Blog Tour Review: Dracula in Love

Dracula in Love

Karen Essex

Series or Stand Alone: Stand Alone

Release Date: July 2011 (hardcover: August 2010)

Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group

Pages: 384 (paperback)

Author Site: http://www.karenessex.com/

My Rating: 3.25/5

Source: Received for review from Historical Fiction Book Tours

Synopsis:

[from goodreads.com]

In this wonderfully transporting novel, award-winning author Karen Essex turns a timeless classic inside out, spinning a haunting, erotic, and suspenseful story of eternal love and possession.

From the shadowy banks of the river Thames to the wild and windswept Yorkshire coast, Dracula’s eternal muse, Mina Murray, vividly recounts the intimate details of what really transpired between her and the Count—the joys and terrors of a passionate affair that has linked them through the centuries, and her rebellion against her own frightening preternatural powers.

Mina’s version of this gothic vampire tale is a visceral journey into Victorian England’s dimly lit bedrooms, mist-filled cemeteries, and asylum chambers, revealing the dark secrets and mysteries locked within. Time falls away as she is swept into a mythical journey far beyond mortal comprehension, where she must finally make the decision she has been avoiding for almost a millennium.

Bram Stoker’s classic novel offered one side of the story, in which Mina had no past and bore no responsibility for the unfolding events. Now, for the first time, the truth of Mina’s personal voyage, and of vampirism itself, is revealed. What this flesh and blood woman has to say is more sensual, more devious, and more enthralling than the Victorians could have expressed or perhaps even have imagined.

Review:

While I have the original story of Dracula sitting on my bookshelf I have yet had the chance to read it. The only prior knowledge I have of Bram Stoker's work is through the movie featuring Keanu Reeves and Winona Ryder...(yes, I liked it). Having said that I think I would have liked to have the prior knowledge of the original story. But even without it, Dracula in Love was a really interesting story from Mina's point of view. Not only was the point of view different but the entire idea of Mina and the Count being lovers through time was a twist I came to enjoy.

Looking at Dracula in Love without basing my opinion on any other adaptation is rather easy. I found the beginning of the novel more enjoyable than the ending and that sort of disappointed me. I liked the description of Mina's past and how she grew up. I found myself really liking her simple and calm personality though her childhood wasn't favorable. I didn't mind the overall feminist feel of the story either. Mina even goes as far to tell the reader that everything we know about the tale is false... It was an interesting twist.

But the let down started happening when the Count and Mina finally came together...The intrigue, passion, and mystery surrounding their relationship was built up so nicely. But I felt their relationship sort of fell flat after a while. The passion was still between them and the obvious love between the Count and Mina was present and it was even romantic...but I just didn't feel the "oomph" I felt in the beginning. I was quite surprised at how much I actually got into reading about the women in the asylum. I can only imagine what the research was like for Karen Essex.

Overall, Dracula in Love was a nice read. I liked the characters but never really got attached or involved with them. I liked some of the things Karen Essex with with the mysticism and lore of vampires and magic but sometimes things got a little lost for me. I'll definitely be reading more about Dracula and Karen's other work. I like her writing style and I'm looking forward to reading the other time periods she has written about. I think a lot of people will enjoy the different adaptation Karen provides in Dracula in Love.  
 
 
 

Review: Cameo the Assassin

Cameo the Assassin

Dawn McCullough-White

Series or Stand Alone: Cameo series, book one

Series Order: Cameo and the Highwayman (2010), Cameo and the Vampire (TBD)

Release Date: June 2010 (ebook)

Publisher: Claypipe Press

Pages: 190 (ebook)

Author Site: http://www.dawnmccullough-white.com/

My Rating: 3.25/5

Source: Received for review from author

Synopsis:

[from goodreads.com]

The Kingdom of Sieunes is rife with taverns, dirty streets, and clay pipe smoking citizens all toiling to feed their families and keep themselves in something little better than rags. With a foiled revolution just ten years prior still burning in the hearts of many, the royals enlist the aid of assassins to keep things in order. The townsfolk entertain themselves by dreaming of better times to come and regaling in stories of the undead said to walk the graveyards at night... and of Cameo the killer with corpse-like eyes...

Scarred and jaded Cameo is one of the most effective assassins in the employ of the Association, moving from one mission to the next as long as the alcohol keeps flowing. Her acceptance of the murder-for-hire lifestyle is thrown into doubt when she meets a local highwayman with a penchant for fine clothes and women, and then she begins to think about breaking with the company but no one ever breaks with the Association under good terms.

Review:

Cameo the Assassin is definitely a nice breath of fresh air in the dark fantasy/paranormal realm. Unique and entertaining, the first book looks to be a great opening into a very interesting series. I did have a few minor issues with the writing-style and technical execution. However, the characters are enjoyable, the storyline is fast-paced and engaging, and I’m looking forward to starting book two.

Cameo has a few dimensions to her character although she is very one-note throughout most of the book. I absolutely loved seeing her open up on those rare occasions with Opal and Kyrian. Not only is Cameo an assassin but she has supernatural abilities thanks to a near-death experience when she was younger. Being a vampire’s thrall and an assassin for the Association, Cameo doesn’t have much control over anything in her life. Killing is what she knows and what she does best and her personality mimics the distant and cold life of a killer. That is until she starts to care for the unruly company she has later on in the story. So even though she isn’t the most compelling character it’s really tough to rule her out as a great character.

Black Opal and Bellamy are two notorious highwaymen that Cameo comes across and actually starts to travel with despite her reluctance. The two of them really stand out when next to Cameo. Their personalities are loud and fun despite the fact that they are thieves and sometime killers. I think Opal is definitely my favorite character. He’s so full of himself and he’s incredibly weird but he’s so likeable.

My personal issue with the writing-style was nothing too major. I just found myself a bit confused during the novel. I felt there were occasions where the writing was incomplete or transitioned so abruptly that it didn’t quite fit. It wasn’t enough to deter from the actual story but it was enough to make me have to re-read certain parts. It felt as though there were passages missing and it left me a puzzled.

Overall I’m very impressed with the story Dawn has created. The pace is quick and enjoyable. There is tons of action that succeeds in not being over the top and over-detailed. And the teasing amount of romance is a great addition. I feel that Dawn’s got a lot up her sleeve concerning Cameo and I’m curious to see what she has in store for her readers.

P.S. (cover talk)

I like the details with the blood and making sure the cover model’s eye color stays true to Cameo’s.

