Review: The Orphan Queen by Jodi Meadows

The Orphan Queen by Jodi Meadows

Book One of The Orphan Queen series

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Publication Date: March 10, 2015

Rating: 4 stars

Source: ARC sent by the publisher

Summary (from Goodreads):

Wilhelmina has a hundred identities.

She is a princess. When the Indigo Kingdom conquered her homeland, Wilhelmina and other orphaned children of nobility were taken to Skyvale, the Indigo Kingdom’s capital. Ten years later, they are the Ospreys, experts at stealth and theft. With them, Wilhelmina means to take back her throne.

She is a spy. Wil and her best friend, Melanie, infiltrate Skyvale Palace to study their foes. They assume the identities of nobles from a wraith-fallen kingdom, but enemies fill the palace, and Melanie’s behavior grows suspicious. With Osprey missions becoming increasingly dangerous and their leader more unstable, Wil can’t trust anyone.

She is a threat. Wraith is the toxic by-product of magic, and for a century using magic has been forbidden. Still the wraith pours across the continent, reshaping the land and animals into fresh horrors. Soon it will reach the Indigo Kingdom. Wilhelmina’s magic might be the key to stopping the wraith, but if the vigilante Black Knife discovers Wil’s magic, she will vanish like all the others

Jodi Meadows introduces a vivid new fantasy full of intrigue, romance, dangerous magic, and one girl’s battle to reclaim her place in the world.

What I Liked:

Holy guacamole. This book. The ending. Oh my gosh. I literally just finished the book, so bear with me as I write this review. So... my review might not be thoroughly coherent. It might just be a bunch of flails. I might not even make it through the entire review. OH GOSH MY HEART.

Wil is an orphan, a princess - orphan queen - of Aecor. She and a ragtag group of orphans from Aecor are trying to take back Aecor. To do so, she and her friend Melanie masquerade as destitute nobles of Liadia, so that they can have refuge in the Skyvale Palace... and get information about Aecor, the armies of the Indigo Kingdom, anything useful that could aid the Ospreys (Wil and her group) in their attempt to reclaim Aecor. But little go as planned with the presence of wraith, Black Knife, and a danger against which even Wil cannot guard herself.

I love fantasy. I love epic fantasy. I love high fantasy. Basically, I love fantasy (if you couldn't already tell). It's my favorite genre, and I can't ever seem to get enough. I especially love fantasy in YA literature, because it's amazing and creative and wonderful, but not heavy and boring (like in adult fiction - in my opinion). Jodi Meadows masterfully creates the world in this book. Her writing is lush and rich, and her world-building is very thorough and imaginative. I had no problems picturing the towns, palace, and other locations in my mind. 

Wil is a very likable heroine. It was easy to root for her throughout the book, it was easy to see her side of things, it was easy to like her. She is brave and fierce, selfless and intelligent. I liked the way her mind works, the way she thought through things. She stood toe-to-toe with Patrick (the Aecor boy who saved her and other Aecor orphans), challenging his ruthless decisions. She never threw her title in any of the Ospreys' faces, but she always commanded authority when she felt necessary. She fought with Black Knife (the vigilante who has actually been killing wraith creatures, which is pretty noble). She pretended to be a dead noble for weeks, and did an excellent job of it. I really liked Wil, and I hope I continue liking her in this series!

There are so many amazing secondary characters in this novel! Wil's best friend, Melanie, accompanies her to the palace, also a dead noble. I liked Melanie, though I definitely questioned her loyalty and her being at times. There was Black Knife, a masked vigilante who is curious about Wil, and always seems to find her. There is James, the prince's cousin and guard, who is a great friend to Wil. He's hilarious, and very flirtatious and sweet. There is the prince himself, who is (as Wil says) "sour". I liked him though. The Ospreys - the orphans from Aecor who are helping Wil reclaim her kingdom. So many well-written, three-dimensional characters that I loved. 

This book is broken up into three parts. Wil goes to the palace with Melanie, to obtain necessary information for their plans. But there are things that Wil is curious about, like wraith in Liadia. Wil goes to investigate the fallen Liadian barrier, hoping that no one at the palace will question her feigned illness. I love that there is more than one plot in this book, more than one story. Wil needs to sneak around the palace, to get information. Wil is trying to find out more about wraith and the wraithlands. Wil is also leaving the palace at night, and sometimes tangles with Black Knife (meaning they fight and threaten each other, and possibly kill wraith creatures every now and then). There is a lot going on in this book, so you can't get bored... you might get bored with one part of the story (probably not though), and there is another part of the story to pick you up!

There IS romance in this book. I'm purposefully not saying much about the specifics, who is who. But I will say that I LOVE the romance. It's complicated, it's twisted, it's difficult - and what's new, when it comes to romance in fantasy novels? But there isn't a love triangle, there is no insta-love, and I have high hopes for the romance (though I probably should be more wary, for certain specific reasons).

