Jillian Dodd Has Got It Goin' On!

I first heard of and came to know Jillian Dodd in an on-line book club. She seemed so genuine, fresh, energetic and down to earth that I very quickly became enamored of her, as do most people who've had the pleasure of meeting her. (Although now that you've seen that picture of me with Jillian you can tell both that I'm totally smitten with her, and why!) And then I started reading her books!

The first one I read, That Boy, was so charming and cleverly written (love how the narrator's voice and perspective change as she grows up!), that I was immediately hooked, and from then on couldn't get enough.


But her awesome books (and gorgeous looks!) aren't the only reason I became and remain infatuated with Jillian, or the only thing about her that I want to talk about. Because another cool thing (cool almost to the point of intimidating!) is her energy, and her generosity of spirit (okay, that's two things, sue me!). For example, earlier this month (December 21st, right in the middle of Christmas preparation, which is no small undertaking in the Dodd household) Jillian launched a major marketing initiative - 99 authors, 99 EBooks for 99 cents - an idea she hatched while chatting to other writers about the best way to bring their books to the attention of the reading public.

Remember that General Waverly guy, from White Christmas?

Just like him, Jill assembled the troops, issued clear step-by-step instructions on what they needed to do, and how and when to do it. And just like in the movie, she was indefatigable in her support and her relentlessness: "We ate, and then she ate. We slept, then she slept. And when she woke up nobody slept for forty-eight hours!" (Okay, paraphrasing for rhetorical effect, but wow, she rocked - hard!) And the beautiful thing (from both an author and a reader point of view?) It worked! At the end of the 21st December, ten of the authors were in the top 100 in the Kindle store. (By this time Amazon had leapt aboard to assist in the 24hr price drop, and helped out with the Kindle Daily Deal). The majority of the authors saw their rankings soar. Many sold hundreds of books. Many were in the top five of their specific category genres! Readers were ecstatic, authors were excited and Jillian stayed up with virtually no sleep for forty-eight hours (Remember that General Waverly guy? That part I wasn't kidding about!) to make sure the whole thing went smoothly and to keep a cute and steady eye on the numbers.

So this post is partly in recognition and celebration of that event, and Jillian's amazing contribution to it.

But it's also about letting you in on Jillian's new series, The Keatyn Chronicles, an awesome reading experience I just don't want you to miss out on! What's up with that, you say?

Well, remember that first season of Gossip Girl, back when it was fun? Or Beverly Hills 90210, again in those glorious early days?

Well, if you got a kick out of those, you’re going to love the steamy Keatyn Chronicles. Readers have gone wild for Keatyn and her complicated life, never mind her even more complex love life.

Jillian’s ability to write such a fabulously drawn character has readers coming back for more again and again. Keatyn is rich, smexy and an awesome dresser and shoe-holic, who may look as if she has it all. But she's got her share of issues, too, one of which is a big ole scary stalker who haunts our girl thoughout Book One of the series, Stalk Me! It’s the sign of a great author when he/she deals honestly with a protagonist’s flaws, but still leaves us loving her. And while Keatyn has probs aplenty, she also has smarts, sex appeal (did I mention that?) and the ability to make a reader laugh out loud at times, and bring a lump to your throat, as well.

The secondary characters too, are beautifully and vividly brought to life, especially the guys. I'm lucky enough to be in a group where girls find these guys so droolworthy, that they're posting and rabidly commenting on pics of who they'd cast as these competitors for Keatyn's heart (and panties!) But don't take my word alone, Stalk Me has garnered over 138 five star reviews. That is a crapload of amazeballs right there, my friends!

Curious now? Here’s the blurb for Stalk Me:

Gossip Girl meets Hollywood in this steamy new series by That Boy author, Jillian Dodd.

Keatyn has everything she ever dreamed. Her life is following the script she wrote for the perfect high school experience. She's popular, goes to the best parties, dates the hottest guy, and sits at the most-coveted lunch table.

She's just not sure she wants it anymore.

Because, really, things aren't all that perfect.
Her best friend is threatening to tell everyone her perfect relationship is a scam.
Her perfect boyfriend gets drunk at every party they go to.
It's exhausting always trying to look and act perfect.
And, deep down, she isn't sure if she has any true friends.

To add to the drama, her movie star mom has a creepy stalker.
A hot, older man flirts with her and tells her they should make a movie together.
And she's crushing on an adorable surfer. Dating him would mean committing social suicide.

So she writes a new script. One where all the pieces of her life will come together in perfect harmony.
But little does she know, there's someone who will do anything to make sure that doesn't happen.



Book two of The Keatyn Chronicles is titled Kiss Me. Since it’s release on the 26th of November, it has 157 five star reviews. And look at that cover model! If I ever get the chance, it will be super hard not to take her up on the invitation of this title, right? Who could blame me!

Here’s its blurb:

I’ve always written scripts for my perfect life.
But no way could I have ever scripted this.
My life is so far from perfect, it’s not even funny.
All because of a stalker.

I’m at a boarding school, where I have to lie about who I am.
I can’t see my family.
I’m tutoring a hottie god that tortures me with his smile.
The most popular girl already hates me.
But there’s this boy.
This hot, sweet, sexy boy.
So I’m going to stop trying to script my life and just live it.
Because who knows how long I have left.


Thanks to awesome author CC MacKenzie, for helping me with this post (although any errors are certainly mine!) And a further mega-tip of the old chapeau to extraordinary author and friend Charles Sheehan-Miles, who came with the idea for this burst of blog-thusiasm for Jillian!

Check out Jillian's wonderful books at these links!

Kiss Me

Stalk Me

Jillian Dodd's Author Website

Jillian Dodd facebook page

Jillian Dodd Goodreads page

Of Romance and Laughter -- Author Molly Ringle Interview and Giveaway!

Molly Ringle is an author I love, and I’m delighted to welcome her to the interview chair here at the Still Seeking Allies clubhouse. Her books are both thoughtful and irrepressibly funny, literate and sweetly silly, sexy and emotional, and all around full of awesome. Molly’s been writing fiction for over twenty years (yes, she started young!), and in addition to her charming novels, she’s written several hilarious parodies (available at her website) including send ups of many YA and Romance favorites. Similarly reflecting her intense devotion to wry and witty humor, she won the grand prize(!) in the 2010 Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest with one (intentionally) terrible sentence, which you can read at the BLFC homepage. Her current project is a contemp take on the Persephone/Hades situation, which seems fraught with dramatic and smexy potential. Molly lives in Seattle with her husband and two charming kids, where she is a devotee of fragrances and chocolate.

You have written some very clever and terribly funny parodies – of Harry Potter, the Lord of the Rings and more recently The Hunger Games and Les Mis. Your web site gives them equal billing, by identifying you as “a writer of novels and parodies.” How do you feel the two relate to each other? Does that sense of humor which reigns rampant in the parodies infuse your novels, too?

The parodies (and perhaps also the Bulwer-Lytton sentence) were where I made my biggest splash on the Internet. Some of them went viral and have still gotten way more attention than my original fiction has. (Of course, the parodies are free, which does lend to a larger readership! We all love free funny stuff.) So I figure maybe half the people who land on my website are looking for the parodies rather than my other writing, and I try to make it easy for them to find what they're after. But the success of the parodies did give me a major hint that maybe humor is something I'm good at, and it would therefore be stupid *not* to use it in my novels. I generally do include a lot of humor, which can be ridiculous or wry or subtle, depending on the scene.

Do you have to hold back sometimes in a serious part and say, whoa, this isn’t the time to be punny or playful?