ARC Review: Manifest

 

Manifest

Artist Arthur

Series or Stand Alone: Mystyx series, book one

Release Date: July 2010

Publisher: Harlequin Enterprises, Limited

Pages: 256

Author Site: http://www.artistarthurbooks.com/

My Rating: 3.25/5

Source: Won from giveaway from Shut Up! I'm Reading

Synopsis:

[from goodreads.com]

When fifteen-year-old Krystal Bentley moves to Lincoln, Connecticut, her mom's hometown, she assumes her biggest drama will be adjusting to the burbs after living in New York City.

But Lincoln is nothing like Krystal imagined. The weirdness begins when Ricky Watson starts confiding in her. He's cute, funny, a good listener—and everything she'd ever want—except that he was killed nearly a year ago. Krystal's ghost-whispering talents soon lead other "freaks" to her door—Sasha, a rich girl who can literally disappear, and Jake, who moves objects with his mind. All three share a distinctive birthmark in the shape of an M and, fittingly, call themselves the Mystyx. They set out to learn what really happened to Ricky, only to realize that they aren't the only ones with mysterious powers. But if Krystal succeeds in finding out the truth about Ricky's death, will she lose him for good?

Review:

Krystal is understandably filled with teenage angst. For starters, her mother divorced her father with no explanation and then remarried to a butthead with control issues. She's forced to move to nowhere, Connecticut and attend a new school. Oh, and she hears and sees dead people. Even though she hasn't heard one for quite a while, hitting fifteen has brought the ghosts back. Ricky has been murdered and he's relentless in his pursuit of Krystal's help. Of course, Krystal is afraid. But as time goes by she notices how cute, funny, and nice Ricky is. Too bad he's dead...

Ghosts aren't the only issue in Krystal's life. Along with her family problems, two kids at school have taken quite an interest in her and her mysterious birthmark; a birthmark they all seem to share. Krystal soon discovers that she isn't the only "freak" in Lincoln. They all share some powerful and supernatural abilities that may help solve Ricky's murder. It also may shed some light on why the teens have never really felt normal.

Although it’s been a couple of months since she first moved to Lincoln, she has no friends or acquaintances for that matter. She basically ignores or pushes all interactions with people away. Her days are really just get up, go to school, don’t talk to anyone, eat lunch while listening to music, go home, go to room, eat with family (maybe), go back to room, and sleep. Fuuuun. So despite being a brat about life I still found myself somewhat empathetic towards her. She wasn’t a favorite character of mine but one that I certainly cared about at times. Especially towards the end, when reality smacked her in the face, she got her act somewhat together. It was nice to see her attitude change and things start to go more smoothly for her because I did feel bad for her at times. She was given the poop end of the stick in some aspects.

I didn’t like that she was so infatuated with Ricky. I mean I didn’t mind the fact that she was, I just didn’t see the cause of her swooning over the kid. Her interactions with him were hardly crush-worthy and the boy’s dead for another matter, not that I frown upon relationships with ghosts. I thought their relationship could have been worked on more because I assumed going into the book that it would be this tragic romantic thing between the two…and it really wasn’t. Ricky wasn’t a bad character or anything; he was just more of a background character in my eyes.

Sasha and Jake, the other Mystyx members, are interesting. It was funny to see Sasha’s personality change…funny and weird. She was nice one minute, pissed the next; aggressive and friendly, the girl is a roller coaster. Jake is mysterious. Not a lot of light was shed on him but that only makes me want to know more about him. I like his protective streak. He seems sweet but guarded. I’m interested in seeing both of their stories in the upcoming books.

The entire Mystyx supernatural idea was interesting. The fact that storms/weather and Krystal’s new hometown have a lot to do with the trio’s power was a cool touch. I’m intrigued to know more about their powers because they seem to grow and/or evolve as time goes by. I like the fact that each of the members has a colored theme: Krystal is blue, Sasha is pink, and Jake is green. Their powers make their matching birthmarks glow a distinctive color and I’m a nerd and like that sort of thing.

So overall, Manifest was pretty okay. I enjoyed it enough to want to continue on with Sasha’s story.

P.S. (cover talk)

Not a lot going on but it’s still an okay cover. I like the smoky effect and the blue is a nice touch (see above for nerdy color love). It’s pretty but a little on the boring side.

Review: In Dreams Begin

In Dreams Begin

Skyler White

Series or Stand Alone: Harrowing series, book two [Separate stories in the same world]

Release Date: November 2010

Publisher: Berkley Trade

Pages: 375

Author Site: http://www.skylerwhite.com/

My Rating: 3.25/5

Source: Received for review from author

Synopsis:

[from goodreads.com]

“Close your eyes tightly—tightly—and keep them closed . . .”
From a Victorian Ireland of magic, poetry and rebellion, Ida Jameson, an amateur occultist, reaches out for power, but captures Laura Armstrong, a modern-day graphic artist instead. Now, for the man or demon she loves, each woman must span a bridge through Hell and across history . . . or destroy it.

“Every passionate man is linked with another age, historical or imaginary, where alone he finds images that rouse his energy.” W. B. Yeats.

Anchored in fact on both sides of history, Laura and Ida, modern rationalist and fin de siècle occultist, are linked from the moment Ida channels Laura into the body of celebrated beauty and Irish freedom-fighter Maud Gonne. When Laura falls—from an ocean and a hundred years away—passionately, Victorianly in love with the young poet W. B. Yeats, their love affair entwines with Irish history and weaves through Yeats’s poetry until Ida discovers something she wants more than magic in the subterranean spaces in between.

With her Irish past threatening her orderly present and the man she loves in it, Laura and Yeats—the practical materialist and the poet magus—must find a way to make love last over time, in changing bodies, through modern damnation, and into the mythic past to link their pilgrim souls . . . or lose them forever.
 

Review:

 
 
Skyler White's writing has a unique lyrical quality to it. After reading and Falling, Fly (read my review here) last year I noticed how mind-consuming her words could be. When I say that I mean her writing really engages a reader's mind. I've found some people don't like that quality while other's really seem to like it. So basically, you either like her style of writing or you don't. I enjoyed and Falling, Fly. It was entirely different than books I've read before and the plot line was so interesting and well-written. In Dreams Begin has the same lyrical quality that makes the writing flow like music or poetry...however, I found I didn't quite enjoy this novel as much as her first.

I'm not too familiar with W.B. Yeats, Maude Gonne, their lives or the history of Ireland...so I was going into this novel with not a lot of expectations. The synopsis sounded pretty interesting so I didn't feel like their was anything to lose. And while I didn't fall in love with the book it still had a lot of great aspects that made me enjoy reading.

