Heir to Sevenwaters by Juliet Marillier

Synopsis:
The chieftains of Sevenwaters have long been custodians of a vast and mysterious forest--one of the last refuges of the Tuatha De Danann, the Fair Folk of ancient story. Human and Otherworld dwellers have existed there side by side, separated by a thin veil between the realms and sharing a wary trust--until the spring when Lady Ashling of Sevenwaters finds herself expecting another child, and everything changes.

With her mother pregnant, Clodagh fears the worst, since Aisling is well past the safe age for childbearing. Her father, Lord Sean of Sevenwaters, faces his own difficulties as warring factions threaten his borders. When Aisling gives birth fo a son--a new heir to Sevenwaters--the responsibility of caring for the infant falls to Clodagh while her mother recovers.

Then the family's joy turns to despair when the baby is taken from his room and something unnatural is left in his place. To reclaim her brother, Clodagh must enter the shadowy Otherworld and confront the powerful prince who rules there. Accompanied on her quest by a warrior who may be more than he seems, Clodagh will have her courage tested to its breaking point. But the reward may be far greater than she ever dreamed...

My Rating: 8/10

My Thoughts:
Books like this, where it's series predecessors are so good, are hard to review because I end up comparing it to them, rather then judge it based on its own merits.

With that said, I liked it. I loved being able to catch up with all the characters we met in other books and seeing what they have been up to. Almost like visiting old friends. Plus on top of that, we get to witness a new epic love story. Who could ask for more.

Unlike the other books, this one takes us into the Otherworld, and we learn more of the peculiarities of all the peoples that live there. While the Fair Folk have played a major part in the other books, they were always coming out of their world to manipulate the mortals. Here we have a mortal who is going to manipulate the Fair Folk.

I was slow to like both Clodagh and Cathal, but as the story gets going, both characters become much more likeable.

It was so fun to revisit Sevenwaters after believing the series was over, and now I can't wait for the next book to come out in December!

In The Woods by Tana French

Synopsis:
Three children leave their small Dublin neighborhood to play in the surrounding woods. Hours later, their mothers' calls go unanswered. When the police arrive, they find only one of the children, gripping a tree trunk in terror, wearing blood-filled sneakers, and unable to recall a single detail of the previous hours.

Twenty years later, Detective Rob Ryan--the found boy, who has kept his past a secret--and his partner Cassie Maddox investigate the murder of a twelve-year-old girl in the same woods. Now, with only snippets of long-buried memories to guide him, Ryan has the chance to uncover both the mystery of the case before him, and that of his own shadowy past.

My Rating: 7/10

My Thoughts:
Warning, possible spoilers....

First off, I love the cover. It was what initially made me pick this novel up.

I have mixed feelings about this book. The first half was really, really good. The mystery surrounding Robs childhood was marvelously creepy, and then the new murder being possibly connected really interested me. Plus on top of that I loved the relationship between Rob and Cassie. Their interactions were really fun, and they just seemed like cool people I would want to hang out with. And at about half way through, I was kicking myself for waiting so long to pick this book up. However...

The second half. GAH! Everything just falls apart. Cassie and Rob's relationship, the murder case, Rob's state of mind. The story just started to drag, and everything the book had going for it just went wrong. Plus I kinda figured out who the murder was way early. (And how could Tana French just leave us hanging on the mystery of Rob's childhood??? I mean, I understand leaving it a little ambiguous, but it's more like she forgot that his mystery was even part of the book and left us with nothing!) Ok, done ranting. So even though I kept reading to find out how it was going to end, I just wasn't impressed with the second half.

I don't know, maybe I'm just not getting the intellectual subtleties of the symbolism or something. Or maybe not. I've read a lot of reviews where people loved this book, so I guess I would just recommend reading it and deciding for yourself.

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

Synopsis:
Samantha Kingston has it all: the world's most crush-worthy boyfriend, three amazing best friends, and first pick of everything at Thomas Jefferson High--from the best table in the cafeteria to the choicest parking spot. Friday, February 12, should be just another day in her charmed life.

Instead, it turns out to be her last.

Then she gets a second chance. Seven chances, in fact. Reliving her last day during one miraculous week, she will untangle the mystery surrounding her death--and discover the true value of everything she is in danger of losing.

My Rating: 9/10

My Thoughts:
LOVED IT! And I wasn't sure I would. I thought Sam was going to be really unlikeable and overall the story would be really morbid, but it wasn't. You get to see Sam's despair, and then growth as a person as she deals with the realization that she is repeating her last day over and over.

This is one of those books that makes you think. You think about your own life and what you are doing with it, and you think about how you treat other people around you. Books that make me think are the reason I read YA.

Though this book is sad, it's also hopeful. None of the characters are all bad (like, Sam's best friend) and none of them are perfectly good either. Everyone makes mistakes and everyone has their own personal issues they are dealing with. And that's how real life is.

Plus there is a hint of romance.

Go out and read this one, it's worth it.

Nothing but the Truth (and a few white lies) by Justina Chen Headley

Synopsis:
Not quite a banana (Asian on the outside but white on the inside), and not quite an egg (a white kid who gets off on all things Asian), half-and-half Patty Ho has never felt completely at home in her skin. Life at House Ho is tough enough between her ultra-strict Taiwanese mom (epic-length lectures and all) and her Harvard-bound big brother. But things get worse when a Chinese fortune-teller channels Patty's future via her belly button... and divines a white guy on her romance horizon. Faster than Patty can add two plus two, her mom freaks out and ships her off to math camp at Stanford. Just as Patty writes off her summer of woe, life starts glimmering with all kinds of probabilities...

My Rating: 6/10

My Thoughts:
So this is the third and final Justina Chen Headley book that she has written. It was the first one she wrote, but the last one I read, and probably my least favorite. But that's not to say it doesn't have merit.

Patty is half Taiwanese and half Caucasian, and I enjoyed this different perspective. She struggles to fit in completely with either side of her ethnic background because each group views her as slightly other. There were many humorous parts, especially the Chinese fortune-teller and the smelly soup, and it's fun to read about people who's every day life is so different than my own, but at the same time so similar.

