Bookworm Nation

Blog Tour: Persuasion: A Latter-day Tale by Rebecca H Jamison

2012-01-31T19:16:00.000-08:00

Release Date: March 8, 2012

Synopsis: When Anne broke off her engagement seven years ago, she thought she'd never see Neil Wentworth again. But when Neil's brother buys the house she grew up in, it seems fate has other plans in store, and Anne is woefully unprepared for the roller coaster of emotions that accompanies Neil's return. Fans of Persuasion will love this fast-paced, modern retelling of Jane Austen's most romantic novel.

Review: This is a LDS version of the Jane Austen novel Persuasion. I’m a sucker for books about lost-love. I don’t know why, but I guess it’s fun to read about people getting a second chance at something that they thought was lost. In this book we follow the story of Anne and Neil, who were separated eight years earlier by Anne’s fear of marriage. In a lot of ways the story follows Austen’s novel but somewhere along the way Anne and Neil’s story really becomes their own. There is a nice twist to the story that adds a little excitement. Overall, I thought it was a fun read.

Click here for tour calendar.
Author Website: http://www.rebeccahjamison.com
Author Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/RebeccaHJamison
Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKgM9tuCzSo
Publisher Blog http://www.cedarfortbooks.com/
Publisher Facebook https://www.facebook.com/cedarfortbooks

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

2011-12-28T18:12:00.000-08:00

Synopsis: Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris - until she meets Etienne St. Clair: perfect, Parisian (and English and American, which makes for a swoon-worthy accent), and utterly irresistible. The only problem is that he's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her almost-relationship back home.

Review: I guess because I’ve seen so many positive reviews of this book I didn’t think I’d like it. I wasn’t sure it’d live up to the hype. I was wrong! I totally enjoyed this book and was sucked in from the beginning and had a hard time putting it down.

I liked Anna and Etienne a lot. They are really cute together and have great chemistry. I really liked that their relationship moved at a believable pace. I liked that it wasn’t this “insta-love” that seems to be happening a lot in YA fiction, but they were friends first. I loved that we were a part of their relationship, we were there for their dates and conversations, it wasn’t just a given that they spent time together, we actually get to experience it. And because of that I totally fell for Etienne as well!

What kept me from giving this a higher rating was the fact that Etienne has a girlfriend. I don’t care for cheating stories, and most would probably say that Etienne and Anna never cheated. However, somewhere along the way their friendship became more and at that point he should have ended things with his girlfriend. I would have had a lot more respect for him if he had done that. I’m sure it was used as a plot device to keep Anna and Etienne apart, but it ends up taking away from the charm of their relationship. Another reason for the low rating is because of some crude stuff scattered here and there, drinking and for some bad language.

Aside from those things, I really enjoyed the story and relationship between Anna and Etienne and probably would have given it a five star rating.

Birthmarked by Caragh M O'Brien

2011-12-21T00:18:00.000-08:00

Synopsis: In the future, in a world baked dry by the harsh sun, there are those who live inside the wall and those, like sixteen-year-old midwife, Gaia Stone, who live outside. Gaia has always believed it is her duty, with her mother, to hand over a small quota of babies to the Enclave. But when Gaia’s mother and father are arrested by the very people they so dutifully serve, Gaia is forced to question everything she has been taught to believe. Gaia’s choice is now simple: enter the world of the Enclave to rescue her parents, or die trying.

Review: I was pleasantly surprised by this dystopian novel. I thought the story was original and enjoyed the setting. I also thought the premise was believable, something that I could see happening. I mean, don’t we currently have CPS, a government agency that steps in and takes kids away from their family if they feel the child is being abused/neglected. Is it really that farfetched to see the way a system like that could spiral out of control?

Anyway, I liked our main character Gaia a lot. While she was somewhat ignorant of what was going on around her at first, she was intelligent and was quick to see the flaws in the system. Not only that but she saw the flaws and wanted to make a change. I like that she doesn’t give up, no matter what situation she finds herself in. She’s a fighter. I admit, I was a little disappointed on the romance front. It was really subtle and I’m still not sure what motivated our leading man. I would have liked more time with them together and even though they are in some pretty serious situations maybe a little more light-heartedness. They were both so serious, it was hard to feel them falling in love, if that’s even what happened.

Definitely a fun read, I look forward to reading the rest of the series. I hope Gaia is able to find her brothers!

Reading Order:
Book One: Birthmarked
Book 1.5: Tortured
Book Two: Prized
Book Three: Promised

Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

2011-12-20T15:43:00.000-08:00

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

Review: I was skimming through all the positive reviews of this book and kept wondering if I read the same book. I loved the cover, it totally drew me to the book and even though I thought the premise sounded a little silly I wanted to read it.

I think guys should be guys and girls should be girls. I’m all for girl’s being strong, independent, playing sports, etc. But, I think girls should also be feminine, should be respected and treated like ladies.

I wish I could have liked Jordan more, which is one of the reasons I kept reading. Jordan was just such a boy. Not a tomboy, but a boy. She acted like a guy, cussed like a guy, and did just about everything like a guy. Sure, when hot Ty comes around she wants to be a little more girly, and even makes a couple girl friends, but at the end of the day she was still pretty boyish. I was really disappointed that she started sleeping with Ty. Her attitude (and everyone else’s) about sex was WAY too casual. It was kind of gross actually. What I also thought was sad was that no one actually respected Jordan. Yes, they appreciated her football skills and treated her like one of the guys. Which was part of my problem; they treated her like a guy not a girl. They didn’t treat her with respect, course they didn’t treat any girl with respect, so I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised.

In fact, I didn’t care for any of the guys in this book. Her brother’s friend Jake was a creep; there is NO WAY my brothers would EVER let a guy talk to me the way Jake talked to Jordan. Even if he was just kidding. Ty was okay, but I never really felt like I got to know him. Once they hooked up he kind of disappears from the story, even though they were still sleeping together…I mean dating. I know Henry was supposed to be our hero, but I thought he was a creep to. To help sooth his broken heart he sleeps with every girl that looks his way. Are we supposed to feel bad for him in his unrequited love and so it’s okay if he uses girls he has no feelings for? Whatever.

I thought the writing was okay. I liked that there was more conversation than inner dialog, even if the dialog felt unnatural at times. I liked that Jordan had a goal and was doing all she could to achieve it. Leave out all the swearing and sex and I probably would have given this a 4 star rating.

I’m just left wondering what the moral of the story is. Is it to be a strong girl you have to give up all feminine qualities and act like a guy? Is it that it’s okay to sleep around and it’s not a big deal? I’m sure the author meant it to be something about achieving goals or whatever, but at what cost?

Content: LOTS of swearing. Lots of casual sex (although no details).

Bookworm Rating: 1

Vanish by Sophie Jordan

2011-12-20T15:38:00.000-08:00

Synopsis: To save the life of the boy she loves, Jacinda did the unthinkable: She betrayed the most closely-guarded secret of her kind. Now she must return to the protection of her pride knowing she might never see Will again—and worse, that because his mind has been shaded, Will’s memories of that fateful night and why she had to flee are gone. Back home, Jacinda is greeted with hostility and must work to prove her loyalty for both her sake and her family’s. Among the few who will even talk to her are Cassian, the pride’s heir apparent who has always wanted her, and her sister, Tamra, who has been forever changed by a twist of fate. Jacinda knows that she should forget Will and move on—that if he managed to remember and keep his promise to find her, it would only endanger them both. Yet she clings to the hope that someday they will be together again. When the chance arrives to follow her heart, will she risk everything for love?

Review: I think I may have enjoyed this one more than the first. I wasn’t sure where the story was going to go and there were a few twists that I didn’t see coming. I thought, because of the cover, there would be more of a focus on Tamra in this one, but there wasn't. I’m not sure what to think of our main character Jacinda. While I really like her, I’m also frustrated with her. She sure makes some hasty decisions that end up causing a lot of problems, but deep down I think she’s just trying to do the right thing. Anyway, this story of course contains a love-triangle. I have to say, I am really torn on this one, I keep going back and forth, normally I can chose a “team” and stick with it. I really really like Cassian, I find myself leaning towards him, but then I really like Will and suspect that in the end Jacinda will end up with Will, so Cassian is there just to provide some nice tension. Which is probably why I don’t like love-triangles. I also like Tamra. I wish we could get to know her more, I don’t think her character is used enough. I want to see her happy. I think the last book I wanted Tamra and Cassian to somehow end up together, but, I don’t think Cassian deserves Tamra. She deserves to be someone’s first choice.

One thing that I’ve had a hard time doing is picturing these characters in their dragon forms. I keep picturing BIG dragons, but then the descriptions don’t make them out to be all that bigger than their human forms. I would love a sketch or something of what they look like so I could imagine it a little better.

The book ends on a pretty big cliff hanger and I’m excited for the next book, Hidden.

The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong

2011-12-20T15:32:00.000-08:00

Synopsis: Sixteen-year-old Maya is just an ordinary teen in an ordinary town. Sure, she doesn't know much about her background - the only thing she really has to cling to is an odd paw-print birthmark on her hip - but she never really put much thought into who her parents were or how she ended up with her adopted parents in this tiny medical-research community on Vancouver Island. Until now. Strange things have been happening in this claustrophobic town - from the mountain lions that have been approaching Maya to her best friend's hidden talent for "feeling" out people and situations, to the sexy new bad boy who makes Maya feel . . . . different. Combine that with a few unexplained deaths and a mystery involving Maya's biological parents and it's easy to suspect that this town might have more than its share of skeletons in its closet.

Review: I enjoyed Armstrong’s Darkest Powers trilogy (Summoning, Awakening, and Reckoning) and really looked forward to this spinoff Darkness Rising trilogy. A part of me wishes I had re-read Darkest Powers so I could refresh myself on characters and history, but another part is glad that I went into the Gathering somewhat fresh.

While I totally enjoyed the story, I was also a little disappointed. Not much happened and Maya took FOREVER to figure out what was going on. Since I could guess at least a little of what was going to happen from the beginning, I was frustrated that it was taking so long for the characters to catch up. I did like Maya. She was a good lead, very independent, strong and yet pretty nice too. I liked her relationship with her parents. It was refreshing to see a healthy family unit for a change. I also really liked Maya’s best friend Daniel. In fact I think I’m on Team Daniel, even though they didn’t have any romantic chemistry together, I was hoping he’d win out. I liked Rafe too actually, I thought he had good chemistry with Maya, but I just didn’t like him as much as Daniel. It was actually nice that there wasn’t the typical love-triangle going on. Maya knew her feelings and wasn’t leading anyone on, such a refreshing change! By the end though, I felt like nothing was answered and the cliffhanger was kind of lackluster. It felt more like an end to a chapter, not the end of a book.

I guess I felt like the book was kind of filler, we got to know the characters (which I liked), the setting (which I liked) and a tiny bit of Maya’s history. There wasn’t enough mystery/action, and if I hadn’t read the first trilogy I wouldn’t have enjoyed The Gathering as much as I did. I still really look forward to the next book, I love the story and writing and I know I’ll probably end up liking this trilogy as much as the first.

Content: A little swearing, underage drinking, and a bit of making out.

The Breakup Artist by Shannen Crane Camp

2011-12-19T00:58:00.000-08:00

Synopsis: Breaking up with someone is a major pain—-unless you can hire someone else to do it for you! And Amelia demands top dollar for her professional break-up services. Everything's business as usual until David, one of the boys she's been hired to dump, throws her for a loop. Now she must decide if David's intentions are genuine, or if there's something sinister behind his flirting.

Review: This is probably more like a four star read, if you don’t overanalyze it like I did.

Overall, it’s a cute story. I liked our heroine Amelia. To earn a little extra college money she helps girls breakup with their boyfriends. Because of her “profession” she doesn’t have any friends, mainly because she changes personality depending on who she is breaking up with. She goes through multiple hair colors, clothes and names to get the job done and keep her identity a secret. Then one day she stumbles upon a guy who just may be onto her little secret. Which brings us to David, who seems to be the perfect guy for Amelia. He was a likable lead, although by the end I still felt like I knew very little about him. I also thought that their feelings for each other moved WAY too fast to be believable. His change from being “out-to-get-her” to “I’m-so-in-love” was too quick. I thought it was fun to see Amelia at work. Amelia goes through a lot of changes and starts to really want a normal high school life. So, if you just want a quick escape and not dwell too much on the details then this is a fun read. I look forward to seeing what Shannen Crane Camp comes up with next!

If you want to read my over-analyzed review (contains spoilers), then read below.

I guess I had a hard time buying Amelia’s job. People would recognize her, even if she changes hair/clothes and schools frequently. Sure, if there are 2000+ kids in the student body most wouldn’t notice, but the kids she takes daily classes with totally would. If her teachers can see past her daily changes then of course her fellow classmates would. Also, if she is as pretty as she claims why aren’t more guys talking to her? It’s hard to believe that the only guys who are interested in her are the one’s she approaches to breakup with. I have a hard time buying that she is so pretty guys are willing to dumb their girlfriends after one meeting, but not pretty enough that no one will talk to her and no other guy is hitting on her.

I like David, but I felt he somehow got lost along the way. He was so against her job at the beginning, claiming that some of his friends had been hurt (I would have liked Amelia to acknowledge them, like “oh, yeah, I remember dumping him”). But, by the end he was on Team Amelia and wanting to be her accomplice. I liked him when he was wanting people to fight their own battles and wanting Amelia to stop and have a normal life. My other problem with the David storyline is how he was writing an article about her and nothing came of it. Amelia finds it and after reading only half (yeah right, like anyone would stop reading after half) decides to still beg him to forgive her and not even bring it up? I wanted a confrontation! He wrote some pretty mean stuff and I think she let him off the hook way to easily. In fact, I think it may have been a better story if he had published an article about her in the school paper and then had them hash things out, fight a bit and eventually get a HEA after he then got to know her, IMO.

Amelia has a LOT of inner dialog. I would have liked more conversations to propel the story. The general idea is interesting, but a lot of the time I just didn’t think things made sense. Why was her mom willing to move around all the time so Amelia could go to different school? Anyway, David lost a lot of his appeal once he became Amelia’s puppy and I wanted a big event for Amelia to open her eyes and see how she’d closed herself off and really want to make a change. But, she doesn’t and instead is going to keep doing what she’s doing, only this time David will do a “background check” to make sure her victims are worthy of their girlfriends cowardly breakups. Would he really be okay with her flirting with other guys? Changing her hair, name and personality constantly? Wouldn’t he want her to finally take the time to figure out who she is?

There were just too many things that didn’t make sense for me to love this story. Again, if I just read it without thinking then I really did think it was fun. I liked the idea and the writing was well done, I do look forward to seeing what else Shannen Crane Camp will come up with next.

Bookworm Rating: 3

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

2011-12-07T00:55:00.000-08:00

Synopsis: umans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . . Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

Review: The good thing about getting a book early is you get to read it early (obviously), but the bad thing is that now I have to wait extra long before the next book comes out! I really enjoyed this book! I wasn’t sure I’d like it, I mean a cyborg Cinderella? But, Cinder really won me over. I actually really liked her character. I wasn’t sure how the whole love-affair would play out with a human and a cyborg, but it worked. I actually thought more of her as a human than then anything else. I liked Cinders personality and spunk. I also liked Prince Kai (Kaito), especially when he was around Cinder. I wish there had been a few more interactions between them. But mostly I loved how original the story was, yet at the same time kept to the traditional Cinderella storyline. It definitely has a sci-fy feel to it, but was also really charming. I loved some of the side characters, like Dr. XXX, Peony and especially the endearing android Iko. The book does end on a cliffhanger, I kind of wish there had been a little more resolution, but it was still a good ending.

There will be three more books in the series (yay!), and I hear they will incorporate other fairy tales like Repunzel, Red Riding Hood and Snow White. I’m definitely curious to see where this series will go.

Release Date: January 3, 2012

Welcome to Salt Lake City by Sheralyn Pratt

2011-12-07T00:53:00.001-08:00

Synopsis: Deciding to go "off grid" for a while, Rhea Jensen can think of no better place to disappear than Utah. She settles into a quiet Mormon lifestyle—unless you count the skydiving, racecar driving, mountain climbing, and overly obsessive workouts. But when her best friend, Kay, tips her off to a stalking case, Rhea takes the job out of sheer boredom. Only then does Rhea realize two things—first, being good is hard; and second, she knows way too much to get out of the PI game. Everyone's favorite private investigator is back in this second installment of the Rhea Jensen Series by Sheralyn Pratt. Packed full of new mysteries, new relationships, and all of Rhea's old habits, Stalk Lake City will hold you hostage from the very first page.

Review: This is the second book in the Rhea Jensen series. While I still loved the book, I don’t know if I liked it as much as the first. I think I want a tad more romance. Other than that, it was great. Pratt writes a fun, engaging mystery. I liked that it was about stalkers (which is what my thesis was on in college). I thought Pratt did a good job in that regard, very realistic. I liked Rhea a lot, she is a great heroine. I didn’t fall for her new love interest right way, but he really grew on me. I would have liked a little more interaction between the two. I’m not sure I bought their ending, there needed to be a little more time spent with the two characters to build up more chemistry, IMO. I want to know more about how they met and what their relationship was like before the story picks up in the book (why was Rhea in a bar if she is a new convert? Why did he kiss her? Why did he decide to stop drinking and sleeping around?). I was just left with too many questions when it came to him.

I'm glad in this book that we find out a lot more about Ben, I like how things were handled, but at the same time would have liked Rhea to be a little more upset about their situation. She was too understanding. I would have been pretty mad and hurt if I had been in her place and I wanted to see more of that. Maybe she wasn’t mad because she wasn’t as in love with him as she thought? Anyway, the story moves along well, the culprit isn’t who I thought it would be. Actually, I wanted a little more explanation where that went. More of a motivation, how they got some of their information, etc. There are at least two more books in the series and I can’t wait to jump in!

City Limits by Sheralyn Pratt

2011-12-07T00:40:00.000-08:00

Synopsis: In the third installment of the Rhea Jensen series, Rhea's best friend Kay McCoy moves to Salt Lake City to keep a closer eye on Rhea, and Rhea worries that Kay wants things to go back to the way they were in Los Angeles - clubbing, dancing, and men. But when Rhea agrees to do a simple, harmless favor for Kay, she unwittingly sets off a series of events that ends up with a secret society appearing right at her door. The stakes are higher than ever - solving the case means more than just collecting her weekly paycheck. This time, it's a matter of life and death.

Review: I really enjoy this series. I really like Rhea and Kay. I like that they help each other out and enjoy their close friendship. This installment has plenty of action and not a dull moment. It moves along quickly and you have to keep turning the pages to find out what will happen next. I do wish we had a little more background on Rhea. The first couple of books she’s just a cool PI, but this time around she is like a Super-PI. Maybe her background will be brought up in the next book, but at times I felt a little lost in this one. The bad guy seemed to come out of the blue and seems it will take the series in a totally different angle than just a cool PI solving mysteries. So, while I totally enjoyed the story and will keep reading the series I’m only giving this one three stars because I was just a little lost in this one. Besides not knowing more about Rhea’s past, there are a couple other reasons holding me back from really loving this one.

First, the relationship with Ty and Rhea, I just don’t buy it. I don’t really know who Ty is and what purpose he has besides being Rhea’s “trophy-boy” who looks good and is there occasionally to lend moral support. I think their relationship is just too private. I didn’t get to be there for when they first met, or the three months leading up to them dating. I missed the four weeks they are dating and any important conversations they might have had. I think Ty’s past is brushed over too much and it’s too easily accepted that he’s “changed”. I don’t really know what he was like before and I just have a vague idea of who he is now. In my mind, they don’t know each other near well enough (or long enough) to be making the kind of commitments they are talking about making. And, he just seems kind of useless compared to Rhea, almost pathetic. Like he’s the old-fashioned wife who is told to stay at home while the “man” takes care of business. I’m all for a kick-butt heroine that is smart and can take care of herself. But, at the same time I’m kind of traditional and like my men to be men and women to be feminine. I wouldn’t mind Rhea being a little more feminine and actually have Ty be more manly and maybe help her out a bit more, instead of being the obedient and disapear into the background when trouble comes knocking.

Secondly, the first couple of books there is a nice side story of Rhea joining the LDS church. I was a little lost in this book, and I guess so was Rhea. I was left wondering why she even bothered to join? It seems like she is kind of negative about the church and even the members, especially poor Andy (why are they so mean to Andy? Making fun of his clothes, car, etc. They think he is judgmental, but really I think Ty, Kay and Rhea are the ones being judgmental). There wasn’t as much of the church stuff in this book, it seems like it was just pushed to the back burner. I’m left wondering why she joined if she is going to be so blasé about it and not really commit.

The Rhea Jensen Series:
Book One: City of Angels
Book Two: Welcome to Salt Lake City
Book Three: City Limits
Book Four: Kay'sVille

The Accidental Bride by Denise Hunter

2011-12-04T00:42:00.000-08:00

Bookworm Rating: 4

Synopsis: Shay Brandenberger is a survivor. She's lived through a crazy childhood, a failed marriage, and single parenthood-with her confidence intact. But not for long. Because when Shay participates in her town's Founder's Day wedding reenactment, she finds herself face-to-face with the one man who takes her breath away and leaves her weak in the knees: Travis McCoy. Travis is back in town after years way on the rodeo circuit. His one regret in life is breaking Shay's heart when they were high-school sweethearts. He's determined to get it right this time.So when their Founder's Day "marriage" is accidentally made official, Travis seizes the day. Can Shay put aside her pride to let Travis help her, or will their accidental marriage be dissolved before it can begin?

