Review: Speak

Speak
Laurie Halse Anderson
Young Adult Contemporary
Farrar, Straus & Giroux/1999
Reprint Peguin/2001/2009

From the author's website ~

Melinda Sordino busted an end-of-summer party by calling the cops. Now her old friends won’t talk to her, and people she doesn’t even know hate her from a distance. The safest place to be is alone, inside her own head. But even that’s not safe. Because there’s something she’s trying not to think about, something about the night of the party that, if she let it in, would blow her carefully constructed disguise to smithereens. And then she would have to speak the truth. This extraordinary first novel has captured the imaginations of teenagers and adults across the country.

Freshman year in high school can be a traumatic experience. New school, new faces, new rules, new universe that is high school. When you start with a bad reputation and nearly zero friends it become even more traumatic. Some days it's all you can do to survive. Some days it take creativity and sheer guts to get through it. Melinda learns all of this and more when she experiences the repercussions of a horrible act.

Anderson grabs hold of the reader with the descriptively accurate insular world of high school. Many times I found myself agreeing with Melinda's observations and comments on life in high school. The cliques, the teachers, the rules - so much is the same. The basics of teen life haven't change much in the 20+ years since I went. It still has that small town feel to it where gossip is rampant and everyone wants to know your business.

Through Melinda's narrative we see how she is perceived and treated by everyone from her former BFF, to her teachers, to her parents. Many of the students she comes in contact with treat her as if she's a leper. There are a few that are either oblivious to what happened at the party, don't care or don't believe the rumors about Melinda. But even those few students that talk to her are not close with her. Melinda holds herself apart, afraid too much interaction could lead to the potential for making a mistake. The adults want to help but are at a loss as to how. They don't know what's wrong so they don't know what steps to take to help. Melinda's inner thoughts when dealing with the adults are at times humorous and insightful. Anderson gets you into the head of a teenager with stunning accuracy.

There were times while reading when I wanted to say to Melinda, "Be mad, be angry. You have every right to be pissed off!" But she didn't. She wasn't ready. I think how Melinda is portrayed as this teenager who continues to withdraw, continues to spend more time alone, away from the school society is very realistic. It's a coping mechanism, that withdrawal into yourself. The desperate need to find somewhere safe after you've been shown it's not safe out there. Wherever there might be.

Melinda is smart and brave and so lost. She doesn't speak because she's afraid she'll say the wrong thing so she keeps quiet. She wants to speak, she wants to respond but she can't bring herself to take that chance. One thing about Melinda that for me, showed her strength was her ability to find the good and the humor in life. Even through the rough times in school with the teasing and ridicule she does maintain this quirky sense of humor. Even when she knows someone is about to hurt her feelings she tries to justify their actions. You see her wanting sometimes so desperately to have a friend. She will do just about anything to have just one friend. It's heartbreaking what she goes through before she can Speak.

Throughout the story there is the symbolism of a tree. Melinda is assigned an art project that involves trees. As we see Melinda's progress on the art project we also see her own inner progress on what happened at the party and how she must eventually face it.

I do wish it had been longer and showed more of Melinda's relationship with her parents. There is also the dialogue which was written in a format that might prove to be a bit jarring for some readers.

Example~

Dad: "It's supposed to be soup."

Me:

Dad: "It tasted a bit watery, so I kept adding thickener. I put in some corn and peas."

Me:

Dad: [pulling wallet from his back pocket] "Call for pizza. I'll get rid of this."

It did take me some time to get used to and I can't say I prefer it but the story isn't heavy on dialogue so it wasn't much of an issue for me.

Speak deals with a serious subject and explores how one teen girl reacts and the course her life takes. I found it to be an engrossing story with a likable narrator.

Rating: B+

National Banned Books Week ...

As you've all probably heard, this is National Banned Books Week. In looking over the list of books that people have attempted to ban I can't help but think that the reasons given for wanting the books banned are situations, people and beliefs that we find in everyday life. How could banning books that deal with everyday life be good? The answer - it can't. Many of the books on the list are children and young adult books. Do I think every child should read any and all books out there? No. That should be up to the parents/guardians of the child. If there is a book your child wants to read but you don't want them reading, discuss why with your child. You might be surprised at the direction the discussion takes. You might find out thing about your child and yourself that you didn't know. And you might end up reading the book along with your child. Knowledge is power.