The things I didn't really like were, and you guessed it, it lacked romance, and a lot of it took place at a math camp. But these are mostly just personal perspectives, not faults that have to do with the writing or plot holes or any other aspect that would constitute a bad novel. I just don't like math, so maybe this book is for you. It just was not for me.

Girl Overboard by Justina Chen Headley

Synopsis:
Everybody thinks Syrah is the golden girl. After all, her father is Ethan Cheng, billionaire, and she has everything any kid could possibly desire: a waterfront mansion, jet plane, and custom-designed snowboards. But most of what glitters in her life is fool's gold. Her half-siblings hate her, her best friend's girlfriend is ruining their friendship, and her own so-called boyfriend is only after her for her father's name. When her broken heart results in a snowboarding accident that exiles her from the mountains--the one place where she feels free and accepted for who she is, not what she had--can Syrah rehab both her busted-up knee and her bruised heart?

My Rating: 7/10

My Thoughts:
After reading North of Beautiful, I decided to check out all that Justina Chen Headley had to offer. Unfortunately Girl Overboard fell short.

I think if I had read Girl Overboard first, it wouldn't have seemed as disappointing, because don't get me wrong, it wasn't a bad book. It just wasn't as good as I hoped.

What I did like was the book was about a very, very rich girl who was very down to earth and real. She had the same problems that many of us face every day despite the fact that we are not rich. She wants simply to fit in and be liked for who she is, and I thought it was kind of refreshing to read about this from her particular perspective.

What I was hoping for was more romance. It seemed to have a promising love story in the beginning, but then drifts away from that story line. I am pro love story, and will almost always rate a book with a good love story higher. But that's just my personal bias.

Overall, it was an entertaining story, I just had the misfortune of reading it right after North of Beautiful and because of this had greater expectations.

North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley

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 small, stifling 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?

My Rating: 9/10

My Thoughts:
I know I say this a lot, but I LOVED this book. The first half takes place in Washington, and being from Oregon, I consider this local, and I love books that take place near where I live. Then the second half takes place in China, which I want to visit so so so bad, so I really enjoyed reading about that. (There are not enough YA books where the characters travel to foreign countries) Plus, Terra is an artist, and I have a thing for characters who are artists.

Besides the setting, the thing that made this book for me was Jacob. He was so sweet and fun and comes to Terra just when she needs him. I have a major crush on this guy.

However, as much as I love Jacob, the opposite is true of Terra's father. I have never despised a character more in a book. He is nasty, petulant, unfair and childish. You just want to scream at Terra's mom to stop putting up with everything, and stand up for herself. (And Terra's mom's journey is a major, and awesome subplot, and is yet another reason why this book exuded awesomeness)

This is a book about coming to terms with things you can't change, and when you can making changes for the better, even if it's difficult. Overall it was very uplifting and sends a good message about inner beauty, friendship, and love. Plus the cover is beautiful.

Kushiel's Chosen by Jacqueline Carey

Synopsis:
The land of Terre d'Ange is a place of unsurpassed beauty and grace. It is said that the angels found the land and saw it was good, and the ensuing race that rose from the seed of angels and men live by one simple rule: love as thou wilt.

Phedre no Delaunay is a young woman who was born with a scarlet mote in her left eye and sold into indentured servitude as a child. Her bond was purchased by Anafiel Delaunay, a nobleman with a very special mission--and the first to recognize her for who and what she is:one pricked by Kushiel's Dart, chosen to forever experience pain and pleasure as one.

Phedre has trained in the courtly arts and the talents of the bedchamber, but, above all, the ability to observe, remember, and analyze. Having stumbled upon a plot that threatened the very foundations of her homeland, she gave up almost everything to save it. She survived, and lived to have others tell her story, and if they embellished the tale with fabric of mythical splendor, they wern't far off the mark.

The hands of the gods weigh heavily upon Phedre's brow, and they are not yet done with their charge--for while the young queen who sits upon the throne is well loved by the people, there are those who believe that other heads should wer the crown. And those who escaped the wrath of the mighty are not yet done with their schemes for power and revenge. To protect and serve, Phedre will once again leave her beloved homeland.

From the sun-drenched villas of La Serenissima to the wilds of old Hellas, from a prison designed to drive the very gods mad to an island of immutable joy, Phedre will meet old friends and new enemies... and discover a plot so dreadful as to make the earth tremble, masterminded by the one person she cannot turn away from.

My Rating: 9/10

My Thoughts:
This is the second book in one of the greatest fantasy trilogies of all time. Though it's not quite as good as the first one, it comes really, really close. We are again faced with dire political intrigue and national crisis. Like in Kushiel's Dart we get to experience not only the beautiful country of Terre d'Ange, but we get to explore many other of the countries that had previously been only mentioned.

My biggest gripe (and possibly spoilor-y) is my favorite blond warrior priest spends most of the book either really, really pissed at Phedre, or seperated from her. The first time I read this book, the seperation worried me so much I flipped ahead just to make sure his name appeared later in the book, reassuring me he was in fact going to come back into the picture. He does.

Overall, this series is so, so amazing. Go read it now.

Naamah's Curse by Jacqueline Carey

Synopsis:
Alone and far from the lands of her birth, young Moirin sets out across wild Tartar territory to find her beloved Bao, the proud Ch'in stick fighter who holds the missing half of her diadh-anam, the divine soul-spark of her mother's people. But the lovers' reunion is short lived. Morin is abducted, cast in chains that bind her magic, and betrayed into the hands of a fanatic Yeshuite priest. Fiercely zealous, he is determined to save Moirin's soul and convert her to his faith... or see her stoned to death for her many sins. With her sould declared a battleground of the gods, Moirin will struggle to hodl on to her humanity and survive--all the while wondering if the gift of love bestowed on her by the godess Naamah is a blessing or a curse.

My Rating: 9/10

My Thoughts:
It's always so hard to talk about and review books that are not the first in the series. Even the synopsis can give stuff away in the first book. But I'm going to try my best.

I really, really liked this book. It's different from all the other Kushiel/Naamah books in the sense that there really isn't a huge sweeping political story line. Instead this is mostly a story about Moirin and Bao's relationship. And though I love the high stakes political catastrophes in the other novels, I really enjoyed reading about the two lovers coming to terms with their relationship.