Review: This is the first book I’ve read by Denise Hunter, and it won’t be the last. I was pleasantly surprised and really enjoyed reading Travis & Shay’s story. Travis ditched Shay on their wedding day, and now fourteen years later he shows up wanting to win her back. I admit, sometimes I was pretty mad at Travis. Why are guys so dense? But, he really won me over. I thought he and Shay had great chemistry together. I could totally understand why Shay had some pretty thick walls up and I’m glad she made Travis work for it. This has two of my favorite kinds of plots, lost-love and marriage-of-convenience, what could be better? I thought the accidental wedding storyline was very believable. I really enjoyed how everything played out.

I didn’t realize that there had been a book before this, A Cowboy’s Touch, about Wade and Abigail who show up in this story. The Accidental Bride stands on its own, but I’m excited to go back and read Wade and Abigail’s story.

Release Date: January 3, 2012

Legend by Marie Lu

2011-12-01T19:15:00.000-08:00

Synopsis: Born into the slums of Los Angeles, fifteen-year old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. A mysterious boy with no recorded image or fingerprints. A boy who should no longer exist. A boy who watches over his family until one evening, when the plague patrols mark his family's door with an X--the sign of plague infection. A death sentence for any family too poor to afford the antidote. Desperate, Day has no choice; he must steal it. Born to an elite family in Los Angeles' wealthy Ruby sector, fifteen-year old June is the Republic's most promising prodigy. A superintelligent girl destined for great things in the country's highest military circles. Obedient, passionate, and committed to her country--until the day her brother Metias is murdered while on patrol during a break-in at the plague hospital. Only one person could be responsible. Day. And now it's June's mission to hunt him down. The truth they'll uncover will become legend

Review: I’m surprised by how much I enjoyed this one. I enjoy dystopia novels and thought Lu did a good job with this one. I liked that she mixes in places from our time (like Las Angeles and Vegas), but the story is in the future and our way of living is almost a myth. But, mostly I really liked June and Day. They are great characters and I really enjoyed that the story was told from both their perspectives. While there is still a lot of inner-dialog, this not overdone and its doesn’t feel slow like some of the other dystopian books I’ve read lately. There is plenty of action and the story moves along quickly. I downloaded the sample for my Kindle and by time I finished I had to buy the book to see what would happen next. I’m really curious to see where the story goes and I can’t wait to read more about June and Day! A really fun read!

Crossed by Ally Condie

2011-12-01T19:13:00.001-08:00

Synopsis: In search of a future that may not exist and faced with the decision of who to share it with, Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky - taken by the Society to his certain death - only to find that he has escaped, leaving a series of clues in his wake.Cassia's quest leads her to question much of what she holds dear, even as she finds glimmers of a different life across the border. But as Cassia nears resolve and certainty about her future with Ky, an invitation for rebellion, an unexpected betrayal, and a surprise visit from Xander - who may hold the key to the uprising and, still, to Cassia's heart - change the game once again. Nothing is as expected on the edge of Society, where crosses and double crosses make the path more twisted than ever.

Review: It’s been awhile since I read the first book and I found that while I remembered a lot, I also forgot a lot. I really like Ky and Cassia.I wonder about Xander, for those who know me you know I’m not a big fan of love-triangles, but I think it has been well done here. It seems like it more up in the air of who Cassia will end up with, I’m on Team Ky this time around (I think I was leaning towards Xander the first book), so I’m curious to see what will happen in the next book. Ky really won me over this time around. I like the world and I like the story. To be honest, I was a little disappointed in this one. It just moves a little too slowly for me, I just kept expecting something to happen. There are a lot of little things that happen, but not a lot of action. I guess that’s how the series is though, more of a story and less action. I think it’s a good series and I look forward to the next book.

Reading Order:
Book One: Matched
Book Two: Crossed
Book Three:

Divergent by Veronica Roth

2011-12-01T19:02:00.000-08:00

Synopsis: Beatrice "Tris" Prior has reached the fateful age of sixteen, the stage at which teenagers in Veronica Roth's dystopian Chicago must select which of five factions to join for life. Each faction represents a virtue: Candor, Abnegation, Dauntless, Amity, and Erudite. To the surprise of herself and her selfless Abnegation family, she chooses Dauntless, the path of courage. Her choice exposes her to the demanding, violent initiation rites of this group, but it also threatens to expose a personal secret that could place her in mortal danger. Veronica Roth's young adult Divergent trilogy launches with a captivating adventure about love and loyalty playing out under most extreme circumstances.

Review: I really enjoy a good dystopian novel and Divergent was definitely that. I love the world that Roth has created, with the five different factions and how differently they are and how they interact with each other. I liked our heroine Tris, for the most part. It did seem like she was trying really hard to be a Dauntless and I would have liked to see her try and hang out to her Abnegation background…just a little bit. I liked that she was tough and could control her fears and the situations around her. I liked Four as well, and their relationship. I normally complain when a relationship moves too quickly, but theirs moved a little slowly for me. I would have liked to see a little more bonding. Overall, a very fun dystopian novel. I got sucked in and couldn’t put it down. I liked the characters and setting and am very curious to see what happens next.

Marcia Lynn McClure

2011-11-06T18:26:00.000-08:00

It was probably about two years ago that my friend Chantele wrote a review for The Prairie Prince by Marcia Lynn McClure on her book review blog. Chantele and I have pretty similar tastes in books and I thought if she liked it I probably would to. For some reason I ended up reading Weathered Too Young first. I really enjoyed it at the time and started to read whatever books of hers I could get my hands on. Eventually, I just broke down and bought them all. I bought the e-versions for my Kindle and I’m thinking of talking my husband into getting me the paperbacks for Christmas.

One of the things I really like about her books is that she doesn’t stick to just one genre. She writes westerns, contemporary, regency-ish and even a pirate adventure. What is consistent throughout is how good they all are. You really get sucked into the story and setting and wish there was some cowboy or pirate to whisk you away.

Marcia can sure write a kiss! All of her books are very clean; the leading characters all have high morals. In fact, that is one of the reasons why I like her books so much. She’s not afraid to write a guy who actually stands for something. I love that her male leads all have respect for the women they love and respect for marriage and intimacy. It’s really refreshing. And, she shows that just because they have high morals doesn’t mean they have to sacrifice the passion and enjoyment of a good kiss. It proves how wonderful just kissing can be. I love that her stories all have a “happily ever after” and you always walk away feeling good.

But, I think the reason why I find her books so addicting is because I can tell she loves to write. She loves her characters and loves to tell their story. I think a lot of her books were written for friends and maybe because of that she really puts her heart into the stories. She puts personal experiences into her stories, which really helps bring the book to life. You can also tell that she loves love (oh, and autumn and pumpkins) and romance. She really captures those first moments in a relationship when you are consumed with those new giddy feelings and can’t stop thinking about that special someone.

In one of Marcia’s author notes in referring to her book, she states “I hope it entertained you, made you laugh – that your day was just a little less stress-filled because of it.” That is exactly why I love Marcia’s books, they brighten my day. To say that I am stressed is a bit of an understatement. Taking care of three little ones (a 17 mo-old, and twin 9 mo-olds) on my own away from family and friends in Japan, while getting ready to move the family back to Utah while my husband is deployed for a year in military service, stress has become my middle name. Don’t get me wrong, I love my kids and husband more than anything. But, reading is a nice escape. Marcia’s books are especially great because they are so positive and filled with love and I’d rather read happy books so when I’m with my kids and husband I’m happy.

Marcia has written almost 40 books. I recently finished reading all of her published books. I love them so much that as soon as I finished I started re-reading them, at least until her new books come out. I know she has two planned for early next year (Untethered and Midnight Masquerade). As I’ve started re-reading them I’ve realized they are even better the second time around. Anyway, below are my top five favorite Marcia books. It’s so hard to narrow it down.

1. The Light of the Lover’s Moon
2. The Pirate Ruse
3. Love Me
4. Daydreams
5. The Highwayman of Tanglewood

I highly recommend reading Marcia McClure books. They are entertaining, clean and addicting. Once you read one you’ll want to read them all.

Thanks Marcia for writing such great stories. I can’t wait to read more of your books, so keep it up!

The Kissing Tree by Prudence Bice

2011-10-21T03:52:00.000-07:00

This was a really sweet read. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Georgie was forced to move away from her childhood home and always longed to return. After five long years she is finally able to return to her Grandfather in Colorado. Once back she immediately runs into her childhood crush and the fun really begins. Georgie is a really likable character. She speaks her mind and yet is very sweet and loving. She cares deeply for her family and friends. Our leading man, Ridge, is also very likable. They have nice chemistry together. The supporting characters are also enjoyable. I loved Georgie’s Irish grandfather and the loveable cowhands. Samantha and Dawson were also great.

I really enjoyed the story, the setting was nice. There is even a little adventure thrown in at the end which added a fun element to the story. It was a fun escape. The story did remind me of a book called The Touch of the Lover’s Moon by Marcia McClure, which is also about childhood sweethearts who are torn apart and then reunited years later.

Release Date: December 6, 2011

Midnight in Austenland by Shannon Hale

2011-10-18T02:41:00.000-07:00

I was excited to receive an advanced copy of Midnight in Austenland. I enjoyed the first book and have looked forward to reading this companion novel. I really liked our heroine Charlotte. She was very easy to relate to. Her back story is sad, and it was nice to see the growth she goes through and by the end and the confidence she gained. Charlotte enjoys mystery novels and tends to let her imagination get away from her. As it turns out not all is what it seems at the park and Charlotte ends up right in the middle of her very own mystery. I liked the mystery elements in the story, it was fun. My only problem with the book is that it’s hard to tell what “reality” is. Since the people she interacts with at the park are mostly actors, I had a hard time telling what was real and what was fake, I guess that’s the point. But, even towards the end I still wasn’t sure. So, it’s hard for me to fall for the romance because I don’t know if it’s the actor or the “real person”. I really enjoyed the book though, it kept me going and again I really liked Charlotte and our hero. There were some fun swoon-worthy moments as well. I hope there are more books in the Austenland series!

Book One: Austenland
Book Two: Midnight in Austenland (January 3, 2012)

Tiger's Voyage by Collen Houck

2011-10-15T18:51:00.000-07:00

It’s been awhile since I’ve gotten into a series, one where the characters follow you around even when you’re not reading. For some reason Ren, Kelsey and Kishan keep popping into my head when I’m doing other things. When I heard B&N shipped Tiger’s Voyage out early (the scheduled release date is November 1) I hurried and placed my order. I was so excited to receive my copy and start reading. The end of Tiger’s Quest had such a cliff hanger I had to know what was going to happen next.

Tiger’s Voyage was a lot of fun. I really enjoyed the setting; the whole crew sets off on a mega yacht. I enjoyed how all of them were crammed together and we get a lot of Kishan-Kelsey-Ren time. They once again have a lot of challenges and new obstacles to over come. There are a few new characters as well that added a lot to the story. I would like to know more about Nilima. She seems like she could be an awesome character, if we could just get to know her. Since her and Kelsey are the only girls around I would have liked to see them doing more together. The story once again ends with a cliff hanger, but in my opinion it wasn’t as shocking as the last book.

I did feel that this book suffered a little from Middle Book Syndrom, kind of dragged a little. I’m not a fan of love-triangles, especially ones that get drawn out and beat to death. I felt like it’s a little over done in this book and too much of a plot device. The book probably gets four stars, but because I don’t like love-triangles I’m giving the whole thing three. I just didn’t believe in the love-triangle. There really isn’t a choice; we all know who Kelsey ends up with in the very end. It just makes her look bad, in my opinion. If you want to hear my ratings, read below, but I caution it does contain spoilers.

I have no idea where Houck is going to take these characters. I honestly hope we don’t have to read two more books of Kelsey jumping from brother to brother. Five books of that is just over kill and a part of me just doesn’t want to read it anymore. I’m curious to keep going, but if it’s dragged on and on in the next book I may not finish the series.

This section contains spoilers, and lots of venting.

For the most part I really like Kelsey. I like that she’s become a lot more self confident, can kick butt, is courageous and a lot of other good things. This silly love-triangle really weakens her character in my opinion. I have lost a LOT of respect for her because of it. It’s hard to have respect and like a character when she is being so selfish and using two great guys. For where we are in the story I can understand why Kelsey is hesitant and even angry with Ren. There are a lot better ways for her to deal with that without involving Kishan. It was fine for the first couple books, but she knows she is not in love with Kishan so she should not lead him on. She is keeping him around because she doesn’t want to end up alone. Sure she cares for Kishan and even loves him, I mean what’s not to love? But, she is not IN love with him. She owes it to both guys to choose NEITHER. Don’t commit to Ren until her concerns are overcome. And don’t commit to Kishan when you know you are not in love with him. Instead of feeling sorry for Kelsey, it makes me dislike her. Because when it all comes down to it, everyone already knows who she is going to “choose” so it just makes her look bad. If it was a situation where you really didn’t know who she would end up with then it would be a different story, but it’s so obvious that she ends up with Ren and is just using Kishan. I just don’t want to read TWO more books of her flitting between brothers. It’s boring and lost its tension at book two.

One more thing that makes me irritated with Kelsey is the double standard she has for Ren. She is mad at Ren for leaving her, purposefully forgetting her and for flaunting other women in front of her. Which I totally understand, I would be mad, hurt, and scared also. But come on, she left Ren and broke his heart in the first book. If she had been in Ren’s position she would have chosen amnesia as well. And, she is constantly flaunting her relationship with Kishan in front of him. If she doesn’t want to risk being with Ren, then don’t.

Kishan lost himself in this book. Where was the snarky, flirty Kishan that I fell for in the first two books? He becomes a total doormat in this installment. Sure he’s suppose to be “understanding” and “patient” as he waits for Kelsey to make up her mind. But, to me it came across as boring and kind of pathetic. Dude, you know she is completely in love with your brother and will NEVER feel the same way about you…move on! Stop letting her use you to make herself feel better. Personally, I think he should have gone for Nilima. But, she deserves to be someone’s first choice not consolation prize.

Ren is just awesome. I really like his character. He’s hot, he’s romantic, he’s brave and he’s perfect for Kelsey. He understands her and really knows her. I love that while she is constantly pushing him away, he doesn’t stop fighting for her. He knows her fears and knows that together they can overcome them.

Tiger's Quest by Collen Houck

2011-09-30T15:14:00.000-07:00

GoodReads Synopsis: Kelsey Hayes is no ordinary college freshman. In fact, the eighteen-year-old girl has just returned from India, where she risked her life—and her heart—to rescue a handsome Indian prince from a terrible curse. Back home in Oregon, Kelsey is determined to move on, despite the lingering feelings she has for the man she left behind. She meets Li, a completely average guy who offers the promise of an ordinary, curse-free life. But just when Kelsey is ready to move on, Ren reenters her life, on a quest to reclaim her heart. Danger threatens their newly rekindled love and to save him, Kelsey must journey with someone else—a man who wants her for himself.

Kathy’s Review: Ahhh, what a cliffhanger ending! But, before I get to the ending I’ll talk about the rest of the book. I enjoyed this one as much as the first. It felt like there was a lot less “data-dumping” than the first book, although there is still some. The story picks up right where the first book leaves off and I liked that the first part of the book was more normal. Kelsey is trying to live with her decision, but secretly hoping Ren will come after her. When the whole gang is all back together the adventure really begins. Kishan plays a much bigger role this time around. Here’s my thing with Kishan, I like him. He’s hot, charming and brave. What I don’t like is how he is constantly going after his brother’s girl. The storyline kind of reminds me too much of Vampire Diaries, without the vampires. I do like Kishan and I totally feel for him, but dude, go get your own girl. I just hope that Houck doesn’t drag out this little love-triangle for the rest of the series. The whole will-they-won’t-they will get a little old after awhile. I will say that I was pleased that Kelsey wasn’t wishy-washy, but with how the book ends I’m really curious to see what happens and who ends up with whom. Anyway, Ren is awesome. I totally love him and the ending really hurt my heart. I didn’t realize that the book had a sneak peak for book three until the next morning. I ran and grabbed my copy to read it and now I really can’t wait for November 1 when the next book comes out. This is a really fun series with a unique story and fun characters.

Bookworm Rating: 4

Genre: Fantasy
Publication Date: June 2011
One Word Review: Enjoyable
Author Website: http://www.colleenhouck.com/

Reading Order:

Book One: Tiger’s Curse

Book Two: Tiger’s Quest

Book Three: Tiger’s Voyage

Book Four: Tiger’s Destiny

Book Five: Tiger’s Dream

Legend of Shannonderry by Carol Warburton

2011-09-23T16:29:00.000-07:00

GoodReads Synopsis: Gwyneth Beddows, a young woman of nineteenth-century England, has often felt lonely and unloved by her father, who believes the rumors that his pretty daughter might not actually be his child. The one place the young woman can find consolation is in the saddle of her spirited stallion. The magnificent horse shows promise as a racehorse and has drawn the attention of Irish horse master Cormac D'Arcy, who is visiting England on business. The handsome young man also brings a lifechanging message from Gwyneth's grandmother—a frail yet feisty Irish woman Gwyneth has never met. Events orchestrated by her father force Gwyneth to flee England, and with the help of D'Arcy, she arrives at Shannonderry, her maternal family's ancestral home, where Gwyneth learns of a legend that will have a profound impact on her life and the lives of those around her. Touched by the promise of destiny, Gwyneth seeks to save the family estate from certain ruin. But with fierce rivals on the scene and her embittered father in the periphery, Gwyneth faces grave danger that may place her far beyond the reach of D'Arcy's rescuing hand—and she must call on the strength of her heart if the historic legend of Shannonderry will ever be fulfilled.

Kathy’s Review: I really enjoyed this one. It was a fun escape. I liked Gwyneth, she had a lot of spunk. Cormac was also a great leading man, he supported Gwyneth, but was also a great protector. Their relationship was fun to watch evolve. The setting is fun, it makes me want to travel to Ireland. There is a bit of a mystery and some adventure. The ending was great. Overall, a fun story, great setting and a romantic love story.

Bookworm Rating: 4

Genre: Historical Fiction
Publication Date: September 2010
One Word Review: Enjoyable
Author Website: www.carolwarburton.com

Everblue by Brenda Pandos

2011-09-22T23:26:00.000-07:00

GoodReads Synopsis: Best friends share everything with each other. Or do they? Seventeen-year-old Ashlyn Frances Lanski is tired of her boring, single life. Spending time with her best friend Tatiana, dreaming about kissing Tatiana's twin brother Fin, and swimming competitively are her only sanctuary. The girls plan to leave their drab lakeside town far behind for college. But when Tatchi fails to return home after a family emergency, and no one knows where the family has gone, Ash chooses to do something drastic to find them. Ashlyn is about to discover what she thought to be true her whole life, wasn’t, and the truth, too fantastical to imagine. Secrets lurk beneath the deep blue waters of Lake Tahoe, secrets that will change Ashlyn's life forever.

Kathy’s Review: I really enjoyed this. It was a fun escape and a really fun mermaid story. I haven’t read too many mermaid books, but this one is probably my favorite. I really liked Fin, he was a fun character and the mer world he lives in was fun to read about. Ashlyn was also a good character. I also really liked the supporting characters, especially Fin’s sister Tatiana. I kind of hope the next book is from her perspective, she was feisty and with how this book ends it will be interesting to see what happens next. I thought this was a really fun read.

Bookworm Rating: 4

Genre: YA Fantasy
Publication Date: July 2011
One Word Review: Fun
Author Website: www.brendapandos.blogspot.com

Reading Order:
Book One: Everblue
Book Two:
Book Three:

Entwined by Heather Dixon

2011-09-22T16:28:00.000-07:00

GoodReads Synopsis: Azalea is trapped. Just when she should feel that everything is before her . . . beautiful gowns, dashing suitors, balls filled with dancing . . . it's taken away. All of it. The Keeper understands. He's trapped, too, held for centuries within the walls of the palace. And so he extends an invitation. Every night, Azalea and her eleven sisters may step through the enchanted passage in their room to dance in his silver forest. But there is a cost. The Keeper likes to keep things. Azalea may not realize how tangled she is in his web until it is too late.

Kathy’s Review: Don’t you just love this cover? I try not to judge a book by their cover, but it’s really hard not to. When I saw this book, I really wanted to jump into the picture and follow her to the castle. As much as I wanted to like this book, it ended up falling a little flat for me. It seemed long and very slow in parts. The story was interesting enough that I wanted to keep reading to see what would happen, but I didn’t feel sucked in. I liked our main character Azalea, she was sweet and really wanted to do what was right for her sisters. I found following 12 princesses to be a little confusing at times. I didn’t really care for Princess Bramble, she was too moody and kind of mean. The others sisters were okay. I actually kind of liked the King and felt bad for him. He was obviously heartbroken and was really trying to win the girls over. I had a hard time getting over the fact that the even though they were royalty they were practically poor. Not sure why or why they being poor would be good for the story, just didn’t make sense. The last few chapters were good though, I really enjoyed how everything worked out. It’s an interesting retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses and worth reading if you enjoy fairy tales.

