Review: Catching Fire

Catching Fire
Suzanne Collins
Young Adult/Futuristic
Hunger Games/Book 2
Scholastic Press/September 2009
Purchased

*Spoilers for Book 1*

From the inside cover ~

SPARKS ARE IGNITING.
FLAMES ARE SPREADING.
AND THE CAPITOL WANTS REVENGE.

Against all odds, Katniss has won the Hunger Games. She and fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark are miraculously still alive. Katniss should be relieved, happy even. After all, she has returned to her family and her longtime friend, Gale. Yet nothing is the way Katniss wishes it to be. Gale holds her at an icy distance. Peeta has turned his back on her completely. And there are whispers of a rebellion against the Capitol - a rebellion that Katniss and Peeta may have helped create.

Much to her shock, Katniss has fueled an unrest she's afraid she cannot stop. And what scares her even more is that she's not entirely convinced she should try. As time draws near for Katniss and Peeta to visit the districts on the Capitol's cruel Victory Tour, the stakes are higher than ever. If they can't prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are lost in their lvoe for each other, the consequences will be horrifying.

I bought this shortly after it's release and only read it right before Mockingjay, the final book's release. Part of the reason I held off reading Catching Fire was because of hearing of the cliffhanger ending and the fact that I have a ton of books on the tbr pile. And there's the anticipation/expectation factor. Anticipating what will happen next - it's exciting not knowing. And expectations for the next step in the story arc. Will it go the way I want it to go or will the author take another route? The Hunger Games totally blew me away so I may have been hoping but not expecting Catching Fire to do the same. It's similar in that there is still a threat hanging over Katniss, even with winning the Games. She's wealthy now with a new home and plenty of food for her sister and mother. It seems like things are great but there's a darkness stalking Katniss and it's about to show itself.

The Games are over and Katniss is back in District 12. She's in familiarly territory with her family and friends. The problem is that she doesn't know what to do with herself. She suspects President Snow isn't done with her. He blames her for the troubles he's currently suffering and wants to pass on that suffering to Katniss. You can feel the tension in Katniss, she's waiting for the ax to fall, waiting for Snow's next move. She's also getting ready for the Victory Tour and she's dreading it. I don't think Katniss would have felt so alone if she had either Gale or Peeta by her side but they've both deserted her. You can't help but feel sorry for Katniss and how everything has turned out for her. Which is odd because it could have all turned out so much worse. She and Peeta are both alive but the changes that have happened and those still to come will prove to be just as arduous as the Games themselves.

The whole Victory Tour was hard to read. Katniss and Peeta had to practically relive the deaths of the other Games participants. Every stop on the tour meant the possibility of seeing the family and friends of a dead tribute. If you've read The Hunger Games then it comes as no surprise that the stop at District 11, Rue's district, is an emotional one. Katniss had grown so close to Rue during the games that seeing Rue's family was hard on her. ~

As usual, a special platform has been constructed at the bottom of the stage for the families of the dead tributes. . .


~ On Rue's. . . I'm not prepared for Rue's family. Her parents, whose faces are still fresh with sorrow. Her five younger siblings, who resemble her so closely. The slight builds, the luminous brown eyes. They form a flock of small dark birds. page 58

Peeta uses his gift of words and tries to ease the sorrow of the families from District 11. It is Katniss who speaks from her heart, as is her habit, stumbling a bit but giving the families of Rue and Thresh something that only she can give. The way Collins writes Katniss' thoughts and dialogue, feels like it comes from Katniss' very soul. The thoughts and feelings of a young women who was thrown into situations that no amount of training could prepare her for.

