Cat's Thoughts

Tour Review and Guest Post: Exiled

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Wed, 30 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Title: Exiled
Author: J. R. Wagner
Where I got it: From NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Amazon Summary:

My Thoughts:
Exiled was not so much what I was expecting, but it was still a good read. James was raised to be special, and he and his family have been hiding for years to avoid danger. Until one day, danger catches up to them, and he is exiled to The Never, a land reserved for the worst criminals, and where all of his powers as a sorcerer are useless. His only hope is to find a way to survive The Never, and to return home stronger than he left.

My big complaint with Exiled is that it was a little choppy – the story alternates between the past and present, showing scene’s from James’ childhood interspersed with his trials in The Never, and it was a little difficult to follow. I found that there weren’t enough time cues in the actual reading to keep me on track and understanding of where I was in James’ life as I was reading. However, outside of that, this was a very unique adventure story, and I definitely enjoyed it. And with the way it ended, I am definitely looking forward to the next installment.

And now… I’m delighted to welcome J. R. Wagner to the blog to tell us more about the various ways magic influences his writing! Welcome J. R.!

Like many others (I think), magic was commonplace in the stories read to me by my parents in early childhood. A few that I can recall include Where the Wild Things Are by the recently deceased Maurice Sendak, many of the stories written by the great Dr. Seuss, Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein, and Grimm’s Fairy Tales. (My mom was kind enough to stick to the lighter fare from this menu of potentially traumatic stories.)

Similarly, magically themed television programs and movies of my early years (shut up, I’m not that old) could be viewed with relative ease. I can recall seeing Fantasia for the first time and being transfixed despite my life-long despisal of Mickey Mouse. The Last Unicorn (it sounds girly but it’s actually quite dark), and The Dark Crystal were played over and over on my VCR. (If you don’t know what a VCR is, you have every right to call me old.)

As I grew older and started reading for enjoyment rather than because I was told to by an authority figure, I enjoyed the magic of Peter Pan by J. M Barrie, A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis and The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkein.

Any writer with a pulse who put ink to paper after 1997 with the intent of spinning a magical yarn can’t say J. K. Rowling hasn’t influenced their work. They just can’t.

The books I have read were composed by generations of fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, teachers and disciples. I am the sum total of their experiences, their quests. And so are you.

–Eliezer Wiesel

Wow. Toss in ‘movies I have seen’ beside ‘books I have read’ and you’ve got a clearer, more concise (certainly shorter) statement saying what I’ve been trying to say. I’d feel really stupid right now if he wasn’t a Nobel Laureate.

Simply stated, the magical influences that intersected somewhere in the recesses of my spectacularly less accomplished (when compared to the likes of Mr. Wiesel) mind, and spewed forth Exiled and The Never Chronicles are everywhere. I credit everything and everyone I’ve ever been in contact with. Including Bill Bryson, who said it’s okay to end a sentence in a preposition (see previous sentence).

Inspired by the history of world language, I decided to use Basque; arguably the oldest spoken language, as the magical language of the 'Earth bound' characters in Exiled. Called Euskara by its speakers, Basque may be the last surviving remnant of the Neolithic languages spoken in Stone Age Europe. Celtic, Germanic, Greek and many other foundational languages find their origins in Basque.

The magical language of The Never, the place where my main character, James is exiled in chapter one, is a product of my imagination. The magical incantations throughout Exiled are language based –if you don’t know the word, you can’t perform the incantation. (So you’d better brush up on your Basque if you want to start performing magic!)

Creativity was encouraged in my family while I was growing up. I think Mom and Dad would have encouraged anything that wasn’t self-destructive and kept me out of their hair. As an adult in the real word, I’m sad to say that more often than not, creativity is viewed as a form of insubordination. Bill doesn’t want Jenny supplanting his authority by coming up with a better way of doing something. Stupid Bill. Anyway, I’ve been blessed with a creativity that hasn’t deteriorated over time and I take advantage of it as often as possible. Real magic is the imagination of the human mind. What a thing to behold.

And while there may be literary sources that I’ve drawn upon in creating my magical world, they are a collection of experiences meshed with my real world interactions. Influences are only as powerful as the subject allows them to be. That being said, it is impossible to keep these influences out of your subconscious where they shape your every thought. Sometimes, what I think is an original thought as I’m penning it to paper turns out to be something I’ve seen, heard or read –thank goodness for second and third drafts.

There is one story in particular (yes it is one of the aforementioned stories) that played a large part in modeling certain parts of Exiled. If you look hard enough, they’re in there –subtle hints and hat-tips pointing back to this wonderful tale. To date, none of the ARC readers has noticed the connection. I look forward to a fun discussion with the person who finally makes the connection!

Top Ten: Long Lasting Books

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Tue, 29 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Top Ten Tuesday is an awesome weekly event hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, that gives us all a chance to make lists! I love making lists, so this is right up my alley. :-)

Our topic this week is the top ten books written in the past ten years that I hope will still be popular in thirty years… And here’s what I’ve got!

Oh my gosh you guys, this one in hard to do. I’m stuck! I am absolutely positive that there are a ton of books I could add to this list, but I just can’t think of any right now. What are yours? Share share share!

Book Review: Hemlock

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Sun, 27 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Title: Hemlock
Author: Kathleen Peacock
Where I got it: From the library

Amazon Summary:
Mackenzie and Amy were best friends. Until Amy was brutally murdered.

Since then, Mac's life has been turned upside down. She is being haunted by Amy in her dreams, and an extremist group called the Trackers has come to Mac's hometown of Hemlock to hunt down Amy's killer:

A white werewolf.

Lupine syndrome--also known as the werewolf virus--is on the rise across the country. Many of the infected try to hide their symptoms, but bloodlust is not easy to control.

Wanting desperately to put an end to her nightmares, Mac decides to investigate Amy's murder herself. She discovers secrets lurking in the shadows of Hemlock, secrets about Amy's boy-friend, Jason, her good pal Kyle, and especially her late best friend. Mac is thrown into a maelstrom of violence and betrayal that puts her life at risk.

Kathleen Peacock's thrilling novel is the first in the Hemlock trilogy, a spell-binding urban fantasy series filled with provocative questions about prejudice, trust, lies, and love.

