Review : Fallen Grace by Mary Hooper

Title : Fallen Grace
Author : Mary Hooper
Publisher : Bloomsbury USA Children's Books
Genre : Historical Fiction, YA
ISBN : 978-1599905648
Source : Received from Publisher
Release Date : February 1, 2011
Rating : 2/5 Stars - Okay

Description from Amazon : 

Life has been nothing but unfair to Grace Parkes and her sister. Penniless, the two orphans manage to stay alive-but only barely, like so many on the streets of Victorian London. And Grace must bear a greater heartbreak, having become pregnant from terrible circumstances and then given birth to a stillborn baby. But the infant's death sets Grace on a new path, bringing her into contact with people who hold both riches and power. A great fraud has been perpetrated on young Grace and her sister, and they are the secret recipients of a most unusual legacy-if only they can find the means to claim it. Mary Hooper's latest offers Dickensian social commentary, as well as malicious fraud, mysterious secrets, and a riveting read.  

Trailer : 
  

Review : 

The story starts with young Grace Parkes, on a journey to Brookwood Cemetery.  The unfortunate death of her newborn son has forced her to bring the lifeless body of her infant to be buried.  Grace is only sixteen years old, and as far as anyone thinks in the 1800's, she is considered a fallen woman.  No one will want to love her now, knowing that she has given birth out of wedlock.  As sad as this time is for Grace, she knows that she wouldn't be able to care for the baby, because she can barely afford to care for herself and her sister Lily.

Each day Grace and Lily go out and buy watercress to sell on the streets of Victorian London.  It's not a stable job, but it makes them enough money to pay their weekly rent and to put food in their mouths, most of the time.  When things become to tough, Grace must make some decisions that will change her and her sister's lives forever.  Accepting a job from a woman she met while at Brookwood Cemetery, she becomes a mute for a funeral home.  The job is depressing, as it is her job to mourn the death of every dead person that they are to bury.  While Grace works at the funeral home, the owners of the home, the Unwins, take her sister in as a maid in their family home.  Grace barely sees her sister, and begins to become suspicious of some of the things that have been going on with the Unwin family.

Grace thinks it best to contact Mr. Solent, a man who had pressed her to contact him if she ever was in need of help.  With his help she finds out some disturbing and somewhat relieving news.  It's up to the two of them to blow the lid off a huge scandal, and restoring a fortune to it's rightful owner.

I'll have to admit that this book didn't capture me as much as I was hoping that it would.  I normally fall into historical novels and can't get out of them because they are just so engrossing.  The only thing that engrossed me about this novel was the fact that the author clearly researched the era before writing about it.  At times I felt like I was truly walking through the streets of London, as the descriptions of the surroundings were perfect.

I didn't really feel as though I connected with any of the characters, except maybe Grace, but only in the aspect that by losing a child she was in constant grief.  I myself am pregnant, and don't know what I would do under those circumstances, and pray that I won't have to feel that sort of pain.  Other than that I couldn't really feel much toward any of the characters, and at times caught myself skipping parts of the story looking for something a little more interesting.  I rarely skip full pages in a book, but it was the only way I was going to finish this one, because I felt that the story was creeping along far too slowly.

I was disappointed in this book, but I did manage to finish it, out of curiosity and the history that was jammed into the pages.  I will not let this one book by this author prevent me from reading more from her in the future, because her writing style is quite beautiful.  The writing and amount of detail that went into this story makes me believe that I just happened to pick up the wrong book by this author, and I'm sure she will give me a good story next time.

Despite my low rating, I encourage you to go out and read this book.  There have been many great reviews for this title, and I think that you may either love or dislike this book.  I unfortunately did the latter in these circumstances.

Where did I get this book? :
I received this book from Kate at Bloomsbury Kids publishing house in exchange for my honest review for a blog tour.

Amazon Affiliates :

Clicking on title links in this post will redirect you to Amazon.com. If you happen to make a purchase after clicking these links I will receive a small percentage of the profits.

Review : Mad Love by Suzanne Selfors

Title : Mad Love
Author : Suzanne Selfors
Publisher : Walker Books for Young Readers
Genre : Young Adult
ISBN : 978-0802784506
Series or Stand Alone : Stand Alone
Release Date : January 4, 2011
Rating  : 4/5 Stars - Very Good

Description from Amazon : 

When you're the daughter of the bestselling Queen of Romance, life should be pretty good. But 16-year-old Alice Amorous has been living a lie ever since her mother was secretly hospitalized for mental illness. After putting on a brave front for months, time is running out. The next book is overdue, and the Queen can't write it. Alice needs a story for her mother-and she needs one fast.

That's when she meets Errol, a strange boy who claims to be Cupid, who insists that Alice write about the greatest love story in history: his tragic relationship with Psyche. As Alice begins to hear Errol's voice in her head and see things she can't explain, she must face the truth-that she's either inherited her mother's madness, or Errol is for real.

Trailer :



Review : 

Alice Amorous is the Queen of Romance's daughter.  Life is pretty tough for her though, because her mother suffers from a very serious mental condition.  She's had it her whole life, but has recently been admitted into a hospital to help her out of a catatonic state.  Alice has quit going to the private school she has been going to her whole life, and has climbed into a pair of adult pants earlier than she ever thought she would.  She's been holding up the fort for quite some time, and letting everyone around her believe that everything is perfect, when clearly things just aren't.  Now she has to come up with a new book for her mother's publisher, or they're life will surely go down the drain.

Errol, who claims he is the real Cupid, has confronted Alice with the true story of Cupid and Psyche.  Alice doesn't believe a word he says, so she continues to make excuses as to the reason why she can't write his book for him.  When she starts hearing his voice in her head, and can't stop thinking about him, she thinks she must be going insane just like her mother, and this is the scariest thing she can imagine for herself.  Besides, he can't really be Cupid, right?

When I started this book I expected more of a comedic attempt at a story about Cupid.  Surprisingly, I was wrong.  I'm glad I was wrong though, because this book is perfect just the way it is.  If not for lack of time due to a bit of nesting fever, I would have devoured this book within hours.  I clearly have been missing out on the talent of Suzanne Selfors, and now I want to go back and read each and every one of her previous titles.

