REVIEW: The River Witch by Kimberly Brock

Genre: Fiction (Southern Fiction)
Pub Date: April 2012, Bell Bridge Books
Format: Paperback
Source: Purchased at FoxTale Book Shoppe

Can the river heal her?

Roslyn Byrne is twenty-four years old, broken in body, heart and soul. Her career as a professional ballet dancer ended with a car wreck and a miscarriage, leaving her lost and grieving. She needs a new path, but she doesn't have the least idea how or where to start. With some shoving from her very Southern mama, she immures herself for the summer on Manny's Island, Georgia, one of the Sea Isles, to recover.

There Roslyn finds a ten-year-old girl, Damascus, who brings alligators, pumpkins and hoodoo into her sorry life.

Roslyn rents a house from Damascus's family, the Trezevants, a strange bunch. One of the cousins, Nonnie, who works in the family's market, sees things Roslyn is pretty sure she shouldn't, and knows things regular people don't. Between the Trezevant secrets and Damascus's blatant snooping and meddling, Roslyn finds herself caught in a mysterious stew of the past and present, the music of the river, the dead and the dying who haunt the riverbank, and a passion for living her new life.

MY THOUGHTS
No, your eyes do not deceive you -- there is actually a review posted on my blog! Don't take this to be any kind of promise that I am back with regularity and frequency, but I am trying to see if I can bring this little review site back to some semblance of life. And what better time to start than after just attending the best book signing to which I have ever had the fortune to go! Our local indie bookstore one town to the south of us, the FoxTale Book Shoppe, welcomed the Susanna Kearsley & Friends tour this past Monday evening. If you've followed my blog or know me elsewhere online, then you probably realize I love, love, LOVE Susanna Kearsley. Well, I hadn't actually heard of any of the other authors at the event, so naturally, I purchased books by each. I just finished reading The River Witch by Kimberly Brock this evening and felt compelled to share my thoughts with you. Nothing long and prosy and honestly, not much else to dress it up, but here we go...

I'll admit when the story began, I wasn't quite sure what to make of it or how I would feel by the time the book ended. And then I was swept away into a richly woven tale that was at times sad, humorous, heartwarming, and bittersweet. Along with all of that is a quirkiness to the characters and remote Southern setting that make it very unique and truly impressive for a debut book. As I fully confess to being a girl who prefers a happily-ever-after, I was surprised to feel so satisfied when I closed the book following those breathtakingly poignant final pages. The River Witch is a bit outside the norm for me, and the closest I can come to fitting it in its place among my history of reading is right alongside Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Now, it has been many, many years since I read that book, but that comparison is what first popped into my head as I started settling into Brock's story set in south Georgia along the Atlantic coast. Perhaps it is their shared locale of the Deep South that ties them together for me, but I also think it might be the quirky, memorable characters. And then again, perhaps you can't have one without the other. Add to the mix a writing style that calls to mind vivid images full of color, sound, smells, and even tastes while you read, and you have a remarkable debut. At times I felt the story wander and slow down, but Brock was usually quick to recapture my interest with an unexpected twist or witty insight from one of her characters. I definitely hope we see more from Brock in the future!


Explore some more...

• Kimberly Brock's website
• Goodreads book page
• Follow Kimberly Brock on Twitter
• Like Kimberly Brock on Facebook

REVIEW: Deep in the Heart by Staci Stallings

Genre: Christian Romance
Pub Date: September 2011, Spirit Light
Format: eBook (Nook)
Source: Purchased from Amazon.com

Just out of college and completely alone in the world, Maggie Montgomery has one shot left to save her life from an abyss of poverty and hopelessness. Clinging to the last shred of fuel and hope, she arrives at the mansion of Texas billionaire Conrad Ayers. Although Maggie is clearly not what Mr. Ayers and his wife have in mind for a nanny, they agree to hire her temporarily until they can find someone more appropriate to fill the position. However, Maggie’s whole world is about to be up-ended by two way-over-scheduled children and one incredibly handsome hired hand. As she struggles to fit into a world she was never made to fit in, Maggie wonders if she can ever learn to become a perfect version of herself so she can keep the job, or is she doomed to always be searching for a life she can never quite grasp?

MY THOUGHTS
Though I generally prefer Christian historical fiction, every once in awhile I will go for a contemporary romance. This one caught my eye, not only because I really liked the cover, but I also have a penchant for stories set in the West. While Stallings is less subtle in her use of Christian themes, prayer, and Biblical passages than a lot of the Christian fiction I read, those elements were not too over the top for my tastes. Overall, I thought Deep In The Heart had an interesting plot and Stallings was very adept at developing the storyline and keeping the pace moving right along.

Maggie's life story and her position in the Ayer household made for an intriguing story -- thanks in large part to the strangeness of the Ayer household! In addition to an adeptly written plot, Stallings provided a lot of strong character development, both with the focal characters (Maggie and Keith), and with some of the more minor characters (Conrad and his wife, among others). There's also the obligatory shrew, but I really can't say more than that without giving away a major part of the plot that isn't included in the synopsis, and you know how I hate to give spoilers! Just know there is a lot more to this story than you're led to believe when you read the blurb, and because of that, anticipation will keep you turning the pages until you reach the end.

In the end, the biggest flaw with this book is the writing. It wasn't so much a case of typos, but more along the lines of occasional awkward phrasing. Additionally, the dialogues needed to be improved with more descriptors used so that the reader would be clear as to who was speaking. I had to re-read a couple of different passages to make sure I knew who was saying what to make sense of what was going on. One more round of editing would have helped to eliminate these issues and really tighten up the writing. Even so, Deep In The Heart was a relatively quick read that was generally engaging and had a satisfying conclusion.

Read this book...

• If you enjoy contemporary Christian Fiction/Romance
• If you liked My Stubborn Heart by Becky Wade (This one isn't quite as good, but I don't have a lot of contemporary Christian fiction to compare it to -- I usually go for historical fiction.)

Links:

• Website
• Twitter: @StaciStallings
• Goodreads Author Page

REVIEW: Suddenly Royal by Nichole Chase

Series: The Suddenly Series #1
Genre: New Adult / Contemporary Fiction
Pub Date: April 2013 (self-published)
Format: Paperback, 464 pages
Source: Pre-ordered directly from the author at an event.

Samantha Rousseau is used to getting her hands dirty. Working toward a master’s degree in wildlife biology while helping take care of her sick father, she has no time for celebrity gossip, designer clothes, or lazy vacations. So when a duchess from the small country of Lilaria invites her to dinner, Samantha assumes it’s to discuss a donation for the program. The truth will change the course of her life in ways she never dreamed.