The story is about Laura, a modern day woman, who wakes up on her wedding night in an Irish freedom fighter's body about one hundred years in the past. Ida Jameson is dreadfully plain and easily overlooked. She desperately wants to become apart of the occult world and be accepted as an equal if not master of the craft. It is when she and her friend, Maud Gonne, start to experiment that she calls Laura's soul into Maud's body. After realizing her mistake, Ida sees a chance to gain acceptance and knowledge from the occult leaders. She sets out to use her newly acquired "friend" to prove her power.

But when that doesn't work Ida quickly becomes somewhat unbalanced. She is soon consumed by a dark need to have the very things she can never really possess: Maud's beauty, a place in the occult world, or the handsome daemon she falls in love with in Hell. I found I really became engrossed in Ida's story. She's entirely wicked but I almost felt pity for her. She is a cruel and desperate woman but really only wants to know things. I believe it is her passion for learning that destroys the kindness in her and drives her to the unhappy fate that awaits her.

While Ida spirals into the twisted path of the occult, Laura (in Maud's body) meets and falls in love with W.B. Yeats. Thus begins a love affair that lasts decades in Yeats' time period but only days for Laura. The time-traveling aspect of the novel was entirely interesting. I mean I'm not too familiar with time-travel fiction but I thought it was such a great and unique addition to the story. Although the love between Laura and Yeats was somewhat selfish in my opinion, I still found it heart-breaking that so much time separated the two. And I say selfish only because Laura's new husband is entirely wonderful. He is very much in love Laura and ends up displaying it in great lengths during the story. So I did find myself somewhat angry at Laura at times. But who am I to judge love? No one can help who they fall in love with. And besides Laura does love her husband. She just happened to love two different men in two different time periods. *shrugs* Could happen to anyone =)

Maud is sort of just a "tool" in the story. Her body is used by Ida, Laura, and Yeats and while I didn't really love her personality I still think Maud got the crap end of the stick to put it bluntly. But like I said, Maud's character didn't really grab my attention anyway. I did find it hard to grasp the concept that Yeats and Laura could look past the fact that it was really Maud's body Laura was in while the two were together. I just think I'd have a tough time overlooking that little detail if I were in Laura's or Yeats' position.

I had much going on personally while reading In Dreams Begin so I think I didn't really come to appreciate the novel for what it was. I had trouble grasping certain things and found my brain just wouldn't quite connect with some of the passages. But I still enjoyed it very much and I think a re-reading is in order sometime in the future. Skyler White delivers another uniquely written story that promises quite an experience. I have no problem recommending this along with her earlier novel and Falling, Fly. It will definitely be a journey for you.

Review: Dismissed with Prejudice

Dismissed with Prejudice

Fletcher Cockrell

Series or Stand Alone: Stand Alone

Release Date: January 2010

Publisher: Publish America

Pages: 336

Author Bio: http://www.phenixpublicity.com/storage/author-bio-pdf/Fletcher_Cockrell_bio.pdf

My Rating: 3.25/5

Source: Received for review from Phenix & Phenix Publicity

Synopsis:

[from goodreads.com]

Dismissed with Prejudice is a legal drama that deals with the dark side of a powerful university, major college sports and state government. At the urging of a wealthy businessman and booster with mafia ties, an assistant coach is fired under false pretenses. Landon Duhon, a small town lawyer, reads about it in the paper and becomes suspicious. It's the third assistant in the last seven years fired by the same multi-million-dollar head coach, a political schmoozer and philanderer. Duhon sends his colleague to investigate and slowly uncovers layer upon layer of fraud, corruption and backroom deals. The assistant's career is over regardless of the outcome, but he decides to sue for wrongful termination, setting in motion a legal battle that escalates into threats, violence and murder. The novel is a classic "little guy against the system" story with insight into the bureaucracy, legal environment, and corrupting influence of money in the university and political arena.

Review:

Dismissed with Prejudice is definitely not the kind of book I've read before. Money always seems to be the driving force in everything nowadays and collegiate sports is no exception. The corrupted politics of college basketball and the consequences it has on players, coaches, assistant coaches, universities, and even the cities in which the teams reside in are the key aspects of the story. Set in southeastern Louisiana at LSU, the novel portrays the state of Louisiana as the powerful, strong, and corrupt state that it is renowned for. At LSU, where the university sports are a religion unto themselves, assistant basketball coach Craig Frazier is being fired for "cooked up" NCAA violations. Being the third or fourth assisant coach fired for similar infractions in so many years, small town lawyer Landon Duhon becomes suspicious. Little does he know that when he approaches Frazier to represent him that he opens up the biggest can of worms that LSU, the NCAA, and the state of Louisiana has ever seen.

It's hard to pinpoint the main character of the novel because there are so many strong characters that are important to the plot and layout of the story. Head coach Tom Boyd is fierce and will do anything to have the best players on his team. He relies heavily on his friend Victor Banelli to get him what he needs for his team to be successful and to make the players happy. And Vic is an extremely wealthy guy with a lot of connections and he doesn't let the word illegal get in his way when he's after what he wants. Landon is definitely one of the important players to this story. He is relentless and although he may cross the legal line when it comes to gathering evidence he is basically a good guy. His drive to help out Craig is both humble and downright ruthless. Overall the remaining characters fit their profile well. Bad guys were sleazy and easily unlikeable. The women of the story were somewhat one-dimensional and remained backups to the men, which wasn't too terrible.

Even though I found the author's story telling and character descriptions somewhat different I still enjoyed it. I did feel I was being told a story rather than experience it through descriptive passages and well thought out character interactions. I admit I was tired of seeing all of the exclamation points that the author seemed to favor as well.  Minor quirks in a decently written novel didnt stop the fact that there were some really great things I enjoyed while reading. I admit I didn't feel a personal connection with any of the characters I still came to really like some of them as I got into the meat of the novel.

I'm not a huge sports fan however the blurb of this novel grabbed my attention. I'm not sorry I read Dismissed with Prejudice because I really loved the ending and most of the novel was a good read. Even though the book had some problems and even though I had to force myself through some of the parts I still recommend the novel. Sports fans (especially college basketball) will definitely enjoy it but the novel also offers up some legal drama, suspense, and interpersonal conflicts that I personally enjoy reading. I even think this would make a decent TV made movie...I know I'd probably watch it!

The Transformation of Bartholomew Fortuno - ARC Review

The Transformation of Bartholomew Fortuno

Ellen Bryson

Series or Stand Alone: Stand Alone

Release Date: June 2010

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.