The rebellion continues to heat up and President Snow has devised a way to show the rebels that the Capitol is where the power is and will not sit by and do nothing. There will be consequences for anyone who defies the Capitol and that puts Katniss and Peeta front and center. It is a dark, sinister and violent world that Collins has created but there does exist traces of hope among the violence and death. We saw it in The Hunger Games and again in Catching Fire. The hope isn't always easy to find and Katniss has her moments of doubt and despair but she does go on. I think sometimes, if you want a meaning or message in these books, that could be one of them. Finding the will to go on when others have given up or when you so desperately want to give up yourself. It's one of the main reasons I love the character of Katniss. She been through hell and she's not done but she continues on. Her years of taking care of her mother and sister have given her that will to go on and not give up.

While I didn't like Catching Fire quite as much as The Hunger Games, it is certainly a worthy addition to the trilogy. It shows the aftermath of what happens when you survive the games, making an enemy of the powerful Capitol in the process. We see how Katniss and Peeta deal with their fame and fortune as well as their guilt and sorrow. I do think this is a trilogy best for the older teens. It is violent and shocking at times and explores some very serious subjects. Collins is a gifted writer who brings out the emotions in her characters, making it an intensely emotional read.

Rating: A-

The Hunger Games (review)

Review: Sureblood

Sureblood
Susan Grant
Science Fiction Romance
Borderlands/Book 3
Harlequin/August 2010
Received from Harlequin/NetGalley

From the author's website ~

Five years ago rival space pirate captains Val Blue and Dake Sureblood stole one incredible night together. But their brief, passionate history ended with the assassination of Val's father and the condemnation of Dake's clan. Now Val struggles to prove her mettle—to herself and to the dissenters amid her own people. Every successful raid is a boot heel ground into the burning memory of Dake Sureblood—and their secret son is a constant reminder of their shared past….

Ambushed and captured before he can clear his name, Dake Sureblood returns from a hell like no other to expose the true killer of Val's father. But as the identity of their enemy becomes chillingly clear, the former lovers must put aside their mistrust and join forces to protect their clans and their precious son.

Susan Grant is one of a handful of authors who write science fiction romances. I enjoy the sub-genre so I wish there were more writing it. Thankfully, Grant looks to be continuing her Borderlands series, giving readers more sci-fi romances to look forward to.

Valeeya Blue is about to get what she's been wanting - command of a skiff. It's a small craft, built for boarding freighters. Val, along with the crew of the Varagon, are about to conduct a raid - boarding a freighter believe to be carrying stolen ore. Pirating is a hard life for Val but it's one she's always wanted and has worked hard to get where she is. Right off, I liked Val. We meet her when she's still working her way up the ranks. Val's the daughter of the clan-leader and some think she should be seeking to create an alliance through marriage, not as a raider on a pirate ship. She certainly had some obstacles to overcome!

The raid doesn't go as planned, instead Val runs into Dake Sureblood, leader of a rival clan. They do eventually form a tentative truce and must work together. Val and Dake even come to like each other, spending some quality time together. It doesn't last long. Val's father is murdered and the Surebloods are blamed. Fast forward five years and there is still bad blood between the clans. There are also secrets that are about to be revealed that could change everything Val and Dake believe. Val has matured a lot, much of which was due to necessity. She has been leading her clan during the difficult times since her father's death.

I didn't mind that Val and Dake are apart for some of the story. It wasn't a lot and it built the storyline of why Val is so distrustful of the Surebloods as well as giving their rivals opportunities to escalate that distrust. The hostility between the two clans is still there but they also have other things to worry about. Keeping the clans feed and taken care of has become challenging and pirating has become even more dangerous.

When Dake comes back into Val's life he's not greeted with open arms. Instead, his greeting is more of a greeting for a hated enemy. It's good that Dake is very stubborn and is determined to get Val on his side. I liked the way these two related to each other. They had much in common, both raiders, both born to clan-leaders. They came from different places, different climates with different societies but ultimately it's their loyalty and love of their clans and love for each other that brings them back together. While they were separated they both went through terrible times, Dake's circumstances were horrendous. The way Dake had to not only overcome the nightmares of his imprisonment but also trust Val and her clan - it was certainly hero worthy!

