Matched
by Ally Condie

Summary
Cassia is pretty happy with her life. She has a good family, good friends, and she’s finally on her way to her matching ceremony where her real future will begin! She’s confident that the Society knows what’s best. Her parent’s long and happy marriage is proof of the success of the matching system, so when the Society gives Cassia her match, she knows that she’s been paired with the right person.  But when a tiny flaw in system makes Cassia aware of other options, her belief in the Society and everything they stand for slowly starts to crumble.  Now Cassia is faced with a difficult decision between the easy life she’s always known, or risking everything to follow her heart.

Review
Matched is set in a well-crafted and intriguing dystopian society, that strips away the pleasures and privileges we have become so accustomed to in today’s high-tech, possession-driven world.  The three main characters in the story are unique and well developed, though I found the secondary characters lacked depth. The intricate differences between Xander and Ky made for an enjoyable love triangle (and I’m often not fond of the love triangle).  There is very little in the way of action in Matched, but the trials and tribulations of the people under the Society’s control will keep readers engaged.

I’m a relatively new reader to dystopian fiction, but I couldn’t help comparing Matched to The Hunger Games as I was reading. And while I thoroughly enjoyed Matched, in this comparison it falls a little short.

Verdict
If you’re able to let go of comparisons and enjoy it for what it is, Matched is a fascinating story and a thoroughly enjoyable read.

Where She Went
by Gayle Forman

Summary

Adam Wilde is living the dream. His band is about to start the biggest tour of their career, their albums have gone triple platinum and he’s half of the hottest celebrity couple around. The interviews, videos and recording sessions should be the icing on the cake, but for the “Wilde Man” they’re torture. No matter how many pills he takes or cigarettes he smokes, the dream still feels like a nightmare. No one understands why the man who has it all acts like he’s in hell. He knows what went wrong, but there’s nothing Adam can do to make himself enjoy the life he always thought he wanted. Because it was a dream they made together, and it doesn’t make him happy without her. But one day when fate intervenes, Adam finally finds the answers he has been searching for.

Review

Even though Where She Went is a follow-up to Mia’s story in If I Stay, I think Adam’s tale will be just as enjoyable for those who haven’t read the first book. Gayle Forman has an incredible ability to write characters that almost leap off the page they feel so real.

Adam’s story unfolds in both real-time and through flashbacks, but the two work together seamlessly to fill in the details of the past three years without ever felling jumpy or hard to follow. I really have no complaints with Where She Went. The characters are wonderful, the pacing is perfect and the story answers all the questions that readers are left with after If I Stay. The only reason I gave this book one less star than If I Stay was that it didn’t quite pack the emotional punch that Mia’s side of the story did. But I think that’s a result of reading these two books back-to-back, rather than there being anything lacking in Where She Went.

Verdict

I absolutely loved this book (and it’s predecessor) and will be recommending it to every one of my fellow book lovers. Where She Went is the type of story that makes me love reading – an emotional ride with great characters that really stays with you. I can’t wait to read more from Gayle Forman.

*I received this book for review from the Publisher.

Death’s Excellent Vacation
by Charlaine Harris & Various Authors

Death’s Excellent Vacation is a collection of short stories that all have supernatural elements and a vacation theme. I’m not generally a big fan of short stories (I’m a series girl), but with shorts from two series that I follow, I was eager to check it out and see what fun little tales Charlaine Harris and Katie MacAlister had created to go along with their Southern Vampire and Guardian novels.

There are 13 short-stories in the Death’s Excellent Vacation anthology. Here’s my VERY brief thoughts on the ones that I read.

