The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy (Montague Siblings #2) by Mackenzi Lee

* * * *

Felicity Montague is through with pretending she prefers society parties to books about bone setting—or that she’s not smarter than most people she knows, or that she cares about anything more than her dream of becoming a doctor.

A year after an accidentally whirlwind tour of Europe, which she spent evading highwaymen and pirates with her brother Monty, Felicity has returned to England with two goals in mind—avoid the marriage proposal of Callum Doyle, a lovestruck suitor from Edinburgh; and enroll in medical school. However, her intellect and passion will never be enough in the eyes of the administrators, who see men as the sole guardians of science.

But then a small window of hope opens. Doctor Alexander Platt, an eccentric physician that Felicity idolizes, is looking for research assistants, and Felicity is sure that someone as forward thinking as her hero would be willing to take her on. However, Platt is in Germany, preparing to wed Felicity’s estranged childhood friend Johanna. Not only is Felicity reluctant to opening old wounds, she also has no money to make the trip.

Luckily, a mysterious young woman is willing to pay Felicity’s way, so long as she’s allowed to travel with Felicity disguised as her maid. In spite of her suspicions, Felicity agrees, but once the girl’s true motives are revealed, Felicity becomes part of a perilous quest that will lead her from the German countryside to the promenades of Zurich to secrets lurking beneath the Atlantic.

Source: advance e-galley provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review

All right. The boys had more than their fair share of adventure in The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue, so now it's the girls' turn. Sorry, Monty and Percy can't have all the fun. We already knew Felicity (Monty's younger sister) was a firecracker. She's smart, fearless and unafraid to share her opinions. Thank goodness for her because she held things together for the boys when things looked bleak. Lady's Guide starts out as far away as possible from excitement. Felicity is working in a bakery in Scotland feeling slightly defeated because she hasn't been able to pursue her dream of studying medicine yet. She has the brains but it's the misfortune in being born a girl that thwarts her at every turn. When the bakery owner proposes to her, offering her a comfortable, stable life with the understanding that she gives up her ambition, she hightails it out of there so fast for one last ditch effort to get into med school.

So much happens that sadly resonates with what's been happening in our world lately. The struggles Felicity goes through to be taken seriously and prove her worth and abilities are so freaking frustrating. (I couldn't help wondering how she would react to our current social and political backsliding.) Anyway, with Monty and Percy hopelessly and sickeningly in love (yes, they're back as well), Felicity has to rely on herself for all the pep talks and becomes resourceful when obstacles pop up. I love how that brain of hers works. Thanks to her previous dalliance with pirates, she has connections to take her to Germany to meet up with an old friend. And that's using the term very loosely. Joanna, is marrying a scientist Felicity would love to have mentor her. She just has to be discreet especially since she's travelling with the pirate, Sim. Sim who has her own secret agenda is masquerading as Felicity's servant girl. Things go amuck at the wedding and soon all three ladies are on the run, desperately racing against time when they realize what's at stake.

If ever I have the urge to run away and form a pirate gang of badass women I'd want Felicity, Joanna and Sim to be there. Each of them represents a different face of feminism. Felicity is studious, firm and intelligent. A natural leader who keeps a calm head during a crisis. Joanna embraces her femininity, and unlike Felicity who openly rails against expectations, Joanna subvertly fights that by working her femininity to her advantage. She's diligent, curious, observant and cunning when the need arises. Sim, having grown up amongst pirates has a more rough and tumble streak, is disciplined, strong and unconstrained by etiquette or society's standards. Their bond only strengthens as their journey becomes perilous. 

The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy is another action-packed fare set to a fascinating historical background that highlights friendship and sisterhood. I hope reading this encourages all the Felicitys, Joannas and Sims of the world to rise up because if anything, we see that women are more than capable and get things done when they band together.

~ Bel
 

What If It's Us by Becky Albertalli & Adam Silvera

* * * * *

Arthur is only in New York for the summer, but if Broadway has taught him anything, it’s that the universe can deliver a showstopping romance when you least expect it.

Ben thinks the universe needs to mind its business. If the universe had his back, he wouldn’t be on his way to the post office carrying a box of his ex-boyfriend’s things.

But when Arthur and Ben meet-cute at the post office, what exactly does the universe have in store for them?

Maybe nothing. After all, they get separated.

Maybe everything. After all, they get reunited.

But what if they can’t quite nail a first date . . . or a second first date . . . or a third?

What if Arthur tries too hard to make it work . . . and Ben doesn’t try hard enough?

What if life really isn’t like a Broadway play?

But what if it is?

Source: advance e-galley provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review


Before I get going I want to put this out there: I am an ardent fan of both Albertalli and Silvera. I love them for all the warm fuzzies and waterworks that their books bring on, and that the two of them have combined their superpowers to write a book together is nothing short of magical!

