Review: The Espressologist by Kristina Springer

The Espressologist by Kristina Springer is a sweet little story about love and coffee.

Synopsis: What’s your drink of choice? Is it a small pumpkin spice latte? Then you’re lots of fun and a bit sassy. Or a medium americano? You prefer simplicity in life. Or perhaps it’s a small decaf soy sugar-free hazelnut caffe latte? Some might call you a yuppie. Seventeen-year-old barista Jane Turner has this theory that you can tell a lot about a person by their regular coffee drink. She scribbles it all down in a notebook and calls it Espressology. So it’s not a totally crazy idea when Jane starts hooking up some of her friends based on their coffee orders. Like her best friend, Em, a medium hot chocolate, and Cam, a toffee nut latte. But when her boss, Derek, gets wind of Jane’s Espressology, he makes it an in-store holiday promotion, promising customers their perfect matches for the price of their favorite coffee. Things are going better than Derek could ever have hoped, so why is Jane so freaked out? Does it have anything to do with Em dating Cam? She’s the one who set them up! She should be happy for them, right?

Jane never thought a little matchmaking at her job would get so out of hand, but when her manager discovers her talent, well all bets are off and Jane is the star of the holiday season. Jane is definitely a bit overwhelmed by the success of her matchmaking but she is having fun with it too, even when she has to make a match with one of her enemies.

The romance aspect of this book is very easy to follow. You'll know who Jane's match is right off but it's still a fun journey to see them get together. I really liked Jane. She was just a great character, a good friend who did not always say the right things to her friends, and a girl who can't quite always flirt just the way she wants with the guy of her dreams.

I also really enjoyed the setting because lets face it, coffee houses are definitely teen hangout spots and this book felt dead-on in that respect. Your teen caffeine junkie will surely get a kick out of this story. It's a very quick read but I think it would be a great book to booktalk because of the friendship angle, the boy angle, and the coffee aspect. It just fits very well with many teens' lives today. I can't wait to see what Kristina Springer does next.

In My Mailbox

For me, this was a very exciting mailbox week because I received four titles from four of my favorite romance writers.

In the Mail

Savor the Moment by Nora Roberts
Nothing But Trouble by Rachel Gibson
Married By Morning by Lisa Kleypas (SO HAPPY!)
A Lady's Guide to Improper Behavior by Suzanne Enoch

(All above titles are for review for one of my romance sites.)

Bought:
Incarceron by Catherine Fisher (Been hearing very good things about this title, hope it lives up to the hype. Also would have totally included this in my picture but I think I left it in the car or at work. I can't find it around the apartment.)

From the Library:
The Espressologist by Kristina Springer (I'm almost done with this short title, very cute.)

Also, I just want to give another plug to my first ever contest. Enter to win a copy of Suzanne Young's The Naughty List. (Sorry, US residents only on this one, trying to see how it goes.)

In My Mailbox was created by The Story Siren with inspiration from Pop Culture Junkie.

Author Interview and Contest!

Today I have the most exciting privilege of posting an interview with debut YA author, Suzanne Young! Her first book, The Naughty List came out this February and it is a really fun read. You can read my review of it right here. I think this is an author who is going places and I was so fortunate she agreed to answer some questions for me. So, without further ado, the interview!

What were you like in high school? Were you part of the power couple?

I had a boyfriend from tenth grade through college, but I wouldn’t call it a power couple. In fact, I was oblivious to the rest of the world around me. Of course, I could have used the SOS back then ;-)

 

2. Have you used any of the fun spy equipment that SOS uses on some of their missions? A grappling hook adventure perhaps?

I tried to use the grappling hook but I didn’t have the arm strength.

Tessa obviously is not big on cussing. Do you have a potty mouth or are you more likely to hope everything is "strawberry smoothie" ?

Hah! I have terrible language, not gonna lie. But I try to clean it up! Actually, I say “dang it” and “frak” quite often. So I’m getting better.

Do your kids have any words of encouragement for you as a writer?
My kids think I’m famous because I was on the news once. So they make sure that everyone knows that I’m a writer. They also think I have the copyright on the word “naughty”.