1. Two Blondes – Charlaine Harris – (A Southern Vampire/True Blood story) – I pretty much always love a Sookie story. There was nothing special about this one, just a quick silly romp with Sookie & Pam. I enjoyed it.
2. The Boys Go Fishing – Sarah Smith – I didn’t like this one very much.
3. One for the Money – Jeaniene Frost (Night Huntress story) – I really enjoyed this one! So much so that I will now be checking out the Night Huntress Series!
4. Meanwhile, Far Across the Caspian Sea… - Daniel Stashower – This one didn’t hold my attention, resulting in a DNF.
5. The Innsmouth Nook – A. Lee Martinez – Another DNF
6. Safe and Sound – Jeff Abbott – An enjoyable story.
7. Seeing is Believing – L A Banks – I also enjoyed this one.
8. The Perils of Eferjim – Katie MacAlister (An Aisling Grey Guardian story) – I love this series, and always find Jim entertaining. A fun little Guardian story.
9. Thin Walls – Christopher Golden – This was borderline porn. Well, not really, but there was far more icky sex than I want to read about!
10. The Heart is Always Right – Lilith Saintcrow – I was enjoying this one, but found it dragged on a bit so I skimmed the middle and skipped ahead to the end. Not bad.
11. The Demon in the Dunes – Chris Grabenstein – DNF.
12. Home from America – Sharan Newman – DNF. And this marked the end of my reading this book. I’m not a huge fan of short stories, so this doesn’t really have anything to do with the quality of the stories; I just needed to get back to something a little more in depth.
13. Pirate Dave’s Haunted Amusement Park – Toni L P Kelner – Reviews I read said this one was good, but I never quite got there.

Have you read Death’s Excellent Vacation? What did you think? Are you a fan of anthologies? Do you enjoy short stories based on your favorite series?

Sometimes I want to comment on a book, but don’t really have enough to say to warrant a full review. I’ve read a few of these types of books lately, so I thought I’d blurb! Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

The Lost Hero (Heroes of Olympus, #1)
by Rick Riordan

The Lost Hero is the first in a spin-off series of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, and it’s a fantastic start! It’s very similar in style to the Percy Jackson books and even features many of the characters we met in the original series, so if you enjoyed the PJ books, I think you’ll like The Lost Hero. i actually enjoyed The Lost Hero even more than the Percy Jackson books!  And I cannot wait for book 2, The Son of Neptune to come out in October.

If you’re still not sure, you can check out the first two chapters here.

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Smokin’ Seventeen (Stephanie Plum # 17)
by Janet Evanovich

Many fans of the Stephanie Plum series are complaining that the later books have lost their edge and it feels like we’re just getting the same stuff book after book. And while I don’t disagree with those comments, I do think book 17 marked a bit of an improvement in the Plum series. It may have something to do with the fact that Smokin’ Seventeen made me laugh out loud during a time of great sadness, but whatever the reason, I found Steph’s adventures in book 17 to be more enjoyable than the last few books. Now if only Janet would make some actual CHANGES in the Plum world, I think this series could find its second life.

Read more about what we’d like to see happen in the Plum world in our Sizzling Sixteen Book Chat.

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Marked (House of Night #1)
by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast

To be fair, Marked and the House of Night books aren’t really much different from any of the other teen paranormal-love-triangle series that have flooded the YA market ever since Twilight came sparkling into existence. But something about this one had me hooked pretty quickly.

I picked up Marked specifically because I wanted some fluffy YA vamp fantasy to take to the cottage with me, even though I’ve had some failed attempts with these types of books lately and I was a little worried I might not like it. But I just couldn’t put it down. I think the fact that I really, really liked Zoey (the main character) is what made Marked stand out from the vampire crowd for me. I found it extremely refreshing to have a heroine who isn’t (excuse the language) a slutty bitch (Yes, I’m talking to you Vampire Diaries books). And while I only gave the book 3 stars, I still picked up and read book 2, Betrayed in just 2 days. And I didn’t even like Betrayed as much as Marked. Aside from being a big fan of Zoey’s, I also like that the authors have created a fresh new take on the standard vampire lore. So, if you’re in the mood for some light, fluffy vamp stories you just might have fun with the House of Night books. I know I’ll be tearing through Chosen (book #3) soon enough.

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And now we’d love some feedback from the all-important and very wise YOU!

1. How do you feel about Blurbs instead of complete Reviews? Is there enough information in the above to help you decide if you’d want to read the book or not?
2. Have you read any of these books? Please share your thoughts!

Calling for Angels
by Alex Smith

Summary

Em is a little overwhelmed with her life right now. She’s worried about her family, and is having a hard time connecting with her best friend. She feels scared and alone until two very different boys show up and things begin to change in ways she never expected.

