Today in Jen's Library

The entire young adult contemporary genre is really interesting to me. I'm wondering what separates it from traditional romance novels - because the two don't seem different at all.

I read this book knowing it was just a fun romance. As such, I'm not going to over analyze it for the plot. It's basically two college kids fall in love and deal with their relationship. That's really about it. There are some elements that make it interesting, like the fact that the heroine has a dad who's in trouble with the mob. But honestly, that's about it.

The characters are your basic good girl and bad boy. There you go. Pretty standard stuff. I liked America, the best friend, a lot.

I did like the idea that they became good friends before they slept together. I think you should marry your best friend in life, so I was glad to see that happening.

And that's about it. It's a fun read. It made me laugh and was entertaining. This is a great read for the beach. There are some sweet lines in it, and the audio book was fabulous (as narrated by Emma Galvin).

So don't read too much into it and don't expect it to be some grand exposition of human behaviour. It's just fun.

As usual, Rachel Vincent has taken the next book in the series to the next level. At this point, Kaylee has died, come back as something sort of like her boyfriend Tod, and is kicking demon ass as she sees fit.

She is a reluctant hero. One of the things I love about this series is that the afterlife runs so much like a corporation - when one of the incidents in the book happens, there is an explanation of the consequences in the post-dead world having to do with inquiries and hearings and being called before a board and paperwork and district offices - the whole thing just makes me laugh. Apparently now it's all digital rather than having hand-written lists.

Kaylee also doesn't get the job she thought she was getting. Turns out that it has a lot more responsibilities than what she thought she initially signed on for. She balances that with a wonderful romantic relationship with Tod.

The plot winds its way around nicely. The backdrop is familiar, but this particular story has a lot more character focus on the ensemble. There are themes of family, loyalty, and a stark contrast between the good guys and the bad ones. And quite honestly, it has become apparent to me that the whole series is basically Nancy Drew and friends versus demons and creatures of hell. There is always a mystery to be solved.

With regard to characters, we get to see still more growth. Kaylee's dad is settling into his role as her father, cementing their relationship while letting go little by little, as all parents do. Harmony Hudson gets a relationship with Brendan Cavanaugh. Nash and Sabine are still together, and quite honestly Sabine is one of my favourite characters. She adds colour and spice to the whole mix with a dash of dark humour. Sophie seems to grow up a bit, and gets a new and completely devoted love interest. Alec continues to be wonderful as a best friend to Kaylee, as does Emma, who gets a bigger role. Nash seems to come to terms with his own personal demons. He is sympathetic without being pitiable. He deals with loss very honestly, and while grieving, willing to move on in the end.

We get to know Tod even better, and whoa baby what's not to like? The interesting thing is that Tod's personality is really refined by the contrast to his brother. Tod is clearly the older brother, and is more mature and less self-centered than Nash. This is not to say that he is perfect and completely altruistic in all his motives. But he loves Kaylee with an older, wiser love - one that is more committed to the long-run rather than just being a high-school romance. It is clear that their relationship is the real thing. He brings out the best in Kaylee.

Things change a lot in this story, and the ending is a nice setup for what will be the last book in the series. Every single book in this series has been one better than the last. The final book should prove to be completely out of this world.

It's been awhile since I've read such an amazing book. This definitely has earned 5+ stars from me.

We have the same cast of characters in this installment of the series. Sabine is her usual bucolic self, although somewhat more moderate - perhaps a touch of sensitivity? Emma is a faithful, honest friend. Kaylee's dad and Harmony are beautiful background brushstrokes. And the Hudson boys' true colors are revealed.

And Kaylee, well, she learns that a moment is only a moment long. Watching her measure them out bit by bit as the end of her life approaches is just, well, amazing. This particular story is such an incredible look at the way we evaluate our lives, and how we decide in the end what is important and what is not. I am so touched at the way Kaylee was able to be honest with herself so deeply, and make decisions that set her and those around her on a path to freedom and healing.

