Book Review: Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter

Title: Goddess Interrupted


Author: Aimee Carter


Publisher: Harlequin Teen


Publication Date: March, 2012


Softcover: 304 pages



Stand Alone or Series: Series--this is the second in a series.


How I got this book: E-galley from Netgalley

Why I chose this book: I fell in love with the first installment of the series - The Goddess Test - and of course had to continue the adventure in this one.


Synopsis:

Kate Winters has won immortality. But if she wants a life with Henry in the Underworld, she'll have to fight for it.

 Becoming immortal wasn't supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she's as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he's becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate's coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans.

As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person who is the greatest threat to her future.

Henry's first wife, Persephone.

Review:

     This book gives me very conflicting emotions.  On the one hand, it had it's upsides.  On the other hand, it had it's downsides.  So let me go over those sides with you.
     This story was the kind that could give me butterflies, desperate to see what was going to happen, or leave me staring blankly at the pages, tears threatening to fall.  So yes, it could wreak havoc with my emotions.  Even though I wasn't always happy with where the story was taking me, I could never dispute that it wasn't written well.  Because it was.
     However, I felt at times that the storyline wasn't going anywhere, that I was just reading around in circles.  Were the characters going to actually do anything?
     And the shifts in character?!  Some characters acted dramatically different in this novel compared to the first, without any apparent reason.
     Also, I want to say a quick something about the problem of the story.  It's one of those problems that is going to keep going down and down until the last moment, when it can finally be brought back up.  Sometimes those stories turn out phenomenal, but other times they come out completely unrealistic.  Some I'm a little cautious of where the next installment is going to take me in terms of believability.
     Forewarning to anyone who hasn't read this yet: Cliffhangers galore!
     So that's all I really have to say at the moment.  I'll probably remember more later, but for now this will do.  The story was okay, not spectacular, not a flop, just okay.

Book Review: Kissing Shakespeare by Pamela Mingle

Title: Kissing Shakespeare

Author: Pamela Mingle

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: August 14, 2012

Hardcover: 352 pages

Stand Alone or Series: Series--the first in a series (I think...)

How I got this book: Egalley from Netgalley


Why I chose this book: That shouldn't be a question for this one.  Seriously.  Kissing.  Shakespeare.  The greatest writer of all time.  'Nough said.

Synopsis:

Miranda has Shakespeare in her blood: she hopes one day to become a Shakespearean actor like her famous parents. At least, she does until her disastrous performance in her school's staging of The Taming of the Shrew. Humiliated, Miranda skips the opening-night party. All she wants to do is hide.

Fellow cast member, Stephen Langford, has other plans for Miranda. When he steps out of the backstage shadows and asks if she'd like to meet Shakespeare, Miranda thinks he's a total nutcase. But before she can object, Stephen whisks her back to 16th century England--the world Stephen's really from. He wants Miranda to use her acting talents and modern-day charms on the young Will Shakespeare. Without her help, Stephen claims, the world will lose its greatest playwright.

Miranda isn't convinced she's the girl for the job. Why would Shakespeare care about her? And just who is this infuriating time traveler, Stephen Langford? Reluctantly, she agrees to help, knowing that it's her only chance of getting back to the present and her "real" life. What Miranda doesn't bargain for is finding true love . . . with no acting required.

Review:

     So the beginning of this novel went really slow for me.  Well, and some parts in the middle.  There were several places throughout that could have been snipped up a bit.  At first I wasn't sure who the actual love interest was, because Miranda never actually showed any preference.  So I was confused on that point.  And then when the actual romance did come around, I felt it was a little too sudden.
     The historical parts of the novel, though, blew me away.  I'm going to take a stab in the dark and guess that Mingle did a lot of research for this one.  From the little obscure details about Shakespeare to the teeth-picking after dinner (yuck) I really felt like this author knew her stuff and wasn't just bsing it all.
     If I convinced myself that the romance wasn't spur of the moment, it was actually pretty good.  The way the characters acted, their emotions, were pretty solid.  By the end of the book, I was rooting for them, even though I knew they were starcrossed.  (Starcrossed/Shakespeare...get it?) 
     Honestly, I thought it was a nice quick read, but not deep enough to really spark a flame for me.  I'm not sure yet i I'll stick around for the second installment.
     Also...little sidenote I almost forgot to add.  This. Cover.  Wow, it's gorgeous.  I'm not sure if the clothing actually fits the time period, but it is pretty and I want it. 

