No Lies: New Gone Book's Got Me "FAYZ"ed

(Image from Barnes & Noble)

(While this review will not contain spoilers for Lies by Michael Grant, it may inadvertently reveal plot surprises from Gone and Hunger. As always, I recommend reading books in a series in order.)

Note: Lies will go on sale May 4, 2010. You can pre-order it now at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other bookstores.

A lot can happen in 7 months. Especially when there are no adults around to keep things orderly. In less than a year Perdido Beach, California - once a quiet beach town - has turned into a crumbling, dangerous, garbage-strewn mess. Pre-teens roam the streets armed with baseball bats; 10-year-old's dull their fears with alcohol and weed; freaks and normals clash at every turn. And that's on the safe side of town. Welcome to life in The FAYZ.

This is where Lies, the third book in the Gone series by Michael Grant, begins.

Even with Whip Hand gone and the Gaiaphage defeated, there's plenty for the town council to worry about. Unfortunately, worry seems to be the only thing they can do. Astrid's vehement about laying down the law, but first she has to brainstorm ideas, draft the rules, put them up for a vote, and otherwise drag out the process. Sam's sick of stewing about things; he longs for action. Something has to be done about Orsay, for example - claiming to be a prophetess who can communicate with the outside world, she's encouraging 14-year-old's to poof on their 15th birthdays. Astrid swears Orsay's a fake, but is she, really? Then, there's Zil and his gang of normals, out to punish every freak in town. And, of course, there's the issue of Brittney. It's not that the girl's particularly dangerous, it's just that she used to be dead. Now she's not - exactly.

Things come to a head one strange night when the Human Crew sets fire to the town. Out of the smoke steps Sam's worst nightmare - Drake Merwin, once a boy, now a monster. Malicious. Deadly. Terrifying. And dead. At least he was. Not only is Whip Hand back on the scene, but so is a skeletal Caine. Everyone's fighting for control of the town. It's a mad turf war, a battle that could change everything in the FAYZ. If the kids of Perdido Beach ever needed a hero, it's now. So, where is Sam? Has he really abandoned his people just when they need him most? Without Sam, does the ragtag town council have any hope of holding out against its foes? Or will evil finally win in this crazy world known as The FAYZ?

Every book in this series races along with heart-stopping action, but Lies takes it to a whole new level. The book is, quite literally, impossible to put down. With new characters, increasingly desperate conditions, and complications between our heroes, there are twists and turns around every corner. At the risk of being spoilerish, I have to mention that in Lies, we finally get a glimpse of what is happening in the outside world. Even though Grant does it in a way that only heightens the drama, I'm still not sure what I think of this. What's your opinion - do you want to know what's happened to the rest of the world or would you prefer to remain in the dark (since, you know, electricity's a thing of the past in the FAYZ)?

I accused Grant of slowing down and getting redundant in Hunger - well, no more. Lies speeds along with the kind of furious intensity that will have you burning through pages as fast as you can. And when it ends, well, I guarantee you'll be begging for more.

(Readalikes: Gone and Hunger by Michael Grant; Life As We Knew It and The Dead & The Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer)

Grade: A-

If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG for violence; underrage smoking, drinking and drug abuse; some sexual innuendo; disturbing images (you don't even want to know what happens to Panda); and brief references to homosexuality

Author Chat: An Interview with Pam Jenoff

Today, I welcome Pam Jenoff to Bloggin' 'bout Books. She's the author of two historical novels - The Kommandant's Girl and The Diplomat's Wife - as well as a new mystery/thriller, Almost Home. Thanks so much for stopping by, Pam!

Me: I know you've wanted to be a writer since you were a child. What finally took you from wannabe to published author?

PJ: I always wanted to be a writer; I was one of those kids who was forever scribbling down stories and showing them to anyone I could. But my real impetus to get serious came about eight years ago. I became an attorney one week before 9/11 happened and after that tragic event, I had a life epiphany that I didn’t have forever and if I wanted to realize my dream of becoming a novelist I had to get started right away. So I took an evening course at a local college called “Write Your Novel This Year” and started to write.

Me: How does the reality of being a professional writer differ from what you supposed it would be like as a child?

PJ: Being a writer is just as great as I imagined it would be, even better. Maybe a little more work that I thought. The biggest difference is that when I was younger, I imagined myself as a writer of young adult fiction – that is still one of my favorite types of book. Plus, a good adult author is a good author, but a popular kids or young adult author is kind of a deity! But the novels that come from within me are adult novels and that’s great too.

Me: When did you first become interested in WWII? What draws you to that time period?

PJ: I always enjoyed books set during the war, such as those written by Herman Wouk and Leon Uris. My interest in the Second World War really took off when I worked at the Pentagon in the early 1990s and had the opportunity to travel around the world to 50th anniversary commemorations in places like Belgium, Slovakia and the Philippines.

Me: How has your work as a diplomat influenced your writing? What did you learn from that job that has helped you as a writer?

PJ: I transferred from the Pentagon to the State Department and spent over two years in Krakow, Poland, working on issues related to the Holocaust and Polish-Jewish relations. I also became very close to the surviving Jewish community there. These experiences affected me very profoundly and I came back to the States knowing that I wanted to write a novel (or two or three) reflecting those experiences. That is how I came to write THE KOMMANDANT’S GIRL. ALMOST HOME also has some World War II themes but it was inspired more broadly by my experiences as a diplomat and the many wonderful people I met while working in that role.

Me: Are you done with the stories of Emma, Marta and their friends from the Resistance, or will there be more sequels? I have my fingers crossed for more :)

PJ: I get asked a lot about another book in THE KOMMANDANT’S GIRL series. I am very fond of those characters too, so never say never! The biggest dilemma is that I worry a bit about coming forward too far in time and the books no longer being historical. Right now I am contemplating a prequel, which would look at some of the (really fabulous) characters years earlier.

Me: ALMOST HOME is a departure from your first two books. How is it different from them? How is it similar?

PJ: I’ve been asked quite a bit about the change in genre from historical romance to romantic suspense. I’m not a big one for labels; I don’t write for a specific genre, I write about the topics that interest me. But I do think that readers of my first two, more historical books will greatly enjoy ALMOST HOME because it has so many of the same elements: a strong female protagonist, romance, international intrigue and adventure plus a historical back story. It similarly shares a common central theme – a young woman, facing extraordinary circumstances, who learns more about herself and her inner strength than she thought possible. Finally, ALMOST HOME is also a passion project, conceived out of the same travels and experiences that affected me and influenced my other books so profoundly. Despite the differing time period, it really is a very similar type of book.

Me: You play many roles every day - mother, lawyer, teacher, writer - how do you juggle it all?

PJ: Not well! I’m kidding. I’ve always had to juggle writing with a full-time day job. But I’m so lucky, I have a ton of help – my parents are local and watch my son while I work, and my husband is an incredibly hands-on parent, which gives me time to work on weekends and also do the touring and such. But it is still challenging. I often say that I am boring and grumpy, meaning I don’t go out at night and am in bed by ten so I can get up to write at five. I gave up a lot of outside activities like being on boards when I got serious about writing. You have to make choices, and if it isn’t family, work, writing, or sleep, you won’t find me doing much of it.

Me: Do you have time to read with your busy schedule? If yes, what kinds of books do you enjoy? Who are some of your favorite writers?

PJ: I do try and find time read, though less so when I am in the throes of writing a book. I enjoy novels by Tracy Chevalier, Anita Shreve, Barbara Kingsolver, Laura Lippman and Kate Atkinson, to name a few.

Me: Your characters fulfill exciting, dangerous assignments for their governments. What was the craziest/funniest/most death-defying moment in your career working for the Army and State Department?