My Thoughts:
Kathleen Peacock takes the standard werewolf issues, spins them around, and dumps them on their heads in Hemlock – and the results are fabulous!

Mac has been lost ever since her best friend Amy was murdered by a werewolf. She’s trying to keep it together, even though her two remaining best friends are acting completely bizarre in their own little ways. Jason’s on the verge of self destruct, and Kyle is just acting odd. When the Trackers come to town to hunt the werewolf who killed Amy, things go from bad to worse in Mac’s life, and she’s determined to figure out who killed her friend to get the Trackers to leave. Except things in Hemlock aren’t always what they seem, and there are a whole lot of potential suspects in this small town.

The werewolves in this book – freaking awesome

The bad guys – super skin crawlingly creepy

The good guys – make you squishy

Oh, and the mystery of the story will completely keep you guessing. Especially as people switch between the “good guy” and “bad guy” lists with reckless abandon, and you never quite know what to think about anything that’s going on. I am desperate for the next book in this trilogy, because I am certain it will rock my socks.

Book Review: Revived

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Sat, 26 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Title: Revived
Author: Cat Patrick
Where I got it: From the library

Amazon Summary:
As a little girl, Daisy Appleby was killed in a school bus crash. Moments after the accident, she was brought back to life.

A secret government agency has developed a drug called Revive that can bring people back from the dead, and Daisy Appleby, a test subject, has been Revived five times in fifteen years. Daisy takes extraordinary risks, knowing that she can beat death, but each new death also means a new name, a new city, and a new life. When she meets Matt McKean, Daisy begins to question the moral implications of Revive, and as she discovers the agency's true goals, she realizes she's at the center of something much larger -- and more sinister -- than she ever imagined.

My Thoughts:
Holy heck, how did I not know that Cat Patrick had another book coming out?!?! I absolutely adored Forgotten when I read it, and when I saw her latest at the bookstore, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. And was amazed and astounded yet again by her awesome writing!

Daisy was killed in a bus accident… And revived moments later as part of a super secret government trial of a drug designed to “revive” people who die suddenly. She’s spent the rest of her life within the program, moving from town to town with her agent “parents,” relocating every time something happens and she dies again. Except she likes her new town and her new friends, and doesn’t want to leave. And the orders from “God” – the head of the program – are getting increasingly weird. Daisy wants out, but will have to take on “God” to do it – which is a much more difficult task than expected.

Seriously, I loved this book! Daisy is a pretty normal girl, all things considered, and when she starts making friends, and gets a boyfriend, she just blossoms as a character. The secret dynamic of the Revive program is super cool without being too techy or overbearing, and the plot is fantastically well balanced between details and action. Seriously folks, I couldn’t put this one down, so go out and get it sooner than later!

Book Review: The Selection

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Fri, 25 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Title: The Selection
Author: Kiera Cass
Where I got it: As an audiobook from the library

Amazon Summary:
For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself—and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

My Thoughts:
I have heard raves about The Selection, and a lot of comparisons to reality TV that I didn’t understand because I don’t watch TV. I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect with this book, other than something awesome, and something awesome is definitely what I got.

For starters, the reader is so important for an audiobook, and let me tell you, the chick who does the reading for this is fabulous. I loved her voice, the inflection, and just the way her reading brought America to life for me. Sometimes it’s hard when girls read boy parts or vice versa, but I didn’t have any issues in this one. Simple fabulous.

Second – holy crap the plot!!! I cannot imagine competing for one prince with thirty five other girls! I would seriously rather die, for any number of reasons, one of which is the requirement to wear fancy dresses and be in the spotlight. But joining the selection has benefits for America’s lower caste family, and so she does. She never dreams that she would learn so much about herself and her country, or that she might actually have feelings for the stuffy prince. I loved watching them build their relationship based on friendship and upfront honesty, because it was just so much of the right logic in such an unusual situation.

Be warned you guys, this book is awesome… And then it just ends and leaves you totally hanging and dying inside for more. Dying I tell you. I finished it and almost threw a fit!

PS – Please look beyond the scary ruffled dresses on the cover. They frightened me, but I’m still glad I read this. :-)

Book Review: Unspoken

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Thu, 24 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Title: Unspoken
Author: Sarah Rees Brennan
Where I got it: From NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review

Amazon Summary:
Kami Glass is in love with someone she's never met—a boy she's talked to in her head since she was born. This has made her an outsider in the sleepy English town of Sorry-in-the-Vale, but she has learned ways to turn that to her advantage. Her life seems to be in order, until disturbing events begin to occur. There has been screaming in the woods and the manor overlooking the town has lit up for the first time in 10 years. . . . The Lynburn family, who ruled the town a generation ago and who all left without warning, have returned. Now Kami can see that the town she has known and loved all her life is hiding a multitude of secrets—and a murderer. The key to it all just might be the boy in her head. The boy she thought was imaginary is real, and definitely and deliciously dangerous.

My Thoughts:
Kami and Jared have shared thoughts since they were little kids, so when he shows up in Sorry-in-the-Vale, the fact that he’s a real person is a little difficult to handle. The fact that strange things are happening since the return of the Lynburns is even more mysterious. Enter Kami Glass, girl detective, who is determined to stick her nose into the mysteries of her small town, no matter the risks.

Unspoken has a definite air of snark and mystery that kept me turning pages to find out more, and giggling like an idiot at regular intervals. Kami and Jared are a hilarious duo that play off eachother amazingly well (as they should, since they’ve shared thoughts their entire lives). Add in Kami’s friends, one of whom hates people in general and is remarkably lazy, and the other a girly girl who turns out to fit right into the little group, and you have a funny, well rounded group of adventurers. I loved each and every character in Unspoken, even though they’re all incredibly unique.

Then you’ve got the paranormal mystery plot, which is totally unresolved at the end of the book, and is fantastically interesting to the point that I am crying for more. Oh dear author, please write more!!!!

This book is so much fun, I highly suggest it for fans of YA mysteries and paranormal stories. So. Much. Fun!

Book Review: Drowning Instinct

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Wed, 23 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Title: Drowning Instinct
Author: Ilsa J Black
Where I got it: As a Random Act of Kindness!

