{REVIEW} CATHERINE by APRIL LINDNER

Series: Stand alone
Genre: Contemporary Young Adult
Publisher: Poppy
Publication Date: 1/2/13
Format:  eARC
Pages: 320
Source: Received from publisher for review.

A forbidden romance. A modern mystery. Wuthering Heights as you’ve never seen it before.

Catherine is tired of struggling musicians befriending her just so they can get a gig at her Dad’s famous Manhattan club, The Underground. Then she meets mysterious Hence, an unbelievably passionate and talented musician on the brink of success. As their relationship grows, both are swept away in a fiery romance. But when their love is tested by a cruel whim of fate, will pride keep them apart?

Chelsea has always believed that her mom died of a sudden illness, until she finds a letter her dad has kept from her for years—a letter from her mom, Catherine, who didn’t die: She disappeared. Driven by unanswered questions, Chelsea sets out to look for her—starting with the return address on the letter: The Underground.

Told in two voices, twenty years apart, Catherine interweaves a timeless forbidden romance with a compelling modern mystery.

This may surprise some (or most) of you who read my reviews on a regular basis...but Wuthering Heights is one of the great literary loves of my life. As a teen, I was obsessed with this book. I read it over and over again, much to my friends' confusion and my Literature teacher's delight. I even rented the movies repeatedly; the Laurence Olivier (that man could do crazed) and the Ralph Fiennes/Juliette Binoche version. Seriously, my teenage dramatic-self wanted a man to lose his mind over me, to walk the cliffs brooding for me. I wanted to be Catherine. Well, excerpt for the whole spoiled brat and dying bit. Like I said. Obsessed.

Having said that, I should also point out that I had unreasonably high expectations for Catherine, and I was wary. How many times have we all been burned by re-imaginings of favored classics? This book made me happy. As happy as a tragic, doomed love story can make anyone.

What made Catherine work, in my opinion, is that Lindner took the best parts of the original, and made them work for this story. You still have the story within a story, but this time it is Catherine's daughter Chelsea, searching for her long-missing mother, who discovers the story within her mother's journal. The story is told in alternating time periods: Chelsea in the present, Catherine twenty years prior. On her search for Catherine, she finds her mother's first love, Hence. In this version, Hence is an up-and-coming rockstar, and Catherine is other girl who loves him. This time, the two are a much easier to love pair. Hence is broody, and does become cruel at certain points, but he's not the sometimes-monster of the original. This Catherine was not awful at all! She is a teenage girl, hopelessly in love, who wants Hence as well as a life and career of her own. The circumstances that drive them apart were realistic to characters in their situation.

As far as Chelsea goes, there is much more to her story than her search for the truth. When she finds Hence, she also meets Coop, a young man who works for him. At first reluctant to get involved, Coop becomes Chelsea's best friend and asset on her journey. As she comes to revelations about her mother's life, she comes to some about her own as well.

Like I've already said, I am a huge nerd when it comes to Wuthering Heights. I could honestly sit here and break down the comparisons for hours. I went into this book worried, and came out a fan. Catherine was cleverly and beautifully told, and in my opinion, did the original story proud.

 

Favorite Quotes:

  Nothing would keep me away from Hence now that I was sure he felt the same way about me that I did about him. Because I was sure. I lay on my bed a long while, replaying the events of that afternoon, remembering how we'd held each other in front of China Yearnings, how Hence had taken my face in his hands, and how, into the tent made by hair, he'd whispered that he had loved me almost from the moment we met.  ~ eARC, 38%


  "I know Hence can be...unpredictable. But I could never break up with him. There should be a word for something that's beyond love, something this strong." I closed my eyes. "It's like my heart is made out of Silly Putty and he can stretch it all out of shape just by saying my name..."  ~ eARC, 72%


   He leaned over again. This time I twisted in my seat to meet him halfway. He brushed back the hair that had fallen into my eyes. Before I could think of what to say or how to react, he was kissing me as though everything that had ever happened in our lives had led us to this moment.  ~eARC, 85%



  "You wanted to keep Catherine away from me? If there's anything beyond this life, you'll be sending me right into her arms."  ~eARC, 91%




You can purchase at:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

WAITING ON WEDNESDAY

Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's WoW selection is...

 

Series: Stand alone

Genre: Contemporary Young Adult

Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: 5/21/13

 

Ashleigh's boyfriend, Kaleb, is about to leave for college, and Ashleigh is worried that he'll forget about her while he's away. So at a legendary end-of-summer pool party, Ashleigh's friends suggest she text him a picture of herself -- sans swimsuit -- to take with him. Before she can talk herself out of it, Ashleigh strides off to the bathroom, snaps a photo in the full-length mirror, and hits "send."

But when Kaleb and Ashleigh go through a bad breakup, Kaleb takes revenge by forwarding the text to his baseball team. Soon the photo has gone viral, attracting the attention of the school board, the local police, and the media. As her friends and family try to distance themselves from the scandal, Ashleigh feels completely alone -- until she meets Mack while serving her court-ordered community service. Not only does Mack offer a fresh chance at friendship, but he's the one person in town who received the text of Ashleigh's photo -- and didn't look.

Acclaimed author Jennifer Brown brings readers a gripping novel about honesty and betrayal, redemption and friendship, attraction and integrity, as Ashleigh finds that while a picture may be worth a thousand words . . . it doesn't always tell the whole story.

Why I'm Waiting ~ I'm a huge, huge fan of Jennifer Brown. Thousand Words was brought to my attention by my contemporary soulmate, Jenni at Alluring Reads.

Pre-order Thousand Words at:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble 

{GUEST REVIEW} THE DIVINERS (THE DIVINERS #1) by LIBBA BRAY

I'm so happy to share today's review with you all. I have a guest reviewer, Megan, from The Book Babe. (nice blog name, btw!) Megan is a fellow Arkansan, which obviously makes her awesome. I'm  very excited to share Megan's great review of The Diviners. Enjoy!

