Princess Ben

by Catherine Murdock

"Every fairy tale, it seems, concludes with the bland phrase "happily ever after." Yet every couple I have ever known would agree that nothing in marriage is forever happy. There are moments of bliss, to be sure, and lengthy spans of satisfied companionship. Yet these come at no small effort, and the girl who reads such fiction dreaming her troubles will end ere she departs the altar is well advised to seek at once a rational woman to set her straight."

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I loved Ben and the fact that she developed and underwent a metamorphoses. I also liked that she wasn't the typical beautiful, perfect princess and that even though she had insecurities, she also didn't let them crush her. She had real character and found her innate goodness and compassion.

I really enjoyed Murdock's writing and the world that she created. The fact that this world is one that is not a fantasy, fairy tale world, but that ends up having magic and dragons hiding in the walls is compelling and unique.

The relationship between Ben and her prince was, unfortunately,less developed than I would have liked, but given the depth of the book and the amount of pages, their love didn't exactly come out of the blue.

This is going down on my list of books to pass on to my daughter.

Falling For Romeo

by Jennifer Laurens

This book was something I might have liked when I was in Jr. High. Didn't really do it for me at this point in my life.

My biggest complaint about this book is that Laurens was obviously trying to develop the story with family conflict and teenage pressure, but as soon as the literal last curtain fell and the insecure lead actress is validated by her prince, everything else just disappears. There is no conflict resolution at all.

The writing was not great and the tone was extremely juvenile. A very fast and uninteresting read.

Dreamfever

by Karen Moning

Book four of the Fever Series. FINALLY!

This installment finally took the story further. While it was raunchy and blunt, the predicament that Mac ended Faefever in allowed the book and concept to take off. There were answers and development of characters and relationships. This book said so much I wasn't as bothered when it ended on another cliffhanger and I'm actually excited to read the last book when it comes out next year.

The Stepsister Scheme

by Jim Hines

The Stepsister Scheme is kind of like all your favorite fairy tales got together and took some Acid. The story's main characters, essentially Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and Cinderella, are Walt Disney meets Charlie's Angels.

I loved this book. It's no secret that I'm addicted to any and all spin offs of popular and obsolete fairy tales, Old Wives Tales and legends. This book was right up my alley and did not disappoint. I enjoyed the personalities of the three princesses and the dynamic between them. I loved the magical elements and the encounters with various mythical and fantastic creatures.

Hines took each well known story and uncovered the truth behind it. These horrific realities, somewhat more along the lines of what the Grimm Brothers may have envisioned, were heartbreaking and gave the princesses more dimension.

I loved this book; it's one that I could read over and over again.

Faefever

by Karen Moning

Faefever is book three in Karen Moning's Fever Series. Why am I still reading these books? Because NOTHING happens and I'm waiting, desperate for it to go somewhere!

Like Bloodfever, Faefever is an entire book dedicated to endless pages that tell a story without actually giving the reader any information to further the story. Once again the details slowly drip out, one little tidbit at a time, and just when you start getting excited, the book ends.

Faefever ends on a truly hopeless and violent note and I'm hoping that, finally, Moning will pick up the pace and really take this story somewhere.

Enna Burning

by Shannon Hale

Enna Burning is the sequel to The Goose Girl. The story is told from the perspective of a character, Enna, who played a minor role in the first book.

I really think this type of book is Hale's niche. Very fun to read, well developed plot and characters and a great continuation of the series. One thing I particularly liked is that Hale managed to continue Isi's story as well in this installment, while still allowing Enna to be the main voice.

This book was just a simple, enjoyable read and I don't have a lot of criticism. I'm excited to read the remaining books in the Bayern series.

Happens Every Day

An All-Too-True Story

by Isabel Gillies

*CONTAINS SPOILERS* The perfect life. Loving husband, gorgeous house, two beautiful children; Isabel Gillies never saw the end coming.

This autobiographical account of a women's idealistic life falling apart when her husband leaves her, seemingly out of the blue, is touching and raw, told with humor and true introspection. Gillies lays it all out on the table, bearing her soul, her faults, her fears and her heartache.

Gillies is obviously not a writer by trade, but the style of the book allows the reader to overlook that. I got totally caught up in the story she was telling, and forgot about the words I was reading. Her emotions were palpable. Some of the events she recounts, such as her Summers listening to records with her brother, didn't really seem to have a place, other than to aid in making one feel like you KNOW this woman.

I would like to read a book from Gillies husband's perspective, because I was never exactly clear on why he had changed so much, so quickly. Truthfully, this book scared the crap out of me. If a beautiful, talented, smart, strong woman with a perfect life and marriage can get the rug pulled out from under her, how in the world can I hang on to my flawed, far from perfect life?

This book contains some harsh language.

Bloodfever

by Karen Moning

Bloodfever is actually book two in Moning's "Fever" series. However, I don't feel like I missed anything in Darkfever. This book stands alone and seems to have recapped its predecessor successfully.

This is one of those books that I felt was a little too much like a placeholder; a segway into the next book. I don't have a lot to say about this one. I enjoyed it, it was a very fast read and it left me wanting to read the next installment.

There is so much mystery in Bloodfever, it seems something more should have been revealed by this point in the story, and certainly the reader should be let in on some serious secrets by the end of book two. I have no idea who, or what, Barrons is. Mac keeps making really dumb mistakes, which should be refreshing, finding a less than extraordinary heroine, but it's almost like a bad horror movie, the cliched kind that possesses one to yell at the movie screen, "Don't go that way! Run!"

I like this somewhat original perspective of the Fae world. The different breeds of Seelie and Unseelie are interesting. Moning does an excellent job of giving Mac a voice within her writing which is casual and real, where it could be forced and difficult to read.

There is language and mild sexuality in this book.

Twilight~New Moon~Eclipse~Breaking Dawn

by Stephanie Meyer































Let me start by saying that I am in no way your typical, obsessed Twilight fan; I do not believe that Stephanie Meyer is in any way a "genius" and I have many critical remarks. That being said, this is the second time I've read the series.

Collectively, the series is intriguing, which is the reason Meyer got four successful installments out of it. However, my biggest criticism is that the characters are too perfect. Everything fits together like a perfect little puzzle, from Bella's maturity making it possible for her to connect to a 90 year old man, to the rivalry between Edward and Jacob, on Bella's behalf and because of their respective species.