Certainly, making an irreverent remark or laughing at the "wrong" time has been a problem with me both in writing and in real life--just ask my mom, who failed to prevent me from giggle attacks in church when I was a kid. And those wrong-footed moments do occur in my rough drafts too, but luckily I'm able to rein myself in and edit them out before the final galley.

Do web searches for the parodies or your awesome Bulwer-Lytton award winning entry bring new readers to your site, and hopefully to your novels? Have you had any particularly memorable responses to your water bottle/kissing analogy? Have you ever been asked about “the rest of the story?” Any offended gerbil lovers, Ricardo’s or Felicity’s who felt ill-treated?

I have no proof that the Bulwer-Lytton win actually increased my book sales, but it did make people laugh, which was the important thing. My favorite responses have been the people who say I captured their early kissing experiences perfectly with that disgusting description. (Hah! Yeah, most of us have had such unfortunate encounters...) One or two of the journalists did ask what happened to the couple, and I admit I haven't really planned it out; but I can't help feeling their affair is somewhat doomed. So far no gerbil owners, Ricardos, or Felicitys have complained personally to me, but I do feel bad for surely causing some teasing for those with such names (or pets).

Have you ever chatted with any other BLFC winners? Kind of a select and exalted company, right? You guys should get together for one of those “Dark and Stormy Night,” cocktails!

As soon as I won that contest, I started getting emails from previous winners, and in the subsequent years I've emailed the grand prize winners to congratulate them too. So far everyone is wonderfully nice, and droll, and modest, as you'd have to be to write an intentionally horrible, awkward sentence and then endure headlines like "World's Worst Writer" for a month or so afterward. (Um, no, headline writers, that isn't quite what the contest means.) And Scott Rice, the organizer of the contest, must be one of the kindest and most patient people out there. He's run the contest almost singlehandedly for over twenty years, getting terrible sentences in his inbox every day, and still comes across as good-humored and thoughtful in his messages.

Part of the premise of your sexy and sweet Adult Romance "Summer Term" is that protagonist Paige is a doctoral candidate in linguistics. Your knowledge of and background in linguistics make that element of the story feel believable and unforced. Same with your experiences in Edinburgh in "What Scotland Taught Me," and the city of Seattle in "The Ghost Downstairs." Have you had experiences that make your ghost-agonists (in TGD and "Of Ghosts and Geeks") more real and relatable to you? Does your world view have room for real life ghosts, or is that just a literary device?

I have no personal history with ghosts, but some of my trusted friends and relatives swear they've had ghostly experiences, so I like to think it's possible. I might just lack the sixth sense, or maybe ghosts aren't interested in showing off for me. Mostly I lean toward ghosts for my paranormal devices because I think they're the scariest of the supernatural beings, and therefore the most interesting. They also have the capacity for a deeply sad story, or a surprisingly funny one if you twist things.

Your followers on Facebook and readers of your blog know that you love the rain, which seems like a good thing for a Seattle-ite. How about elaborating on that for us Midwesterners who see that more as a bug than a feature? I know it ties in to your sensitive and sophisticated sniffer, is that right?

It's true that the air usually smells good in the rain. And around here the rain tends to smell somewhat like the ocean, which is beautiful. But I also like that the rain waters my garden so I don't have to, and that it makes the world quieter and cozier. Plus you don't have to wear sunscreen, a substance I find greasy and itchy. Incidentally, little-known fact about Seattle: it doesn't rain as much as people think (it drizzles often, but pours rarely), and hardly rains in the summer at all. While the Midwest and South and East Coast are getting their humid summer downpours, we're drying out on the West Coast. A summer drought is the norm here. Our grass usually turns brown by mid-August. So the return of the rain at the end of summer is especially a treat for me, because I've missed it!

Is music a big part of your writing life? I know you were at one time a lover of Robert Smith and The Cure, Nick Drake (right?) and other lovely, angsty Ur-emo. Still like that kind of thing? I’ve seen you liking The Lumineers lately, what else fills out your playlist these days? Do you listen to or imagine music in your head while you are writing?

I rarely have music in my head, or even playing, while actually writing. My focus is on the story then. But I definitely form attachments to certain songs that have the right mood for a particular story, and I listen to them while daydreaming about the characters. I have a playlist right now for my work-in-progress, including The Lumineers and some other hipster groups like Of Monsters and Men, and Florence and the Machine. I do still love my Goth-ish New Wave stuff (Cure, Pet Shop Boys, New Order...), and also atmospheric, beautiful, sometimes eerie music like Dead Can Dance and Loreena McKennitt.



"Summer Term" and "Of Ghosts and Geeks" were quite a bit sexier than most of your other stories. Was it awkward or fun writing “those parts?” I like that they are sweet and tender as well as toe-curling, was it hard to achieve that tone?

Thank you! Those can be difficult to write, because it's easier for readers to find fault with love scenes than with other types of scenes--we all delight in heckling such things. It's more important than ever not to use clichés or over-sappy dialogue, or weird inventive metaphors that'll yank the readers out of the moment and make them snicker. On the other hand, love (or at least romantic attraction) is one of the two main pillars of my writing (the other being humor), so I'm always happy to get to those scenes and decide how best to tackle them. I think a bit of human awkwardness makes them more realistic, and therefore more endearing.

Many authors draw people to their Facebook page by offering to publish teasers, swag, cover reveals or other prizes when a threshold number is achieved. Any chance of us seeing you in that Princess Leia costume when your fb page hits 1,000 likes? (Okay, just threw this one in to make you laugh, but think about it!)

Haha! I doubt there's a lot of demand for such a photo, and in any case I'd have to acquire the costume. I don't actually own one. But 1,000 likes would be awesome, and will surely require some kind of celebration. I'll consider all suggestions!
[Ed. Note - Amazon carries them, just sayin]


Last I heard the Persephone story was really kicking into gear, and you were thinking about making it a series, or at least a two parter. Is that still an option? This is a genre that has seen a lot of activity in the last couple of years. Your fans know you will make it fresh, funny, and emotional; can you share anything with us about the project and how it’s seen through the prism of Molly-o-vision?

At this point it looks like it'll have to be at least two volumes. Turns out I have a lot of adventures to relate. Additional books are quite possible, whether in the series or more like companion books or spin-offs. Basing a YA romance on the Persephone/Hades myth has been done lots of times in the last decade alone, but that means it's a myth a lot of us love. I did a fair amount of world-building to explain how the Underworld works and what the gods can and can't do, and plenty of that is my own creation. The current novel is about a present-day girl learning she's the reincarnation of Persephone, and becoming attracted to the modern reincarnation of Hades. I go back and forth between prehistoric Greece and modern day to piece it all together. Having two storylines is probably why I'm going to require two volumes (or more).

But I use the original mythology as inspiration: Underworld pomegranates with magical properties, strange otherworldly animals (beasts are everywhere in the myths), Demeter and Persephone being plant experts, Hades driving a chariot drawn by supernaturally fast horses. However, in my modern-day section, it's now an old bus that he's harnessed to the horses. No chariots left over from the old days, you know. Also, I did include a human sacrifice, which I'm pretty sure is a first for me. (Don't worry, it's not too graphic.) In any case, I'm hoping to be ready to share that book with the world sometime next year!

(I kinda love this picture of Molly relaxing in the wild, near Puget Sound, not gonna lie!)

