Tabula Rasa

Publication 9/23/2014

The Bourne Identity meets Divergent in this heart-pounding debut.

Sixteen-year-old Sarah has a rare chance at a new life. Or so the doctors tell her. She's been undergoing a cutting-edge procedure that will render her a tabula rasa - a blank slate. Memory by memory her troubled past is being taken away.

But when her final surgery is interrupted and a team of elite soldiers invades the isolated hospital under cover of massive blizzard, her fresh start could be her end.

Navigating familiar halls that have become a dangerous maze with the help of a teen computer hacker who's trying to bring the hospital down for his own reasons, Sarah starts to piece together who she is and why someone would want her erased. And she won't be silenced again.

A high-stakes thriller featuring a non-stop race for survival and a smart heroine who will risk everything, Tabula Rasa is, in short, unforgettable.
from goodreads.com

Beth says 3.5 Stars...
The concept behind this book is absolutely fascinating and I love the idea of a breakneck story with this kind of intensity.  I enjoyed my reading, but definitely felt like there were some problems with the novel.  A major issue I had was with the setting.  For the attempted scope of the story, keeping everything located within the hospital ended up problematic.  The feeling of claustrophobia created by limiting the setting worked against the feeling of the book.  Enough intensity came from the plot; the extras were unnecessary and distracting.  The plot itself moved fairly quickly, but the information drops weren't particularly well timed.  All of the action did work in the book's favor with the battle sequences coming off as unpredictable and exciting.  I can totally see how they would pull action fans in, and it definitely made the book a page turner.

Sarah is fairly well characterized and interesting.  She's easy to root for, despite how little she knows about herself.  Her struggle to learn about her past is a bit mishandled, which goes back to my earlier note on the information pacing.  The other characters did certainly add to the narrative.  Thomas was particularly awesome with his snark and thoughtful attitude.  He didn't take undue risks, but wasn't afraid of going for it when necessary.  The only individual that I felt really lacked depth and that I was ambivalent to was the villain.  I think that's one of the reasons I didn't like this book as much.  It's hard to love something when the "evil" force in the story feels contrived and elicits no strong response.

Overall, I wanted more from the villain and better information reveals.  This book is for people who want a thrill ride or fast-paced adventure.  If you're looking for depth, look elsewhere.
ebook from Netgalley

One Man Guy

Publication 5/27/2014

Alek Khederian should have guessed something was wrong when his parents took him to a restaurant. Everyone knows that Armenians never eat out. Between bouts of interrogating the waitress and criticizing the menu, Alek’s parents announce that he’ll be attending summer school in order to bring up his grades. Alek is sure this experience will be the perfect hellish end to his hellish freshman year of high school. He never could’ve predicted that he’d meet someone like Ethan.

Ethan is everything Alek wishes he were: confident, free-spirited, and irreverent. He can’t believe a guy this cool wants to be his friend. And before long, it seems like Ethan wants to be more than friends. Alek has never thought about having a boyfriend—he’s barely ever had a girlfriend—but maybe it’s time to think again.from goodreads.com

Beth says 4 Stars...
The only reason I looked at this book was because of the summary on Netgalley.  I think the cover is actually pretty awful - I have no idea why there's the paper doll motif.  However, the story definitely made up for the lackluster initial impression.  The opening pages depicting a meal out with Alek's family are just hilarious and that wit permiates the entire book.  It induced giggles on mutiple occasions, a nice change from some of the other highly serious reading I've done lately.  Just saying that it's funny doesn't give the whole picture.  Themes of family, acceptance, and self-discovery are front and center.  The novel occasionally gets a bit preachy, but keeps it under control for the most part.  In those moments Barakiva pushes acceptance, so there are worse things to emphasize.  The plot was okay, but the general structure didn't hold any surprises.  Regardless, I still enjoyed seeing the story unfold and wanted to keep reading despite being able to predict how it would end.