Twilight is romantic and idealistic. The vampires that Meyer has created are unique and the special talents that some of them possess add drama.

New Moon is a little irritating in that Bella is so mopey and does not come off as mature at all. She's needy and helpless and a little crazy. Jacob is a sweet, endearing character, and has a few flaws that make him a little more relateable.

Eclipse is probably my least favorite in the series. Bella's attempt to maintain a friendship with Jacob is selfish and screams of High School drama. The whole book is forgettable to me.

Breaking Dawn is my favorite of the series. However, it was extremely anti-climatic.

Stephanie Meyer is a pretty good writer, but she is extremely long-winded and drones on with too many inner monologues. It's exhausting to remain aware of Bella's every thought. These books could each have been shortened by a few hundred pages. This time around, I found myself skimming paragraphs, sometimes skipping whole pages, and didn't feel like I'd missed anything.

Personally, I do not relate to any one of the characters Meyer has created, which I think is the real flaw. They are too perfect, too romanticised, too in love, too talented, too attractive. It would be easy to have a perfect relationship if you were in love with a perfect, attractive, ageless person with more money than you could ever spend. They don't get tired, or fat or even hungry. If I could spend my days admiring my flawless self in the mirror, tearing apart feather pillows with my flawless husband, studying art and music and whatever else I wanted to, and flying off to Italy at a moment's notice, my life would be pretty great.

I think this was a better read the second time, but I'm not sorry the series stopped at #4.

Lonestar Secrets

by Colleen Coble

Lonestar Secrets is the story of a single mother who moves back to the hometown she swore she'd left behind forever. The book incorporates mystery, suspense, and romance as Shannon Astor finds a way to make a new life for herself and her family against unlikely obstacles.

The elements in this story were interwoven successfully, although the plot was not very realistic. I enjoyed the dilemma centered around Shannon's twins. However, I think that could have made up the bulk of the plot line instead of being solved so easily. I was bothered that she was so hung up on Jack's supposed betrayal. I was expecting a huge scandal or an accidental murder and was met with a very silly and immature act which should have been left in High School.

Coble has an easy way of writing, but does give in to some cliches when developing the romance. She took a lot of random things and made them into a huge, interlinking conspiracy of sorts and there were a few details, like Mary-Beth's involvement with a certain man of note in Shannon's small community, that were a little too perfectly lined up.

The characters all seemed to be very uninteresting without the extraordinary events. That being said, Shannon's sass and confidence were very appealing in a heroine, especially one that let the reader glimpse some vulnerability behind her very genuine strength. Jack was also a likable, if predictable, character.

Overall, this book was an easy and enjoyable read, if not taken too seriously.

Catching Fire

by Suzanne Collins

Catching Fire is the sequel to The Hunger Games. I was dying for this to come out, hoping it would be as good as its predecessor. Collins did not disappoint.

Once again, the story drew me in and ultimately left me wanting more. Although considerable less fast paced and action packed, the plot was compelling and far from dull.

I love how Collins continued the story, leaving unresolved issues unresolved without a quick resolution. The characters were no less charming in this installment and I continued to be caught between Katniss' conflicting emotions for Gale and Peeta. I loved the plot twists despite the fact that they weren't necessarily surprising.

This second installment provided even more character development in characters that I'd already fallen in love with and related to. The writing is extremely easy with great imagery.

I love this book, I love this series and I will be holding my breath until the next comes out.

Intertwined

by Gena Showalter

Five people, four paranormal talents, one body. Vampires, werewolves and deep family secrets. Romance, action and betrayal. That about sums up Intertwined.

There were so many elements to this book it could have either been a disaster or a fantastic success. Somehow, Showalter made everything come together in a very smooth and intriguing way. The characters were fun and interesting and the mystery behind Mary Ann and Aden's connection kept me guessing. The writing was very appropriate for a Young Adult novel. It was dynamic but light without being pretentious.

The main complaint I have is the fact that the book opens with a huge display of the paranormal talents contained within Aden's four companion souls and by the end of the book, those voices have become unnaturally secondary and their abilities have been ignored. The focus shifts gradually, but noticeably.

There will obviously be a sequel and I'm excited to see where the story goes.

Rewind

by Jeff Downs

After the belated realization that I had plowed through all of my library books, I went in search of something to read and descended upon the two boxes of novels given to me by an Aunt. Thus, the next two hours flew by, cuddled up on the couch with Rewind.

This was obviously a very quick read and the writing left something to be desired. The story was nothing new; a reinvention of A Christmas Carol. I loathe novels that have a story totally unrelated to religion, but have undertones or elements of religion randomly thrown in. This is especially prevalent in LDS novels, which is the reason I tend to stay away from them unless the story is fully based on religion. Rewind was especially annoying in that respect and I think Downs overplayed the Poor-Me-I'm-So-Pathetic-And-Depressed-And-It's-Making-Me-An-Ungrateful-Douche card.

That said, the last three pages of the book kept those two hours from becoming a total waste of time. There was a sweet surprise at the end, which I really should have seen coming, and an insight that left me pensive long after I turned the final page.

The Reluctant Heiress

by Eva Ibbotson

Once again, I was not disappointed by Eva Ibbotson. The one word that comes to mind each time I finish the last page of one of her books is 'beautiful'. The Reluctant Heiress was no exception.

Ibbotson is an immensely talented writer. She has found a recipe for success and, although her novels are strikingly similar, they work so well that I don't mind at all. I would not protest a slight departure from her idea of a hero, as I typically find it hard to really like her male protagonists. Similarly, although her heroines are all strong, determined and independent, somehow they each seem to have a very low opinion of herself, feeling that she doesn't deserve any better than she has.

A constant in Ibbotson's works is the unique way she gives a background to each minor character which is so fluid, woven so tightly into the story that you hardly notice it's there at first. The culture and history she wraps up in each story is interesting and relevant.

The Reluctant Heiress was a beautiful story with a wonderful antagonist and a clever, well turned out conclusion.

The Amaranth Enchantment

by Julie Berry

The Amaranth Enchantment was an unexpected find.

This book combined mythology with elements reminiscent of Cinderella. The writing was uncomplicated and the characters were likable. It was a little disjointed in trying to connect several story lines and I felt that there were two books that could have been written with the myriad of ideas floating around.