The ending is AWFUL. Awful as in awfully heartbreaking. I hate the ending, but it definitely adds to the story, and I see why the author chose to end this book in such a way. It's cliffhanger-y, so if you hate those, perhaps you might be better off waiting until closer to book two's publication (in 2016?!). But then, we'll probably have to wait for a book three... reading and waiting for books is so difficult! ****EDIT: the author confirmed that there will only be two books in this series - a duology! So, not too much waiting.

What I Did Not Like:

This book loses an entire star from me because of the ending. The cliffhanger is so mean. Like I said above, I get it, but... it's a heartbreaking ending. And so this book gets one less star. Sorry not sorry.

Would I Recommend It:

I TOTALLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO EVERYONE! Fantasy lovers especially, but anyone who enjoys a well-written story (so like, all readers?). Just beware of the ending - it WILL break you. You might be better off waiting for a completed series (see my edit above though - there are only two books to this series!). But hey, I'm not trying to make anyone's decisions for them. I obviously couldn't wait to read this one, so, I'll just suffer quietly.

Rating:

4.5 stars -> rounded down to 4 stars. Because of that ending. I love/hate it. I love this book though. It's definitely a favorite so far (despite not earning a 5-star rating), and I can't wait to read the novellas, and the sequel novel! In 2016. Ugh.

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Review: The Winner's Crime by Marie Rutkoski

The Winner's Crime by Marie Rutkoski

Book Two of The Winner's Trilogy

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

Publication Date: March 3, 2015

Rating: 4 stars

Source: eARC from NetGalley

Summary (from Goodreads):

The engagement of Lady Kestrel to Valoria’s crown prince means one celebration after another. But to Kestrel it means living in a cage of her own making. As the wedding approaches, she aches to tell Arin the truth about her engagement…if she could only trust him. Yet can she even trust herself? For—unknown to Arin—Kestrel is becoming a skilled practitioner of deceit: an anonymous spy passing information to Herran, and close to uncovering a shocking secret.

As Arin enlists dangerous allies in the struggle to keep his country’s freedom, he can’t fight the suspicion that Kestrel knows more than she shows. In the end, it might not be a dagger in the dark that cuts him open, but the truth. And when that happens, Kestrel and Arin learn just how much their crimes will cost them.

What I Liked:

It has taken me an incredibly long time to write this review. When I initially finished the book, the first thought in my head was, "I am slain." Rutkoski, you are a wonderful and terrible person. This series will probably rip my heart to shreds - and I can't say I'll enjoy the process. This book and The Winner's Curse are AMAZING novels, beautifully written and frighteningly tragic, and I can't stop reading. It's one of those times when you KNOW things are just going to go straight downhill but you can't look away...

Kestrel is preparing to marry the son of the emperor, and there is ball after dinner after celebration. Kestrel plays a dangerous game with the emperor, risking her reputation and life to help the Herrani - not that Arin knows she's helping them. Arin is in the dark about what her motives are for marrying the prince - Kestrel lets Arin believe that she wants to marry him. Meanwhile, Arin is trying to gather support for the Herrani's cause. They may be free, but they will never be quite free from the emperor. With no ally in Kestrel (or so he thinks), Arin turns to other sources for alliances, even if it will kill him.

This book hurt. It hurt to read this one, from beginning to end. So much deception, lies, false betrayal, withholding information, failed explanations, guilt, pain, sadness, resignation, pain pain pain... this is one of those books that make you FEEL, but I wouldn't necessarily say in a good way. The hurting kind of feels, where your heart cracks and your soul splits and life is sad and sadder and really sad.

Kestrel lies to Arin. Arin doesn't understand, but he knows she's lying... until she tells lie after lie and he starts to believe her. This broke my heart. I haaaate deception, especially when it comes to the two protagonists. At one point, I seriously disliked Kestrel; how dare she hurt him so?! But then, the opposite can be said, in The Winner's Curse. It's like Arin and Kestrel enjoy hurting each other - but we know that isn't the case.

I like the growth of their relationship. Arin and Kestrel don't see each other many times in this book, but their thoughts revolve around each other. When either aren't scheming, they think about each other. Even when they ARE scheming, it's usually with the other person in mind. Arin loves Kestrel, but Kestrel wants to hide her feelings for Arin, because it will get him killed by the emperor. Kestrel lies to Arin constantly (when they DO see each other), but WE know why. ARIN doesn't.

A lot of time passes in this book, and a lot happens in the story. We get to know Kestrel better, Arin better, the prince better, even the emperor and the General. The emperor is ruthless and cruel, and doesn't hesitate to use the torture of prisoners to show Kestrel exactly what he is capable of. Kestrel's wedding is very close, by the end of the book - just to give you an idea of the time covered in this book. A lot of characterization, a lot of terrible and sad events, a lot of death.

