Tag: goodreads

• Book Review: “Murder is Bad Manners” by Robin Stevens

  Posted at 6:30 am by Laura, on June 12, 2015

  Murder is Bad Manners by Robin Stevens
  also published under Murder Most Unladylike in the UK

  Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers / Corgi Children’s
  Published: April 2015 / June 2014
  Genre: middle grade, mystery, historical fiction
  ISBN: 9781481422123
  Goodreads: 4.05
  Rating: ★★★★

  Deepdean School for Girls, 1934. When Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong set up their very own deadly secret detective agency, they struggle to find any truly exciting mysteries to investigate. (Unless you count the case of Lavinia’s missing tie. Which they don’t, really.)

  But then Hazel discovers the Science Mistress, Miss Bell, lying dead in the Gym. She thinks it must all have been a terrible accident – but when she and Daisy return five minutes later, the body has disappeared. Now the girls know a murder must have taken place . . . and there’s more than one person at Deepdean with a motive.

  Now Hazel and Daisy not only have a murder to solve: they have to prove a murder happened in the first place. Determined to get to the bottom of the crime before the killer strikes again (and before the police can get there first, naturally), Hazel and Daisy must hunt for evidence, spy on their suspects and use all the cunning, scheming and intuition they can muster. But will they succeed? And can their friendship stand the test?

  Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong, best friends and co-starters of several societies at Deepdean School for Girls, are smack dab in the middle of a murder case before the rest of the school realizes what’s happened to two of their teachers. Hazel discovers Miss Bell, the science teacher, dead in the gym, and Daisy launches an investigation by starting up the Wells and Wong Detective Agency. By listing suspects, motives, and gathering evidence, the girls seek out ways to prove teachers’ innocence, and are on the right track to sniffing out the murderer when another teacher winds up dead. Soon, the murders seem too real to the girls, and their friendship is stretched thin.

  Daisy liked rushing headlong into things and triumphing, and I liked waiting
  and thinking — but why should that make her right and me wrong?

  If you want a good middle grade mystery for a young Holmes or Marple in your life, look no further. This has that classic Doyle or Christie feel, and the characters — Hazel, in particular — are so well-rounded I felt like I was in school with these girls in 1930s England.

  Daisy and Hazel occasionally let their emotions guide them to their conclusions, but they conduct their investigation like a detective would: writing down possible suspects, sniffing around for evidence to cross suspects off the list — rather than pinpointing a person and blindly ignoring evidence that suggests otherwise — sneakily discover information by creating diversions or running off somewhere in the school late at night, and even confronting the criminal when they’ve finished their work. What’s extra wonderful is that the girls solve the basic part of the mystery halfway through, and quickly realize they’re not necessarily wrong, just that there was more to it than they expected, and they continue the investigation before bringing it to the police’s attention.

  That’s not to say the murder doesn’t bother them. Daisy tries very hard to see the crime as something in her detective novels, but there’s a scene in here where she buries herself under a pile of coats (kind of like a comfort tactic) and admits to Hazel they may be in over their heads. Hazel is bothered by the case from the get-go, having seen the victim firsthand. Several middle grade mysteries lack this haunting psychological element, so I was very happy to see Stevens write this into the story. It was also refreshing to see the friends work hard together, but still have some bumps along the road that tests their friendship. There are moments when Hazel’s “otherness” gets in the way as well, and I liked how she handled these situations.

  A satisfying ending that works as a standalone and a promise for more (and I know there’s more — the perks of watching UK books come to the US!). I’m thrilled I read this book! I can’t wait to read the other adventures Daisy and Hazel experience!

  This qualifies as book #6 in my resolution to read 10 library books in 2015. 

  Posted in books, Reviews 2015 | 1 Comment | Tagged book review, books, genre: historical fiction, genre: middle grade, genre: mystery, goodreads, review

• Book Review: “Letters to the Lost” by Iona Grey (ARC)

  Posted at 7:00 am by Laura, on May 21, 2015

  Letters to the Lost by Iona Grey

  Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
  Publishing Date: May 26
  Genre: adult fiction, historical fiction
  ISBN: 9781250066770
  Goodreads: —
  Rating: ★★★.5

  Late on a frozen February evening, a young woman is running through the streets of London. Having fled from her abusive boyfriend and with nowhere to go, Jess stumbles onto a forgotten lane where a small, clearly unlived in old house offers her best chance of shelter for the night. The next morning, a mysterious letter arrives and when she can’t help but open it, she finds herself drawn inexorably into the story of two lovers from another time.

  In London 1942, Stella meets Dan, a US airman, quite by accident, but there is no denying the impossible, unstoppable love that draws them together. Dan is a B-17 pilot flying his bomber into Europe from a British airbase; his odds of survival at one in five. The odds are stacked against the pair; the one thing they hold onto is the letters they write to each other. Fate is unkind and they are separated by decades and continents. In the present, Jess becomes determined to find out what happened to them. Her hope—inspired by a love so powerful it spans a lifetime—will lead her to find a startling redemption in her own life.

  A young woman on the run from an abusive boyfriend and a terrible situation breaks into a small English home and comes across a shoebox full of WWII letters. The letters are written by the same man who recently sent a desperate plea to a Mrs. Thorne to get back in touch with him — a letter dropped through the slot that Jess opens out of curiosity. The letters transport Jess back in time, to London 1942, to US airman Dan and sheltered vicar’s wife Stella. They stumble across one another in a bombed-out church, searching for Stella’s bracelet. As time progresses, their friendship-through-letters turns into something much more, and Stella struggles to find a way out of her destructive sham of a marriage.