Alex D’Lynsal is trying to keep his name clean. As crown prince of Lilaria, he’s had his share of scandalous headlines, but the latest pictures have sent him packing to America and forced him to swear off women—especially women in the public eye. That is, until he meets Samantha Rousseau. She’s stubborn, feisty, and incredibly sexy. Not to mention heiress to an estate in his country, which makes her everyone’s front-page news.

While Sam tries to navigate the new world of politics and wealth, she will also have to dodge her growing feelings for Alex. Giving in to them means more than just falling in love; it would mean accepting the weight of an entire country on her shoulders.

MY THOUGHTS
Soooo... Can I tell you how much I LOVED this book? I read over half of it one evening and then put off work the next morning (good thing I work from home!) to finish it. Okay, now let's just go ahead and get this out in the open: no, the premise of Suddenly Royal is not exactly original (think The Princess Diaries, but steamier). However, in my opinion that absolutely does not take away from what an incredibly fun and engaging book this is! For me, I think that's in part because I'm one of those girls who always had that secret little dream inside of discovering that she is actually a princess. I'm not ashamed to admit that in the least! Come on, I know there are more of you out there...

I read most of this book with what was probably a very goofy grin on my face. I was hooked from page one. How could I not love Samantha?! She is smart, sassy and unafraid to speak her mind, yet at the same time vulnerable and just so real. And while far from perfect, Alex certainly made for a pretty dreamy prince. It probably didn't hurt that Chase had mentioned she envisioned Chris Hemsworth as Alex. I'll take that visual any day! Prince Yummy, indeed... ;-) But in addition to these engaging lead characters, Chase does what she is so very good at, providing a well-rounded and well-written supporting cast. Between Sam's personal assistant, Chadwick, her best friend Jess, and various members Alex's family and other Lilarian royalty, there is a great variety of people who each add something special to the story and the events that unfold. Without a doubt, the lovable (and even the less-than-lovable) characters are the other big reason why this story just worked so well for me.

What may be most telling: I loved this story so much, I would rather not even call attention to the handful of typos I came across, but fairness dictates that I have to at least mention them. I believe they were all cases where apostrophes had jumped into words where they didn't belong -- probably from some of the words that were missing them... Those pesky apostrophes! Even they could not mar my enjoyment of Suddenly Royal. I laughed, I even got a bit teary, and by the time I turned the last page I sighed in complete contentment.

Looking back, it's funny to think that had I not worked with a young lady who knew Nichole Chase and just happened to mention her Dark Betrayal trilogy to me in conversation one day, I might not have discovered her books -- at least, not as soon as I did. Suddenly Royal is easily now my favorite of Chase's books and if you have read the rest of her works, I think you will see how much her writing and storytelling have grown. The earlier mention of The Princess Diaries aside, this book really did play out like a movie in my head as I read, thanks to Chase's descriptive and easy-to-read writing, which enables you to just immerse yourself in the story as if you were a part of it. I think anyone who had dreams of becoming a princess or their own happily-ever-afters would enjoy this book. And, well, if you don't happen to be one of those girls, then you might just enjoy it for the smart characters and the steamy romance that develops between Sam and Alex.
*It should be noted that due to adult content, Suddenly Royal falls into the New Adult category, not YA like Chase's Dark Betryal trilogy.
Read this book...

• If you ever had dreams of being a princess
• If you have read any of Nichole Chase's books
• If you enjoyed the Princess Diaries

Links...

• Website
• Twitter: @NicholeChase
• Facebook Fan Page
• Goodreads Author Page

REVIEW: My Stubborn Heart by Becky Wade

Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance
Release Date:
Format: eBook (Nook)
Source: Purchased from BN.com

Kate Donovan is burned out on work, worn down by her dating relationships, and in need of an adventure. When her grandmother asks Kate to accompany her to Redbud, Pennsylvania, to restore the grand old house she grew up in, Kate jumps at the chance, takes a leave of absence from her job as a social worker, and the two of them set off.

Upon her arrival in Redbud, Kate meets Matt Jarreau, the man her grandmother has hired to renovate the house. From the first moment she meets Matt, Kate can't help but be attracted to him--he's got a combination of good looks and charisma that draw and tug at her. But she knows there's zero chance of a romance between them. Matt's in love with his dead wife, and even if he weren't, Kate realizes that she's way too ordinary for him. For Matt Jarreau is no ordinary guy. Kate discovers that he was once a great NHL hockey player who left the sport when his wife--an honest-to-goodness former Miss America--was diagnosed with brain cancer. Matt's been hiding from people, from God, and from his past ever since. Yet Kate is absolutely determined to befriend him, to try to reach him, to help him in some small way.

No, Kate's not looking for love. She knows better than that by now. But when the stilted, uncomfortable interactions between Kate and Matt slowly shift into something more, is God finally answering the longing of her heart? Or will Kate be required to give up more than she ever dreamed?

MY THOUGHTS
So this is another ebook freebie I have had for awhile and hadn't really thought much about reading. Then I happened to use the cover for one of my daily photos on Instagram (the prompt was "heart") and received a comment from someone who LOVED the book. I thought, why not just go ahead and try it out? I'm usually more interested in historical fiction -- the overwhelming majority of Christian fiction that I read is historical -- and I have to be in the right mood for contemporary fiction (don't ask me what exactly that mood is, I just know I have to be in it).

Oh my goodness, I cannot get over how much I loved this book. I'm not usually into emotionally wrenching stories -- probably because they frequently have sad endings and I'm sorry, but I hate reading sad books. I just can't do it. But this book has a happy ending (sorry, I suppose that was a spoiler) and even though I had tears in my eyes at many points, the story was just SO emotionally raw, intense and gripping, I could not put it down. I finally had to give up on finishing in one night because I just couldn't keep my eyes open (it was after 1:00am and I had nearly half the book left) but I picked it up and finished the remainder first thing the following morning.

One of the aspects I liked was that the story felt so real -- between the characters, the storyline, and Becky Wade's crisp, no-nonsense, yet detailed writing style, this book just worked on all levels for me. And I have to admit I did enjoy reading Christian fiction that was set in the present day for a change. The story definitely had a different feel, probably in that it was more relatable due to the time period. And while I couldn't personally relate to some of the more tragic aspects of the story, there were many poignant moments that did resonate. Bottom line, I thought this was a fantastic debut for Wade and I can't wait to read more of her books!


Read this book...

~ If you like clean romances that fall in the Christian Fiction genre
~ If you like contemporary fiction/romance
~ Enjoy emotionally impactful stories (that have happy endings)

**This is my seventh book towards the #TakeControl March 2013 TBR Challenge.

REVIEW: Untraceable by S.R. Johannes

Genre: Young Adult Suspense/Thriller

Release Date: November 2011, Coleman & Stott

Format: eBook (Kindle)

Source: Purchased from Amazon.com

16-year-old Grace has lived in the Smokies all her life, patrolling with her forest ranger father who taught her about wildlife, tracking, and wilderness survival.