The secondary characters round out the story nicely with a sweet romance between Val's friend and the woman he helps rescue. And Val and Dake's son is adorable with flashes of his parents stubbornness and intelligence. There's also Lord Viro Nezerihm who is a vicious nemesis that has no problem using people and enjoying punishing those that displease him. He hates Val and Dake and will do anything to destroy them.

This is book three in the series but I don't think you would have any problem understanding what is happening in the world building. Grant does a good job explaining the political and social aspects of the world of the Borderlands. Sureblood delivered the science fiction setting with romance and action to create a captivating tale.

Rating: B+

Review: Loyalty in Death

Loyalty in Death
J. D. Robb
Romantic Suspense
In Death/Book 10
Penguin/October 1999
Purchased

*Spoilers*

From Goodreads ~

In 21st-century New York City, tough-as-nails cop Eve Dallas can survive a bombing, seduce her husband, and outsmart a terrorist--all on four hours of sleep. In this latest installment of the In Death series, author J.D. Robb (a.k.a. Nora Roberts) casts our heroine against an enigmatic group of terrorists named Cassandra. With no clear motivation or demands, Cassandra feeds on the thrill of senseless killing and the calculated destruction of Eve's world.

Relying on her own brawn and brains, as well as that of her aid Peabody and her husband Roarke, Eve begins to unravel a mystery that began decades before. When the killer's threats land close to home, Eve knows she has no choice but to gamble her own life for the chance to save her city as well as her loved ones.


I'm jumping around on my In Death reading, or re-reading as is the case. I also realized that I can use the In Death books as my re-reads, when I don't have time to do both, as was the case this month. :) I don't remember why I picked Loyalty, maybe, subconsciously because 9/11 is fast approaching? I'm not sure, it isn't one of my favorites but it had some memorable moments as well as some over-the-top ones too.

The creepy terrorist group known as "Cassandra" is taunting Eve with their threats against the citizens of New York City. They are threatening to set off bombs if their demands are not met. Dallas and Peabody also have a bizarre homicide to deal with. They know who the murderer is, who the victim is and how he was killed. It's the how he was killed that makes it bizarre. Dallas and Peabody have see a lot of deaths but death by power tools isn't all that common.

So there's the bomber and the murder and somehow they're linked. I liked the overall plot of the story. The tension was high when the teams were trying to figure out what the next likely target of the bomber would be. Race against time and all of that. Roarke, of course, was involved. He's not only good with B & E but also with defusing bombs. Who knew? He's a real jack of all trades that Roarke!

I wasn't crazy about the antagonists - the evil terrorists group. The recordings that were sent to Dallas came off a bit too formulaic. Anyway, I liked the drama surrounding the threat but felt the actual villains came off as nothing new.

Peabody's younger brother Zeke shows up and well, I wasn't impressed. He's nice and sweet and just too nice and too sweet and way too naive to be believable. And speaking of Peabody, this is the point where her relationship with McNab finally comes to a head and they quit the can't-stand-ya dance and start the I-can't-keep-my-hands-off-you dance. Much to Dallas' disgust. LOL

Eve and Roarke are still fairly early in their marriage so the strong feelings they have for each other are still new. They're learning how much and how far to push each other and not always pulling back when they should. It's interesting to see two very strong, powerful characters learning to trust enough to let someone else take the lead.

So, not my favorite in the series but it does have some character development between Roarke and Eve along with the turn in the relationship development with Peabody and McNab.

Rating: B

Review: Raised by Wolves

Raised by Wolves
Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Young Adult/Fantasy
EgmontUSA/June 2010
Library Book

From the author's website ~

Adopted by the Alpha of a werewolf pack after a rogue wolf brutally killed her parents right before her eyes, fifteen-year-old Bryn knows only pack life, and the rigid social hierarchy that controls it. That doesn't mean that she's averse to breaking a rule or two.

But when her curiosity gets the better of her and she discovers Chase, a new teen locked in a cage in her guardian's basement, and witnesses him turn into a wolf before her eyes, the horrific memories of her parents' murders return. Bryn becomes obsessed with getting her questions answered, and Chase is the only one who can provide the information she needs.