5. Any words of advice for prospective writers or cheerleaders?

Keep writing! The Naughty List was the fifth book I wrote, so it’s important to keep going. And for cheerleaders, um… be perky!

6. Chocolate: any preferences?

Reese’s Pieces!!!!

 

7. As a teen writer, do you try to keep up with teen trends (celebrities, music, movies, tv, etc)?
I don’t watch or listen to anything I wouldn’t normally. I think there are a lot of universal feelings, so even though I’m not a teen anymore, I can remember what it’s like to feel betrayed, or in love. Or really flipping bored.

8. Can you give any hints about what to expect from Tessa and gang in the next novels?

Would love to! In book 2-So Many Boys-the squad has a copykitten on their hands. Somebody is impersonating SOS and causing havoc throughout the school.

 

9. Time to be random: what is your worst habit?

Oo.. so many to choose from. I’d say biting my nails. It’s gross, but man, they are tasty!

 

Thank you Suzanne! I can't wait to read more about Tessa and I'm sure other readers feel the same.

And, because I enjoyed this book so much and I'd like to share the love, I am giving away one copy of The Naughty List. All you have to do is fill out the form below by March 7th.

Exciting book news (to me anyway!)

I discovered today that the fabulous Gayle Forman, who wrote one of my favorite books of last year, If I Stay, has penned a sequel!

Now at first I was really on the fence about this because sequels can sometimes ruin the first book for me and just sour me on the author as a whole. Did this book really need a sequel? I don't know but I am excited to know more about what happens to Mia and Adam that I am going to keep my glee in check but still try to prepare for a good read.

Here's what Gayle had to say about the sequel on her blog:

It's called WHERE SHE WENT. It takes place a little more than three years later and it's told from Adam's point of view. And that's all I'm saying. It will come out in the spring of 2011 from Dutton.

Adam's point of view! I can't wait. That has increased my excitement I must admit. I loved their relationship, friendship, everything in If I Stay so I can't wait to really get into Adam's head.

Waiting on Wednesday

Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin

Tessa Russo is the mother of two young children and the wife of a renowned pediatric sugeron. Despite her own mother's warnings, Tessa has recently given up her career to focus on her family and the pursuit of domestic happiness. From the outside, seh seems destined to live a charmed life.

Valerie Anderson is an attorney and single mother to six-year-old Charlie--a boy who has never known his father. After too many disappointments, she has given up on romance--and even to some degree, friendships--believing that it is always safer not to expect too much.

Although both women live in the same Boston suburb, the two have relatively little in common aside from a fierce love for their children. But one night, a tragic accident causes their lives to converge in ways no one could have imagined.

In alternating, pitch-perfect points of view, Emily Giffin creates a moving, luminous story of good people caught in untenable circumstances. Each being tested in ways they never thought possible. Each questioning everything they once believed. And each ultimately discovering what truly matters most.

I love Emily Giffin. she always makes even the worst circumstances and relationship situations seem somehow not as terrible as I always imagined. This book comes out on May 11, 2010 and I can't wait to read it. Waiting on Wednesday is created by Jill of Breaking the Spine.

Review: Something About You by Julie James

My first romance review on my blog. I'm not going to really make a routine of this but I finished this book this past Sunday and it was so good that I wanted to share. For me, this was the best Julie James book to date!

Synopsis: Staying overnight in a luxury hotel, Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron Lynde overhears a high-profile murder involving a U.S. Senator. Special Agent Jack Pallas is assigned to the investigation-the same Jack Pallas who still blames her for nearly ruining his career three years ago. Now the pair will have to put their rocky past behind them, focus on the case at hand-and smother the flame of their sizzling-hot sexual tension.

It is murder that bring these two with a very rocky past back together. What Cameron thinks is a routine evening of very passionate and way too loud sex is in fact the scene of a crime and it brings back the one man she most wants to forget, Jack Pallas. These two have a very bad history because in Jack's eyes, Cameron derailed his career. She got him sent to Nebraska of all places, and as an FBI Agent, that's not exactly a hot bed of criminal activity. She also ruined the most important case in his career. So yeah, Jack's got a grudge. He's also got the hots for Cameron. And it looks like they will be spending a lot of time together since she is the only witness to the murder.