Both Alek and Ethan were delightful in very different ways.  I really enjoyed how Alek could struggle with his identity and place in the world without being overcome with angst.  He seemed like a real teen dealing with life as it comes and I appreciated that.  Plus, his sarcasm delighted me.  Ethan came from an almost opposite background, and thus approached situations with a very different perspective.  He managed to pull Alek out of his shell and help develop his character while maintaining a distinct identity.  However, I really loved the classic movie obsessed Becky.  Although her role was clearly a supporting one, she stole every scene she was in.  Teenage me would have wanted to be friends with her in the worst way and have movie marathons complete with sass offs.

Overall, this is a fun book that's wasn't obviously down my alley.  I also think the timing of its publication is appropriate given the discussion about BookCon and the lack of diversity on its docket.  This novel proves that there are good books out there written by/about people with all manner of life experiences.
ebook from publisher

Defy

A lush and gorgeously written debut, packed with action, intrigue, and a thrilling love triangle.

Alexa Hollen is a fighter. Forced to disguise herself as a boy and serve in the king's army, Alex uses her quick wit and fierce sword-fighting skills to earn a spot on the elite prince's guard. But when a powerful sorcerer sneaks into the palace in the dead of night, even Alex, who is virtually unbeatable, can't prevent him from abducting her, her fellow guard and friend Rylan, and Prince Damian, taking them through the treacherous wilds of the jungle and deep into enemy territory.

The longer Alex is held captive with both Rylan and the prince, the more she realizes that she is not the only one who has been keeping dangerous secrets. And suddenly, after her own secret is revealed, Alex finds herself confronted with two men vying for her heart: the safe and steady Rylan, who has always cared for her, and the dark, intriguing Damian. With hidden foes lurking around every corner, is Alex strong enough to save herself and the kingdom she's sworn to protect?
from goodreads.com

Beth says 3.5 Stars...
The cover of this one absolutely sucked me in.  The subtle fern pattern and fabulous-looking dagger gave me a case of the wants.  Combine that with the blurb and the book starts ringing all of my bells - court intrigue, kick-ass heroine, magic, and a touch of romance.  However, it didn't quite live up to my admittedly high expectations.  The world building was really lovely, with a lush jungle land of darkness and magic.  The book laid the framework of a complex society and world that I wanted to know more about.  The plot moved along pretty briskly and attempted a few twists and turns.  I was surprised a couple of times, but managed to guess most of the main reveals.  Granted, even without the shock factor the plot kept me reading.  It might not be the most original concept, but I still enjoyed it.  One thing that I really wish Larson had examined in more depth was the breeding houses and the reasons behind their existence.  It's a twist that I haven't seen before and one of the more original points of the novel.

Alex/Alexa has some good qualities, but I didn't find her incredibly compelling.  I understand that her struggle to continue with her disguise as male and the difficulties it presents would be at the front of her mind constantly, but I found it super annoying.  There was so much "is this how a boy would do it?" throughout the book.  It also made it seem that any sort of reveal of her femininity equated with exposing weakness and I don't agree with that.  I couldn't help comparing it to the first book in the Song of the Lioness quartet by Tamora Pierce.  While that remains one of my favorite series (full disclosure of bias here), I think it struck a balance with its lead character where she could maintain her disguise without thinking that anything feminine made her weak.  Hopefully Alexa will exhibit some growth into her identity as the series progresses.  The other members of the requisite love triangle were moderately well characterized.  However, I really think there was a major flaw in how they were written.  Mainly that they, in a culture that appears hypermasculine, fall for someone who is dressed like a guy.  Shouldn't that cause some sort of internal discord?  I wish that had been explored.

It's my hope that since this is the first in a series the subsequent books will improve.  There's definitely potential for the series to grow, especially because this is Larson's debut novel.  I wouldn't buy either this book or the next, but this is a series to consider borrowing from the library unless the next book is great or terrible.
ebook from library

Stolen Songbird

Publication April 1, 2014

 



For five centuries, a witch’s curse has bound the trolls to their city beneath the ruins of Forsaken Mountain. Time enough for their dark and nefarious magic to fade from human memory and into myth. But a prophesy has been spoken of a union with the power to set the trolls free, and when Cécile de Troyes is kidnapped and taken beneath the mountain, she learns there is far more to the myth of the trolls than she could have imagined.