Pages: 400 (352 ARC version)

Author Site: http://www.ellenbryson.com/

My Rating: 3.25/5

Source: Received for review from publisher

Synopsis:

[from goodreads.com]

Water for Elephants meets Geek Love in this riveting first novel, an enchanting love story set in P. T. Barnum's American Museum in 1865 New York City.

Bartholomew Fortuno, the World's Thinnest Man, believes that his unusual body is a gift. Hired by none other than P. T. Barnum to work at his spectacular American Museum—a modern marvel of macabre displays, breathtaking theatrical performances, and live shows by Barnum's cast of freaks and oddities—Fortuno has reached the pinnacle of his career. But after a decade of constant work, he finds his sense of self, and his contentment within the walls of the museum, flagging. When a carriage pulls up outside the museum in the dead of night, bearing Barnum and a mysterious veiled woman—rumored to be a new performer—Fortuno's curiosity is piqued. And when Barnum asks Fortuno to follow her and report back on her whereabouts, his world is turned upside down. Why is Barnum so obsessed with this woman? Who is she, really? And why has she taken such a hold on the hearts of those around her?

Set in the New York of 1865, a time when carriages rattled down cobblestone streets, raucous bordellos near the docks thrived, and the country was mourning the death of President Lincoln, The Transformation of Bartholomew Fortuno is a moving novel about human appetites and longings. With pitch-perfect prose, Ellen Bryson explores what it means to be profoundly unique—and how the power of love can transcend even the greatest divisions.

Review:

 
THE TRANSFORMATION OF BARTHOLOMEW FORTUNO was a very enjoyable read for me. I haven’t read many historic novels as of yet so it was exciting to find a book set in the past that I had no problem with reading. It’s 1865 in New York right around the time President Lincoln was assassinated. The story takes place in P.T. Barnum’s American Museum that housed some of the world’s most famous oddities and curiosities. Bartholomew Fortuno is the world’s thinnest man and has had a very successful career sharing his gift with the patrons that frequent the museum. But after a mysterious new act arrives Bartholomew’s entire outlook on life changes and he begins to question everything he’s believed in for so long.

I enjoyed the unique characters in the novel. I appreciated the way that Bryson not only portrayed them as oddities but included the beauty of their differences as well. Bartholomew was an interesting main character. Seeing him develop and his attitude change was over the course of the novel was definitely a journey. In the beginning, Bartholomew considers his extreme thinness as a gift. He considers all of his fellow curiosities to possess their own gifts as well. These gifts set them apart from the normal crowd; above them even. I think my favorite character was Matina. Her honesty and beauty shined every time she was in a scene and I suppose me being a little on the bigger side myself I admired her courage and her sense of self.

The atmosphere of the novel was well written and definitely believable. I didn’t feel bogged down by any unnecessary historical facts either which I suppose is what worries me when it concerns books that are written in a past time. The writing was smooth from beginning to an end with a pretty good finish to sum up the story. The ending wasn’t as dramatic as the plot led me to believe but it didn’t disappoint me all that much.

The only issue I had with the novel was the synopsis. I was expecting more of a love story in the novel, that’s basically what the back of the book is promising. However, it’s more a story of obsessions, which isn’t a bad thing just not necessarily what I thought I was getting into. Not only is Bartholomew obsessed with Iell, but his entire “gift” of being thin is based on an obsession as well. I found his obsession with Iell a little confusing. I understand how one can feel totally attracted to something or simply compelled to be around it without really understanding why they feel that way. However, I just couldn’t really connect with Bartholomew’s obsession. Either it wasn’t really explained or developed enough for my brain to get a grip on it. I did appreciate Ellen Bryson’s way of capturing his obsessions though. Obsession is so closely related to addiction and I think Bryson depicted Bartholomew’s actions very well. His obsessions were definitely borderline addictions.

I think many readers who enjoy the time period or subject matter will definitely like this book. If either factor is new to you I still recommend you give it a try.

Finding Marco

Finding Marco

Kenneth C. Cancellara

Series or Stand Alone: Stand Alone

Release Date: June 2010

Publisher: Synergy Books

Pages: 211

Book Site: http://www.findingmarco.com/

My Rating: 3.25/5

Source: Received for review from Phenix Publicity

Synopsis

[from goodreads.com]:

As a young boy, running through the mountain valleys of Italy, Mark Gentile dreams of success-the kind of success that happens in a boardroom, far away from the country life. So after graduating from law school, Mark quickly climbs the corporate and legal ladder, eventually becoming CEO of a leading auto manufacturer. But after butting heads with company leaders, Mark fears he has compromised his ethics. With his wife's blessing, Mark returns to Acerenza, his birthplace in southern Italy. While enjoying the leisurely pace of the new life he's found in his old home, however, Mark must make a decision: Should he abandon his roots for a second time and satisfy his innate hunger for the struggles and rewards of corporate life? Or should he embrace his native land and create a more balanced life for himself and his family?

Review:

FINDING MARCO was an enjoyable read. It was slow-paced but filled with vivid descriptions and a “homey” kind of writing style that was very easy to get lost in. Mark “Marco” Gentile has been successful all his life after his big move to Canada with his family as a child. He graduates from law school top of his class and spends many years as a successful lawyer. Mark eventually finds a niche as a CEO of a top North American auto manufacturer. But shortly after taking over, the business strategy of the company is up for debate and Mark’s views disagree with those of the company leaders. So instead of compromising his ethics and integrity he decides to resign from his position.

After resigning Mark heads back to Acerenza, Italy where he was born in hopes of finding something to help guide him into the next stage of his life. In Acerenza the corporate world seems to fade away as Mark immerses himself in the simplistic beauty of his birthplace. He comes back into contact with an old friend and finds the time to reflect on his life. Not really a mid-life crisis, Mark is struggling to come to terms with what to do now that he has achieved so much in his life already. Mark’s journey is a reflective one that I think most adult readers will come to appreciate and enjoy.

After reading a little of the author’s background, I can definitely see some similarities between him and Mark. Kenneth Cancellara has been through much of what his character has and successfully uses the events in his life to help shape Mark’s. Being a business major myself I found the first part of the novel extremely interesting. Mark’s corporate career dealing with business strategies and running a company involved things I had talked about earlier this year in college and I admit I liked knowing exactly what was going on. I wanted to mention the fact that that the first part of the novel is filled with business terms that some readers may find a little boring or overwhelming.

