Outcast by Adrienne Kress

Outcast

by Adrienne Kress

3.5 stars

283 pages

Publication date: June 4, 2013

 
I finished reading this a few days ago, and I'm still ruminating. I enjoyed the entire book (except for the waaaay overuse of a particular swear word). The pacing was a bit slow, but not too bad. There was decent character development. The main character had sass. I liked that.
BUT ...
I'm trying to figure out the ending. It was quite a unsatisfying way to end the story. I don't want to give away any spoilers, so why did Kress end it the way she did? The relationship between Riley and Gabe was built up and up and developed so well! And then, poof!
An epilogue would have been nice. Necessary, even.
So would an explanation on why Gabe had amnesia. And why things in the "other world" caused the things they did. Backstory, please!
Yet, despite these disappointments, I'm glad I read the book. If the swearing was toned down, I'd recommend this to my friends and to youth.
Thank you NetGalley and Diversion Books for allowing me to review this ARC.

Spellbound (Spellbound #1)

Spellbound (Spellbound #1)

by Cara Lynn Shultz

4 stars

341 pages

 

Ah, yes, another teen romance/fairy tale. At least this one was pretty good. Although I have to admit that I am a sucker for star-crossed love and all that sap.

But besides the good plot, the writing was surprisingly good. Pacing was OK - though slow at times. And I got pretty tired of "those emerald eyes" being obsessed over. There is a smattering of swear words, too.

Great climax, too. I love a good fight scene. And then the book ended. It seems rare nowadays to read a book that is self-contained in one volume. It's all trilogies and such. This book basically tied up all loose ends, but left room for a sequel if so desired. But not at all necessary. Though I believe there is another one coming out. But I don't feel compelled to read it, though I probably will because I enjoyed the first one so much.
All in all, an entertaining read. 

The Shadows (The Books of Elsewhere #1)

The Shadows (The Books of Elsewhere #1)

by Jacqueline West

3 stars

224 pages
 
For a children's book, this was very dark. And scary. And creepy. I don't think I'd let my 10 year old read it - although she does like those Goosebumps books, so maybe.
One positive is that the story can stand alone. There is no silly cliffhanger at the conclusion, but there are some loose ends that can be tied up in another book.
I doubt, though, that I'll read the next books in the series. I just wasn't super impressed.

Changeless (Parasol Protectorate #2)

Changeless (Parasol Protectorate #2)

by Gail Carriger

4.5 stars

I am always happy to deviate from my usual YA books for this adult fiction series.

Why?

The writing is like nothing I've ever read before. Fantastic and colorful vocabulary is used to describe the most normal things. My favorite quote in the book is from Ivy: "Has something untoward happened? Everyone is gesticulating!" That line made me laugh out loud! All the characters are fabulously written. It is difficult to choose my favorite. I love them all!

The repartee between Lady and Lord Maccon is clever, witty and just plain fun to read. You can tell that the two characters are truly in love.

But don't think that these books belong in the Romance category. Oh, no. They are firmly in ... well, a few genres. Paranormal and Mystery, obviously. But there is some Steampunk and Mary Poppins, too. It's such a wonderful and imaginative combination of genres; it just works.

There is little to no swearing, a touch of sex and some of the characters swing the other way.

Can't wait to read No. 3!

Mirage

Mirage (Above World #2)

by Jenn Reese

4 stars

368 pages

A strong female protagonist, quick pacing, great plot and themes of forgiveness, honor and loving those who are different all combine to make this sequel to Above World a brilliant read.
I can recommend this series to pre-teens and teens - there's no swearing, sex or "mature" topics. There are some fight scenes, though, if you're averse to that.
I will be reading the next in the series.

The Artisan Jewish Deli at Home

The Artisan Jewish Deli at Home

by Nick Zukin and Michael Zusman

4 stars

276 pages
Publication date: Sept. 3, 2013

When I first saw this cookbook, I thought "I could use a great bagel recipe!" Boy, how narrow-sighted I was. Bagels are just the beginning!
This cookbook is an all-encompassing Jewish food extravaganza! I learned so much about the culture and customs from simply reading the introductions at the beginning of each recipe. What I learned: Jewish cooking is steeped in tradition and flavor and really fun-to-say words. Varniske, blintz, knish, lox, charnuske, ajvar! Oh, my!
Gorgeous photographs are sprinkled throughout the tome; I wish there had been more! For a newbie like me, a picture is vital so I can see what the finished product is supposed to look like. The layout was easy to read and was pleasant-looking. I thought the chapter contents pictures were very clever - a chalked deli menu board!
Most of these recipes are not for those who are on a diet or have dietary restrictions. There is too much salt, fat and other tasty things to be included in a "healthy" diet. But there are a few healthy recipes, such as Curried Lentil and Sweet Potato Soup or Deli Health Salad.
I appreciated the "Sources and Resources" section at the end of the book. The author admits that some of the ingredients included in the cookbook are difficult to find, so he names some websites and blogs that provide the necessary ingredients via mail. This unfortunate fact - lack of availability of ingredients - detracted a bit from the initial excitement I had when I first started thumbing through this book, but it didn't dissolve my spirit of adventure.
I did find my bagel recipe - with five cream cheese schmears, too! Yay!
This is a fantastic cookbook filled with delicious deli food for any home cook - Jewish or not.
Thank you Andrews McMeel Publishing, LLC, and NetGalley for the chance to review this wonderful cookbook.

