Group Review: Children of Paranoia

Summary: ALL WARS HAVE RULES


Rule Number One: No killing innocent bystanders.


Rule Number Two: No killing anyone under the age of eighteen.


BREAK THE RULES, BECOME THE TARGET


Since the age of eighteen, Joseph has been assassinating people on behalf of a cause that he believes in but doesn't fully understand. The War is ageless, hidden in the shadows, governed by a rigid set of rules, and fought by two distinct sides-one good, one evil. The only unknown is which side is which. Soldiers in the War hide in plain sight, their deeds disguised as accidents or random acts of violence amidst an unsuspecting population ignorant of the brutality that is always inches away. Killing people is the only life Joseph has ever known, and he's one of the best at it. But when a job goes wrong and he's sent away to complete a punishingly dangerous assignment, Joseph meets a girl named MariaY, and for the first time in his life his single-minded, bloody purpose fades away. Before Maria, Joseph's only responsibility was dealing death to the anonymous targets fingered by his superiors. Now he must run from the people who have fought by his side to save what he loves most in this world. As Children of Paranoia reaches its heart-in-throat climax, Joseph will learn that only one rule remains immutable: the only thing more dangerous than fighting the War...is leaving it. ~amazon.com


Julie's Review: Two words...Adrenaline Rush. This books starts and never, ever lets up. It is such a roller coaster ride from the first page. It is unlike any other book I have read or at least one that I can recall right now.


Children of Paranoia is a high-voltage take on war, the effects of war on family and a person's psyche. You see, you don't get brought into the war, you are born into it. When you turn 16, you start your right of passage. Once you turn 18, you are full on in. Joseph is a foot soldier in this ancient war and he's good at it. He believes in the war & he believes that his side is good and the other is evil. He's been a soldier for 10 years but you sense early on that it's wearing on him. He's not sloppy but his head isn't in it. He needs a change of pace. After his latest job he meets up with his two friends for a bit of R&R. This is where things go terribly wrong, but it's only the beginning.


For me, Joseph was a likable character and I rooted for him during the entire novel. He believes in the cause, he believes that he is good and the opposition is evil because if that's not the case, then he's the bad guy. He never questioned it before now. Now he's questioning everything. As a reader, I always love characters who have a great arc & Joseph has that. He grows up, learns to think for himself and decide what he wants out of life. Of course, this happens because of love. He didn't plan it but it turns his world upside down.


Mr. Shane is a talented author, who made me feel that I was right beside Joseph as he went through his experiences. There were times during this novel when I got the chills. Fear is palpable while reading this book and at times I was terrified.


The ending had me crying and vying for more. I want the next installment of the series...now!


There were a lot of thoughts being thrown about in my mind while I read this, but the ones that I kept coming back to are: How do we know who is right and wrong in war? Is anyone ever right? What happens when no one really knows what the reason are any more for the war? Is hate perpetuated through history via family? If so, is there ever any way out of it? How do we stop the cycle?


While Children of Paranoia is a thriller; it has a heart, it makes you stop and think about the world around us. It is a well executed novel.


It seems like I'm telling you lately telling you to go buy books, well this one is no different. If you love an roller coaster of a ride, then run and get this novel. It will leave you wanting more.


Final Take: 5/5


Jenn's Review: Unlike Julie, I had a hard time getting into this book from the first brutal murder in the opening pages. At first I thought maybe it was because it was from an assassin's point of view, but I've read other books with that point of view. Then it hit me. It's urban dystopian - this isn't life in the aftermath of a disaster, it's a disaster in the middle of everyday life. If you follow our blog, you are probably aware that I am not a fan of dystopian novels. The world can be an ugly enough place, I don't need to imagine it as more ugly.


Also, unlike Julie, Maria was the only character I liked. Although even Maria was difficult to comprehend. As much as I tried, I never could warm up to Joseph.  When he almost kills an innocent bystander, he nearly goes to pieces -he kills on a regular basis, but only because they're targets -he's that programmed. I know I should have felt empathy, but I just couldn't. Maybe it's because the first time we meet him he's killing a mother a wall's-space away from her children, but I was turned off towards him early on. I realize this is done for effect, that the shock factor is part of the dystopian theme, but that is what keeps me at bay with dystopian novels. Did Joseph reedeem himself by the end? Perhaps, or perhaps it was too little too late.


Julie and I discussed a bit about how the book relates to the psychological trauma of war, and I think it's a valid point. But I think there is a more primitive connection than that -it's gang violence and organized crime on a whole new level. The fact that it's that close to reality on that level is rather frightening. However, the involvement of law, or lack there of, is astounding. The fact that this has been going on for generations and has been covered up or inconclusively investigated was incredulous; it went beyond my ability to suspend my belief. I love a good conspiracy, but this was over the top for me.


I kept thinking, it had to be a sick twisted joke on the part of the masterminds of this war game. If that had been the case, perhaps I could have withstood it all, but as soon as it became apparent that there were two sides playing war games, I was completely turned off.  Though several theories are put in play by the characters, the true source of the dispute is never revealed.  Maybe Trevor Shane will venture into the actual origins of "The War" in the sequel.