Series: The Diviners #1
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: 9/18/12
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 592
Source: Received from publisher for review

Evie O'Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City--and she is pos-i-toot-ly thrilled. New York is the city of speakeasies, shopping, and movie palaces! Soon enough, Evie is running with glamorous Ziegfield girls and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is Evie has to live with her Uncle Will, curator of The Museum of American Folklore, Superstition, and the Occult--also known as "The Museum of the Creepy Crawlies."
When a rash of occult-based murders comes to light, Evie and her uncle are right in the thick of the investigation. And through it all, Evie has a secret: a mysterious power that could help catch the killer--if he doesn't catch her first.

 

I just now finished this book. What I'm thinking? Wow. That was amazing and weird.

Black cats cross my path frequently. I've walked under ladders and broke mirrors. I'm just not a superstitious person, and I'd like to think that I'll never change--but this book. Ooh, this book makes me feel plenty superstitious.

"Naughty John, Naughty John, does his work with his apron on..."

Gah. That little verse right there will definitely be haunting my dreams for a long time. The atmosphere is really the best part of this book--it's a smooth blend of 1920's history complete with speak-easies and a real live flapper girl, all jumbled together with ghost stories and paranormal elements. I don't know how the author pulled it off, but she did it.

She also managed to write one of the best villains ever. Oh, I don't even know if I can do him justice! He was so scary, and...ooh you'll just have to read it! He definitely made me rethink going outside in the dark--ever again. Yes, this villain was perfect. He had me alternately dreading and hoping for his next appearance. However gruesome and gory, I just...three dimensional does not even begin to describe him.

It does begin to describe many of the other characters, though. I loved how the villain was done, and I also loved how the other characters were done. Weirdly, the villain is my favorite, which is why he's four-dimensional. Evie, Jericho, Memphis and Mabel--they were my other favorites.

Personally, because Evie is the main character, I think I like her the most. She seems very flapper like, very free-spirited, and I just really loved her spunk. Jericho is my second favorite, because of his seriousness and his bookishness. And the one scene we got to see from his point of view--you sir, are HAWT.

The word building was very good, and the descriptions made me see the scenes perfectly. But I did have a problem or two with this book. Because as much as I loved the word building and descriptions, this book is really long. I still loved it, but if you like short books, this probably won't be for you. I didn't particularly care for the ten different points of view either, but I forgive that. It's just not a style that's for everybody.

All in all, The Diviners is a book that deals heavily with the occult, ghosts, and history--and I loved every bit of it. Recently, I've been a really happy camper with books! Yay!

Favorite Quote:

  "They'd sold their children a pack of lies: God and country. Love your parents. All is fair. And then they'd sent those boys, her brother, off to fight a great monster of a war that maimed and killed and destroyed whatever was inside of them."


You can purchase The Diviners at:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository


Thanks Megan, for your great review of The Diviners!

Be sure to check out Megan's blog, The Book Babe, and connect with her at:

email  |  Twitter   |  Book Tours

{REVIEW} DAYS OF BLOOD AND STARLIGHT (DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE #2) by LAINI TAYLOR

Series: Daughter of Smoke & Bone #2
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: 11/6/12
Format: eARC
Pages: 528
Source: Received from publisher for review.

In this stunning sequel to the highly acclaimed Daughter of Smoke and Bone, Karou must come to terms with who and what she is, and how far she’ll go to avenge her people. Filled with heartbreak and beauty, mysteries and secrets, new characters and old favorites, Days of Blood and Starlight brings the richness, color and intensity of the first book to a brand new canvas.
 

 

"Once upon a time, an angel and a devil held a wishbone between them.

 

And its snap split the world in two. "

**This review does NOT have spoilers for Days of Blood and Starlight**

Oh boy, can Laini Taylor write a book. Daughter of Smoke and Bone is undoubtedly one of the most beautifully written books I've ever read. The world she built, the characters she created, and her phenomenal words pulled me in and made me fall in love. There was never a doubt in my mind that I would love this sequel, though I admit, Days of Blood and Starlight did begin a bit slowly for me.

I'm not exactly sure why I had a problem falling into this book. The writing was certainly perfect. Maybe, it's because I was the biggest fan of Karou and Akiva together, happy, and seeing them at odds, though understandable, was hard for me. Another problem for me was the expanded cast of characters. I would be content to only focus on Karou, Akiva, and Zuzana (shout-out for one of the best characters, ever!) forever and ever. But since there is a divide, and Karou and Akiva are separated, there were many other characters brought into the fold. So I spent much of the first portion of DoB&S speed-reading, looking for the shift that kicked things into high gear.

Once the story gets rolling, Days of Blood and Starlight is phenomenal. We have Akiva and Karou, working separately, towards the same agenda: peace. Poor Akiva is resigned and heart-broken. Poor Karou is resolved and heart-broken. The sense of impending chaos, doom, and conflict builds at a brilliantly consistent pace until the very end. An end that leaves us with a promise of a better future?

Oh my. I am thisclose to completely losing my composure and fan-girling spoilers all over the place. So I will stop. Right here. Days of Blood and Starlight is gorgeous, exciting, and imaginative. But if you've read Daughter of Smoke and Bone, you already know that.



Favorite Quote:

  "You dreamed of a different way, Akiva, too. You, the pair of you, you had the capacity not to hate. The audacity to love. Do you know what a gift that is?"  (eARC, 66%)


  "What had she done, really, but fall in love and dream of peace?"  (eARC, 75%)


  "We dreamed together of the world remade, she kept thinking. It had been the most beautiful dream, and could only have arisen as it did: born of mercy and nurtured in love. And she couldn't think of the future, and peace, without remembering Akiva's hand to her heart and hers to his. 'We are the beginning,' she had said then, in the temple, and everything had seemed possible with his heart beating under her hand."  (eARC, 94%)


  "Good-bye. The word hurt. Good-bye was the last thing Akiva ever wanted to tell Karou. He thought of their first night together, how at the Warlord's ball and later at the temple they had whispered "hello" to one another, again and again like a shared secret. It had been on his lips the first time he kissed her. That was what he would say to her if he could have what he wanted."  (eARC, 95%)

You can purchase Days of Blood & Starlight at:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Book Depository

Daughter of Smoke and Bone Series

(click on cover to read my review)

TEASER TUESDAY - DAYS OF BLOOD AND STARLIGHT

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along, just do as following:

·Grab your current read
·Open to a random page
·Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
·Be careful not to include any spoilers so as not to ruin the book for others.