All in all, I liked this book.

Academy 7

by Anne Osterlund

Looking back on my review of Osterlund's debut novel, Aurelia, I am surprised I even gave her a chance at redemption with Academy 7. I am so happy I did.

Osterlund has found her niche in this space-age, sci-fi novel. The plot was well-developed, as were the characters, there were a few well-place plot twists and a very engaging romance. The writing in Academy 7 was exponentially better than that of Aurelia. Osterlund managed to create a very real collection of worlds and cultures and I was relieved that she wasn't inclined to delve too deeply into them, instead relying on a surface facade in description and interaction of the worlds. This simplification maintained the focus on the story and the characters, rather than deterring attention on inadequacies or unimaginative development I felt might have been present, based on the society she created in her previous novel.

There was excitement, teenagers and rebellion in this story, but I don't believe there was one profanity, and the only physical intimacy was a kiss.

The Goose Girl

by Shannon Hale

I have had The Goose Girl sitting on my shelf for MONTHS, but for some reason I haven't been able to pick it up. Once I did, I didn't want to put it down.

The book starts off a little slow, typical of Hale. I like that the story starts out in one place and the story evolves from there, creating history and depth as you're reading. I also appreciated the fact that there weren't hundreds of pages dedicated to narrating weeks-long journeys; apples gathered, bales of hay slept in, etc. The best part of this book was the way the protagonist, Ani, changed and gained an awareness of who she was, who she wanted to be and, ultimately, who she became. It was all very subtle and enmeshed in the story.

Hale is a very accomplished writer and the culture of Bayern flowed seamlessly. I liked the characters, although I would have enjoyed a more complete development of Geric. The antagonists were deliciously villainous and possessed intelligence, which I find more realistic than a group of dumb thugs. The jealous goose boy, Conrad, provided some wonderful, if predictable, conflict as well.

The biggest complaint that I have with The Goose Girl is the gory and morbid imagery of punished miscreants and, especially disturbing to me, was the sub-plot involving Ani's horse, Falada. It was heart wrenching, but too graphic and cruel.

This book would have a "G" rating if not for the violence. Excellent and fun read despite.

What's He Really Thinking?

How to be a Relational Genius with the Man in Your Life
by Paula Rinehart

What's He Really Thinking? is a "field guide" into the minds of men. The book offers advice on understanding men by understanding yourself and the differences between men and women. The book delves into the relationships between men and women and the elements that contribute to healthy interaction and better communication.

Initially, when reading through a sample chapter on the Thomas Nelson Publishing site, I thought this book showed real promise. Rinehart's writing was not over complicated and it appeared to be the beginning of a wonderfully insightful guide into the male psyche. That being said, I was disappointed with this book. It was only 160 pages, but less than halfway through I found I was looking forward to the end.

The title of this book is promising, but somewhat misleading. Rinehart has some great ideas about what women should be doing, but never actually gets down to HOW to do these things. I felt that the juxtaposition of her professional insight, scientific explanations, and religion did not work well. The flow of the book began to dissipate shortly after the first chapter and the organization of the book seemed jumbled, perhaps because the author kept throwing in scripture and lessons on relationships with God. Also, I thought the way she discussed sex and intimacy was a little tacky and very unorganized. This book reminded me a lot of something from Laura Schlessinger, but a very poor imitation.

What's He Really Thinking? is lacking, but not completely deficient. There were some excellent personal accounts and points that made me sit up a little straighter in my chair, jabbing me in the stomach, saying "You knew that all along and now there it is in black and white." One quote in particular struck me like a slap in the face:

"If we hitch our sense of feeling good onto the coattails of someone else- especially a man- then, generally speaking, we'll feel anything but good. The weight of carrying someone else's emotional life can pull any relationship down."

My overall impression: Not necessarily a waste of time, but a second time through would be.

The Secret Life of Prince Charming

by Deb Caletti

I picked this book up at the Library randomly and took it home because the main character's name was Quinn. It took me a while to get interested in reading it, but from the first sentence of the first paragraph I was hooked.

Deb Caletti is a phenomenal writer. There is an ease and flow to her writing, but her insights are poignant and inspire moments of clarity. I honestly can not say anything bad about this book. Was it perfect? Of course not. But there was nothing it that was overwhelmingly, or even noticeably, annoying to me. There were too many uses of the F-word, but as far as the plot, characters, writing, etc. I thought it was extremely well done. I liked the characters and Caletti did a great job of developing them as the story went on. She didn't rush the relationship between Quinn, Sprout and Frances Lee. The romance between Quinn and Jake was perhaps a little too good to be true, but I enjoyed the way Jake rose above stereotypes and was comfortable in his own skin.

There are so many other things I can say about this book that I liked, but there's really no need. It was one of those books you want to read through, mark up and refer to over and over again.

Fairy Tale

by Cyn Balog

Fairy Tale was a huge success...if you don't have high expectations.

The story of Morgan and Cam is bittersweet, filled with magic, love and sacrifice. The idea of a changeling who is being reclaimed by the Seelie after sixteen years is one that I haven't seen spun in this way before Fairy Tale. From the first few paragraphs I thought I was going to love Morgan. However, she quickly turned into your average, self-obsessed teenager. Balog tries to balance a brave, selfless heroine with a typical 16-year-old and, unfortunately, the immature Morgan shone through a little brighter. Despite that, I still liked the character for the most part. Although Cam is supposed to be the big focus in this book, I felt detached from him and I wasn't rooting for him to stay with Morgan. I loved Pip. He was an almost unrealistic ideal of perfection and chivalry. The naivete and true selflessness of this character and the almost childlike awkwardness made me want to invest in him.

I was bothered by the fact that Morgan's psychic powers were virtually non-existent after the first two or three chapters; leaving that in the background is almost akin to snatching away her parents after the first few chapters, or maybe changing the color of her hair midway through. Also, I would have liked a more in-depth explanation for why Morgan was able to see Dawn, distinguish the changes in Cam and remember him after he was gone.

I loved the ending of this book. I thought it was exactly how it should have ended and it was made even better by the fact that Morgan and Pip's relationship was not just a Fairy trick, but that it had been developed throughout the whole story, making their seemingly lifelong connection easier to accept at the end.

There was use of mild profanity in this book and allusions to sexuality (in dreams).

