Book Review: The Muse by Jessica Evans

The Muse
by Jessica Evans

Genre: Romance / Contemporary / Pride & Prejudice Re-telling

Ages: 16 and up

I received an e-copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review, courtesy of Jakki Leatherberry.

Description:

Elizabeth Bennet, the newest corps de ballet dancer at Ballet Theater of New York, dreams of rising through the prestigious company’s ranks to become a prima ballerina. When she’s cast in superstar choreographer William Darcy’s newest work, she believes she’s one step closer to realizing her dream–until she meets him.

William Darcy, the former dance legend and ballet bad boy, is a jaded perfectionist who dancers both fear and admire. Although touted as the next big thing in the ballet world, he secretly battles a bad case of artist’s block–until he meets Elizabeth Bennet.

Tempers ignite between Elizabeth and Darcy, but he’s irresistibly drawn to the stubborn and beautiful corps de ballet dancer. Could she be the muse he needs to reignite his passion for ballet?

My Thoughts:

I loved this book. It is one of the best P&P stories I have read this year. It is a flawless blend of brilliant new ideas and everything I loved from the original Jane Austen. It made me laugh out loud with shocked, horrified humor more than once, but also made me sigh at some lovely moments of pure sweetness.

This is a very modern, no-holds-barred take on Darcy and Elizabeth, to warn those who prefer the more traditional adaptations. Elizabeth gets drunk and does stupid things, Darcy appears to briefly go through a midlife crisis, and yet...They are still completely lovable despite, or perhaps because of, these imperfections.

I was very impressed by the way the author channeled Darcy's intensity into art. Every scene where he was working on his dance was positively fraught with passion (and frequently sexual frustration). When he and Elizabeth worked together, the chemistry was sizzling despite the effort both of them put into ignoring their attraction.

There were many times over the course of the novel that I wanted to strangle Elizabeth, which, to me, is always a sign of excellent character development. There was never a moment when I did not care about what happened to her, what she chose to do next. She could be a little bit petty, a little bit jealous, but always striving to be better. I alternated between cringing for her or cheering her on.

One cannot review this book without making a point to mention the dancing. Oh. My. Goodness. The. Dancing. I have never been particularly interested in ballet, but this book made me want to go take lessons. Of course, I would also want Darcy to be teaching said lessons so we could have passionate glaring contests. Sigh.

Anyway, I definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys dancing, romance and dazzling displays of temper.

Rating System: Profanity, Sexuality and Violence
1 (mild) through 10 (extreme). Ratings may contain spoilers.

Profanity:
I give it an 8.10 for a few uses of the f-word and some mild to mid-level swearing.

Sexuality: 
I rate it a 7.10 for a couple of fairly descriptive scenes and innuendo, some a little crude.

Violence:
There was no violence in this book.

                              Lieder Madchen

Blog Tour Book Review: Boots and Backpacks by K. C. Kahler

Boots and Backpacks
by K.C. Kahler

Genre: Romance / Contemporary / Pride & Prejudice Re-telling

Ages: 16 and up

I received an e-copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. Thanks to Leatherbound Reviews! :)

Description:

William Darcy counts down the last few months to his 30th birthday with dread. Orphaned as a child, his parents’ will includes a bizarre clause: Darcy must get married by his 30th birthday in order to inherit the family fortune. To make matters worse, the press knows about this deadline, as do the hordes of women chasing him in the hopes of becoming Mrs. Darcy. His family legacy hangs in the balance, but Darcy has little faith in the fairer sex. Will he find a woman he wants to marry, and quickly?

Elizabeth Bennet is determined to pursue her education and career without letting a man get in the way. When her traveling companion drops out, her planned hike on the Appalachian Trial is jeopardized. She meets the spoiled, snobby William Darcy just when he is desperate to escape the spotlight. No one will suspect that the Prince of Manhattan has gone backpacking! Darcy and Elizabeth form a tenuous partnership and begin a 300-mile journey that will transform them both.

In classic romantic comedy tradition, Boots & Backpacks follows our reluctant partners as they build trust, friendship, and even more. Six weeks together on America’s most famous hiking trail may turn out to be just what these two need!