Bookworm Rating: 3

Genre: Fairytale Retelling
Publication Date: March 2011
One Word Review: Alright
Author Website: www.heatherdixon.com

Similar Reads:
The Night Dance by Suzanne Weyn
Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George
Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier

Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck

2011-09-21T16:06:00.001-07:00

GoodReads Synopsis: The last thing teenager Kelsey Hayes thought she'd be doing over the summer was meeting Ren, a mysterious white tiger and cursed Indian prince! When she learns she alone can break the Tiger's curse, Kelsey's life is turned upside-down. The unlikely duo journeys halfway around the world to piece together an Indian prophecy, find a way to free the man trapped by a centuries-old spell, and discover the path to their true destiny.

Kathy’s Review: I actually really enjoyed this, for the most part. It took a little while to get into and to get accustomed to the cadence of the writing. There were a few cheesy things like when she’d referred to Ren as “mister” or “buster”, who talks like that? There was also a lot of Indian mythology and history, the author obviously did a lot of research. It was easy to get bogged down by the details. But, the story was quite original and I really liked Ren and his story. Kelsey was okay, I like her. The last third of the book she was a little negative and full of insecurities. I’m hoping as the story progresses that she will grow more confident and self-assured and not so worried about looks. The ended was kind of a cliff hanger, I’m actually glad things worked out as they did. If the story is going to go on for five books then it’s good to have a little spacing for our characters. I think it will be a fun series to get into.

Bookworm Rating: 4

Genre: YA Fantasy/Mythology
Publication Date: September 2009
One Word Review: Good
Author Website: www.colleenhouck.com

Reading Order:
Book One: Tiger’s Curse
Book Two: Tiger’s Quest
Book Three: Tiger’s Voyage
Book Four: Tiger’s Destiny
Book Five: Tiger’s Dream

The Sapphire Talisman by Brenda Pandos

2011-09-21T02:28:00.000-07:00

GoodReads Synopsis: With the local vampire coven decimated, Julia and Nicholas try to begin a somewhat normal life together. Bound by secrecy from a shape shifter determined to see Julia’s world-saving prediction come to fruition, Julia isn’t allowed to tell Nicholas the leader survived, ransacking her happiness with guilt. When Alora returns, bent on revenge, the reunion forces Nicholas and Julia to choose what they are willing to live and die for.

Kathy’s Review: I enjoyed this one much more than the first. The relationship between Julia and Nicholas is a lot more believable, maybe because going into it their already in an established relationship. A love triangle does develop during the story, which ended up making Julia seem kind of fickle. But there is a fun twist in their relationship that keeps them apart and makes you wonder what their future will hold. There is a lot more action and a few new characters as well as some old favorites. I’m glad I decided to keep with the series, it’s a fun break.

I also really like how clean these books are, and especially that Julia makes a point of “waiting for marriage”, it’s refreshing to see a YA character have morals. While there is vampire violence the books are pretty clean.

Bookworm Rating: 4

Genre: YA Fantasy
Publication Date: December 2010
One Word Review: Good
Author Website: www.brendapandos.blogspot.com

Reading Order:
Book One: The Emerald Talisman
Book Two: The Sapphire Talisman
Book Three: The Onyx Talisman

The Emerald Talisman by Brenda Pandos

2011-09-19T21:07:00.000-07:00

GoodReads Synopsis: To be normal, sixteen-year-old Julia Parker would shed her empathic gift in a second. Life has been difficult since her mother's mysterious disappearance ten years earlier - an event she witnessed, but can't remember. Julia's situation becomes more complicated after a near death experience from a blood thirsty stalker. As high school students go missing it is clear there is a connection to her own experience--past and present. Someone has to stop the madness and a chance encounter with a creepy psychic foretells that only Julia is the key to stopping the madness, but it may require the life of the one she loves.

Kathy’s Review: I guess I enjoyed this one. I’m still wavering between my rating. I really wanted to like it, and for the most part I did. I guess the one thing that bothered me most was the relationship between Julia and Nicholas. It just wasn’t that believable for me. I just can’t believe Julie would be so into a guy that she only interacted with for about an hour. They kind of had a conversation and the rest of the book we hear about how much she wants to be with him and only him. Even with her special abilities it was hard to believe. But, if I overlook the “love-at-first-sight” angle, I did enjoy the story. I liked the different take on vampires and their origins. After reading reviews for the next two books I’m actually pretty curious to see what happens. I thought it was pretty well written, but felt the dialog at times was a little lacking. I guess any vampire book nowadays is really going to remind me of Twilight. If you like vampire stories then you will probably enjoy this one.

Bookworm Rating: 3.5

Genre: YA Fantasy
Publication Date: March 2010
One Word Review: Good
Author Website: www.brendapandos.blogspot.com

Reading Order:
Book One: The Emerald Talisman
Book Two: The Sapphire Talisman
Book Three: The Onyx Talisman

2011-09-15T19:15:00.001-07:00

GoodReads Synopsis: When a shocking accident forces Tory to demonstrate her despised skill, the secret she’s fought so hard to hide is revealed for all to see. She is immediately exiled to Lackland Abbey, a reform school for young men and women in her position. There she will learn to suppress her deplorable talents and maybe, if she’s one of the lucky ones, be able to return to society. But Tory’s life is about to change forever. All that she’s ever known or considered important will be challenged. What lies ahead is only the beginning of a strange and wonderful journey into a world where destiny and magic come together, where true love and friendship find her, and where courage and strength of character are the only things that determine a young girl’s worth.

Kathy’s Review: This started out so good. I loved the beginning, poor Tory is shunned by her family when it is discovered she has magical abilities. As a last resort to cure her they send her away to a boarding school devoted to riding students of their magic. Tory is all for getting rid of her magic and as quickly as possible. Once there she meets others like herself and begins to see magic in a different light. She even discovers a secret group of students who actively use magic and actually like it. Unfortunately, the story loses its steam and Tory loses her voice once the whole time-travel aspect is introduced. The setting was already perfect, they already have a war coming for them, so there was really no need to add the time-travel element to the story. Personally, I think Putney should have written a trilogy that takes place in 1803, and then write a spin-off series with their descendants that takes place in 1940. That would have been better, in my opinion.

The 1803 characters didn’t act or talk like they were from 1803, the dialog and attitudes did not match with that time period. Their situation was too easily accepted from both the 1803 cast and the 1940 cast. Also, all the problems they faced were all easily overcome, except for maybe the slight headache and need for a nap. I also took a little offense when one character compared what they were doing to real soldiers. Certainly they were tired and drained from there weather manipulations and there was a certain amount of stress. But, nothing they did remotely compares to what real soldiers go through. Lastly, I thought the names “Irregulars” and “Weather Brigade” were too cheesy.

The majority of the book takes place in 1940, so I would not consider this a Regency story at all. I do think a younger audience would probably enjoy the story, especially going into it knowing it takes place during WWII and not Regency times.

Bookworm Rating: 2
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publication Date: March 2011
One Word Review: Disappointing
Author Website: www.mjputney.com

Reading Order:
Book One: Dark Mirror
Bonus Book: Fallen From Grace
Book Two: Dark Passage
Book Three: Dark Destiney

The Pharaoh's Daughter by N C Allen

2011-09-15T02:56:00.000-07:00

GoodReads Synopsis: After her gripping escapade in India, former Pinkerton spy Isabelle Webb launches a new adventure as she pursues a steamship en route to Egypt carrying two young stowaways: her teenaged ward Sally Rhodes, and an unlucky girl named Alice Bilbey. Arrive in Suez, Isabelle and her companions recover the girls and unexpectedly encounter Isabelle’s own guardian from her youth, Genevieve Montgomery. Isabelle and her friends decide to join up with Genevieve upon discovering that she is funding an expedition to a burial site near Luxor with an entourage of Egyptology experts.

Unaware that Thaddeus Sparks, is also in Egypt as part of a jewel-hunting cadre, Isabelle’s group joins the expedition under ominous signs: A prophetic warning from a stranger, threats along the Nile River, and birthmarks that burn when the rare Jewel of Zeus is nearby. At the excavation site—a cave rumored to be the tomb of a pharaoh’s disgraced daughter—tension builds when several newcomers arrive. And as circumstances shift with the sands, Isabelle finds that some of the royal treasure in the ruthless Pharaoh’s desert was buried for lethal reasons.

Kathy’s Review: This story picks up right where we left of in book one; well I guess it’s a little later. It picks up when Isabelle reaches Egypt in search of the girls. Once reunited they join up on an expedition with Isabelle’s former guardian Genevieve. I enjoyed this installment, it reminded me a bit of the move The Mummy. I love the setting and imagining digging through old pyramids. Isabelle was her usual adventurous self. I really like her character and how she is independent and yet also really loyal to those around her. I did wish we had a little more James time; he seems to be a little out of the picture this time around. The book ends with quite the cliff hanger and I can’t wait to see what happens next! Hopefully we won’t have to wait too long for the third book to come out. This is a fun series, one I would recommend to anyone who enjoys History and Romance with a lot of Adventure!

Bookworm Rating: 4

Genre: Historical Fiction
Publication Date: January 2011
One Word Review: Fun
Author Website: www.ncallen.blogspot.com

Reading Order:
Book One: Legend of the Jewel
Book Two: Pharaoh’s Daughter
Book Three:

Torrent by Lisa T Bergren

2011-09-09T22:07:00.000-07:00

GoodReads Synopsis: Gabi and Lia Betarrini have learned to control their time travel, and they return from medieval Italy to save their father from his tragic death in modern times. But love calls across the centuries, and the girls are determined to return forever—even though they know the Black Plague is advancing across Europe, claiming the lives of one-third of the population.

Kathy’s Review: Have I mentioned how much I love this series? It is so good. I can’t remember the last time I read a series where each book was equally awesome. I love all the characters in this book. Gabi is a great leading lady and you can see why everyone around her loves her as well. Marcello is dreamy and you can’t help but love him. Luca and Lia are also amazing and I hope that we get another trilogy with their story. There is once again a lot of adventure in this story, Bergren weaves the historical elements in so nicely that you hardly realize your learning something as you’re reading. While the story takes place in 1344 Italy, you don’t really feel like you’re reading a historical novel. Bergren really brings everything to life. The plot is great and executed well, you have to keep reading to find out what is going to happen and how Gabi is every going to get out of the trouble she finds herself in. There is even a bit of a love triangle in this one, which added a lot to the story.

The series is awesome and keeps you reading; you love the characters and setting and any series that is this good deserves five stars. My only complaint is that I wanted a tiny bit more at the end, and epilog or something. I wanted to know what happened with certain characters. I also wanted to see more of Lia and Luca in the story, they both were awesome in book two and I missed seeing them in this book. I really do hope that Bergren writes a series about them.

If you haven’t read these books…DO IT. It’s such a fun series that anyone would enjoy.

Bookworm Rating: 5

Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance
Publication Date: September 2011
One Word Review: Excellent
Author Website: www.lisatawnbergren.com

Reading Order:
Book One: Waterfall
Book Two: Cascade
Book Three: Torrent

The Mercenary's Marriage by Rachel Rossano

2011-09-08T19:03:00.001-07:00

GoodReads Synopsis: Trained as a mercenary soldier, Darius Laris was a man of decisive action. He was also a man of compassion. Seeing a young slave woman about to become the spoils of war, he claimed her for his own. Marrying her before God and king, he made her a free and respectable soldier's wife. Brice Ashlyn was born a slave. Abused and beaten, she learned quickly to avoid being noticed and to stay away from men. When her master's walls fell to enemy forces, she ran, but not fast enough. In Darius' offer she found deliverance, but experience had taught her to fear power such as his. Could she trust in his protection, or had she traded one form of slavery for another?

Kathy’s Review: This was an okay read. I enjoyed the story and it kept me reading and wanting to know what was going to happen next. It lost a little of its steam towards the end and things wrapped up a little too quickly. Brice’s attitude towards Darius changed rather quickly, I think the book needed to be 200 pages longer to really develop the story and characters. Brice and Darius had barely spoken to each other and we’re to believe they fell in love? Like maybe, but certainly not love. I just didn’t feel a lot of chemistry between the two to justify her sudden change in attitude towards the end. There were also a lot of loose ends that needed tying up. But, it is only 100 pages and is a fun read if you’re looking for a quick escape.

Bookworm Rating: 3

Genre: Fantasy/Historical Fiction
Publication Date: May 2006
One Word Review: Good

Similar Reads:
Loyalty’s Web by Joyce DiPastena

The Commander's Desire by Jennette Green

Seeking Persephone by Sarah M Eden

2011-09-07T20:03:00.000-07:00

GoodReads Synopsis: The Duke of Kielder has more influence than Parliament, higher social standing than the Royal Family. No gentleman dares face him on the dueling field, nor risks testing his infamous temper. But His Grace is in need of a wife. Combine his fearsome reputation with a terribly scarred countenance and finding a lady willing to accept his hand becomes all-but impossible. When the Duke manages to secure a bride through a bit of trickery and an obscene amount of money, he is certain his problems are behind him. Except his purchased bride proves to be nothing like he expected. What is a man like the Duke to do with a bride who is gentle, loving and absolutely impossible to live without?

Kathy’s Review: I really enjoyed this book! Sarah is one of my favorite authors and I had to buy Seeking Persephone as soon as it was released. I was not disappointed. The story was great, had a marriage-of-convenience storyline which I’m always a sucker for. It was a bit like Beauty and the Beast, but also the Greek myth of Persephone and Hedes was mixed in. I really liked our main characters Adam and Persephone. They don’t meet until the day of their wedding and they couldn’t be more opposite. Persephone really wants to get to know her husband and has hope that maybe one day theirs will be a love match. Adam has had it pretty rough and has put up some pretty thick walls around his heart. They have good interactions together and it was fun to watch their story unfold. I especially loved Adam’s best friend Harry. He is really light-hearted and totally loyal to Adam, even though Adam is kind of mean to him. I guess Harry can see through the mean and knows that deep down Adam is just a softy. I enjoyed the book so much I went and re-read Courting Miss Lancaster, which follows Harry and Persephone’s little sister Athena. Both are great regency read and I would recommend reading them both!

Bookworm Rating: 5

Genre: Regency
Publication Date: September 2011
One Word Review: Great
Author Website: www.sarahmeden.com

Reading Order:
Seeking Persephone
Courting Miss Lancaster

Movie Review: Jane Eyre

2011-08-28T01:08:00.000-07:00

I just got done watching the new Jane Eyre movie. I loved it. I didn’t have the highest expectations going into it. I’ve seen a couple other adaptations and wasn’t that impressed. I knew from the beginning that I would like this one though. The filming was better as well as the casting. I thought Mr. Rochester was perfect, I really liked him. I also liked Jane, although she still comes across a little more dreary than I imagine her in my mind. I thought Mr. Rochester and Jane had great chemistry together. The movie reminded me a little of North and South, which I also loved. Overall, very enjoyable and one I will soon be adding to my permanent collection.

Minor Adjustments by Rachael Renee Anderson

2011-08-18T02:06:00.000-07:00

GoodReads Synopsis: Chicago businessman and bachelor Devon Pierce doesn't want to be appointed guardian of Australian four-year-old Ryan Caldwell - but Ryan's solicitor, Stella Walker, won't take no for an answer. Little does Devon know that this "minor" adjustment will grant him a future he never expected to have. Told in a fast-paced, poignant, and witty style, Minor Adjustments will take you on a journey filled with humor, growth, romance, and love.

Kathy’s Review: I really enjoyed this book! Since I don’t have as much time to read as I used to, I have to be a little more picky about the books that I read. Minor Adjustments was definitely worth the time. It was a fun story and great escape. I loved our characters Stella, Devon and little Ryan. The quickly work their way into your heart and you have to keep reading to see how things are going to end up. There are a few twists along the way and I was hoping everything would work out. I loved Stella’s random facts, which reminded me so much of my husband and his Fact of the Day. I’ve enjoyed all of Rachael’s books and can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!

Bookworm Rating: 5

Genre: Chick Lit Romance
Publication Date: August 2011
One Word Review: Great
Author Website: www.rachaelreneeanderson.com

Cascade by Lisa T Bergren

2011-07-26T02:25:00.000-07:00

GoodReads Synopsis: Gabi knows she’s left her heart in the fourteenth century and she persuades Lia to help her to return, even though they know doing so will risk their very lives. When they arrive, weeks have passed and all of Siena longs to celebrate the heroines who turned the tide in the battle against Florence—while the Florentines will go to great lengths to see them dead. But Marcello patiently awaits, and Gabi must decide if she’s willing to leave her family behind for good in order to give her heart to him forever.

Kathy’s Review: Wow. I can’t remember the last time a sequel was as good as its predecessor. I loved this book! Once I got going I couldn’t put it down. Once again it ends with an amazing cliff hanger that has been antsy to read the next book!

This book starts off right were the last one ended. I was a little surprised by that, and for some odd reason I did have a little bit of a hard time getting into this one. However, once I had the chance to really sit down and read I was totally hooked. I HAD to know what was going to happen next. Gabi is a great heroine. She is easy to relate to and very easy to like. I like that her toughness is believable, I like her courage and loyalty. When everything seems overwhelming and futile, she is still brave and speaks her mind. She uses her wits and I just loved being along for the ride. Her sister Lia is equally cool. I liked that they were together a lot during this book. Marcello and Luca were awesome as usual. Both are very dreamy, and all-male. Their individual relationships were fun to read. Lia and Luca have a fun banter between them. I also liked our bad guy Lord Greco. He’s very mysterious and I’m very curious to see what happens with him in the next book. I hope there is more of him.

While I totally loved this book, I think I liked Waterfall a touch more. It’s still an awesome book though and definitely holds its own. I have no idea what’s coming in the last book, but I can’t wait to find out!

Bookworm Rating: 4.5

Genre: YA Historical Fiction
Publication Date: June 2011
One Word Review: Awesome
Author Website: www.lisatawnbergren.com

Reading Order:
Book One: Waterfall
Book Two: Cascade
Book Three: Torrent

Cinder and Ella by Melissa Lemon

2011-06-24T17:13:00.000-07:00

Cinder and Ella
By Melissa Lemon
Release Date: November 8, 2011

Synopsis: After their father’s disappearance, Cinder leaves home for a servant job at the castle. But it isn’t long before her sister Ella is brought to the castle herself—the most dangerous place in all the kingdom for both her and Cinder. Cinder and Ella is a Cinderella story like no other and one you'll never forget.

My Thoughts: For those of you who follow my blog you know how much I love fairy tales, and Cinderella happens to be my favorite. I was first drawn to this book because of the title and cool cover. I was excited to see what Melissa did with my favorite fairytale. I thought it was really unique to have two characters named Cinder and Ella instead of just Cinderella. Ella is our main character and she has to go through many obstacles throughout the book to find her happy ending. I’m looking forward to reading this with my little girl when she gets old enough.

Interview with Melissa Lemon:

Can you tell us a little about yourself?
I am married and have three beautiful girls. I play three musical instruments—the piano, cello and guitar—and I am so grateful for that ability because music is a huge calming influence in my life. I do have a secret wish, however, to learn two more: the violin and the Native American flute. I like to read, but I LOVE to write. I also love gray, cloudy, stormy, rainy days.

What made you want to write a YA novel, and what inspired Cinder and Ella?
I prefer to read YA novels myself, but I also just love that age group. I really enjoyed that period of my life—even with its challenges—and it is fun to go back once in a while through a character or story. Cinderella was always a character that I related to because she is just a regular girl who is trying to do her best despite everything. I think that when I got older, though, and saw first hand how difficult it is to make it in the real world, my favorite fairy tale began to feel flawed.

What is the hardest part in writing a book? And what did you learn from writing Cinder and Ella?
The hardest part of writing a book for me is rewriting, especially when you get to the tenth draft or so. One of the things I learned from writing Cinder and Ella is that I can write a book in three weeks if I have a good outline and have thought out the plot well. Then I learned it takes me a year and a half to do rewrites.

What do you think of the cover? Did you play a role in choosing the cover?
I love the cover! My publishing company asked for ideas and input. My first idea was to do the main characters and my second idea was to do something with the trees. I am glad that they went with the trees because, along with the title, it gives a clue that there is something different about this Cinderella story.

What three words would you use to describe Cinder and Ella?
Different, fun, meaningful

Cinder and Ella will be released November 8, do you have any teasers for our readers?
“For a time, the family was happy. The father and mother found joy in their daughters, played with them while they were still small, took the time to tuck them in at night, and treated them all as precious jewels. The sisters played together well and grew in friendship and love, with only the occasional sisterly squabble, like when the eldest would rip the youngest daughter’s favorite toy from her hands merely to see her wail. But, as we all know, happiness does not always last. As the sisters grew older, an evil came upon the kingdom. And while they did not know it, the prince who had started the works of darkness would change the fate of their entire lives.”

If Cinder and Ella were to be made into a movie, who would you cast as your characters?
I think I would like to see some new faces, but Claire Danes would make a great Cinder.

Do you have a particular place to write? Do you like peace & quite, or prefer to have music playing?
Peace and quiet! The location doesn’t matter that much, but I do prefer to be alone. Another thing that helps is for my work area and surrounding space to be clean. Writing out in nature is probably my favorite, though; it is more peaceful, helps me clear my head, and is optimal for inspiration.

Who are your favorite authors? Favorite books?
AUTHORS: Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, Lois Lowry, Shannon Hale BOOKS: A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, At the Back of the North Wind by George McDonald, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Can you tell us about any current projects you’re working on?
One of my favorite projects I’m working on is a YA science fiction about a boy who finds a portal to a very strange place.

