Summary: Melusine is a German librarian who accompanies her husband on a trip to Las Vegas for his business conference. Their son has just left home for school, and things seem kind of boring at home so Melusine jumps at the chance for some excitement and change of scenery. Shortly after arriving, she meets Gunther, and quickly falls into a romantic and passionate affair, unlike anything she has ever done or experienced before. Her formerly boring husband, Hans, has some secrets of his own too, as he has lied about his reasons for traveling to Vegas. Hans past secret obsession collides with Melusine’s passionate affair, and life will never be the same again for this couple after what happens in Vegas…

My Thoughts: When I first started reading this book, I was taken aback quite a bit. At the beginning, it was almost immediately very sexual, as well as very strange. I was surprised and kind of confused, unsure of how I would feel about it. However, I kept reading, and right around the time that Melusine encounters Gunther, I was hooked. I got really into the story and didn’t want to stop reading. The descriptive details of Las Vegas pulled me in and made me so anxious to  visit there someday. In fact, Jerry and I had actually considered Vegas for our honeymoon this October, but eventually settled on a cruise instead. I’ve always wanted to visit, but this book made me want to even more so. All the lights, action, and “glittering chaos” captured my attention.

Aside from the magnificent and breathtaking setting, I was just plain astounded by the actions of Melusine and her weird husband, Hans. While I obviously disliked that Melusine was cheating, I was still rooting for her and Gunther because it was evident that 1. they had something special, and 2. something with Hans was not quite right at all. Gunther changed Melusine, and brought out a whole new side of her. Then there’s the story of Hans and his past which was incredibly creepy. I could not believe the secrets he was keeping. While his story was very interesting, what kept me the most interested was the story of Melusine and Gunther… their passionate whirlwind of an affair, their heartbreak upon leaving, and their effort to keep the relationship going via written correspondence upon returning home.

This is just what happened in Vegas… when Melusine and Hans return home, things get even weirder when Hans remains obsessed with his past and slips into a severe insanity. Watching Melusine, her son, and friends cope with this is fascinating and heartbreaking all at once.

This book is incredibly dark and very, very bizarre… but anyone who knows me knows that I love bizarre (Chuck Palahniuk being one of my favorite authors)! This book is not for everyone, but if you’re looking for something different, this would definitely fit the bill. I am anxious to read more of this author’s work.

My Rating: 4/5 

Prior to reading this book, I had never read a graphic novel before. I’ve never been into comics or the like, but one of my coworkers at the library, who knows I love zombies and horror, and shares the same interest, recommended this one to me. I’m really glad she did, because it really opened my eyes to this whole genre. I’m not going to actively seek out new graphic novels to read, but I won’t automatically count them out now, like I did before.

So… Revival takes place in rural Wisconsin. The town has been quarantined because the dead are coming back to life, but they are NOT your typical zombies. They’re called ‘revivers,’ and they are talking and walking around, and acting just like themselves for the most part. No one knows what the cause is or how to stop it. Enter Officer Dana Cypress, who is investigating the revivers. Her dad is the sheriff and has assigned her to the special task force. They haven’t always gotten along well, but not for lack of trying. The story revolves around Dana and her family, including her son and younger sister, as this small town tries to deal with all these newly revived people.

I liked this story line a whole lot. I love zombies, and while these people weren’t exactly zombies, they resembled them but weren’t typical of zombies in that they were functioning like normal humans for the most part. I love horror as well, and this story was creepy and dark, though not really scary. I thought it was unique, and I liked getting to know Dana and her family too, and seeing how they reacted to the whole situation. The illustrations were excellent and very detailed, adding a lot to the story.

Sometimes, I was a bit confused while reading, and I wasn’t a fan of the cliffhanger ending. I don’t know if I missed some stuff as this was my first graphic novel, but I was a bit lost at times. Maybe I needed to pay better attention to the illustrations, but I’m not sure. I do plan on continuing with this series when the next one comes out, and think that graphic novel fans who are interested in zombies and horror will absolutely love this one!