My favorite character in this title would have to be Archibald, the only gay tenant in the building that Alice and her Mother own and rent out.  He always seemed to be there for someone, and never had anything to complain about, even when dealing with everyone else's drama.  My least favorite character was Realm, previously known as Lily, until she cut all ties from her previous self and became a self-centered, manipulating little brat.  There were times that I wanted to shake her because of the things she put Alice through, but her character clearly had some issues that she needed to work out.

The main character, Alice, annoyed me at some points in time.  She was absorbed with trying to write a new romance novel in her mother's name, but didn't seem to realize that Errol was trying desperately to give her one.  I thought she was a little stubborn at times, but like all of us, we just need to sit back and look at the big picture.  Sometimes things just come to you when you least expect it.

Despite Alice's mother being the Queen of Romance, and Errol being the supposed 'real Cupid', there wasn't too much romance in this book.  Alice has a huge crush on a new boy in town, Tony, and they do get to know each other a little bit throughout the book, but I wouldn't consider it to be too much of a romance between them.  I'm glad that there wasn't that much romance between them though, because they are so young, and I hate to see young characters fall head over heels in love with each other within a few short chapters.  I thought that their feelings toward each other, and the slow pacing of them getting acquainted was much more realistic than most young adult books.

I really liked how Selfors included a very serious mental condition into this book.  It gives a lot of insight on what families have to go through when their loved ones can't take care of themselves and need to be admitted into a hospital.  The illness in this book hits close to home too, because I do have a few family members that suffer from it, although they had it treated early on so it never had the time to come to the state that Alice's mother faced. 

The bottom line is that this was a great book.  Within the last few chapters I cried my eyes out, and I'm not sure if it was because Selfors is fantastic with depicting emotion, or if my pregnancy hormones were just raging at the moment.  Either way, I love a book that can grip my heart and make it break for the characters.  I highly recommend this book, to both young adults and adults alike, because it will give you a real insight on a teenager who has to deal with a parent being mentally ill, and how sometimes you have to grow up before your time.


Where did I get this book? : 

I received this book from Kate at Bloomsbury Kids publishing house in exchange for my honest review for a blog tour.

Amazon Affiliates : 

Clicking on title links in this post will redirect you to Amazon.com.  If you happen to make a purchase after clicking these links I will receive a small percentage of the profits. 

Review : Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann

Title : Cryer's Cross
Author : Lisa McMann
Publisher : Simon Pulse
Genre : Young Adult, Paranormal, Mystery
ISBN : 978-1416994817
Series or Stand Alone : Stand Alone
Release Date : February 8, 2011
Rating : 3/5 Stars - Good

Description from Amazon : 

The small town of Cryer’s Cross is rocked by tragedy when an unassuming freshman disappears without a trace. Kendall Fletcher wasn’t that friendly with the missing girl, but the angst wreaks havoc on her OCD-addled brain. 

When a second student goes missing—someone close to Kendall’s heart—the community is in an uproar. Caught in a downward spiral of fear and anxiety, Kendall’s not sure she can hold it together. When she starts hearing the voices of the missing, calling out to her and pleading for help, she fears she’s losing her grip on reality. But when she finds messages scratched in a desk at school—messages that could only be from the missing student who used to sit there—Kendall decides that crazy or not, she’d never forgive herself if she didn’t act on her suspicions. 

Something’s not right in Cryer’s Cross—and Kendall’s about to find out just how far the townspeople will go to keep their secrets buried. 

Trailer : 

 

 

Review : 

Kendall Fletcher lives in the small town of Cryer's Cross.  Nothing bad has ever happened there, and everyone knows everyone.  The high school is a one room classroom, so when one girl goes missing, the whole town knows about it.  Kendall takes it very hard when the girl goes missing, because she already has really bad OCD as it is.  Now Kendall has added on new tasks to her daily life, because she fears that she might be the next person to go missing.

Things are even worse for her when someone she truly cares about is the next one to go missing.  She even begins to think that the stress of the missing children has made her crazy, because she starts to hear their voices.  Words scratched into a desk at school are her only clue that she's not crazy, so she uses those clues to try to find her missing friend.

I'll be quite honest, I didn't even read the synopsis of this book before I started it.  The cover just looked so interesting that I wanted to read it from that image alone.  I was about half-way through the story, wondering whether or not there was a paranormal element when I decided to read the synopsis.  While this book does have some paranormal elements, you don't see them until close to the end of the book.  It all just seemed like a regular mystery novel to me for quite some time.

I liked Kendall, although she wasn't my favorite main character.  She really enlightened me on how a person with OCD goes throughout their day, and what they really do go through.  Most people don't realize how difficult life can be for a person with OCD, but McMann easily portrayed how a person with this disorder would live their life.  At times I thought Kendall was a little too judgmental, especially to the new boy in town, although he wasn't the nicest person to her either. 

This was the first book that I've read by Lisa McMann, and honestly I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would.  I've heard a lot of good things about her writing, but it felt like it lacked something, although I can't put my finger on it.  I'm not saying that this story wasn't good, because it was, but it was a little slow moving.  I did however, think it was good enough to read more of her work, so I'll be going back and reading her Wake Series.

Where did I get this book? : 

I received my e-galley from the Simon & Schuster Galley Grab for my honest review.

Amazon Affiliates : 

Clicking on title links in this post will redirect you to Amazon.com.  If you happen to make a purchase after clicking these links I will receive a small percentage of the profits. 

E-Review : Hush Money by Susan Bischoff

Title : Hush Money (Kindle Edition)
Author : Susan Bischoff
Publisher : CreateSpace
Genre : Paranormal,Young Adult
ISBN : 978-1453787540
Series or Stand Alone : #1 Talent Chronicles
Release Date : September 24, 2010
Rating : 4/5 Stars - Very Good

Description from Goodreads :

Be normal, invisible. Don’t get close to anyone. Kids with psychic abilities tend to mysteriously disappear when they get noticed. Joss has spent years trying to hide. Now she has an unasked-for best friend, who is the victim of an extortion plot by the school bully, who used to like Joss, who is best friends with her long-time crush, who is actually talking to her. Life just got more complicated. 

Review :

Joss  has been trained by her father to blend in, not be noticed, let no one know her secrets.  It's the only way Talents like her and her family can keep under the radar of the NIAC.  No one wants to be dragged away to the State School.  It's always been easy to push people away and know that they would leave her alone.  Eat alone at lunch, walk home alone, it's just part of her daily routine.  When she meets Kat, that all changes.  She can't get rid of this girl if her life depended on it.  She goes so far as to tell the girl to go away, that she doesn't want any friends, but Kat won't stand for it.  Kat is determined to bring Joss out of her shell.

