Harper is an event planner with dreams of taking over the Charleston wedding scene . . . until she meets the biggest Bridezilla of her career. She needs the job, but the only way to keep it is to hire a temperamental chef with big dreams of his own.

Janie is a classical cellist booked to play a posh Charleston wedding. She’s excited to have the lucrative gig until the groom’s brother, Emmett, shows up and asks her to help him play a song he wrote for the happy couple. The only trouble? Emmett is her unrequited high school crush.

Lily has been Dahlia's best friend, partner-in-crime, and now her maid of honor . . . until suddenly there's no wedding, and she's left to clean up Dahlia's biggest mess of all. She's been friends with Deacon, the jilted groom, for just as long, and it's up to her to rescue him after Hurricane Dahlia blows through.

Speaking of LDS writers, I'm excited to be part of the Whitney Academy again this year. The Whitneys recognize excellence in fiction writing by authors who are also members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The finalists in all 7 categories were announced today. Winners are decided by the Academy, a group made up of LDS writers, booksellers, bloggers, etc. Members of the Academy are asked to read all 35 of the books on the list or, at least, all the titles within one category. I'm going to try to do the former so that I can vote for best novel overall, but we'll see how it goes. Like I may have mentioned I've been a little preoccupied lately.

At any rate, here's the list of finalists. I was disappointed that more of the books I loved and nominated (Circle of Secrets by Kimberley Griffiths Little and Back When You Were Easier to Love by Emily Wing Smith, for example) didn't make it to the final round, but I'm excited to explore some new novels and authors. Okay, here's the list for real. BTW: I crossed out the titles I've already read and the asterisks in the list denote books that are eligible for the Best Novel by a New Author award.

General:

Before I Say Goodbye by Rachel Ann Nunes
Gifted by Karey White*
Evolution of Thomas Hall by Kieth Merrill
The Walk: Miles to Go by Richard Paul Evans
The Wedding Letters by Jason F. Wright

Historical:

Daughter of Helaman by Misty Moncur*
Fires of Jerusalem by Marilyn Brown
Isabelle Webb: The Pharaoh's Daughter by N.C. Allen
Letters in the Jade Dragon Box by Gale Sears
Miss Delacourt Has Her Day by Heidi Ashworth

Romance:

Borrowed Light by Carla Kelly
Captive Heart by Michele Paige Holmes
Count Down to Love by Julie N. Ford
The List by Melanie Jacobson*
Not My Type by Melanie Jacobson

Mystery/Suspense:

Acceptable Loss by Anne Perry
Bloodborne by Gregg Luke
If I Should Die by Jennie Hansen
Rearview Mirror by Stephanie Black
Smokescreen by Traci Hunter Abramson

Speculative:

The Alloy of Law: A Mistborn Novel by Brandon Sanderson
I Don't Want to Kill You by Dan Wells
The Lost Gate by Orson Scott Card
A Night of Blacker Darkness by Dan Wells
No Angel by Theresa Sneed*

Youth Fiction Speculative:

My Unfair Godmother by Janette Rallison
Shifting by Bethany Wiggins
Slayers by C.J. Hill
Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica Day George
Variant by Robison Wells

Youth Fiction General:

Girls Don't Fly by Kristen Chandler
Miles from Ordinary by Carol Lynch Williams
Pride & Popularity by Jenni James
Sean Griswold's Head by Lindsey Leavitt
With a Name like Love by Tess Hilmo*

As you can see, I've got my work cut out for me! I'll be keeping track of my progress on my right sidebar—kind of a personal challenge—so you can follow along with me.

How about you? What do you think of the finalists? Which books did you love? Which are you excited to read? And, most importantly, will I be seeing you at LDS Storymakers?

If you read this blog regularly, you've probably heard me talk about my love/hate relationship with LDS fiction (meaning books written by members of the church for other members of the church). So much of it is cheesy, overwritten, unrealistic and just ... not good. But, I believe that it's improving. And I believe in supporting the crafting of books that are clean, uplifting and celebrate the unique lifestyles of LDS people. I also love how LDS authors are taking the mainstream publishing world by storm. One glance at the YA shelves at your local bookstore proves the popularity of writers like Stephenie Meyer, Shannon Hale, James Dashner, Brandon Mull, Ally Condie, Bree Despain and many more.

Since there are so many LDS authors out there, it makes sense to have a literary award just for them. This is where the Whitneys come in. Named for Orson F. Whitney, an early church apostle who prophesied that we would have Shakespeares and Miltons of our own, the Whitney Awards honor LDS writers who excel in their field. Awards are given every year to the books/authors who receive the most votes from a large panel of experts including authors, booksellers, book bloggers and more.

