Book Review: Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Pages: 338

Genre: YA Sci-fi

Pub. Date: November 15, 2011

Source: Personal Copy

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "Juliette hasn’t touched anyone in exactly 264 days. The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette’s touch is fatal. As long as she doesn’t hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don’t fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color. The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war – and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she’s exactly what they need right now. Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior."

Juliette has been imprisoned for months in an asylum as she is a threat to society.  Her touch kills, which is why they have her locked up and they pretty much ignore her. The world is in ruins, destroyed by war and the environment is in shambles. All Juliette has is her journal, that is until she gets a cellmate, Adam.  Things start to pick up once she realizes that Adam looks familiar and questions whether she knows him.  The Reestablishment, a military group, wants to use Juliette to their advantage and they feel she will help them gain control in a world that is falling apart.  Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi is an addicting debut that took me awhile to warm up to, but once I did, I was undeniably hooked.

Readers can't help but feel sorry for Juliette in Shatter Me.  I can't imagine not being able to touch anyone or to have any human contact; plus, she has been held up in this asylum for so many months, isolated from the world around her.  Her parents treated her like crap and she never really had any friends, so Juliette's backstory is a sad one.  She starts to find a friend in her mysterious cellmate, Adam, but in the back of her mind, she knows that he is familiar, but can't place him right away.  I don't want to say too much, because of spoilers, but I loved their relationship.

Warner, the head of the Reestablishment is an interesting and complex character as well.  Obviously, I wasn't the biggest fan of him based on his actions in Shatter Me, but he is intriguing and I definitely want to learn more about him as the series continues.

I will admit that the writing style was rather strange at first in Shatter Me and it took me awhile to get used to it. Mafi's writing style is definitely unique and I give her credit for taking risks; however, I must say that it was rather jarring at times, overly flowery, and filled with a lot of metaphors.  But once I became acclimated, it didn't bother me and as I said, I become hooked. This is especially true of the second half of the book as it has a ton of action and adventure.

I thought I was over the whole dystopian genre, but obviously I am not. I can't wait to read Unravel Me, book two in this series, as well as Ignite Me, book three, which comes out this February. I highly recommend Shatter Me if you are looking for an addicting tale; it's going down as one of my favorites of the year.

Book Review: The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

Pages: 423

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pub. Date: September 20, 2011

Source: Personal Copy

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness.  Elisa is the chosen one.  But she is also the younger of two princesses, the one who has never done anything remarkable. She can't see how she ever will.  Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king—a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs the chosen one, not a failure of a princess. And he's not the only one who seeks her. Savage enemies seething with dark magic are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people's savior. And he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake. Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn’t die young. Most of the chosen do"

Elisa is an overweight sixteen year old princess who is actually quite smart and capable, but lacks the confidence. She finds herself spending a lot of time in the kitchen eating pastries and her feelings.  She is forced to marry a king for political reasons and despite the fact that she will be queen, she still feels inadequate, especially when she compares herself to her older sister. Elisa isn't just a future queen though, she carries a Godstone, which is a stone that means she is chosen by God to do something great.  This fact is hidden from many though and Elisa isn't quite sure why or the secrets behind it.  After she marries Alejandro, the king, he keeps their marriage hidden until he ready to divulge the truth to his kingdom.  This leaves Elisa even more insecure, but she does find an unlikely friendship with Lord Hector, the king's personal guard.   Elisa surprisingly understand war and strategy and not many people recognize this in her.  Before she can become too comfortable at her new home, she is kidnapped and taken through the desert, which ends up being the journey of her life.  Rae Carson's The Girl of Fire and Thorns possesses everything I like about a high fantasy.  Simply put, fans of this genre: this is a must read!

Elisa is the type of heroine I adore.  Initially people underestimate her, but as time passes she evolves, learns, and ultimately grows.  During the first half of the book, I really felt for her. She found solace in food and just wanted to be a wallflower.  Her transformation, both physically and emotionally is one of my favorite aspects of The Girl of Fire and Thorns.  Elisa's purpose isn't just to be a Alejandro's queen; after all, she is the bearer of the Godstone.  After she is kidnapped, she learns more about her purpose and what she is truly capable of. 

The setting was awesome.  I loved the kingdoms, the desert, the idea of a Godstone, the war torn villages, the religion, and of course, the magic.  The Girl of Fire and Thorns took me back to the old-school fantasies that I used to love as a child. 

This novel not only has a lot of action, but there's also a lot of politics in it.  Since there is a war brewing, Elisa has to deal with neighboring enemies, being kidnapped, political conspiracies and much, much more.  Also, the action in The Girl of Fire and Thorns is by no means predictable. As in all good fantasies, this novel had more than a few heart-wrenching moments, moments of susupense and moments of complete surprise.