My Thoughts:

Oh my goodness, Darcy is a total jerk in this book. At least, he is at first. For the first few chapter I kept trying to wrap my head around it; a version of Darcy who had slept with hundreds of women over the course of eight years of one-night stands. After a little while, though, I started looking at it less as a modern adaptation of Pride and Prejudice and more of a contemporary romance that was just written by someone who loves Jane Austen. At that point, the book stopped bugging me and I just started enjoying it.

The character arc was simply delightful. As I mentioned above, Darcy starts out as a jerk. Ever so slowly, though, over the course of the novel, he learns and improves. He stops hitting on Lizzy all the time and starts actually thinking about her. The development was very well written. Lizzy has her own issues, and the way the two of them worked through things was lovely to watch.

I am a huge fan of the way Ms. Kohler worked in so many Jane Austen characters, not just the ones from P&P. Marianne and Ellie Dashwood, along with Christopher Brandon and Eduardo Ferraro, made an appearance, thought Ellie's was off-screen. Several others were slipped in, sometimes in a way that was obvious, and some that were rather sneaky.

While it took me a little while to get into it, I liked this book a lot. It had a great deal of humor and wit, making it a very entertaining read.

Rating System: Profanity, Sexuality and Violence
1 (mild) through 10 (extreme). Ratings may contain spoilers.

 

Profanity:

I rate it an 8.10 for a few uses of the f-word and some mid-level swearing.

 

Sexuality:

I give it 7.10 for a few middlingly descriptive scenes and quite a few references.

 

Violence:

There was no violence in this book, though it came close once or twice.

 

About the Author: 

KC Kahler has worked as a writer and editor in both non-profit and academic settings. Until discovering Jane Austen Fan Fiction several years ago, KC’s writing had been limited to the dry and technical, which is a shame, since she considers herself witty and sparkling. Her first novel, Boots & Backpacks, will be published in 2014 by Meryton Press. 

KC lives on a four-acre slice of Penn’s Woods with her husband and two dogs. They enjoy hiking, gardening, and being beer snobs. 

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Chased Dreams by Lacey Weatherford Release Day Blitz!

OK, most of this post is just a copy-paste, internet-wide blitz post, but I feel obliged to add my two cents. I haven't read the book yet, but Lacey Weatherford has never disappointed me when it comes to lovely romantic fiction. Each new book is almost always better than the last, so I fully expect Chased Dreams to leave me speechless.

Lacey and Chase have created a story that is timeless and heartwarming. They truly know how to create a story about love and loss, while doing the series justice and ending it brilliantly! 

–Lisa Markson, The Paranormal Bookworm

Chased Dreams 

Lacey Weatherford & Chase Walden

Book Three  - Chasing Nikki Series

Dreams of the future, dreams of love and happiness, dreams of being able to move on and get past the heartache that still resides in his soul, Chase Walker believes things are finally starting to look up.

But are they really?

When Chase suffers a devastating injury on the football field, his life is thrown into a tailspin once again. Feeling like he’s lost his identity, he struggles with keeping his relationship with Brittney from falling apart, while also trying to find out who he really is inside. 

But when dreams from the past resurface, causing old feelings to rise anew and clash with the life he’s living now, Chase is left to wonder if all he has is Chased Dreams.

Purchase Chased Dreams for $2.99

About Lacey Weatherford 

Lacey Weatherford is the bestselling author of the popular young adult paranormal romance series, Of Witches and Warlocks, and contemporary series, Chasing Nikki and Crush, and Tell Me Why.

Lacey resides in the beautiful White Mountains of Arizona. She lives with her wonderful husband and children along with their dog, Talley, and cat, Minx. When she’s not out supporting one of her kids at their sporting/music events, she spends her time reading, writing, and visiting with her readers on her social media accounts.

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

Release Day Book Review: Love by Lacey Weatherford

Love
by Lacey Weatherford

Genre: Romance / New Adult / Suspense / Mystery / Contemporary

Ages: 15 and up

Sequel to Crush and Smitten.