Book Review: After Hello by Lisa Mangum

Title: After Hello

Author: Lisa Mangum

Publisher: Shadow Mountain

Publication Date: September 4, 2012

Hardcover: 272 pages

Stand Alone or Series: Stand Alone

How I got this book: Galley from Shadow Mountain



Why I chose this book: After reading the synopsis, I was dying to get my hands on a copy of this book.  Why I was surprised by what the book was about (compared to what I thought it would be about) it was a pleasant surprise.

Synopsis:

What if the first day of your relationship was the only day you had?

Seventeen-year-old Sara is a seeker.  She's always on the lookout for the perfect moment to capture with her ever-present, point-and-shoot, camera, especially on her first trip to New York City.

Sam is a finder.  He has a knack for finding what other people can't--a first-edition book or the last two tickets to a sold out Broadway show.  In New York, there's always something interesting to find. 

When Sam and Sara's paths cross, neither one of them is prepared for what they will find out about each other--and about themselves when they form an unlikely partnership in search of a seemingly elusive work of art.  They have one day to find the impossible.  Fate brought their talents together, but what happens when time runs out?  Will love be able to overcome fate? 

Review:

     I first want to say that I was totally unprepared for what I read in this book.  Reading t his synopsis, I was expecting some cool detective story where the two characters fall in love.  Wrong.  But that's okay, because what the story turned into was a jounrey of what happens After Hello. 
     I'd never really thought about my hellos and goodbyes before, and reading this story brought out a new perspective that I could focus on and try to understand.  And when a book gets you thinking like that, then you know it's a good one. 
     The realness of the story amazes me as well.  I don't think I could pinpoint any part of the novel that I thought sounded fake or too much.  It was all just right, perfect.  The falling in love--perfectly crafted.  The race around New York City--bedazzling.  The highs and lows of emotions--breathtaking. 
     If I had to say anything negative about the book at all, I would just say that at some points, the story-line would slow down a bit much, making me want to take a break from the story. 
     I also can't say that I'm happy about the ending, but that's a sticky subject.  I could read the best book in the world, and the ending could displease me, because the two characters I was rooting for didn't end up together, or someone I had gotten to know ended up dying.  But that's the way the author wanted it to end for some specific reason, so thus it did.  So an ending I don't like doesn't always place the book in a negative light.
     I can't think of anything else to say.  What really makes this story is it's profoundness, it's truth, it's foundation in reality.  A story like that isn't one you should pass up. 

Guest Post: Claudia Gray

Sinking Into Titanic Research

by Claudia Gray

If you ever want to research something and be sure that you are getting absolutely accurate, incredibly detailed information on every last aspect – research the Titanic. Fascination with the lost ship and her one ill-fated journey has never let up during the 100 years since she sank. When I decided to write FATEFUL, I already knew a little about the Titanic, but I knew I’d have to find out a lot more.

Probably the key resource (besides original sources, of course) that everyone turns to first is A NIGHT TO REMEMBER by Walter Lord. Lord was the first one to interview many survivors, and he provided a more comprehensive view of the disaster than anyone had before him – and that includes the official inquiries held in 1912.

But there are tons of other books out there too, and one that really made a difference for me was 1912 FACTS ABOUT TITANIC by Lee Merideth. It’s not a narrative, more a collection of trivia, laid out in a more-or-less chronological order. Imagine – someone had found out precisely who was in each lifeboat, when it was launched, and what happened within those boats between the time they left Titanic and when they were rescued by the Carpathia. Everyone knows about feisty Molly Brown’s defiance, but now I was able to pick out which lifeboat a character should be in, and some things that would happen during those last terrible hours before rescue. (Those stowaways you’ll read about in my book? They were really there.)

Of course, like any 21^st century person, I also looked for information online. The best Titanic website, hands down, is the Encyclopedia Titanica. This is the central meeting place for Titanic buffs, and there you can find informative message threads, ship blueprints, and even bios for every single person on board – famous and ordinary, old and young, rich and poor. A lot of info I found here proved invaluable – especially the blueprints. As you know, Tess and Alec do a lot of running around various decks, and those settings are all real.