This is not a story about a big battle with evil demons. This is a look at a girl who finally has to just let go. Control freaks everywhere should take note. Kaylee finally cries and lets her heart decide some things. And that ending! Definitely tissue worthy!

This story will not disappoint you. Read it right now.

Oh, the drama! Oh, the angst! Oh, whatever shall we do?

While half of me spent was rolling my eyes at the high school theater in this story, the other half marveled at the mature themes. Kaylee (main character) has literally been betrayed and disappointed by every person in her life.

Well welcome to the real world, little girl.

I absolutely loved this book and would recommend it for every teenager on the planet. Watching this character wrestle with demons - at times, literally - is an education in itself (by the way, the head demon - Satan - is defined by the word liar. So I don't like the idea that demons can't lie. I think that's a misnomer). There is a little of "I can't trust him and don't want him, but you can't have him either." There is some "you don't deserve him." There is a lot of "I don't deserve you, I'm worthless." And there is a whole lot of "I'm worthless" in general, followed by serious overtones of "are you kidding? You're more important than anything!"

Kaylee frustrated me a lot in this book. I'm not sure if it's a difference in my personality and the personality of the character, but there were several times I wished she either let herself cry or give in to her reigning emotions. She always did the logical, smart thing rather than the emotional thing. I think this kept the tension going in the book. But I think I would have sided with her more often if she had just let herself be weak for a moment. She held onto her resentment for a long time - perhaps understandably so. But she really did seriously punish Nash. Some forgiving but not totally forgetting - there are consequences to every "sin" - would have been in order.

Nash is completely sympathetic, if a little vain over two girls fighting for him. Sabine is sympathetic because we pity her for what she is and where's she's been. Alec is sympathetic because he has no control. Honestly, if I heard one more of these characters say "I'll never let it happen again, Kaylee, I swear on my life" I thought I would scream.

Two things impressed me deeply about this book. The first was the way Sabine would talk to Kaylee. She spoke such truth and insight. She came from such an honest, tortured place with such amazing, astonishing perspective that I marveled at the maturity of this writing. Wow.

The second was the conversation between Tod and Kaylee regarding her relationship with Nash. Again, so honest and insightful. Both of these perspectives came from maturity way beyond teenage years - and as such, give the YA audience (and the rest of us) a chance to re-evaluate our own motives at times.

Also of note is the way the central romance - Kaylee and Nash - is being handled slowly and with such care. We aren't being rushed into anything with these characters. They may make it together or they may not. But either way, we are not left hanging to wonder overmuch. She gives us total resolution without actual direction, and that is one gifted storyteller.

I can't wait to get into the next book. Of the four thus far, this is the most emotional and probably the best for that reason. It brings the phrase "wrestling with your demons" to a whole new level.

Well if you're a fan of this series, you won't be disappointed by this book. This time, we have fighting the bad guys, romance and some betrayal thrown in for color. I couldn't put it down.

The characters just continue to grow up, literally. And they view things as high-schoolers would. Their behavior is appropriate for their age, which is to say that sometimes they're really mature and sometimes they're really childish.

And why they can't ask parents who love and protect them for help! It is maddening!

But that's teenagers in general, honestly. And the idea that anyone can innocuously fall into something so destructive so easily is an incredible picture of real life, teenager or not. I loved this whole thing with Nash. If you have anyone in your life who has dealt with addiction, you can empathize with Nash. Desperate people do desperate things. I don't think this guy can be more sorry.

Regret will also destroy you and tempt you to throw blame around like a baseball bat. Forgiveness is hard when people betray you. Rachel Vincent nailed this idea expertly. Watching Kaylee trying to deal with these things is a peek into her growth.

I wish Tod and Emma had bigger roles in this installment, but honestly the book was so engaging that I didn't realise I missed them. And for some reason I just adore that Harmony Hudson is such an earth mother who is constantly baking brownies and cookies. She just makes me smile.