I've read a number of books on the various lists. Some of the books were even for school ~Slaughterhouse Five, Catcher in the Rye, Fahrenheit 451 and Of Mice and Men are ones I remember reading for school assignments. Judy Blume is on the list many times - is there any Blume book that hasn't been challenged? She was one of my very favorite authors when I was a kid. From the time I was very young to my teen years, I loved her books.

Last year for Nath's Reread Challenge I read Judy Blume's Forever. It was a book that I remember reading as a young teen and gave me much to think about at the time. It has stayed with me these many years later and is still a book I would recommend.

What banned books have you read and enjoyed? Did you read any because they had been banned or challenge? I'm almost finished reading Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak which was a hot topic last week in the blogging community. It made me curious to find out what this story was about.

DIK Review: All The Queen's Men

All The Queen's Men
Linda Howard
Romantic Suspense
Pocket/August 1999
Purchased

From the back cover ~

The Past Proved Deadly. . .

No one knows the dangers of getting close to legendary CIA Black Ops specialist John Medina better than communications expert Niema Burdock. Five years ago, she and her husband worked with Medina on an explosive mission that ended in tragedy. Although she has slowly recovered from her terrible loss, Niema planned never to see Medina again. Until now.

History Is About To Repeat Itself. . .

A French arms dealer is supplying international terrorists, and only Niema can plant the bugs needed to crack the deadly ring. Against her best instincts, she infiltrates the dealer's glamorous world. But when the plan goes awry, Niema and Medina must take flight in a strnage land - and soon find their partnership sparked by an erotic charge. In a world of deception, John Medina has once again set Niema on a free fall into danger. . . and into desire like she's never known.

I consider myself a fan of Linda Howard, although if I had to pick favorites it would be her older titles like Duncan's Bride, MacKenzie's Mountain or Son of the Morning. I decided to read All The Queen's Men because I read and enjoyed Kiss Me While I Sleep which it's loosely related to and because it's a Howard that's been on my tbr pile too long.

The story starts off with a flashback of when Niema and John Medina worked together years ago and when the tragic event occurred that shattered Niema's world. I couldn't help but feel sorry for Niema, it's a very emotional scene. But it's also a risky business that both she and her husband worked in so it's not completely surprising that at some point those risks catch up to them.

Niema Burdock is slowly putting her life back together. She's constructed this safe little world around her and doesn't like to deviate from the routine. Niema deals with her guilt and her grief by closing herself off from any potentially close relationships. She works hard but doesn't seem to enjoy much in life. I do think her portrayal was realistic because she seemed to be stuck, afraid to move forward and chance losing someone she cares about. Then John Medina comes back into her life and she has to make decisions that will cause her to move forward rather than stagnant in the safe little world she has created.

John Medina has a reputation in the spy community but no one really knows who he is. He's very much in control and dedicated to the job. He's smart and lethal and his only real weakness is Niema. He's conflicted when it comes to her. He's very clear in how he feels about her but refuses to act on those feelings, giving her plenty of time to grieve. I liked how John dealt with once again working with Niema - balancing the job and their growing relationship.

Niema and John together made for some serious tension. Niema is certain there is no way she will become intimate with John. John is certain they will. Ha! What they will do for the mission and playing their part turns out to possibly be more than what even the government might ask of them. But this is a romance so it's not completely surprising that there's sex on the job. :)

There were some parts that stretched my beliefs and reminded me that this is fiction because it wouldn't be believable if it were real life. The antagonist has some interesting and questionable motives and I did like the interactions between Niema and Ronsard. There are some steamy sex scenes and at one point I did have to roll my eyes at the outcome, stretching my imagination again to make it fit the plot.

Overall, All The Queen's Men was an entertaining romantic suspense written with plenty of tension and intrigue. If I had to test the limits of believability a few times, it was worth it for the satisfying read.

Rating: B

Access Romance Day...

