REVIEW: Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter

Uncommon Criminals

Author: Ally Carter

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Format: Audible e-Book

Series: Heist Society #2

Page Count/Audio Length: 6 Hrs, 47 Mins 

Genre: Young Adult, Fiction, Romance, Mystery, Suspense, Crime 

Release Date: June 21, 2011

Katarina Bishop has worn a lot of labels in her short life life. Friend. Niece. Daughter. Thief. But for the last two months she’s simply been known as the girl who ran the crew that robbed the greatest museum in the world. That’s why Kat isn’t surprised when she’s asked to steal the infamous Cleopatra Emerald so it can be returned to its rightful owners. 

There are only three problems. First, the gem hasn’t been seen in public in thirty years. Second, since the fall of the Egyptian empire and the suicide of Cleopatra, no one who holds the emerald keeps it for long, and in Kat’s world, history almost always repeats itself. But it’s the third problem that makes Kat’s crew the most nervous and that is simply… the emerald is cursed.

Kat might be in way over her head, but she’s not going down without a fight. After all she has her best friend—the gorgeous Hale—and the rest of her crew with her as they chase the Cleopatra around the globe, dodging curses, realizing that the same tricks and cons her family has used for centuries are useless this time.

Which means, this time, Katarina Bishop is making up her own rules.

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My Thoughts

Ally Carter's writing is just perfect.  She's witty and clever and I feel like Kat is a projection of herself.  I mean, in order to create such a detailed con, you've gotta have a good criminal mind, right?  (Don't worry Ally, I'm not saying you are a criminal, just that you could be a good one if you wanted to :) Kat has so many qualities that I'd want in a friend, I just love reading about her.  She is SO SMART!  Hale is so dang dreamy, I just want to know what his name is!  I hope that is a joke that will continue in the next book.      


I both like and hate how Nick takes "ownership" of Kat and her actions.  Not really "of" her, maybe more of the "idea" of her.  That's a lot of quotations. Let me explain.  Nick steps right into a controlling role when there is no justification for him to, nor is there any indication of what he wants...other than the implied attraction he has to Kat. I like that this happens because it creates a hostile, yet curious dynamic in the story line.  It makes you wonder if he's going to be a pawn, or an ally. It's effect on various characters is wondrously amusing, and it fuels one romantic plot a lot, where it may not have moved forward as much had he not been present. 


I hate that he is there because-well, what a jerk!  Who does he think he is?  This girl is Katarina Bishop!  The girl who robbed the Henley! Nick is just an Interpol agent's son who pops out of nowhere, barges into their con and expects a banquet in his honor. He is so prideful (but, really, maybe he is hiding insecurities because subconsciously he knows Kat will never be his with Hale around?) Despite his motives, subconscious or otherwise, he is controlling, and who likes that? While Hale may demonstrate some of these same character attributes, his motives are mainly, concern for Kat and loyalty.  Who can fault him for that?  


Gabrielle is just perfect, because even though there is probably "a beach somewhere that wishes she was on it," she stays right by her cousin's side, even though they don't always get along.  And even though they're cut from the same cloth, they're both so different.  The twins only add humor, perfectly timed mishaps and fumbles to the array of characters, and they're shenanigans are some of the best in YA fiction. 

I think what makes this series so great is that it doesn't stray too far from reality.  True, I don't know many teenage spies, but the stories mostly revolve around family and friends and they always have the best intentions. Most reviewers I know say that they prefer the Gallagher Girls series over the Heist Society series by a small margin, but I totally disagree!  I really love this series!  I'm trying to like the Gallagher Girls series, but so far I haven't been able to get into it.  


I'm rating Uncommon Criminals 5 STARS.  I think this is an okay stand alone book, you could read it without being confused, but it would be better read sequentially, after Heist Society.  If you need a fun, lively pick-me-up from the current trend of dark, paranormal, or dystopian YA, then Ally Carter writes what you want! 

Thanks so much for being here today! 

REVIEW: The Selection by Kiera Cass

The Selection

Author: Kiera Cass

Publisher: Harper Collins

Format: Audible eBook

Series: The Selection #1

Page Count/Length: 

Genre: Young Adult, Fiction, Romance, Dystopian

Release Date: April 24, 2012

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself—and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

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My Thoughts

The Bachelor meets America's Next Top Model, there is enough drama, intrigue, suspense and romance to keep anyone in their favorite reading spot for at least 6 hours.  You won't even want to get up to go to the bathroom! ( I don't recommend it, but it's true!)

I just love America.  Her voice is so strong and concerned and lovely.  Her demeanor is not that of a 5, the cast she was born into, but of a lady who possesses the skills and humility to stand up for her people, the people of Illea. Her compassion is matched by Prince Maxon, and that is very permeable as we are introduced to his character.  I was in love with him as soon as he came onto the page.  I felt like America was so undoubtedly perfect for him, and while I felt sympathy for Aspen, who was a hard worker and couldn't help being born into the life of a 6, I was not smitten with him.  I felt sad for America, and felt her loss when Aspen decided to make the executive decision for both of them, but I felt like his choice, as it was not hers, was binding.  Though she was physically no longer attached by a (secret) relationship with him, she was bound by grief and the betrayal she felt after Aspen chose their paths.  Although America did not want to go into the Selection, I feel as though she receives the attention and r

America's relationship with Maxon, though seemingly one of convenience, and only temporary, at the palace, was so much more liberating!  Maxon appreciated her for her humility, her honesty, her intelligence and her beauty.  She is so smart and caring, and Maxon's concern for the people of Illea, even those of the lower casts mirrors America's, once she tells him of the struggles of their countrymen.  I love Maxon because although he is sheltered, he acknowledges that he is unknowing and tries to learn the missing information and then he acts on it in ways that are lasting and meaningful. He will make such a great king!  I love how forgiving he is, he is really graceful that way.  