You know my thoughts on Kestrel and Arin, so that speaks for the romance in this book. The romance is there, but it's not. There aren't many purely romantic scenes in this book, but the few that are presented are beautiful and torturous. I hope Rutkoski makes up for it in the third book.

Just like in The Winner's Curse, the writing in this book is beautiful. I love Rutkoski's writing style. And the world-building is flawless. I love fantasy, and Rutkoski has a great feel for fantasy. Her idea of fantasy is truly epic and lush and majestic and cruel. The politics is an important part of this fantasy world, as there is a ton of scheming and blackmail and subterfuge going on. Love!

Overall, I loved/hated this book. Really, I loved it, but at the same time, my heart hurts so much. The ending was a huuuge cliffhanger, and nothing is resolved (yet?). If anything, it seems like everything is even more muddled and messed up and confusing. I just want things to be sorted out! Perhaps in the third. You better, Rutkoski! As I cry noisily... 

What I Did Not Like:

I hate cliffhangers. And boy did this one end on one big one. Also, I love/hate this book in general... which isn't necessarily a dislike, but UGH WHY YOU GOTTA BE SO CRUEL, BOOK?! You fellow bookworms understand me (I hope). 

Would I Recommend It:

Yeeeesss. Read The Winner's Curse, if you haven't already. Read this one too. This is a fabulous example of a well-written, well-structured sequel. It sets the scene for an epic showdown in book three, with seriously high stakes, plenty to be lost. I can't wait! But I can. Except I can't.

Rating:

4 stars. This one "loses" a star because the cliffhanger is complete torture and I haaate it, but waiting for new books is the best kind of torture, it seems. Meanwhile, I'll be in therapy, if anyone needs me!

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Review: Like Water on Stone by Dana Walrath

Like Water on Stone by Dana Walrath

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Publication Date: November 11, 2014

Rating: 5 stars

Source: ARC sent by the publisher

Summary (from Goodreads):

Newbery Medalist Karen Hesse calls this story for readers of The Book Thief and Between Shades of Gray "a fine and haunting work." Blending magical realism and lyrical free verse, this is an intense survival story of three siblings caught up in the horrific events of the Armenian genocide of 1915.

It is 1914, and the Ottoman Empire is crumbling into violence.

Beyond Anatolia, in the Armenian Highlands, Shahen Donabedian dreams of going to New York. Sosi, his twin sister, never wants to leave her home, especially now that she is in love. At first, only Papa, who counts Turks and Kurds among his closest friends, stands in Shahen's way. But when the Ottoman pashas set their plans to eliminate all Armenians in motion, neither twin has a choice.

After a horrifying attack leaves them orphaned, Shahen and Sosi flee into the mountains, carrying their little sister, Mariam. Shahen keeps their parents' fate a secret from his sisters. But the children are not alone. An eagle named Ardziv watches over them as they run at night and hide each day, making their way across mountain ridges and rivers red with blood.

What I Liked:

This book. Oh, my heart. I knew this one would be a powerful read, but experiencing the novel, the story... I so wanted to cry while reading this book. Historical fiction meets magical realism - this book was amazing.

This book is written in verse, and follows four different perspectives. No, don't get upset, it never FEELS like too many. Usually, I get irritated with more than two. But with this story written in verse, and the nature of the fiction, four perspectives totally worked. This isn't your typical fiction novel, with an epic plot, someone saving the world, a prominent and sweeping romance. Don't get me wrong though, this book was all kinds of epic and sweeping.

Shahen, Sosi, and Mariam are three Armenian siblings living in 1914, during the fall of the Ottoman Empire. The animosity between the Armenians and the Kurds is palpable. Anahid, their older sister, married a Kurd (which is frowned upon). When soldiers start to pillage and burn villages, the siblings' parents send the three siblings into the mountains. Sosi and Shahen are twins, in their teens, but Mariam is five. This is their story, of how they fled their village, left behind their parents, and began to survive and find their way out of the crumbling world.

I LOVE the setting of this novel, the history, the political conflict, the portrayal of the war, the effects of the deteriorating empire... Walrath really did her research, to make this book come alive. I love historical fiction, and this novel is no exception. It feels almost like non-fiction, like an actual account of children's life during the Armenian genocide.

The nature of this story actually made me want to know more about the Armenian genocide. I know a good deal about the two World Wars and many other events that occurred in the 1900s, but the Armenian genocide isn't well-thought in grade school, and I didn't know much about it. I love how well Walrath writes about this tragic time in history, how she incorporates small details that make such a difference. But I also love how this book made me think, made me wonder, made me curious, made me sad.