PJ: I’m glad to say I’ve never had any death-defying moments, but many crazy and unique experiences. I’ve seen vodka smuggling on a train crossing the Polish-Belarusian border and drank beer out of large steins with a roomful of Polish miners hundreds of feet underground. I’ve been shipped out to a spa in the Slovakian countryside because the hotel we were supposed to stay at was filled with the delegations of Lech Walesa and Vaclav Havel. I’ve danced around bonfires and rocked out at concerts like Pearl Jam in Warsaw with wonderful people embracing life and freedom after decades of oppression.

And there were many somber moments in my government career too – visiting the Oklahoma City bomb site days after the explosion, meeting the Pan Am Flight 103 families who were trying to get a memorial at Arlington Cemetery, watching elderly World War II veterans weep at the memorial sites for fallen brethren, walking the steps of Auschwitz and the other camps over and over again. I’m so grateful for all of it.

Me: Lastly, I ask this of every author I interview, because I find the answers fascinating in their variety: How do you write? Do you outline your books or just go with the flow? Do you force yourself to write every day or wait for the muse to visit? Where do you write? Is there anything you HAVE to have in order to write (music, something to drink, etc.)? Do you ever have writer's block? What do you do to get past it?

PJ: I’ve always had a day job and I’m not a night person, so the writing generally happens from 5-7 in the morning, a little bit later on the weekends. I really try to stick to it, but there are always life interruptions. My one year old son, for example, has put the need for some additional flexibility into the routine. The most important thing is to allow the blips in the schedule and then get started again as soon as possible. You can’t let them derail you.

It takes me about a year to write a novel. The process varies depending upon whether I need to give the publisher an outline for synopsis at the beginning or whether I’m just writing for me. But generally I just type non-stop, and then when I have about 150-200 pages, I decide that it is time for structure. So then I go back and organize things, and create a chart to help me keep track of it all.

Laptop or desktop for the actual writing, notebook for brainstorming. And always quiet. I have even been known to ask them (nicely and with a good tip) to turn down the music in the coffee shop if it isn’t crowded.

I’m not sure if I believe in writer’s block. There are certainly times when I am more inspired than others, but I think there is always a way to get going. You can’t let the excuses slow you down.

Me: Thanks so much, Pam!

(Author photo is from Pam Jenoff's official website)

Jenoff's Almost Home Lacks Impact of Historical Novels

(Image from Barnes & Noble)

Once upon a time, American Jordan Weiss could hardly stand to leave England. Now, she's forcing herself to return. The closer she gets to Cambridge, the faster her college memories come crashing down on her - of pursuing her graduate degree; rowing on the River Cam; falling in love with prickly Jared Short; and falling apart after his tragic drowning. Jordan, an intelligence officer with the State Department, has spent the last decade taking on every dangerous assignment available in an effort to outrun her pain. Now, her mission - taking care of a terminally ill friend - will take her right back to the scene of her heartache.

Almost Home, Pam Jenoff's new book, follows Jordan as she settles in London, near her ailing friend. While Sarah withers away from ALS, Jordan accepts an assignment to flush out an Albanian crime ring. It's not her usual thing and partnering with the roguish Sebastian makes her more than a little uncomfortable. Still, the job keeps her mind off her troubles. Then, her past comes strolling down the steet in the form of Chris Bannister, her former rowing teammate. Convinced that Jared's death was intentional, Chris begs for Jordan's help to look into the "accident." Doing so means going back to Cambridge - the one place she vowed never to go - and facing the pain that almost destroyed her. Is it worth it to finally get some closure? Or will stepping into the past overwhelm Jordan's already fragile sanity?

The further Jordan wades into these mysteries, the more dangerous her new life becomes. Could an old friend be tied up with the Albanians? Who was Jared Short, really? Did the powerful swimmer really drown or did his research into World War II uncover something shocking enough to get him killed? What is the truth? Will digging for it earn Jordan the same fate as her college boyfriend?

I didn't enjoy Almost Home nearly as much as I did Jenoff's historical novels, but I still found the novel engrossing. I admit it took me awhile to warm up to the story - I didn't love Jordan's character and the story action builds rather slowly. Although the ending's pretty predictable, it still had my flying through pages anxious to see what happened next. Jenoff uses the same tense, heart-pounding action that drew me to The Kommandant's Girl and The Diplomat's Wife, but I found the historical settings so much more intriguing than that of modern London. While Jenoff's own experiences as a diplomat imbue all her books with adventure and authenticity, it's her great love for WWII that makes them unique. Almost Home is okay - certainly not the best thriller I've ever read, but far, far from the worst - but it lacks the impact of her first two books. Historical fiction is where Pam Jenoff truly shines. Let's hope she's headed back to familiar territory. And soon.

(Readalikes: The Diplomat's Wife by Pam Jenoff)

Grade: C

If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG for some language, violence and sexual content

To the FTC, with love: I received this book from the author. Thanks, Pam!

"Filler" Book Fails to Captivate

(Image from Barnes & Noble)

(Although this review will contain no spoilers for Captivate by Carrie Jones, it may inadvertently reveal plot surprises from Need. As always, I recommend reading books in a series in order.)

So, even though I didn't love, love, love Need by Carrie Jones (you can read my review here), I still put Captivate on reserve at my local library. Reading this second book actually made me less enthusiastic about the series, reminding me that it's not super original, it's not extremely well-written, the characters aren't stunning in their depth, nothing like that. The books are quick, entertaining and just a teensy bit different from every other YA urban fantasy out there. In other words, the series is okay, average, nothing to get too excited about.

Captivate begins a short time after Need ends. After Zara White and her "special" friends (all of whom are shape shifters of some sort) trap all the evil pixies in the woods, they can rest easy. Sorta. While on patrol, Nick spots something suspicious - an unfamiliar male pixie. Zara knows that no pixie can be trusted, but this one's got some definite appeal. Even though she knows she shouldn't, Zara lets him out of Nick's trap - she can't just let him get taken by the sinister winged creature that comes to collect him. In exchange for his freedom, Zara demands information. The pixie - whose name is Astley - gives her the chilling lowdown: A pixie turf war is about to break out in Bedford, Maine.

War means that Zara, a half-pixie princess-in-the-making, will have to choose sides. Should she support her father, who she knows to be a manipulating liar? Or Astley, who claims to represent a new breed of pixies, one that poses no dangers to human beings? Or should she shun the entire pixie race? Her body seems to be deciding for her - it's rapidly turning blue, the color all pixies hide under their glamours. With strange creatures on the loose, her wolf in danger and a disarming new pixie in town, what's a half-pixie, half-human high schooler to do?

In my mind, Captivate is one of those series "filler" books, one in which not a lot really happens. It basically exists to bridge the gap or to fill in information between two other books in the series. I do, however, like some of the things Jones does in this book. The character of Astley, for one - I like that he brings some competition to Zara and Nick's cheesy relationship, adding to the depth of the novel on more than one level. I still think the plot, background and characters need some serious developing. In the meantime, the books are engaging enough. Just don't expect anything truly unique or mindblowing.

(Readalikes: Need by Carrie Jones; Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater; the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer; The Dark Divine by Bree Despain; the Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare; and a million others)

Grade: C

If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG for mild language, violence and some sexual innuendo

To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find

Author Chat: An Interview with Becca Wilhite (With a Giveaway!)

Valentine's Day is long gone, but that's no reason to stop the love from flowing here at BBB. My contact at Shadow Mountain is generously provided me with one copy of Becca Wilhite's new novel, My Ridiculous Romantic Obsessions, to give away. It's a sweet, funny love story that will just make you happy (you can read my review here). Check out my interview with Becca. Then, peruse the instructions and sign up to win. Easy cheesy, as my kids would say!

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Me: Welcome to Bloggin' 'bout Books, Becca. I'm so glad you're here! Tell me about your path to becoming a published author.