My Rating: 3/5

Everyone always asks how I’m doing it, and it’s not a secret. Some people are disappointed to hear there is no easy way out or secret pill, but many people want to listen. For those people, I’ve given advice many times, and I’m always happy to do so. I figured I’d compile that list of advice here so I can always refer people back to it. Some of my methods may seem a little unconventional, but I’m here to tell you: this is what has worked for me. This is how I found success. I am not a health nut, I am not an athlete, and I am not super strict. I am an average, every day, formerly morbidly obese girl.  While some might argue that I AM on a diet, I’m not. To me, diets are temporary and extreme. What I’m doing is not temporary – it is a permanent lifestyle change that I have managed to maintain for 16 months already. It is not extreme, it’s just my new life. So, without further ado, here are my tips on how to lose weight without dieting!

1. Count your calories - know what you are eating and log everything that you’re putting into your mouth. I use MyFitnessPal (myfitnesspal.com – though I mostly use the phone app) to track my daily caloric count, which includes the calories I eat and the calories I burn with exercise. Be honest with yourself, and track your food! It doesn’t matter if it’s good or bad, but track it! Use portion control – this was key for me! Also, as a sidenote – I met my fiance on MyFitnessPal – see, becoming healthy has changed my life in more ways than one.

2. Exercise – this one seems like a given, but seriously, get off your butt and move! When I first started, I could only do the elliptical for 6 minutes – and that was okay! I did what I could to start, and now I could work out for hours if I wanted to. Start small and keep building up. I currently work out 4 days a week for about an hour each time. This includes going to the gym and doing a lot of cardio with some weights, or going for a run. I started with short work outs though, and that’s okay – as long as you’re moving! Don’t overdo it, but still push yourself! When I first started, I was working out 7 days a week. After awhile, I realized that was too much, and it was not something I could keep up with for the rest of my life, so now I work out 4 days a week because, realistically, I can maintain that for the duration of my life.

3. Food Scale - if you can afford it, I would highly recommend you get a food scale. They’re fairly inexpensive (about $20 on Amazon), and they will change your whole perspective on food. Weigh everything that you can, and log accordingly. Most food will have a serving size in grams or ounces, so follow that. I weigh my food so that I know exactly how much I’m eating and how many calories to log. If I’m not eating at home, I do my best to guess on the calories and amount, but when I’m home, I’m weighing all my food. I also weigh my lunches before work and then pack them up.

4. Heart Rate Monitor - this is another tool that, if you can afford it, I would highly recommend you get. My HRM is currently in need of repair, but it’s a real lifeline for me when I’m working out. As I said, on MyFitnessPal, you log the calories you eat as well as the calories you burn. When you burn calories, you obviously get to eat more, so the HRM helps me figure out exactly how many calories I burned with my exercise and therefore how many calories I can/should eat on a workout day. I generally eat back about 50-80% of my exercise calories.

5. Cheat Meals - this is a huge one for me and one of the most important tips I can give you. Once a week, I have a cheat meal. That means that my fiance and I go out to dinner once a week and eat whatever we want and don’t log the calories. This not only gives us something to look forward to, but prevents us from going crazy. Listen, I guarantee you that if I didn’t have cheat meals where I allowed myself to indulge once a week, that I would not have stuck with this for 16+ months. How did I get fat in the first place? Because I love food! If I denied myself this stuff all the time, I would have thrown in the towel, but since I always know I have a delicious meal to look forward to every week, I’m able to stay on track the rest of the week. Yes, I have lost over 100 pounds and still have cheat meals. It really helps.