When Kat starts getting blackmailed by the biggest bully in school, Marco, Joss finds herself beginning to worry about her.  Marco is bad news, he's been out to get Joss ever since she rejected him years ago.  He's always had a huge crush on her, but Joss can see what kind of person he is, and even if she were allowed to date, she wouldn't want to date him.  On the other hand, she'd love to date his best friend, Dylan.  Dylan is cute, and while he's the best friend of the biggest bully, he's always seemed far less hostile.

I loaned this book from another Kindle user, not even realizing that it was a self-published book.  The gorgeous cover alone had me, even before I read the synopsis.  After I read that, it sealed the deal for me.  I can never turn up a paranormal type book. I sped through this book pretty quickly.  It was a short read, but it was well worth the time I put into it.  Susan Bischoff clearly has talent, and I'm surprised she hasn't been picked up by some big time publisher yet.  I just hope that she gets the credit she deserves for such a well written story.

I really enjoyed all of the supernatural talents in this book, but don't want to give away too much.  It's just safe to say that there is telekinesis, invisibility, laser vision, and even super strength all rolled up into this fantastic book.  There was so many little stories all looping together, and surprisingly they meshed very well.  I thought I would get confused, but Bischoff interwove each little piece perfectly to create one giant story that makes you want to keep turning the pages.  Unfortunately there was an end to this book, but just knowing that this is only the first of many, excites me!

One thing I have to say I didn't enjoy about this book was the ending.  To be honest, there really wasn't an ending.  It just simply stopped, and that kind of upset me.  I wanted a little bit more closure to this first book in the Talent Chronicles.  I'm just hoping that Bischoff can redeem this short ending with a phenomenal second installment.  I'm hoping to get my hands on the next in the series, it will be called Heroes, and will hopefully be released within the next couple of weeks.

Where did I get this book? :

I loaned a copy of Hush Money by Susan Bischoff from a fellow Kindle reader.  I'm reviewing this book at my own leisure, and not receiving any compensation for doing so.

Amazon Affiliates : 

Clicking on title links in this post will redirect you to Amazon.com.  If you happen to make a purchase after clicking these links I will receive a small percentage of the profits.

Review : Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev

Title : Eyes Like Stars
Author : Lisa Mantchev
Publisher : Fiewel & Friends
Genre : Young Adult
ISBN : 978-0312380960
Series : Theatre Illuminata #1
Release Date : July 7, 2009
Rating : 5/5 - Loved It

Description from Goodreads : 

Enter Stage Right

All her world's a stage.
Beatrice Shakespeare Smith is not an actress, yet she lives in a theater.
She is not an orphan, but she has no parents.
She knows every part, but has no lines of her own.
Until now.

Welcome to the Théâtre Illuminata, where the characters of every place ever written can be found behind the curtain. They were born to play their parts, and are bound to the Théâtre by The Book—an ancient and magical tome of scripts. Bertie is not one of them, but they are her family—and she is about to lose them all and the only home she has ever known.

Lisa Mantchev has written a debut novel that is dramatic, romantic, and witty, with an irresistible and irreverent cast of characters who are sure to enchant the audience.

Open Curtain

Review : 

After being away from reviewing for some time, I'm going back and reviewing books that I read a long time ago and never got around to writing a review for.  Thankfully I no longer have a full-time job, so I can dedicate more time to reading and reviewing.  I wish that were the case back when I had read this book, because in all honesty, it was my favorite read of 2010.  I literally wanted to call off of work, with the risk of being fired, to stay home and read this book.  Knowing how that job treated me when I found out I was pregnant, makes me wish I had done just that.

Bertie was a fantastic character, this much I remember. I loved her from the very start, including her wild ways.  I hated how the Theater Manager treated her, and he quickly became my least favorite character because of this.  Her friends were always there for her though, especially her hysterically funny fairy friends.  They were always doing something outrageous and I couldn't help but laugh myself to tears.

The Theater Manager gives Bertie an ultimatum.  Either she makes herself useful somehow for the theater, or it's time for her to leave.  So Bertie has to figure out what kind of job she can do, before she loses the only home that she has every known.  My personal opinion on that is that it's horrible, why would anyone push someone out of the only home they've ever known, away from the only family they've ever had?  The only clear explanation to me is that he's heartless.

This book was a breath of fresh air for me.  I'm not one to go back and re-read titles, but I can see myself picking this book back up in the future.  Unfortunately I lent my only signed copy to a friend and never received it back.  That's the last time I lend out a book that I want to keep my hands on for a good long while.  I do hope I can have the honors of owning another signed copy of this book someday, because it's something I would love to save in my collection.

Where did I get this book? : 

I won my copy from another blog in the blogosphere.  It's been so long that I don't remember which one it was, but I'm eternally grateful that I was given the chance to read this book.

Amazon Affiliates : 

Clicking on title links in this post will redirect you to Amazon.com.  If you happen to make a purchase after clicking these links I will receive a small percentage of the profits.

Review : The Ghost & The Goth by Stacey Kade

Title : The Ghost and the Goth
Author : Stacey Kade
Publisher : Hyperion Book CH
Genre : Young Adult
ISBN : 978-1423121978
Series : 1st in Trilogy
Release Date : June 29, 2010
Rating : 4.5/5 Stars - Very Good

Description from Author Website :

After a close encounter with the front end of a school bus, Alona Dare goes from Homecoming Queen to Queen of the Dead. Now she’s stuck here in spirit form with no sign of the big, bright light coming to take her away. To make matters worse, the only person who might be able to help her is Will Killian, a total loser/outcast type who hates the social elite. He alone can see and hear her, but he wants nothing to do with the former mean girl of Groundsboro High.

Can they get over their mutual distrust—and this weird attraction between them—to work together before Alona vanishes for good and Will is locked up for seeing things that don’t exist?

Review : 

Alona Dare has always been the center of attention.  She was the Homecoming Queen at her high school, Groundsboro High, for three years running, so it's no surprise that she's a bit peeved about being dead.  If it wasn't for the bus she happened to get run over by, she probably would still be sitting with all her friends on the first tier of the popularity ladder.  Unfortunately, that's not the case.  Alona is no longer the center of attention, and to make things even worse, the only person that can see, or hear her is the biggest loser in school, Will Killian.