Oh, how this story was heartbreaking. It's one of those books where you're sure that everyone is going to end up dead. That is not the case (no spoilers, but that's not the case), but I could see how Walrath could have made that happen. Walrath includes content such as prejudice (between the races), gender roles, rape, pillaging, death, death, death. What happened during this time is so incredibly tragic and heartbreaking. My heart aches for the mother of the three siblings especially.

I love how well-written this book is. It's completely in verse, and it is beautiful. I was skeptical about how I would respond to the novel being written in verse, but I loved it. It totally works for this story, because it makes it so much more powerful. This story would not have read the same way, if it had been written like freestyle fiction. 

Each of the siblings are so different. Shahen wants to go to America. He is small for a boy, almost feminine. Sosi wants to stay in the village and marry Vahan, a clock-maker's son (someone she can never marry because of other factors). Mariam is five and loves that her brother (Shahen) is teaching her to write. We get each of their perspectives, in the first person. It's interesting to see the evolution of Mariam's perspective - a child.

The fourth perspective will remain unknown... mwahaha. 

I love this book so much. I would totally reread it, and I wish that everyone would give this book a chance. Don't like historical fiction? Okay. But this is like, non-fiction historical fiction. It's real, it's powerful, and it sheds light on a very real and very tragic historical event. Excuse me while I go cry!

What I Did Not Like:

I can't think of anything! I always say, no book is perfect, and there is always something that a reader does not like about a book... but I can't think of whatever that is at the moment.

Would I Recommend It:

YES! Historical fiction fan or not, read it! It's worth the read, if not for the historical fiction aspect, for the beautifully written verse! 

Rating:

5 stars. Well deserved (you know I'm stingy with the 5-star ratings)! This is definitely one of those books that will stick with me for a long time. 

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Review: Some Boys by Patty Blount

Some Boys by Patty Blount

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Publication Date: August 5, 2014

Rating: 5 stars

Source: Manuscript sent by the author/eARC from NetGalley

Summary (from Goodreads):

Some boys go too far. Some boys will break your heart. But one boy can make you whole.

When Grace meets Ian she's afraid. Afraid he'll reject her like the rest of the school, like her own family. After she accuses the town golden boy of rape, everyone turns against Grace. They call her a slut and a liar. But...Ian doesn't. He's funny and kind with secrets of his own.

But how do you trust the best friend of the boy who raped you? How do you believe in love?

A gut-wrenching, powerful love story told from alternating points of view by the acclaimed author of Send.

What I Liked:

Just a note before I start my review - I actually read this book late last year, so it doesn't count towards my 2014 novels read (although I DID re-read it). I read the author's manuscript last year, whereas just recently, I read the eARC. But I'm fine with it counting towards last year's books read, and not this year's. Not that any of you all care that much - it's more of a housekeeping note for me. Anyway.

Gosh, I loved this book so much. It's a tough-issues book, and you all know how I struggle with those. They're usually a hit-or-miss with me - I like very few of them. In fact, I usually abhor most of the ones that I read. I read Blount's TMI last year, and I loved it! TMI was basically about hazards of social media, such as Facebook. This book was about physical abuse - rape. Fiction containing rape is tricky. There are so many things that the author could do that might not work well, or might produce bad reactions from readers. However, I think Blount really hit this one on the head.

This book starts after the rape occurs. It's actually been a bit since the rape - in days, not months or something. Grace is suffering from the harassment of her peers - and not just Zac, the boy who raped her. Her friends all think she was flirting with Zac at the party, that she was totally into Zac, and that her cries of rape are fake. The whole town, it seems, wants nothing to do with her, but wants everything to do with her downfall. It's not enough for them to ignore her - no, they need to provoke and bully her. Zac is the golden boy, the star lacrosse player, the guy who gets away with everything. And Ian, his best friend and teammate, goes along with everything Zac does. Even though Ian is the one that found Grace that night, bleeding and unconscious.

This book is split between Grace and Ian's perspective, first-person. Blount has this skill down, guys. She has mastered the art of writing in a female's and a male's perspective. A lot of times, I might like one side more than the other. BUT, I was pleased that I really enjoyed reading from both Grace and Ian's perspective.

I like Grace a lot. I like her tough attitude, her refusal to hide, her bravery, her sharp temper. I have no idea how I would react to not only being raped, but not being believed, but I seriously have to hand it to Grace; she made it important to her, to keep going to school, to face everyone harassing her, to face Zac. She reacts aggressively at times, but I have massive respect for her. I do think we'd get along nicely if she were a real person.

While Grace definitely developed as a character, Ian's character development was more pronounced. He was a Zac follower, someone who knew what Zac was doing probably wasn't right, but tamped down the doubt, look the other way, pretended he didn't care. Secretly, he had wanted to ask Grace out for months, but when he heard that Zac got to her first (Ian thinking that Grace was into Zac), he backed off. He didn't want anything to do with her, but after scrubbing lockers with her for days (punishment), he sees different sides to the story. I love the complete 180 that Ian does. I liked Ian even when he was going with the flow in the beginning - not sure what that says about me. 

