The Strange Case of Finley Jayne by Kady Cross

The Strange Case of Finley Jayne (Steampunk Chronicles #0.5)by Kady Cross
Publish Date:  May 1, 2011
Publisher:  Harlequin
ISBN:  978-1459204140
Pages:  78 

I received this book from www.netgalley.com

What a fun, exciting book!  In this quick read we are introduced to Finley Jayne and given her backstory.  The story opens with Finley getting fired for protecting a child. Then Lady Morten hires her almost immediately to be her daughter's companion.  Her daughter is Phoebe and she's engaged to the much older Lord Vincent.


The Morten's are extremely good to Finley and she hopes to be able to stay with them awhile.  She quickly attends a party at Lord Vincent's where she views a portrait of Lord V with his now-deceased wife.  She looks exactly like Phoebe.  Turns out that she was Lady Morten's cousin.  Lady Morten is a little freaked out too and since she knows about Finley's capabilities, she's hoping to soon feel better about the engagement.


This is a fabulous prequel and even if you've already read GIRL IN THE STEEL CORSET, you should pick this one up.  It's a great intro!  I'm really glad that I read it first.

Tris & Izzie by Mette Ivie Harrison

Tris & Izzie by Mette Ivie Harrison
Publish Date:  October 11, 2011
Publisher: EgmontUSA
ISBN  9778-1606841730
Pages:  272


I received this e-galley from www.netgalley.com.



Let's take a look at the Tristan & Isolde legend before we talk about the book, shall we?  There have been tons of retellings of the legend, which is a tragic love story.  Tristan is a symbol of the virtues of chivalry: including honor and bravery.  So he's wounded in a battle and his injuries won't heal.  Oh yeah, a piece of his sword got stuck in his opponent's head.  He goes to a princess, Isolde, who was skilled in healing. His King is impressed and sent Tristan back to seek her for his Queen.  Isolde realizes that Tristan had killed her uncle (remember that piece of sword stuck in his opponent's head?), but she still agrees to marry the King.  Isolde's mother feeds Isolde and Tristan a love potion - they know what it is and drink it anyway.  Isolde marries the King but loved Tristan. Finally Tristan flees in despair, later marrying another Isolde, becoming injured, sending for the first Isolde and dies.  The first Isolde dies when she realizes he's dead.

So the King must be Mark, Izzie's boyfriend, I'm guessing.  He's the football team captain.

Izzie has been dating Mark for awhile now and she hangs out with Mark and her best friend, Branna, all the time.  Izzie's mom drives an ambulance because she's magical and uses potions to help patients she picks up.  Her dad is dead.

Izzie wants to set up Branna with a boy, but can't figure out who Branna's in love with.  Then this new guy shows up...Tristan. He's cute, great personality and runs fast. Mark wants him on the track team and Izzie feels attracted to him, which makes her mad, so she's mean to him.  Branna doesn't seem to care about him one way or the other.   

In the end: Tris and Izzie end up together and Mark and Branna end up together.  My issue with this is that everyone is pretty much instantly ok with it.  C'mon, these are teenagers - it's not that simple!!!!  I hated that Izzie's mom thinks Branna might have magic since she accepts the idea of it so easily.  The battles took too long and there was even romance in the middle of them, seriously?!  Also, just because Tristan is from a sheltered magical community, does he need to speak like he's from medieval times?  I mean, Izzie and her mom only left the community 10 years or so ago, are they that far behind?

I really didn't feel connected with the characters and felt that this wasn't a retelling of the legend, it more or less just used the names and general idea.  That being said, it was pretty well-written, I'm going to have to see what else the author has written and give it a try. 

Every Other Day by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Every Other Day by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Publisher:  Egmont USA
Publish Date:  December 27, 2011
ISBN:  978-1606841693   
Pages:  336


I received this book from www.netgalley.com in return for an honest review.

Kalie is a regular human girl every other day.  The days in between she's a kickass demon hunter.  Kali's mom is gone and her dad doesn't know what she is...he's really busy at work apparently.  Kali's dad decides to switch her into public school, Kali believes that he's doing it because his bosses daughter switched.

I loved that when Kali changed from human to demon hunter, she would have a mental countdown till she changed again.  So randomly she'd think (for example) twelve hours, eighteen minutes.  I loved it!  I'd be on the edge of my seat hoping she's be able to accomplish what she needed to before she changed again.