But the best sense I got of any of the settings came from attending a traveling exhibition of Titanic artifacts, which I believe is still making its way around the world. I saw it three times: Twice in New York City, and once in Melbourne, Australia. This was actually where I got the idea for FATEFUL in the first place. That very first visit to the exhibition, I was completely blown away – it’s amazing. Not only do they have many relics of all kinds brought up from the debris field around the wreckage (postcards, eyeglasses, jewelry, hairbrushes, and even china dishes that never broke), but they also feature many rebuilt rooms. You can look into a third-class cabin. You can see the first-class dining area. You can stand on the grand staircase. How could that not fire up your imagination? It certainly did mine –

Finally, for Titanic visuals – the real sense of how the ship looked, and what it would have been like to be aboard – one absolutely unimpeachable source is the James Cameron 1997 movie (which I bet some of you have just seen in 3D again, just like me). Cameron consulted with the best experts and looked at original records to make sure that the carpet, wallpaper, paint, and everything else was precisely like it was on the original ship. So there were plenty of moments where, when I needed to recapture the feel of being aboard, I’d pop a DVD back into the player!

Most of FATEFUL is of course a fantasy. But writing a subject as fantastical – and let’s just say it, cracky – as werewolves on the Titanic means that every element of the story that isn’t supernatural needs to be as authentic as possible. There were some points I never could nail down completely (nobody in the world knows precisely where the dog kennels were), and I’m sure there are some errors that crept in despite my best efforts. But it makes me happy that FATEFUL is as authentic as I could make it – and I hope the details are as much fun for the readers as the research was for me.

******************************

Fateful Blog Hop Tour Guest Posts!

The Book Heist:  Sinking Into Titanic Research

Hippies Beauty and Books Oh My: Tip of the Iceberg: Climax Themes and Challenges

Songs and Stories: Switching from Port to Starboard – From Vampires to Werewolves

Live to Read: On Board with Tess Davies

The Book Cellar: On Board with Alec Marlowe

Bellas Novella: On Board with Secondary Characters

Mundie Moms Book Reviews: More on the Unexplained: Why Claudia Gray Always Loved the Titanic

**************************************

Fateful

A novel by Claudia Gray

Eighteen-year-old maid Tess Davies is determined to escape the wealthy, troubled family she serves. It’s 1912, and Tess has been trapped in the employ of the Lisles for years, amid painful memories and twisted secrets. But now the Lisle family is headed to America, with Tess in tow. Once the ship they’re sailing on—the RMS Titanic—reaches its destination, Tess plans to strike out and create a new life for herself.

Her single-minded focus shatters when she meets Alec, a handsome first-class passenger who captivates her instantly. But Alec has secrets of his own. He’s in a hurry to leave Europe, and whispers aboard the ship say it’s because of the tragic end of his last affair with the French actress who died so gruesomely and so mysteriously. . . .

Soon Tess will learn just how dark Alec’s past truly is. The danger they face is no ordinary enemy: werewolves exist and are stalking him—and now her, too. Her growing love for Alec will put Tess in mortal peril, and fate will do the same before their journey on the Titanic is over.

In Fateful, New York Times bestselling author Claudia Gray delivers paranormal adventure, dark suspense, and alluring romance set against the opulent backdrop of the Titanic’s first—and last—voyage.

AUTHOR INFO

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Book Review: Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins

Title: Sweet Evil

Author: Wendy Higgins

Publisher: HarperTeen

Publication date: May 1, 2012

Softcover: 464 pages

Stand Alone or Series: Series--this is the first in a series.

How I got this book: Galley from HarperTeen.

Why I chose this book: I'm very intrigued about stories that center around angels and demons, and this book was no exception.  I read the synopsis and couldn't wait to delve in.

Synopsis:

Embrace the Forbidden.

What is there were teens who lives literally depended on being bad influences?

This is reality for sons and daughters of fallen angels.

Tenderhearted Southern girl Anna Whitt was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people.  She's aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but it isn't until she turns sixteen and meets Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage and her willpower is put to the test.  He's the boy your daddy warned you about.  If only someone had warned Anna. 

Forced to face her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns?

Review:

What to say about Sweet Evil?  Well, I'm going to be honest.  THe first part of the book, though very addicting, left me skeptical.  It just seemed so unbelievable.  And yeah, it's fiction, but even paranormal books should be somewhat believable.  So I was tempted to just drop the book right there. 

Luckily, the writing was pretty addicting.  The style was the sort of cleaness that I love.  That probably doesn't make sense, cleaness of writing.  But the gist of it is that the writers knows where they are going, and they're not just leading the reader around in endless loops.  Hoorah!