Review

Not your typical teen romance, Calling for Angels skilfully avoids the incredibly overdone angst-ridden teen love triangle. Alex Smith has done a wonderful job of capturing the voice and concerns of today’s teens without being overtly sexual or overly dramatic. Which comes as no surprise considering she’s a teen herself! Em is a strong character who doesn’t succumb to peer pressure in order to be popular or impress boys. And even though the book has fantasy elements, the issues that Em struggles with are realistic problems that actual teens could face. The other characters in the story felt underdeveloped in contrast to Em. Almost as if the author knew Em really well, but only had an idea about who the other characters were.

Plot is the one area where Calling for Angels was somewhat lacking. At first, I assumed it would be a story about Angels, but towards the middle of the book I felt like the story had wandered off course and wasn’t sure where things were going. The end did bring everything back together and close up the story nicely, but there was a point where I wasn’t sure what the book was about.

Verdict

Overall, Calling for Angels is quaint, well-written and age-appropriate story for teens with a bit of magic thrown in.

*I received this book for review from the Publisher.

Sisterhood Everlasting (Traveling Pants #5)
by Ann Brashares

The Pants are long gone, and the sisterhood has drifted apart. But even though they’ve grown up and gone on with their lives, none of the girls really feels whole. Brashares takes us on one last journey with the girls as they find their way through yet another of life’s major milestones and rediscover their bond.

I can’t give Sisterhood Everlasting a proper review without giving away far too much… If you’re a fan of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series (and why would you read this book if you weren’t?), you already know Bridget, Carmen, Lena and Tibby so there’s no need to talk about the wonderful characters that I love so much. And as with all the Traveling Pants stories, it’s not a fast-paced, action-packed tale, but a slow, emotional progression through a short period of time in the girls’ lives. But it felt so wonderful to curl up with the girls again, and to check in on where they’re at in their lives now, that I had to post something to let all the fans of the Sisterhood know they should check this book out!

It’s like visiting with an old friend, and you didn’t even realize how much you missed them until they were there with you again.

Pants = Love. Love your sisters, love yourself.

Wolfsbane (Nightshade #2)
by Andrea Cremer

(Warning: This review contains minor spoilers for Nightshade)

Summary
Only a week has passed since the shocking events that occurred the night that was supposed to be Calla and Ren’s union. After waking up alone and confused, Calla discovers that she’s in the lair of the enemy. But does she even know who the enemy is anymore? Everything she thought to be true has been revealed as lies, and after running from her pack and her destiny, what’s left for her now? When the Searchers share their plan – and knowledge – with her, Calla embarks on a dangerous mission to save her pack. Will she be able to rescue her fellow wolves and reunite her pack? Or is all hope lost for the young Haldis Guardians?

Review
Wolfsbane picks up almost immediately after Calla and Shay have run from the union and the horrifying truths they uncovered about the Keepers. I thought I might need to review the end of Nightshade as a refresher, but Wolfsbane does a great job of filling readers in on the events of the first book without going into excessive exposition. The Searchers make an excellent addition to the to the Nightshade world. The new characters are well developed with interesting back-stories and believable personalities. Wolfsbane is filled with plenty of high-stakes action, and some of the fight scenes had me on the edge of my seat. Unlike some YA series, there are consequences when a character makes a mistake, and real losses are suffered. There were times when Shay and Calla’s romantic scenes felt a bit repetitive, but that’s really my only complaint with Wolfsbane.

Verdict
You know when you love a book so much, you’re sad when it ends? That’s how I felt about Wolfsbane. I cannot wait until Bloodrose comes out in February!

*I received this book for review from the publisher.

Subject Seven
by James A. Moore

Summary

What would you do if you kept waking up with no idea where you were, how you got there or what had happened to you in the meantime? That’s what’s been happening to 5 unconnected teenagers who once had normal, uneventful lives. But someone out there knows what’s happening, and is determined to find answers and change the fate of these seemingly random teens.

Review

Subject Seven (the novel) begins with a prologue set 5 years before the actual story takes place. The prologue is a great set-up and foundation for the story, but when the narrative jumps forward in time, things get a bit confusing. The reader is thrown into the story without a real connection between the events of the prologue and the action at hand. It takes quite a while before it becomes clear what’s really going on with Subject Seven (the character) and Hunter. When new characters are gradually introduced, things become even more puzzling as there doesn’t seem to be a connection between these new characters and the current story. Once the individual stories intersect, Subject Seven finds its’ footing and the story really takes off. From this point, I couldn’t put the book down and was eager to uncover the connection between these characters, and Subject Seven’s ultimate plan.