Obviously, I couldn't get past the dystopian under currents to appreciate this novel as a thriller. However, if that mix of genres is appealing to you, you will love this book. Julie did.


Final Take: 3.0/5


Stayed tuned tomorrow for a giveaway of Children of Paranoia and an interview with the author Trevor Shane!!


This will be released on 9/8/2011 by Dutton Books.


Thanks to the publisher for both of our copies of the novel.

Julie's Review: The Keeper of Lost Causes

Summary: Jussi Adler-Olsen is Denmark's premier crime writer. His books routinely top the bestseller lists in northern Europe, and he's won just about every Nordic crime-writing award, including the prestigious Glass Key Award-also won by Henning Mankell, Stieg Larsson, and Jo Nesbo. Now, Dutton is thrilled to introduce him to America. The Keeper of Lost Causes, the first installment of Adler- Olsen's Department Q series, features the deeply flawed chief detective Carl MØrck, who used to be a good homicide detective-one of Copenhagen's best. Then a bullet almost took his life. Two of his colleagues weren't so lucky, and Carl, who didn't draw his weapon, blames himself. So a promotion is the last thing Carl expects. But it all becomes clear when he sees his new office in the basement. Carl's been selected to run Department Q, a new special investigations division that turns out to be a department of one. With a stack of Copenhagen's coldest cases to keep him company, Carl's been put out to pasture. So he's as surprised as anyone when a case actually captures his interest. A missing politician vanished without a trace five years earlier. The world assumes she's dead. His colleagues snicker about the time he's wasting. But Carl may have the last laugh, and redeem himself in the process. Because she isn't dead . . . yet. ~amazon.com

Review: Any time there is a Scandinavian crime novel, it gets compared to Steig Larsson's Millennium Trilogy and I don't think that is always fair or correct. The Keeper of Lost Causes is a well executed and thrilling novel. The way that Mr. Adler-Olsen is a gifted story teller. Off the bat, you immediately empathize with Carl and his situation. Sure, he's a bit grumpy but in crime novels, I often find that is what makes a great detective. Carl might be a bit more irritable given the fact that he and his partners were just in a deadly confrontation that he's coming back from leave from. One of his partners is dead and the other one is paralyzed, leaving Carl with the guilt of being both alive and essentially O.K.

As Carl returns from leave, he is quickly moved to a new role as the head of Department Q. Carl is not happy about this at all, so he decides to kick his feet up and take his time looking at these cold cases. He is given an assistant but this person is mainly supposed to clean the basement office. Before Carl even has a chance to blink, Assad is doing more than cleaning; he's assisting with choosing a case & then with the case itself.

Carl and Assad pick up the case of Merete Lynggard, who went missing in 2002 and presumed dead. As Carl and Assad dig into the case, they find that a lot of clues were left untouched.

While we are first introduced ourselves to Merete from the beginning pages of the novel, her story is told from both Carl's point of view and her own throughout the novel.

Merete was definitely not just a case in this novel. She was a fully fleshed out 3 dimensional character, whom you rooted for until the very end.

Mr. Adler-Olsen does a fantastic job of keeping you guessing who's the kidnapper of Merete. There are many suspects during the course of the investigation and each one seems plausible.

I loved the way the story unfolded and how it went went back and forth from 2002 to 2007. As a reader, you felt the urgency of the situation before Carl and Assad, which leads to even more tension as they try to solve the case.

I love crime/thriller/mystery novels. They've always sucked me in and keep me coming back for more. I can't wait for the rest of the Department Q series to be released here in the U.S. According to Wikipedia, there are 4 books in the series released in Denmark. They can't come out quick enough here for me. I will have to wait since I am not fluent in Dutch. ;)

If you are looking for a great ride to end your summer or begin your fall.
The Keeper of Lost Causes is being released by Dutton Books on 8/23/2011.

Final Take: 5/5

This is a case where being on Twitter is wonderful. I received the book simply by following Dutton Books and submitting to one of their contests.

I also just learned that Mr. Adler-Olsen and I share a birthday. So, Happy Belated Birthday!

Jenn's Review: Bargains and Betrayals

Summary:  Locked away at Pecan Place, Jessie finds her situation to be even more dangerous than she feared. While she struggles to maintain her sanity and discover answers about the group that seems less and less like any legitimate government agency, Pietr fights to keep their relationship alive. But very aware that his mother’s time is running out, Pietr makes a deal he doesn’t dare tell Jessie about. Because the deal Pietr’s made could mean the death of far more than his tenuous relationship with the girl he loves.

Review:  Upon picking up my ARC I didn’t immediately recall that we had left Jessie in such a tenuous place and I wasn’t quite ready to be thrown into the fray. However, Shannon Delany backtracks a little bit in the timeline to give us a chance to get up to speed. Of course, once you’re caught up, it’s impossible to put down.

Ms. Delany has done something different with this book by switching viewpoints between Alexi and Jessie.  It's as if she were giving you pages out of their journals, each one labeled so there is no confusion. It was an interesting approach and I think it worked well for this installment of the 13 to Life series.  Not once did I groan that she was changing view points because each change furthered the story.