I love the passion in this book--that Kai and Anna don't just fall in love all willy nilly.  There's some doubt, some fear, some confusion.  All of these emotions linger throughout the book.  You think they're sparkig, but you're no 100% sue.  By the end of the book though, it all leaves you breathless, and you're rooting for them. 

While the idea behind the story wasn’t wholly original (angels and demons), the author puts her own style and a twist on it that makes it completely new. I didn’t know what was going to happen next. I’m sure we can all agree that predictable books are no fun. Sweet Evil kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time.

            And did I mention it’s addicting! I think I did, but I’ll tell you again. I seriously could not get enough of this book. I was up late at night reading, and had to finally force myself to put it down so I could get some shut-eye.

          So yes, this book was a winner. Now I have to wait another year for the next installment (sad face).  
   

Oh, one last thing that I forgot to mention. The protagonist, Anna. At the beginning of the novel, I hate to say it, but she was annoying. She was very goody-goody, perfect, and all things that make you roll your eyes. I was a little put off by this, and didn’t really like her at first. But as the novel progresses, you becomes more realistic and her perfection starts to break away. I’m not saying being good is boring, just that perfection is unrealistic and impossible. I don’t want to read about a teenage girl who is perfect, because I’ll just scoff and toss the book aside.

    Farewell, folks!

Book Review: The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller

Title: The Eternal Ones

Author: Kirsten Miller

Publisher: Razorbill

Publication Date: August, 2010

Hardcover: 416 pages

Stand Alone or Series: Series--this is the first in a series.

How I got this book: Bought


Why I chose this book: I'll be honest.  I bought this book since it came out in 2010.  I've just been putting off reading it since I got it, because I didn't think I'd enjoy it.  A couple days ago, I was on a shortage of books I hadn't read, and decided to pick it up.  Man, am I glad I did.

Synopsis:

Haven Moore can't control her visions of a past with a boy called Ethan and a life in New York that ended in fiery tragedy. In our present, she designs beautiful dresses for her classmates with her best friend Beau. Dressmaking keeps her sane, since she lives with her widowed and heartbroken mother in her tyrannical grandmother's house in Snope City, a tiny town in Tennessee. Then an impossible group of coincidences conspire to force her to flee to New York, to discover who she is, and who she was.

 

In New York, Haven meets Iain Morrow and is swept into an epic love affair that feels both deeply fated and terribly dangerous. Iain is suspected of murdering a rock star and Haven wonders, could he have murdered her in a past life? She visits the Ouroboros Society and discovers a murky world of reincarnation that stretches across millennia. Haven must discover the secrets hidden in her past lives, and loves, before all is lost and the cycle begins again.

Review:

The Enternal Ones was spellbinding.  From the very first page it
had me hooked.  The story, while taking a concept that is fairly
mainstream in literature - reincarnation - spun the story into
something wholly original.  I'm going to start off by saying that
I'm giving this novel 4.5 out of 5 stars.  Now, I'll explain.

I honestly couldn't put this book down.  There was never a dull
moment.  I loved how the chapters and flashback scenes were short
and to the point.  Sometimes authors tend to drone on, especially
when the protagonist is having a vision or flashback.  But not
Miller.  She really knows how to encompass a reader's full
attention and never let go.

The characters...wow.  They had my emotions going the entire
time.  Even the smaller ones.  The stereotypical high school mean
girl.  The not so typical grandma who believes you're possessed
by a demon.  The heartbroken mom.  The gay best friend.  And
Haven.  It's always important for the protagonist to be at least
relatble, if not likeable.  However, Haven was both.  I found
that in some ways I could relate to her, and in many ways I liked
her.  I wanted her to find happiness and get the hell out of
Snope City.

Wow, Snope City.  Let me tell you, this is not a place I want to
be.  Miller was so detailed with the city, and led the reader to
be able to picture the place so perfectly.  The extremely small
town dominated by religion.  Hatred and hypocrisy everywhere. 
Almost like my own hometown. 

Now here's where I'm going to mention the part that keeps The
Eternal Ones from being 5 stars.  And I'm not saying that this is
a bad thing.  It's just that I personally felt it was misleading.
 When reading the synopsis for the book, the reader really thinks
this is going to be some heart-pounding, bodice-ripping romance. 
And in it's own way it was.  But throughout the storyline there's
so much mystery shrouding the romances that it's hard for the
reader to get attached to any one relationship.  Just like Haven,
we're clueless as to who to trust.  Near the end of the novel,
when most everything is revealed, then we start to get a true
taste of the romance.  So I have a feeling the sequel, All I
Desire, is going to pretty spectacular.  So once again, I'm not
saying the mystery took away from the story.  On the contrary, I
quite enjoyed it.  I was trying to figure out the clues along
with Haven, and that was intriging.