What If It's Us starts with a meet-cute at a post office of all places. Arthur sees a hot boy walking in to the post office with a large box. For a good-looking guy Arthur is willing to take a little detour and so follows him inside and strikes up a conversation with him. The boy, Ben is returning his ex-boyfriend's belongings and this gives Arthur hope that maybe Ben will be interested in him. Now before you go thinking he's being stalkery, Arthur is the sweetest guy who has only recently come out. He's never had a boyfriend before but his willingness to put himself out there is so darn admirable. Ben who's dated before is the one who's hesitant. Arthur is the kind of guy who believes in fate but before things can go any further they're abruptly separated and all they have is the other's first name. They do eventually find each other (social media to the rescue!) and then they embark on a series of dates, some hits, some misses, getting to know each other along the way. They only have a limited amount of time as Arthur does have to head back to Georgia at the end of the summer. In the meantime, they're going to have the best summer ever.

The story that unfolds is definitely the best of both worlds with Albertalli and Silvera taking us on an adventure as Ben takes Arthur around New York and Arthur learns the ins and outs of dating. What's interesting, too is the parallel subplots happening with regards to their own friends. Arthur's wondering if his coming out has negatively impacted his once close friendships back home and Ben's trying to figure out his own friendships which may or may not include being amicable to his ex. 

There's so much joy in reading What If It's Us. I was expecting to cry because let's face it, Silvera has a history of doing that to us but that wasn't the case this time. This is a heartfelt, coming-of-age story and I was especially touched by the ending. I love it because only is it realistic, it offers such an open and optimistic view of love and life. Their time together in New York has changed them and you can witness that as Ben and Arthur mature into the impressive men they're becoming. You definitely need to add this to your reading list now!

~ Bel

Pushing Perfect by Michelle Falkoff

* * * 1/2

A girl’s quest for perfection results in dangerous consequences in this layered, suspenseful YA novel by the author of Playlist for the Dead.

How far would you go to be perfect?

Kara has the perfect life. She gets perfect grades. She never messes up. Until now. Because perfection is an illusion, and Kara has been struggling to maintain it for as long as she can remember. With so much pressure to succeed, it’s hard not to do whatever it takes. 

But when Kara takes a new underground drug to help her ace the SATs, she doesn’t expect to get a text from a blocked sender, telling her to follow a set of mysterious instructions—or risk her dark secret getting out. Soon she finds herself part of a group of teens with secrets of their own, who are all under the thumb of the same anonymous texter. And if they don’t find a way to stop the blackmailer, their perfect futures will go up in flames.

This dark, emotionally resonant contemporary YA novel is perfect for fans of We Were Liars and The Secret History.

Source: advance e-galley provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review



Expectations are hard to live up to. Whether they come from our parents, our teachers, friends or worse yet, ourselves, the pressure can feel insurmountable. The expectation to live up to some ideal that has been built up over the years can break any person leading them to make some ill-fated decisions. In Pushing Perfect, "Perfect Kara" who has always been an overachiever, succumbs to the pressure to remain on top.

As the blurb explains, Kara takes a drug that's supposed to help her stay focused during her SATs. Attaining a perfect score is the only option she can see that ensures her future. It's at this point as the stress builds that she starts to question her motives, sifting through which ambitions truly belong to her and which of those belong to her parents. Things take an alarming turn when she is contacted by a stranger who knows her dirty little secret, and who threatens to expose her if she doesn't follow through with their instructions. This is definitely something she ever expected and now she's caught up in some intricate blackmailing scheme that is bigger than just her. Getting out if this is going to be tricky but Kara who is tired of being manipulated has had enough. Time to turn the tables and bring down the bad guy.

Falkoff has included several layers to Kara's narrative going years back to when she first developed insecurities about her looks. She also explores how the penchant for secrecy can influence behaviour, even drastically changing the nature of friendships. If anything, perfection becomes an ugly, almost suffocating entity for Kara and her friends. 

I liked Pushing Perfect a lot. I sympathized with Kara and understood where her insecurities stemmed from. It's sadly apparent how isolated she had become until she starts befriending new people. It was also interesting to see how everyone else gets caught up in projecting that perfect image; even more interesting to see how they respond once their ruses are revealed. 

Once again, Falkoff brings to the pages a glimpse of the teenage life from different angles. The premise at first seems simple but the more you let the storyline sink in, the more you understand the disturbing reality that exists. It has made me wonder about my own dynamics with my kids, especially my freshman, as they work studiously to excel at school. Falkoff amazed me with her debut, Playlist for the Dead and with Pushing Perfect, I feel more of a personal connection as she has given me plenty of food for thought.  

~ Bel

Reign of Shadows Blog Tour (Review)

Find it:

 Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Goodreads

About Reign of Shadows:

Seventeen years ago, an eclipse cloaked the kingdom of Relhok in perpetual darkness. In the chaos, an evil chancellor murdered the king and queen and seized their throne. Luna, Relhok’s lost princess, has been hiding in a tower ever since. Luna’s survival depends on the world believing she is dead.

But that doesn’t stop Luna from wanting more. When she meets Fowler, a mysterious archer braving the woods outside her tower, Luna is drawn to him despite the risk. When the tower is attacked, Luna and Fowler escape together. But this world of darkness is more treacherous than Luna ever realized.