To encourage people to read the finalists for this year's competition, the lovely ladies over at LDS Women's Book Review are hosting the Read 'Em All Challenge. The challenge involves reading all 35 of the books which are in the running for awards. It's a lot, but the hostesses are making it worth it - members of the Whitney Academy can enter to win a $100 Amazon gift card, while those who are not are in the running for a $50 card. Nice, right? Even if you don't win the big prizes, there are lots of fun books on this year's list and you may be surprised by how many you've already read (Matched, Paranormalcy, The Scorch Trials, etc.). To sign up for this fun contest, click here.

Happy Reading!

When 20-year-old Chris Kerry heads to the University of Utah to take advantage of a full-ride scholarship, he promises his aunt one thing: He will not become a Mormon. Although he no longer believes in the Baptist church to which she's devoted, he's not exactly shopping for a new religion either. No Mormons? No problem. He can do that much for the woman who's raised him since toddlerhood. Besides, she made him swear on a Bible and, no matter which church you go to, there's no arguing with that.

Despite a rough beginning, the young Texan soon settles into college life. He's got a steady job, a vermin-free apartment, and two Idaho coeds who make sure he doesn't starve to death. The work's nothing spectacular (it's a tuxedo rental shop, after all), but his eccentric co-workers keep him entertained; his bachelor pad houses exactly one piece of furniture, but it's enough; and the girls are not cover models, but sweet, thoughtful and fast becoming his best friends. There's only one problem: Angie and Kelly are some of the most Mormon Mormons he's ever met. Not that he's going to marry either one, or even thinks of them as anything more than pals, but he's spending a lot of time with them and there's something about their innate goodness that's undeniably attractive.

As things heat up at work (the store manager's embroiled in a tawdry affair, ownership's changing hands, and the machinery's acting up just in time for the busy holiday season), his friends confront their own problems (Is Kelly really ready to get married? Why is Angie being so frosty all the sudden?), Chris is forced to confront his past (an alcoholic-fueled adolescence), puzzling dreams about his parents (Why are they dressed all in white?), and the crisis of faith that's led him away from God (Baptists? Mormons? Who's right? Does he care?). Sorting it all out means deciding what he really wants for his future. Even Chris is surprised by how his dreams have changed. Can he figure out what - and who - he is in time to get the things he wants? Can he do it without breaking his promise to his aunt? Or is there something to this Mormon thing, after all?

The Rogue Shop, Michael Knudsen's newly-published debut, is pretty typical LDS fiction. Except when it's not. It's got a good, but troubled hero (no surprise there), a vow to stay away from religion (to keep our hero internally conflicted) and some goody-to-shoes Mormon kids (to inspire Chris with their wholesome happiness) - all elements readily found in this genre. Surprisingly (and pleasantly so), Knudsen gives us a few characters not typical in LDS books. Among his cast members are a man who refuses to step inside a meetinghouse, despite his strong testimony; another whose bitterness toward the church has led him to another religion completely; and yet another who's "active," yet flagrantly breaks the 7th commandment. These are the kinds of characters Deseret Book won't touch with a 10-foot pole, the kind I find most genuine and, therefore, most interesting. Forget the Mollies from Idaho, these are the types of people I want to read about. Knudsen's willingness to take a more honest (but always respectful) look at the Mormon people is the thing I like most about his book. That and the inside jokes. I'm still snickering over Travis' instructions to search trouser pockets for "anything of good report or praiseworthy" (42).

On the downside, Knudsen makes a whole lot of rookie mistakes in his first novel. First and foremost is the newbie's tendency to describe everything - every meal, every outfit, every thought, every word. The unnecessary detail weighs the story down so much that it becomes increasingly monotonous and dull. Same with the plot. There's so much extraneous information that the tale wanders here, there and everywhere, never really finding a clear direction. Secondly, Knudsen allows his minor characters to upstage his stars. While I knew and liked Travis, for instance, neither of the Idaho girls had enough personality to stand out. Even Chris lacks the depth to make him truly intriguing. From the moment we meet him, we know exactly where he's going, exactly what he'll do, and exactly how he'll end up. No surprises = dull. Thirdly, Knudsen saves all the real action for the final fourth of the book, but even that comes off as contrived and melodramatic. Fourthly ... well, I'll stop there. It's a first novel. 'Nough said. Still, none of these problems are unfixable - a good editor could have solved the majority of them by hacking at least 100 pages off the manuscript, forcing Knudsen to make every word count, streamline the plot, and breathe some life into his leading man/woman.