It's becoming harder to find a book that isn't either:
a) an amazingly good looking, smart and funny guy that has all the girls chasing him and the one 'plain' girl ignores him...or
b) TWO amazingly good looking, smart and funny, yet very different boys are after the same girl; she loves them both and has to choose

This book is neither of those.  There are three main characters and they're all girls: Kali, Bethany and Skylar.  It was like the PowderPuff Girls meet Buffy and they're ready to do what's necessary. 

We've talked about Kali a little bit already.  No matter what her issues, she just keeps going.  She knows she's doing a good thing by killing the demons and hellhounds and the like, but she just can't accept that she's really a hero.

Bethany is her dad's bosses daughter. She's a cheerleader, popular and snooty. She's also witty and sarcastic.  You want to hate her because of the way she acts in the beginning, but can't help but like her later.

Skylar believes she's psychic.  She has loads of brothers, one of whom is Bethany's boyfriend.  She's confident, brave, cute and peppy.  She introduces herself to Kali something like this: "Slut.  Even says so, right across the font of my locker. The janitors have tried to paint over it, but the locker elves are a persistent bunch, so there it stays."  Right then I knew I'd love her!

The only male character worth mentioning is Zev.  Zev was a bit flat - he's a voice in Kali's head, but he's also a real person she needs to help. He was a useful device to give Kali information she couldn't get anywhere else, but otherwise I could have done without him.

The only downside was that Kali seemed to spend a lot of time explaining/questioning (to herself mostly) who she is, where she came from and what her purpose is.  I just wanted her to hush and get on with it!  I think that Ms. Barnes is an excellent writer and I hope to see more of the girls.  I do so love the cover too!

Books Out This Week: Oct. 10 - 14, 2011

Bunheads by Sophie Flack
Release Date: October 10, 2011

From Goodreads:  As a dancer with the ultra-prestigious Manhattan Ballet Company, nineteen-year-old Hannah Ward juggles intense rehearsals, dazzling performances and complicated backstage relationships. Up until now, Hannah has happily devoted her entire life to ballet.
But when she meets a handsome musician named Jacob, Hannah's universe begins to change, and she must decide if she wants to compete against the other "bunheads" in the company for a star soloist spot or strike out on her own in the real world. Does she dare give up the gilded confines of the ballet for the freedoms of everyday life?

 Stick by Andrews Smith
Release Date:  October 11, 2011


From Goodreads:  Fourteen-year-old Stark McClellan (nicknamed Stick because he’s tall and thin) is bullied for being “deformed” – he was born with only one ear. His older brother Bosten is always there to defend Stick. But the boys can’t defend one another from their abusive parents.
When Stick realizes Bosten is gay, he knows that to survive his father's anger, Bosten must leave home. Stick has to find his brother, or he will never feel whole again. In his search, he will encounter good people, bad people, and people who are simply indifferent to kids from the wrong side of the tracks. But he never loses hope of finding love – and his brother.

 The Death Cure (Maze Runner #3) by James Dashner
Release Date: October 11, 2011


From Goodreads:  Thomas knows that Wicked can't be trusted, but they say the time for lies is over, that they've collected all they can from the Trials and now must rely on the Gladers, with full memories restored, to help them with their ultimate mission. It's up to the Gladers to complete the blueprint for the cure to the Flare with a final voluntary test.
What Wicked doesn't know is that something's happened that no Trial or Variable could have foreseen. Thomas has remembered far more than they think. And he knows that he can't believe a word of what Wicked says.
The time for lies is over. But the truth is more dangerous than Thomas could ever imagine.
Will anyone survive the Death Cure?

 Tris and Izzie by Mette Ivie Harrison
Release Date:  October 11, 2011


From Goodreads:  A modern retelling of the German fairy tale "Tristan and Isolde," Tris and Izzie is about a young witch named Izzie who is dating Mark King, the captain of the basketball team and thinks her life is going swimmingly well. Until -- she makes a love potion for her best friend Brangane and then ends up taking it herself accidentally, and falling in love with Tristan, the new guy at school.