BW: I love books. I have always loved books, and I've been a crazy reader as long as I can remember (a trait I've passed on to 75% of my children). When I was in college (totally not studying any sort of writing) I wrote a ton - in journals (which I kept) and letters (which I didn't). Many years later when I decided to write a Whole Entire Book, I worked on it for several years, on and off, between hobbies and parenting and a great deal of cooking. When I thought the book was finished, I bound a few print-offs and handed them around (to friends who are readers, to High School kids, and to a couple of Junior High literature teachers, who passed them around in their classes) and waited for feedback. Most of the feedback was of the "Oh, look! It's not awful!" sort - kind, even if it's not very helpful. (But really? That's helpful, because I am never quite sure if what I write is awful or not until someone tells me. I'm working on that.)

Then I sent out a few query letters. (That still makes me shudder.) Nothing. I decided that maybe I needed to have a small press look at it, that maybe they'd be more likely to read/like/publish my manuscript than a Big National Publisher. So I sent the manuscript to Shadow Mountain, where it got plucked out of the slush pile and, eventually, became Bright Blue Miracle. I'm told that rarely happens, and so I know enough to be grateful. I love Bright Blue Miracle, and I think it's good, but there's a balance of talent and luck in this game, and I'm grateful for the luck part.

Me: You write books for the young adult market. How do your books differ from others on the YA shelf?

BW: I have this theory (possibly I have several) that you'll find what you're looking for, with school, with friends, in life. I'm looking for things that make me laugh. Make me smile. Make me think about important things. Make me feel good. So that is what I write. There are a great deal of important things I don't choose to write about (because other people handle the serious important stuff so much better, so I'll just read their books). So maybe what I write (that's different from much of what's on shelves these days) is light, fun, positive stories. Sort of like frosting (really Good frosting), but without the sugar headache.

Me: You sort of already answered this, but one of the best things about your stories, in my opinion, is that they're not only clean, but also positive and happy. In a market saturated with dark, depressing fiction - vampires, werewolves, the apocalypse, and so on - why did you choose to write lighter, happier books?

BW: It sort of goes back to looking for what I want. I love to read a good scary book now and then - but I don't want to live with it for months and years at a time. Writing a book gets inside your head, and it takes half of forever. I choose to fill that time (and therefore my books) with things that will make me laugh (rather than shudder in fear or hide in the bathtub).

I like happy. I like fun. I like to shake my head in wonder about how people can do bizarre things. I like to laugh.

Me: The "About" section on your blog is very skimpy. Please expound on the following: WIFE, MAMA, WORDS, FOOD, SHOES

BW: I have the greatest husband in the world. He is kind and talented and patient and funny. And lest we forget, really good looking (which I recommend in a husband, if you can possibly make it happen). He takes great photos (that make me look seventeen percent more awesome than reality, and I so appreciate that seventeen percent). He works hard to support our family, and he's totally behind it that I choose to stay home and be the Mom and write books.

Because being the Mom rules. Seriously. We have the four greatest kids ever. All far above average. :) Want to know about them? Here's a taste. Kid 1: Teenage actress, sparing me the drama. Kid 2: Self-motivated violinist and chef. Kid 3: Voracious reader and diva. Kid 4: Sweetest boy in the world (and that's clocked, not just my opinion). What's not to love?

The "words" part is about loving to talk, write, read, listen, sing, write, study, blog, and write.

Okay, about food. I love it. Lots of it. I love healthy foods, but I have plenty of food vices, too. I love butter. A great deal of butter. I love white flour and sugar, too. I'm a pretty good cook, and hot breakfast and family dinners are mostly standard (even though we're in the zone of teenagers). When it comes to food I'm not too hard to please, and there's almost nothing that's not worth the time or effort to make. (Almost. Except Potstickers. Because the ones from Costco's freezer are just about as good as the scratch kind, so I should save myself the whole day and just use those.)

Shoes would be my fetish, if I could afford a fetish. Shoes and purses. Alas, no fetish yet. But a girl can dream...

Me: LOL. What kinds of books do you enjoy reading? Who are some favorite authors?

BW: Mmm. Reading. My favorite. I've been hanging out in the YA section for many years, and love a great YA read. I kneel at the feet of Sharon Creech. I have never been disappointed in her work. I love reading out loud to my kids, and Harry Potter (with all the voices) is a favorite of ours. One of the best things I've read in the last 10 years is Markus Zusak's "The Book Thief." Wow. Everyone should read that (and I never make demands like this). Also, I think I might be in danger of worshipping Kate DiCamillo. She is exceptional in her diversity, and every single thing she's ever written (probably including grocery lists) is excellent. I could go on like this forever, but I won't. But if you want more of this sort of thing, come visit my blog, because I talk about this stuff now and then.

Me: How do you juggle the many roles you play (wife, mom, homemaker, writer, etc.)? How do you prioritize all the demands that are placed on you every day?

BW: Want to know a pet peeve of mine? The phrase "I don't have time" - because, duh. Time is all we really have. And we all get the same 24 hours, every day. What we choose to put in it is, more or less, up to us. So I prioritize. It's sort of a pyramid thing, you know? The big chunks of important stuff are family related. The house-y stuff takes a majority of the day (cooking, driving kids around, laundry, cleaning when I can no longer avoid it), and I try to spend good time every evening with my sweet husband. But that little tip of the pyramid, that time when nobody needs me, that's the writing time. Sometimes that is the hour between 5:30 and 6:30 in the morning, and some days it's shoved aside for something else (like sleep). Sometimes I have to choose between writing and exercise (and it's sort of a toss-up, to be honest). When I'm writing, I don't answer the phone (because that's what voice mail is for) and I turn off the sound on the computer (because email is a siren call, and I only allow myself an occasional peek once I'm lashed to the mast, like Ulysses. Okay, really, I allow myself to check email after I've written a certain number of words or a great scene.)

Also, maybe you're assuming too much when you ask how I handle all the demands "every day." Because there are days when I'm Only the Mom. And days when I'm a writer for lots of hours. And days when I lie in my bed like a lump, emerging only to refill my dish of ice cream. I give it a try, this being all things, and I try not to beat myself up when it doesn't all work perfectly.

Me: What are you working on now?

BW: I'm doing fun blog interviews for My Ridiculous Romantic Obsessions, and that is awesome. I'm writing at a few things, hoping my muse will sing in my ear about her favorite. I have a few first drafts that are hiding until I'm brave enough to re-read them and see if there's anything there worth revising. I'm also doing a little community theater with my kids. We're all in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and if I may say so myself, we're tremendously cute. (You can just take my word for that.) I also do a little PTA, and some church service. So, keeping busy.

Me: So far, you've written two romances. Do you think you'll stick with this genre or venture out into others? Why or why not?

BW: I love love stories. I think no matter what I write, there will have to be some sort of lovey stuff there. Want to know a little-known fact? Bright Blue Miracle didn't used to have the romance element in it. Before there was the Trevor character (suggested by my Publisher) the love-story angle of that was just the girls, learning to love becoming sisters. But I'm pretty sure I'll keep writing the happy, positive stuff, because that's what I know. (Insert bubbly cheerleader icon here.)

Me: Finally, I ask this of every author I interview, simply because the answers are fascinating in their variety: How do you write? Do you force yourself to write every day or wait for the mood to strike? Do you outline your books or just start writing? Is there anything you HAVE to have while you write (music, food, something to drink, etc.)? Where do you write? How do you come up with your ideas and what do you do with the ones that don't pan out? What makes you unique from other writers you know?