Will Killian has always been able to see and hear the dead, but that doesn't mean that he prefers living his life trying to block out their voices.  He'd much rather be a normal teenager, one that doesn't get threatened to get locked up in the closest loony bin.  It takes an accident for the most beautiful and popular girl in school to talk to him, but he doesn't want anything to do with her.  She needs his help before she vanishes completely, but will he give into the needs of the dead, or watch or disappear forever?

On first glancing at the cover of this book, I honestly squealed.  The cover is flat out gorgeous, and I knew that I just HAD to read it.  I know judging a book by it's cover is wrong, but in this case, it was completely right.  I flew through this book in a matter of two days on my lunch breaks at work.  Had I had the time at home, I would have curled up for hours and just enjoyed the story.

Alona's character is your typical high school debutante.  I didn't like her from the get go, but then again, I'm pretty sure that's the point.  She's selfish, and so stuck up that her nose can probably be seen floating through the clouds.  On the other hand, Will Killian, reminds me of the students that I could be found roaming the halls with.  He's quiet, reserved, and clearly doesn't want to be there, but then again, who does?

While The Ghost & The Goth is a great story about life, afterlife, it's also a wonderful depiction of how school really is for students.  Everywhere you go there is a social ladder, and school is the first place it starts.  Some people let it get to them, and turn into nasty people, while others, simply don't care what those around them have to say.  In this story, Alona and Will learn more in a few short weeks than most people learn in their whole lives about the social ladder, and how to truly gain the respect you deserve.

I'm extremely grateful to have been given a chance to read this first installment to a new trilogy, and can't wait to see what new adventures Alona and Will have in store for them in the future.

Get this book for your Kindle.

Where did I get this book? : 

I received this ARC in order to participate in a traveling tour with Around the World Tours, hosted by Cindy @ Princess Bookie. (I am not longer participating with ATWT)

Amazon Affiliates : 

Clicking on title links in this post will redirect you to Amazon.com.  If you happen to make a purchase after clicking these links I will receive a small percentage of the profits.

Review : Girl, Stolen by April Henry

Title : Girl, Stolen : A Novel
Author : April Henry
Publisher : Henry Holt Books for Young Readers
Genre : Young Adult, Suspense
ISBN : 978-0805090055
Series or Stand Alone : Stand Alone
Release Date : September 28, 2010
Rating : 4.5/5 Stars - Very Good

Description from Amazon :

Sixteen year-old Cheyenne Wilder is sleeping in the back of a car while her mom fills her prescription at the pharmacy. Before Cheyenne realizes what's happening, their car is being stolen--with her inside! Griffin hadn’t meant to kidnap Cheyenne, all he needed to do was steal a car for the others. But once Griffin's dad finds out that Cheyenne’s father is the president of a powerful corporation, everything changes—now there’s a reason to keep her. What Griffin doesn’t know is that Cheyenne is not only sick with pneumonia, she is blind. How will Cheyenne survive this nightmare, and if she does, at what price?

Review : 

Cheyenne Wilder is lying in the back of her step-mother's SUV, awaiting her return from the inside of their local pharmacy.  Her step-mother, Danielle, didn't want to leave Cheyenne alone in the car, but she insisted, as long as she leave the keys just in case she needed to turn on the heat.  It's not long before the door of the SUV is opened, and quickly slammed shut.  This is the first thing that alerts Cheyenne to the odd behavior, as her step-mother has only just left to fill her prescription.  The next, is the smell, that is quite obviously not her step-mother's perfume.  While her ears and nose have done the job of telling her something is seriously wrong, her eyes have no way of confirming it, because she is blind.

Griffin hadn't meant to kidnap Cheyenne.  He just seen a really nice Escalade parked, with the keys in the ignition.  Who could be so dumb as to leave such an expensive car unattended?  He doesn't think about the consequences of stealing such a prized possession, he just hops in the drivers seat and peels out of the parking lot.  It's not long before he discovers he has made a huge mistake.  Cheyenne has revealed herself, and now he has no idea what to do.  He can't just let her go, because she'd just get him caught for stealing.  The only logical thing he can think to do, is take both the new ride, and the girl, back to his father for further instruction.

Upon meeting Cheyenne in this novel, I felt complete sympathy.  I had no idea how a blind girl would survive being kidnapped and held for ransom.  How would she defend herself if they felt the need to hurt her if she couldn't see them coming?  I was scared for her, and just wanted to pull her from such a horrible situation.  Despite Cheyenne's handicap, she clearly is a brave character.  She doesn't let her blindness interfere with her life, although it does make it more difficult.  Now she depends on her other senses in order to help her.

Griffin's character wasn't what I was expecting, at all.  The only obvious thing I could figure out was that he was from a troubled home, and I soon learned why.  His father wasn't the most legit person to associate yourself with.  He'd do pretty much anything to make a buck, including introducing a life of crime to his son.  It's no surprise that when Griffin is given an opportunity to impress his father, he takes it.  His mother is gone, and now his father is all he has, so why not make him proud?  I couldn't blame him for following through with the things his father expected of him, because it was all he knew.  I liked learning the history of Griffin's life, and hoped for a chance for him to come out clean in the end.

Each chapter in this book was narrated in turn by Cheyenne and Griffin.  They revealed their feelings, as well as their secrets.  I liked that it was narrated by both the victim and the kidnapper, because it gave you a better feel of the novel.  Despite it's change in narration, it never gave away what would happen at the end.  I was surprised by the quick turn of events toward the end of the book, and caught myself before I shouted.  It did however leave me a little stumped on the very last page, because it leaves one question unanswered, but I think you should read it to find out what.

In a novel where the main character is blind, April Henry will help you see.  It's new, original, and completely fresh.  It was nothing like I've ever read before, and I'm not sure if anything can compare.  It was different to see through the eyes of someone who was blind, while still seeing everything so vividly.  Cheyenne goes through life using her nose, ears, and hands to guide her, and Henry was able to give great descriptions of each of her experiences.

Read the first chapter.

Where did I get this book? : 

I received this ARC in order to participate in a traveling tour with Around the World Tours, hosted by Cindy @ Princess Bookie. (I am no longer participating in ATWT at this time.)