When her dad goes missing on a routine patrol, Grace refuses to believe he’s dead and fights the town authorities, tribal officials, and nature to find him.

One day, while out tracking clues, Grace is rescued from danger by Mo, a hot guy with an intoxicating accent and a secret. As her feelings between him and her ex-boyfriend get muddled, Grace travels deep into the wilderness to escape and find her father.

Along the way, Grace learns terrible secrets that sever relationships and lives. Soon she’s enmeshed in a web of conspiracy, deception, and murder. And it’s going to take a lot more than a compass and a motorcycle (named Lucifer) for this kick-butting heroine to save everything she loves.

MY THOUGHTS
If you've been keeping up with my posts recently, then you may already know that I picked up this book because I'm going to an event this weekend featuring several Indie authors and I wanted to at least read one book by each of the authors in attendance on the day that I'm going. Untraceable by S.R. Johannes was the last book I had to read in this quest and I am so excited for this event on Sunday!

I was intrigued when I found out this book is set in the mountains of North Carolina, because I have been visiting that area my whole life on vacations every year. However, I will admit that Untraceable didn't really grab me until about a third of the way in, despite the fact that I was enjoying the author's writing style. It just didn't feel like there was a lot going on for awhile. Grace was a difficult character to warm up to initially and it just felt like her fight to find her dad was almost a lost cause. I couldn't figure out how the story would ever get moving, much less be resolved. Thank goodness for the arrival on the scene of Mo, though even then I wasn't completely hooked, but my interest was definitely piqued.

Finally events start to really get rolling and before I knew it, I was completely sucked in and could not put the book down until I finished it. There was some heart-pounding, scary action in a good third or more of the latter part of the book with plenty of great twists and turns, many of which I didn't see coming! Though a bit of a cliffhanger, thankfully Johannes throws us a bone at the end and we aren't left totally hanging. Of course, the second book is already out so it's not like I'm waiting months to read it, but sometimes it's nice to get some resolution before moving on to the next phase of the story. Given that Untraceable started off slow for me and there were a couple of minor grammatical errors, I had to deduct a star from my rating, but other than that, I loved this book and can't wait to read Uncontrollable and other titles by S.R. Johannes!


Read this book...
- if you like contemporary YA fiction that is NOT paranormal YA
- if you enjoy suspense/thriller novels
- if you are looking for a new indie author to try

**This is my first book towards the #TakeControl March 2013 TBR Challenge.

Review: The Shadowy Horses

The Shadowy Horses by Susanna Kearsley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I first stumbled across Susanna Kearsley last year, when I read The Winter Sea, quite some time after Sourcebooks re-released it. And I will freely admit it, I was totally drawn to that book by its cover and once I read it, I found myself saying "must read ALL the books by Susanna Kearsley!!!" But much to my shame, this is the first time I am actually writing a review of one of Kearsley's books and it is long overdue!

I love, love, LOVE Kearsley's works, whether they are time slip stories or simply tales that take a look back at a certain time and place in history. While not a true time slip novel, like The Winter Sea and The Rose Garden, The Shadowy Horses almost had an almost magical quality to it. I found myself completely lost in the pages of this book and thanks to Kearsley's beautiful, descriptive writing style, I felt like I was right there, witnessing everything happen.

As is typical with Kearsley's stories, there is a lovely romance that builds throughout the book. And though she does not send a character back in time, instead we meet a centuries-old ghost and a boy who is part of a line of men with the second sight. I think because there is just a hint of the paranormal, it allows you to believe that maybe, just maybe this story could be real. I also loved the Scottish setting!

If you enjoy historical fiction, time slips, or even just fiction with a hint of romance, I think you would greatly enjoy The Shadowy Horses and any other of Kearsley's books.

*Read in January 2013 and originally reviewed at Goodreads. View all my reviews

Review: Flukes

Flukes by Nichole Chase
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Flukes was the first book I ever read about mermaids -- well, merpeople in general, not to discriminate. I discovered author Nichole Chase through a young lady who used to work for me in my past lifetime in a bookstore. She got me hooked on Chase's Dark Betrayal Trilogy and I've been following Chase ever since (in a non-creeper way!). I admit that when I first heard what Flukes was about, I wrote off the book, thinking I had no interest in mermaids. But for some reason I just kept coming back to it and decided to download a copy. I am so glad I did -- now I can't wait for the sequel!

What I liked:

~ The characters: Meena and Blake are beautifully drawn with enough detail that I felt like I actually knew them, not to mention I actually cared about what happened to them. You'll also meet some other interesting people and merfolk along the way.

What I didn't like:

~ The book was too short! I would have loved to have seen more of the story fleshed out a bit. Everything blew by so quickly the resolution just felt a bit too swift. Honestly, there could have been a little bit more conflict.

What I LOVED:

~ Mermaids as the "supernatural" creatures: Hooray for a change from vampires, werewolves, and the like!!!

Who should read this:

~ Anyone who is looking for a book with "non-humans" other than vampires, werewolves, and shapeshifters, but still wants that otherworldly element.
~ Readers of YA/New Adult fiction who enjoy their romance mixed with the supernatural
~ Fans of Chase's other books

**Read in December 2012. Review originally posted at Goodreads. I am experimenting with writing all of my reviews there and then transferring them here, hoping to simplify my review/catalog process. No more synopses in my posts -- you can easily click on the book cover or title and author name to find out more... We will see how it goes, I'm sure it will be an evolving process!

Review: What I Didn't Say

Title: What I Didn't Say
Author: Keary Taylor
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
Pub Date: May 2012, Self-published
Format: eBook
Source: Received a copy from NetGalley for review.

Synopsis

Getting drunk homecoming night your senior year is never a good idea, but Jake Hayes never expected it all to end with a car crash and a t-post embedded in his throat.

His biggest regret about it all? What he never said to Samantha Shay. He's been in love with her for years and never had the guts to tell her. Now it's too late. Because after that night, Jake will never be able to talk again.

When Jake returns to his small island home, population 5,000, he'll have to learn how to deal with being mute. He also finds that his family isn't limited to his six brothers and sisters, that sometimes an entire island is watching out for you. And when he gets the chance to spend more time with Samantha, she'll help him learn that not being able to talk isn't the worst thing that could ever happen to you. 

Maybe, if she'll let him, Jake will finally tell her what he didn't say before, even if he can't actually say it.

My Thoughts

I hadn't really heard much about this book until seeing it on NetGalley and then came to realize that it had taken off more than many self-published books out there. It's a little different from the Young Adult fiction I typically read, but I thought I would branch out a little and see what the fuss was about.