But in her drive to find the truth, will Bryn push too far beyond the constraints of the pack, forcing her to leave behind her friends, her family, and the identity that she's shaped?

I had heard some buzz about Raised by Wolves, I liked the blurb, the library had it so it was an easy decision to read it. And am I glad I did! It was a wonderful story with a heroine that displayed not only maturity but still maintained that rebellious nature that teenagers are known for. Bryn walks a fine line, having to know when she's gone far enough and not push it with Callum, the pack's alpha.

The story opens with Bryn getting in trouble. It's a boy and grades that have brought her to the attention of Callum, again. He's patient but he's also use to Bryn and her testing his limits. Right off, Callum had shades of Bran from Patty Briggs' Mercy Thompson series. Callum is very old, very wise and very powerful. He spared Bryn's life when her parents were brutally murdered by a rogue werewolf. Not every alpha or werewolf would have spared Bryn's life. They keep the pack very secret, allowing only a few humans to know about the pack. The ones that do are almost always female and mated to the males of the pack. They must cut all ties to their human lives and give their loyalty to the pack.

Bryn knows all of this. She knows she's an oddity among the pack. She also knows that some members of the pack don't want her there and it's only due to Callum's protection that Bryn is left alone. I thought having the werewolves actually born to it made an interesting twist, rather than the more traditional method of being attacked and turned. It was practically unheard of for a werewolf to be attacked and turned. And then the fact that almost all are born male, there are very few females born as werewolves, making the female werewolves that much more treasured.

One of Bryn's few friends is a teenage werewolf. He's also an oddity because both of his parents are werewolves. His name is Devon and I thought he was a great match for Bryn. Not as a mate but as a best friend. You really get the sense that they get each other and it was such a nice change to have a guy and girl be friends. Sure they had complications, he's a werewolf, she's human, but the way their relationship is written, you know they are there for each other.

Another teenage werewolf in Bryn's life is Chase. He's the newest member of the pack and he's another oddity. (Callum seems to collect them.) Chase is having a hard time and Bryn, for reasons she doesn't understand, is drawn to him. Bryn must work hard and earn the right to see Chase. Callum doesn't go easy on her but pushes her to her limit and beyond. At the time, it seemed like Callum was being too harsh on Bryn, pushing her too hard and not taking into account that she was human. In the end, it made sense but getting there, Bryn had to go through some very tough times. There is one point that some readers may think Callum goes too far, treats Bryn more like a werewolf, who are nearly indestructible. But Bryn is human and she is horribly injured. It's not an easy scene to read.

Bryn's need to see Chase, talk to him, starts a chain of events that eventually bring Bryn to where she started, at the attack on her parents. There is a mystery within the story, it's the driving force for Bryn. It's her personal quest to find out what this connection is to Chase that she feels and how it all relates to her past. I loved how Barnes orchestrated the events within the pack and the realistic reactions of the characters. It all coalesced in a surprise ending that left me wanting more.

Rating: A-

ETA: Book 2, Trial by Fire, is due out summer of 2011. (Thanks Nath!)

Review: I Am Number Four

I Am Number Four
Pittacus Lore*
Young Adult/Fantasy
Lorien Legacies/Book 1
Harperteen/August 2010
Library Book

From the inside cover ~

Nine of us came here. We look like you. We talk like you. We live among you. But we are not you. We can do things you dream of doing. We have powers you dream of having. We are stronger and faster than anything you have ever seen. We are the superheroes you worship in movies and comic books - but we are real.

Our plan was to grow, and train, and become strong, and become one, and fight them. But they found us and started hunting us first. Now all of us are running. Spending our lives in shadows, in places where no one would look, blending in. We have lived among you without you knowing.

But they know.

They caught Number One in Malaysia.
Number Two in England.
And Number Three in Kenya.
They killed them all.