I received an advance e-copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Description:

Living happily ever after has always been part of the plan for Cami and Dylan, but when strange things begin happening around the Wilcock household, Cami simply believes she’s becoming forgetful.

However, when the incidents begin to escalate, both are left feeling vulnerable. Unable to figure out what’s going on, Dylan delves deeper into the mysterious happenings. But when the truth comes out, he finds himself faced with the biggest decision of his life—how far will he go to protect the one he loves?

My Thoughts:

Oh. My. Freaking. Goodness. This book is awesome. And awful. Joyful. Painful. Jaw-droppingly amazing. Seriously, I may not be able to sleep tonight. Are you trying to kill me, Lacey???

It started with the sweetest, most swoonworthy Valentine's Day ever, as celebrated by Cami and Dylan Wilcock. They were so happy, laughing over racy humor and reveling in their love for each other. I sighed and awwed, chortling a little at their antics, but underneath there was a sort of dreadful anticipation. In suspense stories, I've noticed that the happier the main characters are at the beginning, the worse it is going to be before the end. Never has that been more true.

I was glued to every page from beginning to end. I guessed the identity of the troublemaker pretty early on, but there were a couple of twists that I did not see coming. While the mystery wasn't all that mysterious, the suspense was...murderous. I swear, I didn't move at all during the latter two thirds of the book except to turn pages. If you are an angst weenie, this book is not for you. As for me, I loved it, even when it made me cry. Which it did. A lot.

Cami and Dylan were at their absolute best. I don't want to spoil anything, but you see new sides to them that made me love them even more. Especially Dylan. Russ, Dylan's best friend and fellow firefighter, played a large part in the story, and I think he could make a great hero in his own right. I can fall in love with two characters in one book, right?

Love is darker, more intense than Crush or Smitten and it is officially my new favorite Lacey Weatherford novel. The emotions are so powerfully conveyed that I felt each and every one of them along with the characters. Now that it's over, I find myself torn between my usual, selfish desire for a sequel and a wish that Cami and Dylan never experience enough trouble to warrant another novel again.

Rating System: Profanity, Sexuality and Violence
1 (mild) through 10 (extreme). Ratings may contain spoilers.

Profanity:
I rate it a 5.10 for one f-word and some mild to mid-level swearing.

Sexuality:
I give it a 6.10 for a couple of mildly descriptive/fadeaway scenes, references to rape, the threat of rape, and multiple innuendos.

Violence:
I rate it a  7.10 for torture, murder and attempted murder.

                              Lieder Madchen

Book Review: Heartbeat by Elizabeth Scott

Heartbeat
by Elizabeth Scott

Genre: Young Adult / Contemporary / Romance / Tragedy

Ages: 13 and up

I received an e-copy of this book through NetGalley and Kismet Book Tours in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Description:

Since her mother's sudden death, Emma has existed in a fog of grief, unable to let go, unable to move forward—because her mother is, in a way, still there. She's being kept alive on machines for the sake of the baby growing inside her.

Estranged from her stepfather and letting go of things that no longer seem important—grades, crushes, college plans—Emma has only her best friend to remind her to breathe. Until she meets a boy with a bad reputation who sparks something in her—Caleb Harrison, whose anger and loss might just match Emma's own. Feeling her own heart beat again wakes Emma from the grief that has grayed her existence. Is there hope for life after death—and maybe, for love?

My Thoughts:

This book was surprisingly painful to read in the very best of ways. I cried more than once and had a lump in my throat for almost the entire novel. It's not a very long book, but every page has an emotional depth that made me feel like I was reading a bigger book. Heartbeat wasn't my usual cup of tea (too sad) but it grabbed me immediately and the more I read, the more I was pulled in.

I loved how the author slowly revealed layer after layer of Emma's feelings; her grief, her anger, her hurt. She started with the ones on the surface, then gradually dug into Emma's soul. It's probably one of the most perfectly written character arcs I have ever read, beautiful and heartbreaking. Reading it, I firmly agreed with her stepfather's decision to keep her mom on life support to give the baby a chance to live, but it was impossible not to empathize with how awful it would be to have to tell yourself every day that your mom was dead, even though her heart was still beating. Then as more layers were revealed...Ms. Scott is most definitely a master at writing emotional anguish and tearing the reader's heart in different directions.