I'm not sure what generic person Addison represents, but I can appreciate her nonetheless. My heart aches for this character. And yet I applaud Vincent over and over again because she is not afraid to scream from the rooftops that actions have consequences. Can we all be reminded of that enough? I think not.

As always, I am listening to these on audio and Amanda Ronconi is just fabulous. She captures every character spot on.

I am just devouring these books like chocolate. They are truly so engaging that you'll have to have them all.

I think this sums it up very well:

4:43 PM – I wonder if there’s any reasonable way to reinterpret the phrase “Get the hell out of here, Tod” to mean “Please stay and help us maintain the PG rating on this hormonal train wreck.” Maybe if I rearrange the letters…

What a treat. If you're a fan of the series, this is a must read. Enjoy.

If you know this series, you know Tod. And if you like Tod, you'll like him even more.

This little novella is even available in audio and the narrator is great. The back story provided behind Tod's attitudes and behaviors is wonderful. It just adds a richness and depth to his character as he appears in the primary books. And as he becomes a more prominent character, we find out how he got so wise and mature.

This is such a treat.

The second book in the series, and if you're reading them in order, you might not like this as well as the first. The plot is great, the characters continue to grow and change - but we already know them, and that first meeting was pretty incredible.

So while this is wonderful, it is just shy of the fabulosity of the first book. (did I just make up that word fabulosity?).

I think my favourite thing about this story is the way Tod keeps walking in on Nash and Kaylee when they're making out. It just gets to be fall-down funny with Tod's wry humor. I laughed out loud several times, all due to the comments Tod makes. He is a wonderful character. If you're going to have teenagers in hot sexual tension scenes and want to resolve them in a PG-13 way, then Tod is definitely your guy. Genius.

Kaylee is a pretty smart kid. We get to see her processing life here, solving problems. She deals with a boyfriend who wants her to go all the way. She deals with an dad who, after abandoning her, is now back and is navigating the dangerous "how to be a parent" waters after all his mistakes. Kaylee is easy to like.

Unless, of course, you're Sophie. And that's ok, because every story involving teenagers should probably have a snarky, selfish bitch thrown in for good measure. Emma, the faithful friend, balances her nicely.

What I truly love about this book is the story of redemption. Actions have consequences, and Rachel Vincent hammers this home like no other YA author I've read. The themes in these books are off the charts wonderful: wanting to protect and save those who've made stupid mistakes, giving up one's life for another, dealing with choices made, life doesn't always have a happy ending.

And the presentation of the whole idea that we can advise and help, but can't make choices for others is flat out amazing. This author can preach it without trying. The story itself just screams good moral choices.

The more I read of this series the more I love it. I can't wait to get into the next book.

Wow. What a book.

Marie Lu has outdone herself. This book has it all - political intrigue, nonstop action, romance, angst. The action scenes alone make the book worth reading.

The characters develop nicely from the last book, [b:Legend|9275658|Legend (Legend, #1)|Marie Lu|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1333909141s/9275658.jpg|14157512]. June grows a lot in this story; we begin to see her as a sort of child prodigy who almost has a hint of Asperger's. She's obsessive about time and control. She is so reined in, and yet as she grows with Day, she begins to have to deal with her emotions.

Day, on the other hand, has to become more responsible and less impulsive. He begins to do things with purpose. It's obvious that June has a huge influence on him.

Tess has also grown up in this book. Anden is a likable addition as the new head of state. The other secondary characters are also good, developed just enough.

The world building in this story that began in Legend continues, but we get a much broader view of it. Where Legend gave us a police state as a Republic, Prodigy gives us the reasons behind it. We get some history that complicates the politics, and that gives depth to what we already knew.

Lu is a wonderful writer. I love the honesty she gives to her characters. They may not be candid with each other, but they are honest with themselves as they wrestle with their feelings and issues. And good grief, the plot twists! Several things in this story came out of nowhere, and it was not predictable at all. It is a wild ride.