I loved the fabulous chemistry between these characters. I loved how strong Cameron is. She takes Jack's grudge and wallops it back at him with quick banter and a fine wit. She is also very intelligent. I know next to nothing about the life of a lawyer, but the story had a very authentic law feel to it. She is more than capable of handling Jack, but she also isn't stupid enough to begrudge the protection that is put on her. Cameron wants to live after all.

The humor in this book is also top notch. Jack may first appear like a grump but he can take a joke and dish it back with the best of them. There is a bachelorette party scene that was both amusing and a good way to throw the characters together in a more intimate setting. I also really enjoyed the easy friendship that sprung up between Jack and his partner, Wilkins. These two played to each other's strengths and it made the case a very pleasant one become involved in as a reader.

Cameron has a very healthy and active life. She has two best friends, she dates, she is involved in her work so she hasn't exactly sat around waiting for Jack to come back into her life. But once he is there, she can't help how much she is attracted to him once again. Three years hasn't hindered their attraction one bit.

I really felt like that this book, more so than James' previous two books, did not have the distant feel. In her previous books, much as I enjoyed them, I just couldn't quite connect with the characters. They were not fully embodied on the page for me. Not so in this book. Something About You comes to life from the first page, when you empathize with Cameron's plight in the hotel room. Who wants to hear sex for hours on end?

This is by far one of my favorite contemporary romances of the year so far. I could nitpick a bit, but I won't because the overall feeling I had when I finished was how much fun I had with these characters, how much I believed in their romance, and what a great storyteller the author is. And that doesn't really leave room for nitpicking.

This book comes out on March 2, 2010 so it will be on the shelves soon! I received this book for review from the publisher for a romance review site.

In My Mailbox

Many fun books this week in the mail though it was definitely heavier on the romance side than the YA side which is always fine by me.

In the mail:
Release by Beth Kery
The Summer of You by Kate Noble
Chasing Perfect by Susan Mallery
Back in Black by Lori Foster (my second copy of this book for some reason.)

From the Library for checkout:
Girl in the Arena by Lise Haines

And that's it for me this week! I do know however that next week I have four awesomely anticipated books coming my way so I can't wait to post about those. Draw out the suspense for all of you out there!

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren.

Review: The Naughty List by Suzanne Young

The Naughty List is a fun and flirty read, just what I needed after finishing my last YA book.

The premise is very simple. Tessa Crimson is head cheerleader but she is also the ringleader for a very important, but secretive, school service. She leads SOS which helps high school girls find out if their boyfriends are cheating. Fortunately for Tessa, she has a great boyfriend who adores her and would never cheat on her. Right? The more Tessa investigates the cheating habits of her high school classmates, the more pessimistic she becomes. Could Aiden be hiding something from her?

While reading this, I couldn’t help but get the impression that this book is kind of like a romance novel in reverse. At story’s beginning, Tessa has an amazing boyfriend and life, kind of like her happily-ever-after, already, but by story’s end, things are not so simple and happy.

I really enjoyed this book. It’s a nice light read but it also has enough depth where I don’t feel like I’m reading the equivalent of cotton candy. Most notably, it has Tessa who starts off feeling entirely certain and in control of her world, and as the book goes on, finds out that her world is spiraling out around her. Despite this, I really felt like Tessa developed into a stronger character by story’s end. She had to start relying on herself more, and much as she loved Aiden, she started to realize she had to figure out who she was without him.

And I mentioned how fun this book is, right? Because I really enjoyed the amateur spying techniques of the Smitten Kittens. I mean, they had a grappling hook! How very her awesome is that? The memos interspersed throughout the text are also funny and sad. It certainly did seem like a high percentage of males at that school cheated, yikes!

I also liked the female friendship aspects of the story. Even when Tessa was around a girl she didn’t like, one in particular who was gunning for Aiden, she managed to keep a smile on her face and some measure of politeness. There wasn’t a whole lot of catty behavior which was a nice change of pace from some of the “mean girl-esque” novels I’ve read.