The relationship between Emma and Caleb was soft and sweet and lovely. They come together through mutual understanding of what it is to lose someone, and with them your entire way of life. Their romance brought a little much-needed hope to the narrative, keeping the story from getting too depressing.

The secondary characters are just as well-written as the heroine, particularly Dan, Emma's stepfather, and Olivia, her best friend. Even the minor, hardly-in-the-story characters were memorable, like Olivia's parents. They gave the book a wonderful, multidimensional feel.

I highly recommend this book, but I must warn you to keep tissues at hand for the inevitable tears.

Rating System: Profanity, Sexuality and Violence 
1 (mild) through 10 (extreme). Ratings may contain spoilers.

Profanity:
I rate it a 3.10 for one or two mid-level words and some mild swearing.

Sexuality:
I give it a 3.10 for teenagers making out, kissing, etc.

Violence:
I rate it a 1.10 for references to fatal accidents.

                   Lieder Madchen

Heartbeat Book Blitz + Giveaway!

Hello! Today I'm sharing a very interesting looking book with you, courtesy of Kismet Book Tours, and give you an opportunity to win a copy. So, take a look, enter the Rafflecopter, and come back in a few days to read my review. :)

About HEARTBEAT:

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Indiebound

Emma would give anything to talk to her mother one last time. Tell her about her slipping grades, her anger with her stepfather, and the boy with the bad reputation who might be the only one Emma can be herself with.

But Emma can’t tell her mother anything. Because her mother is brain-dead and being kept alive by machines for the baby growing inside her.

Meeting bad-boy Caleb Harrison wouldn’t have interested Old Emma. But New Emma—the one who exists in a fog of grief, who no longer cares about school, whose only social outlet is her best friend Olivia—New Emma is startled by the connection she and Caleb forge. Feeling her own heart beat again wakes Emma from the grief that has grayed her existence. Is there hope for life after death—and maybe, for love?

Praise for Heartbeat

“An intense examination of a family coping with grief, this absorbing character study easily keeps pages turning.”

— Kirkus on Heartbeat

About Elizabeth Scott - Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Tumbler

ELIZABETH SCOTT grew up in a town so small it didn’t even have a post office, though it did boast an impressive cattle population. She’s sold hardware and panty hose and had a memorable three-day stint in the dot-com industry, where she learned that she really didn’t want a career burning CDs. She lives just outside Washington, D.C., with her husband, and firmly believes you can never own too many books.

And now, for the giveaway! Good luck! :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour: Book Review of My Own Mr. Darcy by Karey White + Giveaway!

 

Today I am very happy to be a part of the My Own Mr. Darcy Blog Tour, hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer. I really loved this book, which just makes it all the more fun. :) After my review, there's a giveaway! Always exciting. :)

My Own Mr. Darcy

by Karey White

Genre: Romance / Contemporary / Pride and Prejudice Inspired

Ages: 14 and up 

I received an e-copy of this book as part of this tour in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Description:

After being dragged to the 2005 movie Pride and Prejudice by her mother, sixteen-year-old Elizabeth’s life changes when Matthew Macfadyen’s Mr. Darcy appears on the screen. Lizzie falls hard and makes a promise to herself that she will settle for nothing less than her own Mr. Darcy. This ill-advised pledge threatens to ruin any chance of finding true love. During the six intervening years, she has refused to give any interested suitors a chance. They weren’t Mr. Darcy enough.

Coerced by her roommate, Elizabeth agrees to give the next interested guy ten dates before she dumps him. That guy is Chad, a kind and thoughtful science teacher and swim coach. While she’s dating Chad, her dream comes true in the form of a wealthy bookstore owner named Matt Dawson, who looks and acts like her Mr. Darcy. Of course she has to follow her dream. But as Elizabeth simultaneously dates a regular guy and the dazzling Mr. Dawson, she’s forced to re-evaluate what it was she loved about Mr. Darcy in the first place.