Amazon Summary:
There are stories where the girl gets her prince, and they live happily ever after. (This is not one of those stories.) Jenna Lord's first sixteen years were not exactly a fairy tale. Her father is a controlling psycho and her mother is a drunk. She used to count on her older brother--until he shipped off to Iraq. And then, of course, there was the time she almost died in a fire. There are stories where the monster gets the girl, and everyone cries for his innocent victim. (This is not one of those stories either.) Mitch Anderson is many things: A dedicated teacher and coach. A caring husband. A man with a certain...magnetism. And there are stories where it's hard to be sure who's a prince and who's a monster, who is a victim and who should live happily ever after. (These are the most interesting stories of all.) Drowning Instinct is a novel of pain, deception, desperation, and love against the odds--and the rules.

My Thoughts:
Jenna has had the most jacked up childhood you could imagine. Her mom is an alcoholic, her dad sleeps around with a succession of nurses, and she's scarred from a fire that she was trapped in as a kid. And then there's her stint in the psych ward for cutting. She's created an elaborate reality to help herself cope and keep up with her treatment after the hospital, even though her dad yanked her from treatment and sent her to a new school. Seriously, what kid wouldn't be traumatized????

Drowning Instinct starts with the present. Jenna is in the hospital being questioned by a detective, but we have no clear idea why. He asks her to tell her story to a little mini recorder and leaves the room, while Jenna proceeds to relive the events that lead up to her trip to the hospital, including the fire that scarred her, her relationship with her older brother, and her infatuation with her chemistry teacher.

My favorite thing about Drowning Instinct, outside of the completely engrossing mystery, was the POV and personality - the whole novel is told in first person by Jenna, who is smart, funny, disturbed, snarky, and just all around a fantastic character. Personally, I would this this would be a difficult way to tell a story and keep it interesting, so I was majorly impressed that it didn't slip and I didn't get bored.

There's also a lot in this book to make you think. So much is going on that you're never really sure who to like, who to hate, or who to trust. Alliances and perceptions were constantly shifting for me as I read this, which really made me want to stay up all night to find out what was going to happen.

Fans of psychological stories and general mysteries should definitely check this one out, because it's awesome.

Top Ten: Non-Bookish Websites

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Tue, 22 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Top Ten Tuesday is an awesome weekly event hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, that gives us all a chance to make lists! I love making lists, so this is right up my alley. :-)

Our topic this week is non-bookish websites… Which confuses me, because what else is there on the internet other than bookish sites??? Well and social networking. I excluded those because they’re a given.

Google Reader – there is no way I could possibly keep up with all of the blogs I enjoy without this site!
Klout – definitely interesting to see where you stand on the internet and also to give props to those who influence you
Pinterest – I am so in love with this site for its time-wasting fabulousness! Feel free to follow me!
Google – c’mon, you know I’m not the only one who Google’s everything!
Amazon – for pure lazy shopping value
PMI – oh no, I admitted it, I’m a project management nerd
Remember the Milk – I would completely lose control of my life without this site!
Bottlenose – I got early access to this as a Klout perk, and I still haven’t completely made up my mind, but it’s a social network combination site
EdenFantasys – you all know I love this site, they have so much cool stuff!
Fitness and Spice – fun fitness and health tips!

What are some of your favorite non-bookish sites? I can’t wait to find out!

Book Review: The Summer My Life Began

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Mon, 21 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Title: The Summer My Life Began
Author: Shannon Greenland
Where I got it: From NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review

Amazon Summary:
A great summer beach read filled with sunshine, cooking, and--of course--romance!

Elizabeth Margaret--better known as Em--has always known what her life would contain: an internship at her father's firm, a degree from Harvard, and a career as a lawyer. The only problem is, it's not what she wants. So when she gets the opportunity to get away and spend a month with the aunt she never knew, she jumps at the chance. While there, Em learns that her family has some pretty significant secrets. And then there's Cade, the laid-back local surfer boy who seems to be everything Em isn't. Naturally, she can't resist him, and as their romance blossoms, Em feels that for the first time ever, she is really living life on her own terms.

My Thoughts:
The Summer My Life Began follows Em as she visits an aunt she never knew she has, and discovers that her family has a lot more secrets than she ever expected. Em has grown up in a ridiculously rigid household, where every actions should be proper, and her life has been planned out practically forever. She's going to Harvard, and she's going to be a lawyer. No matter that she doesn't want to, or that she dreams of being a chef.

So when she gets the chance to spend a month with her aunt Tilly at her bed and breakfast, she jumps. She meets family she never knew she had, and has the opportunity to explore her passion for cooking. Not to mention the cute guy who's practically part of the family... But an aunt she ever knew about is a lot more important to her life than she expected, and the summer will change everything.

I burned through this book so fast, because it was just such a fun awesome read! Em is a totally likable character, and it was so fun to see her get to cut loose a little, when you could tell it was like the first time ever. Things that we all take for granted and would probably consider tame were really big for her, which was refreshing in a YA world that tends to be fairly experienced in a lot of books. All in all this is a sweet summer page turner that will make you smile all the way through.

Book Review: The Unbearable Book Club for Unsinkable Girls

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Sun, 20 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Title: The Unbearable Book Club for Unsinkable Girls
Author: Julie Shoemacher
Where I got it: From NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review

Amazon Summary:
I'm Adrienne Haus, survivor of a mother-daughter book club. Most of us didn't want to join. My mother signed me up because I was stuck at home all summer, with my knee in a brace. CeeCee's parents forced her to join after cancelling her Paris trip because she bashed up their car. The members of "The Unbearable Book Club," CeeCee, Jill, Wallis, and I, were all going into eleventh grade A.P. English. But we weren't friends. We were literary prisoners, sweating, reading classics, and hanging out at the pool. If you want to find out how membership in a book club can end up with a person being dead, you can probably look us up under mother-daughter literary catastrophe. Or open this book and read my essay, which I'll turn in when I go back to school.

My Thoughts:
I’ve been in the mood for some fun summer reading lately, since it’s getting hotter and the days are getting longer, and this cover completely sold me! Doesn’t it look pretty and like a perfect bookish summer??? Yes, I thought so. :-)

In the summer before their junior year, four unlikely girls are brought together by their mothers for a mother-daughter book club to read their assigned books for AP English class. None of the girls are happy about this, both because they don’t want to be where they are for the summer, and because they don’t want to do the book club thing with their mothers.