All in all, I liked The Rogue Shop more than a lot of LDS novels I've read. It offers a broader look at the Mormon people, proving that we're not mindless, flawless or even sinless. The book's predictable, sure. It's also sometimes cheesy, often preachy, and always overwritten. However, it's got an authenticity I admire as well as some flashes of real cleverness (I love the pay phone scene), proving that Knudsen's a writer to watch. The man's got potential written all over him.

(Readalikes: Um, I can't think of anything specific, really. Can you?)

Grade: C

If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG for references to alcoholism, extramarital affairs and "hot-blooded American" men :)

To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of The Rogue Shop from the author. Thanks!

Three children. Three treasures. One big adventure.

Hannah, Frederick and Giuseppe are strangers living in the same city whose lives are about to converge. Each of the kids harbor a secret desire: Hannah hopes to cure her bedridden father, Frederick longs to make journeyman so he can open his own clockwork shop, and Giuseppe just wants to flee his cruel padrone and head back to Italy. They are impossible goals for a hotel maid, an apprentice, and a street musician, but when each of the kids finds a mysterious treasure, their goals actually seem achievable. Rumors of hidden money could mean the best doctors for Hannah's father; a valuable Magnus head could complete Frederick's automaton, a creation sure to earn him fame and fortune; and a magic violin is bringing in enough money to satisfy Giuseppe's employer as well as purchase a boat ticket. Only secrets never stay secret for very long - as desperate as the trio are to hold onto their gems, someone's even more determined to take them.

When, by chance, the kids meet, a fast friendship forms. As they share their stories, they realize that the only people they can really count on are each other. By working together they just might be able to solve the mysteries of their individual treasures, making all their dreams come true in the process. What seems simple, though, soon turns into a grand adventure, forcing the children into face-offs with everything from street thugs to a cougar to mechanical bodyguards. Getting the things they most desire won't be easy for the determined trio, it may even be impossible, but they have to try - for their families, themselves and each other.

The Clockwork Three, Matthew J. Kirby's exciting debut for middle graders, mixes a whole bunch of genres (historical fiction, fantasy, adventure, steampunk, etc.) to create a thrilling ride sure to capture the imaginations of readers of all ages. Empathetic characters, solid writing and an intriguing plotline make the story both compelling and moving. While the tale touches on dark subjects (poverty, child labor, kidnapping, and other issues common at the turn-of-the-century), it remains a hopeful, magical tale of children gathering the courage to change their own lives. The ending offers enough mystery for several books, which I sincerely hope are forthcoming. And soon.

(Readalikes: Reminded me a teensy bit of Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare. Can you think of any others?)

Grade: B

If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG for subject matter best suited for older children

To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of The Clockwork Three from the generous folks at Scholastic. Thank you!

Remember when I boldly declared Incarceron to be my "hands down favorite book of the year"? Well, I almost had to retract that statement when I finished Matched by Ally Condie. While the novel didn't blow me away as completely as Incarceron, it seduced me so subtlely that I can't stop thinking about it. So, while Matched may not finish first in my 2010 favorites race, it earns a close, close second because, let me tell you, I have a serious case of book love here. It's not so much about the storyline since the novel follows a fairly typical dystopian pattern - it's more about the way Condie spins the yarn. It's got a soft, old-fashioned cadence that makes this futuristic drama read like a fairy tale.
Matched takes place in a world not so unlike our own. In fact, it's been created from the ruins of the society that came before, a population which destroyed itself by overusing technology, natural resources, and independent thought. Having learned from the mistakes of their ancestors, the Officials now control everything in the Society: meals are prepared based on an individual's carefully-calculated caloric needs; careers are assigned according to whom statistics deem most able; Aberrations are kept out to ensure a pure gene pool; lives are terminated at 80 so the elderly never feel useless; and girls and boys are precisely Matched to others whose histories indicate an ability to produce healthy offspring. Everyone follows the rules for the good of their world. After all, "This is as close to perfect as any society has ever managed to get" (114).