 Devoted (Elixir #2) by Hilary Duff
Release Date:  October 11, 2011


From Goodreads:  Since Sage was kidnapped, Clea has no way of knowing if he is alive or dead. And even though she has only just discovered they were soulmates, she feels like a part of her is lost forever. What’s worse, she can’t even turn to her best friend Ben—because every time she looks at him, all she sees is his betrayal. But waiting for something to happen is not an option, so Clea is ready for action. Suffering through dreams of seeing Sage with another woman, she makes an uneasy alliance with Sage’s enemies and sets out to be reunited with Sage...in this life or the next.

 Frost (Stork #2) by Wendy Delsol
Release Date:  October 11, 2011


From Goodreads:  After the drama of finding out that she’s a Stork, a member of an ancient and mystical order of women, and that her boyfriend, Jack, is a descendent of the Winter People able to control the weather, Katla Leblanc is delighted when all signs point to a busy and peaceful Christmas. That is, until the snowstorm Jack summons as a gift to Katla turns into the storm of the century, attracting Brigid, a gorgeous scientist who, in turn, attracts Jack. Between the school play, a bedridden, pregnant mother’s to-do lists, and keeping an eye on her aging grandfather, Katla doesn’t have time to question Brigid’s motives or deal with Jack’s increasingly cold behavior. But Katla’s suspicions mount when Jack joins Brigid on a research expedition to Greenland, and when the two of them go missing, it becomes clear that Katla is the only one who can save her beloved Jack from the Snow Queen who holds him prisoner. Adventure, romance, and myth combine in this winter escapade for teens who like a bit of fire with their ice.

 The Goblin War (Goblin Wood #3) by Hilari Bell
Release Date: October 11, 2011


From Goodreads:  A multitude of vicious barbarians is out to take over the Realm. The only ones who know what it will take to stop them are teenage hedgewitch Makenna, former knight Tobin, his well-meaning but often naïve younger brother, Jeriah—and a whole lot of goblins. They’ll need to work together to formulate a plan. The answer lies with the Otherworld Spirits and also with the blood amulets that give infinite power to the barbarians. The question is: Can they band together and save the Realm in time? 

Deadly Cool by Gemma Halliday
Release Date:  October 11, 2011


From Goodreads:  First I find out that my boyfriend is cheating on me. Then he’s pegged as the #1 suspect in a murder. And now he’s depending on me to clear his name. Seriously?
As much as I wouldn’t mind watching him squirm, I know that he’s innocent. So I’m brushing off my previously untapped detective skills and getting down to business. But I keep tripping over dead bodies and I’m still no closer to figuring out who did it. And what’s worse: all signs seem to point to me as the killer’s next victim.
I really need to pick a better boyfriend next time.

 Just Your Average Princess by Kristina Springer
Release Date:  October 11, 2011


From Goodreads:  Jamie Edwards has loved everything about growing up on a pumpkin patch, but ever since her cousin Milan Woods arrived, things have really stunk. Jamie can’t imagine it was easy for Milan to leave her life back in Los Angeles and move to Average, Illinois, population one thousand. But it’s kind of hard to feel sorry for her since (a) Milan’s drop-dead gorgeous; (b) she’s the daughter of two of Hollywood’s hottest film stars; (c) she’s captured the attention of everyone in town, including Danny, Jamie’s crush since forever; and (d) she’s about to steal the title of Pumpkin Princess right out from underneath Jamie!

 Life: An Exploded Diagram by Mal Peet
Release Date:  October 11, 2011


From Goodreads:  Can love survive a lifetime? When working-class Clem Ackroyd falls for Frankie Mortimer, the gorgeous daughter of a wealthy local landowner, he has no hope that it can. After all, the world teeters on the brink of war, and bombs could rain down any minute over the bleak English countryside - just as they did seventeen years ago as his mother, pregnant with him, tended her garden. This time, Clem may not survive. 

The Watch that Ends the Night: Voices from the Titanic by Allan Wolf
Release Date:  October 11, 2011


From Goodreads:  Arrogance and innocence, hubris and hope--twenty-four haunting voices of the Titanic tragedy, as well as the iceberg itself, are evoked in a stunning tour de force.

Millionaire John Jacob Astor hopes to bring home his pregnant teen bride with a minimum of media scandal. A beautiful Lebanese refugee, on her way to family in Florida, discovers the first stirrings of love. And an ancient iceberg glides south, anticipating its fateful encounter. The voices in this remarkable re-creation of the Titanic disaster span classes and stations, from Margaret ("the unsinkable Molly") Brown to the captain who went down with his ship; from the lookout and wireless men to a young boy in search of dragons and a gambler in search of marks. Slipping in telegraphs, undertaker’s reports, and other records, poet Allan Wolf offers a breathtaking, intimate glimpse at the lives behind the tragedy, told with clear-eyed compassion and astounding emotional power. 