The Molly-verse, a go to guide!
Website
Goodreads Author Page (Molly has posted the first chapter of all her books on their Goodreads’ pages, check them in depth!)
Facebook page
Blog
Twitter (@MollyRingle)

Gigantic Free Giveaway!!!
Now that you've heard a bit about and from Molly, here's a chance to win a copy of one her her wonderful books! With none of that silly Rafflecopter nonsense to deal with, either (more for my benefit than yours, lol)! Just leave a comment on this post (be sure to include an email where I can contact you). One commenter will be chosen at random, and the giveaway will take place a week from today, Saturday December 8th at 9:00am-ish CST, and I'll notify the lucky winner by e-mail at or around that time!

What’s the prize? Well none other than one of Molly Ringle’s great novels. Courtesy of Molly's awesome small press indie publisher Central Avenue Publishing, the winner will choose between an e-book of Molly's clever and twisty contemp NA "Relatively Honest" and or an e-book of "What Scotland Taught Me." Man, these are both so sweet! Hard to choose between them! Fortunately, you can't go wrong with either!

Here's my review of Relatively Honest on Goodreads!

And my review of What Scotland Taught Me, as well!

Don't Panic, by Lindsay Paige

Lindsay Paige is the popular author of the "Bold as Love," series of contemporary young adult novels that I, for one, am extremely enthusiastic about. They combine sweet lyricism with gritty family and romantic drama. Now, in her most personal book yet, Lindsay is taking it to the next level with "Don't Panic," her new contemporary novel. "Don't Panic" is slated to appear on October 8, 2012 (my birthday, btw - coincidence? I think not!), and here's Lindsay's new blurb, to put you in the scene:

Samantha Branson is having severe anxiety attacks. Her heart beats unusually fast, her breath quickens and her hands sweat. Every detail screams in her head that she is the center of unwanted attention. Everyone can hear her thoughts, her heart and her breathing. The silence of the classroom is so loud that focus is impossible.
After an attack lands her in the wrong bathroom, Sam meets Eli who offers to provide help. Faced with the return of her possessive ex-boyfriend and the blossoming of a new romance, Sam must find the strength inside herself to face her anxieties head on.

Head on over to the Goodreads page for "Don't Panic," and add it to your tbr, asap, you won't want to miss this one, I promise!

Control Freak, by Copeland, a band I loved that sadly is no longer together, always gives me that same sense of creepy, clammy, claustrophobic anxiety. Check it out and let me know what you think!

Whatever It Takes, by Lindsay Paige, Pre-Release Party and Giveaway

I'm delighted to be able to continue being a part of the pre-release party for Lindsay's awesome new book, Whatever It Takes. WIT is the third volume in Lindsay's Bold As Love series that began with Sweetness and continued with I'm Yours. Today Lindsay herself will be joining us for a wide-ranging interview, covering her covers (!), some musical thoughts, and insights into Lindsay's tv, book and movie habits. We also touch a little bit on some deeper issues relating to Lindsay's life and emotions. So take a look! Lindsay is always open, direct and thoughtful, and this q and a is no exception. And at the bottom of the page, you'll find an awesome, easy to enter giveaway, too!

Can you tell us a little bit about the covers on Sweetness and I’m Yours? Is that you on the swing? And who’s that with you on I’m Yours? Who took the pictures? How does the cover of Whatever It Takes relate to the story? You have some cool photos on your fb page, did you take those for a class, or just for fun? Is photography a hobby of yours?

Sure! I love talking about covers. That is me on the covers. On I'm Yours, I'm with my brother, Ethan. On Whatever It Takes, I'm with my brother, Brian.

My mom took the pictures for the first two covers and Brian's girlfriend took the picture for the third book. Whatever It Takes cover is set on a local community college campus. The cover relates to the story because it shows that they are united. Brian's arm is securely around my waist, showing that Jake isn't letting Emily go anyway. As you can see, my arm isn't as secure around his waist, but I am turned in towards him just a bit, which shows that Emily will be leaning on Jake quite a bit.

I did take those for a class. I'm taking digital photography and those pictures are the results. :) Photography is a hobby of mine as well.


There’s a lot of music in your books, including the title of I’m Yours. Tell us about some of your favorite artists. Is the title of Whatever It Takes related to a song, or what made you think of it as the title?


I'm Yours is related to Jason Mraz's song titled the same and it has to do with Emily telling Jake that she is indeed his. Whatever It Takes is related to Lifehouse's song titled the same and with what Jake says he'll do for Emily. I really think it's cool when the title of a book is something that is said in the book and that's what I did, in addition to the songs.

I notice that you have a lot of country in the mix, but you like pop and rock, too. Up north here, kids tend to like country or rock, not both. Is it more typical to like both where you live?

I’m not sure I would classify it as "typical", but I will say that it's common.

What artists have you seen live and what did you think about that experience.

I have seen tons of artists live! I've seen Kenny Chesney, Sugarland, Nickelback (twice!), Puddle of Mudd, Rascal Flatts, Finger Eleven, Taylor Swift, and Brad Paisley to name a few.

How did you ever get to be a Penguins fan, living where you do? Is this a Crosby thing? Which came first, the Penguins or the Crosby?

I do love the Pens! I always go see them play when they play the Carolina Hurricanes. I love your last question. Penguins came first, because I'm a huge fan of the animal, and then Crosby came.

From some of your blog posts and status updates, I've noticed that you seem to be a big TVD fan, what other shows do you regularly watch? Any impact on your stories?


The Good Wife and Bones. The rest of my favorite shows, I don't watch as much as these. Not really an impact on my stories.

If you feel like talking about it, how’s your relationship with your dad now? Do you think his drinking problems contributed to your anxiety issues and panic attacks? Lots of kids with alcoholic parents (my wife’s dad was one, too), struggle a lot with issues from that. Has your therapy helped you with that? Do you think your therapy has helped with your writing? You seem very reflective and self-aware, which seems like a good therapy outcome, and also would help with writing, no?

The only relationship I have with my father is custody over my dog, Bartley. I think his drinking problems have an impact on my anxiety. My therapy has been extremely helpful with dealing with the anger and other emotions. My therapy has helped with my writing as well, especially in Don't Panic. That is true. I have to be reflective and self-aware in order to better control my anxiety.

Finally, any movies that you would consider your favorites? You mentioned Cars II in Sweetness, but how about some that have brought your dreams and fantasies to life?


A Walk to Remember for one. Fast and Furious are another favorite. I don't think I've watched any movies that have "brought my dreams and fantasies to life" as you say as much as books have.

OK, Here's that awesome giveaway I was telling you about! Enter below for lots of chances to win all three of Lindsay's awesome books, plus your choice of a B&N or Amazon $25 gift card!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Love Evolution, by Michell Mankin

Love Evolution by Michelle Mankin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This is a fun fast read, with a really cool female MC who will have you rooting for and rocking with her all the way. When MC Avery's twin brother Justin is disappeared by the evil mob boss who's girlfriend he's fatuously fooled around with, her world falls apart. She's a super talented guitarist/vocalist, and she and Justin were on the cusp of a big career breakthrough when his disappearance derailed their dreams. Her agent tries to pull her out of her downward spiral by hooking her up with Brutal Strength, the angsty band trying to bounce back after their guitarist has quit, driven off by moody Marcus, their front man, fresh out of rehab. Wrinkle alert - Marcus's heart is in rehab too, after some smexy stillettos stomped all over it, and he's not about to allow some chick into his boy's club. Avery's kind of desperate though -desperate enough to duct-tape those tempting ta-ta's (not literally, she actually uses an Ace bandage), to try to pass as a dude. And, mirabile dictu,her plan actually works! But is successfully deceiving Marcus and the guys really where she wanted to end up, after she clicks so well with the band ... and with Marcus?