I am going to go ahead and get the negatives out of the way right now before getting to the good stuff. There are typos--several of them--and they were the kind that just make me cringe when I see them. In a few instances, words were pluralized with an apostrophe before the "s" and "you're" was used in place of "your" at least once. I remember coming across a few other typos/grammatical errors, but the specifics aren't coming to mind at the moment. Other than that, the writing was relatively good--not great--and felt true to the way a teen might tell this story. Truthfully, though, if it weren't for the fact that the actual story was so good, I would probably take more than one star off of my rating. It just goes to show the importance of editing and unfortunately it does seem like self-published books frequently lack good editing.

All of that said, the story itself is very powerful. Given the nature of the book, I'll admit I was concerned that the story might be sad and depressing (I'm sorry, I just don't enjoy sad stories) but thankfully it really isn't. What I Didn't Say is actually pretty uplifting and inspiring, as Jake and Sam work to overcome their respective troubles together. They are both likable characters, which is important since they are the primary focus of the story. As we so often see these days, there is a major plot twist around halfway through the book. Looking back, I knew something was "up," as they say, but I didn't see it coming, that's for sure! This book is compulsively readable if you are able to overlook the typos and take it for what it is: a self-published book. I have read many enjoyable self-published works so I can be inclined to cut some slack for less-than-stellar editing if the story itself is strong, and this one is strong enough to make up for some blatantly obvious typos.

My Rating

Review: Slow Twitch

Title: Slow Twitch (Brenna Blixen #3)
Author: Liz Reinhardt
Genre: Fiction, Romance
Pub Date: March 2012, Self-published
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased from BN.com

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Summer scatters three friends, ties them back together, and makes them question who they have been and who they want to be in the future.

Brenna expected to soak up the knowledge of great Irish writers at her summer workshop in Dublin. But there are some things even the best books can't teach you, and a passionate new friend and an old familiar full of surprises challenge Brenna to follow her heart. By the time she's back in the States, she can't wait to throw herself back into Jake's arms and tell him exactly what he means to her.

She puts the brakes on that plan when it becomes clear that Jake may not be ready to shoulder any more. He visits his family's palatial home in the mountains of New York, and is exposed to all the possibilities a life surrounded by his pampered relatives and washed in money would hold for him. But is it possible to accept so much and not change who you are? Jake has to face the reality that changing sometimes means losing things...but how much is he willing to put on the line?

Saxon has been thrust into a life of drudgery and indentured service he never dreamed of after a brush with the law puts him on family-enforced probation. Who would have thought Sussex County's resident bad-ass layabout would fall head-over-heels in love with a girl, an elderly aunt, and a shot at a whole new life. The problem is, he's a Maclean to his marrow, and it's in his blood to be a selfish screw-up. Isn't it?

Brenna, Jake, and Saxon spend one summer growing up, working things out, and doing their best to weather the changes that get thrown their way. But can the love and friendships of one amazing summer last through the ups and downs of the coming years?

My Thoughts

Wow, what a finish to the Brenna Blixen series! While there were a lot of things I really enjoyed about this book, frankly, there were some things I didn't like, as well, and I'm going to start with the negative. I couldn't bring myself to classify this one as YA (or even YA Mature as it is noted), though I would say the first two books probably did fit into that category. Call me uptight, old-fashioned, a prude, whatever you like, but in my opinion this last book was just too explicit to be categorized as YA or YA Mature. It's been awhile since I read the first two books, but I don't remember them being quite so daring as Slow Twitch -- well, Junk Miles came closer, I guess. (Makes me wish I hadn't read these on my blogging hiatus so I'd have reviews to refer back to.)

I just really wasn't prepared for the content in Slow Twitch. I guess the times are changing, but I don't recall any of the books I was able to get my hands on as a young adult being as explicit as this one was. And I admit I sure got tired of the F-bomb being dropped all over the place. I mean, I do remember that once kids/teens learned that word and tried it out, it frequently became a part of their vocabulary, but the use of the word just seemed ridiculously overdone in this book and got tiresome quickly. And yes, it's a self-published book, and there are a few (a very few) typos that spellcheck wouldn't catch, but closer editing would.

Okay, all of that said, I really did enjoy this book. There was a lot to like, despite the things I could have done without. I thought the three main characters really came into their own in Slow Twitch and this was, by far, the most I enjoyed reading about them. Saxon's transformation was most impressive and his point of view was the one I most looked forward to reading. (This book switches between Brenna, Jake, and Saxon telling the story.) He may have been a total screw-up in the past, but we finally see the good in him here. Jake was also more enjoyable to read about this time -- he wasn't quite as pathetic as he was in past books. Sure, by the end, we're back Brenna being his whole world, but he does grow a little bit and maybe finally realizes he does need to live his own life some. Brenna didn't change too terribly much. I did enjoy the introduction of a friend she made while in Dublin -- Evan, a crazy gal from Georgia. Evan's scenes really added a lot to the story and were a refreshing change of pace.

The end was a mixture of happily-ever-after and perhaps a bit of uncertainty for some involved. I suppose it was open enough that Reinhardt could get another book out of this series, but I would prefer for this to be the end. It's not always a bad thing to leave a little to the imagination. Bottom line, if you liked Double Clutch and Junk Miles, I am reasonably sure you are going to enjoy Slow Twitch. Just be prepared for much more explicit content to go along with the fast-paced, gripping storyline.

My Rating:

Catching up on Reviews: Along For The Ride

Title: Along for the Ride
Author: Sarah Dessen
Genre: YA, Fiction
Pub Date: June 2009, Penguin Group (USA)
Format: Hardcover
Source: I honestly don't remember -- I think I bought it back in 2009, likely from Amazon, but I couldn't swear to it.

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

It’s been so long since Auden slept at night. Ever since her parents’ divorce—or since the fighting started. Now she has the chance to spend a carefree summer with her dad and his new family in the charming beach town where they live.

A job in a clothes boutique introduces Auden to the world of girls: their talk, their friendship, their crushes. She missed out on all that, too busy being the perfect daughter to her demanding mother. Then she meets Eli, an intriguing loner and a fellow insomniac who becomes her guide to the nocturnal world of the town. Together they embark on parallel quests: for Auden, to experience the carefree teenage life she’s been denied; for Eli, to come to terms with the guilt he feels for the death of a friend.

My Thoughts

My, my -- this review is a LONG time coming, though I never actually got around to reading Along for the Ride until a few weeks ago.  Yes, this one is classic Dessen, though I'll start off by saying it doesn't quite rank among my Dessen Favorites.  I believe that honor still goes to The Truth About Forever with Just Listen, the first book I ever read by Dessen, a close second.  I've said it once (probably more than that), but I'll say it again, I wish that Dessen or someone like her had been writing contemporary YA fiction like these books when I was a tween/teen.  I know I would have enjoyed them at that age -- possibly even more than I enjoy her writing now.