 David by Mary Hoffman
Release Date:  October 11, 2011



From Goodreads:  Michelangelo's statue, David, is famous around the world. Millions flock to Italy every year to admire the physical perfection of the young man captured within the marble. But the identity of the model has never been known . . . until now.
In this epic tale, acclaimed author Mary Hoffman imagines the story of Gabriele, a naive but incredibly handsome young man who is hired as Michelangelo's model, only to find himself drawn into a world of spies, political treachery, and murder. Set against the vibrant backdrop of Florence in its most turbulent times, this rich, colorful, thrilling tale gives life to one of the world's greatest masterpieces.

 Girls Don't Fly by Kristen Chandler
Release Date:  October 13, 2011


From Goodreads:  Myra is used to keeping her feet firmly on the ground. She's got four younger brothers, overworked parents, and a pregnant older sister, and if Myra wasn't there to take care of everyone, they'd probably fall apart. But when her boyfriend unceremoniously dumps her, Myra feels like she's lost her footing. Suddenly she's doing things she never would've a few months earlier: quitting her job, applying for a scholarship to study birds in the Galapogos, and falling for a guy who's encouraging her to leap from her old life . . . and fly.

 Audition by Stasia Ward Kehoe
Release Date:  October 13, 2011


From Goodreads:  When high school junior Sara wins a coveted scholarship to study ballet, she must sacrifice everything for her new life as a professional dancer-in-training. Living in a strange city with a host family, she's deeply lonely-until she falls into the arms of Remington, a choreographer in his early twenties. At first, she loves being Rem's muse, but as she discovers a surprising passion for writing, she begins to question whether she's chosen the right path. Is Rem using her, or is it the other way around? And is dancing still her dream, or does she need something more? This debut novel in verse is as intense and romantic as it is eloquent.

 Darwen Arkwright and the Peregrine Pact by A.J. Hartley
Release Date:  October 13, 2011


From Goodreads:  Eleven-year-old Darwen Arkwright has spent his whole life in a tiny town in England. So when he is forced to move to Atlanta, Georgia, to live with his aunt, he knows things will be different - but what he finds there is beyond even his wildest imaginings!

Darwen discovers an enchanting world through the old mirror hanging in his closet - a world that holds as many dangers as it does wonders. Scrobblers on motorbikes with nets big enough to fit a human boy. Gnashers with no eyes, but monstrous mouths full of teeth. Flittercrakes with bat-like bodies and the faces of men. Along with his new friends Rich and Alexandra, Darwen becomes entangled in an adventure and a mystery that involves the safety of his entire school. They soon realize that the creatures are after something in our world - something that only human children possess.

Do you see what I see?

Every Other Day by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Isn't the cover cool?

I'm behind!!!

Hey gang!  No review today, I'm running a little behind due to family stuff.  I'm taking my daughter in for oral surgery today and will be writing reviews in the waiting room.

I took a train trip recently and got a ton of reading done!  Thanks for being patient and waiting for me - I promise it will be worth it!!!

Books Out This Week: October 3 - 9, 2011

Palace of the Damned (The saga of Larten Crepsley #3) by Darren Shan
Release Date:  October 3, 2011

From Goodreads:  Before Madame Octa...Before the Cirque...
Before Darren Shan...
Larten Crepsley was a young man.
After failing his mentor and killing the entire crew of a ship in a bout of revenge for the death of his assistant, Larten is bereft with guilt. He no longer has the drive to live the vampiric life, and hides out in Paris, masquerading as a human. There, he finds some happiness, even falling in love with a girl. But the darkness inside him is too great for humanity, and he is forced to make a choice: hide in the shadows of the human world, or take his place among the vampire clan and protect those weaker than himself. But enemies are waiting, traps are laid, and Larten's path is bound to be strewn with bodies.
This is his story.