  At first this book had a lot going for it — nearing five stars for this WWII fanatic — and for a while I was convinced that, as a Kate Morton fan, I would adore this. Dual timelines are hard, historical fiction is hard, and getting the reader to fall in love with the parallel stories is even harder. And that’s where my love for it dwindled away: I didn’t care one bit about Jess. Her story — on the run from a bad situation and seeking solace in a quiet place before getting back on her feet — was compelling at the beginning, but then she latched on too quickly to the next man to come into her life (Will, and he’s another (boring) story) and became dependent on a male once more. I didn’t believe it, I didn’t enjoy it, and I felt her story could have been so much stronger if it went in a different direction.

  But Dan? Dan and Stella totally made up for it. Stella was a poor orphan who, once she was of age, became the housekeeper at Charles Thorne’s vicarage. She didn’t know what love was, so when Charles proposed — and this meant having her own home and building a family, things she didn’t have growing up — Stella’s overjoyed. She quickly learns there’s something off about their marriage, and begins to wonder if it’s her fault. (Oh no, honey, it’s definitely not you!) Enter Dan: charming in a quiet and chivalrous way, not at all cheeky or boisterous like the other Americans roaming London. He helps her find jewelry she’d lost, and they decide to have lunch together. Lunch turns into an exchange of letters, which turns into “when are you on leave next?” and “let’s go on a weekend trip together” and “how can we get you out of this marriage and start over?”

  I know that sounds predictable for a WWII romance, especially when the characters not only have a war to deal with but also an entire body of water if the war ever ends and they’re both still alive. But it’s really not that predictable. I had no idea if their plans would work, I didn’t know why Dan was reaching out to her in modern day (did things not work out, and why?). They’re full of love and fire and logic that everything seems possible and yet hopeless. The modern time portion of the narrative gives us a trail of clues to follow, and that was enjoyable up to a point (cue Jess and Will rants).

  Lindsey @ Bring My Books and I had a long conversation about this. We love Dan just like we love Jamie and Red, and we really felt something for Stella. Their story was beautiful and heartbreaking and we wanted more. We also wanted to shove Jess in a broom closet till she examined her life and looked at her choices, and we wanted to kill off Will (not even going to bother more comments on him) so that no reader would ever need to read his passages. If you want to know the definition of “weak,” I’d point you to this storyline.

  That being said, I’m definitely going to watch out for Iona Grey’s next books. Stella and Dan won me over, and if Grey’s publications follow that line I’m on board!

  Thank you, Edelweiss, for providing this book from Thomas Dunne Books for review!

  Posted in books, Reviews 2015 | 2 Comments | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, genre: adult fiction, genre: fiction, genre: historical fiction, genre: romance, goodreads, review

• Book Review: “Under a Painted Sky” by Stacey Lee

  Posted at 6:15 am by Laura, on May 11, 2015

  Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee

  Publisher: Putnam
  Published: March 2015
  Genre: young adult, historical fiction
  ISBN: 9780399168031
  Goodreads: 4.09
  Rating: ★★★★★

  Missouri, 1849: Samantha dreams of moving back to New York to be a professional musician—not an easy thing if you’re a girl, and harder still if you’re Chinese. But a tragic accident dashes any hopes of fulfilling her dream, and instead, leaves her fearing for her life. With the help of a runaway slave named Annamae, Samantha flees town for the unknown frontier. But life on the Oregon Trail is unsafe for two girls, so they disguise themselves as Sammy and Andy, two boys headed for the California gold rush. Sammy and Andy forge a powerful bond as they each search for a link to their past, and struggle to avoid any unwanted attention. But when they cross paths with a band of cowboys, the light-hearted troupe turn out to be unexpected allies. With the law closing in on them and new setbacks coming each day, the girls quickly learn that there are not many places to hide on the open trail.

  If Samantha just listened to her father’s plan about moving to California, then tragedy would not have left her an orphan — or so she believes. Over the course of one night, Samantha murders a man and is aided by slave Annamae to disguise as boys and flee Missouri. A Chinese girl and runaway slave aren’t easy to hide, so they quickly forge a bond with three cowboys and claim to be heading to California for the gold rush. But these girls-turned-boys, now Sammy and Andy, find they’ve got more to worry about than prices on their heads. The Oregon Trail is no walk in the park, and danger can strike at any moment on the open prairie.

  Maybe what matters is not so much the path as who walks beside you.

  When I first saw this book on a list of to-watch reads, I latched on immediately to three things: YA historical fiction, west/Oregon Trail, and diverse protagonists. A year ago I said I wanted more historical fiction in YA, more Western themes (even mentioned the Oregon Trail!), more pioneers, more POC as protagonists. And guess what? This book has it. So if you’re looking for something fresh and unique that your mind will cling to long after you finish the book, you want to pick this one up. There’s not enough historical fiction in the YA category, and everyone loves a good adventure. Plus, this troupe has a Chinese girl (and her philosophy really plays a role in the story), a black girl (whose faith is so steadfast, it makes me weep), two white Texans (who are so very American it cracks me up), and one Mexican (whose story I wanted to hear more of). You will fall in love. Also, music. Music and storytelling are massive components to this book.

  If eyes left footprints, this man’s face would be worn as a welcome mat.