Cécile has only one thing on her mind after she is brought to Trollus: escape. Only the trolls are clever, fast, and inhumanly strong. She will have to bide her time, wait for the perfect opportunity.

But something unexpected happens while she’s waiting – she begins to fall for the enigmatic troll prince to whom she has been bonded and married. She begins to make friends. And she begins to see that she may be the only hope for the half-bloods – part troll, part human creatures who are slaves to the full-blooded trolls. There is a rebellion brewing. And her prince, Tristan, the future king, is its secret leader.

As Cécile becomes involved in the intricate political games of Trollus, she becomes more than a farmer’s daughter. She becomes a princess, the hope of a people, and a witch with magic powerful enough to change Trollus forever.
from goodreads.com

Beth says 4.5 Stars...
First of all, I absolutely love this cover.  It's all manner of pretty and has a slightly odd, but appealing, Emerald City vibe.  Although I understand where the title comes from, I think there might have been something better (I don't quite know what, though).  Regardless, I thoroughly enjoyed reading the novel.  I'm a sucker for some epic political intrigue and Stolen Songbird had it in abundance.  It takes a while to get into the main action, so don't be discouraged by the first few chapters!  Most of the characters have hidden motives and all sorts of secrets are slowly revealed throughout the book.  Once things got going I couldn't put the book down.  It turned into one of those nights where I played the "just one more chapter game" until I finished the novel.  I'm super excited this is a series because so much more can be done.  For instance, the world-building outside of Trollus is basically non-existent.  Since a majority of the book is confined to the troll world is isn't too big of an issue, but it leaves opportunity for expansion.  Plus, I have questions about the human society that I want answered!

Cécile is a decent heroine.  She's a mix of cautious and impulsive, sometimes making rash decisions with unfortunate consequences, but at others is quite rational.  What I did really like was that she grew during the story.  As her knowledge of her role in Trollus increases, so do her informed actions.  I definitely liked the trolls much more.  The complex web of court relations delighted me.  Figuring out who each character was loyal to provided tons of interest.  Not only that, but all of the characters had to be multi-layered because surface actions and motivations were constantly suspect.  Trolls aren't a particularly common topic in YA right now and I enjoyed reading something a bit different!  These trolls can be best described as a mixture of court Fae and the typical troll legends.  I appreciated the intelligence of the trolls because it made everything so much more interesting.

This is a wonderful start to a new series.  I can't wait to see what Jensen does next with this world and these characters.  There's so much more to explore and I'm excited!

The False Princess

Princess and heir to the throne of Thorvaldor, Nalia's led a privileged life at court. But everything changes when it's revealed, just after her sixteenth birthday, that she is a false princess, a stand-in for the real Nalia, who has been hidden away for her protection. Cast out with little more than the clothes on her back, the girl now called Sinda must leave behind the city of Vivaskari, her best friend, Keirnan, and the only life she's ever known.

Sinda is sent to live with her only surviving relative, an aunt who is a dyer in a distant village. She is a cold, scornful woman with little patience for her newfound niece, and Sinda proves inept at even the simplest tasks. But when Sinda discovers that magic runs through her veins - long-suppressed, dangerous magic that she must learn to control - she realizes that she can never learn to be a simple village girl.

Returning to Vivaskari for answers, Sinda finds her purpose as a wizard scribe, rediscovers the boy who saw her all along, and uncovers a secret that could change the course of Thorvaldor's history, forever.

A dazzling first novel, The False Princess is an engrossing fantasy full of mystery, action, and romance.
from amazon.com

Beth says 4.5 Stars...

This book was absolutely adorable. I needed a fix of a delightful princesses story filled with independent women which this filled nicely. The plot wasn't too complicated to where it became confusing but managed to remain unexpected. Just when I thought that I had everything figured out I managed to miss the mark completely as the plot turned in a different direction. Of course there were some predictable aspects, but they honestly were more minor things instead of gigantic portions of the plot. One of the only real problems with the book was that it had the tendency to jump from one thing to another. Although the action needed that to move forward, it did interrupt the flow. I read the book in one sitting and didn't want to pull myself away from it. O'Neal's writing was easy to read and created a lovely world, made more impressive by the fact this is her debut novel.