I also wanted to say that I did have some trouble personally connecting with Mark. Overall he was a very developed character. It might have been the fact that the story was in written in third-person, but I’m not too sure. I just felt distant from his character if that makes sense at all. And that’s just a personal thing I’m sure. Like I said, the book was enjoyable and so was Mark (along with the other characters). I think FINDING MARCO focuses more on the journey rather than the character taking it and because of that I think many readers will be able to find some part of Mark’s journey that they can connect with.

Viola in Reel Life

Viola in Reel Life

Adriana Trigiani

Series or Stand Alone: Stand Alone

Release Date: September 2009

Publisher: Harper Teen

Pages: 288

Author Site: http://www.adrianatrigiani.com/welcome.html

My Rating: 3.25/5

Source: Won in a giveaway from Princess Bookie

Synopsis

[from harperteen.com]:

I'm marooned.

Abandoned.

Left to rot in boarding school . . .

Viola doesn't want to go to boarding school, but somehow she ends up at an all-girls school in South Bend, Indiana, far, far away from her home in Brooklyn, New York. Now Viola is stuck for a whole year in the sherbet-colored sweater capital of the world.

Ick.

There's no way Viola's going to survive the year—especially since she has to replace her best friend Andrew with three new roommates who, disturbingly, actually seem to like it there. She resorts to viewing the world (and hiding) behind the lens of her video camera.

Boarding school, though, and her roommates and even the Midwest are nothing like she thought they would be, and soon Viola realizes she may be in for the most incredible year of her life.

But first she has to put the camera down and let the world in.

Review:

I’d definitely say winning this book was an awesome score for me! VIOLA IN REEL LIFE was a very sweet and charming read that definitely got me to appreciate and savor “slow-paced” writing. Although it didn’t take me long to finish the book, the story itself was a slow but very enjoyable journey. Viola’s growth and development throughout the novel was extremely clear as she matured with her experiences at Prefect Academy. Spending one’s freshman year in a brand new school miles and miles away from your home definitely leaves a lasting impression! But I think overall Viola handled leaving her comfort zone beautifully.

After her parents accept a job doing a documentary film in Afghanistan, Viola is shipped off to Indiana to attend a boarding school that her mother went to when she was in High School. Raised in Brooklyn and away from her BFFs, Viola must somehow learn to cope in her new environment. I really enjoyed reading about Viola’s love for cinematography. I’m so jealous of people who have a hobby or interest that they are passionate about because I myself don’t really have one. Film making is so important to Viola that even at fourteen she knows exactly the career she’ll have when she’s older.
Her three roommates all have very distinct personalities that I really added life into the story. I was so glad when Viola broke out of her shell somewhat and started to warm up to them. The relationship between the girls soon blossomed into a sisterhood of sorts that made the happy feeling of the book genuine. I must admit somewhere in my review that I can’t honestly recall being fourteen or most of my years in High School…but I really enjoyed trying to remember what it was like for me at Viola’s age. I know my experiences weren’t the same but it helped put things in perspective when Viola was acting a little too immature for me in the book =)

And I also want to add that the ending somewhat disappointed me. It was like watching a good movie and not having everything wrap up satisfactorily. I suppose it could be an opening to a sequel maybe, which I wouldn’t mind at all. But who knows?

Overall, I enjoyed this coming of age novel and I’m looking forward to reading more of Adriana Trigiani’s work. A big thank you to her as well for signing my copy! It put a big ole’ smile on my face when I received the copy from the giveaway!

Day 388 - Rising Shadow

Rising Shadow

Jacquelyn Wheeler

Series or Stand Alone: Book one in the Soterian series

Release Date: September 2009

Publisher: Jacquelyn Wheeler

Pages: 378

Author Site: http://www.soterians.com/Home.html

My Rating: 3.25/5

Source: Copy provided by author

Synopsis [from createspace.com]:

Ashlyn Woods just transferred to one of the most beautiful campuses on the west coast, where she can't wait to start her life over as a normal college student. But her plans take an unexpected turn when she discovers that she is a Soterian: a person who develops amazing powers when the balance of good and evil shifts too far in evil's favor.

Soon she and the other Soterians are studying martial arts and learning to use their powers to prevent California from being plunged into chaos. But they quickly discover that they're up against a much more dangerous enemy than they anticipated.

And when Ashlyn meets Kai, a devastatingly gorgeous guitar player, she realizes she must sacrifice more than she ever imagined.

Review:

RISING SHADOW incorporates a fun and unique twist to its paranormal theme. Ashlyn and the characters she meet are all college-aged and have much more in common then just attended the same school or living in the same area. They are all part of a team called the Soterians. Ashlyn must find a way to make friends, pass all her classes, not be homesick, and save the world with newly discovered powers before the balance between good and evil tips too much in evil's favor.

I like the fact that in Ashlyn's world no one can ever truly defeat evil...however the balance can be returned to it's rightful place. The Soterians must discover who is behind the source and an interesting fact is that the villians are not paranormal "bad-guys" that need an obscene amount of magic skill or what-not to overcome.While the villians in this story are absolutely tough to beat they are surprisingly realisitc - i.e. politicians and terrorists. It was a nice and refreshing change to evil vampires or rogue hunters, etc.

I was also quite fascinated with the Soterian powers that Jacquelyn came up with. How the Soterian team works and what powers belong to which character. I freely admit it was one of the best and most fun parts about the book. One thing I wasn't quite feeling in the book was Ashlyn and Kai's relationship and how fast it seemed to develop. I'm all for falling in love quickly, I mean I of all people understand that you can't control your feelings or how fast they can develop. However, I would have liked to see their relationship actually develop and blossom. I think I would have appreciated their feelings a little bit more.

Overall I had a lot of fun reading RISING SHADOW, I'm definitely looking forward to seeing the next installment into the Soterian world.

Day 378 - The Sugarless Plum

The Sugarless Plum

Zippora Karz

Series or Stand Alone: Stand Alone

Release Date: November 2009

Publisher: Harlequin

Pages: 288

Author Site: http://zipporakarz.com/

My Rating: 3.25/5

Source: Copy provided by publisher

Synopsis [from fsbmedia.com]:

It started as the perfect story. Zippora Karz was a member of the famed New York City Ballet by the age of eighteen. By twenty she was starring as the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, dancing roles created by Jerome Robbins, and traveling the world.

It was the stuff dreams are made of until, at age twenty-one, Karz became exhausted, dizzy and excessively thirsty. Heavy pancake makeup covered the sores under her arms that would not heal, but she neglected to go to the doctor. When she finally did, she was diagnosed with diabetes, and learned that if she continued to ignore her symptoms, she risked heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, blindness and amputation of her toes, feet and legs. She struggled to get the correct diagnosis and treatment, first thinking she had Type-2 diabetes, when in fact she had Type 1, juvenile diabetes. Once placed on an insulin regimen to regulate her blood sugar, she would inject herself with unsafe doses before going on stage in misguided attempts to obtain peak performance. The potentially fatal result of Karz's self-experimentation became all too real when she nearly lost consciousness. Her weight dropped and she became dangerously ill.