My Thoughts:

This book is the cutest thing since kittens. Seriously. It is one of the most adorable love stories I've ever read. It's kind of like a cupcake. A high-end one with daisies made of buttercream frosting on top (roses being too pretentious); sweet and light (but not too fluffy) and utterly delectable.

It is so easy to slip right into Elizabeth's skin; a reluctant teenager falling in love with Mr. Darcy for the first time. We can all sympathize with that, right? She takes it a step further, though, and becomes  infatuated with the Matthew Macfadyen version, from his voice to his manners, and decides that the love of her life must be exactly like him. Right down to the blue eyes and tousled hair. Somewhat unreasonable, but certainly understandable.

Then she meets Chad. He's cute and funny and considerate and - blonde. Down to earth. Not darkly handsome and aloof like Darcy, the man of her dreams. Clearly, he cannot be the love of her life...but she really likes him. Soon after, she meets Matt Dawson, a Matthew Macfadyen lookalike who owns a bookstore (wealthy, check), is a bit of a snob (check) and has a family that is certain to disapprove of her. It must be fate!

Or is it?

I really love Elizabeth as a person. She displays a wonderful sense of honor in her dealings with both Chad and Matt and refuses to let anyone change her. She won't let Matt walk all over her even though she thinks he's the answer to her dreams. I was rooting for Chad since almost the very beginning of the book, but I liked Matt a lot, too. He can be a pompous idiot, but all he needs is the right person to draw him out.

There are several details in this story that seemed almost designed to make me happy. Elizabeth's best friend Janessa and her boyfriend, Ben, dance in and out of the story with lovely echoes of Jane and Bingley in a way that made me smile. Elizabeth decorates a room in teal and orange, my favorite combination of colors. It's set in Oregon, my state, and shows all the quirkiness that makes Portland fun without going overboard. But that's just the icing on this delightful confection of a novel.

I love the theme of self-discovery, of learning that dreams can come true in unanticipated ways. I liked that there was never even a hint of sex; it was just pure, sweet romance. I will definitely be re-reading My Own Mr. Darcy, and if Ms. White ever decides to write a sequel I'll be at the front of the line to get it.

Rating System: Profanity, Sexuality and Violence

1 (mild) through 10 (extreme).

Profanity:

I don't remember any swearing, but I got so caught up in the story that I might have missed a couple of mild words...

Sexuality:

I give it a 1.10 for quite a bit of kissing.

Violence:

No violence.

*******

And now, a giveaway! Throughout the tour you can enter to win a $25 Amazon or PayPal gift card. If you are the lucky winner, I recommend you spend some of it on a copy of My Own Mr. Darcy. Just go here and enter on Rafflecopter. Giveaway ends Oct. 8th.

Author Karey White

Karey White grew up in Utah, Idaho, Oregon, and Missouri. She attended Ricks College and Brigham Young University. Her first novel, Gifted, was a Whitney Award Finalist. She loves to travel, read, bake treats, and spend time with family and friends. She and her husband are the parents of four great children. She teaches summer creative writing courses to young people and is currently working on her next book.  

Website * Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Amazon Kindle

Good luck with the giveaway and enjoy the rest of the tour!

                Lieder Madchen

Book Review: Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

Before I Fall
by Lauren Oliver

Genre: YA Contemporary / Fantasy

Ages: 15 and up

Note: Lauren Oliver's other works include Delirium, Pandemonium, Requiem, The Spindlers and Liesl & Po.


Description:

What if you only had one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life?

Samantha Kingston has it all: looks, popularity, the perfect boyfriend. Friday, February 12, should be just another day in her charmed life. Instead, it turns out to be her last.

The catch: Samantha still wakes up the next morning. Living the last day of her life seven times during one miraculous week, she will untangle the mystery surrounding her death--and discover the true value of everything she is in danger of losing.

My Thoughts:

It took me a little while to warm up to this book. I love Lauren Oliver, so I was a little surprised when this started out as the story of a typical shallow party girl. I didn't like Samantha at all for the first few chapters, but then I slowly began to warm to her. By the end, I was almost crying.