When our surprise guest showed up at the palace, my jaw literally dropped.  I felt like that person was just going to get America in trouble and then Maxon would have to "rescue" her again.  I loved the ending, because even as a "cliffhanger," it was conclusive without being the end.  It gave me peace and enough closure to be able to wait (semi)patiently until the next book comes out.

I'm rating The Selection 5 STARS because it completely wowed me.  I was hooked the whole way through, nothing lagged for me.  I can tell through Cass's writing style that this series is going to be spectacular, thorough, detailed and just plain WONDERFUL!!!   This book is refreshing, and it's so great to see a classic prince/princess type story in a futuristic setting that isn't "Armageddon-y" (what a horrible word choice, I know.  Or-non word choice. Whatever).

Thanks for stopping in today!  I hope you'll pick up a copy of The Selection and try it out for yourself!

REVIEW: Endure by Carrie Jones

Endure

Author: Carrie Jones

Publisher: Bloomsbury Children's Book

Format: EGalley (Courtesy of NetGalley)

Series: Need #4

Page Count: 272

Genre: Young Adult, Fiction, Romance, Paranormal, Pixies, Weres 

Release Date: May 8, 2012

Zara is at the center of an impending apocalypse. True, she’s successfully rescued Nick from Valhalla, but it simply isn’t enough. Evil pixies are ravaging Bedford, and they need much more than one great warrior; they need an army. Zara isn’t sure what her role is anymore. She’s not just fighting for her friends; she’s also a pixie queen. And to align her team of pixies with the humans she loves will be one of her greatest battles yet. Especially since she can’t even reconcile her growing feelings for her pixie king... 

Unexpected turns, surprising revelations, and one utterly satisfying romantic finale make Endure a thrilling end to this series of bestsellers.

First Line: "Do you want some more spaghetti?" 

Last line: "It's a life where I can be proud of being half pixie, proud of who I am, who we all have become."

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My Thoughts

This book's ending was a surprise for me, but even though what I wanted to happen didn't, I understood why and it didn't make me hate the story or it's conclusion.  This makes me smile instead of annoy me.  That is the very opposite of what happened with the Nightshade series.  I didn't get the ending I liked and it DESTROYED the series for me.  I felt like I'd wasted my time.  Not the case with Carrie Jones' series.  I loved the first book, book two was still good, not fabulous, book three was pretty intense.  I cried some (wah-I'm a baby), then I waited forever for this book and it was really worth it!

I felt like all the stories lines were wrapped up nicely without being rushed and there was a LOT of action and some good adventure.  I liked the adventure, travel and action that was in three, and this book was comparable to that.  I feel like there was enough romance without being mushy and enough to leave butterflies in your stomach.

Some people felt that there wasn't enough romance in this last book, but I say the amount was just right.  The characters all acknowledged that there were more serious things happening in the world around them than their love lives and even though their hearts were aching, confused, broken and yearning, they set aside their personal emotions (for the most part) so that they could take care of the important stuff: the impending apocalypse!!!

I love how "real" Zara is.  I feel like she could have been one of my friends in high school.  I loved how she was this girl full of phobias trying to be tough enough to do good things in the world around her.  I love that her character proves you don't have to necessarily be tough, or even brave, to make a difference, you just have to try. I also love that Zara doesn't let Nick treat her like a jerk.  She just puts it all on pause, even though it hurts her.  Her will power is just awesome.  Plus, she has all these confusing feelings that will just be a pain to sort through anyway, so it was great that she wanted to take care of the the whole "end of the world" thing first, and then see what she will have to do with her relationships after the fact (if their is an "after the fact.")

The supporting cast is great too.  Everyone has their job, their little niche in the group and they do their part without complaint, even when it's dangerous.  Their loyalty to one another never waivers and I love that! (You know me and my loyalty-trait-lovin-self!) Devon and Is are so adorable, and Cassie was such an unexpected addition last book, I think her part was pretty important for all the catastrophe that happens. I love Devon so much.  I love that he's smart and realistic.  He's a practical genius.  Nick is the difficult character for me to acknowledge here because I LOVE him, but it's so easy to not like him in this book.  He is kind of a jerk, when I wish he would just acknowledge his emotions, instead of walking away from a confrontation every time.  He just fuels Zara's anxiety and fuels the tension between him and Astley.  His reactions show that he still loves Zara, but he refuses to acknowledge anything else between them.  This was really frustrating until the point when Zara says that they'll have to deal with their relationship after they've dealt with the rest of their drama (as talked about above).  I feel like you can't help but like Astley.  He just tries so hard to be honest and even-keeled.  He just wants to do right by Zara, and be helpful, even though his feelings for her are increasingly obvious.