Balancing ballet and her blood sugar would be a long and difficult struggle for Karz, but eventually she learned to value her body and work with it, rather than rage at its limitations. In The Sugarless Plum, Karz shares her journey from denial, shame and miseducation about her illness to how she led an active, balanced and satisfying life as an insulin-dependent diabetic and soloist with one of the world's most famous ballet companies. Through her fascinating story, those struggling with diabetes and other serious illnesses can find encouragement and inspiration as well as practical advice on achieving physical and emotional wellness.

After sixteen years with the New York City Ballet, Karz retired and took her passion and skills into a whole new arena as a diabetes educator and advocate, where today she inspires people to not just manage their illness, but to thrive and fulfill their passions. The Sugarless Plum takes readers deep into the heart and soul of a young dancer, and is a remarkable testament to determination and perseverance.

Review:

THE SUGARLESS PLUM is a powerful story that will reach out to those who suffer from diabetes and even touch those who have never encountered it on a personal level. Zippora's struggles are portrayed honestly and with a lot of emotion as she re-tells the story of her younger years, her ballet career, and struggling to balance her life with her diagnosis. She not only shares her personal and professional life to readers but she reaches out to others with diabetes by providing resource materials near the end of the book.

Zippora is well known for her portrayal of the Sugar Plum Fairy in Tchaikovsky's THE NUTCRACKER from 1983-1999 at the New York City Ballet where she became a soloist. She goes into detail about the joys, the hard work, and even the pain that all ballet dancers must go through. It really is a physical and emotional battle to be a ballerina and I had no idea. Learning more about these different kinds of athletes was extremely eye opening.

This memior isn't just a story of a woman surviving and living with diabetes. It's not about a talented dancer learning to overcome different obstacles in order to keep their career. THE SUGARLESS PLUM is more of an inspirational story that has the potential to touch and motivate any person that is facing any kind of life challenge. I think Zippora describes things best when she says, "My story is about living a full life, and not letting obstacles defeat you and dissuade you from following your heart."

You can download and read and excerpt by clicking here!

Day 273 - Dancing With Ana

Dancing With Ana

Nicole Barker

Series or Stand Alone: Stand Alone

Release Date: August 2009

Publisher: The Golden Road Press

Pages: 240

Book Site: http://www.dancingwithana.com/

My Rating: 3.25/5

Synopsis:

Beth is a lucky girl…

She comes from a loving family. She has three best friends. She loves to surf and lives five minutes from the beach. She also recently discovered that the boy she’s grown up with has the most amazing green eyes…Beth has every reason to smile. Every reason to be happy. Every reason to feel blessed.

Then why is she sticking her fingers down her throat?

Sixteen year old Beth Baxter’s life merely resembles the one she’s always known. Her father has left. She is falling for Jeremy Duscana and the diet she started has somehow turned into an obsession. Yet her three best friends remain the same, always there for her.

But even their love can’t save her from herself.

Dancing With Ana. A story about the journey to acceptance of one’s own reality, the incredible bond that exists between friends and a love that truly endures all things.

Review:

Beth and her three best friends have decided to go on a diet after admiring one of the prettiest girls in school. Maybe they should lose a couple of pounds… The girls decide to go on a diet. They’ll cut back on what they eat, drink a lot more water to stay full, and stick together. Losing the extra baggage will not only make them look and feel better but they’ll get way more attention.

But the diet turns into something far worse, especially for Beth. She’s already having a tough time at home. Her father left Beth, her brother, and her mother for his much younger secretary about a year ago and is slowly pushing Beth and her brother out of his life. Beth struggles to come to terms that she may have lost her father. On top of her father issue, and her controlling diet, she starts to realize her growing feeling towards her best guy friend Jeremy (who I really liked, btw). Not the greatest time to have a ginormous crush on someone she’s known forever.

The other girls, Rachel especially, have some light shown on them as glimpses of their lives come into the story. I wanted a little bit more with them. I think it definitely wouldn’t have hurt to delve further into their lives. However, I’m thinking this story belonged more to Beth, so I understand.

Beth was a very real and endearing character. I could see her losing control of her eating habits and her life without her noticing it. It was entirely believable to see how a few pounds could turn into more and inevitably never be good enough. When she had to hide things from her mother and Jeremy it bothered her but became easier with each little lie she told. It was very realistic and made me think what an excellent Lifetime movie this would make! (Yes, I have a thing for Lifetime movies lol)

The only thing I had a problem with (and it could just be my bitter fat girl self speaking) was the fact that these girls were all small in the first place. It just bothers me, on a personal level, when (already) thin girls think they need to lose weight. Being active and staying in shape is entirely different. These girls thought they needed to lose weight to be beautiful. And I know many young women and older women alike sometimes think this way so I can totally understand why Barker wrote her characters the way that she did. I know I’ve looked at plenty of other women and wanted to be thin – like them, thinking that would make beautiful. So I appreciate Nicole Barker’s honesty with her characters.

I wasn’t thrilled with the writing. I just wanted…more in so many different areas. However, I think Nicole Barker has some great potential and I found myself pretty satisfied after closing the book. I admire the steps she took in taking on the teen issues that she did. It has a lot to offer and I think DANCING WITH ANA would be an excellent choice for all teens. I look forward to seeing what she will come up with next.

Day 257 - Water Witch

Water Witch

Deborah LeBlanc

Series or Stand Alone: Stand Alone

Release Date: September 2008

Publisher: Leisure Books (Dorchester Publishing)

Pages: 290 (Mass Market Paperback)

Author Site: http://www.deborahleblanc.com/

My Rating: 3.25/5

Synopsis [from author site]:

Dunny knew from an early age what it meant to be an outsider. Her special abilities earned her many names, like freak and water witch. So she vowed to keep her powers a secret.

Now, though, her talents may be the only hope for two missing children. A young boy and girl have vanished, feared lost in the mysterious bayous of Louisiana. But they didn’t just disappear; they were taken. By something far more dangerous than the ghosts and spirits living in the swamp. Something with very special plans for the children—and for anyone who dares to interfere . . .