Furthermore, as is always the case with the Kushiel/Naamah stories, the characters travel to the most wonderful and richly portrayed locations. I am in love with Carey's alternate world and would give anything to visit them. It's facinating to read the interprations of cultures and I always look forward to the new countries the characters will visit in each book.

Overall, I liked this book better than the first one, but if you are looking for far-sweeping politics this story might not be for you.

Kushiel's Marcy by Jacqueline Carey

Synopsis:
Having learned a lesson about thwarting the will of the gods, Imriel and Sidonie publicly confess their affair, only to see the country boil over in turmoil. Younger generations, infatuated by their heart-twisting, star-crossed romance, defend the couple. Many others cannot forget the betrayals of Imriel's Mother, Melisande, who plunged their country into a bloody war that cost the lives of their fathers, brothers, and sons.

To quell the unrest, Ysandre, the queen, sets her decree. She will not divide the lovers, yet neither will she acknowledge them. If they marry, Sidone will be disinherited, losing her claim on the throne.

There's only one way they can truly be together. Imriel must perform an act of faith: search the world for his infamous mother and bring her back to Terre d'Ange to be executed for treason.

My Rating: 10/10

My Thoughts:
After the first two Imriel books being only okay, this book is finally back up to the amazing level set by Kusheil's Dart. And it frustrates me how little I can talk about it in a review because I don't want to give anything away.

Imriel finally shines within this book, having come to terms with the horrors he faced as a child, and also with the guilt and sorrow he faced in the first two books of the series. He has grown into a strong character who knows his place in the world and is willing to fight for what he wants and what he believes in. And boy does he have a battle to win in this story.

I really didn't like Sidonie in the first two books. She was cold and distant with no real spunk and I never really understood what Imriel saw in her. But finally in this book we get to know her much better and I see something in her that is worth Imriel loving and risking everything for. By the end I really, really liked her.

As for the plot, I can't go into much detail without getting spoiler-y but I LOVED IT. It was fantastic beyond my imagining. Imriel starts off with a plan, and you totally think the plot is going one direction, but then the whole thing goes to crap when a major event occurs and CHANGES EVERYTHING. The scale and scope of the treachery amaze me and, yes, Melisande makes an appearance, and she is still awesome, and in control, and is still probably my favorite villain of all time.

Overall, it is well worth making it though the first two books in the series so you can bask in the awesomeness of this amazing plot and see the mediocre characters become pretty bad-ass.

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

Synopsis:
Violet Ambrose is grappling with two major issues: Jay Heaton and her morbid secret ability. While the sixteen-year-old is confused by her new feelings for her best friend since childhood, she is more disturbed by her "power" to sense dead bodies--or as least those that have been murdered. Since she was a little girl, she has felt echoes the dead leave behind in the world... and the imprints that attach to their killers.

Violet has never considered her strange talent to be a gift; it mostly just led her to find dead birds her cat left for her. But now that a serial killer is terrorizing her small town, and the echoes of the local girls he's claimed haunt her daily, Violet realizes she might be the only person who can stop him.

Despite his fierce protectiveness over her, Jay reluctantly agrees to help Violet find the murder-- and Violet is unnerved by her hope that Jay's intentions are much more than friendly. But even as she's falling intensely in love, Violet is getting closer and closer to discovering a killer... and becoming his prey herself.

My Rating: 8/10

My Thoughts:
I had looked at this book on Amazon a couple of times, but never tried it because it sounded depressing and morbid, and I was worried that Violet would be dark and depressing as a character. However, eventually the hint of a love story (and a desperate need for new reading material) finally drove me to reserve this book at my library. Upon finishing it I was pleased to discover I was wrong about the excessively morbid story and characters and instead discovered an interesting murder mystery with a bit of a supernatural twist, and a pretty good love story to boot.

Honestly, I loved both Violet and Jay. She was a girl who was coping with a rather dark ability, but still managed to find the joy in life. He was a fabulous best friend turned something more that I always wished for in my own high school years. Together they became a good team each helping the other out, without taking to much control over the other.

Plot-wise, I thought I had it figured out from the beginning, but as the story progressed, enough twists and clues were thrown in to keep me guessing, so that by the end I wasn't really sure how it was going to turn out. I would come up with a theory, then toss it out and come up with a new one, only to then later go back to my original theory, before throwing it out again. I enjoy a book that can keep me guessing.

All in all, this ended up being a pretty fun read, despite the whole serial killer thing and I would recommend that you go and find a copy for yourself.

Boys, Bears, and a Serious Pair of Hiking Boots by Abby McDonald

Synopsis:
Jenna may hail from the 'burbs of New Jersey, but Green Teen activism is her life, so she leaps at the chance to visit her hippie godmother, Susie, up in rural Canada. Jenna is psyched at the chance to commune with nature for the first time--and the cute, pladwearing boys she's certain must roam there.

But after a few run-ins with local wildlife (from a grouchy old moose, to Susie's sullen Goth stepdaughter, to a hot but hostile boy named Reeve), Jenna gets the idea that her long-held ideals, like vegetarianism and conservation, don't play so well with this population of real ouotdoorsmen. A dusty survival guide offers Jenna amusing tips on navigating the wilderness--but can she learn to navigate the turns of her heart?

My Rating: 8/10

My Thoughts:
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I'm a huge outdoors person and I love hiking and camping and all other various wilderness-y activities, so reading a book that involved a city girl out of her element in the woods sounded like a good fun read, and I wasn't disappointed.

Jenna is from New Jersey and is all about environmental activism, so when she gets the chance to spend the summer in a small town in the Canadian woods, she jumps at the opportunity to spend her time with people who basically live in the woods, and therefore must be environmentally conscious. However, upon arrival, Jenna is surprised to learn that for many of the town's occupants recycling pop bottles and reducing the amount of electricity used is the last thing on their minds.

Now of course because this is a ya book, there are several attractive local boys for her to hang out with, and I was impressed with the fact that Jenna actually realized and admitted to herself right away as soon as she started having feelings for one of them. It seems such an obvious thing, but so many times all the main female characters and in denial of their crushes, and that drives me crazy. In my high school experience, I always knew exactly when I liked a guy. It was admitting to other people about my crush that I had problems with. So kudos to Abby McDonald for getting that right.