I am Number Four.

I am next.

Sounds intense doesn't it? And at many points it is. The constant threat of discovery hangs over John Smith aka Number Four and Henri, his Keeper. Henri acts as John's father here on Earth but was appointed John's Keeper on Lorien, their home planet. They escaped to Earth when the Mogadorians attacked Lorien. They have each other, no other close ties, and must move whenever they fear the Mogadorian hunters are getting too close. They've moved 21 times since they came to Earth ten years ago. And with the death of Number Three, it's time to move again.

This time Number Four chooses the name John Smith as his new identity. It's funny but it also shows his weariness in the constant moving and identity changes. He may be an alien but he's also a teenager who needs social interaction. He's lonely and is just tired of having to keep to himself and not stay anywhere long enough to make friends. He wants to make friends, even one would be nice. But he's told to keep a low profile which becomes difficult when his Legacies begin to make their appearance. And then there's the girl, cause there's always a girl. And a sidekick, cause a hero needs a sidekick. :)

John begins his newest identity at his new school in the small town of Paradise, Ohio. It's here where he meets Sarah, a beautiful girl who likes to take pictures. And Sam, who loves NASA and believes in aliens. You know as soon as he meets them they will all become friends, however odd it seems. John soon learns more about his Legacies and his planet's history. His Legacies are his alien powers that are beginning to manifest, and not always at the best times.

As John gets settled into his new identity, circumstances make him unable to keep that low profile and he quickly gets the attention of the school's popular jock and Sarah's ex-boyfriend. John finds himself standing up to Mark, Sarah's ex. It's exactly the type of attention Henri warned him about but John has friends now and they have become important to him.

The writing is good but not "blow me away" amazing. It's told from John's POV which has its limits and causes the narrative to become a little too heavy at times. I liked how we see John not only coming into his super-special Lorien powers but also making more of the decisions instead of completely relying on Henri. He also starts to take the initiative in finding more information on his enemies, the Mogadorians, even knowing that Henri would disapprove. Their relationship is multi-layered with Henri acting as father figure, teacher and John's only link to his past and home. They are also friends, which isn't surprising since they spend so much time together. It would really be odd if they hadn't become close, being the only two Loriens they know.

The fight scenes are intense and creative with a host of alien monsters for John and Henri, along with their allies, to fight. I thought the creatures hunting John were a little bit larger than life, with very impressive alien powers. And creepy too which is always a plus! It was a good thing John healed fast since he was thrown around a lot during the fighting, with quite a few near death misses.

If you haven't heard, there's already a movie being made. The movie is in production and set for release next year. Will I see it? Yes, unless the trailers are absolutely horrendous. Why? Two words - Timothy Olyphant. He plays Henri. Plus, I do like the story, it has the potential for a good movie. We'll see. As it stands, I Am Number Four ends on a cliffhanger so I'll be reading the next book, The Power of Six, due for a spring 2011 release.

Rating: B+

*Per Wikipedia, Pittacus Lore is the pseudonym of authors Jobie Hughes and James Frey.

Review: Cold Sight

Cold Sight
Leslie Parrish
Paranormal Romance/Suspense
Signet Eclipse/July 2010
Extrasensory Agents/Book 1
Purchased

From the back cover ~

After being made a scapegoat in a botched investigation that led to a child's death, Aidan McConnell becomes a recluse. Still, as a favor to an old friend, Aidan will help on the occasional case. But under his handsome, rugged facade, he keeps his emotions in check for fear of being burned again.

Reporter Lexie Nolan has a nose for news - and she believes a serial killer has been targeting teen girls around Savannah, Georgia. But no one believes her. So she turns to the new paranormal detective agency and the sexy, mysterious Aidan for help. But just as the two begin forging a relationship, the case turns eerily personal for Lexie - and Aidan discovers that maybe he hasn't lost the ability to feel after all.