The characters in this book are so flawed it was kind of painful to read at moments. As she relives the last day of her life over and over, she learns of secrets and sorrows that are hidden behind seemingly happy smiles. She also learns that her past actions have done more damage than she ever imagined.
It was fascinating to watch Samantha try to make everyone's lives just a little bit better before she dies.

The descriptions were such that it almost felt like I was watching a movie, I could picture the scenes so clearly. Every moment just played through my head, and the emotions hit me right in the gut. This isn't my favorite of Lauren Oliver's books, and it is not for anyone looking for a light, happy read, but it is a beautiful piece of writing.

Rating System: Profanity, Sexuality and Violence 
1 (mild) through 10 (extreme).

Profanity:
I give it a 4.10 for swearing, mid-level name-calling and underage drinking.

Sexuality:
I rate it a 5.10 for lots of innuendo and a scene with lots of touching that is a little disturbing.

Violence:
I give it a 4.10 for suicide, attempted suicide, injuries and death.

                               Lieder Madchen

Book Review: Dead Time by Anne Cassidy

Dead Time 
by Anne Cassidy

Genre: YA / Mystery / Contemporary

Ages: 15 and up

I received an advance e-copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Description:

When Rose was twelve, her mother and stepfather went out for dinner and never came back. Now seventeen, she lives with her grandmother and goes to school in London. She’s always wondered about her stepbrother, Joshua, whom she only lived with briefly and who was also relocated after their parents’ disappearance. When Rose and Joshua meet again, they find they have much in common, including a desire to uncover the mystery surrounding their parents’ disappearance . . . and a mutual attraction to each other. But when Rose witnesses the murders of not one but two of her classmates, she must uncover who is behind these violent crimes. And when she and Joshua discover that a much larger conspiracy is underway, both of their lives will be in danger. From international bestseller Anne Cassidy, this first in a fastpaced and romantic new mystery series will keep readers guessing.

My Thoughts:

Hmm, what to say about this book...overall, the word that comes to mind is 'dull'. From beginning to end, this was a dull story set in a dull, grey world with dull, grey characters. It took all of my staying power to actually finish it.

Rose, the heroine, was tired and depressed and not particularly interesting or likable. Reading about her, even I began to feel tired and depressed. Her step-brother, Joshua, was much better but not good enough to save the story. Skeggie, Joshua's best friend, was probably the most entertaining character of the lot.

The plot was completely unbelievable and frequently confusing. While the genre is mystery, it seemed like more of a soap opera of stupidity on the parts of most of the main characters and the villains. The motivations behind the murders were just dumb.

I picked this book because I love mysteries and I love stories set in London. While it had a couple of good ideas to begin with, it didn't go anywhere. It never grabbed me, never made me care about the characters and never sparked.

Rating System: Profanity, Sexuality and Violence
1 (mild) through 10 (extreme).

Profanity:
I give it a 2.10 for two mild swearwords.

Sexuality:
I rate it a 2.10 for some sexual innuendos and insults.

Violence:
I give it a 5.10 for two murders, neither described in detail.

                       Lieder Madchen

Book Review: Crush by Lacey Weatherford

Crush
by Lacey Weatherford

Genre: Contemporary / Young Adult / Mystery / Romance

Ages: 16 and up

I received an advance e-copy from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. Thank you, Lacey!!!

Description:

Cami Wimberley has a plan, and that plan includes no room for boys—especially the big time party animal, Hunter Wilder, no matter how handsome and charismatic he is. She’s beautiful, a senior, extremely talented, gets good grades, and is working her way toward her dream college to be a musical theater major. Everything is perfect.

Hunter Wilder does not want a girlfriend—that would complicate his life way too much right now. He especially doesn’t want this girl, Miss-Goody-Two-Shoes, so how come he can’t keep his eyes off her? He tries to keep her at arms length, but fate seems to keep pushing them together. Before long, it’s obvious to everyone they’re crushing on each other.