Overall, though there wasn't really anything too deep or thought provoking about this novel, I really enjoyed reading it and, ultimately, that's all that matters.

The Line By Teri Hall

Synopsis:
Rachel lives with her mother on The Property. The good thing about living there is that it's far from the city, where the oppressive government is most active. The bad thing, at least to most people, is that it's close to the Line--an uncrossible section of the National Border Defense System, an invisible barrier that encloses the entire country.

She can see the Line from the greenhouse windows, but she is forbidden to go near it. Across the Line is Away, and though Rachel has heard many whispers about the dangers there, she never really believed the stories. Until the day she hears a recording that could only have come from across the Line.

It's a voice asking for help.

Who sent the message? What is her mother hiding? And to what lengths will Rachel go in order to do what she thinks is right?

My Rating: 7/10

My Thoughts:
I gave this book a seven, though it's really more like a six and a half... I was really excited for it. It had an interesting premise and had a lot of potential, however as soon as I started it I had to force myself to keep going.

I found Rachel to be a really annoying character. She is naive and sheltered and seemed very immature to me. Normally, this wouldn't really bother me, however the prose describing Rachel seemed almost like I was reading a middle grade book, and it really turned me off. I stuck with it, though, hoping things would improve as the story progressed.

And it was this interest in seeing how the book would end that kept me reading more than interest in the plot. But as soon as things FINALLY started to happen, and the plot FINALLY started to pick up, the pages ran out. Yes this book ends on a HUGE CLIFF HANGER! And it wasn't even really a cliff hanger, it was more like the book ended in the middle. Nothing was resolved. In fact, it felt like the book had barely begun. It seemed more like a very overly-detailed plot synopsis than a full novel with build up, a climax and a conclusion. There was no climax and no conclusion. Only build up.

Oh well, it was short and the possible future world that Hall creates is kind of interesting so I think I might pick up the next one, if only to see if the story improves.

...And bring on a love story! I'm always down for that!

Dear John by Nicholas Sparks

Synopsis:
An angry rebel, John dropped out of school and enlisted in the Army, not knowing what else to do with his life--until he meets the girl of his dreams, Savannah. Their mutual attraction quickly grows into the kind of love that leaves Savannah waiting for John to finish his tour of duty, and John wanting to settle down with the woman who has captured his heart. But 9/11 changes everything. John feels it is his duty to re-enlist. And sadly, the long separation finds Savannah falling in love with someone else. "Dear John," the letter read...and with those two words, a heart was broken and two lives were changed forever. Returning home, John must come to grips with the fact that Savannah, now married, is still his true love—and face the hardest decision of his life.

My Rating: 6/10

My Thoughts:
This is another book that I read a while ago, so my review is going to be a little short. I saw the movie before I read the book, and I hate that, because it always seems like when I do that the things I like best about the movie are never in the book.

I love, love, love the first half of this book. It's the perfect love story and everything is happy and fun to read. Then John decides to re-enlist and everything is depressing after that. Because I'd seen the movie, I knew it was coming, but I think the book is even more depressing.

The book has a different ending, and I actually think I liked the movie ending better. Perhaps this is a bit romantic of me, but I can't help it. I'm a sucker for the romance in books like this. It's why I read them. When I want something thought provoking and unique I look elsewhere.

Overall it was okay. The first half would get a higher rating than the second half, but unless you are a fan of Nicholas Sparks, I would maybe just see the movie.

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

Synopsis:
When Brittany Ellis walks into chemistry class on the first day of senior year, she has no clue that her carefully created “perfect” life is about to unravel before her eyes. She’s forced to be lab partners with Alex Fuentes, a gang member from the other side of town, and he is about to threaten everything she's worked so hard for—her flawless reputation, her relationship with her boyfriend, and the secret that her home life is anything but perfect. Alex is a bad boy and he knows it. So when he makes a bet with his friends to lure Brittany into his life, he thinks nothing of it. But soon Alex realizes Brittany is a real person with real problems, and suddenly the bet he made in arrogance turns into something much more.

My Rating: 8/10

My Thoughts:
There was a lot of blog hype about this book, which is why I decided to pick it up. I'm always looking for a good love story, and this book very much fit that criteria.

Unfortunately I read this book a while ago, so some of the specific things are getting kind of fuzzy. This book is a classic bad boy (who is really a good guy) meets good girl (who is a lot more complicated than she appears) and falls in love. However don't let this overused plot deter you, I was very much crushing on Alex, and found Brittany very likable. The romance was everything I look for in a book like this. I was addicted from beginning to end and I especially liked the epilogue. Sometimes I find them pointless, but in this case I really enjoyed it because it offered a lot of insight. (I don't want to give anything away by saying more)

If you're looking for something that will throw you a plot curve ball, this story isn't it. But I would totally recommend this book to anyone looking for an excellent love story to read again and again, for I was most thoroughly entertained.

The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks

Synopsis:
Seventeen year-old Veronica “Ronnie” Miller’s life was turned upside-down when her parents divorced and her father moved from New York City to Wilmington, North Carolina. Three years later, she remains angry and alienated from her parents, especially her father… until her mother decides it would be in everyone’s best interest if she spent the summer in Wilmington with him. Ronnie’s father, a former concert pianist and teacher, is living a quiet life in the beach town, immersed in creating a work of art that will become the centerpiece of a local church. The tale that unfolds is an unforgettable story about love in its myriad forms – first love, the love between parents and children – that demonstrates, as only a Nicholas Sparks novel can, the many ways that deeply felt relationships can break our hearts… and heal them.

My Rating: 7/10

My Thoughts:
I'll admit it. I was one of those people who saw the trailer for the movie and then jumped in the queue of holds at the library. therefore it took a long time for the book to finally come. But it did. I liked it, with one exception. (And no, the exception was not the fact that I pictured Miley Cyrus as Ronnie the entire time)

I've got nothing against Miley Cyrus, and didn't really mind picturing her as Ronnie. She fit the description and I moved on with my life.

I really liked the first half of the book. Ronnie is your typical angsty teen that you generally find in the beginning of these types of books. She parties, and gets into trouble but she doesn't drink, so you know she is good at heart. (obvs) Despite the angst, Ronnie ended up being a pretty likable character. The romance was good, which was a major reason I liked the first part so much.