Melissa Can be Found here:

Melissa Lemon
Melissa's Facebook fan page
Melissa on Twitter
Melissa's author blog
Melissa's author page on Goodreads

Fateful by Cheri Schmidt

2011-06-14T16:44:00.000-07:00

GoodReads Synopsis: A huge fan of Jane Austen, Danielle hopes to find her own Mr. Darcy when she leaves Colorado to attend art school in London. Of course she knows it's silly to wish for that, naive even. But she's met enough males who lacked respect for women, a growing trend it seemed. And at nineteen...well.... However, on only her second night there she gets lost and is threatened by a stalker who proves to be immune to her martial arts training. Before she is completely overpowered, she is then saved by Ethan Deveroux. While Danielle does find the romance she seeks in Ethan, he's no Mr. Darcy. Her hero is held by a spell which fractures their chance at a happy ending. During the day Ethan is closer to mortal than immortal and can date her like any other man. Yet, as the sun sets, the powerful magic of an ancient curse returns and the evil of that spell is revealed. When that magic begins, Danielle's fairytale romance ends because Ethan Deveroux is a vampire.

Kathy’s Review: Yes, it sounds similar to Twilight, but it’s actually got an original take on vampires. The only similarity is that Ethan is a vampire and Danielle is not. I liked Schmidt’s take on vampires, I thought it was more believable and I liked that there was some hope that they could maybe change. It made it more believable that there would be good vampires, etc. I also really liked that both Ethan and Danielle not only had high standards, but they also believed marriage was a positive thing (something Bella could learn from).

There were only a couple things I didn’t like. Ethan chuckled a little too much. Ethan tended to carry Danielle an awful lot, she says she can walk, so let her walk. =) Lastly, I didn’t see why Lucas would be after Danielle right off the bat like that. I know Ethan interrupted his attack, but I wanted a little more motivation for Lucas and Celeste to be after Danielle.

Thanks Cheri for sending me a copy to review, I enjoyed the story and thought it was a fun escape. I look forward to seeing what happens with Danielle and Ethan after how things wrapped up in Fateful.

Bookworm Rating: 4

Genre: YA Fantasy
Publication Date: April 2011
One Word Review: Entertaining
Author Website: www.cherischmidt.com

Reading Order:
Book One: Fateful
Book Two: Fractured

My Unfair Godmother by Janette Rallison

2011-04-12T16:59:00.000-07:00

GoodReads Synopsis: Tansy Miller has always felt that her divorced father has never had enough time for her. But mistakenly getting caught on the wrong side of the law wasn't exactly how she wanted to get his attention. Enter Chrysanthemum "Chrissy" Everstar, Tansy's fairy in shining, er, high heels. Chrissy is only a fair godmother, of course, so Tansy's three wishes don't exactly go according to plan. And if bringing Robin Hood to the twenty-first century isn't bad enough for Tansy, being transported back to the Middle Ages to deal with Rumpelstiltskin certainly is. She'll need the help of her blended family, her wits, and especially the cute police chief 's son to stop the gold-spinning story from spinning wildly out of control.

Kathy’s Review: I really loved this book! It reminded me why Rallison is one of my favorite authors. I was sad when it ended, although it did end with a hint that there might be another book in the series (I sure hope so!). This story follows Tansy and Hudson as they try and figure out how to make the best of Tansy’s three wishes. Tansy was of course a likable character. She kind of has a chip on her shoulder when the story begins, but with a little help from her fair godmother, Chrissy, she learns some valuable lessons. The story was a lot of fun, it sucks you in and I had a hard time putting the book down. Hudson was easy to like, he has good values, works hard, and cares about those around him. Oh and he’s a hottie. The end had me tear up, and even Hudson learned some interesting things about himself. This is the second book in the series, you could read it on its own, but I’d recommend reading My Fair Godmother first. In fact I would recommend all of Rallison’s books, there great!

Genre: YA Fantasy – Fairytale
Publication Date: April 2011
One Word Review: Charming
Author Website: www.janetterallison.com
Bookworm Rating: 5, G

Reading Order:
Book One: My Fair Godmother
Book Two: My Unfair Godmother
Book Three:

The List by Melanie Jacobson

2011-04-07T08:25:00.001-07:00

GoodReads Synopsis: Ashley Barrett doesn’t want to get married. At least, not anytime soon. She doesn’t care how many of her friends and family members and fellow churchgoers had weddings before they finished college — the last thing she needs in her fun-loving twenties is the dead-weight of some guy. And that’s why she created The List. By the time she completes all twenty-five goals — from learning a language to skydiving to perfecting the art of making sushi — she’ll be more ready to settle down. Maybe.

Kathy’s Review: This was a really fun read. It reminded me a little of the movies Lucky Seven and You’ve Got Mail. Ashley really grew on my as the story progressed. I liked her witty personality and thought she grew quite a bit. I admit at first there were times where at first I thought she was a little cold, she had built up quite a wall around her. She had kind of a naive and negative view on marriage in my opinion. Luckily Matt comes along and really brings out a softer side and he was just great. The book has A LOT of dialog in it, which at times really had me laughing. The story pretty much revolves around Ashley and Matt’s relationship, there is a bit of a love-triangle, and it’s just fun to see how Matt goes about “courting” Ashley. It’s a fun “romantic comedy” and one I would recommend to anyone who enjoys that genre.

Genre: Chick-Lit Romance
Publication Date: March 2011
One Word Review: Charming
Author Website: www.melaniejacobson.net
Bookworm Rating: 4, G

By Love or By Sea by Rachel Rager

2011-03-28T13:35:00.001-07:00

Genre: Historical Fiction-Romance

Publication Date: April 2009

One Word Review: Good

Author Website: www.rachelrager.com

GoodReads Synopsis: Alice Lind Frank never forgot the boy she loved when she was just six years old, even after he was lost at sea. Now a young woman, Alice has found happiness in living and working with her grandparents, and in the affections of Clarence Hielott, the wealthy shipyard owner who intends to make Alice his bride. When a ragged sailor appears in town, Alice is reminded of the young boy who once held her heart. Upon learning that the sailor is in fact her childhood love, Caleb, she finds herself yearning to trust him again. But Clarence refuses to let this ghost from the past destroy his plans for the future. He exposes the secrets of Caleb's past and Alice realizes that the boy she once knew is now a man with a dark history.

Kathy’s Review: I’ve been wanting to read this one for a long time. While I enjoyed the story, it didn’t really sweep me off my feet. I liked our heroine Alice. She had a nice mix of spunk and sweetness. I liked the side story between her and old Betsy Winters. Caleb was a good leading man, although I would have liked a little more tension with the love triangle. Speaking of Alice's other love intrest Clarence, his character was a little disappointing. I never got the feeling that he was really a bad guy. We’re told certain things, but I just didn’t feel it. I was a little confused with Caleb’s relationship to royalty. It seemed like a storyline that was thrown in for convenience sake and wasn’t really explained. It just seems like if he was really related to royalty his family would have held a different position.

There were a couple problems I had with the book. First, I had no clue where the story was taking place. It wasn’t until about 125 pages that China and England were mentioned and I finally figured out it was suppose to take place somewhere in reality. I also had no clue when the story was suppose to be, I could tell by a few things that it was suppose to be a long time ago, but I would have liked a little time frame to work with.

Bookworm Rating: 3.5, G

The Peasant Queen by Cheri Chesley

2011-03-23T15:29:00.000-07:00

Genre: YA Fantasy
Publication Date: December 2010
One Word Review: Disappointing
Author Website: www.cherichesley.com

GoodReads Synopsis: After running away from home, Krystal is transported to a faraway kingdom where an evil tyrant is bent on taking the crown - and Krystal's hand in marriage. But when she falls in love with the rightful heir to the throne, she must make an impossible choice: sacrifice her one chance at happiness or face the destruction of an entire kingdom.

Kathy’s Review (contains spoilers): I really hate writing negative reviews, but as I sit down to write this I’m having a hard time thinking of positive things to say. My biggest problem with the book was the dialog. It was unrealistic, awkward and choppy. None of the conversations sounded like they would take place in the real world. My next problem was that Krystal was just too lucky, everything happened easily for her. For example, her escape and rescue of the prince not only happened very easily, but really quickly. No planning was done, no prep work, both just happened too easily. Lastly, the supposedly super evil King Gregory just came across as a spoiled little child. There was nothing scary about him; he was more laughable than frightening. He would throw temper tantrums when he didn’t get his way, was way to forgiving of Krystal’s behavior and his personality was not consistent. The writing was okay, but could have been better.

I will say that I liked the overall idea for the story, and aside from the above criticisms the story did move along quickly and was clean. Since I liked the story I am wavering between giving this a 2 or a 3, but I went with a 2 because I had to force myself to keep reading instead of being sucked into the story.

Bookworm Rating: 2, G

The Pirate Ruse by Marcia L McClure

2011-03-22T14:31:00.000-07:00

Genre: Historical Fiction-Romance
Publication Date: October 2010
One Word Review: Great
Author Website: www.marcialynnmcclure.com

Kathy’s Review: This is my favorite McClure book! I love a good pirate story and thought she did a great job creating a realistic storyline with very likable characters. I admit, sometimes I find her books a little cheesy with too much focus on romance on not enough on plot. That wasn’t the case here, there was a good back story and while there was still a great romance there was a lot of other things going on as well. I really liked Cristabel, she stood up for herself and didn't fall for the charms of the very handsome pirate Navarrone, at least not right away. Navarrone was a great character as well and their relationship moved at a believable pace. I had a hard time putting the book down; I thoroughly enjoyed it and will definitely be re-reading it. If you haven't read a McClure book before, I would recommend starting with this one.

Bookworm Rating: 5, PG

Similar Reads:
The Guise of a Gentleman by Donna Hatch
To Catch a Pirate by Jade Parker
The Pirate and the Puritan by Mary Clayton
Beauvallet by Georgette Heyer

Mark of Royalty by Jennifer Clark & Stephonie Williams

2011-03-18T08:23:00.000-07:00

Genre: YA Fairytale
Publication Date: February 2010
One Word Review: Okay

GoodReads Synopsis: At a time when royal infants are marked at birth, a royal advisor makes a terrible misstep—and an infant princess must be secreted away to save her life. Named Sarah by Miranda, the woman who agrees to raise the child as her own, the girl is unaware of her royal heritage—even though Miranda has done all she can to pair Sarah with the king’s nephew, Lord Chad. But unexpected events prevent the expected betrothal. Determined to fulfill her devoted mother’s wishes, Sarah reserves her heart for Chad despite her growing affections for another man. But as plots against the crown unfold, someone accidentally discovers Sarah’s mark of royalty—setting the stage for discoveries that will shake the kingdom to its core.

Kathy’s Review: I thought this was a cute story; it had a kind of fairytale feel to it. The story moved along quickly and kept me interested. It actually reminded me of a couple other books I’ve read. Where there is a princess who is in disguise for one reason or another. This book ended up going a different direction than I was expecting, and I liked that while it was predictable, it was still unexpected. I liked the main character Sarah and her love interest Alex. I thought they were cute together. Sarah goes through the story not knowing her true heritage, which I thought was interesting. It was a fun, entertaining read.

There were just a few things that I didn’t like, or could have been improved. First, I had no idea when this story was supposed to take place. It mentioned real places such as France and Spain, but I didn’t know if they were supposed to be real characters or what timeframe the story was taking place. I also felt that about halfway through the book some of the characters (Chad, Felicia and Clyde especially) started acting out of character. I could understand the change in Clyde, but the other two just did a 180. Chad had been a loving, close friend to Sarah throughout and then all of the sudden he become a villain? I would have liked a little more build up for that kind of change. Felicia just seemed really fickle, her character shows up randomly throughout and each time she almost acts like a different person. The other problem I had was more of a personal pet peeve. There were multiple POV throughout the story which in my opinion interrupts the flow and prevents you from really getting attached to just one or two characters. I don’t mind if a story switches POV from chapter to chapter, but not during the chapter with multiple POV throughout.

Bookworm Rating: 3, G

Similar Reads:
The Decoy Princess by Dawn Cook
The False Princess by Eilies O’Neal
Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
Seer and the Sword by Victoria Hanley

Babies, Babies, Babies

2011-03-10T17:44:00.001-08:00

Here is an update for those who follow my blog. The end of January my precious twins were born. It was a very difficult delivery, but the end result was worth it. We are so happy to have them here! Our family has grown rather fast! It has gone from zero kids to three in less then 9 months! They are definitely keeping me busy, but I'm still squeezing in time to read (reading is probably helping me keep my sanity). Below are just a couple pictures of our sweeties.

Ashley & Austin (1 week old)

Austin, Josh, and Ashley (Twins are a week old, Josh is 7 months)

The False Princess by Eilis O'Neal

2011-03-10T17:15:00.000-08:00

Genre: YA Historical Ficion
Publication Date: January 2011
One Word Review: Good
Author Website: www.eilisoneal.com

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

Kathy’s Review: I enjoyed this one, but admit I went into it thinking I would like it more than I did. The last book I read was pretty fast paced and kept me glued to the pages. This one was a little slower paced, but not boring. There was a lot of detail and world building with bits of action here and there. The story and writing reminded me a bit of Goose Girl by Shannon Hale, which is a favorite of mine. The False Princess was unique and had a few twists that I didn’t see coming. I actually really liked the idea of Sinda, being raised as a princess her whole life and then suddenly finding out that she was a stand-in. She was sent out into the world and had to rediscover who she really is. I liked the growth she went through and confidence she gained in herself and her abilities. Her best friend and potential love-interst Kiernan was an enjoyable character. He brought a little lightheartedness to the story, which was nice. He is loyal to Sinda and while I liked their friendship, it was a little hard for me to see a romantic relationship. On the otherhand, I love when characters are friends and really know each other before a romantic relationship begins. I think it’s a great foundation for true love. I enjoyed the story and will be on the lookout for more books by Ellis O’Neal!

Bookworm Rating: 4

Waterfall by Lisa Tawn Bergen

2011-03-09T15:52:00.001-08:00

Genre: YA Historical Fiction
Publication Date: February 2011
One Word Review: Great
Author Website: www.lisatawnbergen.com

GoodReads Synopsis: In Waterfall, American teenager Gabi Betarrini accidently finds herself in sixteenth-century Italy . . . Knights. Swords. Horses. Armor. And Italian hotties. Most American teens want an Italian vacation, but the Betarrini sisters have spent every summer of their lives there with their archaeologist parents. Stuck on yet another hot, dusty dig, they are bored out of their minds... until they place their hands atop handprints in an ancient tomb and find themselves catapulted into the sixteenth-century—and in the middle of a fierce battle between knights bent on killing one another.

Kathy’s Review: Loved it!

I guess I need to write more than that. I read the book synopsis and thought this sounded like a fun adventure. There had been some great reviews and I thought I’d give it a try. So around 3 AM (I was up feeding my twins) I downloaded a sample to my Kindle. It was a bad idea to start the book at that time, I ended up wanting to stay up and read instead of getting some sleep. Sleep won out, but I soon started again once I was up for the day. I’ve spent most of the day reading, being sucked into the story until I just finished. I really wish I had the next book on hand!

I really liked our heroine Gabi. She was not only pretty, but smart, tough and just likable. The author did a great job explaining Gabi’s abilities with the sword and working it into the story. I also thought Gabi’s transition from our time to the fourteenth century to be realistic. And of course I’m a sucker for a good love story, which brings me to Marcello. *sigh* I am definitely on Team Marcello. I liked that their relationship wasn’t the whole story. There were a lot of other things going on and things between them also felt realistic. I’m a sucker for his best friend Luca as well.

This is the first in a long time, where I was actually happy this was going to be a trilogy. I love the characters and can’t wait to see what happens next.

Bookworm Rating: 5

Reading Order:
Book One: Waterfall
Book Two: Cascade (June 2011)
Book Three: Torrent (September 2011)

Firelight by Sophie Jordan

2011-03-02T14:06:00.000-08:00

Genre: YA Fantasy
Publication Date: September 2010
One Word Review: Good
Author Website: www.sophiejordan.net

First Line: “Gazing out at the quiet lake, I know the risk is worth it.”

GoodReads Synopsis: Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki—a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form. Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away—if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.

Kathy’s Review: Hmm, I’m wavering between a 3 and a 4 on this one. I got sucked in right from the start; the first part was kind of exciting and new. About halfway through I got a little…bored. Not sure if that’s the right word, I still liked the story and characters, but got a little restless with Jacinda wavering between Will being dangerous and needing to stay away and Will being her only hope and can’t keep herself away. I know on some level they are both drawn to each other and have very intense feelings. BUT, not only does it seem too fast, but also unsubstantiated. They hardly speak and yet are totally in love. I don’t know, I have a hard time believing in couples when there hasn’t been much interaction between them. I guess I don’t believe in the “love at first sight” myth. Having said that, I do like Will. I think he is a good leading man and I can see why she likes him right away. I also like Cassian, he has the whole Alpha Male thing going for him. The ending, if you can call it that, was a bit abrupt. I would have liked a little more things tied up. It left me hanging and wanting to get my hands on the next book…so I guess that’s a good thing. Overall, I enjoyed the book quite a bit. The writing is well done and the characters are interesting, the story is original and I’m excited to see what happens next.

Bookworm Rating: 4

Reading Order:
Book One: Firelight
Book Two: Vanish
Book Three:

Teaser Tuesday: Firelight

2011-03-01T10:27:00.000-08:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Should Be Reading. It is open to anyone and is a fun way to get a taste of different books. The rules are simple and everyone is welcome to participate.

1. Grab your current read.
2. Open to a random page.
3. Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.
4. Be careful NOT to include spoilers (you don’t want to ruin the book for others.)
5. Share the title and author so that other TT participants can add the book to the TBR lists if they like your teaser.
6. After completing your post, return to Should Be Reading and add a link in their “comment” section.

Firelight
By Sophie Jordan
Page 161

“I can forget him. Turn off everything I’m feeling. I can. I will. He’s too dangerous for me to be around.”

Outside In by Maria V. Snyder

2011-02-28T19:16:00.000-08:00

Genre: YA Fantasy (Dystopian)
Publication Date: April 1, 2011
One Word Review: Intense
Author Website: www.mariavsnyder.com

First Line: “My world changed in a heartbeat.”

GoodReads Synopsis: Me? A Leader? Okay, I did prove that there's more to Inside than we knew. That a whole world exists beyond this cube we live in. And finding that led to a major rebellion - between worker scrubs like me and the snobby uppers who rule our world. Make that ruled. Because of me, we're free. I thought that meant I was off the hook, and could go off on my own again - while still touching base with Riley, of course. He's the one upper I think I can trust. But then we learned that there's outside and then there is Outside.

Kathy’s Review: Wow. I really enjoyed this book, as much as or more so than the first one. I really looked forward to Outside In and was excited when I received a copy to review. I really loved Trella, she is a great heroine and was fun to read. The story sucks you in and even though I had a million other things to do, I kept reading and would squeeze in reading time whenever I could. I’m definitely on Team Riley, he is a great leading man and thought he and Trella had great chemistry together. I really enjoyed the story and was kept on the edge of my seat. I don’t know if there will be another book, but I sure hope so!!!

I had to drop a star because of a couple “love” scenes between Trella and Riley. They weren’t too descriptive, but went a little too far for my taste. I guess to me it made their relationship seem more like “lust” then “love”, but at the same time I did feel like they loved each other and I was rooting for them the whole time. Anyway, take those out and this would have been a very clean read.

Bookworm Rating: 4

Reading Order:
Book One: Inside Out
Book Two: Outside In
Book Three:

Stork by Wendy Delsol

2011-02-24T14:56:00.001-08:00

Genre: YA Fantasy (Retelling)
Publication Date: October 2010
One Word Review: Okay
Author Website: www.wendydelsol.com

GoodReads Synopsis: Sixteen-year-old Katla LeBlanc has just moved from Los Angeles to Minnesota. As if it weren’t enough that her trendy fashion sense draws stares, Katla soon finds out that she’s a Stork, a member of a mysterious order of women tasked with a very unique duty. But Katla’s biggest challenge may be finding her flock at a new school. Between being ignored by Wade, the arrogant jock she stupidly fooled around with, and constantly arguing with gorgeous farm boy and editor-in-chief Jack, Katla is relieved when her assignment as the school paper’s fashion columnist brings with it some much-needed friendship. But as Homecoming approaches, Katla uncovers a shocking secret about her past — a secret that binds her fate to Jack’s in a way neither could have ever anticipated. With a nod to Hans Christian Andersen and inspired by Norse lore, Wendy Delsol’s debut novel introduces a hip and witty heroine who finds herself tail-feathers deep in small-town life.

Kathy’s Review: I was looking forward to reading this because the plot sounded so original. You won’t find any vampires, werewolves, faeries, or angels in this story (at least not in this first installment). I don’t have anything against those mythical creatures, it just seems to be overdone in the YA genre right now. I won’t give too much away, but I will say that this story is unique and I'll probably read the next book.

I thought the book was well written, a few things were a little unclear (at least to me) and I would have liked a little more information about Katla’s ability and the history of her talents. I also thought Katla was kind of a fashion snob. I know she wanted to be a designer and was really into clothes, but she also was kind of judgmental about her new friends and only really started liking them after she gave them a makeover. I guess that kind of attitude just rubbed me the wrong way. Her relationship with Jack was also a little weird. One minute they can’t stand each other, the next they are totally committed to each other. I liked Jack and his character grew on me as the story went on. For me it took about 100 pages for me to get into the story. This would probably be rated PG-13 for mild language, underage drinking and other mature content. Overall, it's a pretty clean read and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good fantasy.