Because Jessie is so mature in some ways, it is hard to remember she’s still a teen and therefore some naïveté is to be expected; Jessie is doing her Nancy Drew style investigating while being locked up but is not cynical after all she’s been through. I admit to being frustrated with Alexi in this book for letting Pietr shoulder the burden. As their guardian it should have been his responsibility to find a solution, instead, Alexi is relieved to step aside and let Pietr handle things.

Things have heated up for the characters -on all fronts.  Some fairly serious topics are broached in this book.  The teens have moral dilemmas that would make a grown-ups head spin, but they don't drown in them; they learn and grow along the way.  Nothing is glossed over so the seriousness of situations is not lost. I think Ms. Delany does a fantastic job giving the reader details without giving too much details.  

I hoped I knew where the story was heading but I certainly wasn't sure.  Nothing is a sure thing in this series, and I love that about Ms. Delany's writing. Even though Jessie and Pietr seem destined to be, maybe they won't make it.  How much is too much for a relationship to endure?  I'm glad, after three books, Shannon Delany can keep me on the edge of my seat.

Though the ending is far from neat and tidy, it was not the cliff hanger that Secrets and Shadows was, and for that I'm grateful.  I was weeping and cheering at the end, but I won't spoil it for you by mentioning more than that.  I have grown to love all of the Jessie's friends and family, and I can't wait to see where Ms. Delany takes us next.  I think Bargains and Betrayals is her best book yet.

Final Take :  4.75/5.0

PS.  If you're a fan of YA paranormal and you've yet to read 13 to Life (my review) and  Secrets and Shadows (my review), what are you waiting for?!?  If you're all caught up and can't wait for Bargains and Betrayals to hit the shelves on August 16th, I have a surprise for you later this afternoon...

Julie's Review: The Wild Rose

Summary: London, 1914. World War I is looming on the horizon, women are fighting for the right to vote, and global explorers are pushing the limits of endurance in the most forbidding corners of the earth. In this volatile time, the sweeping, multi-generational saga that spanned The Tea Rose and The Winter Rose continues. With myriad twists and turns, thrilling cliffhangers, fabulous period detail and a large cast of vivid characters (some new, some familiar), The Wild Rose provides an exhilarating and satisfying conclusion to an unforgettable trilogy. ~JenniferDonnelly.com

Julie's Review: I have been waiting 2+ years for The Wild Rose. Sometimes patiently and sometimes not. As soon as it was available for pre-order; it was ordered.

The Wild Rose does not disappoint this fan of the trilogy. It was everything I could have hoped for and perhaps a bit more. Ms. Donnelly does a remarkable job of bringing back the beloved characters from The Tea Rose and The Winter Rose with relevant story lines. She also added in several new characters that rounded out the story and were well developed.

The final novel focuses on the youngest brother in the Finnegan clan, Seamus or Seamie. Seamie is an explorer who helped founded the South Pole. So he's a bit famous and of course he's utterly handsome. Seamie has been in love with Willa Alden since they were teenagers but that relationship was stopped abruptly when an accident befalls Willa. They might be torn apart by circumstances but their hearts still long for one another.

The Wild Rose is set against the backdrop of the entry of England into World War I with Germany and then the long war. It shifts back and forth between Europe, Arabia, Africa and the Far East. Ms. Donnelly writes these locations with ease because they come alive on the pages. Not only is World War I predominant but so is the Suffrage movement. This is where Fiona and Joe Bristow are reintroduced. Fiona supports the non-violent movement to get women the right to vote and to serve in Parliament. Ms. Donnelly also brings back Sid and India during a vital part of the novel as well.

Obviously, I'm not going to giveaway major aspects of the book because that wouldn't be fair. The book offers something for everyone: history, romance, war and politics. I loved every aspect! The characters are well developed and intriguing. There is a good vs. evil element, but who is good or evil isn't as clear. It's ambiguous and keeps your mind sharp for the details.

It evident again that Ms. Donnelly does her homework when it comes to research. The amount of detail given for both the war and the suffrage movement is monumental and well executed.

This has been one of my favorite trilogies. For a long time after reading the books, the characters would jump into my head again just so I wouldn't forget them. I don't think I'll ever be able to forget these characters. In fact, at some point I will re-read them and it won't be that far into the future.

If you are looking for three historical fiction books to sink your teeth into then I urge you to pick up The Tea Rose, The Winter Rose, and now The Wild Rose

I am sorry to see the stories of these characters end, but I'm extremely grateful that I found them.

The Wild Rose will be released by Hyperion/Voice on August 2, 2011!