With every threat stacked against them, Luna and Fowler find solace in each other. But with secrets still unspoken between them, falling in love might be their most dangerous journey yet.

With lush writing and a star–crossed romance, Reign of Shadows is Sophie Jordan at her best.

About Sophie:

Sophie Jordan grew up in the Texas hill country where she wove fantasies of dragons, warriors, and princesses. A former high school English teacher, she's also the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Avon historical romances. She now lives in Houston with her family. When she's not writing, she spends her time overloading on caffeine (lattes and Diet cherry Coke preferred), talking plotlines with anyone who will listen (including her kids), and cramming her DVR with true-crime and reality-TV shows. Sophie also writes paranormal romances under the name Sharie Kohler.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Instagram

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a $50 Amazon GC and signed copies of REIGN OF SHADOWS, FIRLELIGHT, & UNINVITED, US Only

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Rafflecopter link:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/ZTIzODliYTI4ZTEzMGVjODBhNzA2MmFmMTU3YWM3OjQwMg==/? 

Bel's Review:

* * * *

Step into a fantasy world that appears to begin somewhat peacefully but soon escalates into morbidity. The world has turned into a savage place that has been devoid of the sun for nearly two decades. People are forced to live in hiding, scrounging for what they can during the one hour of daylight, known as “midlight”. It’s miserable in this every-man-for-himself land where no one can be trusted lest you lose your food, your belongings or worse yet, your life.  

Luna lives in isolation in this bleak place with her two keepers. She’s being kept hidden from the tyrant who usurped the throne when he murdered her parents shortly after her birth. As the true heir to her kingdom, her heritage is kept a secret to protect her. But this quiet world they’ve carved out as a trio is interrupted when three strangers turn up needing help. Luna who has never met anyone else is fascinated by them, in particular Fowler, who’s not much older than she is. This gruff newcomer's priority is to get as far away from this terrible land as soon as possible, hopefully without any extra baggage. Unfortunately, his plans are thwarted. When Luna’s safety is under attack, they’re forced to escape together. The forest is a treacherous place because a fellow human is not the deadliest encounter out there.

Luna and Fowler are two opposites. She believes in kindness and helping people while he feels it’s a sure way to death. He refuses to trust anyone or get close, in part because he carries a heavy heart. Admittedly Luna is slightly naïve considering her sheltered upbringing but she’s hardly a weakling. She has been trained to be a skilled fighter and knows how to read her surroundings. Just when things seem grim, they arrive at a turning point.

This is some world that Jordan has created along with nightmarish creatures and desperate, skeptical humans doing anything they can just to stay alive.  I got a bit squeamish when she described these giant hellish bats. (Now I know what she was up to when she mentioned researching them in one of her Facebook posts. She did her research well, folks!) Jordan also elevated the risks by slipping in a vital detail at the beginning that I didn’t even catch until it was said out loud. Sneaky, sneaky! I love being surprised like that and it just made me that much more vested in the characters’ welfare. It also made me admire how Jordan raised the stakes.

Reign of Shadows is a rousing start to what looks to be a heart-pounding series set to a gruesome backdrop. I don’t think Luna and Fowler are going to get much rest. Their success in their quest depends on them remaining alert and quick-witted. It's been a while since I've read any fantasy. Reign of Shadows was a fun way back to it and with a doozy of a cliffhanger, I for one am beside myself to know what happens next!

~ Bel

Emmy & Oliver by Robin Benway

* * * 1/2

Emmy’s best friend, Oliver, reappears after being kidnapped by his father ten years ago. Emmy hopes to pick up their relationship right where it left off. Are they destined to be together? Or has fate irreparably driven them apart?

Emmy just wants to be in charge of her own life.

She wants to stay out late, surf her favorite beach—go anywhere without her parents’ relentless worrying. But Emmy’s parents can’t seem to let her grow up—not since the day Oliver disappeared.

Oliver needs a moment to figure out his heart.

He’d thought, all these years, that his dad was the good guy. He never knew that it was his father who kidnapped him and kept him on the run. Discovering it, and finding himself returned to his old hometown, all at once, has his heart racing and his thoughts swirling.

Emmy and Oliver were going to be best friends forever, or maybe even more, before their futures were ripped apart. In Emmy’s soul, despite the space and time between them, their connection has never been severed. But is their story still written in the stars? Or are their hearts like the pieces of two different puzzles—impossible to fit together?

Readers who love Sarah Dessen will tear through these pages with hearts in throats as Emmy and Oliver struggle to face the messy, confusing consequences of Oliver’s father’s crime. Full of romance, coming-of-age emotion, and heartache, these two equally compelling characters create an unforgettable story.

Emmy & Oliver starts with Emmy’s recollection of the last time she saw Oliver when they were seven years-old. That day and the events leading up to his disappearance have stayed with her since. Though she and her friends moved on, she still remembers him, holding out hope that her childhood best friend and neighbor will reappear someday.

