Poison Princess, by Kresley Cole

This post-apocalptic fantasy novel based on the arcana of the Tarot cards pulled me in with riveting action and compelling characters. I grew to really care about Evie, the main character, and fell in love with Jackson, the sexy eighteen-year-old Cajun boy who protects her through much of the story.

As much as I loved the book, I was confused as to why Evie was telling her story to Arthur and couldn't believe she would tell this stranger such intimate details. The ending explains why,but I wish the novel would have hinted to this explanation from the beginning. The whole time I kept thinking, "The author didn't need this frame around Evie's narrative. Why did she even include it?"

As wowed as I was by the revelations at the end of the book, I was disconcerted by the many unanswered questions. Because this is the first book of a series, I guess I'll defer my judgment until I finish it, which I definitely plan to do!

Sabriel, by Garth Nix

I'm glad I read this story. Initially I didn't like it. Nix started the story off with lots of action, but did little to make me connect with and care for the main character, Sabriel. I pushed onward anyway, and became intrigued by the author's creativity, especially with the necromancer's use of bells. LOVED that. The charter marks and sendings were also interesting, as were the paper flyers. The world, in general, was captivating, and by the last half of the story, Sabriel's character began to shine. I also enjoyed the relationship that developed between Sabriel and Touchstone.

The empowerment of females is a major theme that made me love this book.

Unbroken: A World War II Story, by Laura Hillenbrand

Lovers of history and stories of survival will love this true account of Olympic gold medal winner, Louis Zamperini, and his horrific experiences when he becomes a pilot and bombardier during World War II.

The beginning was slow for me, but I don't blame the author, who had so much information to cover, that it only made sense to summarize Louis's early life, since what happened during and after the war must be told in greater detail. But once Zamperini's plane goes down in the Pacific and he and two other men struggle against starvation, thirst, and the constant threat of sharks, the book takes hold of you to the very end.

Hillenbrand demonstrates a wealth of research as she recounts Zamperini's years as a POW in various Japanese camps, and the people involved come to life on the page. This book made me grateful for my life and the luxuries and conveniences I often take for granted.

Congrats Giveaway Winners

Thanks to all of you who entered one or more of my Goodreads Giveaways.

Congrats to the following winners of signed paperback copies of The Mystery Box:
Anastasia Berrer of Dover, Delaware
Joan Bohl of Vincent, Ohio
and Robin Weatherington of Sunnyvale, California

Congrats to these winners of signed paperback copies of The Gatekeeper's Sons:
Gabi Nygaard of Forest Grove, Oregon
Renea Sellers of Keystone Heights, Florida
and Kimberly Micciche of Saugus, California

The books have been shipped and should arrive within the week. I hope you enjoy!


 

Gone Girl, by Gillian Flynn

Gillian Flynn parallels us readers to her characters and indicts us along with them!

Amy, a native New Yorker and only child and the star of a children's book series called Amazing Amy, written by her parents, makes a point of mentioning in her diary that she is becoming the kind of person she used to mock: the domestic, unappreciated wife who'll do anything to keep her man happy. Her point of view alternates with that of her husband, Nick--a native midwesterner who lives his life trying not to be like his misogynistic father. Nick has been babied by a doting mother and fraternal twin sister and so has never been a take-charge kind of guy. This fact about him makes it believable that his life could go so wrong so quickly without him having the slightest clue until it is much, much too late.

When Amy goes missing on their fifth wedding anniversary, we, like the ever vigilant press, sift through the clues to piece together what happened. Although we read from the points of view of both characters, neither are quick to reveal their cards. Like the cops and the press, we oscillate between theories. I never thought I would be the kind of person who would quickly jump to conclusions--just as Amy and Nick thought they'd never become certain kinds of people. They become those kinds of people; I become those kinds of people. And it happens again and again as the story takes on turn after turn.

I think, "I would never be a cheater," and then some new information makes me see why, in a certain situation, I, too might become one. I think, "I would never be a killer," and then I, too, can see myself wanting to kill someone. I think, "I would never stay with someone who treats people that way," and then, once again, I think, yes, for that reason, I would stay, too.

I'm trying to be vague so this review doesn't spoil the wonderful surprises awaiting you! You won't be disappointed!

The Art of Racing in the Rain, by Garth Stein

I found this story to be an easy, engaging look into one man's attempt to negotiate family crises, but what makes it different from other domestic stories is its point of view: an old and loyal dog named Enzo, companion to the real protagonist, Denny. Enzo is the kind of narrator you can't help but love. He offers the best of both third person and first person narration. He can zoom in and out of Denny's story, contemplate it, and add his own hopes and struggles to the mix. I really enjoyed getting to know Enzo.

One other spin on what might otherwise be just another domestic crisis story is Stein's use of the racing metaphor. It's more than a metaphor, because professional car racing is Denny's lifelong dream, and it continually gets held off and challenged because of his wife's illness and his in-laws' overbearing need to have control over his daughter's life. But I loved how the racing plays double duty as this metaphor for navigating through life. The techniques for successfully racing in the rain also apply to making it through the hard knocks in life. You'll have to read the book to find out what those are.

Goodreads Giveaways

Two of my books are being offered in a Goodreads Giveaway ending Sept. 24th. If you're interested in my teen fantasy, The Gatekeeper's Sons, please go here: http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/31833-the-gatekeeper-s-sons-gatekeeper-s-trilogy-book-one

If you're interested in my adult suspense, The Mystery Box, please go here:
http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/31834-the-mystery-box

Good luck! I hope you win!