6. Don’t Deny Yourself - kind of going along with the cheat meals… don’t deny yourself the stuff you love, even on non-cheat days. If you can fit it into your daily calories, I say go for it. Many people look at macros and whatnot, but for me, I only look at calories, and this works for me. I have a wicked sweet tooth, and I have something sweet almost every day. If  I want a cookie, I’m going to have one… I’m just not going to have three of them like I used to, you know what I’m saying? Again, if I denied myself yummy stuff, I would have quit long ago. I’m of the belief that if it fits into your calorie goals, then go for it! If not, then wait for another day when you have extra calories left. Seriously, when I’m at work and I’m doing the shifty eyes between my phone and the delicious treats one of my coworkers has brought in, then I’m likely to indulge in that brownie instead of driving myself crazy staring at it. THIS IS OKAY! I’m just going to account for it in my food diary and make sure it fits in my calories. Surprisingly, I’m not hugely into fruits and vegetables, though I’m working on it! Some people are appalled at my food diary, as there are many days where I don’t have any fruits or veggies. Again, I’m working on it. I try to eat vegetables and fruits a few times a week, but I don’t always, and again, this works for me. Like I said, just an average girl, eating average stuff, not a health nut by any means. I kind of wish I was, but I’m just not. There hasn’t been a whole lot of food I’ve given up, I just use portion control. I’ve tried to add in a few healthy foods too, but for me, it was all about cutting back, counting those calories, and eating proper portions.

7. Weekly Weigh-ins - I used to step on the scale every day, multiple times a day. Well, weight fluctuates like crazy on a weekly and even daily basis. Seeing my weight go up and down drove me absolutely nuts, so now I have just one weekly weigh-in. The scale is away and hidden the rest of the week. For your weigh-in, do it first thing in the morning, before you’ve eaten or drank anything, and before you’ve exercised. Also, do it in the buff! Don’t drive yourself crazy – weigh in just once a week if you can!

8. Set Goals and Rewards – set mini goals for yourself so you’re not always looking at the big, huge, scary picture. When I first realized I wanted/needed to lose 140 pounds, that was terrifying. I really didn’t think I would ever get there, and now I almost am! To get rid of those overwhelming feelings that may cause you to quit, cut that big goal down into smaller ones so that you realize what you’re accomplishing. Set rewards for your mini goals too. You’re busting your butt – why not reward yourself? My first goal was 50 pounds, and for that, I got a tattoo. For my ultimate goal of losing 140 pounds, I really want to travel to Europe. I don’t know if I can afford that, but I think I deserve it. Maybe someday. Anyways, set small goals with rewards such as new clothes, a spa day, new sneakers, a tattoo… whatever you think will push you to work at it.

9. Dream BIG – I easily could have told myself to just lose 10 pounds and be done with it, but I figured, why not go big or go home? If I’m going to commit to myself, I might as well become the best me that’s possible, not just a better me. My dream is to become a healthy, normal weight, and I won’t stop or give up until I reach my goal of losing 140 pounds. I also decided to dream big with my running. Heck yeah, I was thrilled the very first time I ran a mile straight through, and I could have stopped, but I kept going and now run fairly long distances. For me, dreaming big means running a marathon, so that’s another dream I’m working on. All of this stuff is hard, but embrace it!!!! Don’t be afraid to dream. Be the best you possible. You will never, ever regret it.

Some more of my health posts:

One Hundred Pounds

On Doing Hard Things – My Story (So Far)

My 15K!

A Bad Run

Why YA Isn’t Just for Teens by Jadie Jones

“I turned thirty this month, so this topic definitely made me smile. Just yesterday I perused the teen book section at Barnes and Noble. It’s my happy place – walking between two rows of possibility. There’s something YA books often do better than most: they reach. Up, down, out, within. The dreams are bigger, as are the risks. And the growth of a character must match this grander scale. Young adult books often challenge me to wonder exactly who I could become or what I could create if I were to throw myself into a goal the way I once did fifteen years ago.

Similarly, I think our teen years are when we begin making decisions that have the possibility of impacting our future in some permanent way. For teens reading this post, here’s a secret: for the most part, I still feel like exactly the same person I was in high school, just with a little more patience and a longer view. My guess is most of the adults in your life feel the same. While I wouldn’t want to relive my teen years, it’s fun to glance back at them, and to experience the intense highs and devastating lows that befall a YA main character.