Bookworm Rating: 3.5

Reading Order:
Book One: Stork
Book Two: Frost
Book Three:

Matched by Ally Condie

2011-02-22T14:02:00.000-08:00

Genre: YA Fantasy-Dystopian
Publication Date: November 2010
One Word Review: Good
Author Website: www.allysoncondie.com

First Line: “Now that I've found the way to fly, which direction should I go into the night?"

GoodReads Synopsis: Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate . . . Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

Kathy’s Review: I’m wavering between a 3 and a 4 on this one. I thought the writing was very well done, I got sucked in at the beginning and there were a few cliffhanger chapters that kept me interested and wanting to find out what happened next. I guess I would lean for a lower rating because by the end it didn’t feel like much happened. I knew going into it that this would be the first in a trilogy and expected a lot of world building, etc. It just seemed like too much world building and not enough action. In fact, there really wasn’t any action, maybe there will be more in the next books? It was interesting to see how compliant everyone is with their lack of freedoms. In a way I think this “future” seems more believable than other dystopian books I have read. It seems little by little people are willing to give up certain freedoms and the end result would be very similar to the world Condie has introduced in Matched. It was slow going, but it was nice to see Cassia realize how import individual choice is and that even though it would make the world “messy” there is nothing more important than freedom.

The other reasons I’m leaning for a lower rating was the story did remind me of the Giver series by Lois Lowry. I also didn’t feel anything where the love-triangle is involved. I liked Xander, I’m almost rooting more for him than Ky. Not that I didn’t like Ky, I did like his character, I personally didn’t feel a whole lot of chemistry between Ky and Cassia.

I did enjoy the book and thought the writing was well done. I’m looking forward to reading book two, Crossed, this fall.

Bookworm Rating: 3.5

Reading Order:
Book One: Matched
Book Two: Crossed
Book Three:

Summer in Paris by Michelle Ashman Bell

2011-02-21T14:51:00.000-08:00

Genre: Teen Lit
Publication Date: March 2010
One Word Review: Cute
Author Website: www.michelleashmanbell.com

First Line: “Kenzie Williams didn’t want to die.”

GoodReads Synopsis: Kenzie Williams feels like she has it all; wealth, friends, popularity and talent. But when her father tells her that he has declared bankruptcy, her whole world in New York City turns upside down. Her parents' solution while they sort through their financial and marital problems is to send Kenzie to live with her relatives in Paris...Idaho! Leaving everything she loves behind, Kenzie is forced to get up at the crack of dawn, do chores, and hang out with her cousin's loser friends. She feels like she's about to die until she meets Adam White, the town outcast, who's been accused of killing his best friend and is being blamed for some trouble that's been happening around town.

Kathy’s Review: I thought this was a fun, light story. Kenzie’s life is turned upside down when her parents send her from her privileged life in New York to Idaho. She grows and learns to appreciate the things she has and the value of hard work. I liked that she helped at least one of her new friends build their confidence and learn that it’s okay to be yourself. There is even a bit of mystery thrown in, but wasn’t really developed. I was a little disappointed in the “romance”, I didn’t feel any real connection between Kenzie and Adam. I thought they were attracted to each other and that was about it. I would have liked a little more interaction between them and more character development with Adam. I never got what Kenzie thought was so fascinating about Adam. Overall, I enjoyed the book.

Bookworm Rating: 3.5

Being Jamie Baker by Kelly Oram

2011-02-11T10:13:00.001-08:00

Genre: Fantasy, Teen Lit
Publication Date: June 2010
One Word Review: Okay
Author Website: www.beingjamiebaker.com

GoodReads Synopsis: An accident that should end in tragedy instead gives seventeen-year-old Jamie Baker a slew of uncontrollable superhuman abilities. To keep her secret safe Jamie socially exiles herself, earning the title of Rocklin High's resident ice queen. But during a supercharged encounter with star quarterback Ryan Miller she literally kisses anonymity goodbye. Now the annoyingly irresistible Ryan will stop at nothing to melt the heart of the ice queen and find out what makes her so special. Unfortunately, Ryan is not the only person on to her secret. Will Jamie learn to contain her unstable powers before being discovered by the media or turned into a government lab rat? More importantly, can she throw Ryan Miller off her trail before falling in love with him?

Kathy's Review: Wavering between a 2 and a 3. I started out really liking the story and idea for the book. About halfway through I got bored, things became repeditive and I was liking Jamie less and less. I guess curiosity and the fact that I liked Ryan kept me reading.

The ending was okay, a little action thrown on at the end. By that point though I had already begun to lose interest. There was also a side story that I thought was a little random and didn't really fit with the story.

Overall, it was just okay. It had a lot of potential, but fell a little flat for me

Bookworm Rating: 2

Prom & Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg

2011-01-13T17:10:00.001-08:00

Genre: Teen Lit

Publication Date: January 2011

One Word Review: Fun

Author Website: www.elizabetheulberg.com

First Line: “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single girl of high standing at Longbourn Academy must be in want of a prom date.”

GoodReads Synopsis: After winter break, the girls at the very prestigious Longbourn Academy become obsessed with the prom. Lizzie Bennet, who attends Longbourn on a scholarship, isn’t interested in designer dresses and expensive shoes, but her best friend, Jane, might be — especially now that Charles Bingley is back from a semester in London. Lizzie is happy about her friend’s burgeoning romance but less than impressed by Charles’s friend, Will Darcy, who’s snobby and pretentious. Darcy doesn’t seem to like Lizzie either, but she assumes it’s because her family doesn’t have money. Clearly, Will Darcy is a pompous jerk — so why does Lizzie find herself drawn to him anyway? Will Lizzie’s pride and Will’s prejudice keep them apart? Or are they a prom couple in the making? Whatever the result, Elizabeth Eulberg, author of The Lonely Hearts Club, has concocted a very funny, completely stylish delight for any season — prom or otherwise.

Kathy’s Review: Like many others, Pride and Prejudice is one of my all time favorite books. I haven’t read too many spin-offs, since I think the original is perfection. But, when I heard about Prom and Prejudice I knew I had to read it. So, last night I downloaded it to my new Kindle and curled up and enjoyed reading my favorite story with a few modern twists.

I thought Eulberg kept pretty close to the original plot, making a few adjustments here and there. I liked that it was similar, but also wondered if it was too similar? I enjoyed the boarding school setting and the fact that it was in modern times. I of course liked Will and Lizzie, and all the supporting characters. The story moved along nicely and I ended up reading it in one sitting. I loved that it was clean and cute. I enjoyed Eulbergs first novel The Lonely Hearts Club and I enjoyed Prom and Prejudice, so I’m excited to see what she has in store for us next.

Bookworm Rating: 4.5

The Kiss of a Stranger by Sarah M. Eden

2011-01-03T08:17:00.001-08:00

Genre: Regency Romance

Publication Date: December 2010

One Word Review: Fun

Author Website: www.sarahmeden.com

First Line: “Blast it all!”

GoodReads Synopsis: When Crispin, Lord Cavratt, thoroughly and scandalously kisses a serving woman in the garden of a country inn, he asssumes the encounter will be of no consequence. But he couldn't be more mistaken--the maid is not only a lady of birth, she's the niece of a very large, exceptionally angry gentlemen, who claims Crispin has compromised his niece beyond redemption. The dismayed young lord has no choice but to marry Miss Catherine Thorndale, who lacks both money and refinement and assumes all men are as vicious as her guardian uncle.

Trapped between an unwanted marriage and a hasty annulment, which would leave his reputation tainted and Catherine's utterly ruined, Crispin begins guiding his wife's transformatoin from a socially petrified country girl to a lady of society. Their unfolding relationship reveals encouraging surprises for both of them, and privately each of them wonders if theirs maay become a true marriage of the heart. But their hopes are dashed when forces conspire to split asunder what fate has granted. As a battle of wits escalates into a life-threatening confrontation, will it be possible for Crispin and Catherine to live happily ever after?

Kathy’s Review: When I was surfing the net the other day and found that Sarah Eden had written a new book I went out and bought it right away. I didn’t read the description or anything; I just knew I had to have it. Regency novels are becoming a favorite of mine. I love the setting, the (clean) romance, and just everything about them. Eden has written many regency novels, unfortunately only two are out in print right now (Courting Miss Lancaster and To Kiss A Stranger).

I really enjoyed this book. I liked the storyline of Crispin and Catherine being forced into marriage and slowly coming to love one another. I’m a sucker for a good marriage-of-convenience story anyway. Crispin was a good leading man, doesn’t always think before he speaks, but he has a good heart and tries his best to take care of his new wife. Catherine has had a hard life, especially the past eight years which have made her pretty timid and a little emotional. Underneath all the fear, she has a spunky personality that Crispin is determined to draw out.

I liked Courting Miss Lancaster a little more, but I still really enjoyed curling up with this one. I can’t wait for more from Sarah Eden!

Bookworm Rating: 4

All Quiet on the Reading Front

2010-12-14T12:38:00.001-08:00

You may have noticed a slight decrease in my posting lately. About six months ago we adopted an adorable little boy. A few days after getting Josh we found out I was pregnant with twins!! We're so excited and can't wait to meet the two newest members of our family. Taking care of a newborn while being pregnant with twins has been an interesting experience. Both seem to take up a lot of my time and has really cut into my reading. Another distraction is the fact that my husband has moved over to Japan (I'll be joining him after the twins come), and I've moved in with my parents. I have about 4-5 weeks until the twins get here and there are a few books I'd like to read while I still have the chance. I still plan on keeping up Bookworm Nation after the twins come, but I imagine my time will be limited and my postings may be a little sporadic for a while. Luckily my sweet husband bought me a Kindle for Christmas so hopefully I'll be able to stay up to date with my reading and blogging.

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Shackles of Honor by Marcia Lynn McClure

2010-11-17T09:18:00.001-08:00

Genre: Romance

Publication Date: 2002

One Word Review: Good

Author Website: www.marcialynnmcclure.com

GoodReads Synopsis: Cassidy Shea’s life was nothing if not serene. Loving parents and a doting brother provided happiness and innocent hope in dreaming as life’s experience. Yes, life was blissful at her beloved home of Terrill. Still, for all its beauty and tranquility…ever there was something intangible and evasive lurking in the shadows. And though Cassidy wasted little worry on it…still she sensed its existence, looming as a menacing fate bent on ruin. And when one day a dark stranger appeared, Cassidy could no longer ignore the ominous whispers of the secrets surrounding her. Mason Carlisle, an angry, unpredictable man materialized…and seemingly with Cassidy's black fate at his heels. Instantly Cassidy found herself thrust into a world completely unknown to her, wandering in a labyrinth of mystery and concealments. Serenity was vanquished…and with it, her dreams. Or were all the secrets so guardedly kept from Cassidy...were they indeed the cloth, the very flax from which her dreams were spun? From which eternal bliss would be woven?

Kathy’s Review: I’ve read quite a few McClure books recently and I have to say that Shackles of Honor is definitely one of the better ones. I love the whole arranged marriage storyline and liked the chemistry between Mason and Cassidy. Mason was very frustrated with his feelings for Cassidy, he fell for her right away, but felt like she resented him for their arrangement and because of that tried to keep his distance. Cassidy also fell for him right away (it seems like the leads in McClure books sure fall in love fast), but also felt that Mason just looked at her as a duty and nothing more. The story moves along well and kept me sucked in the whole time. Overall, I really enjoyed the story and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good romance.

***SPOILER WARNING***
There were only a few things that prevented me from giving the book five stars. 1) Cassidy cry’s A LOT. It seemed like she spent more time crying than doing anything else, just about every page felt like she was crying about something. Granted, some things warranted a little crying, but it was just way over done. 2) The reason for the arranged marriage, when we finally got to find out the reason, was very weak. Both sets of parents seemed too loving to force either of their children into an arranged marriage, and the reason behind it was pretty silly. 3) The mystery could have been built up a lot more, it was kind of non-existent until the very end. 4) Mason was a hypocrite. He knew how much his relationship with Gabriella bothered Cassidy and yet he wouldn’t end the relationship. I get that he’s known her all his life and that in his mind there was nothing romantic between them, but out of respect for his future wife he should have severed ties. After all, he would not want Cassidy maintaining friendships with other men. He kept demanding that Cassidy trust him, yet did nothing to earn her trust, IMO. And last, I didn’t understand why their engagement was so long, and after reading so much of the buildup we miss the whole wedding and for me the book ended a little too abruptly.

Bookworm Rating: 4

Under Currents by Traci Hunter Abramson

2010-11-02T08:05:00.000-07:00

Genre: Action, Romance

Publication Date: March 2004

One Word Review: Good

Author Website: www.tracihunterabramson.com

GoodReads Synopsis: Shaye Kendall, an Olympic-bound swimmer, has been in the witness protection program ever since she witnessed her boyfriend's murder. She now has a new name, a new life, and strict orders not to reveal her secret. But fitting into a community is hard when you can't tell people anything about yourself. She doesn't dare get involved with her new friend Matt Whitmore. The fact that Matt's father is a high-profile senator could give her the kind of exposure she doesn't need. How can you fall in love when you can never reveal who you really are? But when someone almost takes her life, Shaye recognizes that whoever is after her knows exactly who and where she is. Can she trust Matt to help her? Can she trust his family?

Kathy’s Review: I didn’t realize when I started this book that it was the first in a trilogy. I knew it was part of a series, but thought it was a stand-alone type book. I think it would have made a bit of a difference if I had known that going in. I really enjoyed the story and plot. I liked the idea of our main character going into the Witness Protection Program and what that kind of life would be like. Although the situation was serious, it was fun going along for the ride with Shaye. I liked Shaye and Matt. My only complaint is that she fell for Matt a little too soon after everything that had happened with her Ex. The book ends without any real closure, but luckily I already had the second book on hand and was able to dive in to that one. I think it’s a fun book and would recommend to anyone who likes a little adventure with their romance.

Bookworm Rating: 4

Reading Order:
Book One: Under Currents
Book Two: Ripple Effect
Book Three: Deep End

Royal Target by Traci Hunter Abramson

2010-11-01T08:17:00.001-07:00

Genre: Action, Romance

Publication Date: October 2008

One Word Review: Good

Author Website: www.tracihunterabramson.com

GoodReads Synopsis:When CIA agent Janessa Rogers meets the royal family of Meridia on assignment, she expects to use her skills in linguistics and security to protect and serve, but she doesn't expect to find herself engaged to Prince Garrett Fortier, Meridia's most eligible bachelor, as part of the security plan. And she certainly doesn't expect to fall in love with him. Janessa resists her feelings, fearing conflicts in her personal and professional life, yet when the prince admits his feigned affection has become genuine she can no longer pretend. Matters of security, society, and spirituality make their unlikely romance even more complex, and escalating political intrigue gives Janessa an excuse to ignore the questions in her heart. But when a terrorist plot against the royal family endangers them both, Janessa and Garrett must face the challenges of loyalty to family, to country, to God--and to love.

Kathy’s Review: I enjoyed this story, I liked the plot idea and thought the story flowed nicely. It’s a fun book to curl up with on a snowy day. I liked our main character Janessa, she was easy to relate to. While she is a tough CIA agent, she doesn’t come across too tough. She and Garrett had good chemistry together and I liked how their story unfolded. I did think they fell in love a little fast; it drives me crazy when characters are declaring their love for each other when they’ve only known each other a few weeks. Just a personal pet-peeve. A fun adventure, I’ll definitely be checking out more of Abramson’s books.

Bookworm Rating: 4

A Daring Return by Kathleen Fuller

2010-11-01T08:06:00.001-07:00

Genre: Regency

Publication Date: August 2009

One Word Review: Good

Author Website: www.kathleenfuller.com

GoodReads Synopsis: Eight years ago, Gavin Parringer left London after the woman he loved, Diana Dymoke, rejected him and married someone else. Suffering from amnesia, he has returned to England, unable to recall anything of his former life. He doesn't even recognize Diana, who is now a widow with regrets. Despite everything that has come between them in the past, Gavin finds himself falling in love with Diana for a second time. Diana also has feelings for Gavin, but she is afraid that if he remembers how harshly she treated him before he left London, he will have nothing to do with her. Thus, she keeps the truth of their prior relationship a secret. Yet when Diana's life is threatened and Gavin's memory returns, they both have to face the ghosts of their pasts in order to embrace a future together.

Kathy’s Review: This is the last in the trilogy and it was nice to see everything wrapped up. Each book followed two different characters as they found each other and fell in love. Diana and Gavin have been present in past books and it was interesting to finally get to their story. Diana hasn’t been a favorite of mine, for some reason I just didn’t relate to her. She does grow and has changed quite a bit by time her story starts. I was expecting a little more mystery, but there really wasn’t any mystery at all. I guess I was disappointed that there wasn’t more. Gavin’s amnesia added an interesting element and it was fun to see how he fell in love with Diana all over again. Overall, it was an entertaining read but not my favorite in the series.

Bookworm Rating: 3

Reading Order:
Book One: A Brilliant Deception
Book Two: A Clever Disguise
Book Three: A Daring Return

Freefall by Traci Hunter Abramson

2010-10-28T17:50:00.001-07:00

Genre: Action-Romance

Publication Date: February 2008

One Word Review: Enjoyable

Author Website: http://www.tracihunterabramson.com/

First Line: “My father is going to kill me, Amy Whitmore thought to herself.”

GoodReads Synopsis: Lieutenant Brent Miller arrived in the Middle East with one objective--get seven hostages out of a hostile country. The plan almost worked. But now he has been left behind--with one of the hostages. It's up to Brent to get Amy Whitmore, a US Senator's daughter, across miles of desert to safety. What he doesn't know is that to survive, he needs her as much as she needs him.

Kathy’s Review: I’ve seen these books popping up here and there and finally decided to read them. I thought this was the first, but I guess It’s actually Abramson’s fourth book (I think it’s the first in this series though?). Overall, I enjoyed the story. There is plenty of action and romance. I liked Amy’s character, she is sharp, understanding and knows how to take care of herself. There were a few times that I thought she sounded too good to be true. For example, there are about 17 terrorists that kidnap her, when she is rescued she is able to draw most if not all their sketches (not only does she remember them but she draws them herself). Eye witness testimony is so unreliable anyway, and for her to remember so many different faces under those circumstances seemed a little too farfetched for me. But, it’s a fiction novel, so who cares, right? Anyway, I thought Brent was okay. He didn’t come across as tough as I would have liked, but I did like his character. They had good chemistry together and I thought their story evolved well. I enjoyed the story and plan on reading the rest of the series.

I think the cover is a little misleading, the White House isn't in the story at all but is the main featuer on the cover...just an observation.

Bookworm Rating: 3.5

Saint Squad Series:
Book One: Freefall
Book Two: Lockdown
Book Three: Crossfire
Book Four: Backlash

Only the Good Spy Young by Ally Carter

2010-10-27T14:29:00.000-07:00

Genre: YA

Publication Date: June 2010

One Word Review: Entertaining

Author Website: www.allycarter.com

First Line: “Targets acquired, ten o’clock.”

GoodReads Synopsis: When Cammie Morgan enrolled at the Gallagher Academy, she knew she was preparing for the dangerous life of a spy. What she didn’t know was that the serious, real-life danger would start during her junior year of high school. But that’s exactly what happened two months ago when she faced off against an ancient terrorist organization dead set on kidnapping her. Now the danger follows her everywhere and even Cammie “The Chameleon” can’t hide. When a terrifying encounter in London reveals that one of her most-trusted allies is actually a rogue double-agent Cammie no longer knows if she can trust her classmates, her teachers—or even her own heart.

Kathy’s Review: I really liked this series. I think it’s fun, clean and unique. I like Cammie’s character, for the most part. I like it when she is sharp, uses her wits and really acts like the spy that she is. I just wish that would happen a little more often. Most of the time, she seems like your normal 17 year-old girl with insecurities and who relies on her friends to help her through the tough times. This book felt a lot like the 2nd, 3rd and 4th books…you learn a little more, but not a lot happens. I was kind of left wondering just how many books are suppose to be in the series, does anyone know? I like Cammie’s friends and of course I like Zach, even if we’re not sure whose side he is on. I do wish he would be in the book a little more and that there was a tad more romance (but, I’m just a sucker for romance). Overall, a good edition to the series and I look forward to seeing what happens with Cammie next.

Bookworm Rating: 4

Reading Order:
Book One: I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You
Book Two: Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy
Book Three: Don’t Judge a Girl by Her Cover
Book Four: Only the Good Spy Young
Book Five:

Cross My Heart by Julie Wright

2010-10-26T08:30:00.000-07:00

Genre: Chick Lit

Publication Date: October 2010

One Word Review: Super-cute

Author Website: www.juliewright.com

GoodReads Synopsis: The first man is Geoffrey--in Boston, which is Jillian's hometown. Hazel-eyed Geoffrey, the brilliant ad exec whom Jillian would've married if he hadn't stolen some of her best work and gotten her promotion as a result. The second man is Jack in Los Angeles. Insecure Jack, who signs Jillian up for a love study at a local university "just for fun" but secretly intends to find out if she still loves Geoffrey. Flaky Jack, who splits as soon as her brain neurons fire and emphatic yes. The third man is Allen on the airplane from LA to Boston, where Jillian's boss has ordered her to investigate the underhanded dealings of a competing agency and where Jillian's crazy parents still live. Allen, the electric-blue-eyed dentist who hates the advertising industry because his ex-girlfriend, Nicole, recently dumped him for some hotshot ad exec. Head spinning yet? Well, forget about love triangles--this turns into a full-blown love quadrangle that quickly becomes a high-stakes game with savvy players, snappy dialogue, and a plot that won't stop twisting...until another love study delivers surprising results.