My problem with this book was the last third. Stuff happens, characters are sad, and everything got really, really preachy. Personally, this was a big turn off for me, but there are probably plenty of people who don't mind, or actually read the book for that stuff. I just didn't dig it.

Overall, good first part, but the second part got on my nerves. I liked the movie too, they eliminated a lot of the preachy-ness so I was digging it more.

The Man From Saigon by Marti Leimbach

Synopses:
It's 1967 and Susan Gifford is one of the first women correspondents in Saigon, dedicated to her job and passionately in love with an American TV reporter. Son is a Vietnamese photographer anxious to get his work to get his work into the American press. Together they cover every aspect of the war from combat missions to the working of field hospitals. Then one November morning, after narrowly escaping death during an ambush, they find themselves the prisoners of three Vietcong soldiers who have been separated from their unit. Helpless in the hands of the enemy, they face the jungle, living always with the threat of being killed. But Son turns out to have a secret history that one day will separate Susan from her American lover. As they are held under terrifyingly harsh conditions, it becomes clear just how profound their relationship is, and how important it has become to both of them.

My Rating: 8/10

My Thoughts:
I picked this book up randomly from my library's new books shelves. I'm always looking for books about Asia, and Vietnam specifically, that don't have anything to do with war. And honestly there are very few. For that reason, this book intrigued me. Now, I know that this book IS about the Vietnam war, but because it was from the perspective of a woman and hinted at a love story with a Vietnamese man, I was hooked and picked it up.

This book is told in alternating perspectives between Susan and her boyfriend. I LOVED Susan's sections, and HATED the perspective of her idiot lover. (I kept flipping ahead to see how many more agonizing pages I had left until it switched back to Susan) Honestly, I just wanted to keep reading about Son. He was fascinating, and I fell in love with him way before Susan started having feelings for him.

I was kept guessing the whole time about how this book was going to end. And I feared the worst, (after all it is a war novel) but hoped for the best. The ending surprised me. I think I should have been angry with how it ended, but I'm very strange when it comes to endings, and if an ending can throw me a curve ball, I usually like it. Even if it's not your typical happy ending.

I feel like I'm being kind of cryptic with this review, but I never know how much to say about a book without risking giving something away. So, overall, even though there were sections that I dreaded coming to and hated while reading, I really enjoyed this book. (Though I think I would like any book that gives me a male character to fall in love with) I would recommend it.

The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan

Synopses:
Gabry lives a quiet life. As safe a life as is possible in a town trapped between a forest and the ocean, in a world teeming with the dead, who constantly hunger for those still living. She’s content on her side of the Barrier, happy to let her friends dream of the Dark City up the coast while she watches from the top of her lighthouse. But there are threats the Barrier cannot hold back. Threats like the secrets Gabry’s mother thought she left behind when she escaped from the Sisterhood and the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Like the cult of religious zealots who worship the dead. Like the stranger from the forest who seems to know Gabry. And suddenly, everything is changing. One reckless moment, and half of Gabry’s generation is dead, the other half imprisoned. Now Gabry only knows one thing: she must face the forest of her mother’s past in order to save herself and the one she loves.

My Rating: 9/10

My Thoughts:
ZOMBIES!!! How can you say no to that? This book takes place several years after the Forest of Hands and Teeth and follows Mary's daughter. I found her a little annoying at first. Very naive, sheltered and rather lacks guts. However the story starts off with a bang, and soon Gabry is forced to face her fears and go beyond the fence.

After the initial action, I thought the story dragged a bit, but then picked up again when the zombie worshiping cult was introduced. This, along with a few other new elements that were introduced, created some interesting drama.

Like The Forest of Hands and Teeth, the story eventually ends up amongst the trails protected by the chain link fence, and like the book before this story also has a love triangle. I love a good love triangle and agree with Carrie Ryan writing in her blog about how a love triangle should have two viable love interests. If one of the guys is obviously the wrong choice, the love triangle is too easily resolved and all the exciting drama is lost.

Overall I think I might like The Dead-Tossed Waves better than the Forest of Hands and Teeth. I'm not sure why, except that I absolutely loved one of the love interests. Since this book ends on a huge cliffhanger, I can't wait for the next book to come out and to find out what happens.

Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey

Synopses:
Born with a scarlet mote in her left eye, Phedre no Delaunay is sold into indentured servitude as a child. When her bond is purchased by an enigmatic nobleman, she is trained in history, theology, politics, foreign languages, the arts of pleasure. And above all, the ability to observe, remember, and analyze. Exquisite courtesan, talented spy... and unlikely heroine. But when Phedre stumbles upon a plot that threatens her homeland, Terre d'Ange, she has no choice.

Betrayed into captivity in the barbarous northland of Skaldia and accompanied only by a disdainful young warrior-priest, Phedre makes a harrowing escape and an even more harrowing journey to return to her people and deliver a warning of the impending invasion. And that proves only the first step in a quest that will take her to the edge of despair and beyond.

Phedre no Delaunay is the woman who holds the keys to her realm's deadly secrets, and whose courage will decide the very future of her world.

My Rating: 10/10

My Thoughts:
This is one of my favorite books of all time. It's absolutely amazing, and everything I want from a novel. Phedre is the perfect heroine. She is smart and talented without being an over the top sword wielding warrior. She is not only educated in history, languages, and politics, but also as a spy and courtesan, which places her ideally amidst the many court intrigues at the palace. One of my favorite kind of books is one where characters preach the importance of education, learning, and knowledge and this is definitely one of those books.

Ultimately, however, it's the scope and history of the world that Jacqueline Carey has created that amazes me. It has a rich and powerful spiritualism that is well fleshed out and very interesting. I love the connections between actual history and the slightly skewed version in Carey's world. I want to live in Terre d' Ange.

There are many, many characters in this book, and I had a hard time keeping them straight, even with a helpful list in the beginning of the book. However, though there was some slight confusion about who was who with some of the minor characters, it did not detract at all from the overall story, and within a few rereads (yes I've reread this book many times) I had no problem what so ever with characters.

I do have to warn you, this book is for mature audiences. Phedre is after all a courtesan and the descriptions of her assignations leave absolutely nothing to the imagination. I was blushing a bit the first time I read it when I was 19. However, if this isn't a problem for you, absolutely check it out. I highly recommend it.