Wicked Lovely (Wicked Lovely #1)

Wicked Lovely (Wicked Lovely #1)

by Melissa Marr

3 stars

328 pages

If I had been the editor of this book, I'd have cut about half of the book - and the story would not have suffered.
A good quarter of the dialogue was, "I don't want to be queen."; "Leave me alone."; "Keenan is gorgeous."; "I love Seth." or some variation thereof.
But if you overlook the obvious padding, this was a solid beginning to the series.
I do hope there is a bit more action (and not so much teen angst) in the next book.

Boundless (Unearthly #3)

Boundless (Unearthly #3)

by Cynthia Hand

4 stars

438 pages

This was a better-than-good ending to a satisfying series.
But - like in all love triangles - one person gets shafted. And that's not cool. But in this case, it's especially tragic, because he doesn't even get a consolation "prize."

Hallowed (Unearthly #2)

Hallowed (Unearthly #2)

by Cynthia Hand

4.5 stars

403 pages

What a great sequel to the "Unearthly!" Many answered questions, lots of action, and just the right amount of emotional angst.
I've already picked up the 3rd book. Can't wait to see where it takes me!

Unearthly (Unearthly #1)

Unearthly (Unearthly #1)

by Cynthia Hand 

4 stars 

435 pages

What a great book! A fresh take on angels.
An engaging plotline, fully fleshed characters, and a non-cliffhanger ending - but enough unanswered questions for a sequel - all combine to make this a totally readable book.
Little to no swearing and some mild teen make-out sessions. Nothing offensive.
Will definitely be reading the next in the series.

The Reckoning (Darkest Powers Trilogy #3)

The Reckoning (Darkest Powers Trilogy #3)

by Kelley Armstrong

2 stars

What a disappointing ending to a series that had such potential.
What was the point of the changing colors of the crystal? Where had Mr. Bae been all that time? Didn't he ever try and get in touch with his sons? What about Chloe's dad? What about her mom?
Is Rae really gone with her mother? What happened there? What a sloppy end to a character's story.
Too many questions left unanswered. Too many plot lines dropped.

Chasing Lincoln's Killer

Chasing Lincoln's Killer

by James L. Swanson

4 stars

 

I finally got this done! Not for lack of interest, I just had other books that struck my fancy a bit more.
This book is based on the author's more in depth adult version of the events before and after Lincoln's assassination. And it was perfect for me, a neophyte, to the whole history. It's a great introduction for kids, too. My 4th grader read it and loved it. The writing is clear and concise and colorful.
There are photographs in it, too, which helped to give a sense of reality. John Wilkes Booth was a real person, not just a name on a page.
This is Juvenile Nonfiction at its best.

The Awakening (Darkest Powers Trilogy #2)

The Awakening (Darkest Powers Trilogy #2)

by Kelley Armstrong 

3 stars

 
A solid, yet somewhat uninspired sequel to The Summoning. It had just enough action and plot to keep me reading and ultimately to pick up the last book in the trilogy.
Still no swearing - yay! - and just the inkling of a beginning of a love story. Nothing too distracting.

The Elite (The Selection, #2)

The Elite (The Selection, #2)

by Kiera Cass

2 stars

(This review contains some mild spoilers.)

I am not pleased with this sequel to The Selection! NOTHING really happens in this book that didn't happen in the first book, and America Singer is in the exact same spot she was in when we left her at the end of Book 1. She just has some extra knowledge about the history of Illea and of its first king.

The only thing that made it semi-bearable was the attacks on the palace.
Those brought some action and excitement to a dull story. But even those got predictable and repetitive. They would come back day after day, write the same message on the walls, destroy stuff, and kill some people, then leave. Hello? Ever hear of increased security? There has to be some purpose to these attacks, which would make a more interesting story - but the author chooses instead to show us what's going on inside the "safe rooms," which is mostly sleeping. Answering the "why" would help stomach the otherwise mindless anarchy.

BUT my biggest complaint was America as a person. What a fickle, whiny, annoying girl!

"Oh, I love Maxon!"
"Oh, he's ignoring me. I think I love Aspen more!"
"I'm done with Maxon forever!"
"I need space, Aspen!"
"I really do love Maxon, I'll fight for him!"

Make up your mind and commit, girl!

Say what you will about Bella in Twilight, but she knew Commitment. She was DECISIVE. She never wavered from Edward. There is nothing more annoying than a wishy-washy character. And to extend it into two books is pure torture.

I am losing interest in this series quickly.

Dark Spell

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Dark Spell

by Gill Arbuthnott

4 stars

Publication date: Aug. 1, 2013

Although this is yet another coming-of-age paranormal/magic/witch story, something about the way it is written makes this admittedly abused subject entirely readable. The lack of romance and love story between Callie and Josh is refreshing in a genre rife with hormones. This absence allows the reader to focus completely on the plot. No swearing, either, which can detract from and undermine the story.