Hey there! Today's my day over at Access Romance Readers Gab so come on over and let me know what you think about book review grades. How much importance to you put on review grades? Do you find it easy to give grades? Do you prefer stars, numbers, letters or maybe cookies? The chewy chocolate chip kind. ; ) Come on over and let us know!

Review: My Lord Jack

My Lord Jack
Hope Tarr
Historical Romance/Scotland/1793
Carina Press/July 2010
Received from Carina Press/NetGalley

From the publisher's website ~

Former French courtesan Claudia Valemont can't believe her life has come to this: standing in front of a Scottish judge, sentenced to death for stealing a horse. She fled France to find her father and escape the hangman's noose. Now here she is, facing the same fate—alone, desperate and penniless.

"Hold! I will speak for her."

Burly Scottish hangman Jack Campbell takes pride in his work: serving justice and giving the condemned a quick end to their sorry lives. Why he spoke for that pale, hollow-eyed Frenchwoman he'll never know. But now he's stuck with her—assigned to be her keeper for six months' indenture.

Bound together by the rules of her sentence, Jack and Claudia learn to appreciate their differences. But as their wary affection turns to tender desire, secrets from the past appear and threaten to destroy their future...

I don't think I've ever read a romance where the hero was a hangman. What's even more strange is that Jack takes pride in his work but he's not malicious or mean. He's actually kind and considerate of others. It was a very odd combination and one I found intriguing. Claudia, well, she's a different story. She's accustomed to wealth and privilege and everything the city of Paris has to offer. I didn't care for her at the beginning and by the end of the story, I still didn't care much for her.

Claudia Valemont is the former mistress of a French aristocrat. Her life has taken a dramatic turn and she finds herself fleeing France for the lowlands of Scotland. She's not only trying to save her life from the wrath of the French mobs but she's on a quest to find her father. He's a nobleman, an earl, whom she hopes will welcome her into his life. I never got why she thought that since he didn't make any attempts to stay in touch with her or find her for that matter. Claudia's luck finally changes when she is given a reprieve from being hanged, which was good since she gives up way too easily. Jack steps in and comes to her defense. I think part of why he did it has to do with Jack being a fair man. The other part is due to Claudia being a woman and Jack wanting to rescue her. He just got more than he bargained for.

Jack Campbell is far from a typical romance hero. His life hasn't been easy, he grew up a bastard in a home that no one would call happy. His chosen profession doesn't exactly win him friends. People, even good, law-abiding people, tend to keep their distance from the hangman. But Jack is an easy to like guy. He's a smart, decent man who's good looks catch Claudia's eye. At first Jack seems fairly straight forward. He's the local hangman who does his job well but he doesn't brag about what he does. It is what it is. Jack has some very specific ideas about what he wants to do with his life and those thoughts are what drives him to keep his distance from Claudia. I did like that Jack kept to his principles, at least for a little while. Claudia can be very pushy when she wants something.

The romance was okay. Jack and Claudia are stuck together and forced to spend time together. Claudia's talkative where Jack tends to think about what he says before uttering a sound. They are certainly an odd pair and sometimes opposites attract and work well. Unfortunately, I never really felt that chemistry between these two. They came off as too dissimilar to be believable when the did fall in love.

As Claudia and Jack get to know each other they both find that first impressions are not always accurate. Claudia isn't use to hard work but she is willing to try her hand working at the local inn. Jack, it turns out can read and actually enjoys it. There are other elements that they discover about each other, most through Claudia asking question after question. She was very inquisitive and not shy about asking personal questions. Jack, shy one with little experience with women, preferred to keep to himself.

The story started out with potential, the uncommon hero hangman, the former mistress on the run. I did like when Jack was learning how to live with a women in his small home. He was sweet and ended up teaching Claudia, the experienced woman, a few things about how a woman should be treated. The story started to drag when Jack and Claudia leave the small village and head into the city. It's there that Claudia begins to have a few too many moments of poor judgment and I had a hard time seeing why Jack continued to put up with her.

The story line of Claudia finding her father took an odd turn with wicked henchmen and imprisonments. I didn't find it as enjoyable as when Jack and Claudia were together without the external problems. I did think Jack made for an appealing hero, I just wish his heroine had been a better match. I do think My Lord Jack could work for some, I would have preferred a stronger heroine who would needed less saving and gave more thought to her actions.