  At first I wondered how Sammy could pull off being a guy. She and Andy are girls with defining feminine features, and Chinese are typically built thinner anyway. The likelihood people could see through their disguise was pretty high, which is why it was so great the three cowboys — Cay, West, and Peety — took them under their wing without asking too many questions. With those guys by their side, teaching them how to ride, shoot, and use rope, Sammy and Andy could take on the whole Oregon Trail and any outlaws they’d stumble across. With each passing day, the guys open up to them, and Sammy noticeably relaxes from a fearful girl dressed as a guy, to a strong-willed girl stretching her wings and independence.

  They say time freezes, but I’ve never experienced it until now. I stay like that, lost in his eyes for that eternal moment, and then the dawn breaks, and we are Sammy and West again, boys on the trail.

  About a third into the book you begin to wonder if the cowboys have caught on to the girls’ disguises. It’s most visible in West’s demeanor around Sammy. He’s an artistic, tortured, quiet soul, and it speaks to Sammy’s philosophical, musical side. They dance around each other. After several life-threatening events, Sammy’s certain West knows, but at this point in the trail she’s not sure what to believe. The romance is not a major component to the story, yet it’s fraught with emotional turmoil and tension and confusion. It’s a difficult situation, pretending to be someone you’re not, when the people who’ve helped you from the beginning have been nothing but kind, generous, and honest. Truly, all the relationships, platonic or otherwise, were so well-written and believable I can’t help but hope their journey continues beautifully.

  It is no easy thing, living under the weight of public scrutiny day after day.

  Sammy and Andy are the stars of this book. Forced together under difficult circumstances, a blessing to the other, they grow and bond like no other new friendship I’ve seen in any other book. They’re torn over their paths to freedom: Sammy to California to find the man who was going to help her and her father, Andy to an unmarked, potentially mythical falls, where she would meet her runaway brother. As time passes and the necessity to stay linked to the cowboys becomes apparent, the girls are torn between continuing on those separate journeys or linking them together. It’s incredibly touching, and made doubly so by their shared and yet vastly different life experiences. Sammy’s singled out because she’s Chinese, a foreigner, a marvel to some and scum to others. Andy is singled out — or invisible — because she’s black, a slave girl with a brand on her arm, with no one to believe she’s good and clean and human. They bond over their otherness, and they learn from their differences. And what’s even more beautiful is that West, Peety, and Cay don’t give a lick what these girls (boys?) look like, just that they do their part on the trail.

  “Dig in for a second, boys,” breathes Cay. “My eyeballs are full.”

  This is a story about friendship and sacrifice, compassion and humanity, philosophy and faith, music and art, danger and bravery, all on the stunning backdrop of the Oregon Trail.

  Posted in books, Reviews 2015 | 3 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: historical fiction, genre: young adult, goodreads, review

• Book Review: “Saint Anything” by Sarah Dessen (ARC)

  Posted at 6:05 am by Laura, on May 4, 2015

  Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen

  Publisher: Viking
  Publishing Date: May 5
  Genre: young adult, contemporary
  ISBN: 9780451474704
  Goodreads: —
  Rating: ★★★★.5

  Peyton, Sydney’s charismatic older brother, has always been the star of the family, receiving the lion’s share of their parents’ attention and—lately—concern. When Peyton’s increasingly reckless behavior culminates in an accident, a drunk driving conviction, and a jail sentence, Sydney is cast adrift, searching for her place in the family and the world. When everyone else is so worried about Peyton, is she the only one concerned about the victim of the accident?

  Enter the Chathams, a warm, chaotic family who run a pizza parlor, play bluegrass on weekends, and pitch in to care for their mother, who has multiple sclerosis. Here Sydney experiences unquestioning acceptance. And here she meets Mac, gentle, watchful, and protective, who makes Sydney feel seen, really seen, for the first time.

  Sydney always looked up to her older brother — his charisma, his big personality, the way he seemed to walk into a room and everyone would notice — until he got into trouble one too many times, harmed a life, and landed himself in prison. But even there, his existence still overshadows hers. The Chathams, a remarkable, full-of-life family with their own pizza business, see Sydney for exactly who she is and take her under their wing. But one tiny slip-up on one night lands Sydney back at home under her mother’s tight reigns, and it takes all her strength to stand up and demand to be seen.

  This book reminded me so much of my favorite Dessen book, The Truth About Forever. There’s the controlling mother who loves her children but doesn’t notice them (and boy, Sydney’s mother really drove me up a wall), the daughter who stumbles upon a warm and chaotic family with a small business and a big heart, the boy with a knack for fixing broken things and creating something from nothing, and the big near-blow out between mother and daughter. With that in mind, though, this book is not as lighthearted as The Truth About Forever. It’s far more complicated. Part of it, I think, has to do with the fall semester setting (everything always seems so much more tough when school’s involved) and the big character that doesn’t make a physical appearance — Peyton, Sydney’s brother, and his unique story.

  I’m not sure I’ve ever read a YA book where one of the characters was currently in prison, let alone a family member of the main character. I equally resented and loved Peyton, especially when he began to open up to Sydney and her idolization of him crashed down to a more realistic level. A part of me also understood where their mother’s obsession to compartmentalize, control, and plan everything came from — she reminded me of the mother in Picoult’s My Sister’s Keeper, only much more book-throwing-inducing — and she drew the tiniest bit of sympathy from me for that. But her lack of attention for Sydney bothered me most. I’m not a mother, so I’m in no position to say she can’t treat her good child as if she’s the bad one, and she shouldn’t punish her remaining child for the wrongs the one in prison did. People can’t help the way they react to things, and apparently this mother just holds a tight leash and refuses to listen. There were times I wish Sydney would speak up instead of beating around the bush, but that would’ve only made her conversations with her parents worse. I’m aware of that. But still. Those moments when Sydney, mother, and father were in the room together were some of the most intense, frustrating scenes. Bravo for creating such a mixture of tension and emotion, Dessen!