Review:

Dunny Pollock is a pretty normal gal. She's stresses about paying her bills and dealing with her deadlines at work as a freelance writer. She has a stray dog that keeps scratching at her door and she doesn't have the heart to shoo it away. So instead, she feeds the scraggly thing and even gives the little moocher a name. But there is something different about Dunny. Because of an extra finger on her left hand, she has been given many names in her younger years - like freak and water witch. How can an extra finger cause so much grief?

Well, Dunny's little finger has given her strange abilities. If she concentrates hard enough the extra appendage allows her to find things. It's helped her find water, oil, keys and even her sister's cat. Most of the time her finger gets warm and points Dunny in the right direction. Except when it came to her sister's cat the finger turned ice cold because it turned out the cat was dead.

So ever since that episode Dunny has tried to keep her secret to herself. But she'll have to use her ability when her sister calls on her for help. Angelle is a school teacher in a small Lousiana town. She's worried about two of her children that have dissapeared into the swamp. Dunny may be the only one that can help. But no one knows what's really going on deep in the swamp. A shaman-like ritual gone wrong produces an evil supernatural presence that permeates the town.

The premise itself is alright, but I really enjoyed LeBlanc's characters. Dunny has a very laid back personality. Despite her problems, I feel like she knows how to handle things. After arriving in Louisana, she meets Angelle's mother-in-law, Poochie. Now this lady sure is a character. At first I found her quite annoying, a batty old woman that was a little off her hinges. But her Cajun accent and quirky outbursts really grew on me. Her character development was particularly well-done because towards the end the reader can see a glimpse of who Poochie is despite her old age.

This is my first LeBlanc novel and I must admit I thoroughly enjoyed her simple story telling and the way she wove horror elements with paranomral thrills. I'll definitely be picking up some of her other books.

Day 205 - The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening

The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening

L.J. Smith

Series or Stand Alone: The Vampire Diaries Series, book one

Release Date: June 26, 2007 (Omnibus Edition)

Publisher: Harperteen (Originally published by Harper in paperback - September, 1991)

Pages: 253 (Omnibus Edition)

My Rating: 3.25/5

Synopsis [from bn.com]:

A Love Triangle of Unspeakable Horror...

Elena: Searching for the ultimate thrill, she vowed to have Stefan.

Stefan:Haunted by his tragic past, he struggled to resist her passion.

Damon:Driven by revenge, he hunted the brother who betrayed him.

The terrifying story of two vampire brothers and the beautiful girl torn between them.

Review:

Elena has just returned home from her European vacation. It's the beginning of her senior year in High School in Fells Church, Virginia and she's looking forward to returning to her rightful place as the "Queen Bee". But it's quickly apparent that things aren't going to be the same this year...

First off, it seems Elena is just plain bored with the boys around her. She can never seem to feel that "extra something" with any of them, including her most recent try, Matt. Although he's sweet and not at all the arrogant jerk that most other boys seem to be, Elena just feels there's no solid connection. Matt is just a friend, she needs something more... And this year there is a new student: Stefan. A mysterious and darkly handsome guy that just transferred in from Italy.

Elena is immediately attracted to Stefan and sets out after him like the tigress she seems to be. But no matter what she does, her mojo magic seems to be falling flat. Stefan remains aloof throughout Elena's many attempts to get his attention. This only makes Elena more determined to have him. She starts plotting a plan with her girlfriends, sweet Bonnie and sensible Meredith (who I really like for some reason). But while Elena's mind is constantly on Stefan and her plans to obtain him, some mysterious attacks start to happen.

Stefan ends up giving in to Elena as the story reveals his reasons for being so standoffish... I'll end my summary there for those who have yet to read it but just be careful for future reviews. I tend to write them assuming the book before was already read.

So I had a tough time liking Elena. Popular, privileged, beautiful, and just totally self-centered, she definitely didn't get any sympathy from me when she was brushed off by Stefan. I couldn't belive the way this girl thinks. She was just flat out appalled that the world didn't revolve around her. I admit that I somehow ended up getting used to Elena and how her brain worked. I don't like it but I guess that doesn't really matter.

I do like Stefan however, his story and his struggle to find a place to call home really sat well with me. From the background information of Stefan's past I was introduced to Damon and how crappy he was as a human. Now a vampire, like his brother, I'm sure he hasn't changed. It seems I'll have no problem loving Stefan and loving to hate Damon.

Although Elena's character really dragged the score down on the book, I gotta say I enjoyed it. Even if I didn't have the omnibus edition, I would still have picked up book two, The Struggle. I'm already well into it and liking it =)

Day 195 - Strange Angels [ARC Review]

Strange Angels

Lili St. Crow

Series or Stand Alone: Strange Angels Series, book one

Release Date: May 14, 2009

Synopsis [from penguin.com]:

Dru Anderson has what her grandmother called “the touch.” (Comes in handy when you’re traveling from town to town with your dad, hunting ghosts, suckers, wulfen, and the occasional zombie.)

Then her dad turns up dead—but still walking—and Dru knows she’s next. Even worse, she’s got two guys hungry for her affections, and they’re not about to let the fiercely independent Dru go it alone. Will Dru discover just how special she really is before coming face-to-fang with whatever—or whoever— is hunting her?

Review:

I haven't read any of Lili St. Crow's other novels yet but they are on my list and I'll get to them eventually. So I'm not familiar with her writing but I felt Strange Angels was a pretty good start to this YA series.

I found myself a little hesitant about Dru in the beginning. Her and her father have been jumping around from place to place ever since her Gran died. He's a hunter of all paranormal entities that go bump in the night and has been doing so every since Dru's mother died years ago. Dru is slowly learning what she can about hunting since her father only allows her to tag along sometimes as back up. She's got a gift, kinda like a sixth sense, or the "touch" as her Gran likes to call it. She does have skills in fighting and knows how to use a gun. But at sixteen, she's pretty much mad at the world when she's introduced. Having to jump from school to school so many times she longs to be normal.

At school Dru tries to remain as aloof as possible. It doesn't help much when she meets Graves, a half-Asian goth kid who wants to befriend her despite her reluctance. She tries to push him away but he's one persistent boy. Kinda like a stray puppy that keeps begging, Graves just doesn't refuses to take "No" for an answer. Despite all that there's just something about him that calls to Dru. It may be the fact that she just longs for a friend to confide in, but how can she possible tell Graves anything about her life?

Tragedy strikes after Dru's dad doesn't come home after one of his solo missions. Dru is left on her own and quickly becomes a target for all the paranormal boogiemen. She ends up relying on Graves whether she wants to or not. And Graves becomes deeply involved after he gets bit by a werewulf. So they are pretty much stuck together and Dru continuously blames herself for Graves' predicament.