Final Take: 5/5

Julie's Review: Next To Love

Summary: “War . . . next to love, has most captured the world’s imagination.”—Eric Partridge, British lexicographer, 1914. A story of love, war, loss, and the scars they leave, Next to Love follows the lives of three young women and their men during the years of World War II and its aftermath, beginning with the men going off to war and ending a generation later, when their children are on the cusp of their own adulthood.
Set in a small town in Massachusetts, the novel follows three childhood friends, Babe, Millie, and Grace, whose lives are unmoored when their men are called to duty. And yet the changes that are thrust upon them move them in directions they never dreamed possible—while their husbands and boyfriends are enduring their own transformations. In the decades that follow, the three friends lose their innocence, struggle to raise their children, and find meaning and love in unexpected places. And as they change, so does America—from a country in which people know their place in the social hierarchy to a world in which feminism, the Civil Rights movement, and technological innovations present new possibilities—and uncertainties. And yet Babe, Millie, and Grace remain bonded by their past, even as their children grow up and away and a new society rises from the ashes of the war.
Beautifully crafted and unforgettable, Next to Love depicts the enduring power of love and friendship, and illuminates a transformational moment in American history.~amazon.com

Review: I hate to admit it, but World War II history isn't something I normally read. Perhaps this is because I am under the impression all of the books about this time period are non-fiction. Next to Love is a powerful, moving and unforgettable novel about the long lasting effects that war has on not only the men (and women) who fought in it but their loved ones as well. The novel takes us over decades with 3 friends who have been inseparable since Kindergarten. We are first introduced to Babe, who is from the wrong side of town and a bit of a rebel. Millie, is the classic beauty and Grace, is the one who can never do any wrong.

Perhaps it is because we are introduced to her first or maybe it's because of her spunk, Babe remained my favorite throughout the novel. She is the one that changes for me by battling the effects the war had on her husband and herself. How she keeps it together for both of them through some very tough years. How she herself finally finds purpose in the late 1950s/early 1960s with the NAACP. Her husband, Claude, is a solid and gentle man but when he returns from the war he is tortured. He has nightmares and he builds a wall around himself. They both turn to drinking to help them cope. These days they'd be in rehab but back then no one talked about it or acknowledged it. I loved how they made it through the rough times only to come out (seemingly) stronger. I feel that people took marriage a bit more seriously back then. Divorce didn't happen for minute reasons but only for something extraordinary.

While I enjoyed Millie's story, I can't really say much without giving away anything. I will say that I did like the progression of her story and how her son Peter (Jack) grew up into a fine young man.

Grace was the only character who drove me a bit nuts. She defined herself by her marriage to Charlie. She married young and had no sense of self. She let other people sway her into thinking certain ways instead of making decisions on her own. She was very much the epitome of women during that generation. She could never decide on her own happiness and was therefore miserable most of her life. This has a profound affect on her daughter Amy and the choices she will make in her young adult and adult life.

Ms. Feldman has wrote a gem of a novel. It has all the elements of a wonderful read: realistic characters, strong writing, strong plot and a perfect period in history to explore. I felt that I was on this journey with the 3 friends and I was sorry to see it end.

My favorite part of the book was during the war when the women would receive letters from the men while they were training and then fighting for freedom and their lives. These pages in the book jumped out for me and took me inside the men of the book. The art of a letter is certainly something that has been lost on this generation and more than likely, future generations sadly.

From looking at her website I can tell that Ms. Feldman loves historical fiction. She obviously took her time researching World War II and the other events that came afterward.

For lovers of historical fiction and perhaps others like me that haven't read a lot of novel based on World War II, then Next to Love should make it onto your "TBR" pile.
 
Next to Love is to be released on 7/26/2011 by Random House.

Final Take: 4.25/5

Thanks to the publisher for sending me an ARC of the novel to read and review.

Jenn's Review: Spellbound

Summary:  What’s a girl to do when meeting The One means she’s cursed to die a horrible death?

Life hasn’t been easy on sixteen-year-old Emma Conner, so a new start in New York may be just the change she needs. But the posh Upper East Side prep school she has to attend? Not so much. Friendly faces are few and far between, except for one that she’s irresistibly drawn to—Brendan Salinger, the guy with the rock-star good looks and the richest kid in school, who might just be her very own white knight.

But even when Brendan inexplicably turns cold, Emma can’t stop staring. Ever since she laid eyes on him, strange things have been happening. Streetlamps go out wherever she walks, and Emma’s been having the oddest dreams. Visions of herself in past lives—visions that warn her to stay away from Brendan. Or else.   ~product description

Review:  This is a sweet paranormal romance of star-crossed teens and I was glad I received this from Harlequin Teen through NetGalley. It's a fresh take on an age-old tale with a smattering of paranormal and fantasy thrown in.

Emma is a completely empathetic character. Her childhood is full of loss and tragedy, but instead of becoming bitter and self-pitying, she pulls herself up and moves on. Taking her godmother up on her offer to come and live with her, Emma takes the leap and starts over again in an intimidating environment. Emma doesn't want to run with the popular girls or be the loner in the crowd, she just wants to blend in. But if there is one thing her past has taught her, it is not to take life lying down, but to stand up for herself.

I love Cara Lynn Shultz's writing style.  It's witty and inviting.  She's descriptive without overburdening the reader. I almost wish she'd had time to delve into the past a little more with this story.  There are also a plethora of interesting secondary characters, as well as the obligatory hot guy love interest, and I was left wanting to know them better too, especially Angelique, Emma's Wiccan friend. Alas, that was more story than the pages allow... but perhaps the beginnings of a second book?