Amazon Affiliates : 

Clicking on title links in this post will redirect you to Amazon.com.  If you happen to make a purchase after clicking these links I will receive a small percentage of the profits.  

Review : The Summer of Skinny Dipping by Amanda Howells

Title : The Summer of Skinny Dipping
Author : Amanda Howells
Publisher : Sourcebooks Fire
Genre : Young Adult
ISBN : 978-1402238628
Series or Stand Alone : Stand Alone
Release Date : June 1, 2010
Rating : 5/5 Stars - Loved It

Synopsis from Amazon : 

Sometimes I still wake up shivering in the early hours of the morning, drowning in dreams of being out there in the ocean that summer, of looking up at the moon and feeling as invisible and free as a fish. But I'm jumping ahead, and to tell the story right I have to go back to the very beginning. To a place called Indigo Beach. To a boy with pale skin that glowed against the dark waves. To the start of something neither of us could have predicted, and which would mark us forever, making everything that came after and before seem like it belonged to another life.

My name is Mia Gordon: I was sixteen years old, and I remember everything.

Review : 

Mia Gordon is on her way to spending a fun, sun filled summer on Long Island.  It's the kind of vacation she deserves for feeling the heartache of being dumped by her first boyfriend.  The last thing she wants to do is think about him, and the ocean is the perfect remedy.

Mia has always spent her summers on the beaches of the Hamptons in New York.  It's only been for the past couple of years that her parents have decided they wouldn't bother spending their summers there, but now Mia has a chance to return to the one place that has always made her happiest.  All she can think about is the sand, the sun, and the warmth of the water on her skin.  Even the thought of it can clear your head and make you forget your worries.  It's also high time she meet up with her favorite cousin, so they can catch up and have the summer of their lives.

When Mia arrives at her aunt and uncle's summer house, she realizes this may not be the summer of all summers.  Her cousin is clearly not the person she remembers, and now they no longer have anything in common.  She thought she would have someone to talk to her about her heartbreak, someone who would understand her.  It's clear that her cousin no longer has the same feelings, since now she seems to look down on the world like it is nothing but a soiled napkin, and Mia is nothing more than an offensive speck.

Mia spends a great deal of her time just trying to fit in with her spoiled cousins, and their snob of a friend.  When things seem to be going horribly wrong, she meets Simon at a party.  He's funny, and most definitely has a way with words.  Mia can't decide whether he can be trusted or not, but she soon finds herself meeting him in the middle of the night to go night swimming.  The two learn a great deal about one another, and soon he's trying to coax her into skinny dipping.

I'll have to say I enjoyed this book from the very first page.  While I could have chosen the synopsis from Goodreads, which gave you more insight on what the book was truly about, I chose the one from Amazon because it's what really caught my eye.  I knew I was in store for something far different than what the title alone revealed.

I enjoyed Mia's character a lot, and felt bad for her when she realized her own cousins didn't really want anything to do with her.  She was sweet and cared about even the smallest of things, while her cousins only cared about who and what was in fashion at the time.  While I hated her cousins, and their mean friend, they were a huge part of the book.  Without them, I think this book would have been rather lacking in story.  They helped Mia to figure out her true self, and become something better.

As for Simon, I didn't really know what to think of him at first.  I guess I felt the same way about him as Mia did, and fell for him with each passing page.  He was a little on the strange side, but I think that's what made him unique, and more alluring.  Despite Mia's ode to ban boys for the summer, she found herself drawn to him.  He understood her, and was content to just sit and listen to her pour her heart out.

Amanda Howells was excellent at describing Mia's vacation spot.  I found myself reminiscing my own summers on Long Island, although far removed from the beaches of the Hamptons.  I became home-sick for the ocean, and can understand how Mia was so attached to it.

The most memorable part of this book was the ending, which I found was a huge surprise.  I only started to feel like something big was going to happen a few paragraphs before it occurred.  I was in shock, but found myself devouring each page looking for the same thing Mia was looking for.  As much as I would like to tell you, I can't, because it would ruin the story for you.  I highly recommend giving this title a try, as it's not only a romantic tale, but a coming of age novel as well.  I'll most definitely be picking up more titles by Howells in the future.

Where did I get this book? : 

I received my ARC in order to participate in a traveling tour with Around the World Tours. ( I no longer participate with ATWT).

Amazon Affiliates :

Clicking on title links in this post will redirect you to Amazon.com. If you happen to make a purchase after clicking these links I will receive a small percentage of the profits. 

Review : Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

Title : Amy & Roger's Epic Detour
Author : Morgan Matson
Publisher : Simon & Schuster
Genre : Young Adult
ISBN : 978-1416990659
Series : Stand Alone
Release Date : May 4, 2010
Rating : 4.5/5 Stars - Really Liked It

Synopsis from Amazon :

Amy Curry thinks her life sucks. Her mom decides to move from California to Connecticut to start anew--just in time for Amy's senior year. Her dad recently died in a car accident. So Amy embarks on a road trip to escape from it all, driving cross-country from the home she's always known toward her new life. Joining Amy on the road trip is Roger, the son of Amy's mother's old friend. Amy hasn't seen him in years, and she is less than thrilled to be driving across the country with a guy she barely knows. So she's surprised to find that she is developing a crush on him. At the same time, she's coming to terms with her father's death and how to put her own life back together after the accident. Told in traditional narrative as well as scraps from the road--diner napkins, motel receipts, postcards--this is the story of one girl's journey to find herself.  

Review : 

Amy Curry has been going through some rough times.  Her father recently died in a car accident, and her family is pretty much falling apart now.  Both her twin brother, and her mother are already out and on their way to starting their new lives.  Now it's just up to Amy to pull in the rear, and leave her old life behind.

Amy is about to do her first cross country trip, but it's clearly not welcome.  She would much rather continue to live in the house she has always known in California, than to move to Connecticut.  She's not sure how she can even cope with getting into the car, let alone make it across the country.  Along for the ride is Roger, the son of Amy's mother's old friend.  Amy doesn't recognize him at first, because the last time she seen him he was a young boy.

She is really nervous about traveling across the country with someone she doesn't even know.  She has a hard time talk to people she's known her whole life since the accident, so she doesn't think this ride is going to be the most thrilling part of her summer.  She soon realizes that Roger isn't the gawky looking child he used to be, and now he is in fact quite handsome.  Her nervousness only increases because of this new development, and now all she can think of is how she doesn't want him to dislike her...and how she's really starting to like him.