YA books believe with all their might: that people can change, that there is such a thing as a new beginning, and there’s so much MORE to life than what meets the eye. People are capable of unimaginable things. What a wonderful, refreshing reminder for a reader of any age.

p.s. I celebrated my 30^th birthday by buying myself three new YA books.”

Thanks to Jadie for being here today! I really enjoyed reading this and could really relate. It makes me feel good about reading YA, despite not being a teen. I’ve talked about this topic a bit here. Thanks again, and remember to check out my review of Moonlit!

Summary: Eighteen year old Tanzy is a horse expert with a hidden and painful past. While out for a ride one night in the woods, she and her horse are chased by mysterious dark creatures, perhaps the same ones that killed her father on a ride several years before. After a terrible fall during the chase, Tanzy miraculously survives, but with strange new visions of people and markings that no one else appears to see. When a new friend, Vanessa, takes her under her wings, Tanzy begins to uncover the meaning behind the strange occurrences, including past lives and reborn souls, the divide between other worlds, and keeping evil out.

My Thoughts: I wasn’t sure what to expect when going into this book, but all of the twists took me by surprise. The beginning of the book was a bit slow to start, but picked up considerably after Tanzy was released from the hospital and started on her adventure and road to self-discovery. At that point, I became really invested in Tanzy’s story and was dying to find out all of her secrets right alongside her. The book becomes very “fantasy like” (don’t know how else to describe it) at one point, and while I don’t typically read fantasy, I was drawn into this world that Jones had created nonetheless. While I was a bit confused at times, I became increasingly intrigued to discover what was going on. Perhaps I’ll even read more fantasy now, even though I’m not usually drawn to it.

Let’s talk about the characters! I really liked them and felt that they really made this story a great one. Vanessa is a really interesting character that adds a lot to the mix. She’s a young, rich doctor’s wife that Tanzy meets at the hospital. She does a lot of wonderful things for Tanzy, but you also get a foreboding sense with her too. She seems to be keeping a lot of secrets, and does some strange things. Why is she so interested in Tanzy? What was her past life like?

Then there’s Lucas, another mysterious character, and love interest for Tanzy. He has some strange abilities of his own, and will keep you guessing throughout the novel.

Tanzy, of course, was a great character. I sensed her frustration at not knowing and understanding what was happening to her, and I felt that frustration with her. She had a rough life to start with, but now things have gotten just plain weird… and creepy. I really enjoyed going on this journey with her to discover her true past and soul.

I can’t go much more into detail without giving away major plot points of the story, but just know that I was surprised at where the novel ended up, and in a good way. Jones has a real talent for writing. I’ll be waiting for the sequel on this one! For fans of YA and fantasy, I think you’ll really dig this story…. bonus points if you’re into horses, too!

My Rating: 4/5

• Folklore and Legends of Rochester: The Mystery of Hoodoo Corner and Other Tales

• Murder, Mayhem and Madness: 150 Years of Crime and Punishment in Western New York

• Mad~House: The Hidden History of Insane Asylums in 19th Century New York

Don’t these all sound really freakin’ cool?! I think the one I’m most excited about reading is Mad~House, because I’ve always been fascinated by psychology and mental illness. I think these books would be really appealing to many people, but that Rochestarians or fellow New Yorkers will take a special interest. After the interview, check out the awesome giveaway I’m doing! Withour further ado, please welcome Michael:

1. The topics of your books are truly fascinating, and I want to read all of them – folklores and legends, crime and punishment, and now insane asylums! – How did you choose these topics to write about? How did you title them?

At one point I was thinking of making a documentary about the origins of Midtown Plaza in Rochester and as I conducted my research I discovered that a street corner during the 19^th century where Midtown Plaza would eventually be built was then believed to be cursed and known as ‘Hoodoo Corner’!