While there are some bits that are a little cliche, Spellbound avoids the caveats of teen romance that make me cringe. What I love most about Cara Lynn Shultz's novel is that it isn't full of angst or drowning in a whining heroine. I'm also glad Ms. Shultz didn't keep the protagonists apart for chapter after chapter while they moon over each other. Emma takes charge of her situation, searches for answers, and confronts things head on.  My only discontent was that there seemed very few obstacles for the duo to overcome, once they chose their path.  While the climax is a major hurdle, it arrived rapidly and the story's resolution seemed almost too easy.

Also, as a musician, I'm a complete sucker for an author that provides a playlist for their story.  Not only does Ms. Shultz provide a soundtrack for her book, she also tells us what song comes where and for which characters in the story.  It's a wonderful multimedia way to interact with the book (wouldn't it be awesome if you could embed a soundtrack in an e-book?!?) and it really rounded out my experience.

If you love a good romance with a touch of magic, look for Spellbound to debut on the shelves June 21, 2011.  This is a charming debut novel from Cara Lynn Shultz and I anticipate great things from her.

Final Take:  4.0/5

Julie's Review: Kindred Spirits

Summary: When life gives you lemons, call your best girlfriends and whip up some lemon martinis. Such is the mantra for the Ladies' Society for the Conservation of Martinis, which was established after one fateful PTA meeting, when four young mothers-Lynne, Mary Kay, Beth, and Carol- discovered they had more in common than they ever thought possible. Meeting once a month, the women would share laughs and secrets and toast to their blossoming friendship with a clink of their sacred martini glasses. The Society was their salvation, their refuge, but when life-shattering circumstances force the group to dissolve, their friendship is never quite the same...until two years later, when a tragic event puts the Society back in session. When Lynne passes away suddenly, she leaves behind one simple request: that her old friends sort through her belongings. Reluctantly, the women reunite to rummage through her closets. There's nothing remarkable; no kinky sex toys, no embarrassing diary. But buried deep within Lynne's lingerie drawer is an envelope addressed to the Society. And inside they find a letter that reveals a shocking secret and a final wish that will send the women on a life-changing journey...proving that nothing is more powerful than the will of a true girlfriend and a good, strong martini. ~amazon.com

Review: I adore books about friendships. I love them more when the author gives those friendships real, mature problems. In Kindred Spirits, Sarah Strohmeyer does just that. She creates a circle of friends who are mature, have real problems and who are at times struggling through life.

We are introduced to Lynne first and then the other 3 friends: Beth, Carol and Mary Kay(MK). They've been friends for 20 years from being new moms in the same town to having their kids grow up and go away to start their own lives. Now they are perhaps dealing with the biggest change yet; death of a dearly loved friend. Years before Lynne made them promise to be the only ones to clean out her personal items after she was gone. She had planned this so that she could reveal a big secret to her friends and have them conduct her final wish. I think she also intended to do it this way so that the 3 of them would reconnect and make that bond even tighter. She was savvy that Lynne. I also think she's the glue that kept these friendships together. Without her and her forward thinking, they might have unraveled.

Usually in a book with 4 main characters, I tend to identify with one of them distinctly but what Ms. Strohmeyer does so well is she made me find some of myself in each of the characters. These characters are so identifiable and real that you can't help but like them all and of course want to shake them all at the same time. They have problems that we all have gone through or could face at any time in our lives. What Ms. Strohmeyer does is makes it so that you know there are no easy answers, that they struggle with the decisions they have made and that maybe things will be alright in the end.

I cried, I laughed and at times I got angry. Sounds a bit like life, eh? These women are extraordinary in their own ordinary ways. Beth, the shy bookworm who doesn't take chances; Mary Kay, the nurse who was a single mom and is now getting to live her own life; and Carol, the rebel who through her "perfect" life to the wind and went out on her own. Each woman learns something during their trip and they grow.

Lynne was lucky that her friends took upon them her dying wish and did it without really questioning why she never told them about this secret. We all have secrets, things that we want to keep to ourselves for our own reason. Not everything is meant to be shared. It's what makes people interesting and unique.

Often, we get so busy in life that friendships fall aside and are left unattended. Friendships take work just like anything else in life; some more than others. As I get older and have less time with 2 little kids, I find myself evaluating the people I have in my life, weeding out those who I don't think would be there if the going got tough. I'm not about having the most friends these days; I'm about having quality friends. I think this is a lesson you learn as you grow up.

This is my first Sarah Strohmeyer book, but it won't be my last. She said that this book is different from her others and I think that's great. I know this book is extremely personal for her and probably therapeutic as well. She is a gifted storyteller who can make you cry and laugh all on the same page. You will also learn recipes for some of the best sounding martini's ever. (Tiffany - We will have to concoct some of these this summer).

If you are a fan of Women's Fiction, then I highly suggest that you go and buy (pre-order) perhaps, Kindred Spirits. I don't think you will regret it.

Final Take: 4.75/5

Kindred Spirits is on sale June 30, 2011

Thanks to the author for sending me the book!

Jenn's Review: Ultraviolet

Summary:  "Once upon a time there was a girl who was special. This is not her story. Unless you count the part where I killed her."