Being Nikki

by Meg Cabot

Being Nikki is the sequel to Airheads, a book I don't really recall reading, but I must have because some part of my brain recognizes the recap from book one.

This book was hard for me to get into. Em, or Nikki's, teenage angst, mixed with deep dark secrets, a mystery and a villain in disguise, just doesn't ring true. It's annoying and embarrassing that she lets everyone manipulate her. While I do enjoy the concept of putting an intelligent honor student's brain into the brain of a vapid supermodel, this book is riddled with similar stereotypes, which leaves me disliking most of the characters, not at all relating to them and being annoyed by their very presence.

Meg Cabot is a fun author with some amazing concepts and an easy, flowing writing style. That said, as a friend put it, she's very hit and miss. This was a miss for me. Here was another book with a wide open ending which could have easily been tied up in this book had she not spent so much time developing themes and characters that went no where.

I will be reading the third in this series, mostly to satisfy my curiosity. This is pretty PG rated.

Fragile Eternity

by Melissa Marr

Fragile Eternity is Melissa Marr's third book in this series, but I would call this one more of a sequel to Wicked Lovely and classify Ink Exchange as perhaps a companion book.

It's been a while since I read Wicked Lovely, but I remember loving it. Ink Exchange was crap, but Marr mostly redeemed herself, as I was hoping, with this third book. It returns to the original characters and continues their story, but I found that I didn't care much for Aislinn. I hated how whiny and immature she came off and I didn't really understand or enjoy the dynamic between herself and Keenan. The thing that really annoyed me was the loosey goosey ending. It was obviously a cliffhanger for another installment, but it didn't leave me panting for the next one, only irritated that there were so many unanswered questions.

The writing is good, although I don't think it's as good as the author thinks it is and there are moments of imagery that don't quite conjure a clear picture. I really liked seeing how each of the courts fits together and, despite it being a little unexpected and weird, I liked seeing into Sorcha's court and the relationship that develops between her and Seth.

Fragile Eternity was good enough to get me to read the next one. It had some sexual content, nothing graphic, and profanity.

The Dobe Ju/'hoansi

by Richard B. Lee

I read this third edition case study to help Tyler with a paper for his Cultural Anthropology class. Initially, I was reasonable unenthusiastic as I am not overly fond of non-fiction and typically research papers made into books bore me to tears.

I was surprised by the lively, light writing of Lee and, although it seemed a little scattered because it was divided into sections by topic, rather than being a chronological record, it was extremely interesting. Often people in well-developed countries assume that those living primitively, by our standards, are unhappy, destitute and disease infested. The Ju/'hoansi (Zwe/wasi) make this assumption laughable as they are healthy, congenial and peaceful and value food, water and friends more than inanimate possessions.

This book was infused with traditions of a culture very different from mine. Perhaps the most interesting thing Lee discovered about these Kalahari- dwelling people is there way of keeping equality and humility among individuals. At first it may seem that they are harsh and impossible to satisfy, always complaining and ungrateful. However, this practice only assures that the people are not swelled up with pride and that no one is looked on as better or achieves a higher status than anyone else.

I wrote a five and a half page paper on this book and could have continued in relating facts and cultural traditions of the Ju/'hoansi for at least five and a half more. This type of book is one that I will strive to indulge in again as it was a huge eye-opener to the differences in other cultures that don't make them worse off, just different and, in many ways, better in my opinion.

This book was a very frank study of this indigenous people and that included marriage and sexuality. However, there is nothing graphic, inappropriate or crude in the conveyance of these facts.

The I Believe Bunny

by Tish Rabe

Recently I signed up to be a Thomas Nelson Book Review Blogger. My first read was The I Believe Bunny, a beautifully illustrated children's book.

The I Believe Bunny is the story of a bunny that is feeling a little down during a rainy, gray day. He hears a cry for help and finds a small mouse stuck in the river. He tries desperately to help her and prays to God that he can help the little mouse. Suddenly, his friends arrive to help him save the mouse and the bunny learns a valuable lesson, summed up by the last page:

You CAN make a difference, even a bunny...your size.

I am usually wary when I read something that is classified as Christian Literature, only because, while lovely and mostly congruent with my beliefs, there are sometimes phrases that are used that I would not choose to teach my daughter. This book, however, was more non-denominational Christian and the principles were general and basic. The focus was on prayer and asking for help, two things, the importance of which I would like to impart to my daughter.

The rhythm Rabe uses is lively and effortlessly fun to read aloud, unlike, for example,Dr. Seuss which becomes quite tiring for the tongue. The illustrations by Frank Endersby are colorful and charming. The story captivated my daughter and that in itself made me enjoy it even more.

Radiant Darkness

by Emily Whitman

This book was one that I grabbed off of the library shelf in passing so I could get my moody toddler out the door. The second I saw the book was based on the mythological Persephone, I was hooked.

In my opinion, there are not enough fictitious novels based on Greek mythology. This take on the myth was a very light and easy read. Whitman gives the reader some great imagery and the basic rules that govern Hades and the Underworld are explained well even though she does not delve into complexities, which is appropriate considering the tone of the book. I liked the character Persephone and enjoyed seeing the changes in her as she gained freedom and was able to become a woman. I did want a little more interaction between her and Hades.

This book is not something I would purchase, but I might read it again. Well written and sexuality is only subtly alluded to, not inappropriately.

Thanks for the Memories

by Cecelia Ahern

Cecelia Ahern is such a unique author; funny, smart, emotional. Thanks for the Memories is another distinctive work from her.

Somehow Ahern manages to create an emotional attachment between the reader and her characters extremely early on in the book. Even being a little annoyed at Justin's narcissism, I still liked him and I was rooting for him to get it together. Joyce was an extremely vulnerable character, but her strength made it possible for this protagonist to balance on that precarious line between relatable and pathetic. I wasn't thrilled with Joyce's father, Henry. Although a very likable character, I have an aversion to elderly main characters because I'm afraid they will die at any moment and put a damper on the whole book. The bond between the father and daughter was genuine and the situations they found themselves in were silly and fun to read about.