Kathy’s Review: I really liked this story, it had me hooked from the beginning and I had a hard time putting it down. It reminded me of a cute romantic comedy movie, in fact I think it would make a cute movie! Jillian is a good leading lady, at first she came across a little harsh, but as the story progresses she really grew on me. I also liked her love interests and knew who I wanted her to end up with right from the start. The story was original and the whole thing was really enjoyable.

My only complaint is that I felt it got wrapped up a little too quickly. I would have liked a little more resolution with Guy 1, it seemed that Jillian got the closure she wanted, but he was still left hanging. Actually, she had kind of poor communication skills when it came to him. I also wish there had been a little more closure with Guy 2, I’m glad how things worked out, but would have liked a little more conversation between them before it all get wrapped up. Those are both minor issues though, I really enjoyed the story as a whole and would totally recommend it to anyone who loves chick lit.

Bookworm Rating: 4.5

Don't Hex With Texas by Shanna Swendson

2010-10-17T10:16:00.000-07:00

Genre: Fantasy

Publication Date: April 2008

One Word Review: Okay

Author Website: www.shannaswendson.com

GoodReads Synopsis: Everything’s bigger in Texas–including romance, magic, and danger!Katie Chandler has fled fast-paced Manhattan and returned home to a simpler life, working at her family’s feed-and-seed store in Cobb, Texas. In a painfully selfless gesture, Katie had left the sexy wizard Owen Palmer to battle his demons in the magical realm–after all, Katie just seemed to attract evil, which only made Owen’s job a lot harder. But now it seems that trouble has followed her home: Despite the fact that Merlin, Katie’s old boss at Magic, Spells, and Illusions, Inc., has assured her that Cobb is free of enchantmen, (magically speaking), Katie begins to notice curious phenomena. Cobb is being plagued by a series of inexplicable petty crimes and other devilish mischief, and after her experiences in Manhattan, Katie knows “unauthorized magic” when she sees it. As this new darkness strikes deep in the heart of Texas, Owen appears (literally) to investigate. Now Katie’s friends and family must show the bad guys why it’s bad luck to hex with Texas, while Katie and Owen combine their strengths like never before to uncover a sinister plot before evil takes root in the Lone Star State.

Kathy’s Review: I was browsing through my to-read list when I realized I hadn’t read this last installment in the Enchanted, Inc. series. Luckily my library had a copy and I was able to finish the series. For some reason this last installment lost a lot of its charm, overall I was kind of bored with the story. Not a lot happened with the plot or with the relationship between Katie and Owen. Katie seemed a little less “sharp” and Owen was kind of boring. There were no sparks between them and I finished the book feeling like they were more like friends than a couple. I thought the story ended okay, I’ve heard rumor there is supposed to be a fifth book, but I don’t really think it’s necessary. I’d read the next one if the story picked up, Owen stopped blushing and a real relationship grew between Katie and Owen. I think in the right hands, the books would make a cute movie though. If you’ve read the other books then you will probably enjoy this one as well.

Bookworm Rating: 2

Reading Order:
Book One: Enchanted, Inc.
Book Two: Once Upon Stilettos
Book Three: Damsel Under Stress
Book Four: Don’t Hex With Texas

A Clever Disguise by Kathleen Fuller

2010-10-07T16:05:00.000-07:00

Genre: Regency Romance

Publication Date: December 2008

One Word Review: Okay

Author Website: www.kathleenfuller.com

GoodReads Synopsis: For years, Michael Balcarris has loved Emily Dymoke from afar. However, because of his secret profession, he is unable to admit his feelings for her and show his true self. Instead, he must continue to present himself as a frivolous fop to both London society and the woman of his dreams. As a young girl, Emily had a private crush on Michael, who had been her brother Colin's handsome and dashing friend. Yet upon Michael's return to London after attending university, she is unable to abide his insufferable presence. To make matters worse, he insists on being everywhere she is--including her family's country home when they go on summer holiday. During their time in the countryside, however, Emily starts to see a new side of Michael. She also has to fight her growing attraction to him, leaving her to wonder how she could be falling in love with a man she can barely tolerate.

Kathy’s Review: I think I liked the first book a little more, but this was still an enjoyable read. It’s lighthearted and fun, the mystery was a little obvious and could have been built up a little more. The twist was kind of out of the blue, and I didn’t think it was explained that well. At least I would have liked a little more explanation. I liked Emily’s character as well at Michael. Michael reminded me a bit of The Scarlet Pimpernel, although I’m still not sure why he needed to act like that for his disguise. I liked that Emily spoke her mind and didn’t necessarily conform to the rules of society. I thought they had good chemistry and it was fun reading their story.

Bookworm Rating: 3.5

Reading Order:
Book One: A Brilliant Deception
Book Two: A Clever Disguise
Book Three: A Daring Return

Miss Delacourt Speaks Her Mind by Heidi Ashworth

2010-10-05T19:51:00.001-07:00

Genre: Regency Romance

Publication Date: December 2008

One Word Review: Okay

Author Website: www.heidiashworth.com

GoodReads Synopsis: When the dowager duchess of Marcross insists he accompany her niece, Ginny, into the country for the day to execute a special task, Sir Anthony is appalled, to say the least. Ginny, who thinks little of the fashionable Sir Anthony, is as eager to be done with the chore as he, but before they arrive at their destination they are stranded by highwaymen and launched into adventure. Forced into each other's company, Ginny begins to sense the passionate nature beneath Sir Anthony's mask of ennui, while his exasperation with the forthright Ginny turns into admiration of her wit and charm. Then beautiful Lucinda Barrington and Lord Avery, a poet, come onto the scene, sparking Ginny's imagination and revealing a way to unmask the true man behind Sir Anthony's frivolous facade. Meanwhile, the dowager duchess has plans of her own for this pair, and her special task turns into a battle of words, wills, and wit.

Kathy’s Review: It took me awhile to get through this one. Maybe it’s because my baby was fussy or maybe the story just didn’t grab me. Ginny and Anthony are stuck for a couple weeks with Lucinda and Avery and a few others. When a maid breaks out in chickenpox the entire household is put under quarantine. Lots and lots of misunderstandings happen, all of which could have been easily resolved if people could just speak their minds. A small pet-peeve of mine is when the POV changes randomly between main characters. I don’t mind if it’s done by chapter, but during the book it would often change from one paragraph to the next. To me it’s confusing and distracts from the story.

The story was lighthearted and was enjoyable, it just wasn’t my favorite and I hate to say it, but it was a little forgettable. I think Heidi Ashworth is a good author and I look forward to seeing what she comes up with next.

Bookworm Rating: 3

The Marryin' Kind by Nancy J. Parra

2010-10-04T17:44:00.001-07:00

Genre: Western Romance

Publication Date: February 2005

One Word Review: Cute

Author Website: www.nancyjparra.com

GoodReads Synopsis: At the ripe old age of twenty-three, Madeline Morgan is resigned to the idea that love and marriage are not for her. Unfortunately, her father disagrees and comes up with an ingenious plan. Robert Morgan proclaims that neither of his younger daughters can marry until Maddie does. Aghast at being hounded by sweaty bachelors anxious to win the pot and her hand, Maddie turns to her brother for help. Her brother's solution is to spread the story that Maddie was pining away for the love of her life, Evan Montgomery, who left for the war and has never returned. As luck would have it, two years later Trevor Montgomery returns home to find a beautiful stranger living there, claiming to be his brother's fiancé. Trevor works to uncover the truth behind the woman who has stolen more than his family home.

Kathy’s Review: I really enjoy the Morgan Brothers/Sister books. This story follows the oldest sister Maddie. Maddie was a likable character, she is headstrong and won’t be pushed into marriage. Our leading man, Trevor, was also likable. I wondered at one point if there was going to be a twist to the story (Trevor was actually Evan), but it all played out pretty predictably. They had good chemistry together and the main plot was believable.

Overall, I thought the story was cute, it wasn’t my favorite of the series, but still enjoyable (I think Beth’s story is still my favorite). Both series are fun, clean, romantic reads and I would recommend to anyone looking for a nice light-hearted story.

Bookworm Rating: 4

Morgan Brothers:
Book One: Saving Samantha
Book Two: A Wanted Man
Book Three: Loving Lana
Book Four: Wyoming Wedding

Morgan Sisters:
Book One: The Marryin' Kind
Book Two: The Bettin' Kind
Book Three: The Lovin' Kind

A Crimson Frost by Marcia Lynn McClure

2010-09-28T08:34:00.001-07:00

Genre: Romance

Publication Date: May 2009

One Word Review: Okay

Author Website: www.marcialynnmcclure.com

GoodReads Synopsis: Beloved of her father, King Dacian, and adored by her people, the Scarlet Princess Monet endeavored to serve her kingdom well-for the people of the Kingdom of Karvana were good, and worthy of service. Long Monet had known that even her marriage would serve her people. Her husband would be chosen for her-for this was the way of royal existence. Still, as any woman does-peasant or princess-Monet dreamt of owning true love-of owning choice in love. Thus, each time the raven-haired, sapphire-eyed, Crimson Knight of Karvana rode near-Monet knew regret-for in secret, she loved him-and she could not choose him. As an arrogant king from another kingdom began to wage war against Karvana, Karvana's king, knights and soldiers answered the challenge. The Princess Monet would also know battle. As the Crimson Knight battled with armor and blade-so the Scarlet Princess would battle in sacrifice and with secrets held. Thus, when the charge was given to preserve the heart of Karvana-Monet endeavored to serve her kingdom and forget her secreted love. Yet, love is not so easily forgotten

Kathy’s Review: I’m still wavering between a 3 or 4 star rating. I enjoyed that this book had more of a story to it then some of her other books. The plot was well paced and was entertaining. The characters were just okay for me, they fall into their typical “McClure” roles for males and females. The males being very manly, extremely handsome, and of course the perfect gentleman. While the women are very feminine, pretty and a little lacking in backbone (IMO). At times the story seemed a little long or overly wordy, but overall it was enjoyable read and I plan on reading the companion book Saphyre Snow.

Bookworm Rating: 3

Reading Order:
Book One: A Crimson Frost
Book Two: Saphyre Snow

A Brilliant Deception by Kathleen Fuller

2010-09-22T08:08:00.001-07:00

Genre: Mystery, Romance, Regency

Publication Date: February 2008

One Word Review: Fun

Author Website: www.kathleenfuller.com

First Line: “Another robbery!”

GoodReads Synopsis: Lily Thornton, daughter of the Duke of Breckenridge, unwittingly finds herself a suspect in a rash of jewelry thefts. In order to clear her name, she teams up with her best friend Emily's brother, the handsome Colin Dymoke, to find the real thief. To make matters worse, Lily's scheming former fiance keeps turning up and causing trouble while making Lily question her own self-worth. Thankfully, she has Colin by her side to help and protect her. As they work to solve the mystery, Lily fights her growing feelings for Colin, who is considered one of England's most eligible bachelors. Having been hurt in the past, she's reluctant to entrust her heart to someone again. Before long, the two of them are caught up in a web of intrigue and deception. They need to clear Lily's name before she and her family are ruined and all hope for romance with Colin is lost.

Kathy’s Review: I really enjoyed this book. It was a fun, lighthearted mystery with a touch of romance thrown in. Lily comes from a very wealthy family and is surprised when someone begins to frame her for the mysterious robberies that have been going on throughout the Ton. Colin is there from the beginning and comes to her rescue; soon they start working together to figure out who is framing Lily. I thought they had good chemistry, I’m not sure how believable it was that someone like Colin (who is supposed to be drop-dead gorgeous) would fall for Lily (who is supposed to be more than plain). I guess after getting to know each other they are able to look past his good looks and her plain ones? The mystery could have been developed a little more, like the reason why the burglar was stealing the bracelets could have been explained further and the end suspect was a little predictable. Overall, it was a fun read and I look forward to reading the other two books in the series.

Bookworm Rating: 4

Reading Order:
Book One: A Brilliant Deception
Book Two: A Clever Disguise
Book Three: A Daring Return

Loving Lana by Nancy J Parra

2010-09-20T12:29:00.000-07:00

Genre: Western Romance

Publication Date: October 2003

One Word Review: Cute

Author Website: www.nancyjparra.com

GoodReads Synopsis: Lana Tate dreams of the day she can leave Wyoming and live in a more civilized place like San Francisco or New York. Since her mother died her father has been paralyzed with grief, and Lana must sing in the saloon just to earn enough money to make it through the winter. Taggart Morgan watches the reward for the capture of the legendary wild stallion grow until it reaches two thousand dollars. Taggart expects competition for the stallion, but he never suspected that a delicate but determined young gal would be the one to stand between him and his goal.

Kathy’s Review: I really enjoyed this one. The story was cute, lighthearted and fun. Lana and Taggart had great chemistry. They could be arguing one moment and totally caring the next, and it worked. The plot was cute, how they are both going after the same wild stallion and eventually have to work together. Both the Morgan Brother series and the Morgan Sisters are fun reads, I think I like the sisters a little more, but overall they are great and I would recommend to anyone looking for a nice romantic story.

Bookworm Rating: 4

Morgan Brothers:
Book One: Saving Samantha
Book Two: A Wanted Man
Book Three: Loving Lana
Book Four: Wyoming Wedding

Morgan Sisters:
Book One: Marrying Kind
Book Two: The Betting Kind
Book Three: The Loving Kind

Wyoming Wedding by Nancy J Parra

2010-09-18T11:23:00.000-07:00

Genre: Western Romance

Publication Date: October 2004

One Word Review: Okay

Author Website: www.nancyjparra.com

GoodReads Synopsis: Shay Morgan has never met a woman he can't charm---ever. When old Ben Edwards asks Shay to bring his stubborn daughter Jenny home for one last visit before he leaves this world, Shay is sure she'll gladly come home with him. Dr. Jenny Edwards has no love for the father who abandoned her and her sick mother when she was a child. When Shay rides into town he's taken aback by the beautiful, gentle doctor. He opts not to tell her why he is in town, knowing he must gain her trust before he can take her home.

Kathy’s Review: This wasn’t my favorite of the Morgan series that I have read. I enjoyed the story and like that it was quick and clean. Jenny Edwards was a good heroine. She overcame a lot of struggles and became a great leader in her community. She is a doctor, which was kind of rare at the time, but the town loved her and supported her. She had a big heart, but is very cautious of trusting men. All her beliefs get flipped upside down when Shay Morgan comes to town. I wasn’t a big fan of Shay’s, he was just a little too into himself and knew what his looks did to people and used it to his advantage. He just wasn’t humble enough for me I guess. Jenny did have a good influence on him and they had good chemistry. The story was a little predictable; I was a little disappointed with Jenny’s dad and wanted a little remorse and some explanations from him. Overall, it was an okay read. It worth reading if you read the other books in the series, which I recommend.

Bookworm Rating: 3

Morgan Brothers:
Book One: Saving Samantha
Book Two: A Wanted Man
Book Three: Loving Lana
Book Four: Wyoming Wedding

Morgan Sisters:
Book One: Marrying Kind
Book Two: The Betting Kind
Book Three: The Loving Kind

The Commander's Desire by Janette Green

2010-09-13T08:59:00.000-07:00

Genre: Historical Fiction/Romance

Publication Date: October 2008

One Word Review: Good

Author Website: www.jannettegreen.com

First Line: “Peace. Are you sure it will work, brother?”

GoodReads Synopsis: Princess Elwytha wants revenge on the monster who murdered her brother. In a false exchange for peace, she offers herself in marriage to the enemy Prince. The plan? Kill the Prince’s battle-scarred Commander—the man who ended King Thor’s life with one filthy sword thrust through the back. To her horror, the Commander agrees to take Elwytha as his bride. Worse, the wedding date will be sooner than expected. Not all is lost, however. Now she has more opportunity to be alone with him—and exact justice. But the deed becomes difficult to carry out. Fighting her innate sense of honor, she begins to see the ironclad integrity of the man behind the scars. And with this knowledge comes doubt. Did he slay her brother? What exactly is the new king’s plan? Whom can she trust? Elwytha must decide well, for more than her life is at stake. Soon she must betray either allegiance to her kingdom—or the man who is quickly claiming her heart

Kathy’s Review: I saw this reviewed on another book blog yesterday and it sounded like something I would enjoy. I was in the mood for a nice Historical and a clean romance. The setting for the book was perfect, 714 AD Scotland, I love the medieval times for some reason. The plot was also something that caught my eye. I love the whole convenient-marriage storyline, and this was a nice twist considering she wanted to kill her betrothed.

For some reason I just didn’t care for Princess Elywtha, a lot of the times she came across as kind of a brat. I understand why she acted that way, being coerced into a marriage with her enemy countrymen, but she willing went and had a role to play and I guess sometimes her attitude bugged me. She did get better as the story went on, although the whole “will she, wont she” inner dialog got a tad repetitive. I did like the Commander, the author did a pretty good job of depicting him as a strong, smart warrior and at the same time as a compassionate, caring leading man. The author also does a good job of not rushing their relationship, she lets it develop at a nice pace and its believable when Elywtha starts to change her feelings. I thought they had good chemistry and enjoyed reading their story. I admit, I liked reading a book that wasn’t part of a trilogy. Overall, an enjoyable read and one I would re-read again.

Bookworm Rating: 4

Similar Reads:
Loyalty’s Web by Joyce DiPastena

Luck of the Draw by Rachael Renee Anderson

2010-09-09T16:51:00.001-07:00

Genre: Chick Lit

Publication Date: August 2010

One Word Review: Cute

Author Website: www.rachelreneeanderson.com

GoodReads Synopsis: Four weeks. Three roommates. Two dates each. Brighton Andrews has never had a problem getting a girl to go out with him. So when his friends dare him to ask out three roommates at the same time, he figures this will be the easiest bet he'll ever win--even with the added clause that the girls can't find out they're all dating the same guy. And with a whole month free from laundry at stake, who could resist? Of course, that's before he meets the girls. Rachael Renee Anderson's charming Luck of the Draw puts a hilarious twist on a modern-day love story. Fast-paced, witty, and full of fun, the odds are stacked that this is one book you won't be able to put down

Kathy’s Review: This was a really fun read. The first half felt more light-hearted, almost silly. The second half got deeper and ended up being a really sweet story. I thought the book would be told mainly from Brighton's POV, but it really ended up being Dani (Danielle's) story. I liked the growth she went through and enjoyed her character. It was a fun read, cute cover and one I would recommend to anyone who is looking for a fun uplifting read, with a little romance. I look forward to reading Anderson's other book "Divinely Designed" soon.

Bookworm Rating: 4.5

The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa

2010-09-04T11:59:00.000-07:00

Genre: YA Fantasy

Publication Date: August 2010

One Word Review: Good

Author Website: www.juliekagawa.com

First Line: “Why should I trust you?”

GoodReads Synopsis: Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron Fey, iron-bound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her. Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off. She's alone in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart.

Kathy’s Review: I liked this one a tiny bit less than the first. I’m not sure what it was, but it didn’t grab me like the first book did. I still really enjoyed the story and characters, but maybe it was just middle-book syndrome. I was a little frustrated with Meghan this time around, it was obvious who she was going to choose, but led the other guy on anyway. I really waivered between Team Ash and Team Puck this time. The thing I really like about Puck is that he’s a nice guy, all the pranks aside. He’s known and been friends with Meghan for a long time and they have a great foundation. I’m not sure what he sees in her romantically though, they seem more like friends or siblings. Ash has the whole brooding, handsome thing going for him. I think deep down he is a softy and has a good heart, but he has to put on a mean face. Which brings me to what really bothered me with Meghan. At the beginning she tells Ash that she trusts him, and yet when that trust is put to the test she totally doubts him. She’s spent enough time with him that she should know his motivations, but acts all confused when he acts different around his family. I can understand why she had some doubts, but when she made such a big deal about trusting him I was hoping to see that trust put into action.

The overall story was still entertaining and kept me reading. I liked seeing our old friend Grim and a few new ones. There is a scene near the end that seemed a little out of place with everything going on (high school prom), it was still a fun read and has me looking forward to the last book, The Iron Queen.

Bookworm Rating: 4

Reading Order:
Book One: The Iron King
Book 1.5: Winters Passage
Book Two: The Iron Daughter
Book Three: The Iron Queen

Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder

2010-09-02T12:56:00.000-07:00

Genre: YA Science Fiction

Publication Date: April 2010

One Word Review: Entertaining

Author Website: www.mariavsnyder.com

First Line: “A vibration rippled through my body.”

GoodReads Synopsis: I'm Trella. I'm a scrub. A nobody. One of thousands who work the lower levels, keeping Inside clean for the Uppers. I've got one friend, do my job and try to avoid the Pop Cops. So what if I occasionally use the pipes to sneak around the Upper levels? The only neck at risk is my own…until I accidentally start a rebellion and become the go-to girl to lead a revolution.