I'm excited to say that Jacqueline Carey is going to be visiting my home town on a book signing tour tomorrow. I can't wait to meet her!

Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs

Synopsis:
Mercy Thompson, car mechanic and shapeshifter, never knows what the day--or night--may bring in a world where "witches, vampires, werewolves, and shapeshifters life beside ordinary people" (Booklist). But she is about to learn that while some secrets are dangerous, those who seek them are just plain deadly...

Mercy is smart enough to realize that when it comes to the magical fae, the less you know, the better. But you can't always get what you want. When she attempts to return to a powerful fae book she previously borrowed in an act of desperation, she finds the bookstore locked up and closed down.

It seems the book contains secrets--and the fae will do just about anything to keep it out of the wrong hands. And if that doesn't take enough of Mercy's attention, her friend Samuel is struggling with his wolf side--leaving Mercy to cover for him lest his own father declare Samuel's life forfeit.

All in all, Mercy has had better days. And if she isn't careful, she may not have many more...

My Rating: 7/10

My Thoughts:
I loved, loved, loved the first three books in this series, but the fourth one was a big disappointment, so I had mixed feelings when I picked this one up. Silver Borne, though not as good as the first three, is an improvement on the fourth.

Early on, the novel spends a long time dealing with Mercy and Adam's relationship, but then transitions into dealing with the fae. The biggest problem I had with the book was the ending. It felt rushed and, like the fourth installment, I felt like Mercy did not play much of a part in resolving things.

I also felt how Sam's problem was resolved was rather forced. If there had been hints toward this possibility in other books, perhaps a slightly cryptic mention here or there, it wouldn't have been so out of the blue. But how it just magically happens seemed really contrived.

I'm still of the opinion that the series should have been concluded after book three, but I'll keep hoping the next one is back up to that standard.

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Synopses:
Grace has spent years watching the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow eyed wolf--her wolf-- watches back. He feels deeply familiar to her, but she doesn't know why.

Sam has lived two lives. As a wolf he keeps the silent company of the girl he loves. And then, for a short time each year, he is human, never daring to talk to Grace... until now.

For Grace and Sam, love has always been kept at a distance. But once it's spoken, it cannot be denied. Sam must fight to stay human--and Grace must fight to keep him--even if it means taking on the scars of the past, the fragility of the present, and the impossibility of the future.

My Rating: 7/10

My Thoughts:
It took me a long time to even pick this book up because, like vampires, werewolves are WAAAAY over done right now. However for lack of anything else to read, I decided try it out. I had read a lot of hype about this book and with generally good reviews, so because of this my expectations were high, but in the end Shiver let me down.

It was not all bad. I liked how the werewolves changing depended on the temperature of the air around them. That was something new and interesting to find in one of the many excessive stories surrounding this folklore. And I did love Sam. He is just a generally good guy, and I'm a sucker for them in the stories I read. (And don't even get me started on how much I love books with hot boys who love to read!)

Besides this though, I thought the plot could have used a little more oomph. I was never on the edge of my seat, dying to know what was going to happen next. Everything just kind of plays out methodically, I was not impressed by the antagonist, and I pretty much knew what was going to happen at the end.

However, I was kept interested enough to await the next book in the series to see if there's an improvement.

The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott by Kelly O'Connor McNees

Synopsis:
In the summer of 1855, Walt Whitman's controversial Leaves of Grass has just been released, and the notion of making a living as a writer is still a far-off dream for Louisa. She is twenty-two year old, vivacious, and bursting with a desire to be free of her family and societal constraints so she can do what she loves most--write. The Alcott family, destitute as usual, moved to a generous uncle's empty house in Walpole, New Hampshire, for the summer. Here a striking but pensive Louisa meets Joseph Singer. Louisa is initially unimpressed by Joseph's charms. But just as she begins to open her heart, she discovers that Joseph may not be free to give his away. Their new found love carries a steep price, and Louisa fears she may pay with the independence she has fought so hard to protect.

My Rating: 6/10

My Thoughts:
I don't know why I keep reading historical fiction about real people, because I hate knowing how the story ends even before I get started. However, because I'm a sucker for 19th century women writers, I gave in and read this one. However, I probably could have lived without it.

I found Louisa to be very annoying. I think the author was going for feisty in an Elizabeth Bennet kind of way, but ended up being snobbish instead. I also had a problem believing the love story. Louisa spends most of the book either hating Joseph and denying her 'feelings' for him, or mad at him. They only really have a couple instances where the two are actually happy together. When I'm reading a love story, one of my main criteria is reading about them actually being in love.

I've seen a lot of good reviews for this book recently, but it just wasn't doing it for me.

Musing Monday

Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about the ‘best’ books'.

There’s been some discussion on my blog this week about what should or shouldn’t make a ‘best' books’ list. What elements do you think lands a book in that ‘best’ category? Think of your top 5 best books and tune in next week to see the collated list.

I guess when it comes to picking what I think are the best books it's how much I love the characters that is my ultimate criteria. With some books, I feel so connected with the characters that I worry about them when I'm not reading the book. I become obsessed and spend every spare moment reading, just to find out their fate. Similarly, it's the relationship between characters I really enjoy. Nothing captures my interest more than a well done romantic subplot, and the romance has to be secondary in the story, while still being important. Finally, plot is important. It has to be something that I find very interesting and unique. I can't feel like it's been done before.

Mine may not be classics, but I would be much happier reading these 5 books over and over again for the rest of my life than anything Dickens or Hawthorne or Faulkner ever wrote.

So here they are, my top 5 books:
1. Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier
2. Son of Shadows by Juliet Marillier
3. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
4. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockart
5. Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey

Musing Monday's can be found at Just One More Page.

Hourglass by Claudia Gray

Synopsis:
After escaping from Evernight Academy, the vampire boarding school where they met, Bianca and lucas take refuge with the Black Cross, a fanatical group of vampire hunters. Bianca must hide her supernatural heritage or risk certain death at its hands. But when Black Cross captures her friend--the vampire Balthazar--hiding is no longer an option.

Soon Bianca and Lucas are on the run again, persued not only by Black Cross but by the powerful leaders of Evernight. Yet no matter how far they travel, Bianca can't escape her destiny.