Make sure to share the title and the author so other TT participants can add the book to their TBR piles.


Series: Daughter of Smoke & Bone #2
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: 11/6/12

In this stunning sequel to the highly acclaimed Daughter of Smoke and Bone, Karou must come to terms with who and what she is, and how far she’ll go to avenge her people. Filled with heartbreak and beauty, mysteries and secrets, new characters and old favorites, Days of Blood and Starlight brings the richness, color and intensity of the first book to a brand new canvas.
 

My Teaser ~

  " 'They're dead, Karou. It's too late. They're all dead.'
     Those were the words that had destroyed Karou's happiness one month ago in Marrakesh. Just minutes before, she and Akiva had held her wishbone between them and snapped it, and her life as Madrigal - all the memories that Brimstone had taken away for safekeeping - had come rushing back. She could feel the heat of the block she'd laid her head on as the executioner raised his blade, and she could hear Akiva's scream - a thing ripped from his soul - as if its echo had been trapped in the wishbone, too."     (eARC, 9%)

I love that this book goes to the past and fills in the missing details from DoS&B. You can read my full review here.

You can purchase Days of Blood & Starlight at:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Book Depository

{REVIEW} ASK THE PASSENGERS by A.S. KING

Series: Stand alone
Genre: Contemporary Young Adult
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: 10/23/12
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 296
Source: Received from publisher for review.

Astrid Jones desperately wants to confide in someone, but her mother's pushiness and her father's lack of interest tell her they're the last people she can trust. Instead, Astrid spends hours lying on the backyard picnic table watching airplanes fly overhead. She doesn't know the passengers inside, but they're the only people who won't judge her when she asks them her most personal questions . . . like what it means that she's falling in love with a girl.
As her secret relationship becomes more intense and her friends demand answers, Astrid has nowhere left to turn. She can't share the truth with anyone except the people at thirty thousand feet, and they don't even know she's there. But little does Astrid know just how much even the tiniest connection will affect these strangers' lives--and her own--for the better.
In this truly original portrayal of a girl struggling to break free of society's definitions, Printz Honor author A.S. King asks readers to question everything--and offers hope to those who will never stop seeking real love.

Insightful and inspiring, Ask the Passengers will challenge your thoughts on identity, boundaries, love, and acceptance.

High school senior Astrid Jones may be in love. With another girl. Is she gay? That's what her family, her friends, the town, her girlfriend think. But Astrid doesn't want to be defined. She wants an existence and freedom that doesn't exist within the labels that appease society. So Astrid refuses to answer the questions, refuses to be put in a box.

Ask the Passengers was such a quietly spectacular story. The author, through her character's observations on the people and ideas that define her town and her family, offered many insights into what society expects and believes about sexuality. Astrid's ongoing quest for knowledge, self-reflection, and truth offered a clever way of exploring, enlightening, and engaging that felt natural, not preachy.

Books like Ask the Passengers offer teens a chance to explore and find an identity among the characters, and for that reason, they are more important than we can ever know. But, I think these books can teach adults, particularly parents, as well. As a parent of young children, I have learned many lessons from the parents in these books. Sometimes the lesson is what to do for my kids; often times, as in the case of this book, it's what not to do. But I always take away the most important lesson: Listen. Be there. And let your child no that you love them and always have their back.

Ask the Passengers is such an important book for all to read. Whether you identify with the main character or not, the story teaches invaluable lesson on identity, kindness, and love. The world needs more of that.



Favorite Quote:

  "When I see the first plane, I make a deal with its passengers. I say: Look, this is a loan. I don't know if love is something I will run out of one day. I don't know if I should be giving it all to you guys or not. Today, I feel like maybe I should have kept some for myself for days when no one else love me. Not even my best friend."  (pg. 214)


  "When I told you I didn't know if I was gay, I was telling you the truth. I just know I'm in love - with a girl. I had no idea of anything past that. It's very Socrates, you know? I'm not questioning my sexuality as much as I'm questioning the strict definitions and boxes of all sexualities and why we care so much about other people's intimate business. "  (pg. 256)

You can purchase Ask the Passengers at:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

{TEASER TUESDAY} ASK THE PASSENGERS by A.S. KING

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along, just do as following:

·Grab your current read
·Open to a random page
·Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
·Be careful not to include any spoilers so as not to ruin the book for others.

Make sure to share the title and the author so other TT participants can add the book to their TBR piles.


Series: Stand alone
Genre: Contemporary Young Adult
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: 10/23/12

Astrid Jones desperately wants to confide in someone, but her mother's pushiness and her father's lack of interest tell her they're the last people she can trust. Instead, Astrid spends hours lying on the backyard picnic table watching airplanes fly overhead. She doesn't know the passengers inside, but they're the only people who won't judge her when she asks them her most personal questions . . . like what it means that she's falling in love with a girl.
As her secret relationship becomes more intense and her friends demand answers, Astrid has nowhere left to turn. She can't share the truth with anyone except the people at thirty thousand feet, and they don't even know she's there. But little does Astrid know just how much even the tiniest connection will affect these strangers' lives--and her own--for the better.
In this truly original portrayal of a girl struggling to break free of society's definitions, Printz Honor author A.S. King asks readers to question everything--and offers hope to those who will never stop seeking real love.

 

My Teaser ~

  "I don't like how pot has taken my dad away from me, but I like how it's given him the balls to stick up for me like that. I send love from my bedroom. Dad, I love you for saying what you said at dinner. I know it was hard because Mom chopped off your balls and baked them in a testes casserole, but thank you for trying. It means a lot."  (pg. 28)


This book was pretty incredible. You can find my full review of Ask the Passengers here.

{REVIEW} ADAPTATION (ADAPTATION #1) by Malinda Lo

Series: Adaptation #1
Genre: Young Adult Science Fiction
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: Sept 18, 2012
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 400
Source: Received from publisher for review.