I highly recommend The Girl of Fire and Thorns for readers who adore high fantasy. It reminded me a lot of Graceling, which is one of my favorites! I am looking forward to reading the next installments, Crown of Embers and The Bitter Kingdom, and seeing where it takes Elisa, whose journey is definitely not over.

Book Review: Easy by Tammara Webber

Pages: 304
Genre: New Adult/Realistic Fiction
Pub. Date: November 6, 2012
Source: Publisher for review
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "When Jacqueline follows her longtime boyfriend to the college of his choice, the last thing she expects is a breakup two months into sophomore year. After two weeks in shock, she wakes up to her new reality: she's single, attending a state university instead of a music conservatory, ignored by her former circle of friends, and failing a class for the first time in her life. Leaving a party alone, Jacqueline is assaulted by her ex's frat brother. Rescued by a stranger who seems to be in the right place at the right time, she wants nothing more than to forget the attack and that night--but her savior, Lucas, sits on the back row of her econ class, sketching in a notebook and staring at her. Her friends nominate him to be the perfect rebound. When her attacker turns stalker, Jacqueline has a choice: crumple in defeat or learn to fight back. Lucas remains protective, but he's hiding secrets of his own. Suddenly appearances are everything, and knowing who to trust is anything but easy."

Jacqueline pulls a Felicity (except she is actually dating the guy) and follows her boyfriend to college even though she has always wanted to go to a music conservatory since she is a talented musician.  Just as we all expected, her boyfriend, Kennedy, breaks up with her sophomore year and Jacqueline falls apart.  She stops attending her economics class, because he is in it and she doesn't want to face him and his entourage of sorority girls.  Consequently, Jacqueline finds herself in a precarious situation: she is going to fail economics unless she gets it together. She has even missed a midterm and needs a tutor.  To make matters worse, after a frat party, she is sexually assaulted in the parking lot and thankfully, a mysterious stranger saves her from the sexual predator, who happens to be one of her former friends, Buck.  This mysterious stranger, also known as Lucas, is in her economics class, but he spends most of his time sitting in the back row doodling and nodding off.  Her outgoing roommate, Erin, decides that Lucas should be Jacqueline's rebound guy and they make a plan for her to bounce back from Kennedy. Lucas seems to be a good guy, but he has a TON of secrets that he is keeping from Jacqueline; things are never what they seem.  Easy by Tammara Webber is another home run for the "new adult" genre.

Hmmm. I want to say I immediately liked Jacqueline, but that was not the case as she was moping for the first part of the book. I couldn't believe that she followed her ridiculous boyfriend to a school that she didn't even want to go to.  I was frustrated with her, because when girls do this we all know how that story usually ends.  Jacqueline falls to pieces when Kennedy breaks up with her and she even lets her economics grade suffer.  Thankfully, I started to like her more when she took control of her life and basically said "screw Kennedy."  Erin, her roommate, helps her by giving her confidence and support, which her parents clearly do not give her.  

My heart went out to Jacqueline when she was assaulted by Buck.  I know this happens everyday on college campuses and it broke my heart.  Thankfully, Lucas was there to protect her, but Buck ends up pretty much stalking her and she realizes she needs to take matters into her own hands. I applaud her for doing this and not running away from the situation.  So, needless to say, Jacqueline grew on me as Easy progressed.  Obviously, Easy deals with some heavy issues, like date rape, sexual assault, stalking, violence, etc, which is not to be taken lightly.  If you are looking for a fluffy read, this isn't one for you; however, I felt Webber handled such a serious situation very well. 

Easy also deals with a common problem....girls who lose their identity to pompous boyfriends.  I mean she even gave up her name, Jacqueline, and went by Jackie, because Kennedy liked it. She was his Jackie O.  Seriously?  I was glad to see Jacqueline gravitate away from him and branch out to new friends that weren't so self-absorbed.  I guess that is what college is all about- learning about who you really are and finding your way in the world.  In that case, Webber did a great job developing the character of Jacqueline.

Lucas is an interesting character in Easy.  His connection to Jacqueline was instantaneous and I loved the romance.  There were some scenes that were pretty intense and had me blushing.  I also thought Webber did a good job creating such a mysterious character in Lucas. I knew he wasn't showing all of his cards to Jacqueline, but I wasn't quite sure why. It was interesting to figure out his backstory as Easy unfolded.  The secondary characters are also well done. I loved Erin, the fun roommate, and Jacqueline's economics tutor, Landon, who she has a lot of fun flirting with through e-mail.  I was never been so interested in reading emails as I was when it came to Landon and Jacqueline's.  