The unique idea of this book, a person's memories being transferred to another through a blood transfusion, could have turned out too contrived and out there. However, Ahern manages to keep the book's feet firmly planted on the ground and it remains intriguing, but not too Science Fiction. This book was a literal feast of quotes; "Be patient and tough; someday this pain will be useful to you." I found myself nodding in agreement at several pieces of dialogue throughout the book. One quote in particular surprised me with its ringing wisdom:

"Everything grows. Including love. And with that growing every day, how can you expect the missing part to ever fade away? Everything builds. Including our ability to cope with it. That's how we keep going."

Ahern's writing is beautiful, clever, sincere and as fluid as the Seine. There is some language in Thanks for the Memories.

A Kiss in Time

by Alex Flinn

In my review of Alex Flinn's Beastly, I mentioned that I was willing to give him another chance despite my disappointment with that book. I had read a description of A Kiss in Time and thought it looked too intriguing to ignore. I won't make that mistake a third time.

This book was sub par at best. Telling the story of Sleeping Beauty and waking her up in the 20Th Century is a unique take on the well-known tale. However, once again, I wasn't in love with the characters and it seems like Flinn is still trying a little too hard to talk the talk of a seventeen-year-old. I was a little put off by the soul mates vibe, as I prefer characters to be a little more mature in those scenarios. Like Beastly, I was pleased by the Epilogue and the way he wrapped up some stray ideas.

All in all it was an okay book and it was devoid of any adult themes.

Princess of the Midnight Ball

by Jessica Day George

The Twelve Dancing Princesses is a story that has always captivated me. This book was no exception.

George did an excellent job in making this well-known tale her own. Her characters were distinct and each of the twelve princesses has a personality. I've said before that I'm not a fan of authors taking the modern world, calling it something else and creating a semi-new fantasy civilization, but George makes it work in this book. The setting is one I can picture, maybe in the late 1800's or early 1900's, making the juxtaposition of guns and pastoral Europe plausible. The hero, Galen, is likable and clever, but not without fault, which makes him more realistic. I enjoyed the spin George put on the reason the princesses dance; not for some frivolous fancies, but because of something sinister and beyond their control. I really enjoyed reading this book and Jessica Day George is fast becoming one of my favorite authors.

The book is wholesome and there is no swearing or profanity.

Wings

by Aprilynne Pike

I was really excited to read this book. After Melissa Marr's depiction of cruel and cold fairies, I thought Wings would be a bit softer and fairy-tale-like.

I liked this book, but I should have known that it wouldn't be as good as I wanted it to be from the review on the cover by Stephanie Meyer. This book read somewhat like one of Meyers' books, although slightly more juvenile. I enjoyed the story and the characters, but I felt that they were a little two dimensional. I felt like the entire book's purpose was to set up for another book, when there was a lot of fluff that could have been trimmed and the substance I feel is coming could have made the book complete now. I was left hanging, but not on the edge of my seat and not feeling like my questions were answered at all. It was lacking.

There was nothing inappropraite in this book.

Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow

by Jessica Day George

This Norwegian folk tale is one that I've come across before and this book did nothing to quell my adoration for the story.

The characters in this book are unique and familiar at the same time. The lass is an endearing and wholesome woman that embodies a loving nature and has an affinity for animals. Her glaring flaw is her curiosity which ultimately places herself and her true love in peril. Although predictable, the fact that the lass perseveres in the end and saves not only herself, but her family, her homeland and many others around her, is not contrived or boring. I don't really have very much to say about this book because it was just an enjoyable, well written story.

There is nothing inappropriate in this book.

Hunted

by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

This latest addition to the House of Night series was, overall, the most well-written of the five. That's not saying much.

There's not too much to say that I haven't already said. The one thing that is a little unbelievable is that the books evolved to this point. The main protagonist, Neferet, has gotten much further in her evil plot that she should have. For one, Zoey should have gotten off her boyfriend's face and figured out a way to reveal her as the villain. Secondly, if many adult vampyres are especially intuitive, I would assume that the leaders of the race would be able to keep a close eye on their High Priestesses, not to mention the fact that the big gal herself was in the school, around Neferet and apparently didn't get an inkling of her true nature. Not likely. Plus, there's that whole, let's start a war with the humans, thing. Red flag. Considering all of this, the conclusion of this book was a little anti-climatic and Neferet just ascends with Kalona and that's that. Obviously the next book(s)will have to deal with the conclusion that is so badly needed.

More language and teenage groping.

Untamed

by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Why do I keep reading this series? Because, despite the atrocious writing, outdated fads and irritatingly self-righteous undertones, the plot is actually a good one.

This fifth book of the series was a little easier for me to read because Zoey has lost all of her boyfriends and has some serious apologies to make to her friends, which, while stemming partly from their immaturity, makes me a little happy to see Zoey doing something other than stringing guys along, being praised and adored by her friends and peers and pondering endless soliloquies worth of teen slang-infused angst. I do like the changes in Aphrodite. She remains true to her base character while evolving and transitioning from antagonist to protagonist.

"Jack and Damien are together. Hello. They're gay. My friends and I, along with anyone who's not narrow-minded and utterly judgemental, are cool with that." This literally had me rolling my eyes. It illustrates well the attitude the authors portray; that anything supporting what the characters believe is right and anyone that doesn't believe that is judgemental and narrow-minded. Another example is the interaction between Zoey and a nun who states her belief that the goddess Nyx, whom the vampyres worship, is another manifestation of the Virgin Mary and, consequently, not to be feared or reviled. The whole situation irritates me because Zoey expects to be shunned and is shocked when she's not, but at the same time, she's up on her high horse talking about how everyone that doesn't see things her way is contemptible and people shouldn't judge while she's walking up to a nun expecting to be cast into Hell. This character really drives me crazy.

I will admit that this book included a major plot change that diverted things toward Cherokee legends, which was very enjoyable.

Crude language.

Chosen

by P.C.Cast and Kristin Cast

Book three in the House of Night series begins with the celebration of Zoey's "Birthmas", so called because, in having a birthday so close to Christmas, Zoey is often the recipient of Christmas-themed birthday gifts. True to form, her close friends decide on a theme of snowmen, which upsets her greatly, although she hides it well until her ex-boyfriend's gift arrives with a revealing note and her highly insulted friends blow her off.