Sinda was just what I wanted in a heroine. She definitely had her flaws, particularly when her situation changed in the beginning. However, instead of spending half of the book brooding and feeling sorry for herself, she adjusted to whatever happened within a reasonable amount of time. Her strength and intelligence weren't too much and made sense in context. Keirnan was just tons of fun as a character. He made a nice counter to the seriousness that almost overwhelmed Sinda at times. They also had some delightful chemistry in more ways than just one. The supporting cast was just as interesting, although I would have liked to see a little more of them. Honestly, that's not an uncommon problem, particularly in debuts.

This is for fans of books like Princess Ben and those of Shannon Hale. A nice change from the flood of paranormal romances, I can't think of a better word to describe this novel than fun. With enough heart and brain to make it engrossing this book hit the spot for me. It's a perfect girly fantasy, and look at that cover... so lovely. This is a good kick off for the 2011 debut authors!
Book from Publisher

Claire de Lune

Hanover Falls hasn’t had a werewolf problem in over one hundred years. Seattle, Copenhagen, Osaka–they’ve had plenty of attacks. But when humans begin dying in Claire Benoit’s town, the panic spreads faster than a rumor at a pep rally. At Claire’s sixteenth birthday party, the gruesome killings are all anyone can talk about. But the big news in Claire’s mind is the fact that Matthew Engle–high-school soccer god and son of a world-renowned lycanthropy expert–notices her. And flirts with her. A lot.

That night, Claire learns that she is the latest in a long line of Benoit werewolves, and that contrary to popular belief, all werewolves are female. Killing humans is forbidden by the code of the pack, but a rogue werewolf has been breaking that law, threatening the existence of Claire’s new pack. As the pack struggles to find and fight the rogue werewolf and Claire struggles with her lupine identity, her heart and her loyalties are torn in two. Claire must keep her new life a secret from even her best friend–and especially from Matthew, whose father is leading the werewolf hunt…and with whom Claire is impossibly and undeniably falling head-over-paws in love.
from christinejohnstonbooks.com

Beth says 3.5 Stars...

I expected a little something different from this book. It ended up simply being another paranormal romance, with heavy emphasis on the romance. The plot was decent, but the mystery wasn't too complicated. I managed to guess the "bad guy" about a third of the way through the book; it was that transparent. The false leads weren't very good if you were paying attention, but if not they might make it much more entertaining. One of my biggest issues was with the world building. I wanted to know more about the history of werewolves in this alternative universe, yet was more than disappointed. I really wanted to know so much more about the mythology and feel like that really would have helped the book. It would have added a much needed element of layering to everything.

Claire was a very good character. Her struggles were made relatable and her voice felt authentic, as did the personalities of most of the others. Her relationship with Emily was fun to read because despite their ups and downs they really remained best friends. It was nice to see a representation of two girls actually getting along without attempting to push one another down the stairs. Matthew felt a little meh to me, to put it scientifically. He was just rather cute and cookie cutter, and didn't smolder. It was the same with his relationship with Claire, which ended up becoming the main focus of the book. There needed to be a little more heat and a little less cute to make it really work.

I think that Johnson has potential, but this book just wasn't quite for me. It could have been much better than it was due to its unique perspective on werewolves. Instead it fell prey to the Twilight copycat syndrome. Heavy on the romance and light on basically everything else. Also, I found the ending to be a bit too filled with sunshine and rainbows. The one hope is that it looks primed for a sequel, which would hopefully deepen things more than a bit. This would be a good summer read for a lover of the genre who wanted something light and possibly mysterious.

Before I Fall

What if you had only 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: the world's most crush-worthy boyfriend, three amazing best friends, and first pick of everything at Thomas Jefferson High—from the best table in the cafeteria to the choicest parking spot. Friday, February 12, should be just another day in her charmed life.