  Dessen also has a knack of paying close attention to secondary characters. Sydney, Layla, and Mac are at the center of the story, but their families and families’ friends have rounded development, as well. I loved the Chathams and their impromptu gatherings for dinner, bluegrass, and woods wanderings, their tiny home and obsession with a TV show the equivalent to Real Housewives. I enjoyed seeing the stark difference with Sydney and her old private school friends, the bumps in the road eventually bringing them back together again. You become close to all of them, and you want to know their stories, too.

  So much pizza, so many fries, so many YumYums (haha, DumDums!), so much music, so many car rides, so many late nights and texts and wanderings. Though this is not a summer Dessen, this is a classic Dessen, and I’ve no doubt her readers will thoroughly enjoy this. It felt like Just Listen meets The Truth About Forever, and I’m excited to see what she has up her sleeve next.

  Thank you, Edelweiss, for providing this book from Viking for review!

  Posted in books, Reviews 2015 | 2 Comments | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, genre: contemporary, genre: romance, genre: young adult, goodreads, review

• Book Review: “The Secrets We Keep” by Trisha Leaver (ARC)

  Posted at 6:15 am by Laura, on April 27, 2015

  The Secrets We Keep by Trisha Leaver

  Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux
  Publishing Date: April 28
  Genre: young adult, contemporary, mystery
  ISBN: 9780374300463
  Goodreads: —
  Rating: ★★★

  Ella and Maddy Lawton are identical twins. Ella has spent her high school years living in popular Maddy’s shadows, but she has never been envious of Maddy. In fact, she’s chosen the quiet, safe confines of her sketchbook over the constant battle for attention that has defined Maddy’s world.

  When—after a heated argument—Maddy and Ella get into a tragic accident that leaves her sister dead, Ella wakes up in the hospital surrounded by loved ones who believe she is Maddy. Feeling responsible for Maddy’s death and everyone’s grief, Ella makes a split-second decision to pretend to be Maddy. Soon, Ella realizes that Maddy’s life was full of secrets. Caught in a web of lies, Ella is faced with two options—confess her deception or live her sister’s life.

  Ella and Maddy are identical twin sisters, and once best friends. But on the first day of high school, Maddy races to the popular crowd and leaves Ella behind, nearly shoving her to a group of artsy, quiet types. Ella doesn’t mind — she loves her small group of friends — but she wishes Maddy would open up to her again, just like the old days. So when Maddy calls and asks Ella to pick her up from a party, Ella does so at the drop of a hat. After fighting in the car on a rainy night, Ella wakes up to find she’s lost her memory as well as her sister. Everyone — parents, friends, teachers — are convinced Ella is Maddy, and Ella delivers exactly what they’re hoping for. In an effort to become her sister, Ella discovers some dark secrets in Maddy’s past, secrets that may have been her redeeming quality that night of the party and accident.

  This is an emotionally gripping read. I was flying through the pages just to see how Ella would come out to friends and family to admit she’s Ella and not Maddy. It’s also an incredible mind-bender, a perfect psychological study for soon-to-be or current psychology majors. How would you respond to waking up and not knowing who you are? How would you respond to realizing exactly who you are but everyone is convinced you’re dead? How would you go about pretending to be that person for the sake of others without losing your true self in the process? How would you react, if you were the parent or friend, to finding out the person you think is dead is actually alive and well and right in front of you?

  If I were still a teenager, I would’ve enjoyed this even more. I would’ve thrilled in the mystery, the drama (oh, the drama — poor Maddy worked way too hard for all that exhaustive, conniving, high school popularity crap. Ella tok the right path of solitude and calm!), the emotion, the split-second decision. Leaver really knows how to connect to the reader in that regard. That being said, because I do have a psychology degree and I’m (only slightly) older than the targeted audience, I had a difficult time believing Mom and Dad and boyfriend Alex didn’t realize Maddy wasn’t Maddy but Ella. There were snippets here and there — Ella snapping at her parents at the funeral (Maddy never did that), Mom looking at Ella’s face and searching for one visual difference, Dad noticing that Ella’s dog was always hanging around Ella (Maddy hated the dog) — but it baffled me that hair style, tone of voice, walking style, mannerisms, eating habits, none of that clued anyone in on the fact Ella was not Maddy. Only Josh, Ella’s best friend, knew from the start. And those are just the tiniest of loopholes I let slide.

  Twin stories are fascinating, and Leaver certainly hits this on the head. The great mystery behind Maddy is shocking, and it makes you hate her and love her all at once. Ella’s determination to make others happy is both worthy of respect and a sign to stand up for who you are and be proud of that young person. She doesn’t need to be a doormat to realize people love her for exactly the way she is. She learns the hard way, that’s certain, but I love how much she grew by the end of the book.

  Thank you, NetGalley and Mary Van Akin, for providing this book from FSG for review!