All-in-all, such an action-packed story.  Good to the last drop!  This book, and resuming this story was like a class reunion-I loved it, and the ending was pretty fitting.  I'm rating Endure 4 STARS for being so a well-rounded book and final installment of the Need series.

Thanks so much for stopping in today!

REVIEW: Glimmer by Phoebe Kitanidis

Glimmer

Author: Phoebe Kitanidis

Publisher: Harper Collins/Balzer + Bray

Format: Paperback Arc 

Series: Standalone

Page Count: 352

Genre: Young Adult, Fiction, Romance, Paranormal 

Release Date: April 17, 2012

What if you forgot your identity and had to rely on other people to tell you who you were?

And what if to discover your true self, you first had to unravel a mystery so big and terrifying you were not sure you’d survive solving it? 

When Marshall and Elyse wake up in each other’s arms with zero memory of how they got there or who they are, it’s the start of a long journey through their separate pasts and shared future. 

Terrified by their amnesia, the two make a pact to work together to find the answers that could jog their missing memories. As they piece together clues, they discover they’re in the idyllic mountain resort town of Summer Falls, where everyone seems mysteriously happy, but as Marshall and Elyse quickly learn, darkness lurks beneath the town’s perfect facade. Not only is the town haunted by sinister ghosts, but none of its living inhabitants retain bad memories of anything—not the death of Marshall’s mom, not the hidden shame in Elyse’s family, not even the day-to-day anguish of high school. 

Lonely in this world of happy zombies, Marsh and Elyse fall into an intense relationship...but the secrets they uncover could be the death of this growing love—and the death of everyone, and everything, they love in Summer Falls.

First Line: "I come to life with a gasp in the darkness." 

Last line: "I hear our friends in the distance, but they can wait."

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My Thoughts

I thought this book was really great.  It has a depth to it that you don't really find in too many stand alone books that aren't particularly lengthy.  There are plenty of details dropped in all the right places in this story and I found myself trying to put the clues together before the characters did. I think the premise for this book is so original and so creepy, I actually had several dreams about it.  They were creepy dreams, and that's what I get for reading before bed, but still, this book left a lasting impression (in a good way :) 

I love that the perspective was split between both Elyse and Marshall, because then we get both sides of the story in different points of view without the confusion.  I like split POV stories anyway, but with each character being so different as they try to team up together not only to get their memories back, but to save their town, the dual perspective really helped to drive the plot.  It meant that the characters didn't need to be everywhere that the other was in order to tell the story or get things accomplished. Plus, they learned things at different times, but the reader gets to find out the "clues" when that character does, instead of waiting for that character to share the news with the other MC about it.

I also really enjoyed that when Elyse didn't know who she was, she assumed she was a "good girl."  It prods with an interesting question:  If we didn't know who were, who would we think we should be? Why didn't she think the opposite?  If she had woken up fully clothed in a house with a boy (in separate rooms), and she was a "good" girl, would she have though she was a horrible person?  Sorry, this is kind of confusing, but I loved the assumptions that she'd made about herself!  It intrigued me!  And Marshall, not knowing who he was either,didn't act as selfishly as I expected he was supposed to.  He was supposed to be selfish, and at times he was , but mostly he was protective.  Elyse didn't like that because she didn't think was worthy of it, and his dad thought he was selfish because he was trying to help Elyse (and others in the town) because his parents thought it was too late for them to be saved.  I loved this about Marshall: no matter how "selfish" he was thought to be, he kept the thought that everyone has a chance; it's never too late.  

The best part of the story is that ultimately, their slates were wiped clean and they were able to move beyond their past transgressions (1, because they couldn't remember them, and 2, when they started to remember, they knew they had changed from their former selves and wouldn't act the same way in that same situation) and really become better people.  If that's not a Christian idea then I don't know what is.  The hardest thing people go through when trying to change bad habits or not make the same mistakes is that they still remember their guilt and shame.  If that could be taken away, medically or with a magic potion, who knows what our potential would be. Maybe we could change like Elyse and Marshall did too! 

I'm rating Glimmer 4 STARS.  What a great story, finally something original, refreshing and creepy! That's just my 2 cents :) Thanks for stopping by to read it!

REVIEW: Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Delirium

Author: Lauren Oliver

Publisher: Harper Audio 

Narrator: Sarah Drew

Format: Audio Book

Series: Delirium #1

Page Count/Length: 11 hours, 41 Mins

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian, Romance, Fiction 

Release Date: February 9, 2010

They say that the cure for love will make me happy and safe forever. And I've always believed them. Until now. Now everything has changed. Now, I'd rather be infected with love for the tiniest sliver of a second than live a hundred years smothered by a lie.

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My Thoughts

The most interesting thing about this book, and this review to, I guess, is that when I first started this book, I kind of hated it. I felt almost as I did with Ally Condie's Matched series...the main female character should have left it alone! But, as the audio kept going, which, Sarah Drew is a fantastic narrator and a perfect voice for Lena, I was just drawn in. I didn't have an immediate love for this story, but I felt like through it's slow build up, I really got to know Lena and the other people in her life.  I feel like I was better able to form educated opinions about the characters, the government and the situations the characters find themselves in.    