Sixteen-year-old Alison wakes up in a mental institution. As she pieces her memory back together, she realizes she's confessed to murdering Tori Beaugrand, the most perfect girl at school. But the case is a mystery. Tori's body has not been found, and Alison can't explain what happened. One minute she was fighting with Tori. The next moment Tori disintegrated—into nothing.

But that's impossible. No one is capable of making someone vanish. Right? Alison must be losing her mind—like her mother always feared she would.

For years Alison has tried to keep her weird sensory abilities a secret. No one ever understood—until a mysterious visiting scientist takes an interest in Alison's case. Suddenly, Alison discovers that the world is wrong about her—and that she's capable of far more than anyone else would believe.

Review:  Completely hooked in the first three sentences?  I know I was.  Due out in the US in the fall of 2011, Ultraviolet was a novel I received from the publisher, Carolrhoda Books,  through Net Galley.  This is one you want to have on your shelf.  While one isn't supposed to comment about errors in an uncorrected proof, I have to mention that the formatting of this galley was terrible (an honest glitch I'm sure), but it was such an amazing read that I was completely willing to suffer through it.  Yes, it was that good.


This is a fascinating look at the psyche of a teen who has grown up knowing she was different then the rest of the world.  When her arch nemesis goes missing after a fight between them, Alison is sure that somehow her unnaturalness has disintegrated her. I knew what Allison's condition was before she and her doctors figured it out, but it was certainly easy to see how it could be missed.  (It made me wonder how often this kind of thing is missed in adolescent psychiatry.) I can't imagine being a teen in a Psychiatric Ward.  Being a teenager is hard enough without having someone prodding around your life and probing your motivations and feelings all the time.  Alison's journey is tumultuous as she learns more about the system of which she is a prisoner, her abilities, and herself.


Ms. Anderson's writing reminded me a lot of Madeleine L'Engle for a more mature audience.  Her story telling is captivating and so are her characters.  It is fascinating viewing the world through Alison's perspective and even more interesting as her perception of herself and others begins to change.  It's startling, but refreshing to see Alison realize how other's perceive her and how being so concerned about her differences has isolated her in ways she never knew. I also love the fact that the story is set in Ontario and that Ms. Anderson doesn't feel the need to apologize for it by explaining things to bits.  Although Ms. Anderson took the ending in a different direction than I would have preferred, it was well done and nothing I hold against her or her work.  


This is not RJ Anderson's first work and now that I've discovered her, I am putting the YA fantasy series she has written, Faery Rebel, on my ever growing TBR wishlist.  Ultraviolet is set to come out in September, and if you love YA, I highly recommend you put it on your wishlist as well!

Final Take:  4.5/5

Julie's Review: Save Me

Summary: At the start of this gut-wrenching stand-alone from bestseller Scottoline (Think Twice), an explosion rips through the nearly empty cafeteria of Reesburgh (Pa.) Elementary School. Lunch mother Rose McKenna leads two girls to safety before racing to rescue her own daughter, Melly, but Rose soon learns that she may face both civil and criminal charges for her heroics because one of the girls she saved was seriously injured in the resulting fire that killed three school staff members. The tension rises as the united front presented by Rose and her lawyer husband, Leo Ingrassia, begins to disintegrate in the face of media demands, legal maneuverings, and social pressures. Rose must also deal with school bullying (Melly has a noticeable facial blemish), difficult legal problems, and her husband's reaction when a secret from her past is revealed. Scottoline melds it all into a satisfying nail-biting thriller sure to please her growing audience. ~amazon.com

Review: Lisa Scottoline is one of my favorite female authors. I admit, I'm a bit behind on her books but I'm fairly certain I'll catch up this year. She never ceases to write a good book that makes you think on a variety of levels. Save Me is a thought provoking, taut story that never lets up.

Ms. Scottoline deals with quite an array of subject matters in the novel: bullying, mother's guilt, safety and criminal negligence. We are introduced to Rose McKenna, a stay at home mom who has moved to a new school so that her daughter, Melly, can get away from the bullying at her old school. Needless to say the bullying continues at her new school, so Rose decides to become a lunch mom to keep an eye on her daughter. It took a long time for Rose to grow on me and in the end I ended up liking her but not loving her. I did adore her husband Leo who was extremely grounded and perfect for the meek Rose. Rose is in the middle of talking to the girls who are teasing Melly when there is an explosion. Rose is knocked out and comes to, proceeds to get the girls out and then goes to look for her daughter Melly. Of course, she is initially lauded as a hero but then the story takes a turn. Did Rose get the girls out of the school or did she not? Did she foresake the safety of others to rescue her own child?

This is where I thought the book would go: the aftermath of the explosion and how a community either pulls together or gets ripped apart. There was some of that in the book but the novel shifts to figuring out who was negligent for the explosion. Did I find this interesting? Yes. It's just not what I thought the novel was going to explore.

There are a couple twists and turns in the book but I honestly felt that all of them were out of left field. I'm not sure if I completely believe the whole conspiracy idea behind two accidents in the book though.

I did like how Rose finally took her life and her family's welfare into her own hands by trying to figure all of this out. Of course she gets in over her head but everything works out.