  Posted in books, Reviews 2015 | 0 Comments | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, genre: contemporary, genre: mystery, genre: young adult, goodreads, review

• Book Review: “The Secrets of Attraction” by Robin Constantine (ARC)

  Posted at 5:45 am by Laura, on April 23, 2015

  The Secrets of Attraction by Robin Constantine

  Publisher: Balzer + Bray
  Publishing Date: April 28
  Genre: young adult, contemporary, romance
  ISBN: 9780062279514
  Goodreads: —
  Rating: ★★★★

  Madison Parker is on fast-forward. Working toward a scholarship for a summer art program, she already has her future figured out. But when a visit from a family friend turns her life upside down, everything she thought she knew becomes blurred. All she wants is to stand still for a moment.

  Jesse McMann is stuck on repeat. Reeling from a breakup that shattered his heart and his band, Jesse divides his time between working as a barista and trying to find the inspiration to write music again. All he wants to do is move forward.

  The night Maddie strolls into Jesse’s coffee shop after yoga class, the last thing on his mind is hooking up, but her smile and witty comebacks are hard to ignore. The spark between them is undeniable, but once-a-week flirting is hardly the stuff of epic romance.

  Kismet arrives in the unlikely form of Grayson Barrett. When Jesse discovers that Gray’s girlfriend is also Maddie’s best friend, he invites Gray to join his band as their new drummer, hoping this connection will give him more time around Maddie. Slowly but surely, Jesse and Maddie forge a friendship, but do they have what it takes to make their relationship truly sync?

  Maddie plans to spend her spring semester pulling together a good portfolio for summer architecture programs, amping up her photography spreads for the school yearbook, and practicing yoga with her mother. But when her mom springs some surprising news on her, Maddie can’t help but feel a little shaken. Jesse, meanwhile, is attempting to crawl out from a pit of despair and get back in the game with his band, and desperately needs a drummer if Yellow #5 is going to play a gig. Brought together by music and a conveniently-located cafe near the yoga studio, Maddie and Jesse stumble through a new kind of romance, one of opening up and putting the other first.

  Set in the same world as The Promise of Amazing, I can’t help but feel like I enjoyed this story more! It almost makes me want to re-rate TPoA as 3.5 and this 4 stars, for a comparison. While I felt the conflict (Maddie’s mother’s news) didn’t seem too outrageously conflicting (though I can see why it might be something of a rocky surprise…just not as rocky as this was made out to be), I really liked how authentic Maddie’s struggle to open up to Jesse and Jesse’s struggle to put another person first came across.

  Maddie is easy to love. She’s flirtatious and gregarious, has such a beautiful friendship with Jazz and Wren, thinks inappropriate(ly hilarious!) things about her yoga instructor, works hard on her portfolio, and seems to do fairly well in school. She’s good fun with a little extra rebellion on the side. But her biggest issue is opening up her vulnerable side to others. She and her mother are a team, a la Gilmore Girls, and she and her friends are a tight-knit bunch. Why open up to more people? The book starts of in a fun, casual, physical relationship with another guy from school, very light and swoony with no substance. She knows it, she likes it, and she thinks they’re on the same page. But when Jesse crashes in, she’s frightened of another path she could take, one that entails trust and communication and honesty. Witnessing her reactions to each baby step was a joy — such great character growth.

  Jesse grew on me. At first I found him to be a bit whiny about his breakup — but then I remember what it was like when I was a teen. When you thought you would be together forever, you genuinely believed it. And when it comes crashing down, it is truly the end of the world. Thankfully he’s not in that pit too long, and other aspects of his life begin to take over: his passion for music, his ability to take notice of the people in his life and care for them, his passion in everything he throws himself in. He’s the kind of guy who makes an effort and gives his all. Think stereotype musician without the broodiness, the drama and passion and commitment. A light, happy Adam from If I Stay, if you will.

  If you love architecture, music, beating-around-the-bush relationships, something light and fun and makes you want to dance, you ought to read this book. I’m looking forward to seeing what Constantine has in store for Jazz now!

  Thank you, Edelweiss, for providing this book from Balzer + Bray for review!

  Posted in books, Reviews 2015 | 0 Comments | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, genre: contemporary, genre: romance, genre: young adult, goodreads, review

• Book Review: “The Silver Witch” by Paula Brackston (ARC)

  Posted at 6:55 am by Laura, on April 20, 2015

  The Silver Witch by Paula Brackston

  Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
  Publishing Date: April 21
  Genre: adult fiction, historical, fantasy
  ISBN: 9781250028792
  Goodreads: —
  Rating: ★★★

  A year after her husband’s sudden death, ceramic artist Tilda Fordwells finally moves into the secluded Welsh cottage that was to be their new home. She hopes that the tranquil surroundings will help ease her grief, and lessen her disturbing visions of Mat’s death. Instead, the lake in the valley below her cottage seems to spark something dormant in her – a sensitivity, and a power of some sort. Animals are drawn to her, electricity shorts out when she’s near, and strangest of all, she sees a new vision; a boatful of ancient people approaching her across the water.

  On this same lake in Celtic times lived Seren, a witch and shaman. She was respected but feared, kept separate from the community for her strange looks. When a vision came to her of the Prince amid a nest of vipers she warned of betrayal from one of his own. Prince Brynach both loved and revered her, but could not believe someone close to him wished him harm, even as the danger grew.

  In her own time, Tilda’s grief begins to fade beside her newfound powers and a fresh love. When she explores the lake’s ancient magic and her own she discovers Seren, the woman in her vision of the boat. Their two lives strangely mirror each others, suggesting a strong connection between the women. As Tilda comes under threat from a dark power, one reminiscent of Seren’s prophecy, she must rely on Seren and ancient magic if death and disaster are not to shatter her life once more.