Another aspect of Easy that I enjoyed was the college life.  *Sigh* I loved, LOVED college.  The classes, the coffee breaks, the friends, the dating, the parties, etc, and Webber did a fantastic job portraying all of that. It took me right back to one of my favorite times in my life and that's the mark of a well-written novel.

I can't believe that Easy was originally self-published and I'm glad to hear that it got picked up.  This whole "new adult" genre is definitely becoming one of my new favorites. I just can't get enough!  If you are a fan of mature contemporary reads that deal with serious issues, but also have some good romance in them, definitely check out Easy.  It's currently only $5.99 as an e-book.  Can't beat that deal!

Book Review: The False Princess by Eilis O'Neal

Pages: 319

Genre: YA Historical Fiction/Fantasy

Pub. Date: January 25, 2011

Source: Won from Escape in a Book

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars 

Goodreads says, "Princess and heir to the throne of Thorvaldor, Nalia's led a privileged life at court.  But everything changes when it's revealed, just after her sixteenth birthday, that she is a false princess, a stand-in for the real Nalia, who has been hidden away for her protection.  Cast out with little more than the clothes on her back, the girl now called Sinda must leave behind the city of Vivaskari, her best friend, Keirnan, and the only life she's ever known. Sinda is sent to live with her only surviving relative, an aunt who is a dyer in a distant village. She is a cold, scornful woman with little patience for her newfound niece, and Sinda proves inept at even the simplest tasks.  But when Sinda discovers that magic runs through her veins - long-suppressed, dangerous magic that she must learn to control - she realizes that she can never learn to be a simple village girl. Returning to Vivaskari for answers, Sinda finds her purpose as a wizard scribe, rediscovers the boy who saw her all along, and uncovers a secret that could change the course of Thorvaldor's history, forever."

Nalia is heir to the throne and is living what seems to be a perfect life.  On her sixteenth birthday, she finds out that she really isn't a princess; in fact, there is another girl who is the real princess and heir to the throne.  This real princess is hidden away for safekeeping due to an ominous prediction about her life.  Nalia, now known as Sinda, must leave the only place she knows as home and go to her aunt in a small town, which is very different than life in the city.  She must not only leave immediately, but also leave her best friend, Kiernan, without even saying goodbye.  Once she gets to her aunt's house, she hopes to learn more about her biological parents, but she finds her aunt to be a cold woman who really wants nothing to do with her.  As Sinda adapts to life in the small town, she comes to realize that she possesses magical powers that have been hidden for a long time due to the spell casted on her when she lived as the "false princess."  She is starting to learn about her magical powers and it scares her as they are unpredictable and powerful.  Eventually, she leaves her aunt behind and heads back to the city to find answers about her powers.  Eilis O'Neal's The False Princess is an enjoyable read for fans of high fantasy and historical fiction.

O'Neal does a great job creating the world of Thorvaldor.  It has been so long since I read a high fantasy and I really enjoyed the world building and the fantasy elements.  It reminded me of something I read as a child by Llyod Alexander or Legacy by Cayla Kluver, which is high praise.  There's no doubt that fans of high fantasy will love all the magical details, which include spells, wizards, and much more. 

Sinda is an admirable character and she grows throughout the course of The False Princess. I loved her relationship with Kiernan and enjoyed their strong friendship, which blossoms into something more.  Sinda is the underdog and you can't help but cheer her on as she tries to uncover the truth surrounding her newly found magic. 

As the story processes, readers will find that there's more than meets the eye with the fact that Sinda is the "false" princess and will enjoy the mystery and conspiracy surrounding it. The False Princess is a book that I will gladly put on my classroom bookshelf and I think many teenage girls will enjoy Sinda's story and journey.  If you are looking for an entertaining fantasy with some historical fiction, a mystery, and sweet romance on the side, get your hands on a copy of The False Princess.

Book Review: Forgotten by Cat Patrick

Pages: 304

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pub. Date: June 11, 2011

Source: Personal Copy

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "Each night at precisely 4:33 am, while sixteen-year-old London Lane is asleep, her memory of that day is erased. In the morning, all she can "remember" are events from her future. London is used to relying on reminder notes and a trusted friend to get through the day, but things get complicated when a new boy at school enters the picture. Luke Henry is not someone you'd easily forget, yet try as she might, London can't find him in her memories of things to come. When London starts experiencing disturbing flashbacks, or flash-forwards, as the case may be, she realizes it's time to learn about the past she keeps forgetting—before it destroys her future."

London Lane isn't a normal girl.  She experiences something unusual every night when she falls asleep.  She forgets the day before as if her memory has been completely erased.  In order to "survive" she writes her self notes about the previous day, like what she wore, what she has for homework, what happened at school, etc.  Complications in her plan arise when she meets and connects with a new student, Luke, and she starts experiences flash-forwards in addition to flashbacks about various events.  Cat Patrick's debut novel, Forgotten, is extremely unique and entertaining; I thoroughly enjoyed it.