I've been getting more into Romantic Suspense and the addition of the paranormal element interested me. It's not vamps or weres but the psychic type of paranormal that is contained in Cold Sight. The idea of the reclusive hero appeals to me. It has a little of that Beauty and the Beast feel to it.

The story begins in a dark place with the killer and his latest victim. That's what wakes Aidan McConnell from his restless slumber. The smell of gingerbread, the sound of a woman's scream. Aidan connecting to the victim, a connections he doesn't want. Aidan has this ability to connect to the thought of people that he has come into contact with. This can be frustrating because he doesn't know who they are. Only that he's had some contact with them. Then there's the fact that Aidan doesn't want this responsibility anymore. He doesn't want to feel the fear of someone who's reaching out for help. He's become a recluse for a reason and has no desire to go back out in the world.

Ah, Lexie Nolan - the news report that doesn't take no for an answer. She is tenacious, courageous and funny at times. She has that self deprecating humor that lets you know she doesn't take herself too seriously, only her job. That she takes very seriously. After her recent humiliation, Lexie knows what it's like when people talk about you behind your back and treat you like an outcast. Aidan and Lexie have that in common. It's Lexie who, through shear stubbornness, gets Aidan to help her find out what's happened to the the missing girls.

Aidan and Lexie make a good team. They're both smart and determined to get to the bottom of the mystery of the missing teenagers. They continue to uncover secrets that finally lead them to the killer. I can't say I was completely surprised by the final reveal - all the clues were there. I did like how Parrish developed the relationship between Lexie and Aidan. It was based on mutual trust and genuine liking for each other, not just physical attraction. There is romance but there is also the teamwork, not only between Aidan and Lexie but also with the other members of the team of Extrasensory agents. Yes, there's some sequel bait, but it's wasn't annoying just the opposite. I found myself interested the the other agents and their abilities.

This first book in the Extrasensory Agents series proved to be a solid read. A little too predictable at times, I felt the mystery was the weakest point in the story. Too much of that feeling that I've read this before. But I liked the characters and the touch of paranormal elements so I'll be reading the next book, Cold Touch, due out April 2011.

Rating: B

How Many at One Time?

I'm over at Access Romance today blogging about reading habits and how I usually find myself reading more than one book at a time. Come on over and join in and let us know what your reading habits are. Are you a one at a time reader or do you like reading more than one book at a time?

And while you're there check out the Author's Blog and the great contests going on.

Cover Love: Rob Thurman's Blackout

I was alone, and I was lost. I didn’t know where I was; I didn’t know who I was. It doesn’t get more lost than that. Knowing what I knew and not knowing anything else at all, why would I want to be in the darkness where monsters hide? Because killers hide there, too…

Half-human Cal Leandros has always walked a bloody line between keeping his mortal soul free and clear (sort of) and unleashing the horror of his otherworldly heritage. The one thing that’s always saved him is the memory of his brother, Niko, his friends, and those he loves.

Until now.

Cal wakes up on a beach littered with the recently slaughtered remains of a variety of hideous creatures that were obviously looking for trouble. The fact that he was the one doing the slaughtering doesn’t bother him. The fact that he feels like a natural-born killer doesn’t either. What bothers him is that Cal doesn’t remember Cal anymore…

And he’s not sure he cares.

Another Chris McGrath cover of goodness. Seriously love his work! And that blurb - oh, no. What's Cal without Niko? It's like Sam without Dean. Not good at all. We've still got another seven months to go. Blackout release is set for March 2011. Plenty of time for some re-reading of those fabulous Leandros brothers. :)

TBR Challenge Review: Some Kind of Magic

Some Kind of Magic
Theresa Weir (Anne Frasier)
Contemporary Romance
HarperCollins/ November 1998
Purchased

From the back cover ~

BE CAREFUL

Not much is duller than winter in sleepy Fallon, Idaho. So on her thirtieth birthday, Claire Maxfield wishes for the one thing - well, one of the things - missing from her life: some excitement. Besides that voodoo doll from her best friend, she has no idea what she's about to get.