Michelle does a great job of creating an appeallingly vulnerable but tough character in Avery. She's fragile but game, and her talent and drive keep her going through some sticky situations. Equally well drawn is Marcus, who could easily strike you as kind of a dick, what with all his misguided, misogynistic malaise, but instead comes across as relatable, if a bit clueless (an essential element in a girl dresssed as a guy story!). I pictured him as kind of a Kurt Novoselic type guy, brooding and ursine. Michelle also creates a cool Vancouver vibe, all misty and markety, that makes the story more concrete and pulls you into its magic. The side characters, especially Marcus' brother Dwight, and the vampish vixen Veronica, are dimensional enough (although V. is a bit Cruella DeVil-esque) to add drama, spice, and some humor, as well as provide expos and conflict. Another really great element are the lyrics that Avery and Marcus collaborate on as BS finds it feet again. They create a vibe, move the emotional aspect of their relationship forward, and sound like awesome songs just on their own. I love how this worked to draw you into the world of the story, I really felt it! When all the deceptions and disguises and disorder start to blow up towards the fun finale, there are some satsifying moments of aha!, thank goodness, and what the hell just happened, that combine to make the HEAdlong rush to a dramatic conclusion feel fresh and fun, even though there's a Twelfth-Nighty subtext that suggests maybe this isn't all as novel as it nonetheless manages to feel. This is a cute, believable and readable romp, with some real emotion, that will make you glad you came!

Michelle provided me with a copy of Love Evolution in exchange for an honest review, which this totally is. Thanks Michelle!





View all my reviews

Chance Encounters by J. Sterling

Chance Encounters by J. Sterling

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Super sigh of sweet satisfaction!

Remember this song, by Bryan Adams?

"When you love someone, you'll sacrifice
You'll give everything you got, and you won't think twice
You'll risk it all, no matter what may come
When you love someone.
You'll shoot the moon, put out the sun
When you love someone"

Those words sound so vanilla, just sitting there on the page, but with the smoky, smouldering intensity of Bryan Adams' voice and the moody dreamlike piano and flute accompaniment, they convey a powerful sense of an almost desperate yearning to be with the object of your desire. So, it's kind of awkward, to say the least, when that kind of powerful emotion hits you when you've already committed to be with someone else. And that's what happens to MC Caroline as our story opens. She's in a lovely, settled relationship with her lawyer boyfriend Clay when she gets word of the death of a friend. On her return from the funeral, she's seated, by chance, next to Jackson Parks. Maybe we should move the "s" to the front of his last name, because whoa! crazy sparks fly, and they set Caroline and Jackson's lives on fire. Like Bryan's song suggests, a love so intense and consuming has risks, and requires everything you've got. But can careful Care, the sensible girl with a plan, take a chance based on just that kind of random encounter? Especially when it's more than just her own heart at stake.

This is an emotional rollercoaster of a ride. It's not enough that Caroline and Jackson have to contend with their overwhelming mutual attraction (hey, it could be worse, I guess, if it were one sided) while stuck at absolute opposite ends of the U.S., the disapproval of their well-meaning friends, and other peoples' claims to their hearts. Events won't stand still either, and require a leap of faith that might well end in disaster for one or both of them.

Personally I couldn't help but fall in love with Caroline. I know that cheating is kind of a gray area at best in romance novels, and it's not clear if what Caroline does would be considered that (this is kind of a chaste romance, btw, by today's standards, although emotionally flagrant). But she's so torn between what's expected of her and what her heart can't resist that her struggles will def tug at your heartstrings. She doesn't want to be the kind of person she'd hate, who can argue with that? Fortunately she has an awesome lifeline friend, Bailey, to provide perspective, help the plot along and just generally be funny and charming. There really aren't any good guys or bad guys (although some of them pull some extremely maddening stunts), just a crew of realistically drawn characters with the flaws, foibles and occasional strengths that real folk would display.

This is a charming, poignant, tender and exhilarating read. I love the way the author conveys that giddy sense of besotted, bewilderingly
beautiful emotional attraction that is one of life's greatest gifts. Don't hesitate to give that gift to yourself, by reading this sweet and affecting novel asap!


When You Love Someone Bryan isn't so generous about sharing his videos. But I thought this cover was charming, she's so sweet and YA, and also has just a little bit of a French accent, I thought she did a lovely job of conveying the vibe of the song and, a little bit, of the book.
View all my reviews

Whatever It Takes, by Lindsay Paige

I'm delighted to be able to post a pre-release review of "Whatever It Takes," the awesome third volume of Lindsay Paige's fresh new contemporary series "Bold As Love," as part of a month long Pre-Release Party! "Sweetness," the first of the two previous volumes, introduces us to Emily and Jake as they head into their final year of high school. Each of them bears the scars of previous losses and hurts, but when they find each other, their missing puzzle pieces start to fit, and they become each other's world. Unfortunately, the rest of the world doesn't take too kindly to being left behind, and it has some scary and intense obstacles to throw in their way. "Whatever It Takes" picks up where "I'm Yours," the second book, left off. Note: While this review does not contain spoilers for “Whatever It Takes,” it does assume familiarity with the events of “Sweetness” and “I’m Yours.” Read them first!

My Review (5 Stars!)
Have you heard that awesome new(ish) song, “Springsteen,” by Eric Church? It’s a bittersweet nostalgic reminiscence of a teenage romance that started at a Springsteen concert. It recalls the relationship’s arc in lyrics, song titles and echoes of melodies and choruses. Like Lindsay, Eric is from North Carolina, and is awesomely talented. But what really made me think of it (and you should definitely check it out!), is not only that it reminds me of Lindsay, and her gift of being able to capture the sweet intensity of falling in love for the first time, but also of how well some of my favorite Springsteen lyrics relate to “Whatever It Takes”:

"It ought to be easy ought to be simple enough
Man meets woman and they fall in love
But the house is haunted and the ride gets rough
And you've got to learn to live with what you can't rise above,
If you want to ride on down in this tunnel of love"

"Whatever It Takes" opens in media res, with Jake and Emily settling into their first year of college, and their first time living together in an off campus apartment. Life is pretty doggone challenging for them: in addition to classes, they both have jobs (Em’s is at a hipster college town coffee shop called Coffee Beans), and Jake’s hockey commitments are demanding, too. That doesn’t really leave a lot of room for relationship building, but it does leave plenty of room (especially on those late and lonely night-times) for the ghost that still haunts Emily: “Today marks four months since I lost the baby. I thought it would get easier, but every time I think about it, it’s just as bad as when it happened.”

Even though this reader had hoped that Emily’s grief at the loss of the baby was lessening at the end of I’m Yours, it appears to be moving, if at all, on its own timetable. While Jake seems to be able and ready to move on, Emily is goin’ down slow, and, characteristically, is unwilling to share her nightmares and pain with Jake, in a misguided attempt to spare him (Pro tip – this is NOT a good relationship strategy, hopefully Emily will learn that someday!). And while the emotions and conflicts this issue creates means that their hoped-for “Eden” is not exactly paradise, it surely does contain a couple of wily serpents: Kyle, a rich and attractive guy friend of Emily’s new girlfriends, who claims to have insights that will help Emily with her grief; and Eve, the attractive goalie of the women’s hockey team, who seems a little too interested in helping Jake skate over his relationship troubles with Emily. And although Jake and Emily’s love is an amazingly intense edifice, it sometimes looks like the foundations are still a bit on the shaky side once the emotional ground starts moving. Then, just when they finally seem to be finding their footing, circumstances conspire to challenge them yet again (you just know the last third of a Lindsay book is gonna shake things up).

