's help, she can squeeze through the tests and get access to the information she needs to find "her" demon.  To take back what was stolen.

 

Then she meets Carter.  He's cute, smart, and she can borrow his magic, too.  He knows her secret -- but he also has one of his own.

 

Suddenly Penelope's impossible quest becomes far more complicated.  Because Carter's not telling her everything, and it's starting to seem like the demons have their own agenda...and they're far too interested in her.

 

Review

 

     It took me A LONG TIME to become invested in this book.  Probably because Penelope is kind of stubborn, stupid and overall annoying for a great portion of this book!  The whole premise of this one, is that Penelope is a witch (part of a secret community of witches) and her sacred duty is to protect the Nons (humans) from demons.  But when Pen was a young child, her parents were killed by a demon who also took away her essence, leaving her without magic.  It should have killed her, but instead it left Pen almost an ordinary human and only able to do magic with family members around to draw power from.  Penelope is absolutely determined to be one of the elite demon hunters prized by her society, since it will give her access to the ritual she needs to restore her essence.  But one problem - without powers she can't pass the tests!  When mysterious fellow witch Carter comes into her life unexpectedly and she is able to draw magic from him, Pen needs to find out why.  Also why are all these demons after her?  Can they discover the truth before it's too late?

     The very first scene of this book, after us learning how important it is to have salt to fight off demons, is Penelope being cornered by one - without any salt, because she forgot it at home!!!  For someone with absolutely ZERO powers, you'd think she'd have a heck of a lot more common sense.  Also, she has a truly asinine need to join the Enforcers and fight against demons.  Every time her Grandma, Grandpa, or younger sister try to reason with her and get her to come to terms with her lack of magic, Pen basically does everything but actually stomp her feet and throw a fit!  She basically sticks her head in the sand and comes up with stupid plans to "work around it," by using her sister's magic secretly so she can pass her tests.  She doesn't seem to think about what will happen afterwards, when she has no one to draw from out in the field, and has to face a demon on her own!  Her family is made up of pretty flat characters, and her sister is especially a cardboard cutout only there when Pen really needs her.  There's a nice moment near the end, when she's forced to tell her boyfriend Thomas the family secret and he breaks up with her.  Then we see a little more depth to Pen's sister - too little, too late though for the most part.

     The whole family secret thing and speshul snowflake reveal of why Penelope is so different from anyone else with no essence, wasn't really all that surprising.  The reluctance of any adult in this book, EVER to listen to reason and do something about the demon crisis also wasn't surprising.  That's what happens when you write a young adult fiction book with NO strong, sensible, capable adult characters and make the teens the end-all-be-all of you fictional world.  They are the only ones able to clean up the mess, even if all they do is make out with each other and fumble the world saving until they barely squeak by.  Carter was nothing special as heroes go, though he was a likeable protagonist and I liked his backstory much more than Penelope's.  But him saving her stupid ass every five seconds from her own inability to THINK BEFORE ACTING got very old.  I'm glad  I didn't DNF, because I truly hate doing that and I did start enjoying myself later in the book.  Near then end it started getting its act together and the cliffhanger left me genuinely curious.  But all said and done, I don't think I'll be reading any further in this series for one reason alone: Penelope.

 

VERDICT:  2/5  Stars

 

*I received this book from Entangled Teen on NetGalley.  No favors or money were exchanged for this review.  This book was published on January 7th, 2014.*