Kathy’s Review: I have been wanting to read this one for a while, I was a little nervous that it would be too similar to the Hunger Games trilogy, mainly because the main character is a teenage girl who helps lead a revolution, that is about all the two have in common. I have read a few great reviews of the book and was excited to dive in. I definitely had a hard time putting it down and stayed up way too late reading, I keep forgetting that I have a newborn that would be waking up a couple hours later. Anyway, the book sucks you in and each chapter ends with a pretty good cliffhanger and you can’t help thinking “just one more chapter.” I really liked our main character Trella, I liked that she was tough and that she also took the time to look inward and acknowledge mistakes she had made. Even though tons of things are going on, she never acts like a victim. She takes control and I liked that instead of just doing her part, she really takes charge to see things through. There is even a bit of a love story, which always makes me happy. The book did remind me of a few others I’ve read, but it’s still packed with surprises and totally unique. My only complaint was I had a hard time picturing everything and figuring out their time systems (maybe its just my pregnancy brain), I probably ended up imagining something totally different than the author had in mind, but owell. We’re left with a good setup for the next book, with enough closure to feel satisfied with finishing this one. A great read and one that I would like to read again.

Bookworm Rating: 4.5

Reading Order:
Book One: Inside Out
Book Two: Outside In
Book Three:

Similar Reads:
Incarceron by Catherine Fisher
City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau

Santa Maybe by Aubrey Mace

2010-09-02T12:47:00.000-07:00

Genre: Holiday Chick Lit

Publication Date: 2009

One Word Review: Cute

Author Website: www.aubreymace.com

First Line: “When I was younger, I fell in love like most people change their socks.”

GoodReads Synopsis: With a successful bakery to run, super cute nices and nephews to spoil, and plenty of good griends to keep her company, Abbie’s not about to start crying over the fact that she doesn’t have a boyfriend to spend Christmas with. But when her sister convinces her to write a note to Santa, Abbie has no idea that a little Christmas magic is about to land her the mad of her dreams. Or rather, that man is about to land smack dab on the floor in front of her Christmas tree—with no memory of how he got there. Now Abbie and Ben have to figure out where he came from, who he really is, and if he’s actually available.

Kathy’s Review: I’ve actually wanted to read this since last Christmas and was finally able to get my hands on a copy. I think it would be a perfect holiday book to curl up with next to a warm fire. Anyway, I thought it was a cute story, well written and had likable characters. Abbie and Ben were cute together, I’m not sure how realistic their whole situation was, she seemed to accept this stranger into her house rather quickly, even offering to make him breakfast. I guess if it we’re me the last think I would do is offer to make an intruder breakfast, even if he was hot. The only other thing that kind of bothered me was Abbie’s sister Grace, again her reaction to the whole situation just didn’t seem very real. It drives me crazy when married people suddenly forget how hard dating is and start giving single people the worst advice (especially things they probably never would have done when they were dating). Anyway, it’s a cute, lighthearted story and I can see myself reading it again once the holidays roll around.

Bookworm Rating: 3.5

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

2010-08-25T11:32:00.000-07:00

Genre: YA Fantasy

Publication Date: August 2010

One Word Review: Unexpected

Author Website: www.suzannecollinsbooks.com

First Line: “I stare down at my shoes, watching as a fine layer of ash settles on the worn leather.”

GoodReads Synopsis: Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But now that she’s made it out of the bloody arena alive, she’s still not safe. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. Who do they think should pay for the unrest? Katniss. And what’s worse, President Snow has made it clear that no one else is safe either. Not Katniss’s family, not her friends, not the people of District 12.

Kathy’s Review ****SPOILER WARNING****: Well I’m not really sure where to begin with this one. I read it yesterday and knew I had to sleep on it before I wrote my review. First, it must be hard being an author and writing a final book in a trilogy. You’d want to write a book that lives up to the first two, and that ends in a way that would make fans want to re-read the series. For me, I will definitely re-read the series. I loved the first book and I admit, I think I loved the first so much it has influenced what I’ve thought of books two and three.

Anyway, on to the review…I enjoyed this one, like the first two I had a hard time putting it down. I wanted to keep reading to see what would happen. If you liked the first two books then you will of course want to read this one and will probably end up liking this one, despite some of the drawbacks. I think what drew me in to the first two books; besides the original story and action was the love-triangle. As much as love-triangles frustrate me, it really was a big part in the story, especially the relationship between Peeta and Katniss (in my opinion). This installment focused more on the revolution and way less on the love-triangle. For me, an important element was left out and it made me like the story a little less. Peeta and Katniss had always had great chemistry, they balanced each other out and were so loyal to each other. Gale and Katniss also had a little something, for me it felt less romantic, but there was always enough there to make me a little torn. In this last installment I almost didn’t care who she ended up with, at times thinking it might be better if Katniss were to choose neither. There were some good opportunities for some romantic tension, but they were overshadowed by the revolution and drama going on. For me, that was a big miss.

As for Katniss, she didn’t seem like herself (actually, neither did Peeta or Gale, they all seemed really out of character). She spent a lot of time in the hospital or recovering from some ailment, and most people around her thought she was mentally ill. There would be a great scene and then BAM, she wakes up in the hospital and we miss out on what happened. At one point Katniss finally realizes the power she has, how the Rebels really look up to her. I was hoping from that point on she would step into the leadership roll, but she doesn’t. I know war is awful and she had experienced some horrible things, BUT I was hoping she would rise above and show courage, strength and be more aggressive. Instead it felt like she was still a puppet.

I was a little disappointed in the ending, it was wrapped up rather quickly and Katniss played a really small role in how everything turns out. I again was hoping that with all the experiences she’s had she would want to play a more influential role in the building up of the new country, or at least played a bigger role in deciding what happens with her life, instead of having it chosen for her and becoming kind of a recluse. And even when one of the guys shows up at the end, it felt rushed and unsatisfactory. The romance part had been left out so much, that I just didn’t feel that much by the end. I was also disappointed in how things ended with the other guy, it just didn’t feel right and I didn’t get the closure I was hoping for.

Having said that, I was not mad at how the book ended, in fact I was pleased with everything. It wasn’t perfect, or exactly what I wanted, but it was still a good read (a little slow in parts), and definitely one of my favorite series!

Bookworm Rating: 4

Reading Order:
Book One: Hunger Games
Book Two: Catching Fire (Jess's review)
Book Three: Mockingjay

Daydreams by Marcia Lynn McClure

2010-08-24T12:22:00.000-07:00

Genre: Romance

Publication Date: 2007

One Word Review: Cute

Author Website: www.marcialynnmcclure.com

Kathy’s Review: This may be my favorite McClure book so far. I thought the plot was so cute. Sayler is a candy striper at her Grandfathers hospital, she doesn’t get along well with two of her coworkers, who are constantly playing pranks and putting her down. The nurses decide to embarrass Sayler by having her put chapstick on a new coma victim. Turns out he isn’t in a coma and when he wakes up to find Sayler hovering over him the fun really begins. The book is done in two parts, I really enjoyed each section and thought the story was a lot of fun. It has its cheesy parts, but overall it was a cute, clean romance.

Bookworm Rating: 4.5

To Echo the Past by Marcia Lynn McClure

2010-08-19T14:15:00.000-07:00

Genre: Western Romance

Publication Date: 2005

One Word Review: Cute

Author Website: www.marcialynnmcclure.com

GoodReads Synopsis: As her family abandoned the excitement of the city for the uneventful lifestyle of a small, western town, Brynn Clarkston's worst fears were realized. Stripped of her heart's hopes and dreams, Brynn knew true loneliness. Until an ordinary day revealed a heavenly oasis in the desert . . . Michael McCall. Handsome and irresistibly charming, Michael McCall (the son of legendary horse breeder Jackson McCall) seemed to offer wild distraction and sincere friendship to Brynn. But could Brynn be content with mere friendship when her dreams of Michael involved so much more?

Kathy’s Review: This was the sequel (kind of) to Desert Fire. It follows the son from Jackson & Annie. I thought it was a cute story, kind of uneventful and a little cookie-cutter. Brynn seemed really similar to a lot of other heroines in McClure books, I kind of wish she had more of a backbone and wasn’t so bashful around Michael. Michael was also a lot like other heroes from McClure books. I did like that they had normal names, and even though it was predictable it was still enjoyable. The “drama” at the end seemed a little random, not enough build up and was over pretty quickly. Not my favorite McClure book, but still cute.

Bookworm Rating: 3

Desert Fire by Marcia Lynn McClure

2010-08-18T17:04:00.000-07:00

Genre: Western Romance

Publication Date: 2005

One Word Review: Cute

Author Website: www.marcialynnmcclure.com

First Line: She felt something on her face.

Kathy’s Review: The book starts with our main character waking up with amnesia with a very handsome man rescuing her from dying in the desert. He takes her back to his family and slowly her memories begin to come back. As her memories return she realizes that she is in danger and on the run.

I really enjoyed this story, it was a quick, fun read. I liked Annie (I prefer to call her Annie rather than her real name…Malania), she was spunky and held her own. While she does fall for Jackson quickly, its believable and their relationship progress at a nice pace. I liked Jackson, he was a good leading man and even though he was rough around the edges he was a softy at heart. There were quite a few close calls for Jackson, six times saving Annie may have been a bit too much. It also seemed to be a little less cheesy then some of the other McClure books I've read. The story really reminded me of Marcia’s other book Weathered Too Young; the storylines seemed a little too similar. Overall, a cute western romance.

Bookworm Rating: 4

Similar Reads:
Weathered Too Young by Marcia L McClure

A Most Unusual Governess by Amanda Grange

2010-08-18T16:49:00.001-07:00

Genre: Regency

Publication Date: 2001

One Word Review: Forgettable

Author Website: www.amandagrange.com

First Line: Out with it, Constance!

GoodReads Synopsis: The death of her parents has more thanthe usual devastating consequences for Sarah Davenport. She swiftly answers Lady Templeton's advertisement for a companion, and, deemed too young for the role, finds herself instead the governess to Lady Templeton's great-niece. But trouble looms with the return of the children's guardian, Lord Randall, who is furious to find the children are having fun under the outspoken rule of their feisty governess. Discovering that she is the unwilling target of tutor Mr Haversage's lecherous attentions is bad enough, but, worse still, Sarah realizes that she is irresisitibly drawn to Lord Randall, who has made it perfectly clear that he desires a quite, biddable girl for a wife.

Kathy’s Review: I was actually underwhelmed with this one, not sure how I pushed myself through it. The plot was okay and I did want to like it. I got a little tired of the POV changes so frequently and without any smooth transitions. I personally don’t mind a couple different POV if it’s rotating chapters, but when it’s done multiple times during a chapter it drives me crazy. I also felt like there were too many explanations, like James and Sarah would be having a conversation and then the conversation would be explained. It was just an okay read, but forgettable.

Bookworm Rating: 2

The Whispered Kiss by Marcia Lynn McCure

2010-08-18T16:13:00.000-07:00

Genre: Fairytale Retelling/Romance

Publication Date: January 2008

One Word Review: Good

Author Website: www.marcialynnmcclure.com

First Line: Antoine de Bellamont sat trembling in the prescence of the dark Lord of Roanan.

GoodReads Synopsis: With the sea at its side, the beautiful township of Bostchelan was home to many-including the lovely Coquette de Bellamont, her three sisters, and beloved father. In Bostchelan, Coquette knew happiness, and as much contentment as a young woman whose heart had been broken years before could know. Thus, Coquette dwelt in gladness until the day her father returned from his travels with an astonishing tale to tell. Antoine de Bellamont returned from his travels by way of Roanan bearing a tale of such great adventure to hardly be believed. Further, at the center of Antoine's story loomed a man-the dark Lord of Roanan. Known for his cruel nature, heartlessness, and tendency to violence, the Lord of Roanan had accused Antoine de Bellamont of wrong doing and demanded recompense. Antoine had promised recompense would be paid-with the hand of his youngest daughter in marriage. Thus, Coquette found herself lost-thrust onto a dark journey of her own. This journey would find her carried away to Roanan Manor-delivered into the hands of the dark and mysterious Lord of Roanan who dominated it.

Kathy’s Review: This was a fun retelling of Beauty and the Beast. It followed a lot of the same original plot, with some added tweaks. I liked Coquette’s character, and thought her relationship with the Lord of Roanan was fun to read. I was sad about her relationship with her family, especially her father, but I guess that was kind of the point. I read this awhile ago and cant rememeber the things that bothered me about the book; overall I did really enjoy it. If you like retellings then I think you would enjoy this!

Bookworm Rating: 4

Similar Reads:
Beastly by Alex Flinn
Belle by Cameron Dokey
Beauty by Robin McKinley

The Highwayman of Tanglewood by Marcia Lynn McClure

2010-08-08T09:19:00.000-07:00

Genre: Romance

Publication Date: August 2008

One Word Review: Good

Author Website: www.marcialynnmcclure.com

GoodReads Synopsis: A chambermaid in the house of Tremeshton, Faris Shayhan well knew torment, despair and trepidation. To Faris it seemed the future stretched long and desolate before herbleak and as dark as a lonesome midnight path. Still, the moon oft casts hopeful luminosity to light ones way. So it was that Lady Maranda Rockrimmon cast hope upon Farisset Faris upon a different patha path of happiness, serenity and love. Faris abandoned the tainted air of Tremeshton in favor of the amethyst sunsets of Loch Loland Castle and her new mistress Lady Rockrimmon. Further, it was on the very night of her emancipation that Faris first met the man of her dreamsthe man of every womans dreams the rogue Highwayman of Tanglewood. Dressed in black and astride his mighty steed, the brave, heroic and dashing rogue Highwayman of Tanglewood stole Faris heart as easily as he stole her kiss. Yet, the Highwayman of Tanglewood was encircled in mysterymystery as thick and as secretive as time itself. Could Faris truly own the heart of a man so entirely enveloped in twilight shadows and dangerous secrets

Kathy’s Review: I actually finished this one earlier in the week and have finally found a second to sit down and write a review. I think this may have been my favorite McClure book so far. I really enjoyed the story; it has a Robin Hood/Zorro feel to it. It has adventure, mystery, and of course romance. I guess I’ve gotten used to the “cheese factor” in McClure’s books, to the point I hardly notice it anymore. The characters still have odd names, but their personalities are very likable. I thought our leading lady Faris was a great heroine. I liked her from the beginning, I also liked that she addresses the issues of how fast she falls for the Highwayman of Tanglewood. It drives me crazy in stories when couple meet once or twice and are then declaring their undying love. At least in this story they talked about it and it was believable. As for our mystery man, I figure it out right away, but it was still fun reading about him. I liked him in his “true” character as well as the Highwayman. Overall, a very enjoyable read and would recommend it to anyone. McClure’s are a little addicting, they have fun stories, good romances and I find myself wanting to read more and more.

Bookworm Rating: 4.5

Similar Reads:
The Stranger She Married by Donna Hatch

My Double Life by Janette Rallison

2010-07-15T11:13:00.000-07:00

Genre: Teen Lit

Publication Date: May 2010

One Word Review: Fun

Author Website: www.janetterallison.com

GoodReads Synopsis: Her whole life, Alexia Garcia has been told that she looks just like pop star Kari Kingsley, and one day when Alexia’s photo filters through the Internet, she’s offered a job to be Kari’s double. This would seem like the opportunity of a lifetime, but Alexia’s mother has always warned her against celebrities. Rebelliously, Alexia flies off to L.A. and gets immersed in a celebrity life. Not only does she have to get used to getting anything she wants, she romances the hottest lead singer on the charts, and finds out that her own father is a singing legend. Through it all, Alexia must stay true to herself, which is hard to do when you are pretending to be somebody else!

Kathy’s Review: Janette Rallison is one of my favorite authors, I love all her books and this was no exception. I knew this was a retelling of Charles Dickens book the Prince and the Pauper (which I have never read), I love retellings and thought the modern setting seemed like a lot of fun. Alexia was a great leading lady. I enjoyed her personality and it was fun to read about her experiences. There is a love interest in the story, it does play a big role, but to me not as much as some of her other books. It seemed like this one was more about Alexia discovering just who she is and her place in the world. The book moved along quickly and it was a great escape. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes reading good books.

Bookworm Rating: 4

Loyalt's Web by Joyce DiPastena

2010-07-13T11:23:00.001-07:00

Genre: Historical Fiction/Romance

Publication Date: November 2008

One Word Review: Good

Author Website: www.joyce-dipastena.com

GoodReads Synopsis: In twelfth-century France, King Henry II of England has just finished crushing a rebellion by his power-hungry sons and now seeks to tame the lawless barons who supported them in this corner of his “Angevin empire.” To this end, the king has sent the Earl of Gunthar as his royal representative to ensure that Prince Richard and his former cohorts faithfully adhere to the terms of the peace treaty. Far from being welcomed with open arms, Gunthar no sooner steps foot in the county of Poitou than he is greeted by a series of assassination attempts. All appear to be linked to the former rebellious prince through the agents of the family and friends of young Heléne de Laurant. A clever, intrepid young woman, she realizes that the only way to prove her loved ones’ innocence is by exposing the true assassin. Heléne races against time—and dark secrets of the past—to unmask the killer before the kingdom plunges back into war. Fierce determination gives way to mutual attraction as Heléne and Gunthar spar over the identity of the traitor. But their blinding magnetism almost causes them to overlook an even deadlier threat from an entirely unexpected direction.

Kathy’s Review: I just want to start with a little disclaimer. I had a major headache and a million other things on my mind while reading this book. I will have to give it another try when there isn’t so much going on.

I had read a ton of great reviews for this book and was really looking forward to reading it. I was a little disappointed, it moved along a little slow and I was bogged down with all the different characters and their very unique names. The story rotates points of view with Heléne and Gunthar. I actually really enjoyed the main characters and their story, I got a little bored when they weren’t together. Heléne is a good leading lady, although I did get a little tired hearing about how “plain” she was. I also really enjoyed Gunthar’s character and thought he had good chemistry with Heléne. Overall, I enjoyed the story and would give it another try down the road and would even read the companion book Illuminations of the Heart.

Bookworm Rating: 3.5

Reading Order:
Book One: Loyalty’s Web
Book Two: Illuminations of the Heart

She's So Dead To Us by Kieran Scott

2010-07-11T19:15:00.001-07:00

Genre: Teen Lit

Publication Date: May 2010

Author Website: www.kieranscott.net

GoodReads Synopsis: Perfect, picturesque Orchard Hill. It was the last thing Ally Ryan saw in the rear-view mirror as her mother drove them out of town and away from the shame of the scandal her father caused when his hedge fund went south and practically bankrupted all their friends -- friends that liked having trust funds and new cars, and that didn't like constant reminders that they had been swindled. So it was adios, Orchard Hill. Thanks for nothing. Now, two years later, Ally's mother has landed a job back at the site of their downfall. So instead of Ally's new low-key, happy life, it'll be back into the snake pit with the likes of Shannen Moore and Hammond Ross. But then there's Jake Graydon. Handsome, wealthy, bored Jake Graydon. He moved to town after Ally left and knows nothing of her scandal, but does know that he likes her. And she likes him. So off into the sunset they can go, right? Too bad Jake's friends have a problem with his new crush since it would make Ally happy. And if anyone deserves to be unhappy, it's Ally Ryan. Ally was hoping to have left all the drama in the past, but some things just can't be forgotten. Isn't there more to life than money?

Kathy’s Review: Overall, I enjoyed the story, but would have liked it more without all the swearing and underage drinking. I knew going into it that it was the first in a series, but kind of think I would have preferred a standalone book. It leaves off with a few cliffhangers and I’m sure I’ll be picking up the next book as soon as it comes out. Ally is a likable character, she has been reduced in social status, but I think she would have been cool even when she was “popular”. The tension between her and Jake was great and I enjoyed their interactions. I felt sorry for a few of the guys along the way, but ultimately I think I’m on Team Jake. Jake wasn’t the perfect leading man, he is kind of the spoiled rich kid, but as the story progresses I think he really grows. It will be interesting to see what happens in the next book. It’s a fun Teen Lit book (minus the swearing).

Content Warning: Lots of swearing (including the “F” word) and underage drinking.

Bookworm Rating: 3

Reading Order:
Book One: She’s So Dead To Us
Book Two:

Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs

2010-07-11T14:40:00.001-07:00

Genre: YA Fantasy

Publication Date: May 2010

One Word Review: Original

Author Website: www.teralynnchilds.com

First Line: “Water calms me.”

GoodReads Synopsis: Lily Sanderson has a secret, and it’s not that she has a huge crush on gorgeous swimming god Brody Bennett, who makes her heart beat flipper-fast. Unrequited love is hard enough when you’re a normal teenage girl, but when you’re half human, half mermaid like Lily, there’s no such thing as a simple crush. Lily’s mermaid identity is a secret that can’t get out, since she’s not just any mermaid – she’s a Thalassinian princess. When Lily found out three years ago that her mother was actually a human, she finally realized why she didn’t feel quite at home in Thalassinia, and she’s been living on land and going to Seaview high school ever since, hoping to find where she truly belongs. Sure, land has its problems – like her obnoxious, biker boy neighbor Quince Fletcher – but it has that one major perk – Brody. The problem is, mermaids aren’t really the casual dating type – when they “bond,” it’s for life. When Lily’s attempt to win Brody’s love leads to a tsunami-sized case of mistaken identity, she is in for a tidal wave of relationship drama, and she finds out, quick as a tailfin flick, that happily-ever-after never sails quite as smoothly as you planned.