I write on the family computer, in the family office. Which means that before I can get going, I need to log a kid off Facebook, restack the violin music another kid left on the desk, put away the crayons, and wipe away all manner of stickiness from the mouse. I try to write something every day, and in order to do that and not go crazy, I have learned to allow myself to write things that aren't very good. Because it's a ton of stress to think that something publishable has to come out of every writing session. I'm sure there are writers who can create brilliant first drafts, month after month, but I wouldn't want to have dinner with any of them. :)

I am not an outliner. I'm more like a toddler, picking out shiny sparklies from a tray. "Ooh," I say. "That's pretty. Let's have that." And then I stare at the screen for a while, and write another little scene, until I say, "Hm. That's a nice one, too. Let's put that in the pile." (I thought for years that was an original thought, but I must have heard it somewhere, because Ann Lamott uses a very similar image in her amazing writing book "Bird By Bird.")
I can't listen to music while I write, because I have no ability to stay on task. I'll start singing along, or I'll write the words of the song into my dialog. That is not as good a plan as it sounds. So, quiet is good for me.

Sometimes I'll give myself a treat - like a little dish of grapes or some over-sugared cold cereal (without milk) that I can nibble on. But I save the good snacks (like expensive cheese, or anything spread with a great deal of butter) for when I've reached the goal.

The goal is generally 500 words a day. Many days that comes pretty fast, and I can do it twice, or three times. Other days, it's a big pain to just make the words come. But I generally keep all the writing, even the dumb stuff. I have files full of words that don't make the cut. Inside my computer it doesn't even make a mess. And who knows? Maybe someday I can salvage something from the "chucked" pile. Because, the thing is, the more I write, the better I get at it. This is true for everyone. The act of writing makes us better writers. That's why the second draft is better than the first, and the eleventh is even better. So maybe there are pieces of stories that I can revisit and shine up to become something great.

I don't think I'm that much different from other writers I know - we're all just regular people who like books, and through some combination of work and blessings, we get to make books for other people. I am lucky to have met some really fun and interesting writers, and have a few that I count as close friends. Which is, you know, excellent. I think I'm like most writers in that I'm not really sure what I do is good until someone else tells me it is. Writers are, in general, totally insecure. Weird, huh? Also, I love positive feedback, but the negative weighs lots more - so if I receive a bad review somewhere, and accidentally actually READ it, I need to hear about a hundred people (who are not my husband) tell me I'm witty and charming before it evens out. But I'm working on getting over that one, since it's idiotic. Baby steps.

Me: Thanks so much, Becca!

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Okay, if you want to win a copy of My Ridiculous Romantic Obsessions by Becca Wilhite, all you have to do is make a comment on this post. I'm not even going to make you answer a silly question this time. Please leave an email address in your comment if you don't have a public blog - you can't win if I can't reach you. The deadline to enter is March 20. Contest is open to U.S. residents only. Good luck!

Jodi's Back and Man, How I've Missed Her!

(Image from Barnes & Noble)

Cold.

Withdrawn.

Emotionless.

Anti-social.

Psychopathic.

That's how 18-year-old Jacob Hunt appears to most people. His mother knows better. She knows Jacob's unwillingness to look someone in the eye doesn't equal disrespect, his "tantrums" aren't thrown out of selfishness, and his inability to connect with others doesn't mean he has no desire to. She knows the very traits that make her son look like a remorseless killer can be explained: Jacob Hunt has Asperger's. All she has to do is convince a jury. Considering Jacob's obsession with crime scenes, his admission of "cleaning up" after his friend's death, and his refusal to apologize for his actions, that might be a little difficult.

Life has never been easy for Emma Hunt, one of the stars of Jodi Picoult's newest book, House Rules. Ever since she noticed Jacob disconnecting as a toddler, she's been searching for answers. Her singleminded devotion has meant sacrifice - her husband left years ago, she has no friends, she spends every penny she makes on Jacob's care, and she's unable to give her younger son, Theo, any kind of normal life. When Jacob is accused of murdering Jess, his social skills tutor, things quickly go from bad to worse.

Jail is not friendly to a person who craves quiet, order and routine. Although Jacob is "high-functioning" and has some control over his obsessions, his discomfort with these new accomodations have him "stimming." Emma watches his decline with horror - she's spent her whole life helping Jacob control the obsessions, the fidgeting, the nervous tics that are hallmarks of his disease. In a panic, she hires the first lawyer she can find. Oliver Bond is a former farrier with no experience trying a criminal case. Still, he finds Jacob fascinating, Emma even more so. Together, they work to build a case.

At the same time, Rich Matson, a detective who's been around the block more than once, collects the evidence that could put Jacob away forever. Not every clue adds up, though - Jacob's rarely violent, why would he turn on the one person his age who really seemed to care for him? He's also a brilliant amateur crime scene investigator - why would he leave a sloppy crime scene? Jess' boyfriend's no prince - did he have anything to do with the crime? And what about Theo, whose desire for normalcy led him to break into people's houses? What part did he play in Jess' death?

As Oliver, Rich, Emma and Theo all try to piece together what really happened to Jess Ogilvy, they will have to reevaluate everything they think they know and ask themselves the truly tough questions: Should a person with special needs be treated any differently than a neurotypical defendant? How can a mother, who's spent her whole life insisting her son's not crazy, suddenly embrace an insanity plea? Isn't it wrong to push a boy, who is already on the edge, to the very brink, just to prove the limitations of his condition? Can a person who's incapable of empathizing even understand remorse? Does the legal system truly serve everyone equally or only those who look and act "normal?"

I've been a Jodi Picoult fan for a long time. Her trademark - taking a compelling, "ripped from the headlines" issue and examining it from all sides - works well for me. I love the way she digs into her characters, making me care about their plights even if I don't agree with their points of view. Even though she's used this method consistenly, I've been disappointed with her last few novels. From predictability to poor editing to just somehow lacking that Picoult pizzazz, they haven't captured me like her earlier novels did. Well, I'm glad to say that Jodi's back. House Rules proves it. I'm not saying the story's perfect - it's a bit predictable and there's at least one of those nitpicky, but annoying editing mistakes that just bug (On Page 134, Emma says her mother made Jacob's ROYGBIV quilt, on Page 475, Emma claims it as her own work). Still and all, it's a riveting, thought-provoking story that will leave Picoult fans cheering.

Jodi Picoult is back, folks. And man, how I've missed her!

(Readalikes: Handle with Care by Jodi Picoult; Al Capone Does My Shirts and Al Capone Shines My Shoes by Gennifer Choldenko; Saving Sammy by Beth Maloney)

Grade: B+

If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG-13 for language and some sexual content

To the FTC, with love: I bought this glossy hardcover from Amazon.com because I love books in general and Jodi Picoult in particular. So there.

Heaven A Nice, Affirming Read

(Image from Barnes & Noble)

After being blown away by Angela Johnson's The First Part Last, I was thrilled to find out about its sequel/prequel, Heaven. Every time I close an enjoyable book, I feel like I'm leaving friends behind. It's always nice when I can step back into their lives and see how they've fared since last we met. Naturally, then, I wanted to see how Bobby and Feather have grown and changed. Turns out, they haven't. Well, they've aged a teensy bit, but that's about all. Both make appearances in Heaven, but the book isn't actually about them at all.

The book concerns 14-year-old Marley, a girl who's content with her life in Heaven, Ohio. It's not the most exciting existence in the world, but her parents are kind, her older brother's cool and her best friend, Shoogie, always makes her laugh. Letters from her globe-trotting Uncle Jack allow her a peek at the outside world. It's enough for Marley.

Then, she receives startling news, information that leads her to question everything she's ever known about her life, her family and herself. How can the people she loves and trusts have misled her? Who are her parents, really? If she doesn't know them, how in the world can she ever know herself?

While Heaven doesn't equal or even really resemble The First Part Last, it's still a touching little book. It raises questions of what it means to be a family, if there's any such thing as a perfect one, and how we all fit together in this great big human race. The book didn't stir me like The First Part Last did, but Heaven's definitely a nice, affirming read.