I love Lena, whereas in Matched, I hate Cassia.  Lena is tougher and not as whiny.  I don't want this whole review to be a comparison, but Lena is different.  She is scared, but she is willing to take the risk because she thinks she is alone (besides Alex).  She has Hana, but not for much longer anyway, once they're both cured.  Grace is the only person who really cares about her, and really, the government won't allow any one to care for anyone, regardless of relationship. You're not allowed to dance or laugh with your own children in this scary, futuristic setting.  

When Lena meets Alex, her world just begins to spin faster and faster.  He doesn't want to be dishonest with her, but can he really stand to unravel her world?  Plus Lena is still coping with the death of her mother, even though everyone in the family has to act she never even existed.  Rachel, Lena's sister, is a character I like the least.  Hana had her moments with me, but I really grew to love her because of her loyalty to Lena at the end of the story.  I'm really looking forward to Pandemonium.  I think Lauren Oliver's timing is genius, even though I didn't get it at first. The concept of emotions being absent when love is no longer able to affect people is very intriguing and one I had never considered before.  I couldn't imagine a world without being able to hug or kiss my daughter.  The thought is very striking and I hope, now that we're into the depths of the story, that the series itself will really begin to pick up.

I love the snippets of Delirium-era writings that were at the beginnings of each chapter.  I think it really gives readers an eye into the brainwashing and propaganda that the people in futuristic Portland are subjected too since they're born. I was really scared for Lena through most of this story because I didn't know how she would be able to get out of this type of society.  It would be full on rebellion and those who are sympathizers and who go against the government are treated so brutally, and usually killed.  I didn't know how this story could advance to a point where Lena would be both safe and understand that life is not meant to be lived that way; Love is not a disease (although sometimes it might be easier-though is probably more selfish-to act without it). 

I'm rating Delirium 4 STARS. I'm looking forward to the sequel, and the world building and character depth is really something Oliver does quite well.  I have to know what happens next.  Even though the slow build-up helped me understand the laws and the character's situations within this futuristic government's rule, and the characters themselves, better, it did take a long time to get to a point where I really enjoy what I was beginning to understand.   

Thank you for stopping in! 

REVIEW: Heist Society by Ally Carter

Heist Society

Author: Ally Carter

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Narrator: Angela Dawe

Format: Audio Book

Series: Heist Society #1

Page Count/Length: 6 Hours, 6 Mins

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Mystery, Adventure, Crime 

Release Date: February 9, 2010

When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her on a trip to the Louvre…to case it. For her seventh birthday, Katarina and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Austria…to steal the crown jewels. When Kat turned fifteen, she planned a con of her own—scamming her way into the best boarding school in the country, determined to leave the family business behind. Unfortunately, leaving “the life” for a normal life proves harder than she’d expected.

Soon, Kat's friend and former co-conspirator, Hale, appears out of nowhere to bring Kat back into the world she tried so hard to escape. But he has a good reason: a powerful mobster has been robbed of his priceless art collection and wants to retrieve it. Only a master thief could have pulled this job, and Kat's father isn't just on the suspect list, he is the list. Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat’s dad needs her help.

For Kat, there is only one solution: track down the paintings and steal them back. So what if it's a spectacularly impossible job? She's got two weeks, a teenage crew, and hopefully just enough talent to pull off the biggest heist in her family's history--and, with any luck, steal her life back along the way.

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My Thoughts

This was one of the best listens I've had of an audio book yet.  the narrator was great and she provided great differentiation between each character and I really enjoyed the reading that took place in different languages.  her accents were wonderful as well.

The story itself was so much fun.  It's serious, because, well, Kat's father's life is in jeopardy.  But even though she doesn't want to be a part of this life anymore, I love how she still wanted to do the "right" (relatively speaking).  She wants to do good, and not hurt people or cause them pain.  That is admirable, even if all the people she loves choose differently.

There are parts in the story that are foreshadowed, but that is done well.  I never felt like too much was given too late or too vague.  It was perfectly interwoven and reintroduced in an appropriate way and in perfect timing.  Ally Carter did really great with her timing and I love her characters. Hale was irresistible, of course-super witty and smart and the way he and Kat worked together was so flawlessly, it was easy to see they were the missing pieces of the other's puzzle. Gabrielle was annoying at first, but lovable as we got to know her.  While she may be high maintenance, she loves her family and does the distance for them, using her personality traits and habits to her benefit. Simon is great too,  unintentionally funny and loyal, one of my favorite qualities (although I did notice that all in Kat's crew shared this trait, I really appreciate that about characters-fictional or otherwise).  I picture him as a glasses-wearing Geek Squad guy,  My favorite characters I think though, were the Bagshaw Brothers. They were the perfect sidekicks-complimenting each other and the crew, hilarious and fun-loving.  You'd have to be Professor Snape not to love them. Kat was a very likable character too, she was smart and protective and she shouldered the responsibility of certain situations very responsibly, which was one of my favorite things about her.  She was never whiny either, she just dealt with it and didn't make excuses.  She never held anybody accountable to what she had to do, she gave them the choice to see it through or walk away.