I especially liked the ending. Some authors betray their readers by leading them up to a point and then turning the whole thing on its head. Lu didn't do that here; she gave us difficult issues that need working through, and an open but gratifying conclusion that sets up the final book.

Regarding the audio - Stephen Kaplan does a good job with Day, but it does take awhile for him to get going. There are some long pauses, but as things went along I did get a good sense of Day's character. [ didn't like Mariel Stern at all, as she seemed as if she was just reading. But then I realised that June is kind of a robotic sort of person, and Stern's characterization of her was spot on.

This is a fantastic series. I can't wait for the final installment.

I did not expect to like this book at all, as I am not a fan of creature books. Fortunately, the whole creature thing in this story doesn't really come front and center until we're well into things. I appreciated getting to know the characters before all the weird stuff started happening. And when you read a line like "she stood there with a cup of coffee as big as her head," you know the wit is going to entertain you.

This brings me to the plot, which is essentially a murder mystery. It's done so well with the whole banshee idea that I have to marvel at its innovation. It surprised me; I really had no idea if it was Colonel Mustard in the kitchen with the knife or exactly what - until the real murderer was revealed.

I loved the way Vincent was able to address some other issues as well. Having the main character as a teenager who was essentially abandoned by her father makes her relatable to many kids. She didn't pull any punches with these characters either. The reasons for the abandonment may have initially been good, but Vincent isn't afraid to tackle the way a situation like that is always infinitely more complicated than it seems.

The characters were fun. Kaylee was so normal, very funny. Nash was a peach; doesn't everyone want a boyfriend like him? There were some stock characters - Emma as the best friend, Sophie as the annoying brat. Tod was delightful. And the two dads were just nice guys put into difficult situations.

As to the romance: I wouldn't classify this as absolute insta-love. Close, but It didn't bother me overmuch. What did bother me just a tiny bit was the contradiction - Kaylee can't believe Nash likes her and is intimidated. And yet she has no problem calling him up for help and being forward with him. I felt like their physical relationship especially was like gratuitous sex in a movie. It got hot really quickly without needing to, and there was virtually no buildup.

Lastly, I have to say that Amanda Ronconi is right up there with Jenna Lamia as one of the best narrators I've heard on audio. She gave such great life to Kaylee and Nash, and especially Tod, Harmony, and Aunt Val.

I'll be reading the rest of this series. The whole story reminded me of the tv series "Dead Like Me" in its deadpan humor (pun intended). I'll be interested to see where Vincent takes it as I continue on.

I'm calling this one a solid 3.75 stars, rounding up to 4. It's definitely a "middle" book. But it's a good middle book, in that it both continues the story well and sets up the next book. No cliffhanger ending (THANK YOU [a:Veronica Rossi|4637369|Veronica Rossi|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1322861869p2/4637369.jpg]). I will definitely be reading the third book in this series.

The characters remain consistently solid, but show growth. Aria, in particular, has really matured in this story. She is older, more focused and has gone light years beyond the scared little girl she was in the first book. She's developed both her abilities and her fighting/survival skills. She's not a stupid girl doing stupid things. She has a quiet strength that I really, really like. If I had to endure the Aria of [b:Under the Never Sky|11594257|Under the Never Sky (Under the Never Sky, #1)|Veronica Rossi|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1356591725s/11594257.jpg|15093785] to get to this Aria, it was worth it.

Perry has also grown. This book is more of a cerebral journey of him rising up and becoming the leader of his people. He still seems a bit shaky to me, with all the loss he's endured. He seems grounded, but there is definitely a lot of turmoil he'll have to work through in the next book.

The secondary characters were good as well. I especially like Reef; he seems to serve as a solid father figure to Perri. And Roar and Liv - what a tragedy! I don't believe that Liv is dead. I think we're going to see a lot of she and Roar in the last book. Talon and Cinder serve their purposes, and I'm glad they don't take up any more of the action than they do. For them to just give purpose to the plot is enough.