The story of this book is heartbreaking. Literally, my heart and soul ached for Grace, every time I read a part where Miranda and Grace's other former friends tormented her, or Grace's father and stepmother were rude and uncaring, or Grace had a panic attack. My heart ached for her - even the second time around, reading this book, I felt just as strongly for Grace and her pain.

My favorite scene of this book was towards the end, in the forest, when Grace is so distraught over everything, she takes a bottle of rum and a bottle of whiskey, and goes into a forest to be alone. Ian finds her drinking there. This scene is soul-crushing (in a good way). I couldn't breathe, reading this scene for the first, second, even third time. For me, this was the most powerful scene of the book, and my favorite.

The romance runs a thick current through this book. Like with most contemporary novels, the romance is very important, and I really like that in this book. Grace and Ian had feelings for each before the rape, as we slowly find out as we read the book. You don't know this from the start, though you'll suspect such. But they slowly develop stronger feelings for each other, despite Ian's constant loyalty to Zac, and Grace's attempts to shut out everyone. I loved watching these two fight for themselves and unconsciously fight for each other.

Rape is no small issue in this book, neither is being raped and not believed. Blount hits heavy on the issue of crying wolf, which is what everyone thinks Grace is doing. I love how Blount integrates a sport (something that means so much to both Ian and Zac) into the story. This added a measure of depth to the story, but it also made things interesting for Ian - seeing as to him, lacrosse was the only thing going for him. To turn Zac in would be to lose a shot at state tournaments. Decisions, decisions... nothing comes easy for any character in this book!

In the end, I think Blount handled all of these "tough issues" really well. Coming from the girl that not only dislikes contemporary novels but "tough issue" contemporary novels as well, this is a high compliment! I loved the ending of this book; it's imperfectly perfect, and I love it. I think this is Blount's best novel yet - but wait, I'm really excited to read her next one, Nothing Left To Burn!

What I Did Not Like:

Surprisingly (for a "tough issue" contemporary novel, that is), nothing to say here! As always, I don't think any book is perfect, but there isn't anything I can think of in this book that really detracted from the quality of the book or story. So. There.

Would I Recommend It:

YES! Contemporary fan or not, step out of your comfort zone and give this one a shot. I surprised myself by liking Blount's novels, honestly. Trust me, I like this author a lot, but if I didn't like her book(s), I'd say so. You all know I don't sugarcoat things. But I really enjoy her novels, including this one, so that's got to tell you something about the quality of her "tough issue" books!

Rating:

5 stars. Very well-deserved! This book did quite a number on me - unlike most books (contemporary or not), this one made me FEEL, and feel really strongly. The forest scene, guys, THE FOREST SCENE. I'm so honored to have read this book - both the not-final manuscript, and the eARC. Thank you, Patty and Sourcebooks!

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Review: The Truth About Alice by Jennifer Mathieu

The Truth About Alice by Jennifer Mathieu

Publisher: Roaring Brook Press

Publication Date: June 3, 2014

Rating: 4 stars

Source: eARC from NetGalley

Summary (from Goodreads):

Everyone knows Alice slept with two guys at one party. When Healy High star quarterback, Brandon Fitzsimmons, dies in a car crash, it was because he was sexting with Alice. Ask anybody.  Rumor has it Alice Franklin is a slut. It's written all over the "slut stall" in the girls' bathroom: "Alice had sex in exchange for math test answers" and "Alice got an abortion last semester." After Brandon dies, the rumors start to spiral out of control. In this remarkable debut novel, four Healy High students tell all they "know" about Alice--and in doing so reveal their own secrets and motivations, painting a raw look at the realities of teen life. But in this novel from Jennifer Mathieu, exactly what is the truth about Alice? In the end there's only one person to ask: Alice herself.

What I Liked:

Wow. What a book. I struggle with "tough-issue" contemporary novels, and this one is just about as tough as they come. I'll preface this review by saying that this book actually does NOT involve rape, which is what I initially thought. It actually involves hearsay and gossip, but at the most extreme and cruel measures. Maybe that is one of the reasons why this book worked so well for me? Because it didn't have to do with rape and how the heroine handled it? I don't know, I don't have answers. But I really liked how this book was structured, how the issue was brought about. Let's explore, shall we?

This book features the perspectives of several different characters: Elaine, Kelsie, Josh, Kurt, Alice... I think that it. Elaine is the Queen Bee of the Healy High, the most popular girl, the Regina George. Kelsie is Alice's best friend - until the incident. Josh is Brandon's best friend. Kurt is the super nerdy weird guy that talks to no one. Alice is, well, Alice is the girl that is accused of sleeping with both Brandon and Tommy at Elaine's party. Elaine and Brandon are on and off. Kelsie is in love with Tommy. Kurt has always had a crush on Alice. Alice has a sliver of history with Brandon (they kissed in eighth grade). Josh cares about Brandon more than anyone realizes.