So this novel was amazing.  I think you should read it.  I can't
wait to get my hands on a copy of the sequel (since my local
bookstore doesn't have it at the moment.  Surprise, I think not).

Book Review: Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel

Title: Dearly, Departed

Author: Lia Habel

Publisher: Del Rey

Publication date: October, 2011

Hardcover: 480 pages

Stand Alone or Series: Series--this is the first in a series.

How I got this book: Galley from Del Rey.



Why I chose this book: I <3 Zombies.  'Nuff said.


Synopsis:

The year is 2195. The place is New Victoria—a high-tech nation modeled on the manners, mores, and fashions of an antique era. A teenager in high society, Nora Dearly is far more interested in military history and her country’s political unrest than in tea parties and debutante balls. But after her beloved parents die, Nora is left at the mercy of her domineering aunt, a social-climbing spendthrift who has squandered the family fortune and now plans to marry her niece off for money. For Nora, no fate could be more horrible—until she’s nearly kidnapped by an army of walking corpses.

But fate is just getting started with Nora. Catapulted from her world of drawing-room civility, she’s suddenly gunning down ravenous zombies alongside mysterious black-clad commandos and confronting “The Laz,” a fatal virus that raises the dead—and hell along with them. Hardly ideal circumstances. Then Nora meets Bram Griswold, a young soldier who is brave, handsome, noble . . . and dead. But as is the case with the rest of his special undead unit, luck and modern science have enabled Bram to hold on to his mind, his manners, and his body parts. And when his bond of trust with Nora turns to tenderness, there’s no turning back. Eventually, they know, the disease will win, separating the star-crossed lovers forever. But until then, beating or not, their hearts will have what they desire.

Review:

     So, I just finished reading Dearly, Departed.  As in, just a couple seconds ago.  I wanted to write this review right away because I feel that I have a lot to say about it, and don’t want to forget it before I can get it all down.
     First, I want to tell you that I’m going to give this novel 4.5 out of 5 stars.  And now I’m going to tell you why.
    I love zombie stories.  Thinking about it, there aren’t many zombie books out in the YA market, and out of those, few that are truly good.  This book surpassed all my wild imaginings, and brought zombies into a completely new light.  I think it’s good when a book can make you feel compassion even for the “villains” of the novel, or something that is other than human.  Yes, they’re not living and therefore are harder to relate to.  So, if an author can get that empathy across, then they’re good.  What I’m trying to say here is I like that I could feel compassion for the zombies, and understand it when a love starts to blossom between a living person and a dead person.
    The writing in this story really grabbed my attention.  It’s complex yet simple at the same time.  (Have you ever read a story you just couldn’t understand?  Or read a story that sounded like it was meant for a 6 year old?)  This was perfect.  And the author used the fact that the novel was set in the future to include little tidbits of awesomeness, such as a character saying something like: “That is, as our ancestors used to say, epic”.  (That’s from memory, so don’t quote me).  Also, the general idea of the story, a new victorian era...genius!!
    Lately, I’ve also been dying (get it?!) for some genuine romance, because I’ve either read something that had hardly any romance, or it was completely bogus.  The romance in Dearly, Departed is sweet and pure and understandable and perfect.  You understand how the characters could fall for each other.  I also like (and sometimes hate) that the point of view alternates.  It was nice learning about Bram, and being in his head, and learning how sweet he actually is.
    That said, the changing point of view is what kept this book from being 5 out of 5 stars.  Though I understand that the author has the point of view switch to other characters that aren’t necessarily involved in the main plot as a way to inform the reader of what else is going on, I felt like the author went to these characters too often, and sometimes for too long.  It took away from the main story, and occasionally made me put the book down because I was bored.
    Anyway, I would definitely recommend this book.  Though I don’t see how the end to the series can possibly be happy, and though I’m setting myself up for heartbreak, I will definitely be reading the next installments.  Can’t wait for more Bram!
    Also, while I’m talking about endings, I just want to quickly add that the ending to this first installment completely shocked me with its amazing-ness.  Loved it!
    Okay, sorry that was long.  If you’ve stuck it out this long, then you are a trooper.