“The course of true love never did run smooth,” Shakespeare reminds us, and that is surely the theme of this volume of the Bold as Love series. Told in alternating points of view, like its predecessors, this book shares their beautiful direct and simple yet deeply affecting poetic style, as well. Lindsay is able to convey so intensely the confusion, conflicting feelings and overwhelming emotional storms of life that even a profound and deeply committed relationship can experience. Sometimes I did want to reach in and give Emily a shake or two, but of course that is all part of the experience of being pulled in so deeply. This is definitely a book of sunlight and shadows, and will leave you wanting more of Jake and Emily’s elusive quest for that HEA they so desperately deserve. It’s a worthy and richly readable successor to “Sweetness” and “I’m Yours” that will leave fans of this charming and emotionally imaginative young author satisfied … but only until the promised next installment.

"Whatever It Takes," by Lindsay Paige, will release on June 13, 2012. I'll be hosting some more events here later this month, including a giveaway, so please check back, and follow to stay part of things! All images in this post are courtesy of, and copyright 2011, Lindsay Paige

Check out Springsteen, by Eric Church - it's totally got a Lindsay vibe to it!:

The Next Door Boys, by Jolene B. Perry

The Next Door Boys by Jolene B. Perry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This one is sweet, serene and heartwarming. We meet MC Leigh as she's starting her freshman year at BYU, a year later than intended. Although she's in remission from the ovarian cancer that sidelined her for that missing year, she's still not as strong as she might have hoped, and is anxious to put that experience, and peoples' oversolicitous reactions to it, behind her. Although Leigh came through her illness with her faith strengthened, and a hard won spiritual maturity, the whole ordeal left her family pretty freaked out. It really scared her mother, who seems to check up on her every few hours, and as a result, Leigh's not living in a dorm, as she'd hoped, but in an off-campus apartment, where her brother (not quite as overprotective as mom, but darn close) and his colorful band of roommates can keep a watchful eye over her from the house next door. And unfortunately, she sometimes seems to need it, as her desire for independence and "normalcy," lead her to push herself a bit too hard sometimes. She also has some trouble keeping her eye on the ball spiritually when handsome Noah, an aspiring actor, shows up and sweeps her off her feet a bit with his charm and good looks, and his family's affluent life style. Will Leigh be swept away by Mr. Charming Pants, or does God have something else planned for her, and her next door boys?

This is a lovely story, with lots of great elements. Leigh is an adorable girl, and pretty much everyone does. Adore her, that is. She's talented (sewing and singing), modest, kind of driven, and utterly oblivious to her considerable effect on the opposite sex. One thing that troubled me a bit about her was that she was almost too self-effacing, and others sometimes seemed to take advantage of that (cravats? at that point! c'mon, give her a break!) Her cluelessness on the fellas uptake leads to a slow-boiling plot development that seems obvious to everyone but her. But that's ok. Just like the Israelites wandered around for 40 odd years on a journey that allegedly only should take a few weeks, Leigh had some lessons to learn along the way. I realize now I'm making it sound a bit after school special-ish, but it's not, it's quite charming and fun, albeit lesiurely paced.

Another element I enjoyed about this book is that it is steeped in LDS culture. A lot of it wasn't very familiar to me, but it gave the book and Leigh an added depth and dimensionality, and was an interesting and real feeling look at a different and (as portrayeed herein) very appealing faith and way of life. Readers should be aware (as you've probably gathered by now) that this is an explicitly religious novel, and be prepared to accept and enjoy it for what it is.

All and all I really liked The Next Door Boys, and look forward to reading more by the talented Ms. Jolene B. Perry!

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What A Boy Wants, by Nyrae Dawn

What A Boy Wants by Nyrae Dawn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a cute, fun and sweet read about a self-described love 'em & leave 'em type, who passes out online advice as the "Hook-up Doctor," and his female (totally platonic) best friend. You'll never guess what happens! Ok, so maybe you might, Ms. "Smarty-pants I've read lots of YA know-it-all." But that doesn't prevent this from being a charming and endearing story of crazy first love, a fatuous boy and his self defeating antics. Narrator Bastian is full of bluff, bravado and bro-ness, and possessed of a surface self-assurance that is often mildly irritating. But like a hard candy with a surprise center, there's more to him than meets the eye, and certainly more than he's willing to admit. His girl friend Aspen is a little more tolerant of his shenanigans that I might be, but he does have his pluses, a major one of which is his tender and protective relationship with his single mom, whose repeated episodes of heartbreak are one of the reasons he's so skittish and commitment-phobic. This is a fun summer read, and just the antidote for some of the more intense and heart-wrenching reads that are, rightly, so popular lately. But just because it's a palate cleanser doesn't mean it's without its own subtle flavor and substance. That's what makes it such a good one!

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Sweetness, by Lindsay Paige

Sweetness by Lindsay Paige

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


"Beautiful, intense and moving. Crazy final chapter, still reeling from that one. Full review to follow, but for now let's just go with WOW!" That was my initial reaction on finishing this, and here's my full review, after further reflection. I'm still going to leave those first thoughts up though, just so I can remember (and you can realize) the big emotional impact this lovely book had on me when I first finished it.

When we first meet MC Emily, she's doing her best to be the invisible girl in the new school where she's starting her senior year. Head down, no eye contact, headphones in/hoodie up whenever possible. And then she's paired on a project with popular Jake, the handsome hockey hero, who she expects/hopes will ignore her like the rest of her classmates. But the weird thing is, Jake "sees" her. And he likes what he sees. Maybe it's because he recognizes someone coping with a world of hurt, since he's living in one too - maybe more successfully from the outside, but it's killing him inside. Maybe if he can solve the mystery of Emily, and help her heal, something good can happen for him, too. Although that's his rationale, I think it's just that - an explanation for an inexplicable attraction that hits them both pretty doggone hard and pretty doggone fast. So fast, in fact, that it further freaks Emily out, and that might be the last Jake sees of her, until he inadvertantly discovers his "secret weapon," his younger brother Drake, who he's pretty much parenting himself after his mom's death, just a year ago, and his dad's subsequent journey looking for her at the bottom of a bottle. Drake somehow manages to slip under Emily's considerable defense mechanisms, and as the three of them spend more time together, magic happens, and both of these wounded and still vulnerable lovers feel themselves coming back to life, with the joy and pain that entails. Unfortunately, life isn't done with them yet, and it has more mean girls, drunk dads, drugged out moms and painful bitter memories to throw at them (some in forms so tangible they can't be papered over). But two are better than one, and when it comes to manning the lifeboats, these two have each other's backs when it really counts (sorry, bit of a crazy metaphor alert there!)

So that's a basic idea of "what happens." But in some ways the story details seem less significant to me than the beautiful, skillful way author Lindsay Paige creates her characters and setting, and the powerful intensity of the language she uses to draw them together, and to draw you into the story. The first thing I read from this book was a quote, added by my Goodreads buddy Chrystle Woods, and it immediately pulled me into the scene and made me want to read more. I don't usually put quotes into reviews, but this one is so apt and awesome, so moving, that I'm going to:

“If I were standing right beside her, I probably would have heard her heart breaking. It would have sounded like the cracking of a wooden bat connecting with a baseball. No, that was too clean of a break. It would have sounded like rain from a powerful thunderstorm pounding on a tin roof. Millions of drops relentlessly pounding away on the surface until it shattered into billions of tiny pieces. Pieces Emily couldn’t put back together by herself.”