Rating: C+

Treachery In Death Blurb...

Maybe I've been under a rock but didn't know this blurb was even out there yet. The next In Death release, Indulgence In Death, comes out November 2. Then there's the novella, Possession in Death, in the anthology The Other Side, release November 30. Then we only have to wait until February for the next In Death release! We are going to be rolling in Eve and Roarke goodness! Treachery In Death is set for release, per Amazon, February 22, 2011.

*Possible Spoilers for previous books*


In the latest from the #1 New York Times bestselling phenomenon, Eve Dallas tracks down those who break the law-including the ones sworn to uphold it.

Detective Eve Dallas and her partner, Peabody, are following up on a senseless crime-an elderly grocery owner killed by three stoned punks for nothing more than kicks and snacks. This is Peabody's first case as primary detective-good thing she learned from the master.

But Peabody soon stumbles upon a trickier situation. After a hard workout, she's all alone in the locker room when the gym door clatters open; and-while hiding inside a shower stall trying not to make a sound-she overhears two fellow officers, Garnet and Oberman, arguing. It doesn't take long to realize they're both crooked-guilty not just of corruption but of murder. Now Peabody, Eve, and Eve's husband, Roarke, are trying to get the hard evidence they need to bring the dirty cops down-knowing all the while that the two are willing to kill to keep their secret.

Oh, and I should mention we'll also be getting the last book in Nora Roberts Bride Quartet - Happy Ever After, (November 2). It's Parker and Mal's story and I can't wait to read it. I'll be sad to see the series end.

J. D Robb website
Nora Roberts website

Review: Bayou Moon

Bayou Moon
Ilona Andrews
Fantasy Romance
The Edge/Book 2
ACE/October 2010
Received from Publisher

From the back cover ~

The Edge lies between worlds, on the border between the Broken, where people shop at Wal-Mart and magic is a fairy tale - and the Weird, where blueblood aristocrats rule, changelings roam, and the strength of your magic can change your destiny. . .

Cerise Mar and her unruly clan are cash poor but land rich, claiming a large swath of the Mire, the Edge swamplands between the state of Louisiana and the Weird. When her parents vanish, her clan's long-time rivals are suspect number one.

But all is not as it seems. Two nations of the Weird are waging a cold war fought by feint and espionage, and their conflict is about to spill over in to the Edge - and Cerise's life. William, a changeling soldier who'd left behind the politics of the Weird, has been forced back into service to track down a rival nation's spymaster.

When William's and Cerise's missions lead them to cross paths, sparks fly - but they'll have to work together if they want to succeed. . . and survive.

William is back! After reading about William in On the Edge, I was thrilled to find out the next book in the series would be his. As Bayou Moon begins, it's been two years since the ending of On the Edge. Rose, Declan and the boys have moved to the Weird. William stayed behind in the Edge and works in the Broken. If you didn't read On the Edge, then that might not make sense to you but that's okay because Andrews does a good job filling in any blanks. There's no info dump, instead the history and back story are woven in as needed. I do recommend reading On the Edge, it's very good, but not necessary to read before Bayou Moon.

William Wolf is all alone - drinking. Something he does often. That's never a good sign. Throw in talking to comic book action figures and you've got yourself one sad, lonely hero. What William needs is a quest, a crusade, a mission. Anything to get him off his ass and stop feeling sorry for himself. Well, he's about to get one. William is a former elite soldier and his unique services are needed by The Mirror, a spec ops/CIA type group from the Weird. A horror from the past is about to revisit William and pull him into the Edge and into the middle of a long standing feud.

Cerise Mar is having a crappy day. She had to trek through the mud, hunting down an escaped rolpie - cute beasties, part seal, part otter, who pull the boats throughout the swamp of the Mire. The Mire is the place in the Edge where Cerise and her family live. Once Cerise gets the rolpie back to the Rathole, her family home, she's met with some disturbing news. Her parents are late getting home and it's up to Cerise to find them.