Kathy’s Review: This was a really unique story that had me hooked from the start. I wasn’t sure where the story was going and enjoyed not knowing what was going to happen next. Overall, I liked Lily, but at times she really frustrated me. She is a little self-involved, but I think she gets better as the story goes on and I think through her experiences she will be a little more open in the next book. I of course I’m on Team Quince, he was a fun character and they had good chemistry together. I liked their bickering, but they could also be really sweet together as well. I wasn’t a fan of Brody’s, but felt a little let down with his storyline. He never really did anything to make me not like him, and I was hoping there would have been a little more reason for Lily not to like him either. Anyway, it was a fun read and I look forward to seeing what happens with Lily next!

Bookworm Rating: 4

Reading Order:
Book One: Forgive My Fins
Book Two: Fins Are Forever

Princess of Glass by Jessica Day George

2010-07-03T19:57:00.000-07:00

Genre: Fairytale Retelling

Publication Date: May 2010

One Word Review: Great

Author Website: www.jessicadaygeorge.com

First Line: “When someone knocked on the bedroom door, Poppy nearly leaped right off the bed.”

GoodReads Synopsis: Hoping to escape the troubles in her kingdom, Princess Poppy reluctantly agrees to take part in a royal exchange program, whereby young princes and princesses travel to each other’s countries in the name of better political alliances—and potential marriages. It’s got the makings of a fairy tale—until a hapless servant named Eleanor is tricked by a vengeful fairy godmother into competing with Poppy for the eligible prince. Ballgowns, cinders, and enchanted glass slippers fly in this romantic and action-packed happily-ever-after quest from an author with a flair for embroidering tales in her own delightful way.

Kathy’s Review: Loved it! This was an interesting take on the Cinderella story, told from the perspective of Poppy, Christian and Eleanora. I’m thinking Eleanora is supposed to be the “Cinderella” character, but the main characters are really Poppy and Christian. I loved both, they were fun to read and I enjoyed their relationship. Poppy is a fun and unique heroine. She is a bit of a tom-boy, but is striving to be a little more lady like. She doesn’t take any gruff from people and jumps in to help when she sees her friends in trouble. Christian was also a great leading man, even when he was “enchanted” with Ella his feeling for Poppy kept him grounded. I hope I haven’t given away too much there. This is a sequle/companion to Princess of the Midnight Ball, it could probably stand on its own, but I would recommend reading them in order.

The story unfolded smoothly, was well paced, and full of surprises. Day was able to mix in common elements of the Cinderella story while still creating a very unique and enjoyable version. I think Day is an amazing author and I love her books, I truly hope there will be many more!

Bookworm Rating: 5

Reading Order:
Book One: Princess of the Midnight Ball
Book Two: Princess of Glass

Spells by Aprilynne Pike

2010-07-02T10:33:00.000-07:00

Genre: Fairy/Fantasy

Publication Date: April 2010

One Word Review: Okay

Author Website: www.aprilynnepike.com

First Line: “Laurel stood in front of the cabin, scanning the tree line, her throat constricting in a rush of nerves.”

GoodReads Synopsis: It's been almost a year since Laurel discovered that she is a faerie, placed with human parents as an infant to help protect the gateway to the faerie realm of Avalon. Although she's come to accept her true identity, Laurel refuses to turn her back on her human life-and especially her boyfriend, David-to return to the faerie world. But when she is summoned to Avalon to relearn her long-forgotten faerie magic, Laurel must depend on the charismatic faerie sentry Tamani. Her feelings for him are undeniable, and she is forced to make a choice-a choice that could break her heart. When a deadly enemy resurfaces and puts both Laurel's life and Avalon in danger, Laurel must draw on all her human strength as well as her faerie skills to save both of her worlds and all of those she holds dear.

Kathy’s Review: I don’t know how I did it, but I actually found a little time during the week to actually read. Although, it became clear that the days of sitting and reading a book cover to cover are long gone.

I’ve been looking forward to reading Spells for a long time. I wouldn’t say I was disappointed in Spells, but it didn’t “wow” me like Wings did. I think it may have suffered from Middle Book Syndrome. The beginning was fun, I liked Laurel going to Avalon and her time spent there, and of course her relationship with Tamani. Toward the middle of the book she returns to the human world and that’s where things really slowed down for me. Tamani was gone and David is the main focus. For some reason I just don’t like David. The last quarter of the book was still a little slow, even when the “exciting” things are happening it just didn’t seem all that interesting. I was also frustrated with Laurel who is suffering from the Bella Syndrome, where she loves two guys and wants them both, regardless of how it makes them feel. I like Tamani so much and almost wish he would end up with someone else, Laurel doesn’t deserve him. Anyway, I’ll get off my Tamani soap box and just say that while there were things that disappointed me, I still enjoyed the book overall. It’s probably a good set up for the last book and still worth reading. If you enjoyed Wings, then I think you’ll enjoy Spells.

Bookworm Rating: 3.5

Reading Order:
Book One: Wings
Book Two: Spells
Book Three: April 2011

Baby Haitus

2010-06-17T20:37:00.001-07:00

Some of my followers may remember an earlier post where I talked about how my husband and I were trying to adopt...well we were finally able to! We were contacted a three weeks ago by an amazing birthmother who wanted to give us her precious baby boy. The past three weeks have been a bit of a whirlwind (a good one) and yesterday at 7:30 AM our baby boy was born. So far he has been perfect, but I'm sure once we get home and settled he will become a lot more work and therefore I will probably be reading a lot less. I will still try and do Meme's and posts whenever I can. But, if there is a lull in activity, now you'll know why! =)

Winter Fire by Rachel Ann Nunes

2010-06-14T19:41:00.001-07:00

Genre: Chick Lit (kind of)

Publication Date: February 2005

One Word Review: Drama

Author Website: www.rachelannnunes.com

GoodReads Synopsis: Fourth-grade schoolteacher Amanda Huntington said good-bye to her high school sweetheart when she realized he had fallen in love with someone else. Now, a year later, she wonders if she'll spend the rest of her life alone. When she meets Blake Simmons, Amanda finds her life turned upside down. Blake doesn't seem like the knight in shining armor she always imagined. With two adorable children in his care, he is locked in an ugly battle of wills with their troubled mother and worries that the children he has come to love will be lost to him forever. Will Amanda's relationship with Blake and the children only cause her more heartache? Or does she need him, just as much as he needs her?

Kathy’s Review: I was a little underwhelmed by this one. It kind of felt like a soap opera, more focus being on the drama than the relationship between Amanda and Blake. I guess I have a pet-peeve about relationships that move so quickly, especially under such dramatic circumstances. Having said that, I did enjoy the story (for the most part) and liked the characters. I guess I was expecting more of a romantic story, but it seemed more about Blake and his situation. I was also a little thrown when Paula (the kids’ parent) suddenly had a POV. There were a few story lines that were thrown in that I could have done without, but I guess added more drama to the story. Anyway, it was just okay for me.

Bookworm Rating: 2.5

Mistress of Mellyn by Victoria Holt

2010-06-12T13:47:00.001-07:00

Genre: Mystery

Publication Date: 1960

One Word Review: Ok

GoodReads Synopsis: As Martha Leigh approached the sprawling mansion of her new employer, Connan TreMellyn, an odd chill of apprehension overcame her. Soon whispers of past tragedy and present danger began to insinuate themselves into Martha's life. Powerless against her growing desire for Connan, she is drawn deeper into family secrets. But though evil lurks in the shadows, so does love and the freedom to find a golden promise of forever . . .

Kathy’s Review: When I read reviews comparing Mistress of Mellyn to Jane Eyre and Rebecca I knew I had to give it a try. It didn’t quite live up to those books, but was still entertaining and kept me reading to find out what would happen next. I liked Martha, she was a smart, kind heroine. She is a bit curious, but not as much as I would have liked. The love story was a little lacking; it had a slow build up and then all of the sudden they were in love and yadda, yadda, yadda. I think this is one of those novels that would have benefitted from two POVs, maybe then the actual “being in love” part wouldn’t have seemed so sudden. I also find it HARD to believe that Martha would forgive him his past so quickly, especially since some of his adventures seemed to be pretty current. I guess I just didn’t believe him, if he truly was in love with her he had an odd way of showing it. Anyway, the mystery aspect and the motivations seemed weak, but there was enough suspense to keep me curious.

Bookworm Rating: 2.5

Similar Reads:
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Nine Coaches Waiting by Mary Stewart
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
Rebecca by Daphne De Maurier

The Prairie Prince by Marcia Lynn McClure

2010-06-06T22:18:00.000-07:00

Genre: Historical Romance

Publication Date: April 2008

One Word Review: Enjoyable

Author Website: www.marcialynnmcclure.com

GoodReads Synopsis: For Katie Matthews life held no promise of true happiness. Life on the prairie was filled with hard labor, a brutal father, and the knowledge she would need to marry a man incapable of truly loving a woman. Men didn't have time to dote on women-so Katie's father told her. To Katie, it seemed life would forever remain mundane and disappointing-until the day Stover Steele bought her father's south acreage. Handsome, rugged and fiercely protective of four orphaned sisters, Stover Steele seemed to have stepped from the pages of some romantic novel. Yet, his heroic character and alluring charm only served to remind Katie of what she would never have-true love and happiness the likes found only in fairytales. Furthermore, evil seemed to lurk in the shadows, threatening Katie's brightness, hope, and even her life! Would Katie Matthews fall prey to disappointment, heartache and harm? Or could she win the attentions of the handsome Stover Steele long enough to be rescued?

Kathy’s Review: This was another enjoyable story from Marcia McClure. I was glad at least one of the leading characters had a normal name (Katie), even though our hero (Stover) was stuck with a very unique one. I did enjoy Katie and Stover, although I felt the book went by a little too quickly. While I realize this is a “romance” book, I still would have liked a little more buildup between Katie and Stover; I love a little more tension at the beginning. The side story of Jared and Pillar was sweet and I loved Stovers three little sisters. I also thought Katie’s home life added a little more depth to the story, and was happy that everything ended up well. All in all, I thought this was a good book and one I would read again.

I just have to get this off my chest, the only thing that bothered me about this story was how whenever Katie was thinking about Stover (which was all the time) she always thought of him as “Stover Steele” I guess I just got tired of hearing his first and last name throughout the entire story. This happened with a couple other characters as well, and I just wonder what the significance is with using his last name all the time? I guess it’s just a personal pet peeve of mine and distracts from the flow of the story…at least for me.

Bookworm Rating: 4

The Silent Governess by Julie Klassen

2010-06-06T16:26:00.000-07:00

Genre: Historical/Regency

Publication Date: January 2010

One Word Review: Enjoyable

Author Website: www.julieklassen.com

First Line: “For years, I could not recall the day without a smoldering coal of remorse burning within me.”

GoodReads Synopsis: Believing herself guilty of a crime, Olivia Keene flees her home, eventually stumbling upon a grand estate where an elaborate celebration is in progress. But all is not as joyous as it seems…. Lord Bradley has just learned a terrible secret, which, if exposed, will change his life forever. When he glimpses a figure on the grounds, he fears a spy or thief has overheard his devastating news. He is stunned to discover the intruder is a scrap of a woman with her throat badly injured. Fearing she will spread his secret, he gives the girl a post and confines her to his estate. As Olivia and Lord Bradley's secrets catch up with them, will their hidden pasts ruin their hope of finding love?

Kathy’s Review: I was originally drawn to this because of the cover; I love all the covers of Klassen’s books. Anyway, the story started off interesting and there was somewhat of a mystery (actually a couple) throughout the story. I enjoyed that it was a different perspective of the regency setting than I am used to. In this story we follow Olivia as she becomes an under nurse and moves up as a governess. I rather enjoyed getting to know the “servants” and seeing things from their perspective. I also liked Edward, or Lord Bradley. He has a few secrets of his own, but mostly I liked his interactions with Olivia. They have a sweet romance and it was fun to watch it grow. I do wish there had been more, I don’t know, banter or something between them. They kind of lack some of the chemistry that I like, but they did have a very sweet relationship that grew over time. The story was enjoyable and I liked all the characters. Would recommend to any regency fans!

Bookworm Rating: 4

For Keeps by Natasha Friend

2010-06-04T16:41:00.001-07:00

Genre: Teen Lit

Publication Date: April 2010

One Word Review: Blah

Author Website: www.natashafriend.com

GoodReads Synopsis: For sixteen years, Josie Gardner and her mom, Kate, have been a team. It’s been the Gardner Girls against the world, and that’s how Josie likes it. Until one day, in the pet food aisle of Shop-Co, they run into the parents of Paul Tucci, Kate’s high school boyfriend—the father Josie has never met. If Mr. and Mrs. Tucci are back in town, it’s only a matter of time until Paul shows up. Suddenly Josie’s mature, capable mother regresses to the heartbroken teenager she was when Paul moved away. Meanwhile, Josie’s on the verge of having her first real boyfriend, while her free-loving best friend, Liv, begins yet another no-strings-attached fling. When Josie learns some surprising truths about Paul Tucci, she finds herself questioning what she’s always believed about her parents—and about herself. In FOR KEEPS, Natasha Friend tells a fresh, funny, smart story about what happens when a girl gets the guy she always wanted and the dad she never knew she needed.

Kathy’s Review: I’m wavering between giving this a 1 or a 2. The whole story idea seemed kind of clichéd. I liked the parts with Josie and Matt, but they were few and far between (and I would have preferred a more PG relationship with them as well). Another blogger, Janseen, compared this to Gilmore Girls and I totally see what she meant. The story is awfully similar, but it was lacking the charm of Gilmore Girls. I guess I’m also a sucker for happy endings and I really wanted things to work out for Kate. Anyway, the story was just kind of boring, but kept me interested enough to finish. I was more interested in the Josie-Matt story and enjoyed the times they were featured. Josie’s BFF Liv was on okay side character (although, I didn’t care for the gay dads storyline). Overall, it wasn’t what I was looking for and probably wouldn’t recommend.

Content: There is swearing, underage drinking, and mild sexual content.

Bookworm Rating: 1.5

So Not Happening by Jenny B. Jones

2010-06-04T14:08:00.001-07:00

Genre: Teen Lit

Publication Date: May 2009

One Word Review: Fun

Author Website: www.jennybjones.com

First Line: One year ago my mom got traded in for a newer model.

GoodReads Synopsis: Isabella Kirkwood had it all: popularity at a prestigious private school in Manhattan, the latest fashions, and a life of privilege and luxury. Then her father, a plastic surgeon to the stars, decided to trade her mother in for a newer model. When her mother starts over with her new husband, Bella is forced to pack up and leave all she knows to live with her new family in Oklahoma. Before her mother can even say "I do," Bella's life becomes a major "don't." Can Bella survive her crazy new family? Will the school survive Bella? How can a girl go on when her charmed life is gone and God gives her the total smackdown?

Kathy’s Review: So, I liked this book, but I didn’t love it. I’m not sure why. Bella definitely starts out as a total snob. I understood why she was so upset about the move, the new family, the new culture and starting at a new school. I was very frustrated with her Mom, it seemed like she never took the time to see things from Bella’s perspective, and personally rushed into her marriage way too fast. Bella does grow on me throughout the story and is a likable character. The plot was entertaining, although a bit predictable. I was a little disappointed when the “big secret” was revealed, I thought there would be more to the story then what we found out. Overall, it kept me reading and I liked the chemistry between Bella and one of the boys and may be curious enough to pick up the next book. Oh, what I really liked about the book was how clean it was. The characters didn't drink, smoke and there was no sexual content.

Bookworm Rating: 3

Reading Order:
Book One: So Not Happening
Book Two: I’m So Sure
Book Three: So Over My Head

Heist Society by Ally Carter

2010-06-03T14:20:00.001-07:00

Genre: YA Fiction

Publication Date: February 2010

One Word Review: Great

Author Website: www.allycarter.com

GoodReads Synopsis: When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her on a trip to the Louvre...to case it. For her seventh birthday, Katarina and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Austria...to steal the crown jewels. When Kat turned fifteen, she planned a con of her own--scamming her way into the best boarding school in the country, determined to leave the family business behind. Unfortunately, leaving "the life" for a normal life proves harder than she'd expected. Soon, Kat's friend and former co-conspirator, Hale, appears out of nowhere to bring her back into the world she tried so hard to escape. But he has good reason: a powerful mobster has been robbed of his priceless art collection and wants to retrieve it. Only a master thief could have pulled this job, and Kat's father isn't just on the suspect list, he is the list. Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat's dad needs her help. For Kat there is only one solution: track down the paintings and steal them back. So what if it's a spectacularly impossible job? She's got two weeks, a teenage crew, and hopefully just enough talent to pull off the biggest heist in history-or at least her family's (very crooked) history.

Kathy’s Review: Ally Carter has become one of my favorite YA authors. Her books (at least the ones I’ve read) are clean, have cool storylines with super smart heroines. I really enjoyed Heist Society. I admit, the story did remind me of a few spy movies (The Thomas Crown Affair, After the Sunset, Entrapment, etc.), but it still holds its own and to be honest I think it would make a great teen movie. I liked Kat, her conscience is working on her and she wants to get out of the “family business”, but gets sucked back in and as much as she wants to go clean, she is also very good at what she does. I loved the relationship with Kat and Hale, I thought he was great! I wasn’t expecting a love triangle, but I was pleasantly surprised when it slowly crept into the story. I’m still Team Hale and I’m hoping for another book so I can find out what happens with them. Great, entertaining story.

Bookworm Rating: 4.5

The Karma Club by Jessica Brody

2010-06-03T14:10:00.001-07:00

Genre: YA Fiction

Publication Date: April 2010

One Word Review: Okay

Author Website: www.jessicabrody.com

GoodReads Synopsis: Madison Kasparkova always thought she understood how Karma works. It’s that mysterious, powerful force that brings harmony to the universe. You know—do good things and you will be rewarded, do something bad and Karma will make sure you get what’s coming to you. A sort of cosmic balancing act. But when Mason Brooks, Maddy’s boyfriend of two years, gets caught tongue-wrestling with Miss Perfect Body Heather Campbell, and absolutely nothing happens to either of them—except that they wind up the hot new couple of Colonial High School, it seems like Karma has officially left Maddy in the lurch. That’s why Maddy and her best friends, Angie and Jade, decide to start the Karma Club—a secret, members-only organization whose sole purpose is to clean up the messes that the universe has been leaving behind. Whether they’re modifying Heather Campbell’s acne cream as part of “Operation Butterface,” or righting a few wrongs when it comes to Angie and Jade’s own slimy exes, they know they’re just doing what Karma should have done in the first place. They’re taking care of one another.

Kathy’s Review: I was a little disappointed in this one. It just reminded me so much of The Lonely Hearts Club, The Naughty List and the movie Mean Girls all wrapped into one. Maybe it was my mood, but I just didn’t care for the story or characters. It seemed that Maddy was really shallow at first (she does get a little better as the book goes on), and was obsessed with the “in” crowd and not really appreciating her current friends/situation. I was also disappointed with how Mason and Maddy never really had any resolution; I wanted to have a little more closure. I did like the “new guy” and I was glad when Maddy finally takes responsibility and does the right thing. Overall, the book was just okay for me, again a lot of it could have been my mood, but I’d still recommend it to anyone who enjoys Teen Lit.

Bookworm Rating: 2

Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover by Ally Carter

2010-05-28T13:24:00.001-07:00

Genre: YA Fiction

Publication Date: July 2009

One Word Review: Entertaining

Author Website: www.allycarter.com

First Line: “We’re moving.”

GoodReads Synopsis: When Cammie "The Chameleon" Morgan visits her roommate Macey in Boston, she thinks she's in for an exciting end to her summer break. After all, she's there to watch Macey's father accept the nomination for vice president of the United States. But when you go to the world's best school (for spies), "exciting" and "deadly" are never far apart. Cammie and Macey soon find themselves trapped in a kidnappers' plot, with only their espionage skills to save them. As her junior year begins, Cammie can't shake the memory of what happened in Boston, and even the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women doesn't feel like the safe haven it once did. Shocking secrets and old flames seem to lurk around every one of the mansion's corners as Cammie and her friends struggle to answer the questions, Who is after Macey? And how can the Gallagher Girls keep her safe? Soon Cammie is joining Bex and Liz as Macey's private security team on the campaign trail. The girls must use their spy training at every turn as the stakes are raised, and Cammie gets closer and closer to the shocking truth...

Kathy’s Review: This is such a fun series. I thought this book really got back to its original charm. Cammie seemed more like herself, was smart, tough, and of course constantly breaking rules. I was very glad to see the whole gang back together again. I really like the interactions of Cammie, Macey, Bex and Liz. They work well together and their personalities are all unique, but complimentary. The story, setting and mystery are all fun and original. I like reading about all the spy stuff, gadgets, missions, and this installments added disguises. While I enjoyed the story, it did feel like the book was a set up for the next book, there was still mystery and excitement, but felt more like it was gearing up for the next adventure. My only complaint is that I wish there would have been more Zach (or even a little love triangle with Josh-Cammie-Zach), a little romance adds a lot, in my opinion. I like Zach, but I’m still a little unsure whose side he’s really on?? I look forward to reading the next book, which comes out in June!

Bookworm Rating: 4.5

Reading Order:
Book One: I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You
Book Two: Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy
Book Three: Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover

Book Four: Only the Good Spy Young (June 2010)