London's situation is so unique as I stated previously. I was captivated by the concept.  What if we forgot what we did yesterday? Who we talked to? What happened? That is definitely a trying situation, but what if we wanted to forget certain events or if certain people wanted us to forget certain events? It's an interesting question and London explores this very topic in Forgotten.  She has to piece together events from the future in addition to the memories she's experiencing from her past, especially about an important event that occurred to her family many years ago.  


Her relationship with Luke was heartwarming.  I can see why many people are fans of him, but at times, he was a bit too sweet for me.  Because I am a skeptic at heart, I was always questioning his motives and trying to understand how a relationship could progress so quickly despite her memory issues. In the end, I couldn't help myself. I was definitely rooting for these two love birds.  


In Forgotten, things do get a little darker than expected as the plot thickens, which took me by surprise in a very good way.  So, it's not just about London coping with her issues, dealing with school, and dating Luke; there's much more to Forgotten as there is a few mysteries thrown into the mix.


I would have loved to learn a little bit more as to why London has certain flashbacks and not others, but once I let go of trying to understand the "rules" of her condition, I was swept away by the premise.  If you are looking for a one-of-a-kind fantasy that includes a mystery that will have you hooked, definitely check out Forgotten by Cat Patrick this summer. 

Book Review: Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel

Pages: 417

Genre: YA Science Fiction

Pub. Date: October 18, 2011

Source: Personal Copy

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "Love conquers all, so they say. But can Cupid’s arrow pierce the hearts of the living and the dead—or rather, the undead? Can a proper young Victorian lady find true love in the arms of a dashing zombie?  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. In Dearly, Departed, romance meets walking-dead thriller, spawning a madly imaginative novel of rip-roaring adventure, spine-tingling suspense, and macabre comedy that forever redefines the concept of undying love."

Imagine a world in the future where although it may be technologically advanced, society is more like it was in the Victorian Era with a class system, fancy balls, tea parties, strict rules and strict etiquette.  This new world is called New Victoria and Nora, essentially an orphan, lives with her aunt who runs a tight ship.  She wants her to marry for money and climb the social ladder; however, Nora cares more about about history and educating herself.  One day Nora is almost kidnapped by zombies and she meets Bram, a soldier, who is "dead."  There is definitely more to Bram than meets the eye and their relationship evolves as Nora learns more and more secrets about her world.  Lia Habel's debut, Dearly, Departed, is a new take on zombies and is no doubt entertaining; however, it left me feeling rather indifferent.


I must admit that Dearly, Departed is outside of my comfort zone. I remember reading The Forest of Hands and Teeth and was completely freaked out, so I want to preface this by saying Dearly, Departed isn't a book that I would normally read.  Thankfully the zombies in this novel aren't as freaky as I expected, thanks to the technology in Nora's world.    Due to advances in science, some of the undead can hold onto their personalities, mannerisms, behaviors, etc, and that is the case with Bram.  Habel does a good job developing a connecting between Nora and Bram, but for me, it didn't work. I wasn't completely absorbed as I would have liked and it wasn't believable enough.


On the other hand, the setting is really very cool.  The year is 2195. I like how Habel is able to juxtapose advances in technology with the strict world of New Victoria.  I admired Nora for not being a typical "Victorian" female; she is feisty, determined and unconventional.  Also, I enjoyed learning more about her past, her family and the secrets surrounding New Victoria.  That is what held my interest the most in Dearly, Departed.


One of the major flaws with Dearly, Departed is the fact that are way too many first person narrators.  With each chapter, the narration would switch from Nora, Bram, and many other characters. For me, I would have rather it focused on just Nora and Bram as it got disjointed and rather spread out. I felt that this is what contributed to the fact that I felt Nora and Bram's relationship wasn't as enjoyable as it could have been.


If you are a fan of zombies, the horror genre, or dystopias, I would suggest picking up Dearly, Departed this summer.  However, if you are like me and tend to be shy about from anything that could fall under the "horror" category, I would skip Dearly, Departed as the paranormal romance aspect of the book wasn't strong enough for me to get over my disdain for zombies.

Book Review: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Pages: 452

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pub. Date: September 27, 2011

Source: Personal Copy

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.  It can.  She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.  There is.  She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love.  She's wrong."

Mara is involved in a peculiar accident in which three of her friends die and she miraculously lives.  Mara has no clue what happened and can't remember back to that fateful night.  Her family moves to Miami to give Mara a chance to start over, but weird things start happening to her.  She is hallucinating, having dreams about the night of the accident, and fainting, to just name a few.  She is starting to wonder if she is going crazy.  Mara meets bad boy, Noah, at her new private school and as their relationship evolves, she starts to piece together the mystery of the night that changed her life forever.  The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin is a suspenseful, action-packed book that instantly became one of my favorite young adult paranormal reads.