Cerise comes from a very eclectic family with a lot of relatives who wield a variety of magic. She's very aware of her role in the family and with her parents missing, it's up to her to take the lead. Cerise is a reluctant heroine. She knows what she needs to do and does it but she really longs for a little less responsibility and a more stable life. She's smart and can kick some serious ass as well as extremely loyal to her family. She would do anything for them. I can definitely say she's right up there with Kate Daniels and Mercy Thompson as one of my favorite heroines. After Cerise learns what has happened to her parents she must travel to the Broken. It's there where she runs into William, "Lord Leather Pants" or "Lord Bill" as she dubs him. Cerise is not impressed, yet.

William doesn't like the swamp or the Mire. He doesn't understand the odd people he meets there. And oh, boy are they odd. I loved how William, with his smart ass humor dealt with the oddities that came from the Mire. One of the first oddities he encounters is Cerise. They clash from the start but must work together to get away from the enemies hunting them. William and Cerise go from irritation to respect as they get to know each other. Cerise is one kick-ass heroine, she didn't let William take over when they found themselves fighting their mutual enemies. She did appreciate his knowledge of the enemy, she's not a fool and will take help when she needs it. William can't help but find Cerise interesting and so finds himself pulled deeper and deeper into her family and their problems.

The relationships throughout the story are well developed and give plenty of character insight. William didn't grow up in a family environment and isn't always sure how to take the teasing and banter of the large Mars family. Instead of making him feel like an outsider, they pull him in, treating him like one of them. It was such a novel experience for William. I loved how we got to see him come to care about this special family and become part of it.

The common enemy that William and Cerise are fighting is a nasty bastard with a bunch of equally nasty minions. Spider is an altered human from the Weird. He and his little army of alters are after something that could change how wars in the Weird are fought. It's up to Cerise and William to make sure Spider doesn't get what he wants. They come up against some seriously freaky opponents with truly repulsive alterations. Andrews can write some amazing fight scenes. You feel like you're in the battle, on the edge of your seat, not always sure who might survive this round. There is quite a bit of action, blood and gore in the story. And sometimes things were just plain gross. I loved it!

Talking about action, there is a romance between William and Cerise. It's not an in your face romance, they have a lot going on with fighting, plotting and planning their next move. It's more a romance of quick looks and lingering touches. Of stolen moments and time together. Neither one is quite sure what to make of the other or of their attraction. I found the dialogue between the two to be amusing and clever. They start off with smart ass insults, progressing to grudging respect and finally falling in love. In the end, it's a very sweet, genuine romance that leaves you believing these two were meant to be.

I mentioned that Cerise has a large, extended family and Spider, aka nasty bastard, has a number of minions, leaving a lot of characters to keep track of. Some of the names are unique and I did find myself having to do a little re-reading to help with the who's who. Also, at one point there is mention of the real possibility of a traitor, then it's not mentioned for a very long time. I kept wondering when it would be brought up again, since it seemed very important.

Bayou Moon is a wonderful addition to The Edge series. It has fascinating characters, interesting story line and some seriously wicked action. A book that will keep you reading long into the night. I highly recommend both The Edge and the Kate Daniels series by the talented writing duo that make up Ilona Andrews.

Rating: A

Books in the series:

On the Edge (review)
Bayou Moon ~ Official release date ~ September 28

Review: Sunrise Over Texas

Sunrise Over Texas
MJ Frederick
Western Historical Romance/Texas/1826
Carina Press/September 2010
Received from Carina Press/NetGalley

From the publisher's website ~

Texas Frontier, 1826

Kit Barclay followed her husband into the wilds of Texas only to be widowed. Stranded with her mother- and sister-in-law to care for, with no hope of rescue before winter sets in, Kit has only one goal: survival. So when a lone horseman appears on the horizon, and then falls from his mount in fever, Kit must weigh the safety of her family against offering aid and shelter to the handsome stranger.

Trace Watson has lost everything that ever mattered to him. Trying to forget, he heads to the frontier colony of San Felipe, not caring if he lives or dies. But when he wakes to discover he's being nursed back to health by a brave young widow, he vows to repay her kindness by guiding the three women back to civilization, no matter what the cost.