Reese can’t remember anything from the time between the accident and the day she woke up almost a month later. She only knows one thing: She’s different now.

Across North America, flocks of birds hurl themselves into airplanes, causing at least a dozen to crash. Thousands of people die. Fearing terrorism, the United States government grounds all flights, and millions of travelers are stranded.

Reese and her debate team partner and longtime crush David are in Arizona when it happens. Everyone knows the world will never be the same. On their drive home to San Francisco, along a stretch of empty highway at night in the middle of Nevada, a bird flies into their headlights. The car flips over. When they wake up in a military hospital, the doctor won’t tell them what happened, where they are—or how they’ve been miraculously healed.

Things become even stranger when Reese returns home. San Francisco feels like a different place with police enforcing curfew, hazmat teams collecting dead birds, and a strange presence that seems to be following her. When Reese unexpectedly collides with the beautiful Amber Gray, her search for the truth is forced in an entirely new direction—and threatens to expose a vast global conspiracy that the government has worked for decades to keep secret.

Why I Chose to Read Adaptation ~ I'm not always a big fan of SciFi, but I keep trying to find books to change my mind about that. Also, I've heard a lot of good things about Lo's writing.

I really enjoyed Adaptation, maybe for the very same reasons a lot of people might not feel as if it's a strong Science Fiction story. The reason is, the story focused more on the characters than the SciFi element. Adaptation is a story of what happens to Reese after she is treated at a secret government facility, the physical and mental changes she undergoes and how they affect her life, rather than being built around a world into which a character is inserted.

What I didn't expect when I read Adaptation was the "sub-plot" involving Reese and a burgeoning relationship with Amber. Maybe I'm getting off point in regards to the intention of the story, but I found myself focused and really invested in this relationship. Reese always considered herself, without direct thought, as heterosexual, and has feelings for her friend David. But when she meets and is attracted to Amber, Reese must acknowledge that her sexuality isn't as concrete as she thought. Through her characters, Lo gives some great insights in regards to sexuality.

Adaptation wasn't heavy with the science fiction element, but I did like where it went once that part started rolling. I can't say I was totally surprised by the revelations as to what happened to David and Reese, but I did enjoy it and the plot made sense.

Adaptation didn't blow me away, but I truly enjoyed it. For much of the story, I simply didn't want to put it down.  I did feel as if the middle portion of the story did drag a bit as I was anxious for the characters to find out what was happening to them and get on with it. As for the ending? I liked it, but come on. The last paragraph felt as if it cut off mid scene. It's not that there was an epic cliffhanger. It felt incomplete. Having said that, I will definitely read book two.

If you enjoy young adult science fiction, light on the science fiction, Adaptation may be the book for you.



Favorite Quote:

"For the first time Reese had noticed, Amber looked self-conscious. She took a deep breath. 'I've never felt the this way about someone before. The way I feel about you. It's like-this is going to sound weird, but it's like we're in a movie, and every time I'm with you, the camera zooms in for a close up and we're the only two people in the frame. Do you know what I mean? You're my close up.'" (pg. 178)


"But she knew this: She was falling for this girl, this beautiful, beautiful girl, and she wanted to fall. She wanted to leap right now, arms spread wide, gravity pulling her down, the wind tearing at her hair. She didn't care if she crashed, as long as Amber crashed with her." (pg 188)


You can purchase Adaptation at:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

{REVIEW} FATHOMLESS (FAIRYTALE RETELLINGS #3) by JACKSON PEARCE

 

Series: Fairytale Retellings #3
Publisher: LB Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: Sept 4, 2012
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 304 pages
Source: Received from publisher for review.

Celia Reynolds is the youngest in a set of triplets and the one with the least valuable power. Anne can see the future, and Jane can see the present, but all Celia can see is the past. And the past seems so insignificant -- until Celia meets Lo.

Lo doesn't know who she is. Or who she was. Once a human, she is now almost entirely a creature of the sea -- a nymph, an ocean girl, a mermaid -- all terms too pretty for the soulless monster she knows she's becoming. Lo clings to shreds of her former self, fighting to remember her past, even as she's tempted to embrace her dark immortality.

When a handsome boy named Jude falls off a pier and into the ocean, Celia and Lo work together to rescue him from the waves. The two form a friendship, but soon they find themselves competing for Jude's affection. Lo wants more than that, though. According to the ocean girls, there's only one way for Lo to earn back her humanity. She must persuade a mortal to love her . . . and steal his soul.

Wow. I almost have no words for Fathomless. Actually, that's not true at all. I have a lot of words for Fathomless, but am having a hard time sorting them.

In a nutshell, it was fantastic, creepy, scary, and beautiful. This is the first of Jackson Pearce's Fairytale Retellings that I've read so I really had no idea of what to expect. I'm not always a fan of retellings because I typically find them confusing. There were some aspects to the lore that did confuse me, but I'm going to put that down to my lack of knowledge of the original stories.

Fathomless is a retelling of The Little Mermaid. Now, I know you're thinking "Duh, Andrea. There's a mermaid on the cover." But let me tell you, if you're expecting happy girls wearing shell bras and a singing lobster, well, you're not going to find it here. These girls, mermaids, nymphs...whatever you want to call them, are hardcore dangerous. They are girls who have been forced into the ocean, ripped from their lives, their memories washed away, bit by bit until the become soulless, monsters.

Lo is an ocean girl. She holds only the foggiest of memories of her past. She's waiting to become an angel. But one night changes Lo's grip on her existence. When she rescues Jude and meets Celia, she is given an opportunity to reclaim pieces of her memory. But the more she remembers her past, her former life and name, Lo becomes two people. Two girls warring for control. But who will win? And who will pay the price for control? The dual personality aspect was fascinating. I felt for both girls, Lo and her former self. It was so, so sad.