I thought the story as a whole was just great, it was so entertaining and I couldn't stop listening.  Her writing itself is witty and well timed, the placement and word choice is brilliant.  You can tell that she must be such a smart, fun, adventurous person, and I think this story reflects that piece of her really well.  She definitely gets an A for doing her homework for this book so well.  She also brights light to a rather serious matter of (art) history that is both important and interesting.  Plus, I think it can be a sensitive subject for some, and I think she did it in a great way, that was serious but compassionate.  I'm really impressed by Ally Carter's storytelling and wit.

I'm rating Heist Society 5 STARS because everything was so well done!  I was very entertained and now I want to travel the world being all Robin Hood-y.  That's the mark of a good book, does it make you want to take action.  This book definitely makes you want to have your own adventures.

Thank you for stopping today!

REVIEW: Someone Else's Life by Katie Dale

Someone Else's Life

Author: Katie Dale

Publisher: Random house Children's Books

Format: eBook (courtesy of NetGalley)

Series: Standalone

Page Count: 512

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Fiction, Romance 

Release Date: February 14, 2012

When 17-year-old Rosie's mother, Trudie, dies from Huntington's Disease, her pain is intensified by the knowledge that she has a fifty percent chance of inheriting the crippling disease herself. Only when Rosie tells her mother's best friend, "Aunt Sarah," that she is going to test for the disease does Sarah, a midwife, reveal that Trudie wasn't her real mother after all. Rosie was swapped at birth with a sickly baby who was destined to die.

Devastated, Rosie decides to trace her real mother, joining her ex-boyfriend on his gap year travels, to find her birth mother in California. But all does not go as planned. As Rosie discovers yet more of her family's deeply buried secrets and lies, she is left with an agonizing decision of her own, one which will be the most heart breaking and far-reaching of all.

First Line: "'Are you turned on?.' Josh whispers, his breath tickling my ear in the dark." 

Last line: "I beam, sprinting across the beach, the wind dancing in my hair, sand flying, shrieking with laughter as Andy chases me toward the sparkling water, the crashing waves, the infinite horizon, our footprints mingling in the sand behind us..."

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My Thoughts

This story immediately captured my attention and made me tear up on several occasions.  Poor Rosie!  Not only did she just lose her mother, but she finds out that her mother isn't her mother!  Now she has no clue who she is and no clue what to move on to when she eventually initiates the "healing process."  I didn't like Sarah really, because I didn't think it was her decision to make, but who knows what they would do in a horribly sad situation like that!? I though Sarah was written really well though, because she was so human.  I empathized with her difficult choice and situation, even though I disagreed with the decision she made.  So many lives were upturned by her revelation, but really, it was Rosie's choice to do what she wanted with the information.  

The only thing I didn't like about Rosie is that I felt she took too much upon herself, even though I can absolutely relate to that, because I'm the same way. My biggest qualm with this though is that, out of everyone, she should have trusted Andy enough to talk to him, at least to smooth things over from their "break-up" that wasn't even really a break up.  If she had talked to him from the beginning, when her mother got really sick, then there wouldn't have been any misunderstanding between them about why she missed their first trip and he would have done anything he could to help her with her mother and to find her birth mother.  I really liked Andy overall because his reaction to Rosie's behavior, without knowing any of the truth, seemed pretty realistic.  He had all the right emotions in all the right places, at the right times, but not mechanically, not in a way that was unbelievable.  In fact, I think all the characters reacted appropriately (with realistic expectations).   

The plot of this story was really good. I loved how the twists kept coming and characters kept being added.  I was slightly confused by the parallel story lines, but towards the books end I was able to sort it out and understand who was who and what was what.  I initially thought the separate story line (not Rosie's) was her biological mother's flashbacks, and it almost seems like it was intentionally meant to be thought of that way until we meet Holly and understand her story line and what's happening in her life.  

Another subplot of the book, Huntington's disease, was really moving and sad. It really sets so many things into motion, so, I guess you could actually say that nearly all of Rosie's actions are motivated by the disease.  I mean, does she find out if she has it, does she find her mother's biological daughter and tell her about it, does she potentially ruin someones life? Will that character see it as Rosie ruining her life or giving her a chance?  How about her biological father?  It was well laid out, in my opinion and well thought out.  Rosie had a lot of tough decisions to make and it really helped her sort out her own feelings of her mother's death.  Rosie grew up a lot in this book, in a relatively short time, but the supporting cast of characters and the plot is intriguing and self-propelling.  Katie Dale did a really great job of layering the story and characters just right so that it didn't drag on but I kept interest. 

I'm rating Someone Else's Life  4 STARS.  It was a good read and I'm glad I didn't overlook it.  It brings awareness to a disease commonly unknown and shares a heartfelt story about what it really means to be someone's daughter.  Well done! 

Thank you for being here today!

REVIEW: Death Cure by James Dashner

Death Cure

Author: James Dashner

Publisher: Delacourte Books

Format: Hardcover

Series: Maze Runner #3

Page Count: 325

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian, Futuristic, Science Fiction 

Release Date: October 11, 2011

Thomas knows that Wicked can't be trusted, but they say the time for lies is over, that they've collected all they can from the Trials and now must rely on the Gladers, with full memories restored, to help them with their ultimate mission. It's up to the Gladers to complete the blueprint for the cure to the Flare with a final voluntary test.