This was the book I saw all over the place when I finally decided to give Sarah Dessen a try.  I didn't want to start with this one -- I wanted to read every other book she had written first.  I finally did that, and then my reading slowed down and the Great Blog Hiatus soon followed.  So, it was fun for me to pick up Along for the Ride and discover that I still enjoyed Dessen's writing, the incredibly realistic (and full-of-life) characters she creates, and the world they live in -- this time, it's the town of Colby.

I finished this book pretty quickly, but by the end I didn't have quite the same completely satisfied feeling that I normally get from what I feel is Dessen's best work.  I think that maybe I wanted a little more from the relationship between Auden and Eli than we ultimately got.  It is absolutely great fun to read about the quest that Eli takes Auden on, to experience all the "normal" things she missed out on when she was a kid, growing up and trying to meet the expectations of her rather neurotic mother.  I looked forward to every nighttime meeting between the two, anxiously awaiting their every conversation, but ultimately I just wanted a little more from them (for them?).

Naturally, if you love Dessen, you'll love this book.  I still rate it highly, even though it's not my favorite.  I can't wait to pick up What Happened to Goodbye and give it a go.

My Rating: 

In addition to those mentioned above, you can also read my other reviews of Dessen's Books:

Keeping The Moon

That Summer

Dreamland

Someone Like You

*I know I've read This Lullaby, but it must have been during The Great Blog Hiatus, so no review!

And as always, if you have reviewed Along for the Ride on your blog, please feel free to leave a link to your review in the comments section!

Review: A Scattered Life

Title: A Scattered Life
Author: Karen McQuestion
Genre: Fiction
Pub Date: August 2010, AmazonEncore
ARC Paperback, 255 pages
Book Source: Received my copy from the author for review.

Synopsis

Free spirit Skyla Plinka has found the love and stability she always wanted in her reliable husband Thomas. Settling into her new family and roles as wife and mother, life in rural Wisconsin is satisfying, but can't seem to quell Skyla's growing sense of restlessness. Her only reprieve is her growing friendship with neighbor Roxanne, who has five kids (and counting) and a life in constant disarray--but also a life filled with laughter and love.

Much to the dismay of her intrusive mother-in-law, Audrey, Skyla takes a part-time job at the local bookstore and slowly begins to rediscover her voice, independence, and confidence. Throughout one pivotal year in the life of three very different women, each will learn what it means to love unconditionally.

My Thoughts

While not my typical reading fare, I can see how the story in A Scattered Life would have widespread appeal. At just 255 pages it is an easy read that was a breeze to get through, although I have to admit that by the time I finished it I was a bit underwhelmed by the overall story. The potential was there for a great book (even though it would probably still not be one I would choose for myself), but I thought it fell short in several ways.

Both the characters and the plot really needed to be fleshed out in a bit more detail. So many of the characters, whether the women of focus or some of the supporting cast, really felt stereotyped and not individualized the way they could have been. Audrey was the rather annoying, meddling mother-in-law, while poor Skyla was trying to find herself and be understood by her husband and his family, and then there's the crazy new neighbor, Roxanne, her husband, and their wild group of boys. As for the story itself, it was alright, but would have been better for a bit more depth and an ending that wasn't quite so rushed. Given the relative shortness of the book, I don't think it would have hurt if it was a bit longer, if that means including more detail that adds both to the plot and to the emotional depth.

While tragedy eventually rears its ugly head (and we all know how I feel about stories like this--it was a disappointment when I realized where the story was heading), there is a glimmer of hope and happiness that peeks out at the end of the book. If only the means to the end hadn't been so scattered and ultimately heartbreaking, I would have enjoyed this book more. As noted at the beginning of this post, I received this book for review from Karen McQuestion, and would like to thank her for sending me a copy!

My Rating:


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Review: The Girl Who Chased The Moon

Title: The Girl Who Chased the Moon
Author: Sarah Addison Allen
Genre: Fiction
Pub Date: March 2010, Random House
Hardcover, 265 pages
Book Source: Purchased from B&N@GT

Synopsis

Emily Benedict came to Mullaby, North Carolina, hoping to solve at least some of the riddles surrounding her mother's life. Such as, why did Dulcie Shelby leave her hometown so suddenly? And why did she vow never to return? But the moment Emily enters the house where her mother grew up and meets the grandfather she never knew--a reclusive, real-life gentle giant--she realizes that mysteries aren't solved in Mullaby, they're a way of life: Here are rooms where the wallpaper changes to suit your mood. Unexplained lights skip across the yard at midnight. And a neighbor bakes hope in the form of cakes.

Everyone in Mullaby adores Julia Winterson's cakes--which is a good thing, because Julia can't seem to stop baking them. She offers them to satisfy the town's sweet tooth but also in the hope of rekindling the love she fears might be lost forever. Flour, eggs, milk, and sugar... Baking is the only language the proud but vulnerable Julia has to communicate what is truly in her heart. But is it enough to call back to her those she's hurt in the past?

Can a hummingbird cake really bring back a lost love? Is there really a ghost dancing in Emily's backyard? The answers are never what you expect. But in this town of lovable misfits, the unexpected fits right in.

My Thoughts

Once again, Sarah Addison Allen has written a charming novel with just enough magic, mystery, and romance to make for the perfect escape. I have highly enjoyed each of her books, and while this one may not have been my favorite of the bunch, I still loved it!

My favorite part about Allen's books is that you could almost believe the stories are true--including the bits of magic. It is so easy to be completely swept into her stories, and this one is no exception. In The Girl Who Chased the Moon, we once again have the perfect mix of original and quirky characters, most of whom have more than a bit of mystery they are hiding. While the story is perhaps meant to focus more on Emily and her search for answers, I found myself much more interested Julia's story and what would become of her. My only wish is that this book could have gone on a little longer and deeper into the various storylines. On the one hand, I loved the way the story ended, on the other, I simply wanted to know more and what the scene to follow would be like!

If you are looking for a story to take you away (to a charming Southern town, no less), look no further than Allen's books. There is usually a bit of sexuality, but nothing that is over the top offensive. Now that I've had the opportunity to read each of her books, I can't wait for the next!

My Rating:

Other reviews of The Girl Who Chased the Moon:

S. Krishna's Books ~ Dear Author ~ Estella's Revenge
My Fluttering Heart ~ 2 Kids and Tired Book Reviews

If you have reviewed this book and would like to see a link to your site listed above, please leave a comment with the link to your review!