The ending was a little too saccarine for me but overall the book makes you think. What would you do in that situation? Would you make sure the kids were completely out of the building before rushing in to save your own child? What kind of procedures are in place for those parents who volunteer at schools? Are they put through drills so that they know what to do in case of an emergency? Are our schools doing everything possible to keep our children safe? Or are corners being cut because of budget issues? Does a parent have the right to reprimand another child if they are not following the school's honor code?

I definitely enjoyed the book and if you are a Lisa Scottoline fan, then you will definitely not want to miss this one. If you've never read her before I suggest going with her Rosato and Associates novels. You can find her list of books here.

Final Take: 3.75/5

Save Me will be on sale on 4/12/2011.
Thanks to the publisher for sending me a ARC of the book.

Julie's Review: Mothers & Daughters

Summary: A rich and luminous novel about three generations of women in one family: the love they share, the dreams they refuse to surrender, and the secrets they hold. Samantha is lost in the joys of new motherhood—the softness of her eight-month-old daughter’s skin, the lovely weight of her child in her arms—but in trading her artistic dreams to care for her child, Sam worries she’s lost something of herself. And she is still mourning another loss: her mother, Iris, died just one year ago. When a box of Iris’s belongings arrives on Sam’s doorstep, she discovers links to pieces of her family history but is puzzled by much of the information the box contains. She learns that her grandmother Violet left New York City as an eleven-year-old girl, traveling by herself to the Midwest in search of a better life. But what was Violet’s real reason for leaving? And how could she have made that trip alone at such a tender age? In confronting secrets from her family’s past, Sam comes to terms with deep secrets from her own. Moving back and forth in time between the stories of Sam, Violet, and Iris, Mothers and Daughters is the spellbinding tale of three remarkable women connected across a century by the complex wonder of motherhood. ~raemeadows.com

Review: I love when an author chooses to tell us the story of a family from three different view points. Ms. Meadows chose to tell us the story from Sam, Iris and Violet's point of views. Mothers and Daughters is a spectacular novel of these three women's lives and how they shaped each other.

Samantha, Sam, is a new mother and is consumed by her role in Ella's life. She's a bit of a nervous Nelly in this role, which to me was daunting at times. I get being a new mother can be overwhelming and stressful, but part of me wondered if she was going through postpartum depression.

Iris, is Sam's mom and she's dying of cancer. After her divorce from her husband, she picked up her life and moved to Sanibel Island. She wanted to start over and enjoy finding out who she was without the constraints of her former life.

Violet, is Iris' mom, who passed away when Samantha was a baby. She was 11 years old when her mother put her on the Orphan Train from New York City, heading west to a new life. We get to know Violet as a young girl living on the streets of New York to her travels West for a new life.

Of all three stories, Violet's was the one that I sank myself into. The grittiness of her life, the stark reality of it, consumed me. Ms. Meadows did a fantastic job of detailing the city during the time period and of the long train ride to the Midwest. I can't imagine how Violet had to chose between a better life and staying with her mom Lilibeth, who was a drug addict. I can't fathom what her life must have been like as an adult constantly wondering about her mom and what her life could have been like. How upsetting it must have been for her. No wonder she didn't know how to be a loving mother, since she didn't have a good example.

Ms. Meadows did a great job of pulling all three stories together but yet each had their own distinctive voice. I always find it fascinating how our relationship with our mother defines us in ways that we don't always understand or comprehend. It's this aspect of the book that I found intriguing.

Ms. Meadows does a superb job of wrapping up each story, but I will admit I wanted just a little more. I wanted to know what Sam found out about Violet and her history.

If you love books about familial relationships, then on 3/29/2011, you need to get your copy of Mothers and Daughters.

I must also add that the ARC came in the most beautiful package. It felt like a beautiful gift to unveil. I don't think the picture of the cover does it justice. The colors are so vibrant and bright making it extremely appealing to the senses.

Thanks to Henry Holt for sending me an ARC of the book to read!

Final Take: 4.75/5

Julie's Review: With Friends Like These

Summary: Koslow (The Late, Lamented Molly Marx) lifts a potentially trite story of friendship to a knowing, sharp-edged chronicle of ambition and acceptance that's smart, raw, and achingly real. Chloe, married to a Wall Street striver, and Talia, hitched to a teacher with a trust fund, share a copy-writing job while raising preschool boys. Ambition drives them apart, and devotion to each other, to their kids, to their less-than-perfect husbands--brings them back. Quincy and Jules, the childless women in the quadrangle of friends, are the cool ones until New York real estate comes between them. These imperious women are a handful by themselves, but a solid cast of husbands and lovers hold their own: Arthur, the oddball middle-aged lothario who adores Jules; Tom, the trust-fund scion who prefers to remain safely ensconced in an educational ivory tower while letting Talia get down and dirty in the real world; Xander, the ruthless hedge fund hotshot married to beautiful but insecure Chloe; and Jake, the anchor of Quincy's stormy life. Koslow packs a trove of wit and wisdom into a slick pink package. ~amazon.com

Review: I always thought that female friendships would get easier as I got older but I've found that not necessarily to be the case. As women get married, have kids and life gets hectic, friendships fall through the cracks. With Friends Like These addresses these issues and more. Do female friendships always have to be so complicated? Sally Koslow explores this through Jules, Chloe, Talia and Quincy. For me any character who's name is Julie or Julia and prefers to be called "Jules" comes off a bit self-important. (It's one thing to have it as a nickname.)She was definitely my least favorite character and the story I didn't identify with at all. I will say that Ms. Koslow does a good job of making Jules grow over the course the novel. My favorite two friends were Talia and Quincy. I could identify with both of these ladies for different reasons. I liked Talia because she felt like she needed to be the breadwinner because of her husband's career and felt the pressure of "keeping up with the Jones'". In trying to do something for herself and her family, she ended up damaging her friendship with Chloe.