The story focuses on Adrienne, who got stuck at home after a knee injury wrecked her plans with her best friend. She’s in that awkward conflicted stage where she doesn’t have a lot of friends, certainly isn’t a popular kid, and would much rather be reading and relaxing than being harassed by the other girls in the club. But, at the same time, she’s tired of being the “indescribable” girl who never experiences anything new, so she ends up making an effort with the girls, and they form a surprising bond for the summer.

First off, I oddly want to read (or reread in some cases) the classics the girls were doing for their summer reading. Their mention in the book makes them sound super interesting, which is odd because I’m not a classics kinda girl.

Second, this book is a perfect pool or beach read. There’s enough drama and conflict to keep you interested, but it’s overall a very light and fun book. I loved the characters and their differences, and thought the essay format of the book was super applicable and well done. You absolutely need to add this to your summer reading list, because it’s so fun!

Book Review: Barefoot Girls

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Sat, 19 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Title: Barefoot Girls
Author: Tara McTiernan
Where I got it: From the author, in exchange for an honest review

Amazon Summary:
When her hometown newspaper reviews Hannah O’Brien’s newly released novel, the nature of her book is called into question when the reviewer suggests it is a memoir depicting her neglectful alcoholic mother – Keeley O’Brien Cohen, the most beloved of the Barefoot Girls - a little too accurately for fiction, citing rumors rather than sources.

Deeply hurt and betrayed, Keeley cuts Hannah out of her life. Desperate, Hannah does everything she can to apologize and explain, but her pleas fall on deaf ears. Meanwhile, the rest of Hannah’s life starts to unravel, pushing her to risk her engagement to Daniel, the one man who had been able to scale the high walls around her heart. At the eleventh hour, the Barefoot Girls are able to convince Keeley to send Hannah the keys to the Barefooter house, the home and heart of their friendship. Barred from their clubhouse since she was twelve, Hannah grabs the chance to visit the little shack filled with memories and perched at the tip of Captain’s Island in the Great South Bay on Long Island, New York.

As Hannah battles to come to terms with her equally blessed and troubled childhood and understand her mother and her sister-close friends, she’s confronted with the power of forgiveness and the dangers of holding on to the past.

My Thoughts:
Barefoot Girls is one of the most unique and intriguing summer seeming books I’ve read in ages! It seems like it should be a completely light and fluffy summer read (even though the action doesn’t actually happen in the summer) but there’s a whole deeper plot to this book that just makes it fantastic.

The story is told from alternating perspectives, and alternating between the past and present, which I would think would be incredibly difficult to pull off for an author, but is done exceptionally well in this book. The character and tense shifts were timely, made sense, and were clear enough that I didn’t have to read half the chapter to figure out who I was dealing with at the time.

Hannah’s in her twenties, just published her first novel, is engaged to a great guy, and is having an identity crisis. She’s always wanted the kinds of friends that her mom had – four women who became friends as children during their summer’s on Captain’s and have continued their relationship into adulthood. But, she’s introverted and it never really happened for her. She’s always felt a wall between her and her mom, and is still waiting to learn more about her father, who died before she was born.

After her mother cuts her off emotionally because of a review of her book, she goes to Captain’s to spend some time reflecting and trying to learn more about her mother and her past, and how the Barefoot Girls came to be. But, the past may be more than she expects, and will change everything she knows about herself and her extended family.

Seriously, couldn’t put this book down, it’s fantastically well done, and has a really intriguing plot that’s deeper and more engrossing than you would expect.

Book Review: Bonds of Fenris

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Fri, 18 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Title: Bonds of Fenris
Author: S. J. Bell
Where I got it: From the author, in exchange for an honest review

Amazon Summary:
Talia Thornwood's life ended one year ago, when she became a werewolf. She survived the attack, and the horrifying transformation a month later, but the life she has now is barely worth living. She lurks about in a filthy, run-down house, with too many werewolves crammed into too small a space. Every day is a struggle against the stress of human contact, the romantic prodding of her obnoxious pack mate Pierce, and the gnawing hunger for flesh in her soul.

She's all but resigned herself to a dreary existence on the margins of society when she meets Corwin. Corwin is a werewolf like none other. He walks among humans as if it was nothing, and can keep his wolf under control even when the moon is full. Talia's mind is suddenly opened to the possibilities before her, and the realization of how little she really knows about lycanthropy.

Corwin claims that he can teach her how to cope as he does, even how to transcend her affliction. But it will not be easy. It is a hard education that requires her to question everything her pack taught her, and confront exactly what she has become. And, more amazingly, what she never stopped being.

My Thoughts:
This girl loves a good werewolf story, especially if the werewolves are snarky, or sexy. Hey, at least I’m honest. Bonds of Fenris had snarky down like you wouldn’t believe, and a new twist on werewolf lore to boot. I simply couldn’t put it down, and if you have any love for werewolves, you will check it out for yourself.

Talia survived a werewolf attack, but her life is still essentially over, because she can’t do anything that normal people do anymore. She had to leave her family to join her pack, because being around people makes the wolf stronger, and besides, it’s a bit hard to explain if you turn furry every month. But life in the pack isn’t all it’s cracked up to be either – tensions get high, the alpha is an entitled little brat, and there’s the challenge of trying to go to school and hold a job when the scent of people makes you think of food.

Then one night, she meets a lone wolf who is actual able to resume his human form at will on the full moon. As Talia’s hold on normal life gets more tenuous, she begs him to teach her how to control the wolf… But it will require her to completely change the way she views herself and her inner wolf.

I enjoyed every page of this book, both because of the awesome characters and plotline, and because it was simply a completely different take on werewolves that I found completely enthralling.

Book Review: The Plight and Plot of Princess Penny

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Thu, 17 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Title: The Plight and Plot of Princess Penny
Author: Mike Mullin
Where I got it: From the author, in exchange for an honest review

Amazon Summary:
From the author of "8: The Previously Untold Story of the Previously Unknown 8th Dwarf" comes an original fairy tale about a teenage princess who hires the witch from "The Frog Prince" to get revenge on a Mean Girl at school.