Why am I starting my review with such an obvious departure from my normal format? Because I just summed up the entire book right there. Zoey keeps stupid little things to herself and her friends freak out without getting the full story. Seriously, I know the characters are teenagers, but please don't write an entire series about super-human, anomaly, gifted vampyres and expect me to reconcile myself to their immaturity. Also is the fact that supposed fashionistas willing to spend $400 on a pair of boots would never get something as tacky as sparkly, Christmas tree embellished ones and that a stereotypical, well-dressed, gay male would ever consider a cashmere scarf with freaking snowmen embroidered on either end anything other than a waste of a good cashmere scarf.

In addition to this, I am increasingly annoyed by Zoey's boyfriend dilemmas. One girl, one boyfriend, not three. How hard is that? Yes, Zoey, you are gifted enough to save the whole world, but there's no way you can have enough sense to figure out that making out with a teacher in the Library after he gives you diamond earrings is not a good idea. Seeing the human you've imprinted with to "break things off"? Also, not a good idea! It is so annoying to me that she can't get past her hormones and her blood lust. Call down Water and dowse some sense into yourself!

More of the usual unnecessary bad language and sexual innuendo.

Rosie Dunne

By Cecelia Ahern

Rosie Dunne is an entire novel made up of e-mails, letters, instant messages and other correspondence. Incredibly, the story Ahern tells is in no way lacking despite her challenging medium.

The characters in this novel are endearing and real, facing real-life challenges that are complicated and heart-wrenching. Rosie and Alex are childhood friends, soul mates, really, that endure the whims of fate as their lives lead them to each other again and again only to face ironic twists that tear them apart. Despite this, they remain close friends and help each other through life's most bitter rejections. This is a story of unrequited love, in a way, but what I appreciate about that is the lack of cliches and silly, prideful insecurity. Love is unrequited because the characters care more for each other and their perceived feelings and circumstances than about themselves and, not only do they remain emotionally attached, but continue to move on in their own lives rather than dwelling on what they feel could never be.

I am impressed and surprised at how fast I fell in love with Rosie and Alex and even more so that Ahern was able to invoke such emotion and depth without real dialogue or imagery. This is a book that made me laugh, cry and shake my fist in annoyance and anger. The enduring loyalty and unconditional love between Rosie and Alex is rare and this book made me feel hopeful and uplifted.

I love this book. There is some crude language used in this book.

Betrayed

by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Book two of The House of Night series once again left much to be desired.

The Casts have added more evidence to my theory that they distinctly lack the skill that should be involved in writing novels, especially given that there are FIVE books in this series. I will admit that the story continues to intrigue me and there is an interesting plot that has a little depth without getting lost in a million subplots. The main character, Zoey, has a little more personality in this second installment, in that she is making some mistakes and feeling a little self-conscious in real life situations. However, there is a side to her that is completely devoid of control when her blood lust kicks in and it is a little frustrating to see the juxtaposition of her apparent maturity and the anomaly she appears to be in the vampire world and this emotional, uncontrollable teenager that gives into her impulses. Looking back at my previous review and thinking about what I've already read of book three, I think I just don't particularly like or relate to this girl. It is also frustrating to have to read through the recap of the previous book, as told from an over-dramatically portrayed teenage point of view, complete with an absurd amount of parenthetical asides and an annoyingly common use of words like totally as well as outdated slang and abbreviations, i.e. 'rentals. Actually, that pretty much sums up the whole book.

I will continue to read the series despite the trying-too-hard dialogue, because the story is really not too bad and I would like to see how things end up. This book contains more semi-graphic sexual talk and imagery...not verging on Fabio romance novels, but inappropriate and unnecessary.

The Princess and the Bear

by Mette Ivie Harrison


The Princess and the Bear is a sequel to The Princess and the Hound, which I read a few months ago. I have to say that this book, in addition to having a story line that definitely stands on its own, was a much better read.

I had a hard time getting into this one. I think my brain kept telling me that the whole story would be what it started out as: a bear and a hound in the middle of the forest. However, the story eventually evolved into something quite different. I really enjoyed the love story because it wasn't your run of the mill, juvenile fiction romance with barely any development and way too much focus on outward appearance. The love that grows between the bear and the hound has a lot of substance and you see it grow into something very deep and true. There was also some action in this book that was entertaining. It was a little anti-climatic when the hound/Chala faced the villainous Cat-man. I think Harrison did an excellent job writing this book, her characters became quite dimensional and the plot was more enjoyable than that of its predecessor.

I would read this book again. Great sequel that doesn't depend on the preceding book. Clean, quick and enjoyable.

Aurelia

by Anne Osterlund

Mystery, Danger, Romance. This book had the potential to be really good, but, alas, it was a pretty big waste of my time.

Aurelia was not well written, the charaters were flat and the plot was dull. The romance was not developed and I didn't really relate to or even like the heroine, Aurelia. There was also a lack of that essential ingredient, that pivotal moment and the change that each character must face. Her family, the villains of the story (sorry to spoil it, but you really don't want to read this book anyway) start and end as selfish, spoiled and mean hearted. The discovery that Aurelia's half-sister is trying to kill her incites no more than an eye twitch in her father and Aurelia never even confronts her. There is no punishment for the antagonists and no real reward for the protagonists. It was a very tedius read for the YF section.

I suppose this could be categorized as a wholesome story, but boring and really a waste of valuable reading time.

Marked

by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Marked is book one in the House of Night series. The story is actually a very original take on vampires and I am hoping the authors will go deeper into the origin of a world in which vampires are part of the community.

The authors have a great idea, but the execution is poor. It is hard to tell if they are poor writers or just trying a little too hard to get into the psyche of teenagers. They did an excellent job in giving a myriad of characters distinct voices and personalities. The main protagonist, however, seems devoid of any flaws which, especially in a sixteen-year-old, is a little hard to swallow. She has this great destiny all mapped out for her, but she only really had to struggle for a few days until this was manifest to everyone. It seems like she doesn't really have anything left to prove and I am hoping that the following installments give her a few more obstacles. There are definitely romances and other relationships that have potential and I am glad that they didn't rush the development of those.

I enjoyed reading this book and I am hoping the next books add to that enjoyment. There is some language in this book as well as a few graphic allusions to sexuality (definitely unnecessary.)

Inkdeath

by Cornelia Funke

Where to begin. I was introduced to the first book in this trilogy, Inkheart, a couple years ago and was hooked practically from the first words. I read Inkspell as soon as I could get my hands on it and then I ran into a problem; this last installment wasn't due to come out for a while and I waited in suspense to resolve these characters to their fates. I wasn't disappointed.