Quincy and Jules have their own issues. You see Quincy and her husband, Jake have been looking for the perfect condo/apartment in NYC for a while and they've finally found it. The problem is that Quincy trusted Jules and Jules swept the apartment out from underneath them.

These two rifts start to drive the foursome apart but as some friendships falter, others become closer. These women start to grow up and become secure in themselves, who they are and the choices they have made. Sometimes growing up means growing apart.

Women's friendships are complicated. I've always said that I think sometimes friends are in your life for a period of time to teach you something about life and yourself. Not all friendships are lifelong. I think this is hard for women to grasp since it is drilled in our head through books, movies and other media when we are younger that friendship are life long. Life is long and people change, sometimes friendships suffer from those changes.

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of With Friends Like These through Library Thing's Early Reviewers.


This book is on sale on August 10, 2010


Final Take: 4/5

Jenn's Review: Virals

Summary: Tory Brennan, niece of acclaimed forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan (of the Bones novels and hit TV show), is the leader of a ragtag band of teenage "sci-philes" who live on a secluded island off the coast of Charleston, South Carolina. When the group rescues a dog caged for medical testing on a nearby island, they are exposed to an experimental strain of canine parvovirus that changes their lives forever.

As Tory and her friends discover their heightened senses and animal-quick reflexes, they must combine their scientific curiosity with their newfound physical gifts to solve a cold-case murder that has suddenly become very hot –if they can stay alive long enough to catch the killer's scent.

Fortunately, they are now more than friends: they're a pack. They are Virals.

Review: I was thoroughly jealous when I saw that Alison at Alison's Book Marks was reading an ARC of the new Kathy Reichs YA book due out in November. And I was positively thrilled when she said she had an extra copy that she was willing to send to me. I know some eyebrows went up among my reading friends when it was announced that Kathy Reichs was writing a YA novel –especially those who didn't make it through the dense writing of Déja Dead. But Reich's writing style has evolved over the past ten years into something that is highly accessible. I had no doubt this would be the start of a fantastic YA series – and it is.

Tory Brennan is actually Tempe's great-niece. Remember Kit her screwball nephew from Deadly Decisions? Well, he's all grown up. Kit's a marine biologist who works for the University of Charleston, and he's just discovered he has a daughter. Tory is smart but naive and not only does she takes after Tempe, she idolizes her – which is how the trouble starts.

Hanging around on the monkey habitat/research island where their parents work (similar to the one mentioned in Death Du Jours, but this island carries a different name), the teens get bombarded by an angry monkey. Tory realizes that the object the monkey has hurled at her are heavily crusted dog tags and she starts wondering who they belong to and how the tags ended up there. She convinces the gang to break into one of the research labs so that she can clean the tags with a sonicator so they are legible... perhaps they can return them to their owner. This one decision starts a cataclysm of events.

Though it took some time for Reichs to set the exposition, it was worth it – and she gives young readers a prologue straight from one of the action sequences to hook them. While the reader is aware that the teens have become infected, Tory and her friends have to discover it on their own. This revelation culminates with some extraordinary sensory perception and physical capabilities, if only the Virals could control when and where it happens – as it is they're already outsiders at the prep school they attend due to their academic prowess and more modest means.

Once the action starts, Reichs doesn't let up. The teens try to go to the authorities but the local cops opinion is that "academics and their kids are prone to exaggeration". With the adults being uncooperative, the Virals decide to investigate for themselves, both the dog tags, and their mysterious illness with the crazy symptoms.

I think any analogy of Viralsas a modern day Nancy Drew story is a bit of an oversimplification. I grew up on Nancy Drew; this is so much better. The characters are more balanced, and far better developed. The plot is tight and the action intense and realistic. Though the story centers on Tory, she couldn't manage with out her friends, each of whom has expertise in different scientific areas. There's lots of action an plenty of mystery. As her friends are all guys, I think the story lends itself equally to teenagers of either sex.

This is classic spell-binding Reichs writing with a new sci-fi twist thrown in. She adapted her style and the science to be accessible to teens without reducing it to condescension. And while I referenced the ways in which this book ties into her adult series, none of that information is pertinent to the new reader (though it was amusing to me to see Kit attempt to be the authoritative parent after all the hell he raised as a teen). Virals is an excellent beginning to a series and I can't wait to see were it goes from here! I urge you to pick this up when it debuts in the fall* even if you don't normally read YA books.

Final Take: 4.5/5

* Viralswill be released November 2, 2010