And therein lies the problem. Alice didn't sleep with anyone that night, much less two guys at the same. But rumors spread (stemming from Brandon) that she did. He started the rumors because she refused to sleep with him, and Tommy didn't care because Tommy was weeks away from going to college. Then Brandon dies. Josh was in the car with him, and Josh told everyone that Alice had been texting dirty things to Brandon, distracting him while driving. Elaine is happy to go along with whatever rumors, because Alice slept with her sort-of not-really boyfriend (allegedly). Kelsie spreads rumors that Alice had an abortion, because secretly Kelsie was angry at Alice for her looking down on her for still being a virgin (which Alice did NOT do, just saying).

Confusing, no? Or maybe not confusing, but tragic. Really, really SAD, in a I-pity-you-all-because-you-all-are-just-that-horrible-and-cruel-and-worthless. The thing is, we get to see all of the "bad guys'" perspectives. I feel bad for some of them, and others, no. Kelsie feels guilty for spreading the fake rumor about Alice having an abortion. She did it out of selfish, vengeful reasons, but you can FEEL her indecision about things. I like how the author did that - made the reader hate those cruel characters, but at the same time, show you why they did it.

I sort of feel bad for Josh too, but less so. Same with Elaine. The thing is, none of these characters said or did anything maliciously, except Brandon, and honestly, I hate to say it, but Brandon may have deserved it. Maybe not to die (though he did die), but he deserved some sort of retribution. That sort of rumor, that a girl slept with a guy (or two or three or a thousand) is HORRIBLE. For a guy, if someone says that Jimmy slept with Girl A, B, and C, everyone would say he's such a player, or he's ballin, or ooo, kill em, Jimmy! But if a girl does that, or a watered-down version of that, or anything close to that, she is immediately slut-shamed.

I think that is one of the reasons why I really liked this book - the issue isn't rape, but it is something prevalent and relevant in a teenager's life. I can't tell you numbers or statistics as to how often these things happen (I feel like that would be difficult to gather information on such an issue), but it happens. So maybe you don't think rape is relevant to you. But this issue - spreading rumors about someone's alleged promiscuity really could be.

Nevertheless, I really enjoyed this book. I like that it was told by basically everyone else, except at the very end. This story was developed very different than most, as it was told by many different characters, in which each character told their view of things, switching back and forth. We see more of the aftermath than anything else, but everything is really well-developed. Definitely check out this one if you can!

What I Did Not Like:

I can't think of anything specific that I really just did NOT like in this book... maybe I wanted a more satisfying ending. Don't get me wrong, I think the ending is fitting and well-developed, but nothing was really, um, resolved in this book. I don't want to give anything away, but no action was taken. Of course, in real life, that kind of thing happens (or does not happen, actually) all the time. But it was bittersweet to read.

Would I Recommend It:

You all know me. And if you don't, here's the thing: I generally dislike "tough-issue" contemporary novels. This year, I've resolved to at least read MORE of them, to give more of them a chance, so that I can't say that I hate them all when I've only read like three or four in my life. 

So. My point to all of that. I liked this book a lot! And this is coming from the girl that generally does not like contemporary "tough-issue" novels. So if you regularly enjoy contemporary novels, especially "tough-issue" ones, then you will probably enjoy this book! But there is a good chance that you'll enjoy it anyway, contemporary fan or not. Just saying.

Rating:

4 stars. What a touching, moving novel! I'm really glad that I downloaded this one, on a whim. I wasn't planning on reading this book, but it was definitely worth it. I seem to be getting better with these "tough-issue" contemporary novels!

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Blog Tour Promo: Heartbeat by Elizabeth Scott

Welcome to the Heartbeat blog tour! I read this book a little while ago, and LOVED it! I'm so excited to share more information about this book with you. Hopefully, you all will read and enjoy this post and book!

Read my review HERE.

Heartbeat by Elizabeth Scott

Publisher: Harlequin TEEN

Publication Date: January 28, 2014

Official Summary:

Emma would give anything to talk to her mother one last time. Tell her about her slipping grades, her anger with her stepfather, and the boy with the bad reputation who might be the only one Emma can be herself with.

But Emma can't tell her mother anything. Because her mother is brain-dead and being kept alive by machines for the baby growing inside her.

Meeting bad-boy Caleb Harrison wouldn't have interested Old Emma. But New Emma-the one who exists in a fog of grief, who no longer cares about school, whose only social outlet is her best friend Olivia-New Emma is startled by the connection she and Caleb forge.

Feeling her own heart beat again wakes Emma from the grief that has grayed her existence. Is there hope for life after death-and maybe, for love?