I do want to say, from a librarian’s point of view, rather than my own personal enjoyment factor, that some parents may have issues with this book because while it is not explicit by any means, there’s quite a bit of sex going on with the main character. I thought the author handled the subject very well and let’s face it; sex is a reality of teenage years, no matter how many parents want to shield their teens. But, it is an issue that I can see cropping up in a public library setting.

Aiden also calls Tessa “Baby” quite a bit as a term of endearment. I don’t mind it but I can see some readers being annoyed with that. However, this book is written for teens and heck, that’s how teen guys talk sometimes to be cutesy so I felt it was realistic.

I’m already anxious to read the second book in the series, So Many Boys which comes out in July, then the third book, A Good Boy is Hard to Find. I expect even more growth of Tessa as a character and hopefully, a happy ending for a couple I really like.

Picture books

So, not only do I work with teens and teen programming, I also do a bit of children's activity at my job. Most notably I do preschool storytime. I'm still a work in progress when it comes to storytimes but I've become looser and more free form with my storytimes which has been helpful. Anyway, in that process, I look at many picture books as part of my planning. I wanted to share a couple recent favorites with you. I haven't used these in storytimes actually but they are just really well done, great content, fun illustrations, and tell a good story to children.

Synopsis: Jacques Cousteau was the world’s ambassador of the oceans. His popular TV series brought whales, otters, and dolphins right into people’s living rooms. Now, in this exciting picturebook biography, Dan Yaccarino introduces young readers to the man behind the snorkel.


From the first moment he got a glimpse of what lived under the ocean’s waves, Cousteau was hooked. And so he set sail aboard the Calypso to see the sea. He and his team of scientists invented diving equipment and waterproof cameras. They made films and televisions shows and wrote books so they could share what they learned. The oceans were a vast unexplored world, and Cousteau became our guide. And when he saw that pollution was taking its toll on the seas, Cousteau became our guide in how to protect the oceans as well.

This book is absolutely stunning! I love the illustrations and the straightforward, easy to follow kid biography feel. Kids of all ages will want to go explore the oceans after this exciting read.

Yaccarino is actually a storytime favorite of mine. I love his book, An Octopus Followed Me Home and the Cousteau book has the same type of illustrations. It may not be the right fit for a child who is looking for real life pictures of the ocean and its creatures, but the adventurous feel of the book may win them over anyway.

Flora and Tiger, 19 Very Short Stories From My Life by Eric Carle is another biography style picture book. If you like Eric Carle, you will love this book. The author, in vignette form, discusses his childhood through very short stories that somehow relate to animals. His signature illustrations are also included in the text. The stories range from the time he lived in Germany until he moved to the United States. It's a really personal look at this very popular children's author.

These are two recent picture books that have come through, though they are in different areas of my library, one in our picture books and the other in juvenile biographies. I highly recommend them though! Great way to spend an hour exploring a great explorer and a great writer/illustrator.

And for more children's picture book resources, I highly recommend A Patchwork of Books because Amanda reviews picture books on a regular basis and she has given me some great ones to use in my storytimes. Also, Abby (the) Librarian pretty regularly talks about great picture books and storytime themes which I love because I'm still a newbie when it comes to storytimes.

Any great picture books you've read lately, or a classic favorite you still adore? Please share!

Review: All Unquiet Things by Anna Jarzab

All Unquiet Things by Anna Jarzab left me with very mixed feelings. There were parts I really enjoyed but unfortunately, the characters left me cold.

Synopsis: Carly: She was sweet. Smart. Self-destructive. She knew the secrets of Brighton Day School's most privileged students. Secrets that got her killed.

Neily: Dumped by Carly for a notorious bad boy, Neily didn't answer the phone call she made before she died. If he had, maybe he could have helped her. Now he can't get the image of her lifeless body out of his mind.

Audrey: She's the reason Carly got tangled up with Brighton's fast crowd in the first place, and now she regrets it--especially since she's convinced the police have put the wrong person in jail. Audrey thinks the murderer is someone at Brighton, and she wants Neily to help her find out who it is.

As reluctant allies Neily and Audrey dig into their shared past with Carly, her involvement with Brighton's dark goings-on comes to light. But figuring out how Carly and her killer fit into the twisted drama will force Audrey and Neily to face hard truths about themselves and the girl they couldn't... 