I became so intrigued by this revelation I changed the focus of my research from uncovering the origins of Midtown Plaza to researching the origins of the Hoodoo Corner superstition. The subtitle of the book then logically became, The Mystery of Hoodoo Corner. The History Press, the publisher, thought that the book involved so much more than just the Hoodoo Corner curse and they came up with the actual title itself, Folklore and Legends of Rochester.

My second book, Murder, Mayhem and Madness, is a compilation of thirteen true murder mysteries.  The more I thought about these stories, the more I realized that the motivation for murder is comprised of many factors including, of course mayhem, but also passion and therefore ‘madness.’

My latest book, Mad~House, a study of fifteen insane asylums active during the 19^th century in New York, sort of named itself. I realized that this subject had not been tackled before so the subtitle, The Hidden History of Insane Asylums in 19^th Century New York, seemed a natural fit.

2. What is the research process like for writing your books? How long does each one take to research and write?

Most of my books take about a year to research and write.  I try to use original source materials whenever possible.  I have literally had a 100 year old locked safe opened where I found startling evidence.  I once uncovered an original court transcript dating back to 1838! And so on. I also find that traveling to the locations where some of these events occurred is helpful.  But for the most part spending many hours holed up in libraries is necessary.

3. While researching and writing Mad~House, what was your most shocking discovery or revelation? How about the scariest?

My most surprising discovery, perhaps, is the realization that many of these institutions had the best of intentions when they were initially created and actually provided much benefit to their patients for many years.  It was only after these institutions became vastly overcrowded, paradoxically because of their popularity, that issues of neglect, abuse and even torture became prevalent.

Perhaps the scariest revelation or most upsetting is learning that thousands of former patients were subsequently buried in unmarked graves.  Many of the institutions we chronicle in the book had these pauper cemeteries.

4. Have you faced any resistance from anyone while researching your books?

I find that when researching local historical subjects, I have had to deal with many individuals and groups such as Masons, Mormons, Native Americans, Spiritualists, etc. and when doing so it’s important to be respectful and to listen carefully.  Even though my stories customarily took place well over 100 years ago, sometimes there are still living relatives and it’s important to take their views and feelings into account as well.

5. What made you want to become a writer?

The funny thing is that when I started my local history research, my initial objective was to make a historical documentary. Over the next four years I did exactly that, producing four of them including, “The Murder of William Lyman,” followed by, “The Strange Disappearance of Captain William Morgan,” “In Search of White Crows”and, “The Code of Handsome Lake.”

I had considerable success with the films and won several film festival awards including, “Best of the Fest” twice at the Rochester International Film Festival and the “Best Experimental Film” at the Accolade Film Awards. Because I had written the movie scripts, the prospect of writing a book didn’t seem as daunting.

6. If you had to recommend to my readers (and myself!) one of your books to read first, which one would it be?

This is the classic question of which of your children do you love most.  I guess the simple answer is that hopefully you continue to evolve as a writer so in that context, I would choose my latest book, Mad~House.

7. What is the number one thing you’d like people to know about insane asylums?

As I mentioned earlier, due to overcrowding and the lack of resources, many of these institutions would become responsible for neglect and even abuse. The history of insane asylums is by definition a troubled and sad one but surprisingly, also one of inspiration, hope and healing.

8. Do you have plans for another book(s)?

I’m always open to another subject.  I have learned that the next topic is lurking somewhere, most probably in plain sight -  I just haven’t recognized it yet!

Thank you so much, Michael, for being a part of StephTheBookworm today. I really enjoyed our interview and cannot wait to read your books! If you’d like to learn more about Michael, his books, or his films, check out his website here. Also, please enter the giveaway below!

***Giveaway***

I’m offering one lucky reader a copy of one of Michael’s books! The winner will get to pick one of his three books for me to order and send your way! I’ll even get it autographed for you. I’m super excited to be able to give one of you the chance to read some of Michael’s work. I know you’ll be fascinated! I’ll select a winner on Friday, June 7th, via random.org. Just comment below with your email, and which of his three books you think you’d like to win. Please have a US mailing address, and be 13 years or older. Thank you and good luck!