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About the Author:

ELIZABETH SCOTT grew up in a town so small it didn't even have a post office, though it did boast an impressive cattle population. She’s sold hardware and panty hose and had a memorable three-day stint in the dot-com industry, where she learned that she really didn't want a career burning CDs. She lives just outside Washington, D.C., with her husband, and firmly believes you can never own too many books.

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The Excerpt:

“Hey,” Olivia says, and I know it’s her because I would know her voice anywhere. We’ve been friends since fifth grade, and we’ve been through period trauma, boy crap, bad hair, her parents and their ways. And now Dan and his baby.

“Hey,” I say. I wipe my eyes and look at her. “How’s the car?”

Olivia makes a face at me but also wraps an arm around my shoulders, steering me toward our lockers. Her parents gave her a fully loaded convertible when she got her license, one with a built-in music player, phone, navigation system—you name it, the car had it. Could do it, and all at the touch of a button.

Olivia sold the car—through the one newspaper left in the area, which is basically just ads—and bought a used car. It’s so old all it has is a CD player and a radio. We bought CDs at yard sales for a while, but all we could get was old music, which we both hate, and the radio is just people telling you that what they think is what you should think, so we mostly just drive around in silence.

It used to bother me sometimes but now I like it. The inside of my head is so full now that silence is…I don’t know. There’s just something about knowing Olivia is there, and that we don’t have to talk. That she gets it. Gets me and what’s going on.

Her parents were unhappy about the car, though. Really unhappy, actually, but then there was a big crisis with one of their server farms at work and by the time they surfaced for air they hadn't slept in four days. And when they said, “Olivia, that car was a gift,” she said, “Yes, it was. A gift, meaning something freely given, for the recipient to use as she wanted to, right?”

As we hit her locker, we pass Anthony, and he says, “Ladies,” bowing in my direction. A real bow too, like it’s the nineteenth century or something.

“Ass,” Olivia says.

“A donkey is actually not as stupid as people believe. However, you are entitled to your own beliefs about asses. And me.” He looks at me. “Hello, Emma.”

I sigh. “Hi, Anthony.”

“If you ever want to talk about your grades, do know that I’m here.”

I can’t believe I ever thought the way he talked was interesting. It’s just stupid, like he’s too good to speak like a normal person. “I know, Anthony.”

“I really would like to be of assistance to you. I believe in helping everyone. I’m talking to Zara Johns later. I think she feels threatened by the fact that I’ve been asked to help her organize the next school blood drive.” Translation: he’s butted in, and Zara’s furious.

“Either that or she just doesn't like you. Emma, let’s go,” Olivia says, slamming her locker shut, and we head for mine.

“You okay?” she says, and I nod. Anthony doesn't bother me at all anymore, just like Mom said would happen. I look at him and feel nothing. Well, some annoyance, but then, who wouldn't after listening to him talk?

Of course, I didn't always think that he was annoying. I open my locker, deciding not to go down the Anthony road, and hear the guy next to me say, “No way! I mean, everyone knows what’ll happen to Caleb if he steals another car.”

Olivia and I glance at each other. If Anthony is the ass end of the smart part of the school, Caleb Harrison is the ass end of the stupid part. He’s a total druggie and three years ago, when we were freshmen, he came to school so high he couldn't even talk. I heard that stopped last year, but then, as soon as school got out, his parents sent him off to some “tough love camp,” which is rich-people code for boot-camp rehab.

He came back seemingly off drugs but newly into stealing cars. He started by grabbing them at the mall and parking them in a different spot, but then he stole a teacher’s car.

And then he graduated to a school bus. It was empty at the time, but still, I heard that got him a couple of weeks in juvie, or would have except for his parents, who intervened. I guess now he’s taken yet another step forward and by lunchtime, I know what Caleb stole.

His father’s brand-new, limited-edition Porsche. And he didn't just steal it. He drove it into the lake over by the park, drove right off the highway and into the water. The police found him sitting on the lake’s edge, watching the car sink. They were able to pull it out, but water apparently isn't good for the inside of a Porsche.

“You think he’ll go to jail this time?” Olivia asks as we sit picking at our lunches. I love that we have lunch together this semester, but it’s the first lunch block, and it’s hard to face food—especially cafeteria food—at 10:20 in the morning.

“I guess it depends on his parents,” I say. “Last time they talked to the judge or whatever. They’ll probably just ship him off again. He must hate them, though.”

“Yeah. To sit by the lake and watch the car sink like that—”

“Exactly.”

“Even when my parents are sucking their lives away with all their computer crap, I’d never do anything like mess with their stuff,” she says. “How can you hate someone who raised you, who loves you so—” She breaks off.

“Dan didn't raise me,” I say tightly. “And he doesn't love me. Or Mom.”