Mara's story unravels slowly and while I was able to predict certain events, the book kept me in total suspense.  I was always guessing and trying to piece together the puzzle and there were a few plot twists that took me off guard.  While Mara isn't one of my favorite YA protagonists, her love interest, Noah, is.  Yes, he's a pompous ass and says some cheesy one-liners, but I found myself wanting to learn more and more about him. What can I say? I'm obviously a sucker for the token bad-boy. Mara and Noah's relationship was a bit YA cookie cutter at times, but despite that, it's the mystery of Mara that kept me reading.  


The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is a book that consumed me. I found myself thinking about it and guessing what was going to happen even when I wasn't reading it.  Despite the 400+ pages, I finished it quickly because I just. had. to. know.  


Another aspect of The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer that I loved is the setting. Miami is the perfect location for a sultry and haunting mystery that is equal parts romantic and creepy.  I don't often read books that are set in Miami and it is absolutely perfect for Mara's tale.


I am so excited to hear that there will be a second book coming out entitled The Evolution of Mara Dyer and it will be published this fall.  After reading the ending of The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, I was completely blown away---talk about a cliffhanger! So, if you are a fan of paranormal reads that include action, suspense, romance and the supernatural, you MUST get your hands on a copy of The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer. 

*Buy The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

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Book Review: Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

Pages: 288

Genre: YA Realistic Fiction

Pub. Date: December 2, 2011

Source: From publisher for review

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though - she leads them as the captain and quarterback on her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys, and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university. But now there's a new guy in town who threatens her starring position on the team... and has her suddenly wishing to be seen as more than just a teammate."

Jordan Woods, daughter of the famous NFL quarterback, Donovan Woods, is one of Tennessee's best quarterbacks, even though she is a female in the male dominated sport of football.  She appears to have it all---- wealth, a football team that supports her, a loyal best friend and her eye on the prize which is the upcoming State Championship game and playing for University of Alabama.  She won't let anything deter her from her goals, that is until Ty, a new student and talented quarterback, joins her team and ends up as competition for her spot.   Plus, she actually likes him, which proves to be a big problem.  Catching Jordan, a debut by Miranda Kenneally, is a dazzling contemporary read that mixes two of my favorites:  romance and football.

Catching Jordan is so much more than a sports book.  It examines relationships, first love, expectations, sexism, loyalty, and family.  I really liked the character of Jordan and she grows as a person throughout the book.  At first, she hates other girls (especially cheerleaders), only hangs with the team, and has never kissed a boy. However, throughout the course of the book, she transforms into a more balanced person and learns a little bit more about life and relationships.

Her best friend, Henry, was one of my favorite characters in Catching Jordan. He was definitely swoon-worthy and I immediately imagined Tim Riggins from Friday Night Lights as I was visualizing this character. I definitely had crush on Henry and haven't felt that way since St. Clair or Dimitri.    On the other hand, I really disliked her father, the professional quarterback.  Thankfully, he, like Jordan, evolves throughout the book, but for the first half of the book, he was a complete disappointment.  Lastly, Ty is definitely the stereotypical cute quarterback, but he had too many issues for me to really like him. I didn't like how controlling he was, but there's no doubt he was easy on the eyes. His relationship with Jordan was a bit too insta-love for me.

It's no secret that I am a HUGE fan of football, so I loved all the descriptions of the game, the players, and even practice.  Kenneally is a talented writer and I enjoyed how she wove a sports story and a romance together expertly.  I can't wait for the companion to Catching Jordan, which is The Girl I Used To Be and it comes out next fall.

*Pre-order Catching Jordan

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Book Review: Becoming Marie Antoinette by Juliet Grey

Pages: 453

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction

Pub. Date: August 9, 2011

Source: Netgalley

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "Raised alongside her numerous brothers and sisters by the formidable empress of Austria, ten-year-old Maria Antonia knew that her idyllic existence would one day be sacrificed to her mother’s political ambitions. What she never anticipated was that the day in question would come so soon. Before she can journey from sunlit picnics with her sisters in Vienna to the glitter, glamour, and gossip of Versailles, Antonia must change everything about herself in order to be accepted as dauphine of France and the wife of the awkward teenage boy who will one day be Louis XVI. Yet nothing can prepare her for the ingenuity and influence it will take to become queen. Filled with smart history, treacherous rivalries, lavish clothes, and sparkling jewels, Becoming Marie Antoinette will utterly captivate fiction and history lovers alike."