Soon, Kit and Trace are fighting the elements, Indian attacks and outlaws—as well as feelings they both thought were long buried. . .

Historical westerns are not as common as they used to be but to have one set in Pre-Civil War America is even more rare. I loved the fact that this is set in 1826. This is a rustic frontier where people were scattered far and wide. Where women were few and the land was a harsh and dangerous place. Fredrick doesn't sugar coat the hardships that are faced on the frontier. Nor does she downplay the importance of the will to survive. It's that will to survive that gets Kit and Trace through some of the most difficult times of their lives.

Katherine "Kit" Barclay is barely surviving. She's stuck at Fort Dryden with only her mother-in-law and sister-in-law for company. The responsibility for their welfare has fallen to her. It's been a rough time since Kit left her home in Louisiana for the Texas frontier. Her husband is dead and now she and her in-laws are running out of food and in real danger of dying. I liked Kit right off. I liked her quiet strength, her intelligence and her compassion. When she rescues Trace, all she wants is to get him healthy and on his way. There are no others at the fort and Trace makes her nervous. Trace has other ideas. He can't leave the women alone at the fort and he knows their only chance of survival is to make it to San Felipe.

Oh, Trace. He is such a tortured hero. He's lost the people that meant the most to him and he's still grieving when he arrives at the remote fort. He's running from his memories and runs right into Kit. Trace is sick with a fever when he arrives at the fort. He barely makes it and needs Kit's help. Trace is what I'd like to think of as a frontier gentleman. He's kind, courteous but he's also alpha enough to take charge when he needs to. When it came to Kit, he knew he had to get her to leave the fort but he didn't just order her to go. He talked to her, yes, talked to her and by talking with Kit, Trace understood why Kit didn't want to leave. He treated her like the intelligent woman she was and used logic and reason to get her to go to San Felipe.

Kit and Trace's relationship wasn't rushed in that they began sharing little bits and pieces of themselves, allowing each other to get to know them. Sunrise Over Texas isn't a long book, 194 pages, and still the way their relationship developed it felt solid - with both Trace and Kit having a say in the decisions. Neither is used to the frontier, they are both from New Orleans, but they learn how to survive together. Their is one scene when they are under attack and it turns out that Kit is the better shot. I liked that Trace wasn't this perfect frontier man and Kit could teach him a thing or two. :)

The journey to the colony of San Felipe is a hard one and tests both Kit and Trace. It doesn't help that Kit's in-laws are even less accustomed to frontier life and have to be pushed to do their share. Agnes, Kit's mother-in-law disapproves of how close Kit and Trace have gotten and Mary, Kit's sister-in-law is a teenager who admires Kit but had very little survival instincts. Seriously, Kit put up with a lot of crap from these two. They tried Trace's patience too. Once they get to the settlement, they have to make some very tough decisions. This is where we see how loyal and compassionate Kit is. And how much Trace loves Kit. I was surprised at the turn the story took but think the author handled it well.

Towards the end, there is a misunderstanding that both Trace and Kit have to get past which seemed a little too contrived. After everything they had been through, trust shouldn't have been an issue. It was just a little bump in the story and didn't take away from the enjoyment of a romance about two people who overcome their suffering and find love again. If you're looking for a western romance with a frontier setting, this is it.

Rating: A-

Review: Amy & Roger's Epic Detour

Amy & Rogers Epic Detour
Morgan Matson
Young Adult Contemporary
Simon & Schuster/May 2010
Library Book

You might have noticed that I didn't post the usual back cover blurb, or in this case, inside cover blurb. I was going to but after reading it, I felt it gave away too much of the story. It's a road trip book and if you've ever been on a road trip, much of the fun comes from not always knowing where you might stop along the way. So I've placed the blurb at the end of the review.

I first heard about Amy & Roger's Epic Detour when Nath reviewed it. She heard about it from Ames so a big shout out to both of these ladies for recommending it. :)

This is probably one of the most enjoyable books I have read in a long time. From the start I loved Amy's voice. Her observations of the people around her are funny and telling. She's going through some serious stuff, dealing with her dad's death just three months ago. She's been alone for the last month in her house that's for sale. Her mother has already moved and is waiting for Amy to finish up her junior year in high school and then she'll being joining her mother in Connecticut. It's not enough that Amy must leave everything that's familiar and move across the country, now her mother has arranged for Amy to bring the car, with Roger, a guy she knew when she was a kid, driving it.