I’m grateful to be a part of Danna’s tour for her beautiful little book. When I first heard about it, I was instantly intrigued. Danna is a 3rd generation Holocaust survivor, hence the name of the book. Her grandparents were miraculous survivors of the Holocaust, and Danna has spent a great deal of time reflecting on what that means for her and her family. I knew right away that I wanted to read this book because I have always had a fascination with the Holocaust. I’ve collected many Holocaust books over the years, and even took a Holocaust Lit. class in college. I read about it because I love psychology, and I try desperately to understand what happened and why anyone allowed it to happen. I always search for answers, but they will probably never be found. Danna, in a way, is searching for answers too, about her own family history.

3rd Generation and Beyond is a compact book full of wisdom and advice that Danna has gathered over the years, much of it based on what her grandparents endured in order to live through the tragedy and horror of the Holocaust. Each short chapter is a life lesson that Danna has learned, with a famous quote that relates to each lesson at the start of each chapter. Danna then goes on to offer her advice, and usually relates it to a personal story as well, most often in relation to her grandparent’s survival. I really enjoyed the lessons, which included things such as kindness, perspective, and reading to grow (that one was my favorite, of course!). Though this book is slim, it is jam packed full of inspiration and wisdom. I really enjoyed the parts where she talked about her grandparents. One thing I would have enjoyed seeing was more about their experiences during the Holocaust.

This was a quick read, one I read in about an hour. If you enjoy self-help books, or reading for inspiration, I think you’ll enjoy this one. I won’t give it a star rating here, as this book is much different than those I typically read, but I will say it was an interesting and inspiring read. It was great to read that Danna’s grandparents lived happy lives, even after all they had been through.

Summary: Grace, Kya, and James have been best friends forever. Kya has had a troubled past with some painful secrets though, and as a result, acts out in wild and promiscuous ways, always getting herself into some kind of trouble. James is sick and tired of Kya’s behavior, but Grace refuses to give up on her, constantly defending her and supporting her, even though she doesn’t always deserve it. When things finally come to a head, and Kya reveals her true nature, Grace must decide what friendships are worth keeping and what ones are worth losing.

My Thoughts: I immediately found myself relating to this friendship scenario, as I also have a best friend “trio,” with a girl and a guy. There have been lots of ups and downs, and I’ve always felt like Grace, in that I’ve been the one who wanted to hold the group together, refusing to give up on the three of us. I totally understood where Grace was coming from and I loved that. One thing that I didn’t really relate to at all though, and found myself unable to get into, was the heavy influence of paintball in this book. Grace and Kya are trying out for a college team, and the three friends all work at Splatterfest, a paintball place that Grace’s dad owns. I don’t really know anyone who plays paintball and had a hard time enjoying some of these parts of the book. Nonetheless, I understand there are plenty of people who enjoy it, it just wasn’t necessarily for me. I also felt like I was left waiting for a big major event to happen throughout the book, but it never really did. Despite this, I did still enjoy the book for many reasons.

Kya was a frustrating character, always putting herself in dangerous situations, and blaming what happened to her in the past for everything she ever did wrong. Though she really ticked me off, I thought she was very real. I think a lot of people who suffer from traumatic experiences act out and make poor choices, and Kya’s character was very realistic. Grace frustrated me too, because for the longest time, she refused to see Kya’s flaws, and constantly made excuses for all of her wrongdoings. Grace seemed almost obsessed with her. I think this was realistic too in a sense – toxic friendships and constant excuses made for those who we love. Basically, the two of them were oil and vinegar, but they didn’t want to let go of what they had in the past. Grace, though seemingly weak at first, becomes a stronger and stronger character as time progresses, and I really appreciated seeing her growth.

All in all, I enjoyed Gurtler’s depiction here of a toxic relationship and the true meaning of friendship. Though the book wasn’t one of my favorites of the year, I did like the story and would recommend it to fans of contemporary YA with a dark side.