Readers meet Maria Antonia as a spunky child in Austria.  Her mother, forever scheming and desperately ambitious, has high hopes for her daughter.  Maria Antonia always knew that she would one day wed Louis XVI of France and she would end up as the Queen of France.  The story follows Marie as she learns about what it takes to be "worthy" for Louis and it's shocking to learn about the many things she had ti endure.  Once she finally is wedded to Louis, the story follows the many obstacles she had to face as a young girl in an intense and gossip filled court.  Becoming Marie Antoinette will please fans of historical fiction as it is smart, yet extremely engaging.


I was immediately interested in Marie Antoinette and really enjoyed following her transformation. Yes, I knew about her from history class, but I've never read a book focusing on her and I found this time period to be just as captivating as Tudor England.  The dresses, the ornate jewelry, the hairstyles, the gossip, the food, and the gambling were all very entertaining.  Plus, readers are witnessing this all from a young teenager's eyes and that made it all the more interesting as Marie is just learning her way about court in Becoming Marie Antoinette.


Her mother, on the other hand, was a hard women to feel empathy for. She was so ambitious; it was difficult for readers to see that she even cared about her daughter's wellbeing.  She was definitely not my favorite character.  Also, Louis XVI was a peculiar sort of boy. At times I was completely frustrated with him, but then I just felt badly for him.  He's definitely a little boy in a man's body and was very wimpy.  


My only grip with this book is the lack of dialogue. I would have loved a bit more.  It felt like there were a ton of descriptions and not enough dialogue, but that is my only issue with Becoming Marie Antoinette.  


This story stops around Marie Antoinette's eighteenth birthday and I was left with so many questions.  I was very happy to hear that Becoming Marie Antoinette is part of a trilogy and the second book in this series, Days of Splendor, Days of Sorrow, will come out this summer.  I can only imagine what antics Marie Antoinette is up to in that book!  I have a feeling things are going to get very unruly and in a good way.  I will definitely be picking up the second book as I loved being lost in Marie's enchanting world.

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Book Review: Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon

Pages: 342

Genre: YA Fantasy/Paranormal

Pub. Date: October 4, 2011

Source: ARC from Around the World Tours

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "Their love was meant to be.  When Megan Rosenberg moves to Ireland, everything in her life seems to fall into place. After growing up in America, she's surprised to find herself feeling at home in her new school. She connects with a group of friends, and she is instantly drawn to darkly handsome Adam DeRÍs.  But Megan is about to discover that her feelings for Adam are tied to a fate that was sealed long ago—and that the passion and power that brought them together could be their ultimate destruction."

Megan moves to Ireland for her dad's job and quickly assimilates to the culture and her new school.  She makes many new friends and she can't help herself about one thing.  She's interested in resident bad boy, the elusive and good looking Adam.  Megan learns that there's more here than just an attraction between the two, but rather a history layered in Celtic lore.  Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon is a debut that has moments of greatness intertwined with the usual cookie-cutter YA cliches.

Megan is not my favorite YA heroine; in fact, she is more Bella Swan than I'd like.  She's too dependent on Adam and not feisty enough for my taste.  She was too obsessed with Adam and although their relationship was adorable at times, I felt for the most part it wasn't believable.  There was simply too much emphasis on it. For example, the fate of the world was dependent upon whether she dates Adam or not.  I'm not kidding.  There was also an insta-love attraction between the two and I understand why since there is a "history" behind it all, but I just had a hard time dealing with it. It felt too Twilight-ish for me.

On the bright side, I did enjoy the magic and the Celtic lore in Carrier of the Mark. I thought that the premise was unique.  Fallon's take on magic and elements being carried through genes is pretty interesting.  Also,  I especially enjoyed the setting of Ireland and I'm sure this doesn't come as a surprise since I love Ireland!  The town of Kinsale is perfect for a YA paranormal. The towns of Cork and Dublin as well as the famous Trinity College were visited by Megan and it made me want to plan a trip to Ireland again.  

All in all, I think that young readers, such as my students, would enjoy this novel and probably won't be bothered by some of the things that bothered me.  For fans of the novel, you'll be happy to know that Carrier of the Mark will be part of a series with the next book, Dawn of the Knights, due out in early 2013.  

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Book Review: The Other Countess by Eve Edwards

Pages: 352

Genre: YA Historical Fiction

Pub. Date: July 12, 2011

Source: Personal copy

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "Ellie—Lady Eleanor Rodriguez, Countess of San Jaime—possesses a worthless title, but her feisty spirit captivates the elite of the Queen's court—especially the dashing new Earl of Dorset.  William Lacey, Earl of Dorset, has inherited his father's title—and his financial ruin. Now Will must seek a wealthy bride and restore his family's fortune. If only he hadn't fallen for the beautiful but penniless Ellie . . . Sparks fly whenever Ellie and Will are together, but circumstances—and the conniving interference of others—threaten to keep them apart."