Celia, the girl who helps Lo, has her own issues. As a triplet, Celia is the odd girl out. One sister can read the future. Another can read the present. Celia can read the past, which she finds useless until she realizes she can help Lo. Lo, who helped her rescue Jude from the ocean.  The closer she gets to uncovering Lo's past, the closer she gets to danger, because ultimately, Lo is becoming a monster. A monster who needs a human soul in order to become free. Celia, such a loving girl, refuses to give up on Lo. Her selflessness, though, may cost her, or Jude, their lives.

Just thinking about Fathomless has me all worked up again. The story had me ripping through the pages. How was it going to end? Who was going to survive, the monster or the girl? Would the ocean girl claim Jude or Celia? Fathomless was fantastic until the very last page. The story stole me away from the world for an entire day. I can't recommend it highly enough.


Favorite Quote:

"I sigh, fall back in the shadow of the pier-I remember watching the boy with the gray eyes fall from here just last night, when everything was perfect and I as just a girl waiting to become an angel."
(pg 64)

" 'No one has ever risked anything for me or...' He shakes his head. 'But you went after me in the ocean, in the middle of the night. And you didn't even know me. So...yes.That's why I'm here. Not because you saved me, but because you're the kind of person who saved me." (pg 194)

You can purchase Fathomless at:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Book Depository

REVIEW and GIVEAWAY ~ MY SISTER LIVES ON THE MANTLEPIECE by ANNABEL PITCHER

Series: N/A
Publisher: Galaxy
Publication Date: August 2012
Pages: 211
Source: Received from publisher

Ten-year-old Jamie hasn't cried since it happened. He knows he should have - Jasmine cried, Mum cried, Dad still cries. Roger didn't, but then he is just a cat and didn't know Rose that well, really.
Everyone kept saying it would get better with time, but that's just one of those lies that grown-ups tell in awkward situations. Five years on, it's worse than ever: Dad drinks, Mum's gone and Jamie's left with questions that he must answer for himself.

This is his story, an unflinchingly real yet heart-warming account of a young boy's struggle to make sense of the loss that tore his family apart.

My Sister Lives on the Mantlepiece hit me like a punch square to the heart. Told through the eyes of Jamie, who doesn't even remember Rose, My Sister is unflinchingly honest and raw.

Jamie is lonely, and awkward. He just doesn't fit in no matter where he is. This poor sweet boy just wants his family to see him without the cloud of Rose hanging over them, to gain some sort of closure. Rose was killed five years ago, and his parents can't seem move on. They still act as if Rose is there with them; speaking to her ashes, preparing her a plate at special occasions, and neglect Jamie and Jas. Looking for a fresh start, they move out of London. Once there, the routine stays much the same, revolving around Rose. Jamie reluctantly becomes friends with Sunya, a vibrant and happy girl, who is treated poorly by classmates because she is Muslim. Sunya's personality wins Jamie over. But the fact that Sunya is Muslim troubles Jamie, whose father is adamantly racist because the attack that took Rose was carried out by Muslim terrorists. Jamie tries desperately to reclaim his family, but along the way learns that we each must make our own choices and move on the only way we know how.

My Sister Lives on the Mantlepiece is a fairly short book, but every single page carries an extraordinary amount of emotion. I can't say that I enjoyed the story, because it is so emotionally charged and a difficult subject.  But it was very, very beautifully written journey and I didn't want to put it down until I'd finished. I've become a parent, I've realized that children are the bravest storytellers. They simply tell the story as they see it; no rewrites, no glossing over.With it's awkward but resilient main character and exploration of the lasting effects of grief on the family unit, I was constantly reminded of About a Boy and The Lovely Bones.

If you're looking for a beautiful story of grief and resilience, My Sister Lives on the Mantlepiece may be the book for you.


Favorite Quote:

"My sister Rose lives on the mantlepiece. Well, some of her does. Three of her fingers, her right elbow and her kneecap are buried in a graveyard in London." (pg.1)

You can purchase My Sister Lives on the Mantlepiece at:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Book Depository

 

Giveaway

I'm giving my finished copy of My Sister Lives Under the Mantlepiece away.

 

A couple of rules:

• Must be a resident of the US to enter.
• Must be at least seventeen years of age to enter. 
• Must fill out the Rafflecopter form.

Giveaway runs August 27 - September 2, 2012.

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review ~ PERFECT ESCAPE by Jennifer Brown

Kendra has always felt overshadowed by her older brother, Grayson, whose OCD forces him to live a life of carefully coordinated routines. The only way Kendra can stand out next to Grayson is to be perfect, and she has perfection down to an art -- until a cheating scandal threatens her flawless reputation.

Behind the wheel of her car, with Grayson asleep beside her, Kendra decides to drive away from it all -- with enough distance, maybe she'll be able to figure everything out. But eventually, Kendra must stop running and come to terms with herself, her brother, and her past.

With undeniable grace and humor, acclaimed author Jennifer Brown explores OCD, the pressure for perfection, and the emotional highs and lows of a complex sibling relationship. ~From GoodReads

Siblings. They're your closest genetic relative. You love them. You hate them. You wish they would "shut the hell up and go away". Yet when someone else hurts them, it's on. But imagine what it's like to have a sibling whose behavior controls your life. You can't take family vacations because of panic-induced freak outs. Your best friend's family moves across the country to get her away from the "crazy" boyfriend who also happens to be your brother. You aim for perfection to ease the worried strain you see on your parents' face. The pressure becomes so much that you will do anything to remain the "perfect child". This is Kendra's life and what pushes Kendra to take Grayson on the perfect escape.

Perfect Escape was simple in it's telling, and gripping in it's realistic look at living with someone with OCD. So many of us joke about being obsessive compulsive. I was very surprised to learn that the disorder is not simply based on the compulsion, but more so on the obsession. I myself spent a lot of years with a compulsive behavior.  [I counted letters, syllables, words, all the time. Even while having conversations I would count how many words in the sentences. Sometimes I just counted to soothe myself.]  This  was nothing in comparison to someone with OCD, and t never truly interfered with my life. I eventually trained myself to stop, though I bet I can automatically tell you the number of letters in any word you throw me. But with the true OCD, the affected has a difficult time functioning because it doesn't allow them to move on until the compulsion is satisfied, no matter how long it takes. This information in itself made Perfect Escape a fascinating read.

