Outside In by Maria V. Snyder

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

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

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

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

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

Bookworm Rating: 4

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

Stork by Wendy Delsol

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

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

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

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

Bookworm Rating: 3.5

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

Matched by Ally Condie

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bookworm Rating: 3.5

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

Summer in Paris by Michelle Ashman Bell

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

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

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

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

Bookworm Rating: 3.5

Being Jamie Baker by Kelly Oram

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

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

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

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

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

Bookworm Rating: 2

Prom & Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg

Genre: Teen Lit

Publication Date: January 2011

One Word Review: Fun

Author Website: www.elizabetheulberg.com

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

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

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

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

Bookworm Rating: 4.5

The Kiss of a Stranger by Sarah M. Eden

Genre: Regency Romance

Publication Date: December 2010

One Word Review: Fun

Author Website: www.sarahmeden.com

First Line: “Blast it all!”

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

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

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

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

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

Bookworm Rating: 4

All Quiet on the Reading Front

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

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Shackles of Honor by Marcia Lynn McClure

 

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

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This was my third time reading this book. I was in the mood for a little romance and McClure books are filled with romance. I like the setting for this, it has a regency feel to it and I’m always a sucker for an arranged marriage storyline. She is surprised one day to find her parents have arranged a marriage for her to a complete stranger. Mason comes across very gruff when they first meet and Cassidy immediately feels like he doesn’t want her. It takes her the whole book to realize differently. Mason is also full of insecurities and feels that Cassidy resents him taking away her freedom. The story moves along well and if you turn off your brain while reading it is a pleasant read. Mason and Cassidy have good chemistry and they have some fun moments together, some scenes are worth rereading. As much as I enjoy the story, there were a few things that bugged me. I didn’t like how Mason handled the situation with Gabrielle (his childhood sweetheart). He knows how insecure Cassidy is and still does nothing to prove his loyalty. He expects her to trust him, but I think actions speak louder than words. He can say he will never cheat, but if he then turns around and spends time with Gabrielle and continues to allow Gabrielle to flirt with him then I have a hard time believing him. I don’t blame Cassidy for feeling insecure and I think Mason did a poor job of reassuring her. I think the majority of their problems came from Mason not being clear about his feelings for Gabrielle and for not separating himself from her, at least until Cassidy was more secure in his feelings and her new position. As good as their chemistry was, their communication skills need some definite work. I was also confused about why they had to wait so long to marry. They had been betrothed to each other since she was a baby so it wasn’t like a big surprise. They both agreed to the marriage so I don’t get the delay. That was probably part of their problem as well. Overall, a fun read. I again loved the plot and there are some memorable scenes. Content: Clean. Some passionate kissing, but nothing more.

Under Currents by Traci Hunter Abramson

Genre: Action, Romance

Publication Date: March 2004

One Word Review: Good

Author Website: www.tracihunterabramson.com

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

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

Bookworm Rating: 4

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

Royal Target by Traci Hunter Abramson

Genre: Action, Romance

Publication Date: October 2008

One Word Review: Good

Author Website: www.tracihunterabramson.com

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

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

Bookworm Rating: 4