What Wicked doesn't know is that something's happened that no Trial or Variable could have foreseen. Thomas has remembered far more than they think. And he knows that he can't believe a word of what Wicked says.

The time for lies is over. But the truth is more dangerous than Thomas could ever imagine.
Will anyone survive the Death Cure? 

First Line: "It was the smell that began to drive Thomas slightly mad."

Last line: "As we tried to instill in each of our subjects over and over, WICKED is good."

_____________________________________________________________________

My Thoughts

I still like Thomas, even after everything he's been through, all the changes that he allowed and didn't allow to happen in his head and his heart, I think he is wonderful.  I feel like, despite not really knowing what his past was, he realized he didn't have to continue to be that person now.  No matter what decisions had put him here, he could be better than whatever WICKED expected him to be, and it seems he was tired of living to or against their expectations anyway.  He finally stopped catering his actions to what WICKED was going to think or expect of him, which is what I waited this whole series for!

The one thing I hated that Thomas did, but I can understand it happens after we find out one of his friends from the maze is infected. Of course, I won't tell you whooooo...but honestly, Thomas let him down, and I'm not 100% sure I blame him.  I don't know if I could have made that decision either, or even if I made the decision, I don't know if I could bring myself to act on it.  Either way you're going to have a ton of guilt, so maybe it is simply a question of which guilt would you rather live with?

I loved Brenda from the very beginning of Death Cure, even though I wasn't fond of her in The Scorch Trials, and I really started to dislike Teresa in the second book.  That trend really continued for me in this concluding book.  The more she opened her mouth, the more I couldn't stand her, she was so annoying and so selfish.  The end of this book didn't even soften me towards her, despite her obviously shedding her selfishness (unless she did it for selfish reasons...which, there is only one I can think of...hmmm) Teresa just irritated her way into the "dislike" portion of my brain and I can't find a redeeming quality in her, despite her offering everything she could to redeem herself!  Brenda, on the other hand, is so nonjudgmental and helpful, so calming and considerate.  That's the kind of stability you need in a character that is intended to be a companion, in any and every sense of the word.

I loved the new scenery that Dashner created for us in Death Cure.  I loved imagining how a major city could look affected by a catastrophic illness, and how the portion of the city left uninfected would have to deal with the afflicted.  It was interesting to see the way the government was organized outside of WICKED, in the real world.  This is a book that I absolutely could not predict how it would end.  Everything changed constantly and people I thought would get to live cured, ended up not getting that luxury. People I thought would die didn't live up to that expectation either, so I was left surprised all the way around.

One thing that disappointed me was the lack of development in the story line regarding the characters who choose to get their memories back. I would have liked to see more emotion from that (and a few other scenarios in the story as well), but as masculine as this story is intended to be, it makes sense that the emotions would be held back some.  However, there are female characters involved, so maybe it could have seemed a bit more realistic to have the girls emit at least some sense of being overwhelmed or emotional.  WHERE ARE THE TEARS, DANG IT!?  Just kidding, but seriously, emotional stimulation for me as a reader was okay, but if you want to completely capture my heart, you should make me cry uncontrollably or pull my heartstrings in a million directions, which they were, at times, but not so much that it left an incredibly lasting impression/

It seems fitting that I would work on this review today, as I just received an email today that Dashner's prequel to this series, The Kill Order, is now available for pre-order (it will be released 8/14/12).  This is a book that I am really looking forward to, because now that I know how it ends, I would love to know how it all started.  Thomas's involvement in the trials has always intrigued me and finally, Dashner is giving us the inside info on how it all began!

In Death Cure, I'm really not sure how I feel about Chancellor Paige, so maybe Kill Order will help me sort out my opinion of her (and maybe soften my heart towards Teresa).

I'm rating Death Cure 4 STARS, because I enjoyed it, and I was happy with the ending, it gave me hope that the Gladers could finally rest, even though i was sad for those who didn't make it that far or get to experience the hope for the future. I mean, I still don't even know if Thomas deserves to have that hope! Maybe that's where The Kill Order comes in...

I would recommend this books to boys (kind of vague, I know), and to other readers who like dystopian.  If you're not one for waterworks, but like when characters are faced with seemingly impossible decisions, then this is a good choice for you. I've lent this series out to three people already (which is hard for me because they're all signed copies!), but I've just got to share the books I enjoy with people I read with!  

INTERVIEW: Stephanie Fowers

In honor of April (Pranks and April Fool's Day! Perfection!)  and my birthday yesterday (I tried to post this yesterday, it was an epic bday fail :/ ), 
I have the priviledge of hosting Stephanie Fowers, on my blog for an interview about her and her new book, Prank Wars.  If you haven't read PW yet and you're curious, please check out my review. 

Also, there is a giveaway in this post, so read through the interview to find it!

A: How did you manageto come up with ALL of those pranks?  Were those ALL pranks you pulledwhile you were @ BYU? Or were some of them pranks that were pulled on you?
S: All of the people responsible for those pranks are listed in my acknowledgements page at the end of my book (the miscreants I found out about anyway).  And yeah, someof the pranks I plotted and executed myself, some of them happened to me, andothers I heard about from jubilant friends running back from the frontlines. In the end, I actually had to start cutting the pranks down. There were just too many!
A: I am horrible at pranks, I love them, but I'm not so good at the execution.  Maybe it's because I never had the right accomplice(s), but my husband is good at it.  He and his friends would do it randomly and not back to back, so no one ever found out it was them! Tricky, tricky!