Review: The Life O'Reilly

Title: The Life O'Reilly
Author: Brian Cohen
Genre: Fiction
Pub Date: October 2009, iUniverse
Paperback, 266 pages
Book Source: Received a copy for review from the author, many thanks!

Synopsis

On the outside, Nick O'Reilly has it all: a high-flying legal career, as a partner of an elite Wall Street law firm, and financial security, with an apartment overlooking Central Park. Having grown up in a working-class family, as far back as Nick can remember this was his dream. But at the age of thirty-six, after several years of sacrificing his personal life for professional gain, Nick has started to ponder his future and consider the mark he wants to leave on society both professionally and personally--his legacy. 

After being chastised in the press for turning a cold shoulder to the community, the firm calls upon Nick to help rehabilitate its image by handling its first pro bono case. Nick is asked to represent Dawn Nelson, a domestic violence victim who is fighting for custody of her young son, Jordan. A far cry from Nick's specialty of defending the misdeeds of Corporate America, it is up to Nick to set Dawn and Jordan on a path to a better life. But Nick gets much more than he signed on for, as Dawn forces him to reassess his life choices and, ultimately, be true to himself. Only when Nick finally realizes what is truly important in life does he face his toughest--and possibly final--challenge: a battle for his own survival.

My Thoughts

I have to start this review by saying that this is probably the most difficult review I have had to write to date. I have actually been sitting on this book for several days now, pondering the words I am getting ready to write. That might sound like it doesn't bode well, but I am rating the book highly--though, if this makes ANY sense, not because it was a book I enjoyed by the time I put it down. Doesn't that sound horrible? I don't mean for it to, but I am trying to be 100% honest in expressing my thoughts about The Life O'Reilly.

I probably should have realized this book would not be one I would typically choose to read--in the end, I felt as if it were a Nicholas Sparks novel, but only for the emotionally charged aspects of the storyline. (And in all honesty, I have only read one book by Nicholas Sparks and that was enough for me!) I simply do not knowingly choose stories to read that tend to be sad or potentially emotionally draining. Those aren't my kind of books. But what I can say about this book is that it is very well written with brilliantly portrayed characters, and that is why--even though I didn't enjoy the overall direction the story ended up taking--I had to give it a higher rating. Cohen deserves recognition for being able to cause readers to feel strong emotions--even in earlier scenes at the law office, I was getting very irate with the way that Nick and other lawyers were treated. To me, if a story or its characters can cause such strong emotional reactions in the reader, then the writer has most likely done his or her job.

There were certainly highs and lows, and while the end does throw one for a bit of a loop, I was left with just one impression by the last page. And honestly, it was the perfect way to end that book. So for those of you who enjoy emotionally wrenching stories, this book is definitely for you. For anyone who might be offended by language and mild sexual content, be warned you'll find it. If my review has intrigued you enough, pick up a copy and give it a try! Thank you again to Brian Cohen for sending a copy to me!

My Rating:

Other reviews of The Life O'Reilly:

Life in the Thumb ~ Eclectic / Eccentric

If you have reviewed this book and would like to see a link to your site listed above, please leave a comment with the link to your review!

Review: This Is Me From Now On

Title: This Is Me From Now On
Author: Barbara Dee
Genre: Fiction, Young Adult/MG
Pub Date: April 2010, Simon & Schuster
Paperback, 259 pages
Book Source: Received a copy for review from the author

Synopsis

Sometimes your life just needs a little jolt.

That's what Francesca told me once, and she was right. I mean, she was wrong about practically everything, but she was right about that.

At first Evie doesn't know what to think about her amazing new neighbor. Francesa's wild and funny, with a crazy sense of style, but the only rules she follows are the ones she invents herself. Evie's two best friends don't trust Francesca, but Evie is desperate for a change. And when you're with Francesca, anything--totally anything--can happen.

My Thoughts

Firstly, many thanks to Barbara Dee for sending me a copy of this book for review. This Is Me From Now on has a target audience that is a tad bit younger (ages 9 - 13) than most of the books I usually review, but I was interested in the premise and gladly accepted the opportunity to share this book with all of you.

My first thought upon finishing this book was that I could have seen myself reading it when I was in middle school. It's generally a light-hearted read that is the perfect little escape from real-life into a world that almost could be yours. The storyline is cute, if a bit predictable--but since we have probably all been in similar situations with a new girl moving to town, I suppose that is to be expected. And who hasn't wanted to reinvent themselves the way Evie was so desperate to? I know I used to feel that way as a pre-teen and teen, and even to this day sometimes find myself thinking about a new me. In the end, Evie learn a lot about herself and her friends and we read all about it in a charming story that provides a lot of laughs.

I highly recommend this book for all the tweens out there. The characters are very well-drawn and I would be surprised if others weren't as blown away by Francesca as I was. She was certainly a hoot and a bit over the top, but Evie and her friends were a tad more realistic. All-in-all an enjoyable read!

My Rating:

Other reviews of This Is Me From Now On:

Becky's Book Reviews ~ Booking Mama ~ Carrie's YA Bookshelf

There's A Book ~ Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers

My Overstuffed Bookshelf ~ Mrs. Magoo Reads

Redlady's Reading Room

If you have reviewed this book and would like to see a link to your site listed above, please leave a comment with the link to your review!

Review: The Sugar Queen

Title: The Sugar Queen
Author: Sarah Addison Allen
Genre: Fiction
Pub Date: April 2009, Random House
Paperback, 294 pages
Book Source: Purchased from B&N @ Ga Tech

Synopsis

Josey Cirrini is sure of three things: winter is her favorite season, she's a sorry excuse for a Southern belle, and sweets are best eaten in the privacy of her closet. For while Josey has settled into an uneventful life in her mother's house, her one consolation is the stockpile of sugary treats and paperback romances she escapes to each night.... Until she finds her closet harboring Della Lee Baker, a local waitress who is one part nemesis--and two parts fairy godmother. With Della Lee's tough love, Josey's narrow existence quickly expands. She even bonds with Chloey Finley, a young woman who is hounded by books that inexplicably appear when she needs them-and who has a close connection to Josey's long-time crush. Soon Josey is living in a world where the color red has startling powers, and passion can make eggs fry in their cartons. And that's just for starters.

Brimming with warmth, wit, and a sprinkling of magic, here is a spellbinding tale of friendship, love--and the enchanting possibilities of every new day.

My Thoughts

Sarah Addison Allen may be fast becoming one of my favorite new authors. There is something so enjoyable about reading her books and I don't want to put them down or have them come to an end! Admittedly, The Sugar Queen is a wee bit predictable, but that didn't keep me from enjoying Josey's story.