  Tilda didn’t mean to become a recluse when she moved into the tiny Welsh cottage by the lake. But because she was supposed to share this time with her husband, who died a year ago in a car accident, she’s finding it hard to connect to the new home and people. She stumbles across an archeological dig while out on a run, and is drawn to it by more than simple fascination — she senses a dark power, and strange things begin to happen in her new surroundings. She sees a woman on a boat, a woman as pale and silvery as herself, a woman named Seren who was a shaman of the area around 920 AD, and Seren’s history is Tilda’s future.

  I enjoyed The Winter Witch so much that I wanted to read anything else set in Wales that Brackston wrote. Though magical realism isn’t my thing, I thought I’d give this part-contemporary part-historical novel a try. It’s not what I expected, but I did enjoy it.

  The historical storyline worked for me in some ways and not so much in others. What worked included the pre-Anglo-Saxon and Viking invasion, when Christianity was new and people still embraced aspects of the Old Ways. Magic is a part of life, and people sought shamans for visions, advice, and healing. Seren’s role in the royal court of this small Welsh area is an honorable one. I enjoyed the dynamics and her romantic storyline and her deep love of nature and the connection she had with the water horse in the lake. But aspects of what I just stated I enjoyed were also things that didn’t quite work for me. I liked the romantic storyline, but as a contemporary reader I had difficulty accepting her affair with the prince while he was married to the princess. I couldn’t help but feel sorry for the princess and think Seren a little selfish. The water horse was a bit prevalent in this, too, rather than an occasional sighting of a mythical creature. Hold back — the magical realism is showing.

  The contemporary storyline began a bit slowly, and I was quite frustrated with Tilda at first. But she grows on the reader, aspects of her personality waking up and flourishing. It’s as if she’s waking up from her grief, so in the end I enjoyed her character growth immensely. The way she handles coming to terms with her newfangled magical power was amusing and awesome, as well. Her interest in the history of the area, and how she makes logical connections between now and then, was incredibly enjoyable. I loved her interactions with the archeologists, and her time with Dylan made me smile. But again, as her power grew, it stepped beyond what I was expected and entered into magical realism. I have so much difficulty with that.

  Throughout this plot, we’re trying to figure out what happened to Seren, how she’s connected to Tilda, and what exactly is buried in the unearthed grave. The who, what, when, where, and whys of it all drive the story. I had so many guesses from the beginning, but all of them were completely wrong. But by the time it was revealed (about 80% into the book — great timing!), it all made complete sense and clicked into place. Of all the aspects of the story, it was this I was most interested in: connecting the past and present through this grave.

  The Winter Witch was more earth-based magic (it’s all in the plants and winds and animals, no spells or incantations or brews or mythical creatures) with a very realistic historical storyline (a mute marries a drover). I wanted to know more about Seren than Tilda, or at least see this as two separate books rather than two narratives in one. The book was enjoyable, and perfect for someone with a higher tolerance for magical realism.

  Thank you, NetGalley, for providing this book from Thomas Dunne Books for review!

  Posted in books, Reviews 2015 | 0 Comments | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, genre: adult fiction, genre: contemporary, genre: fantasy, genre: fiction, genre: historical fiction, goodreads, review

• Book Review: “Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke” by Anne Blankman (ARC)

  Posted at 7:15 am by Laura, on April 15, 2015

  Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke by Anne Blankman

  Publisher: Balzer + Bray
  Publishing Date: April 21
  Genre: young adult, historical fiction
  ISBN: 9780062278845
  Goodreads: —
  Rating: ★★★★★

  The girl known as Gretchen Whitestone has a secret: She used to be part of Adolf Hitler’s inner circle. More than a year after she made an enemy of her old family friend and fled Munich, she lives with a kindly English family, posing as an ordinary German immigrant, and is preparing to graduate from high school. Her love, Daniel Cohen, is a reporter in town. For the first time in her life, Gretchen is content.

  But then, Daniel gets a telegram that sends him back to Germany, and Gretchen’s world turns upside-down. And when she receives word that Daniel is wanted for murder, she has to face the danger she thought she’d escaped-and return to her homeland.

  Gretchen must do everything she can to avoid capture and recognition, even though saving Daniel will mean consorting with her former friends, the Nazi elite. And as they work to clear Daniel’s name, Gretchen and Daniel discover a deadly conspiracy stretching from the slums of Berlin to the Reichstag itself. Can they dig up the explosive truth and get out in time-or will Hitler discover them first?

  Gretchen and Daniel managed to escape Germany and start new lives in Oxford. She lives with the Whitestones, the family of the doctor who helped her discover Reinhardt and Hitler’s psychological similarities, and attends school and dreams of going to university. Daniel, however, lives a bit unhappily working as a reporter for a society paper. Their newly constructed identities are shattered when Daniel receives a telegram about his family back in Germany. While he’s there, Gretchen hears on the wireless that Daniel’s wanted for murder in Berlin. Knowing he’s trapped, Gretchen races back to Germany to find Daniel, clear his name, and flee before Hitler discovers she’s back. Clearing Daniel’s name takes longer than Gretchen anticipated, and Hitler is days away from finding her. The Reichstag fire is tied to Daniel, and it takes working with mob rings to bring down Hitler and escape unscathed.

  If you haven’t read Prisoner of Night and Fog yet, do so now. This is a duology, very intense and historically revealing.