(Readalikes: Hm, can't think of any.)

Grade: B-

If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG for some mature themes

To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find

Wench as Thought-Provoking as it is Heartbreaking

(Image from Barnes & Noble)

"Stories didn't get told unless they had to. Stories were for remembering, and none of the women wanted to tell how they had gotten there. When they told their stories, they preferred to tell the ones about that faraway place. They preferred to tell ones they had patched together in their heads, hundreds of oral remnants whispered in dark slave cabins" (55).

There's a short time every year when the slave women get to feel like human beings. They're mistresses of their own homes, cooking and cleaning only for themselves and their men, dressing up for dinner, gossipping with their girlfriends, even taking occasional dips in the pond. It's not freedom, but it's the closest thing the women have ever known. For Lizzie, Sweet and Reenie, it's a chance to experience something that's not exactly happiness, but not quite the usual misery either.

Each summer, wealthy plantation owners gather at Tawawa House to hunt, fish and enjoy "extracurricular activities" away from the watchful eyes of their wives. Along with their fishing poles and hunting rifles, the men haul their favorite slaves to the Ohio resort, including their most desirable "wenches." Tawawa House sits in free territory, surrounded by sympathetic Quakers and Methodists, but the slave mistresses know that they cannot run. Beatings are not uncommon, even in this vacation setting - best to pretend its freedom rather than longing for the real thing.

These are the rules by which the three women are used to abiding ... until Mawu comes along. With her light skin, red hair and uppity mannerisms, she sets herself apart from the other slaves. Her bold ways shock the other women. Mawu's intent on escaping into free territory, an act that could endanger herself and her new friends. With no children to worry about, Mawu can afford her rebellious attitude - the others would be risking far, far more. Lizzie, especially, can't bear the thought of abandoning her kids. Sure, they look just like their father - pale-skinned and bright-eyed, but even that doesn't guarantee them the Master's protection. The lure of freedom is so close for the Tawawa women, but so, so far away. Even when a fire breaks out, giving them the best chance of escape they've ever had, the slaves hesitate. What are they willing to risk to save their own lives? Will Mawu convince them to follow her lead to freedom? Or will she simply guide them all to their deaths? Amidst the horror of slavery, where even a shred of happiness is hard won, will the wenches be content with their tiny slice? Or will it only whet their appetites for the real thing?

Wench by Dolen Perkins-Valdez explores this little-known, but historically-accurate piece of slave history. She looks at what it means to live and love under the most complicated and trying of circumstances. It's an unsentimental novel that is as thought-provoking as it is heartbreaking. Like Toni Morrison's Beloved, Wench is not an easy or happy read, nor should it be. It's bleak, disturbing, an impressive and important debut, but one that may be too difficult for the casual reader.

(Readalikes: Beloved by Toni Morrison; reminded me a tiny bit of The Help by Kathryn Stockett)

Grade: B

If this were a movie, it would be rated: R for language, violence and sexual content

To the FTC, with love: I received this book from the generous folks at HarperCollins. Thanks!

And Now ... A "Selfie"

In honor of my love for Delia Ephron's The Girl with the Mermaid Hair (see last post), I offer you ... a selfie:

Yes, it's gruesome, but, like all my other scars, this one says something about me. It screams:

I am scarred.

I am flawed.

I am strong.

I am a survivor.

The Girl with the Mermaid Hair: I Love It Even If I Don't Exactly Know Why

Check out that title - see how I didn't mention drugs once? Guess that means I'm feeling better!

(Image from Barnes & Noble)

So, I'm still trying to figure out exactly why Delia Ephron's The Girl with the Mermaid Hair is such a brilliant novel. Because it is. Brilliant. It's one of the simplest, but truest books I've ever read. Plus, it's funny. And the deftness of the characterization (caricature-ization?) astounds me. I guess that's the winning combination right there: Ephron's created a story that is simple, true, and funny, populated by characters who are pop-off-the-page real. It works. Brilliantly.

Our heroine, 15-year-old Sukie Jamieson, lives in a world of seamless order. She glides from her sparkly new development home to her brainiac high school to her tennis lessons at the club with a practiced grace. Because she "[is]n't only in the world--the world [is] watching" (62), Sukie must appear flawless at all times. No one can know that she's been up since 3 a.m. trying on dozens of outfits (then rehanging them "precisely - the collars on blouses and jackets turned down and matching, all shoulders even, jeans clipped so the legs fell to the exact same length" [133]), conditioning her hair (for "the exact recommended time for fortifying and softening and after rinsing" [136]), and blending foundations to the right consistency needed to "successfully [doctor] her most exotic feature" into absolute blandness. She must be immaculate, impeccable, defectless. And she is. With her lustruous mermaid hair, her creamy complexion and a figure so svelte it moves Hudson Glen's quarterback to declare, "I like your body-fat ratio" (6), she's as unblemished as Barbie. And when she faltered for half a second? Well, "She didn't like to acknowledge any situation in which she was less than perfect" (20).

This becomes a problem when her mother gifts her a family heirloom, an antique mirror which she predicts will become Sukie's "best friend and worst enemy" (3). It's a beautiful piece. Suddenly, Sukie - who checks herself in every reflective surface she can find - can see herself like she never has before. How did she never notice the way her nose ramps up instead of sloping gracefully? No wonder her mother resorted to plastic surgery to change the one feature she and Sukie have in common. And why, oh why, does her butt, normally "neat, round, and tightly packaged in jeans, waist size 27" (47), suddenly resemble "twenty-pound ham hocks?" (47). Is the mirror broken? Cracked? Distorted? Or is it Sukie's vision of herself that needs a transformation?

An honest look at her life reveals what Sukie's "selfies" (the camera-phone pictures she snaps constantly to make sure she has no makeup smudges, food in her teeth, mascara clumps or any other potentially-humiliating imperfections) cannot: The masks behind which Sukie hides - her Cover Girl face, her charming parents, her activity-filled lunches, her gorgeous boyfriend - have all been carefully constructed to hide the terrible, stunning truth that Sukie is insecure, friendless, unoriginal and, perhaps, the phoniest in a family of flakes. Can the obsessed teenager cope with this startling imperfection or will the knowledge cause her, like her lovely mirror, to crack, forever ruined?

I know it all sounds deadly serious, but it's not. Exactly. Ephron writes with a wit that makes the novel both sardonically entertaining and undeniably true. Because her story people are more caricature than characters, they're instantly recognizable, easy to laugh at - until, like Sukie, we receive a startling revelation: They are us. We are them. Obsessive-compulsive-neuroticness and all. Only when this truth sneaks up and hits us in the face can we understand the real brilliance of this novel. It's simple, complex, true - I love, love, love The Girl with the Mermaid Hair.

Now that my brain hurts from the effort of waxing eloquent, let me give you a little taste of the genius that is Delia Ephron. I don't generally love animals in my fiction, but the following characterization is so clever, so colorful, so spot-on that this dog leaps right off the page (not that he would do anything as undistinguished as leaping). It's a perfect example of the brilliance that makes this novel so compelling. The passage is long, but trust me, you're not going to care:

Sukie, her mom, and her younger brother, Mikey, turned to their dog, Señor, who sat at the head of the table.

When they all looked to see what Señor thought - and it was not the first time - Señor didn't bark. He wasn't a trick dog. He didn't bark once for yes and twice for no. And he wasn't a talking dog, there's no such thing. Medium-sized with a thick white coat, short pointed ears that were rosy pink inside, and a long graceful snout, Señor had powerful silent communication skills and an incredibly intimidating manner. He never licked anyone. None of that grateful happy kissing for Señor. No one had ever seen him roll over for a tummy rub, and his tail, which curled up over his back, did not wag. No one had ever seen him fetch his red rubber ball either. Every so often Mikey threw it for the amusement of watching Señor ignore it. "Is this your dog?" people would ask when they entered the house, even though Señor was clearly the Jamiesons' dog, what else would he be doing there, but there was something about his elegance, his reserve, the way he observed without moving a muscle that made people question whether he was a pet, anyone's pet. When one night he climbed into the chair at the head of the table, no one questioned it. Sukie's dad simply slid his place setting out of Señor's way and over to the long side of the rectangular table next to Sukie's. Her mom, at the other end, did likewise so that she sat next to Mikey. Señor, at the head, had the only chair with arms.