A: Who did you base Madeleine off of?  It seems like you couldn't write a character like that unless you had experienced some of those things yourself, so what did you pull from to make it realistic?  (Obviously, maybe you don't know CIA agents, but maybe you do...? ;)
S: I am not a CIA agent working undercover. I work in postcards…
Though seriously, ‘Madeleine’ is what happens to me (and dear friends) after a good break-up. No worries. We usually get over it after some good chick flicks and talking about ‘wagers’ and stuff. In the end, our Guy Anonymous meetings usually end up with a lot of laughing. And yes, we usually accept the guy is just a guy who wasn’t compatible…not a villain.

Some of Madeleine’s motivations can be mine at particularly jaded moments in my life. I also know a lot of passionate girls, so I can draw from that as my inspiration too. All of my characters in my books might have some part of me in there (even the guys). The funny thing is that I have been accused of having some unlikable characters, so you can imagine that gives me a complex sometimes. Though here’s a secret; my guy characters can get away with more ‘villainy' than my girl characters can. No idea why!

A: Were Madeleine's accomplices literary versions of your own real life accomplices once? Are your characters all from real life inspiration or were they your own creation?
S: Yes, most definitely yes! Just name a roommate of mine, and you’ll have some quality found in one of Madeleine’s accomplices. I am very lucky to have such fun friends!
   
They were partly inspired from real life, partly from my own creation. I definitely have muses when I write (and they know who they are because I tell them—sometimes, it’s just their name, or their looks, or just a funny quirk that they do), but I also like to give mycharacters their own personalities as well. I love to give my characters color code personality tests; I cast them as actors I feel would do a good job playing that character, and I write sheets and sheets of motivations behind what the characters are doing to make them more realistic.

A: I love all the"classic" Y references: JDawgs, Brigham Square, Provo Library, THEPROVO CITY  TOWERS!!!  It wouldn't have felt like BYU without theseplaces. What was one of your favorite places in Provo while you were in schooland how did you have specific memories that correlated to scene placement andtiming for Prank Wars?
S: I loved those places too, but most especially the Provo City Towers. I actually finagled a tour there from a particularly laid back engineer (who happened to answer the door). We wove through the basement and all the floors until my roommate and I found our way to the top roof, and got to walk on the catwalks. It was so fun! I tried to look outrageously responsible…like I wasn’t up to something. Unfortunately, my camera would only take about seventeen pictures at the time, so I had to keep coming back (about three times) to take more pictures—I lived about a block away, so it worked. Finally another engineer asked me if I was a terrorist, but I was afraid of admitting that I was writing a book because I didn’t know if that would be worse. 
A: Even though I think the towers are cool, I'm way to chicken to go up there!  I could never get on the catwalk!  It kind of reminds me of Ghost Adventures and sometimes they tour creepy, old, abandoned factories and mills. EEEK.  

7)  How did BYUbecome the perfect setting for Prank Wars?

BYU students LOVE pranks. Just look at the latest prank some BYU students pulled with the live animals at Easter. I’ve always enjoyed pranks, but until I moved in with roommates at BYU, who treated pranks with the seriousness of guerrilla warfare, I never knew how intense it could be. At the time, I wrote for a magazine called ‘Schooled,’ and thought it would be funny to write a short story called “Prank Wars.” It was about a girl who took the prank wars WAY too seriously. It was a hit. I was asked to write a sequel until finally I outlined a book for “Prank Wars.” And of course, BYU was the natural setting for it. I had to make Madeleine a LOT less dramatic for the book though and give her a reason to be so crazy…because no one seemed to believe that anyone would go that crazy with a prank war. I knew better, of course, but no one believes the writer.
A: I completely believe that a prank war could happen just because!  Especially in a setting like BYU.

A: How did youcome up with the initial story of pranking turning into somethingmore...dangerous? THE SPACE BETWEEN THE PREVIOUS SENTENCE AND THE NEXT QUESTION, CONTAINS SPOILERS. IF YOU WISH TO CONTINUE READING THIS QUESTION AND ANSWER, HIGHLIGHT THE TEXT BELOW, OTHERWISE SKIP TO THE NEXT. THANKS! (SPOILER) Was there a slow, steady evolution to a government-involved situation or was that always the plan?

S: (SPOILER) Yeah, it was always the plan. “Dumb and Dumber” and “Three Amigo” type plots have always intrigued me(the comedy with the more sinister ‘something else’ is happening in the background). And then to do it first person? I can’t tell you how many drafts I went through though to make people not feel like I just shoved them off a cliff at the end of the book. It makes me laugh because I’ve only published my romantic comedy, so that’s what my beta readers expected when they picked it up and then BAM! WHAT JUST HAPPENED! Needless to say, I owe a lot to my beta readers. I had to lay off  some of the suspense and put in more foreshadowing.  It made it less jarring for some readers, though more predictable for others (shrug). Basically I had to make a decision on what I wanted the feel of the book to be, and finally decided on a romantic comedy with a feel of mystery.