 Unfortunately, by books end (well, ok beginning and middle) I absolutely disliked Neily, Audrey, and Carly. I just did not at all connect with their world of wealth and privilege. I'm sure the author intended for readers to sympathize with Neily in particular, but he just seemed like a whiny emo kid. Not even the buildup of his friendship with Carly could save him for me. Yes, I felt a small modicum of sympathy for him with the death of Carly, I'd have to be heartless not to, but he seemed content to go on his way wallowing in self-pity and sadness until Audrey started investigating the murder.

And while I'm sure the author wasn't trying to make this a big murder mystery, I found the real killer's identity to be easy to spot from the moment he was introduced. I won't go into it more but the false clues and red herrings and obvious overpainting of another character as a bad guy were all signs that this was obviously not the killer.

I don't even have much of an opinion of Audrey. She seemed like a user and rather heartless herself. I mean, she got back with the boyfriend who dumped her without a moment's thought when it was discovered that Audrey's dad killed Carly. It was not at all believable to me that, even though she was a teenager, she would forgive something like that all that easily.

I got kind of a Veronica Mars feel to this book (and this may have been mentioned in another review I read) but honestly, Veronica Mars was way more kick-butt than Neily and Audrey. The entire cast of characters was rather unsympathetic and just seemed to exude this sense of ennui even as they were supposedly wallowing in grief.

But there is good news! I really, really enjoyed the writing style. I mean, it fit the overemotional content of these characters, their boredom and seeming dramatization of their feelings. Anna Jarzab has a beautiful writing style and I'd love to see that put into action with a book with characters I could feel something besides dislike for.

And, props for making me dislike the characters this much. I mean, that takes talent too! I know this book is in demand on my library; there are several people waiting for when I return it tomorrow so hopefully those teens will relate better to the story than myself. I usually have no problems relating to teen characters but this book did not leave me with a good feeling at story's end.

Have you read this? Do you think my opinion is totally off base? (That's fine! While it may not have worked for me, I'm glad it worked for others.)

Review: Still Sucks To Be Me: More All-True Confessions of Mina Smith, Teen Vampire by Kimberly Pauley

Still Sucks To Be Me is the sequel to Kimberly Pauley's awesome vampire book, Sucks To Be Me. Why is this series so awesome? Well let me just say, it is lighthearted, doesn't take the vampire thing too seriously and it's hilarious!

This book picks up pretty much immediately after the previous book. Mina is now undead and she is being relocated! Yikes! And while she is holding out hope she's just moving to LA, she doesn't realize that LA stands for Louisiana, and not just any city in Louisiana, but tiny Cartville, Louisiana, home of...well, not much. So now, Mina is far away from her best friend, Serena, her boyfriend, George, is living in BRAZIL (and Mina is not happy about this turn of events) and Mina couldn't even attend her own funeral.

Life as a relocated vampire still sucks but Mina is making due with the help of another local teen vampire, Cameron. Unfortunately, he has some secrets of his own up his sleeve. And remember Raven? Well, she hasn't disappeared either.

The humor is back in spades. Mina is definitely the queen of the one-liner because this book is filled with droll and amusing observations about humans and vampires. But it's also filled with everyday normal teen worries: starting over at a new high school, having to make friends, hearing the gossip about yourself, being frustrated with your parents, missing your best friend and boyfriend. Author Kimberly Pauley gets these teen emotions and drama so exactly right. But at the same time, Mina is not one to just sit by and whine about what she is missing. She is out and about in Cartville trying to adapt, putting off the advances of the most popular guy in school, and taking continuing education classes about being a vampire.

What I enjoyed about the first book is still alive and well in this book: fantastic humor, a quirky main character, and even some new interesting characters. There were a few cliched high school characters I thought (Kacie, the Mean Girl, Grady, Mr. Popular) but what high school isn't complete without these cliches so it just seemed natural to include them. And what Mina does to Kacie at the end is beyond humorous.