Sigh. That's just beautiful to me - it captures that emotion so well, while simultaneously showing us what kind of person Jake is, that it's one of those images you wonder why no one has ever expressed it quite that way or that well before. Which kind of brings me to another point. Although this book was, to me, a compelling read that I had a hard time putting down, it wasn't in an "omg, now what's going to happen next page-turnery" sort of way. To me the book unrolled more like a series of vignettes, episodes illuminated by emotional lightning, in an intensely poetic and lyrical style (see above!). The narrative skips forward sometimes, and there are holes from the past that we only find out about after our hearts have fallen into them. The result is a tone and feeling that is perfectly captured by the book's title. We find out things about Emily and Jake that make it clear that they weren't necessarily angels prior to the circumstances that scarred them - they are real kids, with flaws and foibles. But that makes them and their story all the more real, relatable and authentic feeling.

I read some other reviews before putting these thoughts down, and a couple mentioned that this wasn't as thoroughly edited as the reviewer might have preferred. I dispute that, although it is no doubt true that there are many lovely YA family drama/romances that have been worked over by editorial teams of really cool Ivy League fine arts grads in New York publishing house high rises. Some of them are probably more polished than this, and that's not a bad thing, I've loved lots of those books (see my reviews, honest!) And yet ... maybe I can best express this with a couple of analogies. Lindsay's from North Carolina, where one of my favorite singer/songwriters, James Taylor (uh oh, showing my age alert) grew up. In his awesome song, "Copperline," he sings about his childhood and teenage years, and the still resonant memory of his first taste of moonshine (so weird, this song literally came up on my Pandora Lady Antebellum station just after I wrote those words! - I'm leaving this in!) Anyhoo, JT has had his pick of every single malt scotch, every fine liqueur this ole world has to offer (and I gather that he's tried most of them at some point!), and yet, it's that potent, kind of raw, and unedited taste of moonshine that had the emotional, as well as chemical, impact, to result in a beautiful song, many years later. Here's another: I was a lawyer in several large Chicago law firms for many years, and all of them had gorgeous, impressive reception areas where we spent enough money on flowers every week that it sometimes became a bone of contention. And yet none of those expensive formal and artful arrangements, put together by talented and sophisticated florists, ever had the emotional impact on me of the impromptu fragance of wild lilacs unexpectedly experienced in spring. This is not to say that this isn't a sophisticated and artful book - it truly is. The prose is well crafted, and obviously has been lavished with loving and knowledgeable attention. But it does have the immediacy and authenticity of a fresh, pure and unfiltered voice. To me, that's an enormous part of it's charm. So, all in all, an awesome debut by an author still in high school (sigh, where did I go wrong), who has a lovely and long career of fan-pleasing fiction ahead of her. Thanks Lindsay, for an awesome read!





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Grounding Quinn, by Stephanie Campbell

Grounding Quinn by Stephanie Campbell

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


For those of us who prefer dysfunction to dystopia, relationships to spaceships, cupid's darts to bows and arrows, and real emotions to EMOTING, this is an awesome book. When we first meet MC Quinn, she's in the principal's office, sneakily blacking out her father's smarmy class photo smugface with a Sharpie. And Quinn spends most of the rest of the book trying to obliterate herself, as well. She's actually doing a pretty good job of it, too, what with the prescription drugs she steals from her wacked out mom, her "fake it till you make it" relationships with various frenemies and faux boyfriends, and sliding through school with the minimum possible effort (and results). But then this guy Ben shows up ...


Ben is a wonderful male YA character. He's open and vulnerable, without being a creampuff, thoughtful, creative and kind of innocent without being naive. Ok, he's not without his flaws, he's a bit dominated by his GCB mom, and he lets Quinn pull a lot of shit that maybe he should have called her on (I'll grant that I'm not exactly sure how, but still). Quinn is also an awesome character, possessed of a wry, sarcastic wit - she really knows her way around a smart-ass quip, that's for sure - but those of us equipped with internal dialog vision know that she's not without her softer side as well. The first half of the book is really fun, clever, funny, warm and even sweet. Thank goodness we've already fallen in love with Quinn's self-destructive little self by the time she steers the ride out of the Tunnel of Love into the House of Mystery, because it gets pretty darn dark in there. There's one moment in particular (trust me you'll know when you get there) where you want to reach in and shout, "Quinny, no, don't, you're already regretting this!" But alas, she didn't listen, to me, or even to her broken little heart.


The basic story is not unfamiliar to YA readers, especially the "I'm too effed-up for you to love me," theme. But in capable author Stephanie Campbell's hands, it's treated so cleverly, with such literary skill and depth, and with such warmth and compassion towards her characters, that it glows like a nightlight in a dark place. The kids in this book are like many of the kids I know in real life. They are so privileged in so many ways ("You don't know how good you've got it," Quinn's father screams, just when she's at her lowest), but still bereft, after so many nights of "working late," parental affairs and alcohol issues, that they are hollowed out inside. This is a look at how some of them, sometimes, find their way out, despite all that. Stephanie does a masterful job of portraying them, and their world, with humor, style, warmth and compassion for her character and the reader. There is catharsis here, although it's a night light, like I said, not an all consuming sunny glow. And that feels real, just like the rest of this extremely well-done and lovely book.



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Remembrance, by Michelle Madow

Remembrance by Michelle Madow

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

UPDATED BELOW WITH INFO ON THE REMEMBRANCE TOUR!


I remember the first time I heard "Love Story," by Taylor Swift. It seemed different for her, intense and kind of haunting, and I loved it (2,000,000 times later I admit I may have lost a trifle of that initial enthusiasm, but hey, it's still a good song!). The video that went with it was also pretty cool, and apparently Michelle Madow thought so too, because she imagined a story to go with it, which turned into this book. Here's her discussion of how that happened at her blog, btw, if your're interested: http://blog.michellemadow.com/2011/07/ho... This isn't a literal retelling of the "story" of the song or the video, it feels more like an attempt to capture the emotions, the vibe, the atmosphere of the video in a contemporary setting (with flashbacks to Jane Austen times - yes, it's rife and replete with Pride & Prejudice references). I think it does a great job of creating that crazy feeling of being desperately in love, especially with the "wrong" person who feels so painfully right that you aren't whole without them. The characters are great. Elizabeth/Lizzie (get it, Bennett fans?) and Drew (he's the reason for the teardrops on her guitar, yes, I'm a big TSwift nerd, #sorry i'm not sorry)are so intense and dreamy that it's hard not to get caught up in their emotions. In some ways I get a little bit of a Twilight-y vibe from their relationship, that whole "I have to make you hate me because I'm not good for you" thing, but it's not in the least bit off-putting, because it adds to the mystery and tension build up for when they finally explode together. There's lots of classic YA elements here, quasi-reincarnation, past lives getting a second chance, attraction to best friend's boyfriend, bad break-ups, throwing pebbles at the window (pinecones, this time), sneaking out to the garden to see you, all mixed up together and served fresh.
I really thought it was cool that this was initially written for a freshman creative writing class - it totally reminds me of the story that opens Jennifer Echols "Love Story," the one that Erin writes in her creative writing class. Weird that the name of that book is the song that inspired this one. Like I alluded to above, it's not just the story and the lovely writing that I find so charming, it's also how it came to be, and the author's enthusiasm and brio, as she brings it to life. Kind of like Taylor Swift when she first started out (I have kind of had it with some of her subsequent "break-up/you're so mean and I'm not" songs), the sincerity, the warmth and affection for the characters and the feelings of crazy love gone wild infuse this book with that feeling that good YA books always give me, of remembering when life was so intense and every day, every incident, was full of either hope or despair, or some weird combination of the two all at once. So, I hope and trust that you will like this, even if you're not a Taylor Swift fan! It's a fun, sweet and emotional ride.