Since the Officials never make mistakes, 17-year-old Cassia Reyes expects them to choose her a perfect match. And they do. No one is better suited to her than Xander Carrow, the boy who's been her best friend since childhood. Most girls are given mates from other Provinces - Cassia's ecstatic to be Matched not only to someone from her own city, but to someone she already knows and trusts. She couldn't be happier. Until another face pops up on her matching screen. Another face with which she's familiar. Although the Officials blame the error on a practical joker, assuring Cassia the rulebreaker will be severely punished, the whole situation unnerves her. Seeing the faces of two boys on the Matching screen opens Cassia's mind to something she's never even considered before: the possibility of choosing something - or someone - for herself.
The more Cassia tries to convince herself that Xander is the only Match for her, the more her thoughts fly to the other boy. Ky Markham came from the Outer Provinces as a child and has always been secretive. What does he know of the world outside the Society? Why do his ideas cause her heart to soar, her mind to flood with unimaginable prospects? His ideas challenge and endanger everything she knows. So, why does she want more of them? More of him? The Society has already chosen the perfect man for Cassia. She can't break all the rules for something as illogical as love. Or can she?
While Matched lacks the complexity and nuance of other dystopian epics, it has a refreshing frankness that makes it more variegated than it seems at first glance. Condie asks all the usual questions, but also digs deeper, questioning things like the cost of abandoning creativity and passion in pursuit of greater efficiency or the effects of choice on the health of a human being. Not that the story is all deep, philosophical pondering. It's not. It's also an enthralling romance disguised as a tense, suspenseful adventure. I mean, really, what's not to love? Because, truly, I adored every word.
(Readalikes: Although it has a gentler touch, Matched reminded me of other dystopian classics like The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood)
Grade: A-
If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG for intense scenes
To the FTC, with love: I received an ARC of Matched from the generous folks at Dutton. Thank you!

The sanctuary holds many secrets, the biggest of which is a magical artifact. It's so powerful that no one knows its location. Not that that's stopping anyone from searching. Kendra's grandparents have brought in a team of experts - Tanu, a potions master; Vanessa, a trapper of mystical life forms; and Coulter, the Indiana Jones of the magical world - to help them find the treasure before members of Society of he Evening Star can take it and use it for their own nefarious purposes. As Kendra and Seth learn from the newcomers, they make a startling discovery: someone in the house is a traitor. Is it the jolly poisons expert? The beautiful trapper? The curmudgeonly treasure hunter? Or someone much closer to home?

Imps, brownies, satyrs, naiads, fairies, blixes, even a golem, oh my! When 14-year-old Kendra Sorenson and her 11-year-old brother Seth arrive at their grandparents' estate, they have no idea that its grounds teem with mystical creatures. All they see is a sprawling mansion with no t.v. or Internet where they will have to stave off boredom while their parents live it up on a 17-day Scandinavian cruise. At least they can jump in the swimming pool or explore the lush, butterfly-filled gardens. Grandpa Sorenson has warned them away from the forest that rings the house, but his explanation seems fishy - ticks? For real? It's almost as if there's something else living in the woods. Something ... magical.

Always obedient, Kendra resigns herself to two weeks of painting, sunning herself by the pool, and trying to solve the puzzle her grandfather left for her. Leave it to foolhardy Seth to plunge right into the one place they're not supposed to go - the woods. His bumbling leads to a shocking discovery: Grandpa and Grandma Sorenson are the caretakers of Fablehaven, a sanctuary for magical beings. Residents of the preserve range from resourceful brownies to playful satyrs to bloodthirsty demons. Grandpa's restrictions are still in place: wandering through the place can be dangerous, if not deadly. Still, it's a land full of wonders. And secrets. Like, what's in the barn? Why do they have to stay hidden on Midsummer's Eve? And, where's Grandma Sorenson?

All the excitement becomes a little too much for Seth, a boy not known for his inhibition. One false step and he manages to unleash an ancient evil into the relative peace of Fablehaven. The centuries-old laws which keep it all in check have been broken. Danger lurks around every corner in a place where spiteful fairies use powerful spells to exact revenge, naiads lure unsuspecting visitors to their watery graves, and something as harmless as a wooden puppet can become a most terrifying foe. Now, the fate of Fablehaven, its caretakers, and every one of its dwellers is in the hands of two children. Kendra's never cared much for adventure; Seth likes it a little too much - can the pair of them rally enough courage and common sense to save the preserve, themselves and, quite possibly, the world? Or will they, too, become victims of the horrors that roam the grounds of a bewitching little place known as Fablehaven?

Children finding hidden worlds in seemingly ordinary places is not exactly a fresh literary device. Still, Fablehaven, the first book in Brandon Mull's popular series, proves that originality still exists in the world of fantasy. While we've seen satyrs and demons and fairies before, we've never met creatures quite like the ones that crawl out of Mull's vivid imagination. They're creative, fun, and rarely predictable. Not unlike this series. Fablehaven's humans need some fleshing out, its prose could use a polish, and a little pep wouldn't hurt the dialogue one bit. Despite that, the book's a fun, action-packed start to what promises to be a thrilling series. Clean, upbeat, and exciting, Fablehaven's one of those series that's sure to enchant all readers, be they children, adults or something in between. Just know that when entering a magical sanctuary, it's best to tread carefully, expect the unexpected, and, above all, drink your milk. Consider yourself warned.

(Readalikes: reminded me a lot of The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis, a little of the Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling and The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan)

Grade: B

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

To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of Fablehaven from the generous folks at Shadow Mountain. Thank you!