Some of my favorite lines:

"Oh, yes," says the sage Dr. Musty. "Kacie Kinsely. She's been after Grady Broussard for quite some time. They did go out a few times, but nothing serious. At least, not on Grady's part."

Why in the world does he even know that? We all stare at him.

He shrugs delicately and takes a tiny bite of a little tuna fish sandwich. "It's a small town," he says. "I think you'll find that you'll soon know everyone's business."

-------------------------------------------------------

I'm watching yet another stupid cat video when I hear dad singing off-key in the shower, which means he's deliriously happy to be getting ready for work AND I'm nearly late for my first day of school. Agh! Curse you, Lolcats!

---------------------------------------------

"He must be at Ernie's Blood Bar," I say. "I thought you guys were listening? Lowell, like, practically lives in the back room there."

"Then lets go!" At least he didn't yell, "To the Batmobile!"

-------------------------------------------

Ok, maybe some of these quotes need more context but seriously I was laughing while reading this book which to me, a humor junkie, is a very good thing! And wait until you read about cow patty bingo. This book retains a lot of the freshness of the first book and gives you more insight into Mina's character. This is the perfect read for those teens you know who are getting burnt out on vampires but aren't quite ready to move away from the paranormal genre entirely. It's a nice mix of realistic human and undead supernatural.

All in all, this is a quick and enjoyable read. It helps to have read the first but honestly, the author does a great job of setting up the back story without just throwing it into the story that even new readers should understand what is going on. I really enjoyed revisiting Mina and family and I think others will feel the same.

This book comes out in May 2010, so not too far away. I received this book from the publisher for review. It will now be passed around to my teen readers.

The Cybils have been awarded!

Not only is it Valentine's Day, but it is also the day of the Cybils awards!

And the winners are....

For YA Fiction

 

Cracked Up To Be by Courtney Summers

Congratulations to Courtney Summers! This was a fantastic, amazing, well written debut and I'm very pleased it was chosen for this year's award. It was one of my top books of 2009.

I would have been happy with any of the nominees winning this category, though my heart was leaning towards Carter Finally Gets It but I don't think it's possible to have any of these titles be a disappointment. I hope, if you haven't read Cracked Up To Be, you'll find it and read it because it's a great work of YA fiction.

You can find the rest of the winners here.

In My Mailbox

I received some great books this week in the mail.

Bought:
The Naughty List by Suzanne Young
A Match Made in High School by Kristin Walker
Back in Black by Lori Foster

For review:
Still Sucks to Be Me: The All-true Confessions of Mina Smith, Teen Vampire by Kimberly Pauley (almost done with this, and it's hilarious fun!)

From the library:
All Unquiet Things by Anna Jarzab
Very LeFreak by Rachel Cohn

And I know it's not a book, but I saw Whip It and it was great fun! I highly recommend it. I liked Ellen Page and Alia Shawkat as friends.

Cover alert!

The 3rd Hunger Games title and cover has been released!

Mockingjay

Blue background isn't my favorite but I'm glad they are using a symbol that has come to mean so much to the series as the last title. So excited for this book!

The Return of the Wakefields!

Huge thanks to Amanda of A Patchwork of Books for this awesome news.

St. Martin's is releasing a new novel, tentatively next February, titled Sweet Valley Confidential, based on the lives of the Wakefields and their friends as twenty-somethings. Full scoop here.

Yes, I want this book. Madly. Sweet Valley was like my first soap drama as a young girl. I so need to see what happened to these characters.

Interested in Sweet Valley Confidential? Were you a Sweet Valley reader? Just admit it, lol!

Cover alert!

Jennifer Echols must have the YA cover gods smiling down on her because OMG, look at this cover for her July release!

 

Here's the synopsis

There’s a lot Zoey would like to forget. Like how her father has knocked up his twenty-four-year old girlfriend. Like Zoey’s fear that the whole town will find out about her mom’s nervous breakdown. Like darkly handsome bad boy Doug taunting her at school. With her life about to become a complete mess, Zoey fights back the only way she knows how, using her famous attention to detail to make sure she’s the perfect daughter, the perfect student, and the perfect girlfriend to ultra-popular football player Brandon.