You know the phrase "It's not about the destination, but the journey." ? That phrase describes Perfect Escape perfectly. Kendra thinks she's taking Grayson away to cure him, and once she fixes him, she can go home and face her own problems. But what if Grayson can never be truly "fixed"? What if he has his own issues in the shadows of her perfection? The story of the two, each longing to find their own place, was remarkable. I'm sure anyone with siblings can relate, regardless of whether they can specifically identify with Kendra and Grayson.

I loved Perfect Escape. It's a book that taught me about relationships, understanding, and love, but mostly acceptance. It made me feel and it made me think. Perfect Escape is a beautiful book that I fully intend to share with others, to read again and again.

Favorite Quote:

"For three years he'd been scrabbling at the sides of that hole - sometimes coming oh-so-close to getting out - but he always fell back in. It was like watching someone you love be buried alive. (pg 33)

"Right there, by the car, I realized that sometimes you don't have to say you love someone for it to be true. Sometimes you just have to hang out in that person's shadow and be okay with it." (pg 343)
Published July 10th 2012 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

You can purchase PERFECT ESCAPE at:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

Review ~ LOST GIRLS by Ann Kelley

No parents. No rules. No way home.

Fourteen-year-old Bonnie MacDonald couldn't be more excited for a camping trip on an island off the coast of Thailand with her fellow Amelia Earhart Cadets-the daughters of the men and women stationed there during the Vietnam War. But when a strong current deposits the girls on what their boatman calls the "forbidden island," things take a turn for the worse: A powerful storm comes to destroy their campsite, the smallest of the junior cadets is found dead, and their boatman never returns. What once seemed like a vacation in paradise has become a battle against the elements.

Peppered with short, frantic entries from Bonnie's journal, Lost Girls is a page-turning, heart-pounding adventure story about a group of teen girls fighting for their lives. ~From GoodReads

I'll just come out and say it, I didn't like LOST GIRLS. So, to spare you and myself, I'll make this short.

I can't even give a definite reason to back that up, either, which makes me feel like a jerk. It's odd, really, since I typically love survival stories. LOST is maybe my favorite show ever, and I even loved Castaway. I think the reason I didn't like LOST GIRLS is the narrative. The entire story is told through the eyes of Bonnie, a teenage girl living in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. The story read as a "stream of consciousness" which is a hit-or-miss for me.  Bonnie is by turns horrified, hysterical, numb, detached and angry. All of those reactions are understandable, but it made reading the story a chore for me. Oh, and there was a scene that was total "WTF"-ery for me. It was bizarre, surreal, and unexplained.

I will say this for LOST GIRLS, the author didn't sugar coat the story at all. The girls endured horrific circumstances, realistic dangers, and extreme brutality in their living conditions. So while this made for fairly gross scenarios, I appreciate the author made the story as realistic as possible.

LOST GIRLS just wasn't the book for me. If this had been a book that I happened to pick up, rather than received from the publisher, I wouldn't have finished it. I also kept reading because I wanted to know if the girls were rescued, and who survived. This was not due to an investment in the characters, but simple curiosity. I hate that I felt that way, since I'm usually an empathetic reader, but there you have it.

**There are a lot of readers who enjoyed  LOST GIRLS. For an alternate point-of-view, check out this review I found at GoodReads. **


Favorite Quote:

"I'll start at the beginning. I remember when my journal was new and pristine, with clean white pages and a sky-blue hardback cover. Now it looks the way I feel - dirty, battered, torn, ripped, shattered, falling apart." (pg xii)

Published July 10th 2012 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

You can purchase LOST GIRLS at:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Book Depository


Source: Received from publisher in exchange for an honest review. 

WAITING ON WEDNESDAY

Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's WoW selection is...

In this stunning sequel to the highly acclaimed "Daughter of Smoke and Bone," Karou must come to terms with who and what she is, and how far she'll go to avenge her people. Filled with heartbreak and beauty, mysteries and secrets, new characters and old favorites, Days of Blood and Starlight brings the richness, color and intensity of the first book to a brand new canvas.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone was declared a "must read" by Entertainment Weekly, was named a Best Book of the Year by Amazon.com, and The New York Times called it "a breath-catching romantic fantasy." ~From GoodReads

Why I'm Waiting ~ Daughter of Smoke and Bone is one of the most imaginative, well-written books I've ever read. I can't wait to find out what happens next.


Expected publication: November 6th 2012 by Little, Brown & Company

Review ~ THE DROWNED CITIES (Ship Breaker #2) by Paolo Bacigalupi

Soldier boys emerged from the darkness. Guns gleamed dully. Bullet bandoliers and scars draped their bare chests. Ugly brands scored their faces. She knew why these soldier boys had come. She knew what they sought, and she knew, too, that if they found it, her best friend would surely die. In a dark future America where violence, terror, and grief touch everyone, young refugees Mahlia and Mouse have managed to leave behind the war-torn lands of the Drowned Cities by escaping into the jungle outskirts. But when they discover a wounded half-man--a bioengineered war beast named Tool--who is being hunted by a vengeful band of soldiers, their fragile existence quickly collapses. One is taken prisoner by merciless soldier boys, and the other is faced with an impossible decision: Risk everything to save a friend, or flee to a place where freedom might finally be possible. This thrilling companion to Paolo Bacigalupi's highly acclaimed Ship Breaker is a haunting and powerful story of loyalty, survival, and heart-pounding adventure. ~From GoodReads

Set in the catastrophic ruins of a future America, THE DROWNED CITIES is a book that consumed my thoughts from nearly the first page forth. To be honest, I didn't expect to love this book. I actually took it for review only because I like to keep my reading horizons expanded. I had looked into the first book in the series, THE SHIP BREAKER, and was impressed by the acclaim it had received. Since THE DROWNED CITIES was a companion and not a sequel, I felt that I could safely jump into the world and not flail in the lost details. For the most part, I succeeded. Once I was able to grasp what this future America looked and functioned as, I was good to go.