Did Sukie have a phone addiction? The family awaited Señor's verdict. His watchful gray eyes did not narrow, a good sign, and his mouth dropped open slightly, revealing small, even bottom teeth and the tip of his pink tongue.

"No," said Sukie tentatively. "No, I don't. No problem. I'm fine!" She jumped up and hugged Señor, gunking up her red sweater with white hairs. It was Señor's shedding season (9-10).

See? It's impossible not to adore this book. Even if I'm not exactly sure why - I love it.

(Readalikes: It reminded me of the movie Clueless and will probably be similar to its companion book, Falling to Pieces. I'll get back to you on that one.)

Grade: A

If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG for language and some sexual innuendo

To the FTC, with love: I received a copy of this book from the generous folks at HarperTeen. Thanks!

Is it the Painkillers Talking or Is The Dark Divine Really That Forgettable?

(Image from Barnes & Noble)

Everyone knows that preachers' families are perfect - home cooked dinners around the table every night, love and harmony permeating the very air, and absolutely no skeletons hidden in the closets (those are filled with crocheted booties for the congregation's newborns and afghans for the shut-ins). The Divine Family fits the cliche pretty well. Except that Grace, a high school junior, knows that beneath her family's shiny facade lies a murky little secret. It has to do with Daniel Kalbi, a troubled teen who once found solace at the Divine home. It has to do with the night Daniel vanished, the night Grace's brother came home dripping blood.

When The Dark Divine by Bree Despain opens, Grace is shocked to find that Daniel's returned to their small Minnesota town. What he wants exactly, she's not sure, but Daniel has a habit of appearing wherever she goes. He's obviously still hurting. Is it wrong that Grace wants to help him work through his pain? They were once as close as siblings. Grace's father has always preached forgiveness, so why won't her family embrace Daniel as they once did? What do they know about him that she doesn't? What happened the night he disappeared? The closer Grace gets to the truth of the matter, the more she realizes that nothing is ever as it seems. Even within a preacher's family.

I was excited to read this book for several reasons: (1) It's generated a lot of buzz in the book blogosphere; (2) I always get excited when a young (ish - roughly around my age) LDS author publishes for a mainstream audience; and (3) Bree Despain is one of the infamous "6" that the hilarious Brodi Ashton can't quit talking about. So, naturally, I had to give it a whirl. What did I think? Honestly, I wanted to be a lot more impressed than I was. The Dark Divine is not a bad book, it's just not unique enough to stand above the crowd in a market saturated with this exact kind of story. It could have used some depth, some development, and a whole lotta originality. That being said, I did read the book in one day (sucking in a couple of chapters whenever I surfaced from my Vicodin-induced coma), so it was engrossing enough to keep me turning pages. However, I had a hard time recalling much about the story when I sat down to write this review which means one of two things - either my mind's still fuzzy from pain meds or the book just wasn't that memorable. Unfortunately, I think it's the latter.

Now, don't think I'm giving up on Despain (I have dumped the Vicodin, however - I just can't stand the mind cloud) - I'll definitely be checking out The Dark Divine's sequel. I'm just hoping for a little originality, a few surprises, something to make this series different than all the other YA paranormal stories out there. C'mon, she's LDS, a BYU alum and a member of the illustrious "6" - I think it's fair to expect great things out of this girl.

(Readalikes: Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater [my review])

Grade: B-

If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG for some language and violence

To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find

Back-to-School is the brainchild of Julie P. over at Booking Mama. I'll be using this button whenever I publish a review of a book by an author who went to my alma mater, BYU. Go Cougs!

Even Without the Vicodin, This One's A Dud

(Image from Barnes & Noble)

(Note: While this review will not contain spoilers for Sent, it may inadvertently reveal plot surprises from Found. As always, I recommend reading books in a series in order.)

Before I begin this review, I should make two things clear: (1) I love historical fiction and (2) I adore Margaret Peterson Haddix. So, how exactly, did Sent, the much-anticipated (by moi, anyway) follow-up to Found, go so wrong for me? I think it has something to do with the fact that the storyline I found so original in the first book somehow morphed into a Magic Treehouse-clone in the second. I mean, the whole babies-alone-in-an-airplane thing creeped me out, but in a wholly original, deliciously disturbing kind of way. The time-travel-but-be-sure-not-to-change-anything-and-let's-teach-kids-about-history-while-we're-at-it deal? It's been done. About a million times.

If you have no idea what I'm talking about, let's retrace our steps: First, came Found, in which several adopted teenagers find out they're part of a group of babies who made a mysterious arrival at a local airport aboard a pilotless flight. Then, said teenagers discover that, thanks to a time-controlling-maniac, they've actually been stolen from their rightful places in history. In other words, each one of the babies aboard the strange flight is a famous child - an endangered kid - from various times in the world's past. Now, in Sent, several of the kids find themselves in a position to reverse what's been done to them. The question is, what happens when you change history?

Sent begins when two boys - Chip and Alex - are shoved out of "real" time into the past. Terrified for their friends, 13-year-old Jonah and his sister Katherine grab on for the ride. The foursome find themselves plopped into 15th Century England. Chip and Alex find their new surroundings weirdly familiar. After all, Chip is really Edward V, England's boy king, and Alex is his younger brother, Richard, Duke of York. Jonah and Katherine, who never belonged in this time period, can't wait to leave the stinky, dirty time period. They can't get out without Chip and Alex, though, so they're stuck for the time being. In the meantime, the kids need to figure out how to save Edward V and Richard from being assasinated by their power-hungry uncle, Richard of Gloucester. They also need to navigate the complexities of the 15th Century to figure out how to eat, bathe, and survive in a world very much different from the one they've left behind.

Sent, which grew from such a clever premise, soon becomes a time travel tale like any other. Jonah and Katherine have to figure out how to save their friends from the dangers of court; Chip and Alex become more and more enmeshed in their own time period; all the while, the kids have to decide if it's really worth it to mess with history and how much they can change things without completely destroying the past. The story seems to exist only to teach kids about history. Action gets swallowed up in historical detail, the complexity of which slows the tale down to a yawn-worthy crawl. I did read part of this book while under the influence of Vicodin, but still - it got slow, dull and predictable awfully fast. After enjoying Found so immensely, I was really disappointed in its successor. My faith in Haddix, however, is strong. I know if she can breathe some life into the next installment, she can save this series. All the next books need is a little of the originality and adventure that drives the first book and voila! you've got another fun, interesting, exciting series of historical stories for kids. If anyone can do it, it's the indomitable Margaret Peterson Haddix.

(Readalikes: It really is like a middle grade version of The Magic Treehouse books)

Grade: C

If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG for mild violence

To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find

A Fuzzy-Headed Update

Sitting at the computer makes me dizzy, but I wanted to give you all a quick update on all the *fun* that's been going on around here:

I went in for surgery on Tuesday. My surgeon found cancer as expected - it was in both sides of my thyroid as well as in some of my lymph nodes. Apparently, the tumor was wrapped around my vocal chords (the biggest risk with this type of surgery), so everyone was relieved when I managed to croak out the word "sore" in response to a nurse asking me how I felt. I spent the night in the hospital reading, resting, gulping Vicodin and crunching Tums. By noon on Wednesday I was recuperating in my own bed. Since then, I've been resting, reading, getting waited on hand and foot, and feeling better each day. I'm still having trouble swallowing/eating - in fact, it feels as if someone's got their hands around my throat and refuses to let go; I still feel lightheaded; and I'm still fighting fatigue, but I feel so much better today than I have all week. I'm not sure when I'll be back-to-normal - for now, I'm just grateful to be alive, able to talk, and able to be up and around a little bit.