Book Review: Pure by Julianna Baggott

Title: Pure

Author: Julianna Baggott

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Publication date: February 8, 2012

Hardcover: 448 pages

Stand Alone or Series: Series--this is the first in a series.

How I got this book: Galley from Grand Central Publishing

Why I chose this book: The synopsis is what really pushed me to read this book.  Though dystopian isn't anything new in the YA genre, this authors take on it seemed fresh and exciting.

Synopsis:

We know you are here, our brothers and sisters . . .

Pressia barely remembers the Detonations or much about life during the Before. In her sleeping cabinet behind the rubble of an old barbershop where she lives with her grandfather, she thinks about what is lost-how the world went from amusement parks, movie theaters, birthday parties, fathers and mothers . . . to ash and dust, scars, permanent burns, and fused, damaged bodies. And now, at an age when everyone is required to turn themselves over to the militia to either be trained as a soldier or, if they are too damaged and weak, to be used as live targets, Pressia can no longer pretend to be small. Pressia is on the run.

Burn a Pure and Breathe the Ash . . .

There are those who escaped the apocalypse unmarked. Pures. They are tucked safely inside the Dome that protects their healthy, superior bodies. Yet Partridge, whose father is one of the most influential men in the Dome, feels isolated and lonely. Different. He thinks about loss-maybe just because his family is broken; his father is emotionally distant; his brother killed himself; and his mother never made it inside their shelter. Or maybe it's his claustrophobia: his feeling that this Dome has become a swaddling of intensely rigid order. So when a slipped phrase suggests his mother might still be alive, Partridge risks his life to leave the Dome to find her.

When Pressia meets Partridge, their worlds shatter all over again.

Review:

     I want to start of by saying that Pure was a lot different than the types of books I usually read.  What I mean is that I typically stay away from books like this because there are small details about it that I just don't like.  So while reading the beginning, getting to know the characters and the setting, I was tempted a couple times to just stop reading it and move on to something else.  I'm glad I stuck it through.  This story may be different, but it was haunting, intoxicating, and thoroughly addicting. 
     I have never read about a dystopian world that so completely and truly freaked me out.  It was written in such a rational way--one that made me think it was something so possible to become a reality here on Earth, that it made me wonder: what would happen if this happened? in a way I never thought before.  It was amazing how recognizable Baggott's world was, yet how different. 
     I want to hint at something that is in the synopsis, but I don't want to give it away.  All I'm going to say is that a line from the synopsis can really be misleading to the reader.  But don't be discouraged!  It does not, in any way, effect the greatness of the story.
     One thing I do wish for more of was the romance in this story.  It kind of takes a backseat to the action throught the novel, and I understand why that was done.  But the few romantic scenes seemed a little displaced and unfitting with the rest of the story.  (Though I do hear that the sequel has more romance.  Can't wait!)
     Lastly, I want to warn everyone as to how addicting this story can be.  I didn't want to put it down.  So make sure you have a free weekend with no plans, and have a weekend in bed with this book.  If this novel fits your style (and even for some people whose style it doesn't fit, like me), I can promise you won't be disappointed.

Pure should be hitting stores in about a week.  Don't forget to grab a copy!

Book Review: Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

Title: Clockwork Prince

Author: Cassandra Clare

Publisher: McElderry Books

Publication date: December, 2011

Hardcover: 528 pages

Stand Alone or Series: Series--this is the second in a series.

How I got this book: Bought

Why I chose this book: Come on, it's Cassandra Clare--the woman is a miracle worker with words! 

Synopsis:

In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has at last found safety with the Shadowhunters. But that safety proves fleeting when rogue forces in the Clave plot to see her protector, Charlotte, replaced as head of the Institute. If Charlotte loses her position, Tessa will be out on the street—and easy prey for the mysterious Magister, who wants to use Tessa’s powers for his own dark ends.
 
With the help of the handsome, self-destructive Will and the fiercely devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister’s war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal. He blames them for a long-ago tragedy that shattered his life. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors, from the slums of London to an enchanted ballroom where Tessa discovers that the truth of her parentage is more sinister than she had imagined. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister himself knows their every move—and that one of their own has betrayed them.
 
Tessa finds her heart drawn more and more to Jem, though her longing for Will, despite his dark moods, continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will—the wall he has built around himself is crumbling. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and give Tessa the answers about who she is and what she was born to do?
 