Brutal. The story is absolutely, utterly brutal. Imagine the horrors of the never ending wars, the horrific genocide that has occured on an endless loop in Africa. The horror that we've only seen in newscasts, or movies watched in the comforts of our homes. But the horror is here, in America, and it's happening to you. Warring factions are deadlocked in a ceaseless battle for control of territories. They each claim to be working for the better good, but they only work to scavenge the land, leaving you alive long enough to fulfill your usefulness. This is your America. Flooded. Broken. Poisoned. Are you scared? That is the feeling that filled me as I read THE DROWNED CITIES. I despaired for the world, for Mahlia and Mouse.

I will probably be flogged for saying this, but in my opinion, Mahlia is a heroine that surpasses the exceedingly popular Katniss Everdeen. I'm not saying that there is anything wrong with Katniss, but I am saying that I connected with Mahlia in a way I never did with Katniss. Mahlia's spirit, her will to survive, is one of the strongest I've ever read. She is faced with near impossible choices, with no sure or easy outcome. She makes dangerous choices, sometimes the wrong choices that cost those around her, but she stands behind the decisions. Although Mahlia isn't technically a soldier, she is at war. She is simply another casualty of the war around her.

In the end, you can do with THE DROWNED CITIES as you wish. You can read it strictly as an epic adventure. And it most certainly is. The journey that Mahlia takes is entertaining and tension-riddled as they come. You can also read the story as an allegory. A cautionary tale on the consequences of destroying the earth, and of war. Or you can do what I chose and accept it as both. THE DROWNED CITIES is a story that took me on a brutal, beautiful, terrifying, and thought-provoking journey. And although I did not need to read THE SHIP BREAKER to enjoy this, I have already ordered a copy so I won't miss a single moment of the haunting tale.

Favorite Quote:

" 'Lock it away,' the half-man whispered. 'You feel, after. Not now. Now you are a soldier. Now you do your duty for your pack. If you break, your Mouse will die, and you with him. Feel, after. Not now.' "  (pg. 196)

"None of it made any sense. He hadn't done anything one way or the other to end up where he was. The tide of war had rolled in and swallowed him up, and Banyan Town with him, and they'd all tumbled in the surf. And for reasons he couldn't understand, he'd broken the surface and managed to breathe, while everyone else was drowning alive." (pg. 274)

Published May 1st 2012 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

You can purchase THE DROWNED CITIES at:

Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Book Depository

Source: Received from publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Review ~ PURITY, by Jackson Pearce

A novel about love, loss, and sex -- but not necessarily in that order. Before her mother died, Shelby promised three things: to listen to her father, to love as much as possible, and to live without restraint. Those Promises become harder to keep when Shelby's father joins the planning committee for the Princess Ball, an annual dance that ends with a ceremonial vow to live pure lives -- in other words, no "bad behavior," no breaking the rules, and definitely no sex. Torn between Promises One and Three, Shelby makes a decision -- to exploit a loophole and lose her virginity before taking the vow. But somewhere between failed hookup attempts and helping her dad plan the ball, Shelby starts to understand what her mother really meant, what her father really needs, and who really has the right to her purity. ~From GoodReads

Shelby Crewe made three promises to her dying mother. To always listen to her dad, to love as much as possible and to live her life without limits. She has spent the six years since making good on those promises, especially the last promise. But there's a problem. If she always listens to her dad, she can't live without limits. So Shelby has a "loophole" system. If her dad isn't specific about a rule, she can work around it. When Shelby's dad signs them up for the annual Princess Ball that will force her to make a vow of purity until marriage, Shelby only has one way around it. She must lose her purity before taking the vow. That decision sets Shelby up on a quest to find the right guy to give her virginity to, but she also discovers what she's lost in her single-minded goal of fulfilling her mother's wishes.

PURITY was not what I expected. I thought the story would be more of a closer look at Purity (or Princess) Balls. A cautionary tale of what happens when you let a group decide what's best for you and your body. For those who may not know, a purity ball consists of several vows, among those, vowing your "purity" to your father. I for one, think that's creepy. But honestly, while the question of the vow does play a big part in the story, I found the heart of PURITY to be Shelby's relationships.

While Shelby's mother asked her to keep the promises to her father to help them remain close, it actually caused a distance between them. I went into the story sure that I would dislike Shelby's dad. He does sign her up for a purity ball, after all. But as the story unfolded, I began to realize that he is simply lacking direction. He's not a bad guy at all, simply misguided. Shelby is a girl with strong conviction. Even if she's not sure that her decision is the best, she will follow through, no matter what. She is incredulous every step of the way, even questioning the pastor as to why boys don't have "Prince Balls". And I admire that Shelby wasn't afraid to stand up for herself and her body. Shelby's friends, Ruby and Jonas were simply brilliant. Ruby was a riot, a great relief for the drama. She continually pulled through for Shelby when needed. Jonas was Shelby's compass. He was always there, no matter if he thought Shelby was wrong. I enjoyed seeing their friendship unfold in new ways.

PURITY is a funny, thought-provoking story. I was charmed from the opening lines, and read it in only a few hours. I was surprised by the development of the story. OH! I can't go without saying: If you love the movie Sixteen Candles, you will love last few chapters of PURITY. Maybe it was just me, but I felt a "Jake Ryan standing at his car after the church" moment. If nothing else, that should seal the deal for some of you!


Favorite Quote:

(A funny moment when a friend was describing the sexual status of the HS band.)
" 'I'd also say most of the horn line has played the game, and the majority of the horn line has gone hot and heavy with a girl or two - usually from the woodwind section. People always figure it's the color guard, but seriously, it's the woodwinds you've got to look out for.' " (pg.47)

Published April 24th 2012 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

You can purchase PURITY at:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Book Depository


Source: A finished copy was provided by the publisher for review purpose.