UPDATE: Michelle is touring now (Spring '12), in support of Remembrance, and I had the chance to meet her (and her charming Mom, Anne) as they visited the Chicagoland area. Michelle is just as awesome, enthusiastic and hardworking as you might expect, and if you'd like to participate in some way in her tour, there are still opportunities available at her Remembrance On Tour site, http://igg.me/p/59041 It's a fun way to support a great book and a deserving young author!

Unbreak My Heart, by Melissa C. Walker

Unbreak My Heart by Melissa C. Walker

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


We meet MC Clementine as her family - Clem, her teacher dad, her on-sabbatical lawyer mom, and her precocious 10 yo sister Olive - are embarking on "The Williams Family Summer of Boating," a three month sail trip from their suburban Chicago home base, all the way down the Mississipi river. Clem, however, is in no mood to enjoy the trip, her family, or anything else. There was this incident, you see, just two weeks earlier, that ended up breaking both her heart and her relationship with long term bff Amanda. I don't want to say too much about what happened between Clementine, Amanda and Amanda's new boyfriend Ethan, since that story is told in chapters that alternate with the story of the summer trip, and part of the book's considerable emotional impact is the slow and rather painful unfolding of exactly what took place. Suffice it to say that as the trip begins Clementine is broken-hearted, ashamed and deeply hurt by the incident and the social opprobrium that followed.

Rivers flow slowly but powerfully, and their currents take some things away and bring other things together. Like James, the red-headed boy Clem meets at their first stop for provisions. James' unfailing good cheer at times threatens to irritate the moody Clem. Eventually, however, she can't help but succumb to his considerable charm as time wears on and their families continue to meet, since James and his father are making the same trip as the Williams. As Clem and James grow closer, she comes to realize that James is not without his own issues and concerns, and that perspective helps as she confronts the past and begins to heal.

This is a lovely, sweet, slow moving, thoughtful and often funny book. It's not really a romance, although there is some very sweet romance, it's more a growing up, family drama kind of story. One of the really wonderful things about this book is the portrayal of the relationship between Clementine and her family. Fully functioning families are kind of rare in YA-dom, but the author does a lovely job of creating one here. Clem's parents are appropriately clueless, crazy-making and intrusive, but also supportive sources of wisdom and unconditional love in the face of overwhelming adolescent angst. Little sister Olive is an especially charming character, funny and direct, saying what everyone else is thinking, but also full of bewildered tenderness for her wounded and sometimes hurtful sister. They, and James, are part of what helps Clementine achieve some perspective about herself, what she did, what is real and what is all in her head, and how she can start to heal and move on with her life.

This is a great read - the story is sweet, the prose is lyrical and evocative, creating a rich atmosphere of the river and its rhythms, and the sweet slow pace of a summer spent growing, healing and appreciating what is, what was lost, and what can be regained. It's also pretty doggone funny at times, I don't want to give the impression it's all unremittingly broody and moody. The characters and the banter among them are just too witty and fun to let that happen. Definitely a book to savor, and one that makes me anxious to read Melissa's other books!

I was kindly provided an advance copy of this by the publisher through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.





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A Good Boy Is Hard To Find

A Good Boy Is Hard to Find by Suzanne Young

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


What a lovely book, chock full of Tessy goodness! It made me laugh out loud, tear up occasionally, and once again, filled me with righteous indignation on Tess's behalf. It's prob good that forgiveness was such a strong theme, otherwise I think I'd have trouble being as generous of spirit as the world's most charming cheerer manages. The author has created such relatable characters, it was hard to stay mad, even at the "bad guys." Thanks to Suzanne for bringing this series to such a satisfying and sweet end, and for making it available in this format (I suspect there's a story there, good for her for persevering!)

If you haven't read this series yet, you are missing out on a great YA reading experience. Frothy sounding, but like the richness of a dark mocha lurking beneath the foamy whipped cream top, there is depth, richness, complexity and deep, deep satisfaction.



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Welcome Caller, This Is Chloe, by Shelley Coriell

Welcome, Caller, This Is Chloe by Shelley Coriell

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Chloe Camdem is a girl of large enthusiasms and small self-consciousness. She's pretty, popular, and the youngest child of a large, happy and wealthy family of doctors (who are all a bit too busy for her, actually). Despite those trappings of entitlement, Chloe's the kind of girl who's not too cool to enthusiastically wear a burrito costume advertising the Mexican restaurant where she works and finds friendship, inspiration and guidance. She also spends lots of time with her grandmother, whose failing faculties place Chloe in the center of the ongoing and rather bitter conflict between Grams and Chloe's mom over Gram's continuing independence. For a smart cookie, Chloe can be rather clueless, I must say, and she never really does comprehend why her former bff's have turned on her so abruptly and ferociously, just after Chloe was crowned queen of the Winter Dance (hint, green eyes may be involved). But the biggest challenge Chloe faces is the cancellation of her big required Junior year project by the new guidance counsellor, who definitely seems out to get her. When her new project involves resucitating the ailing school radio station, even the irrepressible Chloe finds the challenge daunting, although not without it's rewards (enter swoony mysterious scarf-wearing dude).

I enjoyed this quite bit, mostly because Chloe is such a charming MC. It's a bit of an issue-o-rama, what with addictions, aging, bullying, bitchiness, true crimes and loneliness all playing a part in the plot. Chloe is a bit too good to be true, but that's part of what makes her and the book appealing. I really felt like reaching in and shaking more than one of her antagonists, and relished the various vindications that mercifully are sprinkled throughout. This is a good solid fun read, and Chloe will stick with you long after 88.8 "The Edge," has signed off for the evening!



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The Stillburrow Crush, by Linda Kage

The Stillburrow Crush by Linda Kage

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Carrie Paxton has got a mouth on her, that's for sure. The size of her snark is rivalled only by that of the chip on her shoulder about her family's status in her little Kansas townn. Her dad's the town mechanic (I think she seriously calls him a grease monkey at one point), who married an upper-cruster when she got pregnant back in high school. Mom's never really gotten over that, and her sense of shame (and over-compensating perfectionism) has been passed down to her two children. So Carrie's pretty suspicious when the handsome qb of the football team seems to actually reciprocate her crush. She deals with that by some major pre-emptive bitchiness, and honestly I found her pretty hard to like for the first half of the book. It wasn't just how mean she talked, she seemed pretty doggone self-centered, too. But books are about redemption and growth (at least this one is), and in the second half, Carrie, and the author really come through. I honestly read this looking for a fluff break after some intense reading experiences, but it turns out to be pretty darn poignant, with themes of family, growing into emotional maturity and self acceptance taking the forefront. The book is artfully structured, with secrets and issues revealing themselves and unfolding in an emotionally satisfying and moving way that had me going "Oh! Now I get it," at some crucial points. It's got a small town feel and vibe to it, and it's not a gigantic big overwhelming emotional assault. It's a quiet one that sneaks up on you, but still packs an emotional wallop. Don't let the title fool you or put you off, this is a lovely and thoughtful book, with funny and tender elements.