My Rating: 7/10

My Thoughts:
I'm not exactly sure how much I should say about this book because it's the third in the series, and I don't want to give a lot away. I really think it suffers from middle book syndrome, and a lot of plot and action took place in the first two books. This one starts off slow, but sets itself up for an exciting final installment. In fact it was the final 75 pages that really saved this book in my opinion. I had some predictions about what exactly was going on, but Claudia Gray went way farther than I would have ever guessed. Like with Evernight before it, I was surprised and that fact really factors in to how much I like a book.

I liked how you got to see a lot more of Bianca and Lucas interacting in this book. With the others, it always seemd like they only saw each other in short snatches of time, and then one or the other was running off before they got caught together. In this book, the two finally get to be together and I think it really helped make the relationship belieivable. Relationships in novels get old when the two characters are madly in love, but they hardly know each other, and they never really get to see each other.

However, this book ends on a major cliff-hanger which is frustrating. Now I'm stuck waiting for another year until Afterlife is released.

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

Synopsis:

Aliens have attacked earth twice and almost destroyed the human species. To make sure humans win the next encounter, the world government has taken to breeding military geniuses-- and then training them in the arts of war... The early training, not surprisingly, takes the form of 'games'... Ender Wiggin is a genius among geniuses; he wins all the games... He is smart enough to know that time is running out. but is he smart enough to save the planet?

My Rating: 10/10

My Thoughts:

Honestly this book blows my mind. I like science fiction, but I actually don't read very much of it. This however is a major exception. It's exciting and intelligent and keeps me addicted every time I read it. And if you go to Amazon and check out other reviews, you can see that I'm not the only one who thinks this.

In fact, there is nothing to hate about his book. The characters are insanely smart, and all the decisions they make are cool and calculated. Every action is observed and analyzed. And everything happens for a reason. I love how you understand the exact psychological reasoning behind every character's choices.

Besides the characters, the game itself is spectacular. Basically teams are created amongst the kids of the school and battles are fought in a room with no gravity using suits that freeze when they are hit by the guns the boys carry. It's all designed to train these kids for war in space. But the game itself is fascinating, and the obstacles Ender faces are harsh.

However, despite my love for it, this is not a feel good book. At times it can be brutal and cruel. There is no love story, in fact there are hardly any female characters at all. But despite this it is one of the best books I've ever read. Check it out, if you haven't already.

The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley

Synopses:

Although she is the daughter of Damar's king, Aerin has never been accepted as full royalty. Both in and out of the royal court, people whisper the story of her mother, the witchwoman, who was said to have enspelled the king into marrying her, to get an heir to rule Damar--then died of dispair when she found she had born a daughter instead of a son. But none of them, not even Aerin herself, can predict her destiny--for she is to be the true hero who will wield the power of the Blue Sword.

My Rating: 7/10

My Thoughts:

I'm not sure exactly how to review this book... I liked it, but at the same time I kinda didn't. It's one of those classic young adult fantasy novels that always seem to come up on lists of best books for teens, or kick-ass girl books, and there is a part of me that believes it deserves to be there. But at the same time, I had a hard time getting through it.

This is not the first time I've read this book. The very first time, I was pretty young, and just couldn't get through it. I tried it again in high school, and finished it, and I don't really remember feeling either positively or negatively about it. This time however, because of this blog, I'm forced to actually articulate my feelings, and it's so difficult. I guess I'm finding reviewing it difficult because I found reading it a little difficult. The style of writing seems almost... arcane. That's the only word I can think of, and I guess I didn't really like that style. I felt a little disconnected from the main character, Aerin, and I didn't really care about the love story.

I guess I should also list some things I did like, since I did like the book, even though I didn't. Ultimately, this is a girl kicking some ass novel, which I'm a huge sucker for. Any time a female character does something that she is not expected to do because she is female, I'm one hundred percent behind it. So having a feisty heroine give this book a lot of points.

So there you have it, my review of a book that I liked even though I didn't. I guess I recommend reading the book for yourself and coming to your own conclusions. Don't listen to me, what do I know. Many, many people love this book, so who are you going to believe. And remember, I too liked it, even though I didn't.

Graceling by Kristen Cashore

Synopsis:
In a world where people born with an extreme skill--called a Grace--are feared and exploited, Katsa carries the burden of a skill even she despises: the Grace of killing. She lives under the command of her uncle Randa, King of the Middluns, and is expected to execute his dirty work, punishing and torturing anyone who displeases him.

when she first meets Prince Po, who is Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change.

She never expects to become Po's friend.

She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace--or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away... a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.

My Rating: 9/10

My Thoughts:
First off, I just want to say that I love, love, LOVE this book. It's definitely on my top 10 list of all time, and everyone should go read it right now.

I love books where gender roles are inverted, when a female character is either pretending to be a man, or they are naturally physically stronger, faster and better then the men. Specifically, I love how authors solve the problem of this female character finding love. I think as a society we generally think of the male as the protector and provider, so when these gender roles are reversed, the love story aspect becomes slightly complicated. So I found this book very interesting because when facing the main antagonist, Katsa has a weakness and Po does not. So though Katsa is faster and stronger and a better fighter, she still needs Po to help and protect her, as least in this one way. It creates an equality between them that Katsa exsperiences with no other man. Maybe it's just me, but I find that endlessly interesting.

All the characters are fabulous in this book, and I would love to hang out with them all. However, this isn't possible, so I'm stuck reading Graceling over and over again, pretending Katsa and Po are my best friends and eagerly wait for Bitterblue, which does not yet have a release date, to find out what happens next.

Impossible by Nancy Werlin

Synopsis:
Lucy Scarborough is only seventeen when she discovers that the women of her family have been cursed through generations, forced to attempt three seemingly impossible tasks or to fall into madness upon their child's birth. How can Lucy succeed when all of her ancestors have tried and failed? But Lucy is the first girl who won't be alone as she tackles the list. She has her fiercely protective foster parents beside her. And she has Zach, whose strength amazes her more each day. Do they have enough love and resolve to overcome an age-old-evil?