Cornelia Funke has a very engaging writing style and this series also illustrated a depth to her imagination, somewhat like standing in between two mirrors and seeing your reflection going on and on forever. The very idea that Inkdeath and its predecessors is built upon, that reality can be sucked into a work of fiction and become a new reality, is mind boggling. Her characters are very three-dimensional and I loved the fantastical creatures she created to inhabit the Inkworld.

I do wish that Meggie's part in this last book had been bigger and I kept wishing that she was older so that her slow romance could lead to a bigger end. Also, I was a bit irritated with Resa. Her character just rubs me the wrong way for some reason and I wanted her and Meggie to have a more natural relationship in the end. As for Mo, I was bothered at first by his dual personalities, but as his struggle to find Mo amidst the Bluebird and Silvertongue brought him through his misery it seemed more fitting as the whole picture fell into place.

The ending may have been a little anti-climatic. It seemed a little too easy. I did find it interesting to see the development of Jacapo and his relationship with his mother, though. Loose ends seemed to be well tied up at the conclusion, with just enough space left for a spin off, maybe. Dustfinger and Brianna, Meggie and Farid, the death of Mortola and the Piper; relationships and unresolved conflicts received their crossed Ts and dotted Is and the story ended happily.

Wonderful and well-written. I will add this to my bookshelf.

The Princess

by Lori Wick

I don't even want to write about this book. The story was fine, but it was just lacking all the way around. It read like a 102 page juvenile fiction novel.

The language and dialogue were very stiff and I felt that the characters were TOO good. A Christian faith was the central theme, which I don't normally mind. However, it was just a little too much in this book. Nothing seemed natural or genuine. Also, there were four active generations and it was quite confusing at times.

As love stories go, this one was predictable, but sweet. It was overshadowed by Wick's need to force everything instead of just letting things flow. I liked the philosophy of choosing to love someone and making room in your heart. The characters were likable, but as I said, they didn't seem to have any faults. I did not enjoy that Wick made up a country within the real world. For some reason it just didn't work for me and there was nothing truly original or unique about the imaginary country that made it necessary; it could have been England.

The Princess is one I might skim through again, but definitely not a favorite.

Mr. Knightley's Diary

by Amanda Grange

I was looking forward to reading this after I read Mr. Darcy's Diary, but this perspective was a little dull. Unfortunately, I don't have too much to say beyond that.

I will comment on the fact that Knightley came across a little less agreeable than I had remembered him. He was slightly condescending at the beginning, seeming to think that his was always the right point of view.

That's about all I have to say. The book was pretty true to the original story, but lacking and lifeless. I got through it and enjoyed parts of it, but overall I could have missed this one and not missed much.

The Thirteenth Tale

by Diane Setterfield

The Thirteenth Tale has made me evaluate the way I review books. Since reading is an escape for me, I tend to base my "ratings" on how entertaining the book was and, consequently, if I would read it again. This book, while it was entertaining, intriguing, well written, was one I probably won't read again.

That statement might sound a little contrary, but this book held such a beautiful mystery and, now that the secrets have been revealed and the story is over, I don't feel like it would ever be as good as it was this first time. The jacket states that "The Thirteenth Tale is a love letter to reading..." I can't explain how, but that phrase seems to sum it up well. This book is for those that cringe at the sight of a loose binding or torn page, but simultaneously love a book more for these obvious signs of wear, as they indicate that what lies inside is more than a story; it is a treasured friend, a memory that may as well be your own. Oddly, this is not really what the book is about at all. The story, the tales that are interwoven to create a life, is not about books, exactly.

The characters in The Thirteenth Tale, in looking back, are familiar, yet ordinary. I am not quite sure how I even came to know them; but somehow they pushed though the misty ghost story and delved into me. The conclusion to this book was achingly beautiful. There were loose ends, secrets taken to the grave long before Vida Winter's story began, but somehow the wondering and the realization that there are no answers is a fitting conclusion.

There were some instances of violence and abuse, though not graphic. Wonderful.

The Hunger Games

by Suzanne Collins

(CONTAINS SPOILERS) Overnight, The Hunger Games has joined the list of my favorite books. I literally could not drag my eyes from the pages and stayed up all night, until my eyes refused to stay open, reading. I enjoyed it from the first sentence to the last period and my mouth dropped open in disappointment to see that the story has an open ending which will continue in the sequel not yet published.

I immediately fell in love with the main character, Katniss. Strong, smart, passionate and sacrificing, she is my ideal heroine. That's not to say she doesn't have faults. I was a little irritated at the fabricated romance between Katniss and Peeta because from the start I was rooting for a love story between Katniss and Gale. Also, Peeta is a very endearing character and I felt bad that Katniss couldn't get her mind together and realize what was happening and find a solution.

I loved the never-ending suspense and action throughout the actual Games. I was glad Collins didn't delve too much deeper into most of the other tributes because I didn't want to feel for the characters that died like I did for Rue and even Thresh.

This was an incredible book and I'm practically salivating over the prospects the sequel presents. There was a large amount of violence, but no swearing or lewdness.

Beastly

by Alex Flinn

I expected a lot more out of this book. I thought the idea of the story of Beauty and the Beast, told from the Beast's perspective, should be very interesting. I've read other books based on fairy tales that have been given a modern makeover and still worked. However, I hated the modern spin of Beastly.

The main character, Kyle/Beast/Adrian, really annoyed me, both before his change of heart and after. I didn't enjoy that the characters were so young, only sixteen. The idea of "true love" at that age just makes me think how naive teenagers are; thinking that your first love will last forever. I also thought that Flinn's characters were not only cheesy and predictable, but he was trying too hard to make Kyle/Beast/Adrian cool. Those facts aside, the story was alright. I did enjoy the final conclusion and the way all the loose ends were wrapped up as well as the way the traditional connection of roses was tied in.

I won't read this book again, but I will give Flinn another chance.

The Morning Gift

by Eva Ibbotson

The Morning Gift didn't quite live up to my expectations. I thought A Song for Summer was phenomenal and this simply wasn't as good. I think it was a bit predictable and Ibbotson seemed to skip right over what should have been a much larger part of the story and a great climactic conclusion.