And as for the plot, it's done pretty well. I think Rossi was going for a true emotionally draining experience here - and while I felt involved, I didn't feel drained. I wasn't tired after going through the adventure with all these characters. This is the reason I would define it so clearly as a "middle" book. It's good action, the plot is well-developed, things move along quickly and in a way that makes sense. And these are things that need to happen. But in the end, it's all a very good setup for the conclusion.

A very enjoyable setup, I have to say. And again, a huge thank you to [a:Veronica Rossi|4637369|Veronica Rossi|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1322861869p2/4637369.jpg] for 1-no love triangle, and 2-bringing Perri and Aria back together positively at the end. She has proven to be an author who cares about her readers and their emotional investment in her characters. Thank you for not leaving us hanging.

I definitely recommend this as a read you'll enjoy, especially if you've read [b:Under the Never Sky|11594257|Under the Never Sky (Under the Never Sky, #1)|Veronica Rossi|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1356591725s/11594257.jpg|15093785]. I can't wait for the last book.

I read this book quite awhile ago. I was intrigued by the title, and I wasn't disappointed.

The best thing about this book for me was simply the plot. The continual unraveling of the author's speculation on the origins of man were so fascinating that it kept my interest until the very end. There was a lot of actual history in it. The connection to reality was the anchor that kept me guessing.

It's a great mystery, a grand adventure, and has characters with depth. I'm not sure you can ask more from a book. I'll be re-reading this one.

This was a book I really expected to love, and had a lot of trouble even liking. For that reason, I'm calling it a big disappointment.

The premise was good; a fallen angel falls in love with a regular girl. Unfortunately, we don't really find out that's what's happening until near the end of the book. The action picks up and things get interesting in the last 10% or so. But up till then, it's just your run-of-the-mill teenage story full of angst and a brainless girl making dumb decisions.

So on that count, the plot is questionable at best. The book begins with a scene from the 1500's, and we have no idea why. That isn't explained until the very end. Where are the fallen angels? Why did they fall? What do they want? Why am I having to slog through all these pages before I finally get answers - at the very end?

The characters were passable but had zero depth. I couldn't really peg Nora, the main character. She was supposed to be a geeky nerd. And yet she never acted really like a geeky nerd. She never seemed to follow any kind of pattern that would have made you think "oh, she's like that." It drives me a little crazy when any character doesn't stay true to character. Their behaviour and thoughts are all over the place, so you never get a sense of who they really are. Just when you think she doesn't like Patch and wants to be smart about him, she does something totally out-of-character, like kiss him. If she's really the smart nerd she's supposed to be, then she shouldn't know anything about serious romance. Shouldn't she be tentative about that, since it's a social situation that has eluded her? And for goodness sake, she's in the 10th grade. Her actions and thoughts seemed to go way beyond a 16-year old.

Patch, the love interest, is apparently a bad boy. I didn't find much about him to like. I kept expecting the smoldering romantic interest who was there to save the day. He's conflicted, and at least that made it interesting at the end. Because he never did anything that was really explained until the last 10% of the book, I didn't like him or dislike him. I just didn't care. He never really came in to save the day, and that annoyed me. A smoldering bad boy is supposed to rise to the occasion and save the day in the end, isn't he?

Jules, Elliott, and Vee were all people I could have cared less about. While one is clearly the villain, that wasn't made clear until the end. He was a very bad guy, and that was good. The reasons for his actions were interesting, but again not revealed until the last scenes. As such, I spent a lot of time wondering why he was even in the book. It would have been different if we had been actually getting to know these characters. But they weren't deep on any level. They were just figures holding places until the real battle at the end.

So the characters weren't defined and the plot really isn't even revealed until the last few pages. If you can last through most of a book that gives you a shallow look at Coldwater High School and the teens who attend it, then this is for you. I have the sequels to this book, but will be reserving them for days when I have nothing else to read. Sorry, Nora and Patch. You never made me love you, and I frankly just don't give a damn.