Ellie, although a Countess, holds a meaningless title while living in England as her ancestors are from Spain.  Her father isn't much help as he is obsessed with the study of alchemy and has essentially ruined Ellie's chances for a respectable life.  She, along with her stubborn father, has been thrown out of many a household due to sucking the finances dry with his study of alchemy and all its false hopes.  William, the Earl of Dorset, once threw her and her father out many, many years ago for this very reason.  However, he meets Ellie again as they are older and becomes instantly entranced by her beauty and brains, but he doesn't know she is the daughter of the infamous alchemist.  To make matters worse, Will's family needs him to marry a wealthy female as their family has their own financial struggles ever since his father died; however, he can't deny his attraction to Ellie.  The Other Countess, a debut novel by Eve Edwards, will delight fans of historical fiction and romance.


On a bright note, I really enjoyed Ellie. She reminded me of a strong and educated heroine that Philippa Gregory often writes about.  I couldn't help but admire her.  Another interesting character, Lady Jane Perceval, befriends Ellie and instead of there being competition between Ellie and Jane for Will's heart, it was very much the opposite. I would have to say that was a relief as that particular scenario has been played out.  Jane's family, (along with Will's), wants her to marry Will as it's a good "match" but they both have no feelings for each other.  This makes for a challenging situation for all involved.  Also, Will is an overall good guy, but for me, he wasn't a swoon-worthy male lead. I enjoyed him, but he lacked that something special.


One of the things I struggled with was the varying points of views. In The Other Countess the point of view often switches, which was good as readers get many characters' perspectives on a situation, but for me, there were too many switches.  I would have preferred simply Will and Ellie's point of view; however, that wasn't the case. 


The setting of The Other Countess is brilliant. Who doesn't love Elizabethan England? It makes for such an interesting setting as there's insight into the upper class, lower class, servants, and even The Church of England versus Roman Catholicism.  


The romance was sweet.  It definitely fell into the trap of love conquers all and love survives against all odds. For me, The Other Countess gave me a bit of a toothache as it was overly sweet and in life things don't always end with a beautiful bow on top.   I think I had so much trouble with the romance, because it was a tad too predictable for me.


All in all, if you are looking for a feel good read and you love an adorable romance set in Elizabethan England, check out The Other Countess.  There's even a sequel coming out next April called The Queen's Lady, which will focus on Lady Jane Perceval.

*Buy The Other Countess

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Book Review: The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton

Pages: 352

Genre: YA Historical Fiction/Fantasy

Pub. Date: September 27, 2011

Source: Publisher for review

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "Debut novelist Kiki Hamilton takes readers from the gritty slums and glittering ballrooms of Victorian London to the beguiling but menacing Otherworld of the Fey in this spellbinding tale of romance, suspense, and danger.  The year is 1871, and Tiki has been making a home for herself and her family of orphans in a deserted hideaway adjoining Charing Cross Station in central London. Their only means of survival is by picking pockets. One December night, Tiki steals a ring, and sets off a chain of events that could lead to all-out war with the Fey. For the ring belongs to Queen Victoria, and it binds the rulers of England and the realm of Faerie to peace. With the ring missing, a rebel group of faeries hopes to break the treaty with dark magic and blood—Tiki’s blood. Unbeknownst to Tiki, she is being watched—and protected—by Rieker, a fellow thief who suspects she is involved in the disappearance of the ring. Rieker has secrets of his own, and Tiki is not all that she appears to be. Her very existence haunts Prince Leopold, the Queen’s son, who is driven to know more about the mysterious mark that encircles her wrist. Prince, pauper, and thief—all must work together to secure the treaty…"

In Victorian London it's especially tough if you are an orphan living on the streets and that's the situation for Tiki who lives with friends in an abandoned building in Charing Cross Station.  She never knows what her next meal is going to be and in turn, picks pockets to survive.  One night Tiki steals a ring, and not just any ring, but Queen Victoria's ring.  This ring also holds special powers as it holds a truce between the human world and the faerie world.  Since the ring is missing, there's a group of dangerous faeries on the prowl for Tiki, whom they know has something to do with its disappearance as well as her friend and fellow thief, Rieker.  There's more than meets the eye in The Faerie Ring by debut author Kiki Hamilton and this story will take readers on a captivating adventure through Victorian London.  The Faerie Ring is the perfect combination of historical fiction, fantasy, and a blossoming romance.