Pacing was quick and well done and full of tension. A little more backstory on Callie and/or Josh would have been helpful.

One of the only gripes I have is the lack of character development. Callie was a bit too flat for my liking. All the reader really learns is that she didn't want all that magic at first, and then - mostly because Josh - she decided magic was cool. I wish that she could have arrived at that conclusion on her own.

I loved her grandmother and her friends/coven. I wish they were used more in the book. And one big question: Why didn't the grandmother use them to help Callie and Josh get Duncan to where he needed to go? That was strange and a lot less risky for Josh.

Usually I don't get excited about setting, but this book was set in Scotland near St. Andrews, an unusual place for a YA novel. It was refreshing to read about a locale I've never really heard of besides the golf.

All told, a solid 4 stars. If it so happens that a second book comes out, I'd probably read it. But this is a stand-alone book.

Thank you Floris Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Grave Mercy (His Fair Assassin #1) by Robin LaFevers, R.L. LaFevers

Grave Mercy (His Fair Assassin #1)

by Robin LaFevers

4 stars

 
Assassin nuns, anyone? Oddly enough, this strange combo works. I liked how the romance part was there, but not driven down your throat. Good writing, good plot, decent twist at the end. Also, it's nice that this book can be a stand-alone novel. No cliff-hangers! Yay!
The only disturbing part was that death was dealt with in a ho-hum manner - like, "Oh, that guy's got the marque. I guess I'll kill him." And there are zero consequences for the assassin. But it didn't bother me all that much. Hence, the 4 stars.

Farm Markets & Gardens (Canal House Cooking #4)

Farm Markets & Gardens (Canal House Cooking #4)

by Melissa Hamilton, Christopher Hirsheimer

4 stars

What a gorgeous cookbook. Photographs are stunning. A reader can definitely see that the design was well thought-out and executed, which is the first thing a reader will see – not the recipes. If the design is flawed, no matter the quality of the recipes, most people will re-shelve that book in favor of an “easier on the eyes” tome. Luckily the design passes this “first impression” test with flying colors.

Now on to the recipes! Happily, the recipes look appetizing and mostly doable, using ingredients that one would find in a farmer’s market or a regular grocery store (if you are not of the locavore mindset).

Be aware though that some of the recipes are not formatted in the traditional way – mostly in the appetizer chapter.  They are reminiscent of old-fashioned cookbooks where the ingredients and method are embedded within a prose paragraph. The ingredients in this cookbook are highlighted, to make them easier to see – which helps – but there is a reason that recipes nowadays are written with the recipes listed first, method second. It is very, very easy to lose track of which ingredient you need to get next – as most home cooks don’t utilize the mis en place method of readying the ingredients beforehand.

Besides this minor annoyance, this cookbook is an adulation to summer cooking. The recipes rely heavily on seasonal vegetables and fruits, which is just smart cooking. To everything, there is a season.

My favorite chapter was the Preserving Summer section – I wish it were longer! I am a big home preserver, and the two canning recipes look wonderful. I will add them to my collection – I especially want to find red currants and whip up a batch of red currant jelly.

Thank you NetGalley and Open Road Integrated Media for the opportunity to review this beautiful cookbook.

Partials (Partials Sequence #1)

Partials (Partials Sequence #1)

by Dan Wells 

3 stars

So, I have mixed feelings about this book. I really liked it when there was action and evasion and struggle, but I have to tell you that this was a hugely dialogue-heavy story. I love dialogue and understand the necessity of back story, but when page after page is political arguments and discussion, it gets old.
The premise is great. Post-apocalyptic, survival of humans, fighting against the bad guys ... all good things that make a good book. The plot, though, took forever to develop. And the heavy-handedness of painting politicians as the ultimate bad guys is, well, too political for me. How's that for irony?
But this book is worth the read, if only for the nuggets of genius shining through the sludge of politico.
I suppose I'll read the next one.

Isolation (Partials Sequence 0.5)

Isolation (Partials Sequence 0.5)

by Dan Wells

4 stars

 
What a great novella in the Partials series. It gives great background on how Partials were grown and how they were trained. It also gives a great look into how they think, and how they evolved.
I love strong female characters, and Heron is definitely that.

A Castle in the Window

A Castle in the Window

by Laura C. Stevenson

2 stars

 

According to my rating definitions, two stars means "It's OK." And that's what this book was. Just OK.
It has a good message - people with dyslexia are not stupid. They just learn differently and are usually very strong in other areas. The main character in this book is battling with self-esteem issues that accompany the challenges of dyslexia, but she is discovering that she is talented in music.
Now if this were the main focus of the book, that would be fantastic, but the author has added this whole fantasy angle - a castle that she can visit from a bedroom window. And after she is done with the castle, the scene magically morphs into a bedroom of a boy, also gifted with piano, who she connects with. It's all very confusing.
The writing is not very strong, either. When the main character goes from one fantasy world to the next and back home again, I was left going back to read when exactly the switch occurred. The transitions are very muddled.
Luckily, it was a short book and ended positively. Otherwise, I would not have finished it.