As sparks begin to fly, Hunter finds himself sinking deeper and deeper into hot water. Soon he’s scrambling to keep Cami from discovering his dark secret—one that can destroy their entire relationship.

My Thoughts:

OK, to be perfectly and completely honest, I wasn't expecting to like this as much as Lacey Weatherford's Of Witches and Warlocks series. So far I've loved everything she's ever written, but I generally prefer fantasy to contemporary. So, I expected to love it, just not quite as much. Hah. I was wrong. This is probably Lacey's best novel yet.

For characters, you have sweet, thoughtful Cami, mysterious, troubled Hunter and geeky, unsettling Clay. I really loved Cami. She's very kind and naive to the point of obliviousness at times, but there's a fierce stubborn streak that only comes out when you push her a little too far.

I thought upon first meeting him that I wasn't going to like Hunter much. He has issues like you wouldn't believe, including drug use and drinking. Despite that, you can't help but like him. He makes you laugh, he makes you sad, he makes you want to hit him upside the head in frustration, but most of all, you want to discover his secret. I came up with all sorts of theories with everything from, oh no, he's a vampire! to, hmm, is he in witness protection?

Clay is a fantastically written character. He's been Cami's best friend forever, but now he wants to be more. From the first scene with him, he gave me the shivers. The, oh dear, this is going to be sooo messy kind of shiver.

The first half of the book is mostly about Cami, though the POV alternates with Hunter. The plot moves at a marvelous pace, growing in suspense even as the focus shifts over to Hunter for the second half. And then that ending! So. Freaking. Awesome. It just pounces on you, and you think, so that's what was going on! It all makes sense now! I wanted to cheer, but it was ridiculously early in the morning and I didn't want to wake anybody up.

Whether or not you've read Lacey's other books, whether or not you like contemporary YA, you'll like Crush. It was fun, serious and adventurous all at once.

Rating System: Profanity, Sexuality and Violence
1 (mild) through 10 (extreme).

Profanity:
I rate it a 4.10 for one mid-level swearword and drug use.

Sexuality:
I rate it a 4.10 for multiple references and innuendos as well as an attempted rape.

Violence:
I give it a 5.10 for attempted rape, murder and one scene of violence.

                                Lieder Madchen

Book Review: The Good Braider by Terry Farish

The Good Braider
by Terry Farish

Genre: YA Contemporary / Free-form Poetry

Ages: 17 and up

I received an advance e-copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Description:

 In spare free verse laced with unforgettable images, Viola s strikingly original voice sings out the story of her family s journey from war-torn Sudan, to Cairo, and finally to Portland, Maine Here, in the sometimes too close embrace of the local Southern Sudanese Community, she dreams of South Sudan while she tries to navigate the strange world of America a world where a girl can wear a short skirt, get a tattoo or even date a boy; a world that puts her into sharp conflict with her traditional mother who, like Viola, is struggling to braid together the strands of a displaced life.

Terry Farish s haunting novel is not only a riveting story of escape and survival, but the universal tale of a young immigrant's struggle to build a life on the cusp of two cultures.

My Thoughts:

I don't usually read books  written in free verse, but in this case it suits. The stark writing style only accentuated the emotions and brutality of the story. This is one of those books that leaves you kind of breathless at the end, as if you have witnessed something terrible and something beautiful. There are so many awful things that happen in this book, but there is also so much hope.


I loved Viola, who is so strong despite the horrors she has lived through. Her courage was my favorite part of the book. America is so alien to her and her family, but she is determined to learn the new rules and excel in her new life. She manages it much better than her mother does, which leads to possible the most painful part of the novel.

This book is beautifully written and utterly engrossing. Bittersweet and sad, it is sometimes difficult to read, but I couldn't stop.

Rating System: Profanity, Sexuality and Violence
1 (mild) through 10 (extreme).

Profanity:
I rate it a  4.10 for two uses of the s-word.

Sexuality:
I give it a 6.10 for rape, which isn't graphically described but doesn't fade away.

Violence:
I rate it a 6.10 for rape and murder, nothing graphically described but still disturbing.

                                 Lieder Madchen