Review ~ REVIVED, by Cat Patrick

As a little girl, Daisy Appleby was killed in a school bus crash. Moments after the accident, she was brought back to life. A secret government agency has developed a drug called Revive that can bring people back from the dead, and Daisy Appleby, a test subject, has been Revived five times in fifteen years. Daisy takes extraordinary risks, knowing that she can beat death, but each new death also means a new name, a new city, and a new life. When she meets Matt McKean, Daisy begins to question the moral implications of Revive, and as she discovers the agency’s true goals, she realizes she’s at the center of something much larger—and more sinister—than she ever imagined. ~From GoodReads

Daisy Appleby just can't seem to stay alive. She has died, literally, five times by the age of fifteen. Thanks to the secret drug Revive, and her ever-present family of agents, Daisy keeps coming back. But every time Daisy is Revived, she must relocate. That's never been a problem because she never puts down roots. When Daisy moves yet again and is befriended by siblings Audrey and Matt, she begins to finally feel like she's home. But when she starts finding clues that suggest the Revive Project has shady motives and methods, Daisy's new home and new life begins to crumble around her. Daisy determines to uncover the evil behind Revive to save those she loves, and herself.

Set in the present day, with a completely plausible premise, REVIVED was a cool ride from start to finish. I love a nice, thrilling mystery that is rooted in logic. The Revive Project is headed up by a secret division of the FDA. Nobody trusts those people, right? And seriously, we all know there are many "secret" divisions in the different federal departments. [Sidenote: My husband works for the US Gov.'t, not FDA. So I feel a little nervous saying that. :-) ]  So you could say, my inner government and theory geek was having a raging good time considering all of this.

I thought Daisy was an easy to embrace main character. She begins the story understandably detached from the world around her. It makes no sense to her to make friends, establish ties, when she may have to relocate at any time. Daisy begins her transformation when she meets Audrey. Audrey was like a bright, happy burst of life. The story instantly warmed due to her presence. I love the influence she had on Daisy. Audrey's brother, Matt, brings a happy change to Daisy's world. As far as book boys go, he was a nice addition. Matt was cool, thoughtful, and yeah, a hottie. But he also was very realistic. Matt isn't a robotic good guy. He has very real, and not always easy to take, reactions to Daisy and her secret. I appreciated that Matt wasn't Daisy's "puppy", always happy and easy to please. I loved Daisy's "dad", Mason. He was a genuinely warm parental figure and I could tell, even on paper, that he loved Daisy. Interesting tidbit: There is a transgender character. I haven't found many in the books I've read and it was handled very well.

Overall, I really liked REVIVED. The characters were engaging, the story was beyond cool. I loved author Cat Patrick's style. The flow and structure of her words made the story an easy, quick read. I did find that the pace lagged a bit in the middle portion of the book. The last portion more than made up for it, though. It was a crazy intense roller-coaster of action and emotion. And though I would enjoy more adventures with Daisy, I was glad to see the story neatly tied up. REVIVED, for me, was very enjoyable.


Favorite Quote:

"I feel like I'm drawing out his pain like venom from a rattlesnake bite and, for a few minutes, it makes me forget my own misery." (pg. 235)
Published May 8th 2012 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

You can purchase REVIVED at:
Book Depository  |  Amazon  | Barnes & Noble


Source: Received from publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Review ~ THE LAST PRINCESS, by Galaxy Craze

Happily ever after is a thing of the past. A series of natural disasters has decimated the earth. Cut off from the rest of the world, England is a dark place. The sun rarely shines, food is scarce, and groups of criminals roam the woods, searching for prey. The people are growing restless. When a ruthless revolutionary sets out to overthrow the crown, he makes the royal family his first target. Blood is shed in Buckingham Palace, and only sixteen-year-old Princess Eliza manages to escape. Determined to kill the man who destroyed her family, Eliza joins the enemy forces in disguise. She has nothing left to live for but revenge, until she meets someone who helps her remember how to hope—and to love—once more. Now she must risk everything to ensure that she not become... The Last Princess.  ~From GoodReads

Although I read the synopsis, I didn't quite understand what THE LAST PRINCESS was actually about. I honestly thought it was a fantasy, though I have no idea why. I'm not a strong fan of fantasy books, but I wanted to read the story nonetheless. And was pleasantly surprised when I realized THE LAST PRINCESS is this girl's survival in a post-apocalyptic world.

The verdict? I am really glad I gave THE LAST PRINCESS a shot. I am in love with the premise. I have always had love for all things English. My ancestry is strongly rooted in England (Wordsworth, yo!), and I have always been fascinated with the royal family. So when I realized that the main character Eliza is actually a future member of the Windsor family(with references to Queen Elizabeth and Princesses Diana and Kate), I was sold.

In the future the world is nearly destroyed by what is referred to as "The Seventeen Days". During The Seventeen Days, the world is ravaged by tsunamis, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions. The eruptions blocked the sun and covered the earth with ash. Virtually all plants and animals were wiped out. This of course causes a food shortage, basically all technology is brought to a halt. England is cut off from the rest of the world, they have no way of knowing if there are survivors in other countries. So, naturally, when you have starving citizens and a king who remains oblivious, you almost certainly end up with a revolution. But this revolution is headed up by an evil, power-hungry psychopath. After Eliza narrowly manages to escape capture and certain death, she is set on a journey to save herself, her family, and her country.

Eliza's struggles were gripping. The author most certainly did not let her have the easy way out of the situations Eliza faced. I admired her struggle to continue ahead, no matter how frightened or injured she was. The story had many heartbreaking moments, I was shocked by the brutality of this scary new world. There were some insanely intense moments at the end. I'm fairly sure I held my breath for a full minute at one point. But ultimately, it was triumphant, complete with Eliza's very own "Braveheart" moment when she rallied the Resistance.

The story seemed to pulled together and end nicely. I loved where it was headed and could have left it as a stand-alone. But I knew that a second book was planned for 2013, so I was waiting for the other shoe to drop. And although I would have been happy with the ending, I have to admit the setup for the next book was neat.

Favorite Quote:

"His skin smelled sweet and fresh, like water. I closed my eyes, pretending for a moment that this could last, that we could always be like this, together in the warmth of this tiny cottage in the middle of a poisoned forest."  (pg. 158)

Published May 1st 2012 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers             


You can purchase THE LAST PRINCESS at:
Barnes & Noble  |  Amazon  |  Book Depository


Source: Received from publisher in exchange for an honest review.