WHAT YOU WISH FOR...

That very night a mysterious injured man named Dylan carjacks Claire at gunpoint, ordering her to hide him. But once inside her secluded cabin, something strange occurs. Claire's powerfully attractive captor somehow becomes the captive - and Claire winds up taking care of him!

IT MIGHT COME TRUE.

Just how did it happen, she wonders. Maybe that voodoo doll, now sporting one of Dylan's hairs, had something to do with it. Or maybe it was a different kind of magic, a spell that is mystifying, unbreakable, and absolutely irresistible.


*Apologies for posting a day late.*

I love log cabins. I've always wanted to live in one. My sister has a log cabin in the mountains of North Carolina. I've only seen pictures, but would love to go someday. Given that, I'm a sucker for the romance trope of the hero & heroine stranded in a log cabin, while a blizzard rages outside. When this month's suggested reading was to try a new author, Theresa Weir's story taking place in Idaho in a secluded cabin fit perfectly.

Claire Maxfield isn't asking for much when she makes her birthday wish, just a little excitement in her life. She's an artist who's trying to sell her work but isn't feeling a lot of confidence. Add to that, her boyfriend took off for an artist retreat three months ago and hasn't been back since. Instead, he hooked up with a sugar mama and now Claire is waiting in vain for his return. Claire's due for something good to happen but getting kidnapped isn't exactly what she had in mind.

Right off Weir had me laughing. The conversation between Claire and Dylan, when he kidnaps her had me thinking "this is not how you talk to a kidnapper". Claire is scared, nervous and getting angrier by the minute. Her kidnapped is rude, telling her she smells of mothballs. Because of that and how she's bundled up, he thinks she's an old lady. Once they get to Claire's house, Claire has no luck convincing Dylan to take what he needs and leave. Instead she finds herself tied up with a kidnapper sleeping in her bed.

Dylan hates the cold. He's desperate to get warm and picks Claire to help him. Dylan is a hero not looking to be a hero. He's in a situation that leads him to hold a woman at gun point, fight with her and leave her tied up on the floor. He's really not a bad guy, he's just had a little bad luck. I liked Dylan and his bluntness - it's funny. He thinks Claire is a bit crazy and maybe she is, who wouldn't be in her situation?

I thought Claire and Dylan made a cute couple. They had me chuckling with their banter. It had a bit of that Hepburn/Tracy feel to it. With Claire surprising Dylan with her sometimes silly logic and Dylan sometimes falling for it. LOL They did have quite a few things to overcome before getting their HEA. And along the way there is some mad sexing going on. They definitely had the chemistry!

There is also the mystery surrounding the plane crash and who Dylan really is. I thought the plot of Dylan's identity was interesting, if a little bit weak. The way Dylan dealt with his problems, by running away, left me a little disappointed in him. He does redeem himself and figure out what's really important to him. Claire, well she gets a little obsessed with the voodoo doll. There are times when she actually thinks the only reason Dylan is with her is because of the "power of the voodoo", cue spooky music. I could have done without the creepy little doll.

This was a good choice from the TBR pile. I like Weir's writing - she delivers a funny, sexy and sweet read. Perfect log cabin getaway. :)

Rating: B+

Review: Linger

Linger
Maggie Stiefvater
Young Adult Fantasy
Wolves of Mercy Falls/Book 2
July 2010
Library Book
*Spoilers for 1st Book*

From the inside cover ~

the longing.

Once Grace and Sam have found each other, they know they must fight to stay together. for Sam, this means a reckoning with his werewolf past. For Grace, it means facing a future that is less and less certain.

the loss.

Into the world comes a new wolf named Cole, whose past is full of hurt and danger. He is wrestling with his own demons, embracing the life of a wolf while denying the ties of being human.

the linger.

For Grace, Sam , and Cole, life is a constant struggle between two forces - wolf and human - with love baring its two sides as well. It is harrowing and euphoric, freeing and entrapping, enticing and alarming. As their world falls apart, love is what lingers. But will it be enough?