Road trips can be a lot of fun with the right people. But with someone you don't know and you're at a really low point in your life, it can suck. Amy does get lucky and Roger isn't a loser, or smelly or tell bad jokes or sing off key. It turns out he's a nice guy. A little shy but so is she, at least when they first meet. The trip starts off with Amy's mother planning an itinerary that allows no time for sightseeing or detours. Roger has another suggestion - a few detours here, places more interesting than what Amy's mom had in mind. Amy agrees as long as they get to Connecticut in four days. Amy has her reasons for agreeing and they have a lot to do with her parents.

The stops along the way bring back memories and some sadness but also a feeling of completeness for both Amy and Roger. I loved reading about where they ate. Amy is a big fan of diners and Roger is a fast food fan. The diners are specific to that area but the fast food - they had me craving In-N-Out (love their shakes), Chick-fil-A (chicken sandwiches are the best!) and something called crumbly hamburgers from a place called NuWay in Wichita, Kansas. I'm very curious about the crumbly. They also had me looking at maps, trying to figure out a quick road trip that the family could do on a long weekend. Utah has potential. :)

I have to mention the visuals in this book. Yep, there's pictures! LOL Pictures of Roger's playlist, receipts for all the food they ate, pictures of where they had been. I loved it all! It really gave the book that personal touch, as if you were reading their travel diary.

Then there is the story of Amy and Roger. How they got to know each other over the course of the trip. How they came to understand each other and themselves. How Amy learned that people can come into your life and make a big impact in a very short time. The secondary characters are all so very entertaining and well developed considering the short time they're on the page. And the story itself was funny. There were some sad scenes when Amy thinks of her father and when Roger confronts someone who has hurt him. But I also found myself laughing, grinning and snickering. It was charming to see how Amy and Roger got to know each other and came to care about each other. It was a different environment, being stuck in a car with someone. Certainly a learning environment. Neither of them are perfect, they both made mistakes along the way but the important part was that they learned from their mistakes.

If you want to read a fun, amusing and insightful story I would definitely recommend taking a journey with Amy & Roger.

Rating: A+

From the inside cover ~

When you're on a road trip, life is all about the detours. . .

Amy Curry is having a terrible year. Her mother has decided to move across the country and needs Amy to get their car from California to Connecticut. There's just one small problem. Since her dad died this past spring, Amy hasn't been able to get behind the wheel. Enter Roger, the nineteen-year-old son of an old family friend, who turns out to be unexpectedly cute. . . and dealing with some baggage of his own.

Meeting new people and coming to terms with her father's death were not what Amy had planned on this trip. And traveling the Loneliest Road in America, seeing the Colorado mountains, crossing the Kansas plains, and visiting diners, dingy motels, and Graceland were definitely not on the itinerary. But as they drive, Amy finds that the people you lest expected are the ones you may need the most - and that sometimes you have to get lost in order to find your way home.

TBR Challenge Review: Dreamfever

Dreamfever
Karen Marie Moning
Urban Fantasy
Fever/Book 4
Delacorte Press/August 2009
Purchased

*Spoilers for Books 1-3*
*Highly Recommend Reading In Order*

From the author's website ~

MacKayla Lane lies naked on the cold stone floor of a church, at the mercy of the erotic Fae master she once swore to kill. Far from home, unable to control her sexual hungers, MacKayla is now fully under the Lord Master's spell. In the New York Times bestselling author Karen Marie Moning's stunning new novel, the walls between human and Fae worlds have come crashing down. And as Mac fights for survival on Dublin's battle-scarred streets, she will embark on the darkest-and most erotically charged-adventure of her life.

He has stolen her past, but MacKayla will never allow her sister's murderer to take her future. Yet even the uniquely gifted sidhe-seer is no match for the Lord Master, who has unleashed an insatiable sexual craving that consumes Mac's every thought-and thrusts her into the seductive realm of two very dangerous men, both of whom she desires but dares not trust.