But then Zoey is in a car crash, and the next day there’s one thing she can’t remember at all—the entire night before. Did she go parking with Brandon, like she planned? And if so, why does it seem like Brandon is avoiding her? And why is Doug—of all people—suddenly acting as if something significant happened between the two of them? Zoey dimly remembers Doug pulling her from the wreck, but he keeps referring to what happened that night as if it was more, and it terrifies Zoey to admit how much is a blank to her. Controlled, meticulous Zoey is quickly losing her grip on the all-important details of her life—a life that seems strangely empty of Brandon, and strangely full of Doug.

JULY 2010!! It can't get here soon enough, that's for sure!

Review: Numbers by Rachel Ward

Numbers by Rachel Ward is a sci-fi-ish YA novel that never quite felt Sci-Fi, but it didn't really read like a contemporary relationship story either.

Synopsis: Ever since she was child, Jem has kept a secret: Whenever she meets someone new, no matter who, as soon as she looks into their eyes, a number pops into her head. That number is a date: the date they will die. Burdened with such awful awareness, Jem avoids relationships. Until she meets Spider, another outsider, and takes a chance. The two plan a trip to the city. But while waiting to ride the Eye ferris wheel, Jem is terrified to see that all the other tourists in line flash the same number. Today's number. Today's date. Terrorists are going to attack London. Jem's world is about to explode!

I was really excited by the premise of this story. What a terrible ability to have. I would not want to look at people and see their death day number flash through my head. No thanks. Well, Jem does not want this "talent" either. When a classmate, Spider, starts to become her friend, rather than just another classmate, she really does not want this ability because she sees that his death day is very, very close. Nonetheless, Jem cannot resist Spider's friendly behavior, his chatty laughter, and his Nan, a woman with some talent of her own. They plan a trip to the city to go on the London Eye except that never happens because Jem sees a terrible truth: people are going to die. She hustles Spider away from the scene, which proves to be a big mistake because the London Eye explodes in a terrorist attack and now, Jem and Spider are the number one suspects.

Now, here is where my issues with this story come in because I really, really wished Jem and Spider hadn't fled. Maybe its the optimist in me but honestly, I would think the police would realize very quickly that these two did nothing to orchestrate this attack and are not really suspects. Instead, by running, they look guiltier than ever.

Now, Jem's talent kind of becomes a very secondary part of the story as Jem and Spider flee across the country and this book turns into kind of a romance/relationship story. While I can see that these bad circumstances could perhaps force feelings that would normally take longer to develop, I just truly did not believe in the romance aspect of the story. These two made great mates, but somehow, the romance just made it seem awkward for me. Both of these characters have heavy issues. Jem knows Spider is not going to live much longer, but lets sleep together anyway. This of course just perpetuates the cycle Jem professes to want to end.

Then the author throws in a religious aspect, bring up Jem's talent again and putting it in a new light. This third segment of the story again felt slightly off. The story as a whole just was not very cohesive and these elements did not come together very smoothly. The premise was very interesting but I just wish it had played out better, particularly with the terrorist attack. I think there were several options the author could have chosen to more fully explore Jem's ability but in the end, it seemed like the author chose the easiest route, plot wise.

There is a sequel in the works so I am interested to see how that turns out. Going by the ending, it could be very interesting or it could completely fall apart.

Numbers certainly caught my attention but the book unfortunately did not work for me as a whole. There were parts I enjoyed, particularly Jem and Spider's friendship, and trying to understand Jem's ability, but add in a wild hunt, some religion and it all became too much for the plot to handle.

In My Mailbox

Slow week mail wise for me, but that's ok, it allows me to play catch up with my other books. This week I received:

From Amazon Vine:
Numbers by Rachel Ward

From Paperbackswap.com
Santa, Honey by Kate Angell, Joy Nash, and Sandra Hill

For review:
A Black Tie Affair by Sherrill Bodine

From ILL:
My Cup Runneth Over: The Life of Angelica Cookson Potts by Cherry Whytock (this was a book I saw on an Unsung YA list and it looks really funny.

Anyone read any of these titles? I'm in the middle of Numbers right now.

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren.