That someday arrives ten years later. They’re 17 now and so much has happened in between. Oliver’s return is extremely awkward for everyone. His family wants him to have space and time to adjust leaving Emmy to wonder if he’s the same boy she remembers. Oliver’s readjustment to his home and school are not easy but somehow Emmy is able to reach him and they begin to reconnect. He confides in her that he’s feeling overwhelmed and trapped by his mother’s expectations. Apparently they have that in common because she feels confined by her mother’s overprotectiveness.

The story deals with a number of things. First we have Emmy seeking more independence and space from her well-meaning but overprotective mom. She doesn’t even know that her daughter loves surfing and wants to surf for a college team. Despite that, Emmy is a bright young woman with a good head on her shoulders. She understands where all the worry stems from. Then there’s a very solemn Oliver who’s painfully assimilating into life with his mom and her new family. He’s trying so hard to keep everyone happy without causing too much disruption. Everyone is expecting him to be ecstatic about being saved and to automatically fit into this new life. But the truth is that he has mixed feelings about his dad and what he did. When he reveals his dilemma to Emmy it’s one of the most genuine moments in the book. It’s a perspective that would never have occurred to me and was handled very sweetly. 

I couldn't help picturing Emmy and Oliver as little kids, innocent and carefree because that's what I wanted to return to. And I see that I pictured them the way this little community continued to see Oliver even upon his return – as a child. Child abduction is horrifying and his disappearance had reverberating effects. His return should have been a veryhappy reunion for the family signaling a return to life as normal before the bad stuff happened. The truth is, it's awkward and hard. Everyone has changed and they all need to make room and adjust. Oliver’s fragility in all of this broke my heart into little pieces. But things have a way of righting themselves and Emmy & Oliver delivers on that in its own way.

~ Bel

Playlist For The Dead by Michelle Falkoff

* * * *

A teenage boy tries to understand his best friend's suicide by listening to the playlist of songs he left behind in this smart, voice-driven debut novel.

Here's what Sam knows: There was a party. There was a fight. The next morning, his best friend, Hayden, was dead. And all he left Sam was a playlist of songs, and a suicide note: For Sam—listen and you'll understand.

As he listens to song after song, Sam tries to face up to what happened the night Hayden killed himself. But it's only by taking out his earbuds and opening his eyes to the people around him that he will finally be able to piece together his best friend’s story. And maybe have a chance to change his own.

Part mystery, part love story, and part coming-of-age tale in the vein of Stephen Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower and Tim Tharp’s The Spectacular Now, Playlist for the Dead is an honest and gut-wrenching first novel about loss, rage, what it feels like to outgrow a friendship that's always defined you—and the struggle to redefine yourself. But above all, it's about finding hope when hope seems like the hardest thing to find.

Sam discovers his best friend Hayden dead. Not something that can be unseen.  He goes through the cycle of sadness, anger, guilt as he wonders if there was any way in which he could have prevented Hayden from taking his own life.  It’s always the ones left behind left with all the questions. Hayden had left Sam a playlist along with a note simply stating that he’d understand once he listened to the songs. Putting the pieces back together dredge up all sorts of memories. Trouble is, he’s no closer to understanding anything. 

Hayden’s death has also affected a lot of people which outrages Sam when he sees the hypocrisy of some of the mourners who claim to have loved him but were major players in traumatizing him when he was alive. His fury is specifically directed at Hayden’s older brother and his friends who used to bully him incessantly, and also at Hayden’s parents who were never kind to or accepting of their younger son. As much as he blames them, he also blames himself.

A mysterious girl named Astrid introduces herself to Sam after the funeral saying that she knew Hayden but doesn’t elaborate on how. He can add this to the growing list of things Hayden kept secret. Striking up a friendship with Astrid moves Sam from being a loner to a circle of friends that he wouldn’t have noticed otherwise. With them he realizes that there’s more to appearance and what you think you see about a person. Astrid’s complexity and role in Hayden’s life gnaws at him and he’s anxious to get more details. In the meantime, the rumor mill is turning as some nasty things are happening to kids at school. Sam doesn't know what to think and in between lack of sleep, grief and hallucinations, he's worried that he could possibly have a role in some of the events taking place.

There are a few books I’ve read and reviewed previously that dealt with the aftermath of suicide. Each one had the protagonist searching for clues and answers to explain what they found hard to accept. Yet with these similarities, each one of these stories handled the theme differently. Playlist shows Sam admitting his confusion and anger, even acknowledging that he'd like to see some kind of vengeance on those whom he feels were responsible for making Hayden miserable while he was alive. However, he's also capable of being rational.  Each chapter, titled after a song on the playlist, sets up the mood and also provides both good and painful memories that help to describe the depth of their friendship. Sam is persistent about uncovering the truth which means he also has to come to terms with how he and Hayden left things shortly before the latter's death.

I'm always surprised when I'm drawn to what I expect to be morbid books. The thing is, I didn't find Playlist to be a depressing affair. His recollection of his friendship with Hayden are all he has to hold on to. I enjoyed reading how they'd spar over who had the better taste in music, often to just rile each other up. There's appreciation for the special language they shared and their loyalty. Sam's loss and bewilderment are natural, his feeling of betrayal when he discovers things about Hayden he didn't know previously are valid. Despite that, what got to me most was his ability to get to a point of forgiveness. Not all the questions are answered because that would be impossible. Faced with that reality, Sam must adjust to life without his best friend and he has to learn to accept that it's okay. The healing will come as he figures this out one day at a time.