My Thoughts:
While I don’t generally gravitate to stories told in verse, I do love a good twist on a fairy tale, and I loved 8: The Previously Untold Story of the Unknown 8th Dwarf, so I was excited to read this new work from Mike Mullin, and I wasn’t disappointed.

The verse of Princess Penny didn’t flow as well to me as in 8, but the story was an interesting twist of traditional fairy tale roles, and modern times, with a cute and funny tone that kept me reading and chuckling to the very end.

Penny is a teenage princess who is constantly teased at school by the popular kids. She sets out to get revenge by hiring a witch, and got a lot more than she bargained for. The story is short and sweet, so it’s a really quick read, and definitely entertaining, especially for fans of fairytale retellings.

Book Review: The Universal Mirror

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Title: The Universal Mirror
Author: Gwen Perkins
Where I got it: From the author, in exchange for an honest review

Amazon Summary:
On the island of Cercia, the gods are dead, killed by their followers and replaced with the study of magic. Magicians are forbidden to leave their homeland. Laws bind these men that prevent them from casting spells on the living—whether to harm or to heal.

Quentin, a young nobleman, challenges these laws out of love for his wife. His best friend, Asahel, defies authority at his side, unaware that the search for this lost magic will bring them both to the edge of reason, threatening their very souls. The Universal Mirror shows how far two men are willing to go for the sake of knowledge and what they will destroy to obtain it.

My Thoughts:
I really expected to tear through The Universal Mirror with reckless abandon and complete disregard for the rest of the real world. Based on the summary and some other reviews, I figured it would be completely epic. Unfortunately, it fell somewhat short of epic for me, and I think I went into it with too many preconceived notions. However, that’s not to say I didn’t like it, because it was good, it just didn’t quite rock my world.

Cercia is an island that has a strong caste system, and a huge magical bent. In most cases, magicians are found in the upper classes, and trained at university. Rarely, someone from the merchant class is identified with magic and also trained. Ashael is one such merchant, who formed an unlikely friendship with Quentin in their school days, despite the differences in their social class. Years after university, Quentin is in the marriage that he wanted, but it’s miserable, and so he tries to find out if magic can be worked on living people, despite the fact that this practice is Heresy. As a noble, the chance that he’d be strictly punished is pretty slim, but he drags Ashael along on his quest, and the consequences are more than either man would have expected.

Quentin is noble to a “T” and the characterization is just fantastic. He’s a complete jerk to everyone, and a lot of his problems could have been solved by a simple rational conversation, rather than haring about the city trying to break magical laws. Ashael on the other hand is loyal, honorable, and hardworking, not to mention willing to risk everything to help his friend. Unfortunately for both of them, there’s a lot more going on in Cercia than they realized, and they’re walking right into the thick of it.

While The Universal Mirror wasn’t the obsessive page-turning read that I expected, it was definitely good, and puts a very different spin in the common use of magic in fiction. This book strikes me as historical and magical together, in the vein of The Sword of Truth. Definitely worth checking out!

Book Review: The River Witch

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Tue, 15 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Title: The River Witch
Author: Kimberly Brock
Where I got it: From NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review

Amazon Summary:
Broken in body and spirit, she secludes herself in the mystical wilderness of a Georgia island. Can she find herself in the sweetness of old songs, old ways, and the gentle magic of the river people?

"Kimberly Brock has an amazing voice and a huge heart; The River Witch welcomes the reader to a haunted landscape, authentically Southern, where the tragedies of the past and the most fragile, gorgeous kind of love-soaked hope are equally alive. This is one debut that you absolutely should not miss."-Joshilyn Jackson, New York Times Bestselling Author of Gods in Alabama

"Kimberly Brock's The River Witch achieves what splendid writing ought to achieve-story and character that linger in the reader's consciousness. Such is the power of Roslyn Byrne, who retreats to Manny's Island, Georgia, in search of herself, only to discover her great need of others. Tender and intriguing, often dazzling in its prose, this is a mature work of fiction worthy of the celebration of praise."-Terry Kay, internationally known author of the classic novel, To Dance With The White Dog

"There is magic and wonder in The River Witch, but the real enchantment here is the strength of the characters Roslyn and Damascus. Their voices are the current that carries the reader along in this compelling tale of healing and discovery."- Sharyn McCrumb, New York Times Bestselling Author, The Ballad of Tom Dooley

"With lyrical prose, Kimberly Brock explores the hidden places of the heart. The River Witch is a magical and bewitching story that, like a river, winds its way through the soul. In the voices of her wounded characters, Brock takes us through both the breaking and the healing of a life." -Patti Callahan Henry, New York Times Bestselling Author of The Perfect Love Song

Kimberly Brock is a native Southerner, a former actor and special needs educator. Her work has appeared in anthologies and magazines. She lives with her husband and three children north of Atlanta, Georgia. The River Witch is her first novel. Visit her at KimberlyBrockBooks.com

My Thoughts:
Based on the synopsis for The River Witch, I was expecting something a little more paranormal, and at least a little lighter. What I got was a fairly compelling and emotional read about the ways that damaged people come together and learn from each other. This isn’t a bad difference, but I think if I had had the right expectation, I would have approached this book with a more open mind and probably really gotten into it.

As it was, I did enjoy The River Witch, mostly because I absolutely adored Damascus as a character. Her mother passed away when she was a baby, her father has been absentee ever since, and her aunt is doing the best she can to raise Damascus right within the confines of their island town. When Roslyn arrives nursing a broken heart and damaged body, the two click and the results are different than they ever would have imagined.

While this definitely isn’t the light and fluffy read that the cover and synopsis seem to portray, it’s a really good book, especially once you get into it and get to know the characters a little better.

Summer Fantasys

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Mon, 14 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

It’s been a while since I’ve nerded on about the wonders of EdenFantasys, hasn’t it? Well, with summer rapidly approaching (heck, it’s here in Arizona, whether I like it or not) I think it’s about time to share some awesome summer products from one of my favorite online retailers – EdenFantasys!

For starters, what would a day on the beach be without a little sparkle, right? This pretty powder puff is just the thing to give you a lovely summer glow!

Summer is also time for us to bare our toes in flip flops and strappy sandals, which means it’s time to make sure those feet look fabulous! This foot balm should help with that, don’t you think?