Instead, it turns out to be her last.

Then she gets a second chance. Seven chances, in fact. Reliving her last day 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.

from harperteen.com

Beth says 4 Stars...

This was an interesting novel. It was definitely not at all what I expected. From what I'd heard I expected something much more fantasy laden. Yes, the whole crux of the story depends on being able to suspend belief. However, I was expecting something more akin to Melissa Marr or Cassandra Claire. It took me a little time to adjust what I'd been expecting to the reality of the book. Once I'd done that, it ended up being an enjoyable read. The book basically developed what Sam was supposed to do on the final day of her life. She lived out the same day different days, with different knowledge and results. The plot moved along interestingly, particularly with the device of having Sam relive the day 7 times. Slowly information was revealed, but it felt odd at times. Sometimes the facts seemed rather random, which detracted from the forward movement of the story.

The characters were fine. They weren't extraordinary, but then they didn't drag everything down. The thing was that you got to know them, but didn't see them grow. Because the plot didn't move in a strictly linear sense, it made character development of everyone except the main character, Sam, pretty much impossible. They never got a chance to change; in fact all that happened was that we were allowed to get inside their heads to know them as they were at that moment. That's no small thing, but I guess I just wanted a little more. I love seeing characters become something else; transform.

Overall this was a good book. It wasn't what I expected, but it was good despite my preconceived notions. It isn't the best debut this year, but it wasn't bad. It was definitely captivating, with a story that really pulls you in. This would make a good, yet serious beach read. Just light enough to be okay, but not so light to feel like fluff.

Magic Under Glass

Nimira is a foreign music-hall girl forced to dance for mere pennies. When wealthy sorcerer Hollin Parry hires her to sing with a piano-playing automaton, Nimira believes it is the start of a new and better life. In Parry's world, however, buried secrets are beginning to stir. Unsettling below-stairs rumors swirl about ghosts, a madwoman roaming the halls, and Parry's involvement with a league of sorcerers who torture fairies for sport. Then Nimira discovers the spirit of a fairy gentleman named Erris is trapped inside the clockwork automaton, waiting for someone to break his curse. The two fall into a love that seems hopeless, and breaking the curse becomes a race against time, as not just their love, but the fate of the entire magical world may be in peril.

from amazon.com

Beth says 4 Stars...
I must say that I'm glad this book got a new cover. The old one is lovely, but completely wrong for the book and characters. This one is much more fitting. This book needs to be removed from the controversy and the covers. I enjoyed this one despite everything that I'd heard. The setting was intriguing, a combination of history and fantasy that enthralled me.

The characters were nice. Nothing amazing, but they did well. They didn't jump right off the page at me, however, there is at least another book for them to deepen. Also, the relationships should gain some more complexity, which I felt was missing in this book. The plot moved along well, and had some elements that I found to be rather surprising. I wasn't able to predict everything and that I enjoyed.

Overall this was a decent debut. The novel shows promise as a beginning of a series and just as a first effort. It works as a nice Victorian-ish read for summer. It's just light enough to be fun, but not pure fluff. I would recommend this to someone who wanted a nice romantic era fantasy with enough of a blend of the foreign and the familiar.

Scones and Sensibility Blog Tour!!!!

Today we're so excited to be a part of the Scones and Sensibility blog tour! Lindsay is a MG debut author, and we decided it would be fun to get to know her a little bit more. On that note, we conducted a lovely interview:

1. What's your favorite Victorian novel? I’d have to say that it’s a three-way tie between Jane Austen’s Persuasion, Pride and Prejudice, and Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Erye.

2. What inspired you to write Scones and Sensibility? I was inspired by my desire to create a character who was very different than a lot, if not most, middle grade female main characters, as well as a character who reflected a lot of who I was as a middle grade reader…and actually, come to think of it, who I still am.

3. How difficult was it to write the very stylized voice of Polly? It wasn’t hard at all and it was actually tons of fun. Polly cracked me up and I remember anxiously awaiting my writing time each day in anticipation of what she would say or do next. The hardest part of writing her voice was actually to STOP writing or speaking like her after I was done writing for the day.