Olivia nods and I think about hate. I understand what can make someone do what Caleb did, although I don’t think a bored, rich druggie really gets hate. Not real hate.

Praise for Heartbeat:

“An intense examination of a family coping with grief, this absorbing character study easily keeps pages turning.”

 — Kirkus on Heartbeat

The Giveaway:

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Review: Heartbeat by Elizabeth Scott

Heartbeat by Elizabeth Scott

Publisher: Harlequin TEEN

Publication Date: January 28, 2014

Rating: 5 stars

Source: eARC from Edelweiss

Summary (from Goodreads):

Life. Death. And...Love?

Emma would give anything to talk to her mother one last time. Tell her about her slipping grades, her anger with her stepfather, and the boy with the bad reputation who might be the only one Emma can be herself with.

But Emma can't tell her mother anything. Because her mother is brain-dead and being kept alive by machines for the baby growing inside her.

Meeting bad-boy Caleb Harrison wouldn't have interested Old Emma. But New Emma-the one who exists in a fog of grief, who no longer cares about school, whose only social outlet is her best friend Olivia-New Emma is startled by the connection she and Caleb forge.

Feeling her own heart beat again wakes Emma from the grief that has grayed her existence. Is there hope for life after death-and maybe, for love?

What I Liked:

Just a note (not that it really matters): I read this book back in early August, but I wanted to hold off on writing and publishing my review until closer to the release date. Granted, it's still not *that* close to the release date, but it's good enough. Better than August.

So! This book! What a book! You all do not understand how much this book touched me. I read it before it had a cover (the cover wasn't revealed until October tenth, anyway), so I wasn't dissuaded by the romance-based cover. Trust me, this book's romance plays a huge role in this book, but it's not what I would feature on the cover. I like the cover, but maybe not for this book.

This book deals with difficult issues. A girl is struggling to maintain a relationship with her stepfather - a relationship that she feels like she doesn't want. Emma wants to hate Dan for keeping her mother's body alive, in order to have a shot at keeping their son (Dan and Emma's mother's son).

You see, Emma's mother is over forty years old. Once women pass about thirty-five, pregnancies become high-risk. The baby could be born with conditions and disease, and the mother will most likely have a difficult pregnancy and difficult labor. So, Emma's mother technically dies, at fifteen weeks at pregnancy, but Dan makes the decision to maintain her bodily functions, so that the fetus can grow. Twenty-five weeks is the magic number.

I totally understand why Emma hated Dan's decision so much. He never asked Emma what she wanted. It seemed like everything he was doing, he was doing for the baby, and not thinking about Emma's mother, or Emma. 

I can relate to this book as a whole, because my mother's sister (my aunt) went through basically the same thing last year. She was over forty, already had a daughter my age, but she got pregnant. About twenty-ish weeks into the pregnancy, things started to go downhill. She started bleeding, she was bedridden, the baby was under high stress... my aunt could have died, and the baby could have died. Around Christmas time, the baby was taken, and he died.

My aunt wanted to keep the baby inside of her for as long as possible. She would have done anything for that little boy - just like Emma's mother. The (big) difference is, Emma's mother died from being pregnant - my aunt survived (but her little boy didn't).

So, I feel like the issue with Emma's feelings about her mother's death, her future stepbrother, and her stepfather, is the forefront of the story. I'm saying that I don't like the cover, but I feel like the romance is secondary.

And I don't know how Ms. Scott did it, but Emma's voice is phenomenal. I mean, as a teen, I could totally relate to Emma. I could feel all of her feelings, think all of her thoughts, understand what she was going through... everything just seemed extremely realistic. Emma's anger with her stepfather is so well-written - I would have reacted similarly, I feel!

The romance is beautiful, though. I love Emma and Caleb together. Both of them are broken, splintered apart by awful, tragic events in their lives. Both of them need each other, want each other, and thankfully, they find each other. I seriously think that the romance in this book is PERFECT. Subtle, simple yet complex, tortured, beautiful.

I really, really enjoyed this book. It broke my heart in many ways, because of what happened so recently with my aunt, but I loved this book regardless. This book will always be special to me, for that reason. The ending is imperfectly perfect. You'll have to read the book to know whether or not the baby survived, Emma and Caleb survived, Emma and Dan survived, and so on. But I love the ending. I love this book.

What I Did Not Like:

I have nothing to say in this section! I know that no book is perfect, but I really cannot think of anything for this section at the moment!

Would I Recommend It:

YES! I know that the cover will lead you to think that this book is a contemporary romance story - which it does feature - but that's not solely what this book is about! Give it a try, whether you like contemporary novels or not. It might change things for you! This is one of those books that if you can relate, then it sticks with you forever. I know it will, for me!

Rating:

5 stars. I haven't read anything else by Ms. Scott, but I have to say, I am very impressed! This story has so much meaning to me, so I am honored to have had a chance to read it.

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