~ Bel

   

     

   

If you'd like to know what songs are included in Playlist For The Dead, Michelle Falkoff has put a Spotify playlist together. It's brilliant! Enjoy!

Waiting on Wednesday (130)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that highlights future releases that we are excitedly anticipating.


By Amy Lane
Publication Date:  December 15, 2014

Every New Year’s Eve since 1946, Nate Meyer has ventured alone to Times Square to listen for the ghostly church bells he and his long-lost wartime lover vowed to hear together. This year, however, his grandson Blaine is pushing Nate through the Manhattan streets, revealing his secrets to his silent, stroke-stricken grandfather.

When Blaine introduces his boyfriend to his beloved grandfather, he has no idea that Nate holds a similar secret. As they endure the chilly death of the old year, Nate is drawn back in memory to a much earlier time . . . and to Walter.

Long before, in a peace carefully crafted in the heart of wartime tumult, Nate and Walter forged a loving home in the midst of violence and chaos. But nothing in war is permanent, and now all Nate has is memories of a man his family never knew existed. And a hope that he’ll finally hear the church bells that will unite everybody—including the lovers who hid the best and most sacred parts of their hearts. 




By Alexis Bass
Publication Date:  December 31, 2014

If you want more, you have to give less.

That’s the secret to dating in high school. By giving as little as they expect to get in return, seventeen-year-old Aubrey Housing and her three best friends have made it to the second semester of their senior year heartbreak-free. And it’s all thanks to a few simple rules: don’t commit, don’t be needy, and don’t give away your heart.

So when smoking-hot Nathan Diggs transfers to Lincoln High, it shouldn’t be a big deal. At least that’s what Aubrey tells herself. But Nathan’s new-boy charm, his kindness, and his disarming honesty throw Aubrey off her game and put her in danger of breaking the most important rule of all: Don’t fall in love

On the Fence by Kasie West

* * * ½   

She's a tomboy. He's the boy next door…

Charlie Reynolds can outrun, outscore, and outwit every boy she knows. But when it comes to being a girl, Charlie doesn't know the first thing about anything. So when she starts working at a chichi boutique to pay off a speeding ticket, she finds herself in a strange new world. To cope with the stress of her new reality, Charlie takes to spending nights chatting with her neighbor Braden through the fence between their yards. As she grows to depend on their nightly Fence Chats, she realizes she's got a bigger problem than speeding tickets-she's falling for Braden. She knows what it means to go for the win, but if spilling her secret means losing him for good, the stakes just got too high.

Fun, original, and endearing, On the Fence is a romantic comedy about finding yourself and finding love where you least expect.

Review:

Charlie Reynolds isn’t prepared for the consequences when her police officer father comes home with a copy of her latest speeding ticket. Charlie is paying for this ticket and she’s going to have to find a job to do so.   Her half-hearted attempt at a job search lands her a job working for a small clothing boutique.  The new job comes with a lot of changes – including new clothes and makeup.  Those are changes that make tomboy Charlie uncomfortable.  They are also changes that Charlie will do anything to hide from her over protective dad and brothers. 

Charlie has been content with being one of the guys.  She takes quite a bit of pride in the fact that she can keep up with her three brothers and their friends.  But this new job is introducing her to a new part of her life.  One that she has no idea how to merge with her current life.  Added to the emotional chaos is her growing attraction to her neighbor and brother’s best friend, Braden.  Their late night chats over the fence have been the highlight of her summer.  But she’s convinced he doesn’t return her feelings and isn’t willing to risk what they already have.

I love a good boy next door story and Braden was a perfect boy next door.  I would actually put him in the “forever boy” category.  And we all know how much I love my “forever boys.”  I also loved the Reynolds boys.  Both dad and sons.  They are ridiculously overprotective but at the same time they love her so much I couldn’t help but shake my head and smile.

And I adored Charlie.  Not because she was a tomboy that played every sport and breathed baseball.   Although that WAS cool.  It was the fact that her insecurities were so identifiable.  Haven’t we ALL been there.  As the reader we are all thinking how obvious it is that Braden has a thing for Charlie.  But, I can say from experience, sometimes we just don’t have enough confidence in ourselves to see what is so obvious to others.  And, boy, is Charlie lacking confidence.  That is her main internal struggle in this story and many will identify with it.

On the Fence is engaging and light.  If you are looking for a sweet teen romance then I recommend you add this title to your summer reading list.

Nat

After the End by Amy Plum

* *  1/2

She’s searching for answers to her past. They’re hunting her to save their future.

World War III has left the world ravaged by nuclear radiation. A lucky few escaped to the Alaskan wilderness. They've survived for the last thirty years by living off the land, being one with nature, and hiding from whoever else might still be out there.

At least, this is what Juneau has been told her entire life.