4. Were you ever a matchmaker and how did that work out? Thank goodness no! I’ve played matchmaker in my head though, and have always been thankful that I never said anything out loud…my matches would’ve been disastrous!

5. In your opinion, what's the best scone? Chocolate chip scones dusted with powdered sugar on top (cause everything tastes better with powdered sugar, right?). Cranberry orange scones are close behind.

6. Do you have a special pastry that you love to make? Yes, I love to make, and devour, chocolate éclairs. In my opinion, they are the epitome of the perfect pastry.

7. Are you more like Clemmy or Polly, and how? Definitely more like Polly. I’m guilty of being overly-dramatic, overly-romantic, and I too would love to go back and live in Regency England if for nothing else than to wear those gorgeous dresses and read all day long.

8. What was your favorite part of writing the novel? I think it was Polly. She was hilarious to me so writing the first draft…which is always the hardest part of writing for me…was completely and utterly fun.

9. How old were you when you read your first Jane Austen book? I’m actually embarrassed to say so, but I didn’t read Pride and Prejudice until I was about 22 or so! And of course, after finishing it, I quickly devoured all her others along with Jane Erye and all of Charles Dickens.

If you want to learn more about Scones and Sensibility look for our review, which will be coming up VERY soon! Also, if you want to continue following the tour, then head over tomorrow to Steph Su at http://stephsureads.blogspot.com/.

All Unquiet Things

Carly: She was sweet. Smart. Self-destructive. She knew the secrets of Brighton Day School’s most privileged students. Secrets that got her killed.

Neily: Dumped by Carly for a notorious bad boy, Neily didn’t answer the phone call she made before she died. If he had, maybe he could have helped her. Now he can’t get the image of her lifeless body out of his mind.

Audrey: She’s the reason Carly got tangled up with Brighton’s fast crowd in the first place, and now she regrets it—especially since she’s convinced the police have put the wrong person in jail. Audrey thinks the murderer is someone at Brighton, and she wants Neily to help her find out who it is.

As reluctant allies Neily and Audrey dig into their shared past with Carly, her involvement with Brighton’s dark goings-on comes to light. But figuring out how Carly and her killer fit into the twisted drama will force Audrey and Neily to face hard truths about themselves and the girl they couldn’t save.

from amazon.com

Beth says 4 Stars...
This book was surprisingly good. I initially thought that it would be an angst-fest, and it was at times. However, it managed to be really intriguing and had a fantastic mystery aspect. I will say that I didn't predict the end of the book, but I'm also really terrible at figuring that sort of thing out. The plot moved forward at a lovely pace after the beginning. It took a little bit of time to really get into it. There was a lot of information that just had to be given, and so it wasn't immediately attention grabbing. That didn't last too long, though, so it isn't a huge knock on the book. The setting was fairly well done, but it felt tiredly familiar. It's as though I've read different books set in the same place before, and I feel like I have.

The characters were fairly well done overall. The only one I had an issue with was Neily, and that stems from his involvement as a narrator. His voice seemed slightly inauthentic. I could feel that it was a woman writing, and not a teenage boy. I know that it's hard to write authentically in the voice of the opposite gender, but it still wasn't what I wished for. It was what I think I guy would say, which is definitely not reality. The rest of them were well done, but fairly stereotypical. It felt a bit like a Gossip Girl mystery novel, but much better written and well done overall.

I really did like this book. It's a promising debut, and I got so sucked in to it. It was a little unoriginal, but overall well done. I look forward to what Jarzab will do in the future. Grab this one for a little upper crust kids gone bad.

Book from Library

The Dark Divine

Grace Divine, daughter of the local pastor, always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared—the night she found her brother Jude collapsed on the porch, covered in blood. But she has no idea what a truly monstrous secret that night really held. And when Daniel returns three years later, Grace can no longer deny her attraction to him, despite promising Jude she’ll stay away.
As Grace gets closer to Daniel, her actions stir the ancient evil Daniel unleashed that horrific night. Grace must discover the truth behind Jude and Daniel's dark secret . . . and the cure that can save the ones she loves. But she may have to lay down the ultimate sacrifice to do it—her soul.

from amazon.com

Beth says 4 Stars...