Here we are again with Kat and Daemon, and their relationship seems to have settled into something more reasonable than [b:Obsidian|12578077|Obsidian (Lux, #1)|Jennifer L. Armentrout|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328275091s/12578077.jpg|17588854], where we began. Their initial squabbling has finally developed into friendly banter. It's about time.

The setting continues here, but of course there are new developments. Kat gets more comfortable with her powers, and grows as a hybrid. The Arum, who were the original bad guys, really take a back seat to the Department of Defense. I still can't figure out why nobody in this tiny West Virginia town has an accent.

Armentrout is good with her descriptions of the town and the respective houses where the characters live. I got a great sense of the schools, the cars, the restaurant. It was easy to see all these places in my mind's eye.

The plot: it was interesting, and of course there's a cliffhanger that is disturbing. I did not see it coming at all. There were some conflicts that happened that were unpredictable as well. Suffice to say that it's a good plot, and the continuing story just gets more interesting. The action here was very good. I especially loved the scene where Kat breaks up a fight between brothers.

Kat as a character is still somewhat of an intelligent girl making stupid decisions. Daemon is a wonderful hot guy in all the right ways. His protective side really comes through in this story, and not just of his family but of Kat. The romance is steamy and yet appropriate for the story.

My only problems were minor. Firstly, we have an absentee mother. OK, she works all the time, but I'm not sure any reasonable parent would give her child so much freedom and independence. Her absence seemed way too much of a plot device rather than a real situation. Secondly, I have trouble with Kat's character. She seems far too much of a rough person in action while being compassionate and even shy. I've had this problem with her all along, in each of the books in this series. How is it that a bookworm who is unsure of herself be so confident as to give the neighbor the finger and use such bad language? This seems like a total contradiction to me. It's not enough to totally put me off, but it is hard to reconcile the two things. And lastly, the euphemisms are way overused.

After listening to Obsidian on audio, I switched to print for this book. Justine Eyre narrates all the books in this series. But I do not like her voice at all. She has one of those high-class whines that just don't suit the characters at all. This is definitely a book better read in print.

After the cliffhanger, I'm anxious for the next book. It will be interesting to see how Armentrout gets Kat out of a sticky situation. And the romance alone makes this series simply irresistable.

Review to come

When I initially read the synopsis for this story, I thought it would go a completely different direction. I was pleasantly surprised. I expected it to be somewhat of a redemption story, perhaps involving angels. It isn't that at all. It's much more involved - and entertaining - than that.

The setting is Paris, and who doesn't want to go to Paris? I wish we had cafes here in the US which were 1-walking distance and 2-where you can read for as long as you like. If only Starbucks were that way. It also offered a teenager who goes to school, is expected to be responsible, get good grades, and behave. Her grief is well handled. Her sister seems to have a bit too much freedom but didn't seem completely out of character for a young adult in Europe.

The plot was really interesting. The idea that these characters have a central base from which they operate and the list of characters themselves was so fascinating. Calling them undead or zombies was a misnomer in my opinion. I would peg them instead as guardian angels, even though I hold fast to the idea that humans are humans and angels are angels - one doesn't turn into the other after death. It's like two different races.

The characters were well developed and rich. Kate and Vincent are wonderful together. I have a problem with Kate's attitude toward him at the beginning, though. I can see where Plum was going with it, but I think it could have been handled better. Vincent's behaviour didn't seem to warrant Kate's initial response to him.

Their relationship develops nicely. it happens slowly and appropriately. And the response of the group Vincent is with is also appropriate and well handled. The way Kate finds out about them seems a bit contrived - how could these stealth fighters not realise she was watching them? Really? But it served its purpose and wasn't completely out of the realm of believability.

I really like Julia Whelan as a narrator, and she does a good job with the accents in this story. It's hard to get that French accent right. She does a better than passable job with it.

I'm looking forward to continuing on with this series. I think it can only get more interesting as it goes.