When Juneau returns from a hunting trip to discover that everyone in her clan has vanished, she sets off to find them. Leaving the boundaries of their land for the very first time, she learns something horrifying: There never was a war. Cities were never destroyed. The world is intact. Everything was a lie.

Now Juneau is adrift in a modern-day world she never knew existed. But while she's trying to find a way to rescue her friends and family, someone else is looking for her. Someone who knows the extraordinary truth about the secrets of her past.


Review: 

While Juneau is off hunting to feed her clan she hears the roar of “renegades.”  Or in modern terms, helicopters.  It isn’t the first time the clan has heard them.  They realize that smaller armies have formed after WWIII and it’s not surprising that some have managed to get things up and running enough to search out safer areas country.  But this time the renegades don’t fly over.  The roar continues and Juneau is worried about the safety of her clan.  She abandons her prey and races back to their village to find everyone gone.  Her father has left a message on the dirt floor of their yurt telling her to run.

So she does.  After collecting some things from the clan’s storage space, she heads for the coast.  And finds the most amazing thing.  A modern functioning society with no signs of the war she was lead to believe happened 30 years earlier.   Using her connection to the Yara (basically a transcendent ability to connect to the earth and its power) she is given direction on how to find her clan and their leader, who appears to be taken separately.  That direction leads her to Seattle.

Miles is rich boy from L.A. that is determined to destroy all the opportunities handed to him.  When he is expelled from his private school for cheating, his father, the CEO of a large pharmaceutical company, decides that he will learn responsibility by working in the mail room.  If after a year, he has proven that he can be responsible then maybe his father will see if he can still pull strings to get him into Yale.  But Miles is impatient and wants to get into his father’s good graces now.  When he finds out that his dad is looking for a girl in Seattle, he decides to run off himself and try to find her.  If he can deliver what his dad is looking for then everything will change.

After searching for a few days, Miles and Juneau find each other.  Before long they are headed on a frantic and adventurous trip to save Juneau’s family.  A trip that is full of discovery for both of them.  A trip that will hopefully lead to the safe return of her clan.

This story had its ups and downs.  I really enjoyed how much Juneau and Miles clashed.  They are both nice people but they come from such completely different worlds that their dislike of each other rather perfect.   What I didn’t like was their attraction that appeared about mid-way through the book.  It just didn’t build enough to make it believable.

I find the idea of a community living so secluded from the rest of the world fascinating.   No surprise considering how much I enjoyed M. Night. Shyamalan’s The Village.   The reason that Juneau’s clan was secluded holds a lot of potential and it will be interesting to see how the story continues.  Unfortunately this leads to my biggest complaint.  This is a first book in a series and the abrupt ending made it feel as if someone turned off the TV in the middle of an episode.  I was left confused and frustrated.  Not necessarily in a good anticipatory way. I would like to see how this ends but I will likely wait until they all the books in the series are out before reading more.

Here’s the thing.  If you are looking for a fun quick read with a bit of adventure and “magic” then I I do recommend After the End.  And hey, once the entire series is out, I will likely go back and read them all.  But until then I’ll stick to my stand alone novels and the few series I’ve been emotionally invested in so long that I can no longer give up.

~Nat

The Last Best Kiss by Claire LaZebnik

* * * 1/2

Anna Eliot is tired of worrying about what other people think. After all, that was how she lost the only guy she ever really liked, Finn Westbrook.

Now, three years after she broke his heart, the one who got away is back in her life.

All Anna wants is a chance to relive their last kiss again (and again and again). But Finn obviously hasn’t forgotten how she treated him, and he’s made it clear he has no interest in having anything to do with her.

Anna keeps trying to persuade herself that she doesn’t care about Finn either, but even though they’ve both changed since they first met, deep down she knows he’s the guy for her. Now if only she can get him to believe that, too....

With her signature wit and expertly authentic teen voice, Claire LaZebnik (the author of fan favorites Epic Fail and The Trouble with Flirting) once again breathes new life into a perennially popular love story. Fans of Polly Shulman, Maureen Johnson, and, of course, Jane Austen will love this irresistibly funny and romantic tale of first loves and second chances.


Review:

Persuasion is my favorite Jane Austen novel after Pride and Prejudice and Emma.  And this was a pretty good modernization of Miss Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth’s story.  LaZebnik does a wonderful job of transitioning a story about betrayal, growth and forgiveness into a contemporary high school setting.

Anna meets Finn their freshmen year when he joins her carpool to and from school.  It doesn’t take long before they hit it off over frozen yogurt, super cool online photos and secret kisses.  But Anna is one of the cool kids and Finn is not.  She is embarrassed to admit their relationship to her friends so she holds back on showing too much at school.  When Finn asks Anna to Homecoming she says that she has already agreed to go with friends but that she will meet him there.   Which is true, but …when the young Finn in his oversized suit comes over to Anna, she completely snubs him.  They avoid each other the rest of the year and over the summer Finn and his parents move away.