I love this time period. Dickens' London is a brilliant setting for The Faerie Ring with it's crime-filled streets, struggling orphans, and the huge separation of the rich and the poor.  It reminded me of Dickens' Oliver Twist; in fact, Rieker was reading it in the book in the story. So, needless to say, the setting itself was fascinating.


Tiki is a strong heroine that I immediately warmed up to. I really liked her and felt she was caring, courageous, clever and down right likable.  With her rags to riches story, how could you not root for her?  Rieker, at first, didn't catch my eye. at. all.  But as I read more about him and learned more about his background, I was then completely enchanted. Hamilton slowly reveals his past and like Tiki, I was desperate to find out more.  The romance between the two was a slow burn, but it was definitely worth the wait.


The Faerie Ring is a great mystery that's filled with fantasy and adventure.  I found the interactions between the faeries and Tiki to be suspenseful and Hamilton's whole take on faerie lore to be compelling. I forgot how much I love faerie lore, especially Hamilton's mentions of the Irish Faerie Court.


I can't wait to share The Faerie Ring with my students, especially since it's going down as one of my favorite young adult books of 2011.  Thankfully, The Faerie Ring is a part of a series. I can't wait to find out what happens next to Tiki and Rieker and I especially want to learn more about Tiki's past. Maybe the next book will take place in Ireland? *fingers crossed!*

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Book Review: Girl Wonder by Alexa Martin

Pages: 304

Genre: YA Realistic Fiction

Pub. Date: May 3, 2011

Source: Publisher for review

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "As if transferring senior year weren't hard enough, Charlotte Locke has been bumped to lower level classes at her new school. With no friends, a terrible math SAT score, and looming college application deadlines, the future is starting to seem like an oncoming train for which she has no ticket. Then Amanda enters her orbit like a hot-pink meteor, offering Charlotte a ticket to something else: popularity. Amanda is fearless, beautiful, brilliant, and rich. As her new side kick, Charlotte is brought into the elite clique of the debate team—and closer to Neal, Amanda's equally brilliant friend and the most perfect boy Charlotte has ever seen. But just when senior year is looking up, Charlotte’s life starts to crumble. The more things heat up between Charlotte and Neal, the more Neal wants to hide their relationship. Is he ashamed? Meanwhile, Amanda is starting to act strangely competitive, and she's keeping a secret Charlotte doesn't want to know. Talented newcomer Alexa Martin delivers a poignant story of first love, jealousy and friendship, where the ups and downs of senior year have never been so complicated. What else can Charlotte do but throw her hands up and ride?"

Charlotte Locke transferred to a new high school for her senior year and often feels judged for her learning disability in math.  In her family, she is surrounded by high achievers and Charlotte is just trying to find her own way.  She meets Amanda, a rich non-conformist, who takes Charlotte under her wing.  She also meets Amanda's friend, Neal, who happens to be Charlotte's dream guy.  They all join the debate team, hangout, and attend crazy parties, but Charlotte finds that she is losing herself as she is trying to be someone she is not just to fit in.  Girl Wonder by debut author Alexa Martin is a cautionary tale about trying to fit in, the perils of peer pressure, and essentially losing yourself in the process.

You can't help but feel sympathy for Charlotte who is just trying to have a good senior year at a new school.  She falls into the trap of trying to impress Amanda and Neal, which ultimately sends her on a downward spiral and she ends up doing many things she will regret thanks to peer-pressure.  What Charlotte needs is the guidance of a good friend or mentor, but her dad, a successful novelist, doesn't have time for her and only cares about her SAT scores.  Her mom, a literature professor, doesn't really pay much attention to her either, because she is more focused on her failing relationship with her husband.  Her brother, who is younger and has a good heart, tries to be her friend, but to make matters worse, he is pretty much a genius and Charlotte finds herself in his shadow quite often.  I just wish she found a good friend towards the beginning of the Girl Wonder, because that is what she really needed.

Amanda is the girl in high school I'm sure we all knew.  She is too cool for school and tries so hard to stand out.   She's manipulative and a horrible friend, but Charlotte, being insecure and weak, tries very hard to be close to her.  On the other hand, Neal, I just didn't get. I don't see why Charlotte put up with  him. He's pretentious, haughty, and deceptive.  I desperately wanted Charlotte to see his true colors, but I know in high school that is harder than it seems.

Girl Wonder is filled with peer-pressure, dangerous drugs, underage drinking, and sex.  I could never put this book in my classroom since I teach middle school, but on the other hand, I can see many high school students relating to Charlotte's story.  I did find most of Girl Wonder to be depressing, but by the end readers will be pleased as Charlotte really grows and finds her way after all.  Ultimately, Martin shows us what many high school students have to deal with on a daily basis and for me, it was eye opening.

*Buy Girl Wonder

*Thank you to Hyperion and DPW Publicity for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review.