When I first started reading this novel I couldn't decide if I was going to really like Amy or not.  She was far too timid, but given her circumstances, it was understandable.  All I wanted her to do was climb out of her shell and give the world another chance. I felt bad every time she mentioned how she would much rather blend into the background than be front and center.  I think she needed a jolt to wake her up again, and remember that life really is worth living for, even if you make some mistakes in your life.


I liked Roger throughout the whole book, even though his obsessiveness towards a certain ex girlfriend made me want to strangle him.  The more he talked about her, and the way she acted, the less I liked her.  She sounded far too stuck up, and not like the kind of girl that Roger would be seen walking hand in hand with.  I wanted to take his head in my hands and just make him look closer at Amy, and realize that she needed him far more, and that he might just need her just as much.  He was an all around caring guy, and I can honestly say that if I were Amy, I wouldn't have had a hard time falling for him.

I loved Amy and Roger's detour in this book.  While they didn't visit that many great places, their adventure was something to remember.  I've never been given the opportunity to do a cross country trip, and after reading this book, it's something I've really been thinking about.  Morgan Matson did a great job describing all of the places that they traveled, and made them feel more alive.  Little rinky-dink towns in who knows where sounded more beautiful than some of the places that I've gotten to visit.


The more Amy traveled with Roger by her side, the more she opened up to both him and the people she met along the way.  I think that their traveling was the perfect medicine, and it helped her develop more as a character.  The strangers she met along the way were a big help as well, because not knowing her story, made it easier for them to just accept her for who she was and not what she has done.  

In all honesty, I loved this book.  If I am given the chance to have my own cross country trip, I'll more than likely be visiting some of the spots Amy and Roger landed in.  I can't wait to read more books by Morgan Matson in the future, and can only hope that they are as good as this one.

Where did I get this book? :

I received my ARC for participating in a traveling blog tour with Around the World Tours. (I no longer participate on this traveling blog tour).

Amazon Affiliates : 

Clicking on title links in this post will redirect you to Amazon.com. If you happen to make a purchase after clicking these links I will receive a small percentage of the profits.

Review : Friend is Not a Verb by Daniel Ehrenhaft

Title : Friend is Not a Verb
Author : Daniel Ehrenhaft
Publisher : HarperTeen
Genre : Young Adult,  Mystery
ISBN : 978-0061131066
Series : Stand Alone
Release Date : May 4, 2010
Rating : 4/5 Stars - Really Liked It


Synopsis from Publisher : 

Henry "Hen" Birnbaum's sister, Sarah, missing for over a year, has come home unexpectedly, with no explanation at all. But he can't leave well enough alone; Hen needs to figure out why she disappeared, even if she won't tell him. It's not like he has anything better to do. His girlfriend just dumped him and kicked him out of their band. He can't play the bass worth crap anyway. His social life consists of night after night of VH1 marathons with his best friend and next-door neighbor, the neurotic Emma Wood.

Hen's sure the answers to Sarah's lost year lie with Gabriel Stern—Sarah's friend from college who also happens to be a twenty-two-year-old fugitive from the law and Hen's bass teacher . . . too bad he can't play bass worth crap either. A month into his quest, Hen has had countless consultations with Emma, watched approximately fifty-three reruns of Behind the Music, and made one new Facebook friend. Unfortunately, he's no closer to any revelations about his sister. The thing is, he's too distracted to notice it, but while Hen's been looking for all the answers, something mind-blowing happened: He got a life.

Review : 

Henry "Hen" Birnbaum has been going through a lot this year, and it hasn't all affected him for the better.  When his sister Sarah first ran away a year ago, it really tore him up.  All he knew was that she did something she wasn't supposed to do, and was now a fugitive of the law.  His own parents won't even give him the run-down on what his sister has done, although they know perfectly well what it was.  Needless to say, Hen is tired of being considered a child, he's 16-years old now, and has the right to know some things.

The night his sister decides to return to the family, Hen's life gets worse.  His girlfriend, and the leader of their band PETRA, breaks up with him in the middle of the rain, and then continues to boot him from his position as the band's bass player.  It's okay though, because he never really could play the bass very well anyway.  When he arrives home and finds a note from his parents claiming they've gone to pick up his sister Sarah, Hen can't believe it.  He can't decide whether he's truly happy to see his sister, or still infuriated with her for leaving without even saying good-bye.


Things between him and Sarah are weird now, especially since she still won't tell him what's going on.  When her friend and fellow fugitive, Gabriel Stern, offers to give him bass lessons, Hen decides to take them in hopes that Gabe will slip up and tell him what is going on.  Instead it seems Gabe is more worried about Hen admitting to feelings towards his best friend, Emily Wood, that he's not even sure are really there.  Emily has always been next door, and she knows just about everything about him, but can there be more to their relationship than Hen thinks?


I really liked Hen's character from the very first page.  He may have been a little depressing at times, but he was extremely quick-witted and had the tendency to make me giggle.  I could understand why Hen was angry at his sister Sarah for leaving, and then returning without giving him an inkling toward her reasons.  On the other hand, I think he could have been a little more happy to see her, especially if he missed her as much as he claimed.  


There was a lot of characters in this book, and believe it or not, despite how short it is you learn a lot about each and everyone of them.  My favorite character was probably Emily, even though there were a few times that I wanted to wring her neck because of the things she was doing.  She was all around good-hearted, and despite some of the things she did, they were always for the benefit of others.  


My least favorite character was Petra, the ex-girlfriend.  She wasn't really that bad actually, but it seemed that if you weren't cool, she wanted nothing from you.  The apple doesn't fall far from the tree though, if you ask me, because her father wasn't really any better.  Both characters are nice to those around them, but in the limelight of things you feel like your just not up to their standards the more you read about them.


The mystery of Hen's missing sister hovered over this entire plot, while it wasn't always front and center.  Hen almost always had it on his mind, despite the fact that he tried his hardest to just leave it alone.  The funny thing is, the answer to the mystery was in front of both Hen's, and the readers face the whole time, you just didn't know it.  I was completely surprised when I found out Sarah's story at the end of this book, and actually slapped my knee because I was too silly to figure it out earlier on.  