One of Allen's strengths is her characters--every character in the story is a delight, whether their part is large or small. Della Lee may be "two parts fairy godmother" but she is unlike any fairy godmother you've read or heard about! Josey's friend Chloe has her own set of interesting problems, but I would certainly give anything to have one of them--books magically appear just when she needs them! Yes, there is a touch of magic in Allen's second book, and I think that is part of her book's charm. It's not an in-your-face supernatural story like many out there, but the little bit of magic makes the book that much more special. But back to the characters... Josey is a fantastic main character--she grows so much as you turn the pages and I know I was pulling for her as she realized with each new day there was more to life than being at home with only her mother and the house maid for companionship. And yes, there is a bit of romance in the story but it is not the sole focus of the plot and so makes for a nice addition to the story.

As with Garden Spells (read my review here) this story wraps up nicely at the end, though as horrible as this sounds, I don't know that I think Josey's mother deserved the happy ending she got. All-in-all I really enjoyed Allen's second book and look forward to reading The Girl Who Chased the Moon at some point down the road. If you are looking for a light read with a touch of magic and whimsy then you should pick up one of Allen's books and get lost in the worlds she creates.

My Rating:

Other reviews of The Sugar Queen:

Books on the Brain ~ Redlady's Reading Room ~ Dear Author

Allison's Book Marks ~ Flight Into Fantasy ~ Angieville

S. Krishna's Books ~ Stephanie's Written Word ~ Beyond Books
Library Queue

If you have reviewed this book and would like to see a link to your site listed above, please leave a comment with the link to your review!

Review: Garden Spells

Title: Garden Spells
Author: Sarah Addison Allen
Genre: Fiction
Pub Date: September 2007, Bantam Dell
Paperback, 290 pages
Book Source: Purchased from BJ's Wholesale

Synopsis

The Waverleys have always been a curious family, endowed with peculiar gifts that make them outsiders even in their hometown of Bascom, North Carolina. Even their garden has a reputation, famous for its feisty apple tree that bears prophetic fruit, and its edible flowers, imbued with special powers. Generations of Waverleys tended this garden. Their history was in the soil. But so were their futures.

A successful caterer, Claire Waverley prepares dishes made with her mystical plants - from the nasturtiums that aid in keeping secrets and the pansies that make children thoughtful, to the snapdragons intended to discourage the attentions of her amorous neighbor. Meanwhile, her elderly cousin, Evanelle, is known for distributing unexpected gifts whose uses become uncannily clear. They are the last of the Waverleys - except for Claire’s rebellious sister, Sydney, who fled Bascom the moment she could, abandoning Claire, as their own mother had years before.

When Sydney suddenly returns home with a young daughter of her own, Claire’s quiet life is turned upside down - along with the protective boundary she has so carefully constructed around her heart. Together again in the house they grew up in, Sydney takes stock of all she left behind, as Claire struggles to heal the wounds of the past. And soon the sisters realize they must deal with their common legacy - if they are ever to feel at home in Bascom - or with each other.

My Thoughts

I will be the first to admit that I picked up this book solely based on the cover, but after reading the synopsis (above) I couldn't resist picking it up. Now, several months later I finally had a chance to read this book and really enjoyed it!

Enchanting is possibly the best word to describe this story. The "magical" garden--particularly the apple tree--at the Waverly home serves as a common thread throughout the entire story. Each of the main characters is vividly drawn and well-developed--you can't help but get caught up in their world. Claire is such an enigma at first, but by the end of the story we understand why she is the way she is. Her sister, Sydney, comes to find out that the choices she made and the way she has lived her life were based on assumptions about their mother that proved to be wrong. Evanelle is a hoot, with her burning needs to give people various items, which they never know why they need, but inevitably they find out one way or another. Even the two men that come into Claire and Sydney's lives are enjoyable to read about.

The romance that finds its way (unwanted, initially) to Claire is probably my favorite part of this book. It was just so satisfying to see unfold, not to mention the way it changed Claire. While Sydney's past caused her to doubt men (with respect to herself, not others, like Claire), she (re)discovers someone who might just be what she has always been looking for when she returns home. The writing wraps this book up in one pretty little package, though I would also caution that there are sexual references that might offend some. Normally I can live without that, myself, but in this case it did not serve as a major distraction and I am looking forward to reading other books by Sarah Addison Allen!

My Rating:

Other reviews of Garden Spells:

Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin? ~ Books and Movies ~ Em's Bookshelf

Books on the Brain ~ Books and Other Stuff ~ Reading Matters

2 Kids and Tired Book Reviews ~ Bookfoolery and Babble

Educating Petunia ~ At Home With Books ~ Crazy-For-Books.com

Angieville ~ Library Queue

If you have reviewed this book and would like to see a link to your site listed above, please leave a comment with the link to your review!

Review: Someone Like You

Title: Someone Like You
Author: Sarah Dessen
Genre: Young Adult, Fiction
Pub Date: May 1998, Speak
Paperback, 281 pages
Book Source: Purchased online from Books-a-Million

Synopsis

"Life is an ugly, awful place not to have a best friend."

Halley and Scarlett have been best friends ever since they met. Halley has always been the quiet one; Scarlett braver and more outgoing. Halley has always turned to Scarlett when things get rough, and Scarlett has always known just what to do. It's the perfect setup. But everything changes at the beginning of their junior year. Scarlett's boyfriend is killed in a motorcycle accident; then she finds out that she is carrying his baby. For the first time ever, Scarlett really needs Halley. Now Halley has to learn how to be strong for Scarlett. It won't be easy, but Halley knows that she can't let Scarlett down. Because a true friend is a promise you keep forever.

My Thoughts

I enjoy that Sarah Dessen's books are always an easy read, and provide a nice break from the books I generally read. I believe this is about the 6th of Dessen's books that I have read, and I have to admit they do all start to sound the same after awhile. Girl has a best friend, one of the two of them finds a boyfriend and has a new facet to their life... Girl meets boy, boy ends up not being the right kind of guy for her (not always the case, but often)... Girl's relationship with boy causes her to do things she normally wouldn't and she grows apart from her mother/family...

Don't get me wrong, it's a formula that almost always has me reading her books in one sitting, but after awhile I do feel like I'm reading similar stories over and over. Dessen's writing and depiction of the events in Someone Like You don't fail to please, and it is another great potentially relate-able piece of fiction for teenage girls. I have to admit that I generally can't relate to most of Dessen's stories, but I still find them interesting, perhaps because they are so different from the life I experienced growing up.

If you like Dessen's other books, I would think you would enjoy Someone Like You, as well. It's a quick read and perfect for a lazy Summer day or night.