As their dangerous search for the Magister and the truth leads the friends into peril, Tessa learns that when love and lies are mixed, they can corrupt even the purest heart.

Review:

So guess what I just finished reading?  That’s right, Clockwork Prince.  The other day I stopped into the new bookstore in town and happened to grab the last copy available!  Though I was going to wait to read it (so I could re-read Clockwork Angel), I just decided to hell with it, and starting plowing through.  Not that I wanted to plow through it.  To be honest, I didn’t want it to end.  It was amazing.  Five stars, without a doubt.  While there were times in the first installment that I could set the book down, this one left me flipping through the pages a warp speed, wanting to know what came next.  I would have read the novel in it’s entirety in one sitting if I could have. 

What should I lament about first?  The amazing characters?  The sizzling love triangle?  The way every word tugged at my heartstrings?  The debauchery?

Well, the characters are very well rounded.  If you’ve read Cassy Claire’s works before, you probably know this.  Her characters jump off the pages, and you can only pray that you will someday see them on the streets with their smirks and floppy hair.  While Will was in this book, and there were some major chunks left to him, I think that this book was more dedicated to Tessa, and her trying to get some answers, all the while starting a love triage on the way.

I hope I don’t give anything away, but anyone who can read can tell that Jem is in love with Tessa.  And while in the first book I didn’t really feel for Jem, this new installment has turned me to Team Jem all the way.  Even his silver hair and eyes seems sexy and sweet.  For the Victorian era, things sure do get steamy.  Then Claire has to remind us of Will’s tragic story, and you get confused all over again.  So yes, I’m twisted between the two.  For once, I don’t feel I can definitely decide between one character or the other.  (Props, Claire!)  This is a good thing though.  It means I can definitely relate to Tessa, who’s going to have some tough choices in the next installment. 

The next installment...another year away...nooooo!!!

Winter Town by Stephen Emond

Title: Winter Town

Author: Stephen Emond

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Publication date: December, 2011

Hardcover: 336 pages

Stand Alone or Series: Stand Alone

How I got this book: Galley from Little, Brown



Why I chose this book: It's hard to find a good season appropriate book, especially for winter.  Then this came my way, and I was thrilled.  Winter, one of my favorite seasons, and romance...sounds perfect.

Synopsis:

Every winter, straight-laced, Ivy League bound Evan looks forward to a visit from Lucy, a childhood pal who moved away after her parent's divorce. But when Lucy arrives this year, she's changed. The former "girl next door" now has chopped dyed black hair, a nose stud, and a scowl. But Evan knows that somewhere beneath the Goth, "Old Lucy" still exists, and he's determined to find her... even if it means pissing her off.
Review:

Winter Town by Stephen Emond was one of the best books I’ve read in a while.  I’ll admit, I may be slacking on my reading duties lately, and I was stuck on plane for a few hours, but that’s not the point.  The point is that it’s the holidays, and around this time there should be tons of holiday-themed books to choose from in the YA genre to read.  But there aren’t.  That’s one of the reasons I loved this book.  Because it was holiday themed.  I think it takes a lot of courage for an author to publish a book realizing that it may only be read during the holidays.  Back to the business side of the story...  This book was pretty amazing.  I started into it not sure what to expect.  Some of the scenes hit close to home for me, so that may have been a contributing factor to why I loved this book so much.  I could relate...somewhat.  Also, since I’m a sucker for romance, this was absolutely perfect.  Best friends turned more?  How could it get any sweeter than that?  Falling in love with someone you already know and love in a different way, knowing everything about them?  Sounds pretty awesome to me. 
    Edmond did a pretty darn good job creating these characters.  I usually don’t read books that are narrated by boys. (Or written by boys, for that matter).  Probably because it makes it harder for me to connect.  But by the time I was ten pages through, I was hooked!  The characters were like the best friends I’d never had--the really cool ones that can draw comics about each other and have inside secrets and the likes. 
    The comics!  All the illustrations in the book...  When I was first contacted about the book and told how it was set up, I’ll admit I was a little weary.  But boy was I overreacting!  I think the illustrations throughout the book made it better.  I want to read books like this again.  I’ll definitely be checking into Emond’s different works, and looking into what he does in the future.
    Thus, I think this is the perfect read.  Whether you read it in winter or not, it will still break your heart and mend it back together.  Snow outside and the holiday season is just the cherry on top.