Later on they are helped by Christophe, a half-breed vampire called a djamhir, who knows more about Dru than she could ever imagine. She doesn't want to trust him but he seems determined to look out for her... And it is here where I will stop with the summary and leave the rest for you to find out =) Evil I know lol

I do want to say that the beginning really didn't do a lot for me. While I liked the story, I didn't really get into it until the last third of the book when Christophe was introduced. Not that he was my favorite character - I just felt the story really came alive in the last part. While I didn't love the novel I'm probably going to be picking up Betrayals which comes out in November.

Day 146 - Hunted

Hunted

P.C. & Kristin Cast

Series or Stand Alone: House of Night series, book five

Synopsis: [from bn.com]

The good news: Zoey’s friends have her back again and Stevie Rae and the red fledglings aren’t Neferet’s secrets any longer. The bad news: Ancient evil with the face of an angel has been let loose – that and various other nasties (whose faces aren’t so angelic). Grandma Redbird is in trouble. Heath is in trouble. The House of Night is in trouble. Okay, let’s face it – Zoey’s whole world is in trouble! But when the trouble comes from a being who appears to be beauty personified, will the world believe it? Especially when only a teenager and a group of misfits are the only ones who really understand the danger he brings. Will Zoey have the strength and wisdom to reveal the truth? Especially when, in the House of Night, the truth is often hard to come by…

Review:

Hunted picks up right where Untamed leaves off with Zoey Redbird and her friends escaping the House of Night and into the tunnels beneath the streets of Tulsa. After Neferet releases Kalona back into the world - all hell seems to break loose. Her best friend, Stevie Rae, is with her in the tunnels along with the other red fledglings. The number of red fledglings actually surprised me and I really wished the they were talked about a little more. I'm sure more details will come in the upcoming books. One red fledgling does get some light though. Kramisha and her gift of poetry comes into play as everyone realizes that they are like puzzling prophecies. Some of them may even tell of a way to make Kalona flee the House of Night.

Speaking of Kalona: he does sound crazy gorgeous. But even gorgeous people can be evil. And speaking of evil: Neferet is definitely no longer the loving mentor she once was. The evil duo have come to power and are slowly making plans to fully take over the House of Night and possibly Tulsa itself. Kalona's grotesquely winged children, the raven mockers, are everywhere. Zoey finds herself wounded by one of them and must return to the House of Night. After arriving, Zoey and her friends come to realize that everyone is under Kalona's magic and are totally infatuated with him. The students, and even the faculty, cannot see the corrupted power that Kalona and Neferet possess.

Without spoiling the story further I want to discuss Zoey and her ever growing boy problems. While I sympathized with her when she was involved with Loren, I'm actually growing a tad bit annoyed that she can so easily move from each of the male characters. I can see why she likes Heath, Eric, and Stark (who does return to the story, yay!) individually. But I found myself wanting to scream at her throughout the story. They all have their good qualities, along with the bad. But she seriously needs to pick a guy and stick with him. That's how life is! You can't have them all, n0 matter how much you want them. She's only going to continue hurting herself and the guys too. I don't want to see Zoey end up alone, but I keep feeling that's where she's headed. I like them all too, but it's just not fair for her to be so indecisive. I don't want to be too hard on her though, teenage love is complicated - actually love in general is complicated!

Another point I wanted to address is Aphrodite. I've really come to like her! At least she's found someone. And even though she's human (and still bitchy at times) she doesn't let that keep her down. I found myself really loving her smart-ass comments and her personality as a whole. And I'm totally jealous of her and Darius. He actually sounds like a winner! I do wish there was more emphasis on Zoey's friends: the twins, Damien, Jack and even Erik and Heath. Sometimes the dialogue just isn't enough and while I do get a sense of their personalities from the dialogue I wanted to see a little more into who they were.

I love this series! I find it so hard to not want to continue with Zoey and her story. However, I found myself disappointed with most of the book. The ending made up for it though and I'm eagerly awaiting book six, Tempted, which comes out in October of 2009.

Day 119 - Ariel's Journey

Ariel's Journey

Doug Kane and Christy Wood

Series or Stand Alone: The Ice Horse Adventures, book one

Synopsis: [from book cover]

Five very different young women sent to the woods to learn about Icelandic horses; beautiful, fluffly, stocky horses with an uncanny ability to survive harsh climates and dangerous terrain. But this summer camping trip reveals their true power - the horses and their young riders travel centuries into the past to save the village of their ancestors.

Uncovering amazing abilities, the girls and their horses work together to challenge a ruthless enemy, rescue a young princess, and realize their destinies include a prophecy only they can fulfill.

Will the girls develop the trust and friendship necessary to battle together? Are the horses going to survive a battle plan sure to end in disaster? Can the young princess be saved before the evil chieftain destroys her? Can true love cross the distance of 800 years? Their very lives will depend on the magic only the Ice Horses can provide, and the courage within their hearts.

Review:

A very fun and light read, Ariel's Journey took me on an adventure that was both enjoyable and informative. The story first starts out as a teen rivalry but soon turns into a tale of magic, friendship, courage, and loyalty. All of these elements are wrapped around the authors' love of horses which clearly shows in the characters and their actions. I think horses are beautiful animals and it was a lot of fun to learn about Icelandic horses in particular, who may be smaller than other breeds but certainly have traits that make them unique.

After a confrontation between Emily and Andrea at an equestrian meeting, Emily's mother decides enough is enough. The girls obviously cannot get along, which will only cause trouble between all the 4-H members. So Karen decides to send her daughter on a trail ride along with Andrea and each of their sets of friends. She hopes that in having the ride unsupervised by adults, the teens will learn to tolerate each other enough to see past their differences. Karen isn't expecting a miracle where the two will become best friends, but she hopes they can mature a little.

The five girls that end up going reluctantly set out on the overnight ride and soon find themselves transported 800 years in the past to Iceland. Each of their "Iceys" have special abilities and can speak to the girls. The lead horse, Princessa, explains to them what has happened. It seems the horses and their young riders are needed to help save a princess and the Icelandic village of the horses' ancestors. It is in this part of the book that each of the girl's and horse's personalities come out. But the adventure really belongs to Ariel and her rider, Laura, as the two set out to rescue the princess on their own.

I recommend this to anyone with a love of horses and teen adventure but I do suggest it for the younger teen crowd, especially.

Book two, Princessa's Mission, is supposed to come out sometime this month.

You can find more information at the series' website by clicking here.

**Thank you J. Kaye for sending me this book to read.**