I really enjoyed this book. I guess the problem that I had with it is that it feels like just another paranormal romance, but a very good one. The novel was well written, particularly in the tone of the book. It was very dark and rather mysterious. The pacing was well done, with some subtle (and less than subtle) hints worked in throughout the book so it didn't feel as though the reveal come out of nowhere with this massive amount of information suddenly dumped on your head. The plot was a nice twist on what was expected, and I didn't quite figure out the ending. However, I felt like I had read the basic plot before, and I have. It's the whole "dark and mysterious boy that girl knows she should stay away from, but can't" thing that seems to be making up about 70% of the YA market these days. There's nothing wrong with it in theory, but it's getting to be all that's out there. I probably wouldn't have minded 3 years ago, but now it all feels the same.



The characters were okay, but they didn't jump of the page. Grace was rather meh as a heroine. She got to be a bit irritating when she was angsting in the middle of the book, but that could be my low angst tolerance rearing it's head yet again. The rest of the characters weren't that interesting, but weren't really uninteresting either. The characterization fell into the realm of mediocrity. Daniel very well filled the role of the dark and mysterious bad boy, but that was it. He had a little depth, but most of that came at the end so I wasn't able to really connect with him.

Overall this book was good. The message is lovely, but it suffers from being one of a multitude. It gets lost in the mass of paranormal romances. If you're a fan of the genre go ahead and grab it because it's a good read and is very good in the particular genre.

The Secret Year

Take Romeo and Juliet. Add The Outsiders. Mix thoroughly.
Colt and Julia were secretly together for an entire year, and no one—not even Julia’s boyfriend— knew. They had nothing in common, with Julia in her country club world on Black Mountain and Colt from down on the flats, but it never mattered. Until Julia dies in a car accident, and Colt learns the price of secrecy. He can’t mourn Julia openly, and he’s tormented that he might have played a part in her death. When Julia’s journal ends up in his hands, Colt relives their year together at the same time that he’s desperately trying to forget her. But how do you get over someone who was never yours in the first place?

from amazon.com

Beth says 4.5 Stars...

The first debut I've read this year! Excitement and thrills. I honestly don't know why I picked this book up. It isn't what I generally gravitate towards since I normally go for fantasy. I'm glad I branched out a little for this one. It's interesting in that there isn't much of a plot. There's some tension and interplay between the rich kids and poor kids, but it doesn't drive the story. Instead, the story is about the characters and Colt's grieving process. Most of the really interesting action is told through Julia's journal entries and Colt's flashbacks to whatever was happening at the moment. This made the story structure very interesting, since it super-imposed the past and the present without really overlapping the two. It was different than anything I'd read recently, which was refreshing. I love it when authors are bold enough to do something different. The romance wasn't the only thing happening in the book. It also explored the dynamics of Colt's family, which was so fascinating. It wasn't sunshine and puppies, let me tell you.

The characters make this book. All of the important ones are so well done; they felt very real while I was reading. I can't believe that Colt was written by a woman! He sounded like an actual teenage guy, not how a girl would think a guy should be. The depth of emotion he delt with was remarkable. The supporting characters are also amazing; I feel a particular soft spot for Colt's older brother Tom. Some of the periphery characters fell a bit flat, but it wasn't too bad. The novel is completely driven by the characters, and because of Hubbard's skill at creating them was able to succeed. There's so much teenage angst, and while I understand the reasons for it, it did get to be a bit much for me, but just barely. That's actually a huge compliament, because generally whenever there's more than a teensy bit of angst I get annoyed and want to smack the main character. Instead I felt sorry for Colt (most of the time).

Overall, this was a great way to start my year reading debuts! I'm excited for whatever Hubbard brings to the table next, because this shows real talent and a lovely voice. This is for fans of realistic fiction, in particular those who like romantic books. This is looking at it from the other side, something that doesn't get done often. A really good read, and a fast one as well.

Book from Library