I know what you’re thinking, with a name like EdenFantasys, this place must be all about the sex toys, right? But there are all these other cool products, so you can pamper yourself any way you want this summer! As always, the shipping is ridiculously fast, and super discrete, and best of all you get free standard shipping on any order over $59. Trust me, you can get a lot of cool stuff for $59, and it will be at your door before you could get an appointment at your local spa!

Book Review: Intangible

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Sun, 13 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Title: Intangible
Author: J. Meyers
Where I got it: From the author, in exchange for an honest review

Amazon Summary:
Twins Sera and Luke Raine have a well-kept secret----she heals with a touch of her hand, he sees the future. All their lives they've helped those in need on the sly. They've always thought of their abilities as being a gift.

Then Luke has a vision that Sera is killed. That gift they've always cherished begins to feel an awful lot like a curse. Because the thing about Luke's ability? He's always right.

And he can't do anything about it.

My Thoughts:
Paranormal floats my boat in general. And unique paranormal just makes me giddy and excited. Intangible… Makes me giddy and excited. This book is a paranormal mash up that just seems perfectly… Well, normal I guess. Let me explain.

Sera and Luke are twins. Sera can heal by touch, and Luke is a Seer. Little do they know, there’s a whole lot more to their abilities than just healing and visions. And there just might be a whole world of other people with unique abilities that the twins have never dreamed of.

So we’ve got healers and seers. Add in a dash of vampires, and a few fey, and you’ve got a delightfully good page turner of a story! (Yeah, there’s a lot more going on here than I’ve let on… But I don’t want to spoil it for you!)

I enjoyed every minute of this book – it’s fun, it’s interesting, it’s got enough drama to keep me interested and more than anything, it’s different from anything I can remember off the top of my head. If you’re a fan of paranormal at all I highly suggest you give this book a shot.

Book Review: Afterwards

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Sat, 12 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Title: Afterwards
Author: Rosamund Lupton
Where I got it: From NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review

Amazon Summary:
From the author of the acclaimed New York Times bestseller Sister comes a compelling, thrilling story of a mother who will do anything to protect her child.

The school is on fire. Her children are inside.

Grace runs toward the burning building, desperate to reach them.

In the aftermath of the devastating fire which tears her family apart, Grace embarks on a mission to find the person responsible and protect her children from further harm. This fire was not an accident, and her daughter Jenny may still be in grave danger. Grace is the only one who can discover the culprit, and she will do whatever it takes to save her family and find out who committed the crime that rocked their lives. While unearthing truths about her life that may help her find answers, Grace learns more about everyone around her -- and finds she has courage she never knew she possessed.

Powerful and beautiful, with a riveting story and Lupton’s trademark elegant style that made Sister such a sweeping success, Afterwards explores the depths of a mother’s unswerving love.

My Thoughts:
It’s so hard to review this book without giving anything away, and I definitely don’t want to do that! Grace is at sports day for the kids’ school when she realizes that the school itself is on fire, and both her children are inside. In the aftermath of the fire, the police are tempted to settle for the easy answer, but Grace is certain that there’s more to the situation than meets the eye, if the police would only investigate further. As she delves deeper into the conflict and controversy that surround the school, she discovers amazing depth and bravery within herself, and finds herself having to make a terrible decision to keep her children safe.

I was really impressed by Sister when I read it a few weeks ago, and I enjoyed Afterwards even more. Lupton writes credible mysteries surrounding family drama in a manner that keeps you guessing, keeps you reading, and make you go “OMGWTF” at least a couple times per book. The twists and turns of this novel, coupled with the strength of emotion within a struggling family make this book well worth your time. And trust me, it will shock you. Go read it.

Book Review: The Immortal Rules

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Fri, 11 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Title: The Immortal Rules
Author: Julie Kagawa
Where I got it: From NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review

Amazon Summary:
In a future world, vampires reign. Humans are blood cattle. And one girl will search for the key to save humanity.

Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a vampire city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten.

Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of them. The vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself is attacked—and given the ultimate choice. Die…or become one of the monsters.

Faced with her own mortality, Allie becomes what she despises most. To survive, she must learn the rules of being immortal, including the most important: go long enough without human blood, and you will go mad.

Then Allie is forced to flee into the unknown, outside her city walls. There she joins a ragged band of humans who are seeking a legend—a possible cure to the disease that killed off most of humankind and created the rabids, the mindless creatures who threaten humans and vampires alike.

But it isn't easy to pass for human. Especially not around Zeke, who might see past the monster inside her. And Allie soon must decide what—and who—is worth dying for.

My Thoughts:
I’m not going to lie, I gave up on the Iron Fey series because I couldn’t handle the love triangle. Don’t stone me! However, I’m a huge fan of vampires, especially ones that are actually bad, so I was definitely intrigued by the idea of The Immortal Rules.

This book is awesome you guys. It blends dystopian and vampires in a totally unique and fabulous way, and the vampires are monsters again! Granted, our main protag wants to try not to be a monster, but that’s the exception, not the rule in The Immortal Rules.

Allie is a tough teen who has lived on the Fringe for as long as she can remember. Humans are kept around solely to provide food for the vampires who rule society, and any registered human is expected to provide a “donation” every couple weeks in exchange for food rations. Allie hates the bloodsuckers, and has remained unregistered in protest, confining herself to a life of scavenging and trade, until the night she’s attacked and left near death, and given the choice to die, or to become a vampire. Despite her hatred, she wants to live, and allows herself to be turned. But being a vampire is a lot different than she expected, and she has to constantly adapt to the changes in her body and the society she now belongs to. In addition, she has to deal with the fact that she doesn’t want to be a monster or treat humans as food, she’ll go insane without human blood.

This is not a book of sparkling gold eyed vamps (I had to get a dig in somewhere, even though I like Twilight!) – while the vampires that rule the world are often quite civilized, they are by no means the good guys in this book. Even Allie’s struggle to minimize her personal body count is unusual, and she certainly can’t fight her vampire nature to the extent that she’d prefer. But while the vampires are the obvious bad guys, this book is fraught with conflict, changing opinions, and characters that make you feel – whether it’s empathy, disgust, or hope – you feel. I enjoyed every page of this book, and I can’t wait to learn more because I am certain that the next books will be amazing.