As the enigmatic Jericho Barrons and the sensual Fae prince V'lane vie for her body and soul, as she rallies the sidhe-seers to fight an impossible battle, and the power of the Dark Book weaves its annihilating path through the city, Mac's greatest enemy delivers a final challenge...

It's an invitation Mac cannot refuse, one that sends her racing home to Georgia, where an even darker threat awaits. With her parents missing and the lives of her loved ones under siege, Mac is about to come face-to-face with a soul-shattering truth-about herself, and about the world she thought she knew.

I was going to try and hold off reading Dreamfever until just before Shadowfever's release in January but after reading the latest excerpt of Shadowfever I caved. I bought it shortly after it's release so it certainly hasn't been on my tbr pile that long but it was calling to me and you must go with the book that calls. I'm glad I picked this one because I had forgotten how much I enjoy the world of Mac's Ireland.

The way Faefever left off was horrible and a hell of a cliffhanger. Well, Moning must love cliffhangers because I'll warn you right now, Dreamfever has one too. And I'm surprisingly okay with that. It gave me a whole bunch of stuff for speculating. I even found myself at Moning's message board looking for any clues as to what happened and what might happen in Shadowfever. Yeah, nobody knows, it's all just speculating. It's kind of fun but then it starts getting really hard to follow, the speculating that is, because there are so many possibilities and so much to remember. All those little things that may seem insignificant at the time might have a hidden meaning, or they just might mean exactly what they say. It can really twist your mind up in knots trying to figure it all out.

Dreamfever picks up where Faefever left off - in the church where Mac has been horribly used, abused and raped. Many fans of the series had a hard time with this and it's understandable when a character that we have come to know and care about goes through such a devastating experience. The intensity is fierce and Mac is so not herself. She's become something different altogether. It was hard seeing her become this thing not of her own mind. Do I think it was necessary for the story arc? That's a hard call. When we consider what has happened, in public, with V'lane it's mild compared to what happens to her at the hands of the Fae Princes. V'lane could have turned Mac Pri-ya but for his own reasons he chose not to. Do I think Mac had to hit bottom, this very bottom of loosing herself to make the story that much stronger? Because, really, that's the only reason I can come up with for turning Mac Pri-ya - to make the story, and Mac, stronger. I don't think rape was the answer but that's the way Moning went so I'll just deal with it.

Since Mac is not herself, Dani, who I abso-freaking-lootly adore, takes over narration duties until Mac is, well, Mac again. I like Mac's voice but it was a treat to hear Dani in her very unique Irish teenager 'Fecking A' lingo. She gives her own twist on events and we get to know her better. Dani has a boatload of responsibilities but she's still a teenager with the exuberance of a teen. The idea of her own invincibility is strong in Dani. It's also how she feels about Mac. She's come to rely on Mac and seeing what has happen to Mac shakes Dani, scares her even which is saying something.

Mac's road to recovery is a long, hard one. *rolls eyes* no comments from the peanut gallery 'kay? After Mac is Mac again, more or less, she begins the hunt for the Sinsar Dubh and trying to take back some of Dublin. It's hell out there and the Unseelie are taking advantage of their release into the human realm. There is a lot going on but Moning keeps it on track and once again gives the reader more information on the various players in the search for the Sinsar Dubh. We also get more what I call "potential information if we only knew what it meant" information. Anyone who's read this series knows how for everything you think you know, there's at least two or more things you don't know. Honestly, Shadowfever has a huge responsibility when it comes to tying up all the lose ends and answering the fans number one questions - What the hell is Barrons?

*Just had a very weird experience - while writing this review I'm listen to the radio, oldies station and the Stones "She's a Rainbow" just came on. (cue spooky music)

Dreamfever is another well written, edge of your seat, what the hell just happened addition to the series. I'm not sure how Moning keeps everything straight, serious, serious notes would be my guess. I'm not so patiently waiting for Shadowfever, release date January 18, 2011. It's suppose to be 624 pages, per Amazon. I just hope it's enough!

Rating: B+