Fast forward three years later.  It is senior year and all the girls are giddy over the new hot transfer….Finn Westbrook.  Anna is still feeling horribly guilty about hurting the only guy she has ever really liked.  She has no real hope that Finn will giver her the time of day let alone forgive her but she attempts to apologize anyway.  His response is exactly what you would expect.  He isn’t mean but he also isn’t interested in her apology or being friends.  But her friends pull him into their group and pretty soon Finn and Anna are in constant awkward company.

This story definitely had its uncomfortable moments.  The Homecoming scene made my skin crawl.  Even though you see it coming, nothing can really prepare you for that kind of humiliation.  But I loved the overall message.  Much like our hero and heroine in Jane Austen’s Persuasion, Anna and Finn (Anna in particular) have to grow and learn to be strong and stand up for their convictions before they can ever consider a relationship with each other.

My only complaint with the story is that I felt that Anna’s attempts at an apology were rather weak.  She made too many excuses.  Her apology would have gone a lot farther had she, rather than trying to justify her actions, simply apologized and admitted her actions were wrong.   Granted that is the adult in me talking.  Maybe I should be a little more forgiving to the teenagers.

As is always the case with books I really enjoy, the characters absolutely won me over.  I found the characters in this book to be wonderfully diverse and delightful. Well except for Anna’s parents and one of her sisters – the three of them were pretty despicable.  And I am not ashamed to admit that Finn might be one of my favorite book boyfriends ever.  I have a soft spot for cute nerds.  Make them dark haired and skinny and I’m a puddle on the floor.  Not so secret fact: The Executive Officer is a dark haired skinny nerd. So I might have a type.  And Finn might be it.

As you can probably tell, I found The Last Best Kiss to be a thoroughly entertaining and engaging book. This was a sweet story that I would recommend to anyone looking for a delightful teen romance.

Nat

Uninvited (Uninvted #1) by Sophie Jordan

* * * * 1/2

The Scarlet Letter meets Minority Report in bestselling author Sophie Jordan's chilling new novel about a teenage girl who is ostracized when her genetic test proves she's destined to become a murderer.

When Davy Hamilton's tests come back positive for Homicidal Tendency Syndrome (HTS)-aka the kill gene-she loses everything. Her boyfriend ditches her, her parents are scared of her, and she can forget about her bright future at Juilliard. Davy doesn't feel any different, but genes don't lie. One day she will kill someone.

Only Sean, a fellow HTS carrier, can relate to her new life. Davy wants to trust him; maybe he's not as dangerous as he seems. Or maybe Davy is just as deadly.

The first in a two-book series, Uninvited tackles intriguing questions about free will, identity, and human nature. Steeped in New York Times bestselling author Sophie Jordan's trademark mix of gripping action and breathless romance, this suspenseful tale is perfect for fans of James Patterson, Michelle Hodkin, and Lisa McMann.

This has to be one of my favorites reads for the latter half of 2013 for a couple of reasons: one, it's slightly dystopian-ish without being full on dystopian and two, this is unlike anything of Sophie Jordan's I've read so far. 

There’s definitely a very futuristic feel to Uninvited but what’s described in here could very well take place today. May be that's what makes this whole story so unnerving. Davy starts out a very normal girl living a very normal life, going to school and hanging with her friends and her boyfriend.  At this point we’ve all been conditioned to know that when the “I love you’s” are declared, something will inevitably go wrong.  And so it does.

The government-mandated HTS test that everyone must take to determine if they have the “killer”  gene comes back positive for Davy. As a result, she is kicked out of her private school and has to attend a local public school.  What makes it worse is that because she has been deemed a potential killer, she’s not even allowed to attend classes with the rest of the school population. She is essentially locked up in a cage with other future offenders.  As if that isn’t enough, her friends from her former life have completely abandoned her, including her boyfriend. What follows is Davy’s very painful and lonely introduction into this new world of second-class citizenship where she is eyed with disdain and suspicion. The wrong move on her part can lead to bad repercussions for her. Her dreams of going to Juillard are over. Any hope of a successful career in any field is impossible. Even the simple act of walking down the street is now a dangerous venture for her.

As I read this I couldn’t help but think that this story offered a fantastic opportunity to discuss the whole nature vs nurture debate.  I came up with a few questions:

Can predicting someone’s potential as a killer actually prevent a tragedy from happening? Os is that just damning someone to an uncertain fate?

        

        Doesn’t ostracizing an entire group of people and treating them as scum only create animosity and bitterness in them?  Wouldn’t that trigger a violent reaction in some because they were pushed in that direction?

       What is the role of rehabilitation in this and can you rehabilitate someone who hasn’t yet demonstrated a penchant for violent behavior?

Okay, I know this is sort of heavy stuff but all these questions and more flooded my mind as I read Uninvited at an amazing speed.  I felt so anxious for Davy and her new friends, growing more concerned for her during the second half of the book as she morphed into a different person. That change is thanks in part to the government and its questionable agenda for all the HTS carriers.

All I can say is that Uninvited had me wound up the entire time. To me it was such an interesting concept that stimulated a lot of thought and considering how things have played out so far, there’s certainly plenty of room to maneuver in the sequel. There is a love angle in there too but that doesn’t consume the story at all. Davy is her own rock and she’s gearing up to face what’s next.