Book Review: Breaking Beautiful

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Thu, 10 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Title: Breaking Beautiful
Author: Jennifer Shaw Wolf
Where I got it: From NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review

Amazon Summary:
Allie lost everything the night her boyfriend, Trip, died in a horrible car accident—including her memory of the event. As their small town mourns his death, Allie is afraid to remember because doing so means delving into what she’s kept hidden for so long: the horrible reality of their abusive relationship.

When the police reopen the investigation, it casts suspicion on Allie and her best friend, Blake, especially as their budding romance raises eyebrows around town. Allie knows she must tell the truth. Can she reach deep enough to remember that night so she can finally break free? Debut writer Jennifer Shaw Wolf takes readers on an emotional ride through the murky waters of love, shame, and, ultimately, forgiveness.

My Thoughts:
Breaking Beautiful is a sad, conflicted story of one teen’s “after.” After her abusive boyfriend dies, she is scarred, she can’t remember, and it seems like the whole world is mad at her, and she doesn’t even know why. Oh, and the local police have brought in a detective to further investigate, and he keeps trying to get her to remember what happened.

Told in a series of flashbacks, we watch Allie come to grips with the loss of Trip, which is both devastating and a huge relief. All the while, everyone is pressuring her to remember exactly what happened the night he drove off a cliff and she barely escaped, but aside from terrible nightmares, she doesn’t have a clue. When Blake becomes essentially her only friend, she realizes that there’s a spark there, but she must have the courage to face the truth and the town if she wants to move on with her life.

My biggest pet peeve about Breaking Beautiful was that Allie was super focused on appearances. Intellectually, I understand why, after what she went through dating the town’s most eligible teen, who just so happened to be an abusive jerk, but I got really tired of hearing about peoples’ looks. Outside of that, my heart just bled for Allie, especially during the flashbacks of her relationship with Trip. The most heartbreaking moment in the entire book is when she realizes that she can actually wear a sleeveless dress for the first time in two years, because she finally doesn’t have any bruises to cover up. The idea of not only recovering from an abusive relationship, and a traumatic accident, but also dealing with life in a very small town where everyone loved her former boyfriend, it’s easy to see why Allie just wanted to hide, and the strength she begins to show as she starts trying to move on is impressive.

There were times that I wished that the book moved just a little faster, but overall this is an emotionally charged, moving, and sensitive novel that will keep you turning pages to find out exactly what will happen to Allie.

Book Review: The Book of Blood and Shadow

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Wed, 09 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Title: The Book of Blood and Shadow
Author: Robin Wasserman
Where I got it: From NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review

Amazon Summary:
It was like a nightmare, but there was no waking up. When the night began, Nora had two best friends and an embarrassingly storybook one true love. When it ended, she had nothing but blood on her hands and an echoing scream that stopped only when the tranquilizers pierced her veins and left her in the merciful dark.

But the next morning, it was all still true: Chris was dead. His girlfriend Adriane, Nora's best friend, was catatonic. And Max, Nora's sweet, smart, soft-spoken Prince Charming, was gone. He was also—according to the police, according to her parents, according to everyone—a murderer.

Desperate to prove his innocence, Nora follows the trail of blood, no matter where it leads. It ultimately brings her to the ancient streets of Prague, where she is drawn into a dark web of secret societies and shadowy conspirators, all driven by a mad desire to possess something that might not even exist. For buried in a centuries-old manuscript is the secret to ultimate knowledge and communion with the divine; it is said that he who controls the Lumen Dei controls the world. Unbeknownst to her, Nora now holds the crucial key to unlocking its secrets. Her night of blood is just one piece in a puzzle that spans continents and centuries. Solving it may be the only way she can save her own life.

My Thoughts:
DaVinci Code meets YA adventure – w00t!

Chris, Max, and Adriane are Nora’s best friends and one true love. Chris and Adriane have been together for a good period of time, and Max is the newest addition to the group as a research partner on an extra credit Latin translation and eventually Nora’s boyfriend. When the teens make a startling discovery about the documents they’re translating, things start going awry. Suddenly, Chris is dead, Nora has blood on her hands, Adriane is virtually catatonic, and Max is missing. What. The. Heck… Adriane and Nora go on an adventure to try to find Max and figure out what’s going on, walk into more danger than they ever expected.

I loved the atmosphere and the completely academic bent of the story. The bulk of the action takes place in Prague, which is a location that I’ve only read about a little bit, and definitely find interesting. The blend of fact and fiction was interesting, and kept me guessing and wondering until the very end of the book. Pretty freaking awesome. I did have a bit of a challenge really getting to care about the characters, there were times that I know I should have had a stronger reaction than I actually did. It was interesting, but I didn’t find myself as invested as I’d hope. However, if you’re a fan of distant locations and mysterious adventures, this book is absolutely worth your time.

Top Ten: Bookish Quotes

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Tue, 08 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Top Ten Tuesday is a fun weekly event hosted by The Broke and the Bookish that gives us bookish nerds the chance to make lists! I <3 lists…

The topic this week is one that I love – bookish quotes! So without any further fanfare, here’s my list!

"Knocking him down won the first fight. I wanted to win all the next ones, too. So they'd leave me alone."
- Orson Scott Card, Ender's Game

“A woman with an education may be able to spend more time sitting in a chair instead of lying on her back. A sound advantage, I should think.”
― Anne Bishop, Daughter of the Blood

“We know how it ends practically before it starts. That's why stories appeal to us. They give us the clarity and simplicity our real lives lack.”
― Anne Bishop, Daughter of the Blood

“Earrings are like orgasms. You can never have too many."
" I never thought about it quite that way."
Well, you're a man. " She gave his knee a friendly pat.”
― Nora Roberts, Daring to Dream

“There are three things all wise men fear: the sea in storm, a night with no moon, and the anger of a gentle man.”
― Patrick Rothfuss, The Wise Man's Fear

“Words are pale shadows of forgotten names. As names have power, words have power. Words can light fires in the minds of men. Words can wring tears from the hardest hearts.”
― Patrick Rothfuss, The Name of the Wind

“Call a jack a jack. Call a spade a spade. But always call a whore a lady. Their lives are hard enough, and it never hurts to be polite.”
― Patrick Rothfuss, The Name of the Wind

“Sometimes crying or laughing are the only options left, and laughing feels better right now.”
― Veronica Roth, Divergent

“Politeness is deception in pretty packaging.”
― Veronica Roth, Divergent

"Knowledge is a weapon. I intend to be formidably armed."
–Terry Goodkind, Sword of Truth

Yeah, I could have gone on forever here… But I’ll stop. Mostly because I can’t wait to poke around and see everyone else’s lists!