Review: Give Up the Ghost by Megan Crewe

Give Up the Ghost by Megan Crewe is the kind of paranormal story I really enjoy. There were no vampires, no werewolves, no faeries. I can handle ghosts when they are as well integrated into the story as these ghosts are.

Synopsis:
Cass McKenna much prefers ghosts over “breathers.” Ghosts are uncomplicated and dependable, and they know the dirt on everybody…and Cass loves dirt. She’s on a mission to expose the dirty secrets of the poseurs in her school.
But when the vice president of the student council discovers her secret, Cass’s whole scheme hangs in the balance. Tim wants her to help him contact his recently deceased mother, and Cass reluctantly agrees.
As Cass becomes increasingly entwined in Tim’s life, she’s surprised to realize he’s not so bad—and he needs help more desperately than anyone else suspects. Maybe it’s time to give the living another chance….

What I loved most about this story is that it is a relationship story, much more than a paranormal story. It is all about Cass's various relationships: her parents, her dead sister, the teens at school, the ghosts at school, etc. Cass is an outsider at school. She is pretty much equally disliked by everyone it seems but that doesn't matter to her because Cass has a way to get even. She gets all kind of dirt from her various ghost friends and that puts people in their place. Of course, it's also a great way to truly not make any friends, even if she had professed to want friends.

But then something changes. When class vice-president Tim approaches Cass with a bizarre question, she can't help but wonder how he discovered her secret. Tim wants to communicate with his recently deceased mother and he needs Cass's help. Cass is reluctant to get involved but she does agree much to her later chagrin because Tim is on a path to destruction and he does not need Cass's help with that at all.

Give Up the Ghost was a story I totally enjoyed! I can see why I haven't been able to keep the book on the shelf at the library. Because the author didn't delve too deeply into why Cass can see ghosts, I just accepted it and moved on, and was totally fine with that. I did not need some convoluted answer. Cass accepted it and so did I. Ghosts have been Cass's link to life but finally, she is starting to find a real link to life: someone alive and who truly needs her help.

I also liked the platonic friendship that sprang up between Cass and Tim. It was edged by frailty on both of their parts, but it was a friendship that was evolving as the story went on. The ghosts add another layer of both fun and sadness to the story. Why can't they move on? How hard would it be to see your sister day in and day out of your life but knowing she will never be older than 16?

This was just a really great read. Paranormal light but also focused in reality. It was a contrast that worked very well in this book. I haven't heard any word of a sequel which makes me very happy because the story ended on just the right note. There are too many series/trilogies out there in YA land right now so I hope the author isn't heading in that direction. Not that I wouldn't read it, lol, but I was very satisfied with the direction of the story and its ending.

I can't believe I held off reading this book for so long. I enjoyed every minute of it and it the pages just flew by.

Reviews around the web

So, I'm not feeling the best this week so my reading has suffered as I have instead sleeping more. However, there are quite a few great reviews floating around the interwebs that I wanted to share. Books I'm excited about reading and that the reviews only made them sound better. I love that!

The Naughty List by Suzanne Young as reviewed at The Story Siren. 

Espionage, lively cheerleaders, and very naughty boys... equal one debut that I found unputdownable!

Sounds fabulous! Can't wait to read this one.

Sing Me To Sleep by Angela Morrison as reviewed at The Compulsive Reader.

The emotions run strong in this book. Both bright and sorrowful, Sing Me to Sleep will have you sighing in content and crying.

Sounds like an emotional journey. I can't wait to read it.

Hearts at Stake by Alyxandra Harvey as reviewed at Green Bean Teen Queen.

Hearts At Stake was the perfect read for my chick lit romance loving self.

A paranormal that combines chick lit?? I'm so there!

Good Enough by Paula Yoo as reviewed at Read What You Know.

I rooted for Patti from page one, wanting her to figure out what *she* wanted in life instead of following the plans her parents set before her.

The cover of this book has always intrigued me and it's a story I keep meaning to pick up. Well now I have even more reason to.

And in case you hadn't heard (which I'm sure you have, lol), Harper Teen is giving away 28 books this month in a very awesome giveaway.



Are there any reviews out there that are making you crave that book? Something that's on your radar?? Please share.