While there’s not a lot of detailed character development or back-story, the core of Subject Seven is the mysterious circumstances that surround the characters, and there’s plenty of action to keep readers compelled through to the end of this plot-driven tale. The ending is where some readers may be disappointed though. Since the story just kind of stops. Its’ a bit of a cliff-hanger because the story leaves off right before what the reader would expect to be the big final “battle”, but instead you turn the page to find out there’s no more.

Verdict

Subject Seven is an original and action-packed novel, but it’s also dark and fairly violent. Science fiction fans and those who like gritty tales will certainly enjoy this one (I did!), but it might not be a perfect fit for those who like their YA on the light and fluffy side.

*This book was provided for review by the Publisher.

Spinning
by Michael Baron

Summary

29-year-old Dylan Hunter is at the top of his game. His life is going exactly the way he planned, and he couldn’t be happier. He’s got a great job, great friends, a great social life and the future looks bright! Until one day when he’s woken by a knock on his door in the middle of the night. Standing there is Diane, an old flame from out of town who has decided to give up everything and relocate to New York with her 3-year-old daughter Spring. Despite the fact that a woman and child will seriously cramp his style, Dylan agrees to let Diane and Spring stay with him for a few days until they can find their own place. What he didn’t plan on was how Diane (and especially Spring) would change his whole outlook on life. Then when tragedy occurs, Dylan suddenly finds his perfect life is spinning out of control and he’s left trying desperately not to drop any of his plates.

Review
Spinning is a wonderful, heart-felt story about how life never goes the way we plan. Populated with eccentric but lovable characters that grow and change over the course of the novel, Spinning draws the reader into the lives of Dylan, Spring and Diane. My one complaint was that I often had a hard time believing Spring was only 3 years old – she felt more like a 5 or 6 year old. With her sunny exuberance, Spring is the catalyst for change and growth in the other characters, and no matter what age, she’s the heart of the story. While not an action packed tale, Spinning keeps the reader enthralled with its realistic portrayal of everyday people dealing with the unexpected hardships of life and love.

Verdict
Michael Baron has created another heart-warming tale that will resonate with readers of all types. A great feel-good read!

*This book was provided for review by the Publisher.

Gone
by Michael Grant

Summary
It was just a typical day at school in Perdido Beach, CA, until the teacher disappeared…

Sam Temple and his best friend Quinn were sitting in history class, when their teacher and one of the other students suddenly disappeared. Not like ran out of the classroom, but POOF. Gone. Just like that.

As the students attempt to make sense of what’s just happend, the only thing that’s clear is that something is very wrong. Astrid “the genius” (and the girl Sam’s been crushing on) is the one to finally figure out that every person aged 15 or older has simply disappeared. While this might sound like a great time, it turns out life without adults can be much more difficult than one might expect. Just when the kids think they’re getting a handle on the situation, they discover other strange things are occurring as well. And when the kids begin to turn on each other, the stakes become life and death.

Review
At first I found the short sentences and simple writing style in Gone slightly off-putting, and was concerned the book might be aimed at a younger audience than I generally like to read. But as the story progresses, things take some very dark and shocking turns, quickly putting those worries to rest.

The concept behind Gone was clever and (mostly) original. There are a number of sub-plots, which are a direct result of the disappearance but their link isn’t evident until the stories collide later in the novel. While this keeps things interesting, I did find the jumping between stories could be a bit distracting at times.

The characters in Gone were diverse and entertaining, though none were so compelling that I found myself really rooting for any of them. Sam was a likeable protagonist, but his apathy over being the hero made it difficult to care about his plight over any of the others. But as this story is much more plot driven than character driven, the characters themselves aren’t as important as what’s happening to them.  Gone is the first book of six, and it leaves many loose ends at the conclusion of the novel. I felt that it was a good set-up for the next book in the series, but for those who aren’t fond of the cliffhanger, beware!

Verdict
Gone was an interesting and enjoyable start to this new YA series. While it’s not one I’ll be rushing out to get, I do look forward to reading Hunger, the second book in the series.

*Gone is book #1 for the 2011 1st in a Series Challenge