Book Review: Emerald City

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Mon, 07 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Title: Emerald City
Author: Alicia K Leppert
Where I got it: From NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review

Amazon Summary:
Olivia's sad, solitary life in Seattle comes dangerously close to ending one fateful night, if not for a neighbor saving her in the nick of time. Curious about her mysterious rescuer, she seeks him out in hope of getting some answers, but instead finds something she never thought she'd have again.

My Thoughts:
Emerbld City was not what I expected based on the cover and the synopsis, but it was still definitely a good read. The story follows Olivia, who suffers from severe depression since her mother’s suicide, as she almost overdoses one night. Lucky for her, her neighbor rescued her in time. In the aftermath of her time in the hospital she seeks out her rescuer, Jude, and eventually realizes that she’s glad to be alive and feeling better about her life. And maybe there’s something between her and Jude worth exploring… But things don’t really add up about the night she almost died, and Jude may not be what he seems…

Emerald City was a little mild to get started, with just an underlying current of curiosity about what was going to happen, but then as the relationship between Jude and Olivia deepens we start wondering more about what’s going on, and what’s going to happen. The reader has interesting glimpses into circumstances that just don’t make sense until the big reveal near the end of the book, but then it’s awesome because everything clicks immediately into place and I personally had a light bulb moment.

This is a very different story than I expected, like I said, but it was interesting and had a pretty awesome twist that I wasn’t expecting. I really enjoyed it in the long run, especially once I realized it wasn’t going to be a creepy book.

Book Review: Bloom

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Sun, 06 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Title: Bloom
Author: Julie A Lindsey
Where I got it: From the publisher, in exchange for an honest review

Amazon Summary:
In a town filled with her past, she never expected to find her future….

Seven years ago Cynthia left Honey Creek with a broken heart. Three years ago Mitchell arrived with one. Now Cynthia’s come home, and these two hardened hearts can’t stop arguing. If they’d only take a break long enough to find some common ground, they might be surprised to find love can grow anywhere.

If they let it, love will find a way to Bloom.

My Thoughts:
I had the pleasure of hosting Julie on the blog a while back during her blog tour for Bloom, and I have to say she’s one of the sweetest people I’ve ever worked with. Turquoise Morning Press offered me a copy of Bloom to review, and I can’t tell you what a perfect spring-y book it is!

Cynthia left Honey Creek with a broken heart and a desire to see if she could make it in the big city. Seven years later, she’s come home to visit her grandmother, and begins wondering why she left in the first place. She also meets her grandma’s neighbor Mitchell, who arrived in Honey Creek after things went south with his wife. The two can’t stop arguing, but if they could, there might be a connection…

Cynthia and Mitchell each have their issues, and the sparks definitely fly every time they’re together. And from the perspective of the reader, even their arguments are entertaining. And it’s even more fun (and heartsquishymaking) to watch them work through their conflicts and realize that there might be something more between them.

Bloom is a sweet, fun read that I couldn’t put down. It’s got an adorable romantic story with enough past drama and conflict to keep life interesting, and the perfect small town feeling to boot. This one is definitely worth reading, so get it now!

Book Review: Kill Me Softly

noreply@blogger.com (Catherine Coffman) — Sat, 05 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Title: Kill Me Softly
Author: Sarah Cross
Where I got it: From NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review

Amazon Summary:
Mirabelle's past is shrouded in secrecy, from her parents' tragic deaths to her guardians' half-truths about why she can't return to her birthplace, Beau Rivage. Desperate to see the town, Mira runs away a week before her sixteenth birthday—and discovers a world she never could have imagined.

In Beau Rivage, nothing is what it seems—the strangely pale girl with a morbid interest in apples, the obnoxious playboy who's a beast to everyone he meets, and the chivalrous guy who has a thing for damsels in distress. Here, fairy tales come to life, curses are awakened, and ancient stories are played out again and again.

But fairy tales aren't pretty things, and they don't always end in happily ever after. Mira has a role to play, a fairy tale destiny to embrace or resist. As she struggles to take control of her fate, Mira is drawn into the lives of two brothers with fairy tale curses of their own . . . brothers who share a dark secret. And she'll find that love, just like fairy tales, can have sharp edges and hidden thorns.

My Thoughts:
I love a good fairy tale retelling, especially when they’re creative or a little obscure, and Kill Me Softly meets all those criteria! Oh, and it’s based on the darker fairy tales from Grimm, which definitely gives bonus points, although they’re not needed with how much fun I had reading the book.

Mirabelle has lead a sheltered life to say the least. She’s been banned from razors, driving in cars without an adult, and from going to the town where she was born, and where her parents died in a fire the day of her christening. There’s really no good reason that she knows of for any of this, so on her sixteenth birthday she sets out for Beau Rivage to find her parents’ graves.

While she’s there, she meets a huge cast of characters, all of whom are playing out various roles in the traditional fairy tale anthology. And while we’d all like to think that fairy tales all end in happy ever afters, that’s not always the case in Beau Rivage.

My absolute most favoritest thing about Kill Me Softly was the variety of twists on the typical modern day happy fairy tales. These kids are stuck with fairy tale roles, and it’s definitely not always a good thing. Seriously, fairy tales are real, and they’re not always about talking tea pots and pretty dresses. The creative application of darker fairy tales simply took the cake on this one. I absolutely loved the mystery and challenge that Mirabelle dealt with, and watching her realize who she can and can’t trust in this strange new town.

Bottom line is that Kill Me Softly is awesome – it’s creative, fun, funny, unique, and just a little bit dark. If you like fairy tales at all, heck, even if you don’t, you should definitely check out this book.

Oh, and if you doubt me, just look at that gorgeous cover and try to resist.