~ Bel

No Angel by Helen Keeble

*** 1/2 

From HarperTeen:

Being the only guy at an all-girls school isn't exactly a dream come true...

That's right.  I, Rafael Angelos, am the sole member of the male sex at St. Mary's School.  Prepare yourselves, ladies.  But while the girls here are ridiculously hot, they also take popularity, cliques, and bullying to new levels of crazy.  So I've decided it's my job to step in.  Protect the meek, smite the wicked, and win the heart of a beautiful victim while I'm at it.  

The whole "guardian angel" thing is getting a little out of hand, though.  I really didn't sign up for a weird, glowing circle around my head - or a pair of wings.  And I'm starting to worry that there's a reason so many of the girls act like they're possessed by demons...

No Angel is a hilarious take on the recent influx of angel related books.  Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge fan of some of these books, but No Angel's spoof-like nature was awesome.  It was also surprising, with twists and turns I never expected.  

As a story about teenagers fighting the battle between good and evil, angels vs demons, No Angel takes a humorous approach to the follies that inevitably follow.  It also takes the battle between teens and adults to new extremes.  All in all, I recommend No Angel for it's belly laughs and witty dialogue.  Excuse me, I need to go download Fang Girl now, you should too.

~Shel

Shadows in the Silence by Courtney Allison Moulton

*****

From HarperCollins:

Your strength in heart and hand will fall. . . .

Ellie knows that the darkest moments are still to come, and she has everything to fight for:

She must fight for Will.

The demonic have resorted to their cruelest weapons to put Will in mortal danger, and Ellie makes an unlikely alliance to save him and to stop Lilith and Sammael, who seek to drown the world in blood and tear a hole into Heaven.

She must fight for humanity.

As the armies of Hell rise and gather for the looming End of Days, Ellie and her band of allies travel to the world's darkest and most ancient regions in her quest to come into her full glory as the archangel Gabriel.

And Ellie must save herself.

Her humanity withers beneath the weight of her cold archangel power, but Ellie must hold tight to who she is and who she loves as she prepares for the ultimate battle for Heaven and Earth.

In this final installment in the Angelfire trilogy, Courtney Allison Moulton brings her dark world of epic battles and blistering romance to a blazing bright conclusion.

Look at those eyes!  Is it any wonder Ellie fell for Will?!  He's totally my book boyfriend!

You know when you love a series and the last book comes out and you are terrified, excited and devastated all at the same time?  Yeah, that's how I felt when we received the ARC of Shadows of the Silence from PageTurner's Blog.  I LOVE the Angelfire series.  There are endless ways a series can end and so many of those ways can be disappointing.  Will your favorite characters die?  Will the ending leave you cold?  Disappointing?  Heartbreaking?  

I despise spoilers, so all I will say about Shadows is that is was perfect.  Courtney Allison Moulton wrote an absolutely beautiful, touching and devastating conclusion to the Angelfire series.  As I tweeted to her after I finished the book, I love her so much for Shadows that I even forgive her for making me cry.  If you have yet to start the Angelfire series, do it now.  If you read Angelfire and Wings of the Wicked, run out now and get Shadows.  I only hope you love it as much as I did.  

Thank you Courtney Allison Moulton, HarperCollins and PageTurners Blog for choosing us to participate in the ARC tour.  Thank you Courtney Allison Moulton for writing a series that I have loved so much and characters to whom I want to give big hugs and root beer floats!  

~Shel

Social Suicide by Gemma Halliday

****

 

From HarperTeen:

Twittercide: the killing of one human being by another while the victim is in the act of tweeting.

Call me crazy, but I figured writing for the Herbert Hoover High Homepage would be a pretty sweet gig. Pad the resume for college applications, get a first look at the gossip column, spend some time ogling the paper's brooding bad-boy editor, Chase Erikson. But on my first big story, things went . . . a little south. What should have been a normal interview with Sydney Sanders turned into me discovering the homecoming queen–hopeful dead in her pool. Electrocuted while Tweeting. Now, in addition to developing a reputation as HHH's resident body finder, I'm stuck trying to prove that Sydney's death wasn't suicide.

I'm starting to long for the days when my biggest worry was whether the cafeteria was serving pizza sticks or Tuesday Tacos. . . .

 

Social Suicide is the sequel to Halliday’s Deadly Cool.  In this installment, Hartley once again stumbles upon a body, except this time, everyone thinks Sydney committed suicide.  Except Hartley.  She sets out to prove Sydney was murdered.  Hartley is endearingly awkward in her interactions with Chase and reminiscent of bumbling detectives like Stephanie Plum, Hartley somehow not only survives, but always gets her man.  Social Suicide is a fun, light-hearted mystery with just enough suspense to keep you guessing.  If you like a mystery with your romantic comedy, I would definitely recommend any of Gemma Halliday’s books. 

 

In addition to her young adult mysteries, Gemma Halliday’s thoroughly enjoyable High Heels series has a new release, Danger in High Heels.  You should check it out!

~Shel