I've mentioned that thyroid cancer is slow-moving and rarely fatal. Thus, my prognosis is excellent. I have to undergo an iodine/radiation procedure in a few weeks that will determine if there is any cancer left in my body. After that, it should be a matter of balancing my meds so that I can feel well again.

Even though thyroid cancer is generally seen as "the best cancer to get," it's still been an emotional and traumatic experience for me and my family. I've been blessed beyond measure with a loving family, supportive friends and a ward (my church family) that's always willing to help. My "cyber friends" are also a great blessing to me - I appreciate all of the prayers you've sent up in my behalf. I've definitely felt them this week. Thanks for all your kind words, your support and your patience.

Now, on to the most important part of this post - I've read 3 1/2 books during my recovery. Whether I will review them all or not, I don't know. Vicodin has made my head really fuzzy, so I'm not sure I can recall the books let alone judge them fairly. We'll see how I feel. Anyway, I'll post again as soon as I feel up to it. I've missed hanging out with you all in the big, beautiful book blogosphere!

Sticking My Neck Out

Wow, February's just about over. I can't believe it. So much has been going on that I've barely had time to breathe. I did somehow find time to read 7 books, so I guess I haven't been that busy. Since I may be MIA for the next week or so due to family stuff and my thyroidectomy, I thought I should catch up on a few (actually, a lot of things) here on BBB. Let the randomness begin ...

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First off, I have some winners to announce:

Jessy won a copy of Sing Me to Sleep by Angela Morrison



Kelly and Jennii both won copies of Taken By Storm by Angela Morrison

Jenna and Sarah won signed bookmarks

Congratulations, ladies! If you will email me (blogginboutbooksATgmailDOTcom), I'll get your books out as soon as I can. Thanks to everyone for entering the giveaway.

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I'm still trying to decide if I'm going to attend BEA this year. I really want to go, but with all the money it's going to cost and all the time away from my family, I just don't know ... Neither my husband nor I have ever visited NYC, so I'm going to be dragging him along. Every time I ask him, "Sooo, you really want to go to New York?" he answers, "How many times do I have to say yes?" So, yeah, I think I'll be there. Who else is going? Anyone want to give a newbie some advice?

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I'm already registered for LDS Storymakers in April. I'm excited about attending. There's still time to join me - you can get more information and sign up here. If you are attending, you might want to check this out. I'd love to meet all you Utah bloggers and writers - shoot me an email if you want to get together.

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I've received a couple of blog awards in the last month or so that I haven't acknowledged yet. Sorry about that. Thanks to Jody and Rae over at With A Good Book for the Blog Monster Award and for the other person who gave me one (I'm so, so sorry, but I can't remember who it was). I appreciate the awards and kind words.

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The talented Jeri Huish has been busy desiging buttons for me, so I can debut some new features. I've already talked about Baby Steps to Understanding. The other buttons will identify:

Arizona Authors (writers who currently live in my state):

LDS Authors (writers who are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whether their books are geared toward LDS readers or general audiences):

Stories for A Sunday (books that are not necessarily religious in nature, but that are gentle, inspirational, faith-promoting or otherwise appropriate for Sabbath Day reading):

Clicking on the buttons will take you to databases on my supplemental book blog, More Bloggin' 'bout Books, where you can see all my reviews in the categories listed above. I'm still in the process of creating them, so be patient with my works-in-progress.

Be sure to stop by Jeri's website. She's a talented photographer and graphic designer. She's responsible for the design on my blog as well as all the buttons. Her prices are very reasonable - check her out!

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I don't usually review non-bookish items on this blog, but when Sarah from LuShae Jewelry offered to send me a piece of jewelry to review, I couldn't pass up the offer. Usually the only accessory I utilize while reading is a soft blanket, but why not some bling, too?

Sarah offered me my choice of pieces. This pendant caught my eye because of its simple beauty and because I wear lots of brown. It's a white gold rhodium drop pendant featuring a multi-faceted brown topaz briolette in silvertone. Pretty, no? Although the company is based in Australia, jewelry is shipped from its warehouse in Brea, California. I literally had my pendant within three days of ordering. It's a lovely piece - eye-catching, but not overwhelming. It goes with everything and I absolutely love it.

Be sure to check out all the loveliness at LuShae Jewelry. The company offers pendants, rings and earrings. Also, find out how you can win jewelry, here.

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Speaking of my neck, I check into the hospital on Tuesday for my thyroid procedure. Hopefully, it will go smoothly and I'll be back before you even realize I'm gone. I will be checking my email, but may not be able to get back to you right away. Thanks for your patience.

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Have a great week. Happy reading!

The Diplomat's Wife: Historical Fiction at Its Finest

(Note: While this review will not contain spoilers for The Diplomat's Wife by Pam Jenoff, it may inadvertently reveal plot surprises from its prequel, The Kommandant's Girl. As always, I recommend reading books in a series in order.)

Apparently, I read too many books.

The other day, I was complaining to my husband about my failing memory. My 11-year-old son and I had just come back from a date to the movies to see The Lightning Thief. Unlike my son, I haven't read the whole series yet. I have read the first book, however, so you'd think that when my son exclaimed, "Hey! That wasn't in the book," I would have been able to respond with something more intelligible than, "Really? I mean, I know, right? Where did that come from?" My husband responded to my rambles with a look that had incredulous written all over it. Then he said something along the lines of, "You read like a million books a year. How are you supposed to remember them all?" The man has a point.

Our little discussion made me feel a whole lot better when I opened Pam Jenoff's The Diplomat's Wife and became immediately confused: Who is the main character, Marta Nederman? If you've read Jenoff's first book, The Kommandant's Girl, you may recognize the name, as she was one of its supporting cast members. However, it's been a while since I read the book (um, yeah, like 3 years - you can read my review here), and I couldn't for the life of me remember Marta. Knowing The Diplomat's Wife was a sequel, I was expecting a continuation of Emma's story, which began in The Kommandant's Girl. Naturally, I had to figure out who Marta was before I turned any more pages, so I read back over my review of the first book, skimmed its last chapter and voila! I had my answer (Hint: She's Emma's friend from the Krakow ghetto. She also had a little something to do with the Kommandant's demise.) Having finally gotten my bearings in the story, I was able to relax and enjoy it. Immensely.

When The Diplomat's Wife opens, Marta lies crumpled on the floor of a Nazi prison. Whether her conditions are any better than those of her comrades in the death camps she knows not, but they're plenty bad enough - she's trapped in a cold, rat-infested cell where she's slowly starving to death. The gunshot wound in her side makes movement agonizing, pain that intensifies with regular beatings from the cruel guards. Do what they may, the Nazis will never beat information out of her. She'd rather die than rat out her friends in the Resistance.

Marta assumes she's delirious when a handsome American soldier rescues her from her filthy cell, but when she wakes up in a clean, quiet hospital she realizes that it's true - the camps have been liberated. She's free. Now what? Thanks to the Nazis, she has no friends, no family, no life left for her in Poland. A chance opportunity gets her to England, where she's soon living with a wealthy family and working for Simon Gold, an important diplomat with the British government. When Marta discovers she is pregnant, and that her fiancee has been killed, she marries the bland Simon. Although not passionate, their union is safe and comfortable enough.