  While Prisoner exposes the reader to the Nazi state of mind (which is a complete mind-bender of its own, almost like experiencing Stockholm Syndrome) and reveals the psychological aspects of Hitler’s character, Conspiracy exposes the reader to historical events and conspiracies that lead up to Hitler’s dictatorship and WWII. First of all, mob rings? Who knew?! Right — they’re not really mobsters or gangsters, they have a strict code of honor and no-violence policy — but these underground clubs were targeted by Hitler. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. The messy links between politics, money, and business work in Gretchen and Daniel’s favor, and Gretchen needs to use what she’s learned about psychology from Dr. Whitestone and what she knows about Hitler in order to stay one step ahead and make it out of Germany (again) alive.

  Gretchen and Daniel run into family and friends — or, in Gretchen’s case, old friends that are now dangerous enemies — and the reaction to their relationship is across the board. Hitler’s propaganda is rooting, and National Socialists (Nazis) are even more dangerous and impulsive while everyone else is either headstrong and determined to fight against it (and eventually die for it) or frightened (so they follow the crowd to blend in, or are so scared they’re blocking it out and pretending it’s not happening). Germany is not a good place, and any one of their friends or foes could turn them in at any time. It’s heart racing, blood pounding, breathless fear from beginning to end. I don’t know how anyone could have lived like that on a daily basis for years on end.

  Because of the tension and the world crumbling to pieces, Gretchen and Daniel try to reconcile their feelings for one another with the reality of their situation. It’s very likely they’ll die at any time, so why discuss the future? Or, if they make it out alive, how can they discuss their future when Gretchen was happy in England and Daniel wasn’t? They’re both young with full lives ahead of them (hopefully), so they’re concerned their love for one another is just emotion without reason. I should note their relationship is not the forefront of the story — it’s not like they sit around and twiddle their thumbs and discuss whether or not to stay together — but their confusion mixed with their without-question race to defend and save one another feels deep and genuine. It’s unconditional. It doesn’t matter what happens after this is over, because here and now they’re fighting for one another, for the other’s safety, for freedom, to expose Hitler and his evil plans. Instinct kicks in, and that’s what drives the story. Again, I don’t know how anyone could have lived like that.

  I’m curious about 1930s Europe now. I want to learn more about pre-WWII Germany. I want to see the chain of events domino from WWI on. It’s dark and fascinating and not really explored in classrooms or in literature. Blankman is a phenomenal writer who gives us such unique perspectives on history. She deserves awards. All of them.

  Thank you, Edelweiss, for providing this book from Balzer + Bray for review!

  Posted in books, Reviews 2015 | 0 Comments | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, genre: fiction, genre: historical fiction, genre: young adult, goodreads, review

• Book Review: “The Wondrous and the Wicked” by Page Morgan (ARC)

  Posted at 6:30 am by Laura, on April 8, 2015

  The Wondrous and the Wicked by Page Morgan

  Publisher: Delacorte
  Publishing Date: April 14
  Genre: young adult, fantasy, gothic
  ISBN: 9780385743150
  Goodreads: —
  Rating: ★★★★★

  Since the Waverlys arrived in Paris, the streets have grown more fearsome by the day. As Ingrid learns to master her lectrux gift, she must watch Axia’s power grow strong enough to extend beyond her Underneath hive. By all indications, the fallen angel’s Harvest is near-and the timing couldn’t be worse.

  Targeted by vengeful gargoyles, Gabby has been exiled to London for her own protection. Meanwhile, the gargoyle castes are in disarray, divided between those who want Luc to lead them and those who resent him and his fondness for humans. The Alliance is crumbling from the inside as well, its members turning against one another, and possibly against the Waverlys, too.

  Axia has promised that the world will burn. And now, unable to trust the Alliance, separated from Luc, Gabby, and her twin, Grayson, Ingrid is left to face the demon uprising alone.

  Ingrid is left in Paris with a different gargoyle presiding over her home. Her brother, Grayson, seems to have disappeared, when he’s actually learning more about demon dust with Vander in order to fight off his hellhound instincts. Gabby is trapped in London with Rory, Nolan’s cousin, and she insists on training to become an Alliance member, no matter what Nolan says. Meanwhile, Luc is separated from the Waverly family, and a civil war is approaching the Dispossessed, one that decides whether Luc should become their leader. But Axia’s Harvest could happen any day now, and Ingrid’s life — her blood — is at stake. But who can anyone trust? The Alliance, with their oath to slay demons? The Dispossessed, with their curse to protect humans? Or the Diacrypta, with their newfangled technology that may prove to save them all?

  Okay, so, the publisher summary makes it sound like Ingrid is all alone, the poor dear. What is she to do? And while my summary is a bit jumbled, I can’t say too much without revealing the entire plot. But what is true about both of these summations is that Ingrid, Gabby, Grayson, and Luc all share equal page time with their voices and perspectives, weaving together seemingly dissimilar parts of the story into one complex and epic plot.

  Trust me. It will all make sense.

  That’s the thing about Morgan’s writing. With The Beautiful and the Cursed, we had several perspectives but it was primarily on Ingrid and Luc. As the plot thickened in The Lovely and the Lost, secondary characters had more to tell the Waverlys and Luc. And now, they all work together to bring down Axia and find their way to a happy ending. That’s not to say this ends everything all neat and tidy (for a moment, there, the Dispossessed does have an elder, a leader, but by the end that’s up for debate — plus, Gabby’s future and Vander’s future and basically all of Paris and these fantastical orders), but it certainly leaves you in an expected but very satisfying place.