A: How did New Zealand come into play in the book?  Where did that detail come from?
S:Well, their accent is hot. Can I say more? Flight of the Conchords anyone?
A: We are big FotC fans at my house.  My husband served his mission in Brisbane, so he's obsessed with AUS & NZ, therefore, I am as well, by association. One of his closest friends is from NZ and is on BYU's rugby team.  We love him like family.  I wish he was. I want to go to AUS & NZ! 
A: Have you ever wanted to rappel down the Provo City Towers?
S: But of course…Actually no, I’m really bad at rappelling—but if it was a matter of life and death, I’d think about it…maybe.
A: The idea is fun to me, but I'm a chicken, and I'm horrible at it too,  I tried it once (rapelling, not rapelling down the PCT ;) and no bueno. I'm a danger to other rapellers.  

A: How did the term"Provocity" get coined? Is there a story?
S: My sister was in her upper classman ‘smartperson’ biology class one day and someone asked what “Provocity” meant. It took the teacher a while to figure out what the person meant. My sister came home laughing about it and it was our new favorite word. Anyway, I totally and utterly lifted that from real life. Hey, it happens!
A:  Real life stories are even better, because then it's immortalized in a book! I totally want to use it with my BYU friends.  They'll probably think I'm serious, so it will be fun for me, and dumb for them :) 

A: Do you ever writesnippets of stories, or even full on books, off of something you've dreamed?
S: YES!!! My next book that I’m writing, “With a Kiss” is based on a dream that I had. It was totally Midsummer Night’s Dream. This witch was after this changeling baby (who was a faery princess,of course), and the faeries gave me awesome powers to keep their princess safe (because they were banished), and I had to keep this hag back…and of course, there was this really hot guy who happened to be a faery too…he might’ve been Puck. And I had to find a way to get this baby back to the Sidhe. Um, yeah, I have NO idea what that says for my psych…especially because I wrote it down and wrote a book about it…nay, a trilogy. Coming soon!
A: MAN!  Who doesn't love Midsummer Night's Dream!?!?! I can't wait for that!  I will totally read it!

A: What is a book you're currently reading?
S: ‘Variant’ by Robison Wells and ‘Prideand Popularity’ by Jenni James.  As you can see, I’m reading for the Whitney Awards, but PS: so far, they’re super good books!

A: Kangaroos, emus or llamas?
S: Kangaroos. I’ve already been attacked by the others…well, they approached me with wicked gleams in their eyes, so that counts as an attack. And if a kangaroo attacked me? Well, I’d lose all my faith in cute furry things.
A: Wicked gleams totally count as attacks (although I LOVE llamas!  My favorite roommate at BYU was from Peru:)

A: What is thestrangest talent you have?
S: I can walk and walk and walk andwalk…like the Pioneer children. And walk!
A:  I have no talents :(  I hate exercise, I hate walking!  I mostly just count it as a miracle that our bodies know how to do it, but I'm a good volleyball player though (ok, so I don't hate all exercise).  And I can hold my own at karaoke?

A: What are you currently working on?
S: Oh, the above trilogy. It’s a YA fantasy series called ‘Twisted Tales.’ The first book is “With a Kiss.” The second book is “At Midnight” and the third is “As the sun sets.” Basically, I took a bunch of faery tales and made them faery tales: a book of prophecies that happen to be true…about faeries. Of course, now that all the faery tale series are coming out like ‘Grim,’ and ‘Once Upon a Time,’ I’m kind of wincing, but I’m determined to be positive about it and chalk it up to being able to ride the wave of faery tale interest and see where it takes me.
A: That always seems to happen to a particular theme, like vampires, or witches, etc.  But I love both Grim & Once Upon a Time, and I love Fairy/Faery tales.  It reminds me of my childhood (minue sthe faeries :)  I will definitely read that. Ride the wave!  It could not turn out how you expect, but it may be ever better that way!

A:  What shoe do you put on first?
S: Whoa, I’ve never thought about. Letme try it. Right. I put on the right shoe first. To be honest, I don’t think I do anything left.
A: I put my right on first expect when I am trying shoes on, because when I had my daughter, my left foot got bigger.  So rude body, so rude!

A: Does your name make any interesting anagrams?
S: I’m looking up anagrams (the result of rearranging the letters of a word or phrase to produce a new word or phrase). Okay, and now I’m trying it out. Stephanie Fowers. Hmmm. ‘A wise hen for pets.’ Oh, the grammar kills me!!! ‘Wise pets for a hen.’I don’t know why a hen wants wise pets, but I’ll take it!
A: Maybe this hen is bewitched to have to have pets, and she'd rather have wise pets than the alternative? This is probably why you're the writer and not me :) Thanks so much for being here today Stephanie, I had a lot of fun!
S: I'm so glad to have met you! Thanks for letting me be on your blog.

Alright friends...teh fun continues!  If you hop on over to Steph's blog and post a comment on her latest post from (April 20, 2012) about the BYU Prank, you will be entered into a contest to win an ecopy of Prank Wars!  There are mutiple formats available, so don't fret if you don't have an ereader!  You don't need one, just a computer really, but even a smartphone will do!  You could even print it out if you wanted to!  So hop over and enter! The contest will be open for a week!

Thank you everyone for joining Stephanie and I today!