Then, comes the assignment that changes everything. It's a dangerous mission, one for which Marta is uniquely qualified. It's supposed to be a simple get-in-get-out operation, but things get very complicated very fast. Suddenly, Marta's thrust back into a world she thought she'd left behind forever. Once again, she's running for her life through cities devastated by war, countries where peace is as tenuous as a cloud, areas where she's hunted by assasins and haunted by memories so heartbreaking they threaten to destroy any shred of sanity she has left. She's desperate to complete her mission, help her homeland and go home to her daughter, but Marta's past and present are on a dangerous collision course, one that will have her questioning everything she's ever known.

At its heart, The Diplomat's Wife is a love story. It's also a gripping tale about the cruelties of war, the audacity of hope, and the dangerous business of rebuilding nations toppled by violence. With romance, suspense, heart-pounding action and vivid historical detail, it's a book that offers something for every kind of reader. It starts slowly, but builds to the kind of nail-biting conclusion that will keep you turning pages well past bedtime. An intense, engrossing novel, it's even richer when coupled with Emma's experieces in The Kommandant's Girl. I highly recommend both books not only for their engrossing plotlines, but also for the honesty, tenderness and knowledge with which Pam Jenoff writes. This is the best kind of historical fiction - exciting, romantic, suspenseful and satisfying. You won't want to miss it.

(Readalikes: The Kommandant's Girl by Pam Jenoff; also reminds me of the movie Shining Through)

Grade: A-

If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG-13 for some language; sexual scenes (although brief and not graphic); and violence

To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find

(Book image is from Barnes & Noble)

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Check back on March 12 when I review Jenoff's new book, Almost Home, and interview the author.

Sweet, Satisfying Romantic Obsessions A Nice, Light Valentine's Treat

Sarah Howard is the kind of girl who should be in romance novels. She can easily picture herself

roaming the moors, donning gauzy Rengency gowns, and charming her own brooding Mr. Darcy. Too bad reality has to get in the way of her romantic fantasies because the truth is, no one would cast a Medusa-haired, fashion-backward, too-smart-for-her-own-good girl like Sarah to be anyone's leading lady. Her high school "boyfriend" made it all perfectly (and publicly) clear: no one in his right mind would date anyone as hideous as her.

When My Ridiculous, Romantic Obsessions by Becca Wilhite opens, Sarah is beginning her freshman year at college. Nothing is going quite as expected - her parents are a little too eager to have her gone, her best friend found another place to live, and her new roommates are ... interesting. Then, there's her new study buddy: Ben's so drop dead gorgeous that Sarah nicknames him Adonis on the spot. The weird thing is, she's getting some serious romance novel vibes off this fine specimen of manhood. Clearly, he's only after one thing - her class notes. Because, seriously, she's so not the kind of girl that gets this kind of guy. He's obviously hiding some fatal flaw, some cruel secret that will decimate her already pummelled heart - it's better to play it safe, keep her distance, remain just good friends.

Sarah knows a girl like her is never going to have a straight-out-of-a-Jane-Austen-novel type romance; heck, she'll be lucky to have any kind of romance at all. So, why has her life suddenly gone all Pride and Prejudice? Is it possible that her real life could be just as good, if not better, than all the silly romantic nonsense in her head? Can Ben truly be as great as he seems? Or is he just waiting in the wings to dash her every hope - again? Looks like it's time for a little Sense & Sensibility, but will reality have its way with her once more? Or will her unlikely fairy tale finally lead to the Happily Ever After she's always dreamed of?

After reading so much bleak post-apocalyptic fiction and dealing with several family health crises (including my own), I really needed something happy to read. Wilhite's second novel (read my review of her first, here) fit the bill perfectly. My Ridiculous, Romantic Obsessions is bright, fun and hopeful. The story's predictable, the heroine's clueless, and the guy's drool-worthy - it's the perfect combination for a quick, light, easy romance. It's not excessively original, charming or moving, and honestly, I wanted to smack Sarah upside the head on more than one occasion, but I recommend it for some simple, clean, upbeat entertainment. Just in time for Valentine's, it's a tale that will make dreamers fling aside their Jane Austen's and pine for the kind of imperfectly perfect romance that occurs in only one place - real life.

(Readalikes: Reminds me a little bit of Sing Me to Sleep by Angela Morrison [my review])

Grade: B

If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG because of minor lusting :)

To the FTC, with love: I received this book from the generous folks at Shadow Mountain. Thanks! Book image is from their website.

Gone Are the Adults, Now Comes the Hunger ...

(Image from Barnes & Noble)

(Note: While this review will contain no spoilers for Hunger by Michael Grant, it may inadvertently mention plot surprises from Gone. As always, I recommend reading books in a series in order.)

If things were bleak in the FAYZ (Fallout Alley Youth Zone) before, they're absolutely desperate now. The shelves at Ralph's are empty, killer worms patrol the farmland, and deadly fights are breaking out over one measley piece of beef jerky. With the sadistic Caine temporarily out of the picture, the "townies" are unleashing their fury on each other. An increasingly aggravated Sam gets to hear about every little argument, from quarrels between siblings to fights over food to rumbles about civil war between Freaks and Normals. As if things aren't quite dangerous enough, there seems to be a monster lurking in an abandoned mine shaft just outside of Perdido Beach. A monster of unknown origin who invades kids' minds, bidding them - no, forcing them - to carry out his evil plans.

As things go from bad to worse in Perdido Beach, Sam knows the most important thing is stopping the monster. Caine, Lana and some other kids with important powers seem to be under its control. responding to its frantic plea for "food." Meanwhile, animals and humans are still evolving. Powerless kids are resentful of the "freaks," the "freaks" are being targeted by bullies, and the whole FAYZ is in utter chaos. With no food, no cops, no parents and plenty of pent-up anger, what's to stop the kids from revolting? Can Sam step up and take control or is it simply too much for him this time?

Although Hunger, like its predecessor Gone, features heart-stopping action and engaging characters, I didn't enjoy it quite as much as the first book. The pacing is a little slower, the story seems a little redundant, and the whole thing's just a little more gory (think of Fido's fate in a community of starving children), a little more disturbing. It's still engaging, just not quite as consumingly so. Like Gone, Hunger is mostly a "clean" book with very little swearing, only a small bit of sexual innuendo and a hopeful tone that helps balance out the bleakness of the situation the characters are facing. Grant does introduce a homosexual relationship in Hunger - while it's a very minor part of the story and not at all graphic, it's still there. Call me a prude, but it's just not something I want to read about. All in all, though, Hunger remains an engrossing, absorbing, multi-layered thrill ride.

I have an ARC of Lies, the next book in the series, that I plan to delve into right after I read some nice, light, happy fiction. The finished book comes out in May. It will be followed by Plague. I'm not sure how long the series will go on, but I'm starting to feel super sorry for the kids caught in the wasteland known as The FAYZ ...

(Readalikes: Gone by Michael Grant, Life As We Knew It and The Dead & the Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer)

Grade: B-

If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG for mild language, some sexual innuendo, references to homosexuality, violence and adult themes/situations.

To the FTC, with love: I received Hunger from the generous folks at HarperTeen. Thanks!

Blurbalicious

So, in case you all missed it, Angela Morrison's debut novel, Taken By Storm came out in paperback. The author reached out to book bloggers early on - as a result, look whose quote is featured right inside the front cover. I know - Tim Wynne-Jones! Cool, right? Now, scroll on down the page ... keep going ... keep going ... why yes, that is my name. On a real, live book. Squee! I'll be signing autographs all day today at Border's. Hee hee.

Like I said, Angela's a great friend to bloggers. Plus, she's an exciting new YA author. Show your love by buying this wonderful book (my review is here). Or, sign up to win one of the two copies I'm giving away.

Angela's second novel, Sing Me to Sleep comes out on March 4, so be on the look out for that one as well. You can read my review of the book, see its trailer, and enter to win a copy here.