All around this was a great book.  You learn a lot about Hen, and his friends.  Despite the lack of appearance from his sister, Sarah, she is one of the main focus points of this novel.  Even though you get to watch Hen grow as a teenager, and learn more about himself and those around him, you still find yourself wondering what his sister could have done to get herself into so much trouble.  I'll more than likely be reading more books by Daniel Ehrenhaft in the future, because I loved his writing.  I even liked that it was narrated from Hen's point of view.  I'm usually not into books narrated by male characters, but his one was written perfectly, and it made me feel like I really knew Hen, sometimes better than he knew himself.


Where did I get this book? : 

I received my ARC for participating in a traveling tour with Around the World Tours.

Amazon Affiliates : 

Clicking on title links in this post will redirect you to Amazon.com. If you happen to make a purchase after clicking these links I will receive a small percentage of the profits.

DNF Review : Rising Shadow by Jacquelyn Wheeler

Title : Rising Shadow
Author : Jacqueline Wheeler
Publisher : Self-Published
Genre : Young Adult
ISBN : 978-0982516010
Series : #1 The Soterians Series
Release Date : September 10, 2009
Rating : 1/5 - Couldn't get into it.

Synopsis from Amazon : 

Ashlyn Woods just transferred to one of the most beautiful campuses on the west coast, where she can't wait where she can't wait to start her life over as a college student.  But her plans take an unexpected turn when she discovers that she is a Soterian : a person who develops amazing powers when the balance of good and evil shifts to far in evil's favor.
 
Soon she and the other Soterians are studying martial arts and learning to use their powers to prevent California from being plunged into chaos.  But they discover that they're up against a much more dangerous enemy than they expected.

And when Ashlyn meets Kai, a devastatingly gorgeous guitar player, she realizes she must sacrifice more than she ever imagined.

Review : 

Ashlyn Woods really does seem just as average as the synopsis to this book implies.  In fact, she felt far too average for me to even begin to like her.  I found myself putting this book down more often than I actually was reading it.  I actually had to stop reading this one completely when I realized that after I reached my 50 page rule I was still not thrilled with it.

While there was an undertone of something paranormal lurking under the surface, I found that I couldn't get really enjoy it because of the constant talk of politics.  I know that this was part of the story, but I'm not really into politics, so this was a major turn off for me.  I also didn't really like that when Ashlyn met her roommates, it was like they had known each other there entire lives.  I felt like there needed to be a little more development between these characters.

Overall I can't say much for this book because I didn't finish it.  I don't particularly like giving out reviews of books that I haven't finished, but in all honesty it is still an opinion, and it may help someone in the future.  I just hope that there are readers out there that will find this book to be something they enjoy, and will share their opinions as well.

Where did I get this book? : 

I received by copy for participating in a traveling tour with Other Shelf Tours.

Amazon Affiliates : 

Clicking on title links in this post will redirect you to Amazon.com. If you happen to make a purchase after clicking these links I will receive a small percentage of the profits

Review : Restoring Harmony by Joelle Anthony

Title : Restoring Harmony
Author : Joelle Anthony
Publisher : Putnam Juvenile
Genre : Young Adult, Dystopian Fiction
ISBN : 978-0399252815
Series : Stand Alone
Release Date : May 13, 2010
Rating : 3/5 Stars - Liked It

Description from Amazon : 

The year is 2041, and sixteen-year-old Molly McClure has lived a relatively quiet life on an isolated farming island in Canada, but when her family fears the worst may have happened to her grandparents in the US, Molly must brave the dangerous, chaotic world left after global economic collapse—one of massive oil shortages, rampant crime, and abandoned cities.

Molly is relieved to find her grandparents alive in their Portland suburb, but they’re financially ruined and practically starving. What should’ve been a quick trip turns into a full-fledged rescue mission. And when Molly witnesses something the local crime bosses wishes she hadn’t, Molly’s only way home may be to beat them at their own game. Luckily, there’s a handsome stranger who’s willing to help.

Trailer :

 Review :

The world has changed a great deal over the years, and now it is the year 2041.  Molly McClure lives in Canada, with her family.  They spend a lot of their time farming, and Molly also enjoys playing the fiddle.  All is going well until they come to the realization that Molly's grandfather in the United States might be in terrible trouble.  Sixteen-year old Molly is elected to go on a dangerous adventure through a country destroyed by economic collapse.  One with massive oil shortages, rampant crime and abandoned cities.  Molly is scared, but she is determined to make things right.

When Molly first arrives in Portland, she finds her grandparents alive.  They are far too skinny due to lack of food, and while they used to be rich, they now don't have a dime to their name.  Now her mission has become far more dangerous, because now she must rescue the both of them, and return to Canada. 

Molly spends her time in the states trying to come up with the money to travel back to Canada, since her grandparents don't have the money she thought they would.  It's hard at first, but Molly slowly learns a few tricks to keep both food in their stomachs and money in their pockets.  She also has the help of a mysterious stranger, who calls himself Spill.  Molly doesn't know whether she can really trust him or not, but she has little choice.

When Molly sees the local muscle roughing someone up though, she's told she can't leave Portland, because of what she has seen.  With the help of Spill, they have to think of a plan to rid themselves of the crime bosses.  Molly will do whatever it takes to get back to Canada.

I felt like this story was a little slow moving.  Despite how Molly always found things to do, I felt like the story wasn't moving very quickly, and at times I got a little bored.  I enjoyed Molly's character, because despite her reluctance to be away from her family and traveling to unknown territory, she was rather brave about it.  I'm not sure if I would be able to do something like that at the age of 16, it would be far too frightening.

I enjoyed most of the characters in this book, but I'd have to say that Spill was my favorite out of everyone.  I didn't trust him through the whole book, but he was a mystery to me that needed to be solved.  Whenever he wasn't around I found myself wondering when he would return, and when he did I was always so excited.  I'm most certain that Molly felt the same way, because despite her uneasiness towards him she was determined to learn his story.

My least favorite character of the book was probably Doug.  I've read a few reviews for this title, and realized a lot of people liked him, and I couldn't understand why.  He wasn't the smartest character, and he always worried more about himself than anyone else, despite his true reasons he was supposed to be there.  I looked forward to the moments when he was absent, and groaned on every one of his returns.