The characters were a little hard to like. Ruth was a little infantile in her I Can't Believe How Blue The Sky Is attitude. I had a hard time remembering she was twenty years old. Quin was a benevolent character, but it seemed he felt no true passion when helping others, only obligation. He seemed quite detached. It really bothers me when characters keep holding back and instead of just saying, Hey, I don't want a divorce, I love you, Quin and Ruth had to dance around, playing this self-deprecating game of denial.

I do very much enjoy Ibbotson's writing. I think her words and imagery are beautiful and her style is unique and a little reminiscent of a different time period. She also makes it very easy to keep track of a large amount of characters.

I wouldn't read this again, but I am willing to give her another chance to impress me again.

The Last Days

by Scott Westerfeld

The Last Days could be classified as a follow-up to Peeps. The original characters do make an appearance, but the plot is centered around a group of individuals that form a band and strive to become famous before the inevitable collapse of the world as we know it.

I felt that Westerfeld did a great job in developing the characters better than he might have through having each chapter told through the eyes of a different protagonist. I enjoyed seeing this world and the "disease" from the perspective of someone outside of the Night Watch and I liked that the outcome told more of the historical side of vampirism. However, the way the band members came together was too perfect and felt a little contrived.

I really like Scott Westerfeld, but sometimes his writing is a little annoying, like he's trying too hard to be hip and create these new trendy societies. This book was no exception; he was a bit redundant in the use of some "dictionary" words, making the overuse glaringly obvious.

The Last Days was not as good as Peeps, but a nice wrap up.

Peeps

by Scott Westerfeld

I thoroughly enjoyed Peeps. Coming right on the heals of The Host and being based on loosely the same topic, parasites, I would say that I definitely liked this much better than The Host. I love Westerfield's style and the flow of this story was something I didn't always encounter even in The Uglies series.

My favorite thing about this book was the way the author managed to turn a work of fiction into a biology lesson. Every other chapter was about a different parasite. It was extremely interesting and also fit into the story. I also really liked the protagonist, Cal. He was charming and unguarded and I always wanted to kind of underestimate him, but his character was innately brave and smart. I also appreciated that he was in control of himself.

The idea that vampirism is caused by a parasite and the accompanying explanations of how myths about vampires, and witches for that matter, were started was very clever. There didn't seem to be any loose ends or unexplained details that wouldn't obviously be expounded upon in the next installment.

I would definitely read this book again and can't wait to get my hands on the "companion" book.

The Host

by Stephanie Meyer

The Host was a very intriguing book. The idea of a parasitical alien race taking over Earth would be one that I might avoid in the Science Fiction section of the library. I'm glad I gave this one a chance.

I liked the way this book made the main character a dual one. It was difficult as the reader to figure out whether I was rooting for Wanderer, the Soul, or Melanie, the Human trapped inside her own mind. The thought of Wanderer having almost no control over her compelling love for Jared and Jamie, no choice in loving Ian, was a little sad and at times I wanted Melanie to disappear so that Wanderer could experience life for herself. It was heartening the way the Alien assimilated so entirely as to become more Human than not and the way her friends and even her host fell in love with her, making sacrifices to keep what they most loathed alive in her. I really enjoyed the ending of this book and wouldn't mind a sequel.
As with all of Stephanie Meyer's books, this one could have been told in 200 less pages. There's a lot of nothing that comprises the story and she could definitely have made the story more complete if she had left out the pointless walking around tunnels and told more of the story.

All in all, I give this book a high mental rating and would read it again.

Cold Sassy Tree

by Olive Ann Burns

This book was a lot like Charms for the Easy Life, in that it was a story about life. There was no great antagonist, no long quest. The synopsis says that it is the story of a boy becoming a man or some such thing, but that's not really what I got from it. Will Tweedy, at fourteen, was more man than many of the males I've met in their twenties.

The story was very interesting. There was a subtle romance hidden amongst the every day cow milkings and egg gatherings, but the real love story was that of a family. I enjoyed the "accent" of the book, set in Cold Sassy, Georgia. Eventually I could almost hear Grandpa's irreverent and raspy tone. Cold Sassy Tree was tender and sweet and I liked that it was told from Will Tweedy's young perspective. It gave a realistic glimpse into life at the turn of the century and I really enjoyed the depiction of the country's wonderment and excitement over "artermobiles", electricity and indoor plumbing.

Wonderful book, rare writing, and overall enjoyable.

The Devil and Miss Prym

by Paulo Coelho

The Devil and Miss Prym is the story of temptation and the rediscovery of faith. It was very well written and the conversations between characters had depth, but Coelho managed not to be patronizing.

This book approached very controversial ideals and yet the book was pretty simple and easily read in a few hours. It was a very interesting examination of humanity and it was startling to realize the justification a person can make in doing evil. The depiction of God was one I did not completely agree with as the religious tone and the beliefs held by the characters were, in many ways, different from my own, but even these thoughts incited new perspectives, which I appreciate.

Overall, I liked the book, but may not ever read it again.

A Song For Summer

by Eva Ibbotson

Oh, I loved this book. It was beautiful; the story, the characters, the writing. It had adventure, politics, war, humor, friendship, culture, art, music, and romance. No, not romance, that's much to soppy a word; love. True love, the kind that waits and suffers and still clings tightly and truly, enduring through joy at its peak and misery at its depth.

A Song for Summer was not what I expected it to be- a common occurrence among my recent literary adventures. I read A Countess Below Stairs not long ago and expected this to be similar, but the author seemed to deviate wildly from the somewhat amateur tone, even while keeping her style consistent. This was a book I would expect from someone like Gene Stratton-Porter, not a contemporary author. Ibbotson's transitions from one character's point of view to another's is rare and seamless. It was extremely impressive to find that, with upwards of ten streams of consciousness trading off, I never got lost within the transitions or wandered upon a loose trail of thought. She tied together so many elements and, even though Part II is less than one fourth of the book, there was no rush to the end and no unanswered questions. I laughed out loud at times, I brushed the dewy ghosts of tears from my lids, my heart ached for Marek and Ellen, leaped for Isaac and I could scarcely keep from smiling at the sheer loveliness of language and the stark, green imagery.

This book is one that has a few things that may be conceived as taboo, but it is in no way graphic or offensive.