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Darkride by Laura Bradley Rede

Darkride by Laura Bradley Rede

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Wow, I honestly did not expect to love this book so much! I am a bit of a recovering horror/thriller fan, and for me the Twilight books were sort of the culmination or apogee of my fascination with vampires, werewolves and their penumbra, rather than the beginning of it. I've become sort of a "quiet contemporary" fan, a devotee of Dessen, an acolyte of Ockler, a worshipper of Webber (Tammara, that is!), and thought I'd put my wild and woolly neck chomping days behind me. But then I encountered Laura Bradley Rede, courtesy of some clever and thoughtful posts on a friend's fb page, and was intrigued. When I learned she was an author - an indie YA author, no less, my favorite! - I had to check out her book, albeit (please forgive me, Laura, I didn't know!) with some trepidation vis-a-vis the whole paranormal thing, which is not really my thing. So, I started in. The Goodreads summary does a good job of conveying the basics of the story, so I won't try to repeat that. It's told in rotating POV's of the three MC's: Ander, the werewolf; Cicely, the "normal" girl (she doesn't know she's a witch yet!); and Luke, the vampire prince. This works really well to draw you into the story and the characters, since they all have secrets they are keeping (or think they are keeping!) from each other (gosh I love secrets in a story!), but which you, dear reader, are made privy to via said narrative device. It also really draws you in to the motivations, the personalities and the drama of each of these MC's, who are individually and collectively an irresistably charming bunch. Side note - the supporting characters are great too, all of them (although I had a particular soft spot for Emmie) and some who seem rather peripheral come to have fairly big roles in the plot. They also do a great job at filling you in on the author's inventive and interesting vampire mythology. Anyway, when the two male MC's were introduced as a vampire and a werewolf, and Cicely seemed to be a rather typical lovestruck teen, bemused and bothered by their bizarre behavior, I thought I had a handle on what was going to happen. Boy was I wrong! These characters never cease to surprise you with their depth and resourcefulness, and man, they are going to need every bit of it to handle all the plot that Laura throws at them! The twists just keep coming, and they not only propel the story like the "darkride" of the title, they keep you absorbed and frantically turning the pages to see what happens next. I love it when authors use literary works to shed light on characters and to move the plot forward, and the use of Romeo and Juliet and a suite of fairy tale images seem fresh and fun, which isn't that easy with these familiar works. But that is the beauty (and the beast? sorry!) of this book, it takes tropes, characters and themes that you might think have been played out, and combines and reworks them in inventive, gripping and imaginative fashion. For some reason this reminded me a little of the The Princess Bride in the way it plays upon and reinvents a classic genre to great effect. It's also not without its touching and poetic moments of cinematic and poetic description, and genuine emotion between not only the MC's but some of the supporting cast as well. This really was a pleasure to read from beginning to end, and although there is a literal cliff-hanger at one point, the author is kind enough to end the story with some closure, but also at a great launching point for the much-anticipated sequel! Even if you think you prefer contemporary to paranormal, this is an enjoyable, relatable and fun take on a seemmingly familiar, but still fresh, scenario.



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New Girl, by Paige Harbison

New Girl by Paige Harbison

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


New Girl is a great read - gothic-y, teeming with tension and brimming with brooding atmosphere. It's got great characters, too, including a pack of creepy mean-girls that ensure that our poor MC can never let her guard down. It's written in a beautiful spare but luminous style - kind of like Hitchcock's black and white version of Rebecca, the novel on which this is loosely based. That style cinematically captures the novel's setting, the exclusive Manderley Academy, on the isolated New Hampshire coast, which is so much a part of the book that it's almost a character itself. When our MC, the titular New Girl, transfers to Manderley for her senior year (she doesn't have the heart to tell her excited parents no), the last thing she expects is for her room to be a shrine to its mysteriously vanished previous occupant, the enigmatic and beautiful Becca Normandy. Even more disturbing is the reaction of her roommate Dana, the priestess of said shrine, who makes it clear that the New Girl is not wanted, that she's a just temporary place holder for the anticipated return of Becca, and that she will always fall short of dear departed, but soon to return Becca. The New Girl also soon becomes entangled in the mess of a love triangle Becca left behind, attracted to the emotionally distant but still attractive Max, and fond of Johnny, the livelier friendly guy who is one of the few people at Manderly to show her any kindness. The mystery of Becca's absence, the cruel and harsh treatment of our MC by Becca's former friends, and the puzzling emotional behavior of Max seem to be the main threads of the story, but as it progresses, and we learn more about Becca from the alternating chapters with her POV, we learn that there was much more, and much less, to Rebecca and her relationships with Max, Johnny and Dana than might have appeared.
The mystery of Becca's disappearance is a major thread, but to me it became overshadowed by New Girl's growth in strength, confidence and perseverance. I'd like to say she achieves some sort of HEA, but it's not that simple. In the course of the story, however, she does become a "New Girl," one who thinks for herself, evaluates her assumptions about herself, her friends and the direction of her life in ways she might not have, but for the experience of Manderley and the fallout from Becca's disappearance. Only when she has achieved that kind of strength and level of self acceptance do we finally learn her name. By that point we are at least confident that she will move beyond, and even perhaps build upon, her experience with Manderley and the girl she never met, but who dominated her life for so long.



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First Date, by Krista McGee

First Date by Krista McGee

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


First Date is a fun, engaging and sweet read with some thoughtful moments focusing on MC Addy's strongly held Christian faith. 17 yo Addy, a junior at her Christian high school, has her plate pretty full with her studies, golf, and hanging with her characterific bff Lexi. Addy doesn't focus on, or have much respect for, teen idols, reality tv, power shopping or other trendy stuff that would distract her from her goals - getting good grades and getting into an Ivy League college. So she is mystified when her principal informs her that he's selected her to represent their school on the hot new reality show, Book of Love, "a cross between America's New Star, Survivor, and The Bachelor, with a little Miss America thrown in," where 100 girls will be competing to be the prom date of the President's swoon-worthy son, Jonathan Jackson. She's even more nonplussed when her Uncle Mike, who stepped in to raise her when her missionary parents were killed, thinks it's a good idea (honestly, this isn't a spoiler, it's on like page 11!). Addy's reluctance stems not only from the show's general lack of appeal to her likes and preferences. She also feels pretty inadequate and scared. Both the principal and her uncle pitch this as an opportunity to not only represent the school, but to represent her faith as well - "to give Jesus some good press for a change." This scares Addy even more, since she's always perceived the pressure to live up to her parents' rather heroic example, but felt utterly inadequate to do so. Well, fortunately for us readers, she steps up her game, and takes on the challenge of participating on the show. Hilarity, some tears and changes for Addy ensue. Addy is not your typical reality show contestant, as you might guess, and her unorthodox approach turns out to not only appeal to Jonathan, but to the show's millions of viewers as well. Her biggest challenges, however, focus not on negotiating the twists and turns of the rather cutthroat competition (100 teenage girls out for blood - yikes!), but on her growing realization that the opportunity to share her faith and beliefs is, in fact, why God has called her to be on the show, and that her fears are letting it slip away.

Sometimes it's hard to create characters with a strong sense of faith and purpose without making them seem cardboardy or cheesy. That is so not the case with Addy, who comes across as real and dimensional. This isn't a book about angst acted out with drugs, sex and rebellion. Addy is a "nice girl," but she doesn't come across as naive or without her own struggles and issues, and it's clear that she lives in the real world teens inhabit. Her friends Lexi and Kara also come across as charming supporting characters who add to the fun and the sense of reality. Most of the male characters are a bit on the "meh" side, to me at least, and seem there mostly to move things along (on more than one occasion I really had to ask, "Uncle Mike, what were you thinking!"), but they do that pretty effectively. Jonathan is a pretty cool guy, and also comes across as real and relatable. The story takes a few twists and turns, and keeps you reading, even as you come to realize that Addy is pretty much up to anything reality tv and a few unexpected developments can throw at her. I really hadn't realized until I read the study questions at the end (nice idea, btw, even if you're reading them all by yourself), that this is loosely based on the book of Esther (kind of like Troy High is loosely based on The Iliad). To me, that added some fun, and shed some more light on where the author was coming from, but it doesn't need that to be a cute book with a thoughtful theme about being a Christian in a world that is far from that belief system.



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