  I loved every single character in this book, bad and good and somewhere in between. The places the plot takes them matches their personality and decision-making and the way everything came together. Gabby’s stubbornness felt more like bravery and less like snobbery, and that’s a major character growth. Ingrid was always determined to do what she could to save those she loved, and thank goodness she used more thoughtful reasoning behind her actions in this book than in previous — more growth there. Luc point-blank gave up trying to govern himself. By being more human, he’s able to accomplish so much more — and his support from Marco was a welcome sight. Grayson was just an interesting character all around. We only knew him as a brother in book 1, and a struggling half-demon in book 2, so getting into his mind and understanding his thought process, motivation, and emotional turmoil was very interesting and eye-opening. It makes his big moment really hit you in the gut, too.

  Though the historical aspect may appear simply as a backdrop for the story (that maybe this could take place at any time), it’s not. Morgan chose this time frame meticulously. It all comes down to the blood. All those scientific studies Vander worked on in the previous books help shed light to the situation in this one, and blood transfusions is one of them. Blood transfusions were dangerous in this time, yet new and fascinating and gross and taboo. That’s why Dracula was oddly enjoyable for readers when it first came out. Toss in the science versus religion conversation and this book goes well with that. Gargoyles are placed on cathedrals to keep the demons out. In this book, that’s true too, but they keep the humans within holy places and homes safe.

  So who wins this war in science versus religion? Is it even a science versus religion topic? Is it about race or social class? Is it about the human condition?

  I love this trilogy. It’s so unique, and Gothic, and fantastical, and deserves so much attention! Thank you for the wondrous journey, Morgan!

  Thank you, Edelweiss, for providing this book from Delacorte for review!

  Posted in books, Reviews 2015 | 0 Comments | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, genre: fantasy, genre: gothic, genre: historical fiction, genre: paranormal, genre: young adult, goodreads, review

• Book Review: “Miss Mayhem” by Rachel Hawkins (ARC)

  Posted at 7:10 am by Laura, on April 2, 2015

  Miss Mayhem by Rachel Hawkins

  Publisher: Putnam
  Publishing Date: April 7
  Genre: young adult, contemporary, fantasy
  ISBN: 9780399256943
  Goodreads: —
  Rating: ★★★★

  Life is almost back to normal for Harper Price. The Ephors have been silent after their deadly attack at Cotillion months ago, and best friend Bee has returned after a mysterious disappearance. Now Harper can return her focus to the important things in life: school, canoodling with David, her nemesis-turned-ward-slash-boyfie, and even competing in the Miss Pine Grove pageant.

  Unfortunately, supernatural chores are never done. The Ephors have decided they’d rather train David than kill him. The catch: Harper has to come along for the ride, but she can’t stay David’s Paladin unless she undergoes an ancient trial that will either kill her . . . or connect her to David for life.

  After the devastating events of Cotillion last Christmas, Harper Price is ready to get back to her normal lifestyle — even with the added Paladin duties for her boyfriend/Oracle David. But the Ephors have something else in mind, and it involves David not getting killed. Harper has to prove to them she can be the best Paladin by undergoing several life-threatening trials. As the Miss Pine Grove pageant moves ever closer to the final trial, Harper, David, Bee, and Ryan are pulled in different directions, and knowing who to trust is completely up in the air.

  Harper is still controlling, sassy, funny, and smart, but being a Paladin after such devastating events is really taking a toll on her. Ryan, a new Mage, and David, an Oracle, aren’t exactly helping matters. They’re three teens who have absolutely no idea what they’re doing, and all of their training now comes from books and leftover materials from the late Saylor’s home. So when the Ephors show up and tell them they’re not bad people out to kill David, it really is genuinely hard to tell if they’re being honest or if there’s something up their sleeves. Thrown in the fact Bee is alive, well, and also a new Paladin, and things become riotously complicated.

  The trials Harper experiences are meant to be traumatic for her and her alone. The Ephors target the people and places Harper cares about most. It’s meant to test her physical, mental, and emotional strength. Poor thing begins to crack from the pressure, and I kept gripping the book, begging her to keep moving, to keep going on, that she could do this! The scene in which she spills the beans to one of her aunts was quite possibly my favorite. The whole reaction sequence reminded me of Buffy once more. (And, speaking of Buffy, I would say this mirrors the middle seasons of the show, around the time Angel became evil again. You know, still fun and humorous but definitely darker.)

  From everyday teen drama (who is dating again? Who broke up?) to life-threatening scenarios (get OUT of the Fun House, Harper!), Harper and David are tested to the limit, and will leave you on the edge of your seat, waiting to see what happens in the next installment of the Southern Rebel Belle trilogy.

  Thank you, Edelweiss, for providing this book from Putnam for review!

  Posted in books, Reviews 2015 | 0 Comments | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, genre: contemporary, genre: fantasy, genre: young adult, goodreads, review

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• Hello, I’m Laura!

  I'm a bookish bookworm and book hoarder. By day I'm a literary agent, and by night I'm forever rearranging my bookshelves. I could talk your ear off about Gothic literature, and in my past life people thought I'd become a professional musician. I have a fluffy black cat named Rossetti, I love to travel, tea is my drink of choice, British TV is the best, and I'm always down for chips-and-queso nights. Welcome to Scribbles & Wanderlust! Grab your favorite hot beverage and let's chat books!

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