My Rating:

Other reviews of Someone Like You:

Bookfoolery and Babble ~ Book Addiction ~ Fluttering Butterflies

MariReads ~ Book Journey ~ The Ravenous Reader

Reading Rants! ~  Kaylee's Bookshelf ~ Library Queue

If you have reviewed this book and would like to see a link to your site listed above, please leave a comment with the link to your review!

Review: Almost Home

Title: Almost Home
Author: Pam Jenoff
Genre: Fiction, Suspense, Mystery
Pub Date: February 2009, Atria Books
Hardcover, 374 pages
Book Source: Received my copy from the publisher via Pam Jenoff, many thanks for sending this for review!

Synopsis

From bestselling author and Quill award nominee Pam Jenoff comes a rich, ambitious, and startling novel about a woman who must face a past she'd rater forget in order to uncover a dangerous legacy that threatens her future.

Ten years ago, American Jordan Weiss's idyllic experience as a graduate student and coxswain at Cambridge was shattered when her boyfriend and fellow crewmember, Jared Short, drowned in the River Cam the night before the biggest race of the year. Since that time, Jordan, a State Department intelligence officer, has traveled the world on dangerous assignments but has managed to avoid returning to face her painful memories in England. When her terminally ill friend Sarah asks her to come to London, though, Jordan finds herself requesting a transfer to the one place she swore she'd never go again.

In London, Jordan attempts to settle into her new life, pushing aside her haunting memories and taking on an urgent mission beside rakish agent Sebastian Hodges. Shortly after her arrival, just when she thinks there's hope for a fresh start in England, she is approached by a former college classmate who makes a startling assertion. He tells her that Jared's death was not an accident, but that he was murdered.

Jordan quickly learns that Jared's death was indeed not an accident, and that his research on World War II had uncovered a shameful secret. But powerful forces with everything to lose will stop at nothing to keep the past buried. Soon, Jordan finds herself in grave peril as she struggles to find the answers that lie treacherously close to home, the truth that threatens to change her life forever, and the love that makes in all worth fighting for.

My Thoughts

Before talking about the story itself, I would like to note that Almost Home was released today in paperback for the first time, so this review is in celebration of that event. Again, many thanks to Ms. Jenoff for contacting me regarding this book and for having one sent for review. Ms. Jenoff also graciously agreed to guest post here at Melissa's Bookshelf, and you will be able to read her post about Covers and Titles later this week on Friday!

But back to the story... Almost Home is a beautifully written, highly suspenseful piece of work. I will admit that when I started reading and discovered the story is told in the first person present tense, I cringed, because of how hit-or-miss that point of view can be for me. However, this book is so well-written and edited so well that I never thought about the point of view after that first page. Interestingly, while the entire book is paced pretty quickly and the story moves at a good clip, many of the twists and turns (and bombshells) occur in the last few chapters of the novel. {So you can imagine my chagrin and disappointment when I realized I'd left it at work yesterday with about a quarter of the book left to read.}

My only complaint about this novel is that Jordan Weiss did not seem very believable as a diplomat. Her tendency to run away from tough situations and inability to separate her personal life from work just did not seem to make her a realistic member of the State Department, in my opinion. She just didn't seem tough enough for the line of work she was supposedly in. While there could have been more character development in some cases, for the most part I thought that Jenoff painted them very descriptively and was able to build upon some of the key characters in the occasional flashback scenes in the story. Some other key characters, however, did not get to benefit from those opportunities and fell a little flat for me.

But I certainly cannot complain about the way the story unfolded--particularly towards the end. The connections that were made between storylines, while perhaps a little far-fetched, proved for a fascinating conclusion. My only wish now is that I knew what was going to happen beyond the end of the story. Overall it was a great, fast read that I think other suspense and mystery lovers would enjoy.

My rating:



Other reviews of Almost Home:

Drey's Library

If you have reviewed this book and would like to see a link to your site listed here, please leave a comment with the link to your review!

Review: North of Beautiful

Title: North of Beautiful
Author: Justina Chen Headley
Genre: Fiction, Young Adult
Pub Date: February 2009, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Hardcover, 373 pages
Book Source: gift from my sister-in-law :-)

Synopsis

It's hard not to notice Terra Cooper.

She's tall, blond, and has an enviable body. But with one turn of her cheek, all people notice is her unmistakably "flawed" face. Terra secretly plans to leave her stifling small town in the Northwest and escape to an East Coast college, but gets pushed off-course by her controlling father. When an unexpected collision puts Terra directly in Jacob's path, the handsome but quirky Goth boy immediately challenges her assumptions about herself and her life, and she is forced in yet another direction. With her carefully laid plans disrupted, will Terra be able to find her true path?

Written in lively, artful prose, award-winning author Justina Chen Headley has woven together a powerful novel about a fractured family, falling in love, travel, and the meaning of true beauty. 

My Thoughts

I figure that I must be among the last few people to read this book. It's been on my wish-list for awhile but for some reason I just never got around to it, despite seeing many great reviews out there. Perhaps I felt like it wasn't going to live up to them or be the kind of story I really enjoyed reading. Who knows? After finishing this book, I probably don't really have much to add to the other reviews you've already seen, but I'd still like to give my 2 cents worth, nonetheless.


Headley is simply able to touch your emotions, there is no doubt about it. The verdict: this book is as moving and powerful as everyone else has said it is. The story is about so much more than true beauty as it also examines Terra's family situation, her relationships with her mother, father and brothers. Now that isn't to say that it isn't generally predictable, because in truth it is. But it is the writing that grabs you and keeps you drawn into Terra's story. I can also admit that certain parts of the story brought tears to my eyes, even though I can't say that I can relate to any part of it.

There are not really any new messages in this book about beauty, family, or anything else. However, there really is nothing "North of Beautiful" about this book, either, it truly is touching and I'm glad I finally got around to reading it.

My rating:



Other reviews of North of Beautiful:

S. Krishna's Books ~ Presenting Lenore ~ Book-lover Carol

Liv's Book Reviews ~ Au Courant ~ The Bluestocking Society

Book Addiction ~ Dear Author ~ Teen Book Review

Bookshelves of Doom ~The Dream Reader ~ Life in the Thumb

Stephanie's Confessions of a Book-a-holic ~ Miss Erin ~ Dreadlock Girl

So Many Books, So Little Time ~ Reader Rabbit ~ Book Crumbs

Pop Culture Junkie ~ Jen Robinson's Book Page
For the Love of Books ~ Kids Lit ~ Books By Their Cover

A Chair, A Fireplace & a Tea Cozy ~ The Book Muncher

Books, Movies and Chinese Food ~ Reading Rocks

A Patchwork of Books ~ Readingjunky's Reading Roost

Sarah's Random Musings

If you have reviewed this book and would like to see your site listed above, please leave a comment with the link to your review!