My Rating: 7/10

(Uh, I may have gotten a little excited, and some may see my thoughts as a little spoilorish, though I don't think so, but proceed at your own risk)

My Thoughts:
This book had so much promise. I was so intrigued by a novel based off of the ballad Scarborough Fair, the same ballad the Simon and Garfunkel song is based off of. But once I started reading I was a little disappointed. I'm not sure exactly why, but I think it comes down to the love story portrayed between Lucy and Zach. It seemed to move way to fast for me. He goes from thinking of Lucy as a kind of younger sister figure to suddenly confessing his love for her in a matter of days, then it just keeps progressing from there. And yes, I understand how their relationship plays a major part in the resolution of the plot, but to me it was unbelievable and detracted from an otherwise interesting story.

A warning to younger readers, Lucy is raped in the beginning of the story, but it's not graphically portrayed. However, I have read some complaints about this because it's not mentioned anywhere in the synopsis and I guess it surprised some people.

Overall I thought it was a unique ballad retelling which only lacked a realistic love story.

Front and Center by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

Synopsis:
After five months of sheer absolute craziness I was going back to being plain old background D.J. In photographs of course I'm always in the background--it's a family joke, actually, that us Schwenk kids could go to school naked on picture day, we're all so crazy tall. But I mean I was returning to the background of life. Where no one would really notice me or talk about me or even talk to me much except to say things like "Nice shot," and I could just hang out without too many worries at all.

But it turns out other folks have big plans for D.J. Like her coach. College scouts. All the town hoops fans. A certain Red Bend High School junior who's keen for romance and karaoke. Not to mention Brian Nelson, who she should not be thinking about! Who she's done with, thank you very much. But who keeps showing up anyway...

What's going to happen if she lets these people down? What's going to happen when she does? Because let's face it: there's no way, on the court or off, that awkward, tongue-tied D.J. Schwenk can manage all this attention. No way at all. Not without a brain transplant. Not without breaking her heart.

My Rating: 5/10

My Thoughts:
Oh man, what to say. I had some problems with the second book, but it was nothing compared to this one. My biggest problem was finishing it. D.J. drove me crazy in this book. The fact that she gets nervous talking to people is STILL a major theme. Dead horse? Stick? Anyone? I wanted to scream at her. Suck it up, talk to the coaches, make the phone call, believe in yourself a little bit! I thought it was a big unrealistic that D.J. who admits readily that she's the best female basketball player at her school, and she has all these coaches telling her she should play for them, yet she still questions her ability. I was over that whine fest early in the novel.

It was only worth reading as a wrap-up for the series, and to see the growth Brian ends up going through as a person. Though in my opinion, I don't know if I would have forgiven him like D.J.

Read it to conclude the series, but really that's all it has going for it.

The Off Season by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

Synopsys:
Life is looking up for D.J. Schwenk. She's made it to eleventh grade, finally. After a rocky summer, she's reconnecting with her best friend, Amber. She's got kind of a thing going with Brian Nelson, who's cute and popular and smart but seems to like her anyway. Plus there's the fact that she's playing for the Red Bend High School football team as probably the first girl linebacker in northern Wisconsin.

But then the season, which began so well, starts to go suddenly, horribly wrong. As autumn progresses, D.J. struggles to understand what's happening with football, Brian, Amber, and most of all her family. And as her life turns completely upside down, she discovers she's a lot stronger than she--or anyone--ever thought.

My Rating: 6/10

My Thoughts:
I really enjoyed the first book in this series, but was a little let down by this one. The Off Season seemed to keep stressing all thing things I didn't like about Dairy Queen, like the fact that she can't ever say what she wants, and move away from all the things I did like, for example, football.

Even the love story got a little old. I never could really tell if Brian was a positive influence or a negative influence on D.J.'s life and because I was so back and forth about him, I was never really into the romance of this book.

Overall the book was entertaining enough to keep me going, I wanted to see where it would end up, but not nearly as good as the first one.

"Waiting On" Wednesday : Silver Borne

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Silver Borne
by Patricia Briggs
Publication Date: March 30, 2010

From Amazon:
When mechanic and shapeshifter Mercy Thompson attempts to return a powerful Fae book she'd previously borrowed in an act of desperation, she finds the bookstore locked up and closed down.

It seems the book contains secret knowledge-and the Fae will do just about anything to keep it out of the wrong hands. And if that doesn't take enough of Mercy's attention, her friend Samuel is struggling with his wolf side-leaving Mercy to cover for him, lest his own father declare Sam's life forfeit.

All in all, Mercy has had better days. And if she isn't careful, she might not have many more to live...

I LOVED the first three in the series, but the fourth one let me down a little bit. Here's hoping number five returns to the brilliance of the early books!

Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

Synopsis:
When you don't talk, there's a lot of stuff that ends up not getting said. Harsh words indeed, from Brian Nelson of all people. But D.J. Schwenk can't help admitting to herself that maybe he's right. Because it's obvious that no one is talking about why D.J.'s best friend, Amber, isn't so friendly anymore. Or why her little brother, Curtis, never opens his mouth. Or why her mom has tow jobs and a bit secret, or why her college-football-star brothers won't even call home nowadays. And certainly no one is talking about ho D.J.'s dad would go ballistic on her if she tried out for the football team. There's definitely a lot no being said. And that's not even mentioning the many reason the Brian Nelson is so out of D.J.'s league. Welcome to the summer that fifteen-year-old D.J. Schwenk of Red Bend, Wisconsin, learns to talk and ends up having an awful lot of stuff to say.

My Rating: 7/10

My Thoughts:
I was a little surprised by how much I enjoyed this novel. I'm always kind of hesitant to read these types of young adult books, these modern day coming-0f-age, finding yourself types. Instead I tend to stick to books with a bit more of a fantasy or dystopia element to them. Books with something going on besides every day life. However, this book was really entertaining to me. I liked the main character, I could relate to her love of sports, and found the dysfunction she was dealing with in her family very interesting to read about.

My biggest annoyance with the book, was that D.J. could avoid so much conflict if she just opened her mouth and explained things. So much of the drama between her and Brian would never have happened if she had told him when it happened, rather than letting him find out from another person. But even though I found this really annoying, it's kind of a major plot point in the story, D.J. learning to talk, so I don't really know how much I can complain about this. But it did really annoy me.

Overall, it was a really good, quick read. There are two more books in this series, reviews to follow soon.