My Rating: 3.5/5

Summary: Ella, Astrid, and Sydney have been best friends forever, so when Astrid commits suicide, Ella and Sydney don’t know how to react. Ella becomes frantic, desperately searching for answers, and Sydney tries to forget by partying and trying to numb the pain. Soon they discover there may have been a whole other side to Astrid that they never knew about, and they begin to wonder if they ever really knew their friend at all. Things get even stranger when Ella starts seeing Astrid and receiving messages from her phone. Is Ella going crazy or is something strange really happening? Why doesn’t Sydney seem to care? What will happen when secrets are revealed?

My Thoughts: Okay, let me tell you… this book rocked my world! It gave me actual goose bumps and chills on several occasions, and I became obsessed with finding out what in the world was going on. It got to be one of those books that I was reading every possible second I could, even standing up in the back room after work when my day was done and I was waiting for my mom to finish (yes, we work together). I was flying through the pages as fast as I possibly could to get to the end so I could finally uncover all the secrets and discover the truth behind all the creepy happenings (text messages from dead friends, anyone?). Seriously, I was captivated and totally entranced, particularly after Ella starts getting calls and messages from Astrid… yikes!

Underneath all of the incredible suspense and creep factor, which I loved, lies the story of the friendship shared between the girls. I really liked how dynamic and well crafted each character was. Ella was the good girl, Sydney was the cool, bad girl, and Astrid was the mysterious, withdrawn girl. Despite how different they all were, they really fit together. I really loved how defined they all were, and their personalities were very evident. Sydney and Ella were coping very differently with the loss, and at some points it even seemed like their friendship wasn’t going to make it because neither of them truly knew how to deal. A lot of their other relationships were affected by the suicide as well. I really loved how Konen showed all the different ways that people deal with tragedy… everyone has their own way of coping. Ella… wow, at times, I really was scared for her. She was taking drastic measures to try and find out the “why,” and I was just blown away.

I could go on and on, but all that really matters is that I loved this book. I couldn’t race through the story fast enough! I was reading it all the time and when I wasn’t reading it, it was consuming my thoughts. The suspense, the raw emotions, the mystery… it created such a fantastic, dark story that took me by total surprise. I highly recommend this book to all YA fans.

My Rating: 5/5

Summary: Delaney Maxwell falls on an iced over lake, fracturing the ice, and for 11 minutes, she is underwater until her friends manage to pull her out. Her body had shut down, and yet she wakes up in the hospital seemingly fine. Doctors are stumped; she defied death, and with no real side effects to speak of. Even though she looks and seems normal, Delaney begins having weird sensations… she is pulled and drawn to people who are dying. She can sense their imminent deaths. No one knows her secret until she meets Troy, who also almost died and now has the same eerie abilities. Delaney wants to try and prevent the deaths she senses, but Troy has other ideas…

My Thoughts: I’ve been wanting to read this book since it first came out last year, and finally got around to it since Megan Miranda will be a part of this year’s Teen Book Festival, for which I am a committee member. I am so glad I finally picked this book up – it was totally worth the wait! This book had a dark and eerie feeling to it from the first page on, and I was very intrigued by Delaney’s ability. I really liked the relationships between a lot of the characters and felt that they were very real, including her sort of friendship with Janna, with whom she is competing for valedictorian. There’s also Decker, her neighbor/best friend/love interest, and there’s all sorts of tension there. The romantic element was interesting to watch unfold, but I also really liked their friendship and seeing it through all of its highs and lows. It’s full of jealousy, hurt feelings, but also love and true friendship. Troy, the guy with the same ability as Delaney, added a lot of suspense and conflict to the novel, which made for some exciting and scary moments. Even though their abilities seem supernatural, the story felt very real to me, with a lot of normal teenage feelings, insecurities, and thoughts in addition to the extraordinary ability. I’d definitely recommend this to fans of dark YA novels and love triangles (maybe squares? – lots of potential love interests here!). I’m very anxious to read her newest book, Hysteria, and really excited for Fracture‘s sequel to come out next year!

My Rating: 4/5