I really enjoyed the first book in the Mercy Falls series, Shiver so I was happy to get Linger from the library. The way Shiver left off felt incomplete. I knew it wasn't the end, both because it's a trilogy and because it just didn't feel finished. Grace and Sam were at the beginning of their story and we still had to find out how it would all play out and how it ended. Linger is a continuation of Shiver so you definitely need to read this trilogy in order.

The story opens with Sam and Grace adjusting to Sam being human - all human, all the time. It's written is four different POVs. Each time the POV changes, it is noted which characters POV it is at the being of that chapter/section. I liked how Stiefvater wrote the different POV, sometimes giving more than one POV for the same scene. We find Sam working at the bookstore again and simply enjoying being in his own skin. Grace going to school and basically raising herself because of her absentee parents. Sam does spend his nights at Grace's house. They are only sleeping together - strictly sleeping. With everything they've been through they need that closeness.

It's still cold enough that the wolves are still wolves but the newer wolves could start changing into humans at any time. I liked how Stiefvater had Grace and Sam in a sort of us-against-the-world situation. The only other person that knows about the wolves is Isabel and she's not going to tell anyone. And Isabel is sort of on Sam and Grace's side but I think it would be going too far to say that they are friends. It's more of an association due to circumstances. The circumstances being that Isabel's brother had been infection with the "wolf virus" and that's how Isabel found out about Sam and the wolves.

One thing about Linger is that it's sad. There's some happiness but it's fleeting, small moments in between the growing unease that has settled over Sam and Grace. In spite of that I liked it and understand why everything happened the way it did. Why Grace and Sam must go through so much pain and sadness before they can get to anything close to a happy ending. But even in that sadness Stiefvater's lyrical prose comes through to lighten the mood. To give such beauty to such sadness.

Graces' POV ~

When I was younger, I had imagined being a wolf. Running away with Sam the wolf into a golden wood, far away from my distant parents and the clutter of modern life. And again, when I'd thought I would lose Sam to the woods, I'd dreamed of going with him. Sam had been horrified. But now, finally, Cole had told me the other side of the coin. All that matters is that moment, and being with the other wolves, and just being a ball of heightened senses. page 284

Sam enjoying cold weather ~

This time I locked the back door, picked up my guitar case, and went out the front, sliding a little on the ice coating the threshold. I pulled on the skullcap that Grace had bought me in a failed attempt to make me look sexy while keeping my head warm. Stepping out into the middle of the sidewalk, I watched tiny flakes float down onto the abandoned street. As far as I could see,there were banks of old snow pressed into stained sculptures. Icicles made jagged smile of the storefronts.

My eyes smarted with the cold. I held my free hand out, palm up, and watched as snow dissolved on my skin.

This was not real life. This was life as watched through a window. Life watched on television. I couldn't remember when I hadn't hidden from this.

I was cold, I had a handful of snow, and I was human. pages 54-55

All four main characters: Sam, Grace, Cole and Isabel are well developed and give different perspectives to the story. Isabel is a character with that dry, snarky humor that I adore. She's not a happy camper since her brother Jack died. She really wasn't exactly happy before that but now she's got this huge load of guilt dragging her down. Her parents are jerks and she blames herself for her brother's death and... well, that's enough! But I do like her so very much. She's taken up the task of trying to find a cure for the werewolves. She's smart and at times, comes off as cold, but she does have feels, she just has a hard time showing them. I think she's afraid of showing any vulnerabilities because of this feeling of aloneness that sits with her. It's like she can't depend on anyone but herself. We should get to see more of her in Forever.

Since this is a trilogy, you should read the books in order and Linger does end with a cliffhanger so consider yourself warned. And one cool thing - the text is in green. It's very easy on the eyes. I'm completely enjoying this trilogy and can't wait to read the final book, Forever, next summer. *sob*

Rating: A-

My review of Shiver