This is the first time I've read a dystopian fiction, but despite how slow I felt it was I still really enjoyed it.  I felt like the world around Molly and her family was very realistic.  Everything can change at the drop of a hat, and it wouldn't surprise me if our world looked like Molly's some day.  I dread the day it arrives, but unfortunately we won't have any say in the matter.  I think Joelle Anthony described this 'new' world perfectly.  While a lot of it was familiar, it was all different, and it actually scared me a little bit because it's exactly the way I would imagine it to be if there truly was such a collapse in economy.

This book inspired me, and I actually had a huge discussion with my fiance about the coming year of 2012.  While a lot of people think that it will be the end of the world.  I personally believe, that it's just going to be the end of the world as we know it today.  Everything will change dramatically, and reading this book only made me think that what was between the pages might be what we look forward to sooner than we think.  This book makes me want to read more dystopian fiction now, because I see it becoming one of my favorite genres.

Where did I get this book? : 

I received my ARC through Around the World Tours for participating in a traveling blog tour.

Amazon Affiliates : 

Clicking on title links in this post will redirect you to Amazon.com. If you happen to make a purchase after clicking these links I will receive a small percentage of the profits.

Review : Lost For Words by Alice Kuipers

Title : Lost For Words
Author : Alice Kuipers
Publisher : HarperTeen 
Genre : Young Adult 
ISBN : 978-0061429224 
Series : Stand Alone 
Release Date : May 11, 2010 
Rating : 4/5 Stars - Very Good

Description from Goodreads : 

Ever since Sophie Baxter’s sister was killed in the London terrorist bombings, she has retreated into herself. But there’s only so long she can keep everything bottled up inside before she explodes, and Sophie comes to realize that she must confront the horror of her past before she can face the future.

Up-and-coming talent Alice Kuipers lets her teen sensibility, humor, and fresh perspective shine in this remarkable story of family, hope, and perseverance in the face of tragedy.  

Review : 

Sophie Baxter has a lot going on in her life, and it all started the day her sister was killed in a London bombing.  Instead of finding an outlet, Sophie bottles up all of her feelings and holds onto them with the fierceness of a vice grip.  It's only a matter of time before she can't handle the knowledge of the horrors she has endured, and she will explode.  Her therapist gives her a notebook to begin writing down anything that will help her to cope, and this becomes her only outlet.

Lost For Words is written in journal entry form, and at first I thought this was going to be a big problem for me.  I've never really been a big fan of reading books written to be like a journal, but in this case, it was the reason for it's success.  I also thought that the short sentences would put a damper on my liking for this novel, but it only gave it more depth and feeling, as though a sixteen-year-old girl was truly pouring her heart out onto the pages.

I personally felt like I was prying into someone's private life when I started reading into the story.  Sophie clearly didn't want anyone to know her dilemma, and wanted nothing more than to just forget.  With her, we learn about how such a tragedy can take a toll on a whole family, and even the friends supporting it.  You could literally feel how much Sophie wanted to turn back the tables and have everything be the way it used to.

The one thing that really got me in this book, was Sophie's feelings toward her sister.  She was so heartbroken by her loss that nothing else mattered to her, not even her own life.  It makes you think of what you may possibly be taking for granted.  I have two younger sisters, and a little brother, and reading about Sophie's loss made me weep for her.  Towards the end of this book I was bawling my eyes out, and practically hiccuping because I was so gripped by the story.  It made me appreciate the family that I have, and since finishing it, I've been trying my hardest not to be so mean to them when they do little things that drive me insane.  No one should have to go through the pain of losing someone so close to them.

Where did I get this book? : 

Received for a tour with Around The World Tours, hosted by Princess Bookie.

Amazon Affiliates : 

Clicking on title links in this post will redirect you to Amazon.com. If you happen to make a purchase after clicking these links I will receive a small percentage of the profits.

Review : If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where's My Prince? by Melissa Kantor

Title : If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where's My Prince?
Author : Melissa Kantor
Publisher : Hyperion Book CH
Genre : Young Adult
ISBN : 978-0786809615
Series : Stand Alone
Release Date : March 27, 2007
Rating  : 3/5 Stars - Good

Description from Amazon :

Wicked stepmother? Check. Evil stepsisters? Check. Miserable life? Check.

Lucy Norton’s life has all the makings of a Cinderella story. Her dad’s always away on business, leaving Lucy with her cruel stepmother and bratty stepsisters. She’s burdened with chores, and has a hard time fitting in at her new school. So when she sees Connor Pearson, the star player on the varsity basketball team, Lucy hopes her destiny has finally changed. With everything else going on in her life, doesn’t she at least deserve to get the handsome prince?

Melissa Kantor’s enchanting novel proves that sometimes the happy ending isn’t quite the one you’d expect. Lucy’s about to discover the truth about finding her real Prince Charming… and finding herself.

Review : 

Lucy Norton might actually have a wicked stepmother, or so she seems to believe.  While her bratty stepsister practically get away with murder, she gets in trouble for the smallest things.  Her father is hardly ever home to know the difference, and merely takes what she says as over reacting.  Lucy believes that her life has seriously gone down the drain, until the day she sees Connor Pearson.  Every Cinderella gets a prince, right?

If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where's My Prince? is a cute, quirky, short read.  It caps out at 283 pages, and I flew through them in a matter of mere hours.  I've always had a love for modern day fairy tales, and this one is no exception.  At first I thought this book was going to be a lot about how Lucy was just a drama queen, and for awhile, it really was.  I had to read on to get the full picture.

As far as I'm concerned, the way Lucy's stepmother treated her in this novel was quite wrong.  I personally would have labeled her as a wicked stepmother myself, and it wouldn't have hurt to throw a bucket of water of her head to see if she melted.  Her bratty daughters were no exception, as they were only nice when it benefited them.  And for Lucy's father?, her blood related father?, he rarely listened to his daughter.  I understood why Lucy was as dramatic as she was, and I probably would have acted the same way had I been in her shoes.

Melissa Kantor easily gave the impression of a modern day Cinderella story, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.  A few other great things about this story are the life lessons that Lucy learns along the way.  It's not only a modern fairy tale, but a coming of age novel about a girl growing into herself, and understanding her place in the world.  I'd highly recommend this title to those of you who enjoy a good modern day retelling of one of your favorite fairy tales, as well as fans of other works by Melissa Kantor.

Where did I get this book? : 

I received my copy from a swap on Bookmooch.

Amazon Affiliates  : 

Clicking on title links in this post will redirect you to Amazon.com.  If you happen to make a purchase after clicking these links I will receive a small percentage of the profits.