 Everybody Sees the Ants by A.S. King
Release Date:  October 3, 2011


From Goodreads:  Lucky Linderman didn't ask for his life. He didn't ask his grandfather not to come home from the Vietnam War. He didn't ask for a father who never got over it. He didn't ask for a mother who keeps pretending their family is fine. And he certainly didn't ask to be the recipient of Nadar McMillan's relentless bullying, which has finally gone too far.Lucky has a secret—one that helps him wade through the daily dysfunction of his life. Grandad Harry, trapped in the jungles of Laos, has been visiting Lucky in his dreams—and the dreams just might be real: an alternate reality where he can be whoever he wants to be and his life might still be worth living. But how long can Lucky remain in hiding there before reality forces its way inside?

 Gossip Girl, Psycho Killer by Cecily von Ziegesar
Release Date:  October 3, 2011


From Goodreads: Welcome to New York City's Upper East Side, where my friends and I live, go to school, play, and sleep-sometimes with each other. It's a luxe life, but someone's got to live it . . . until they die.So begins Gossip Girl, Psycho Killer, a re-imagined and expanded slasher edition of the first groundbreaking Gossip Girl novel, featuring all new grisly scenes and over-the-top gore by #1 New York Times bestselling author Cecily von Ziegesar.
Just as in the original story, Serena returns from boarding school hoping to make amends with her BFF Blair Waldorf--things just haven't been the same since Nate Archibald came between them. But here's where our dark tale takes a turn: Serena decides that the only way for her to make things right with Blair is to eliminate Nate. If that means killing him, well, c'est la vie. Her attempted murder doesn't go unnoticed by Blair, however, who isn't about to let Serena kill whoever she wants-not when there's Cyrus Rose and Chuck Bass and Titi Coates and everyone else who's ever irritated Blair to get rid of first . . . .

 Bleeding Hearts (Drake Chronicles #4) by Alyxandra Harvey
Release Date:  October 2011


From Goodreads:  Lucy's cousin Christabel has come to live in Violet Hill, and adjusting to the difference between life in a small mountain town and her home in the city is difficult enough. The strict curfew that Lucy's parents enforce is the worst part. Something really dangerous couldn't possibly happen in this tiny town.
But Christabel has noticed some mysterious happenings, and it seems like Lucy, her boyfriend Nicholas and his brother Connor are all in on a secret that Christabel doesn't understand—one that seems deadly serious. Although she won't admit it, Christabel would love to be in on any secret with Connor Drake. But when she is kidnapped by the ruthless Hel-Blar vampires, Christabel must cause more and more trouble in Violet Hill, Lucy and Connor finally fill Christabel in on all the undead drama. Together, they must find a way to stamp out the Hel-Blar for good.

 Silence (Hush, Hush #3) by Becca Fitzpatrick
Release Date: October 4, 2011


From Goodreads:  The noise between Patch and Nora is gone. They've overcome the secrets riddled in Patch's dark past...bridged two irreconcilable worlds...faced heart-wrenching tests of betrayal, loyalty and trust...and all for a love that will transcend the boundary between heaven and earth. Armed with nothing but their absolute faith in one another, Patch and Nora enter a desperate fight to stop a villain who holds the power to shatter everything they've worked for—and their love—forever.

 The Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon
Release Date:  October 4, 2011


From Goodreads:  Their love was meant to be. When Megan Rosenberg moves to Ireland, everything in her life seems to fall into place. After growing up in America, she's surprised to find herself feeling at home in her new school. She connects with a group of friends, and she is instantly drawn to darkly handsome Adam DeRís.
But Megan is about to discover that her feelings for Adam are tied to a fate that was sealed long ago—and that the passion and power that brought them together could be their ultimate destruction.

 Eve (Eve Trilogy #1) by Anna Carey
Release Date:  October 4, 2011


From Goodreads:  The year is 2032, sixteen years after a deadly virus—and the vaccine intended to protect against it—wiped out most of the earth’s population. The night before eighteen-year-old Eve’s graduation from her all-girls school she discovers what really happens to new graduates, and the horrifying fate that awaits her.

Fleeing the only home she’s ever known, Eve sets off on a long, treacherous journey, searching for a place she can survive. Along the way she encounters Caleb, a rough, rebellious boy living in the wild. Separated from men her whole life, Eve has been taught to fear them, but Caleb slowly wins her trust...and her heart. He promises to protect her, but when soldiers begin hunting them, Eve must choose between true love and her life.

Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver and Kei Acedera
Release Date:  October 4, 2011

From Goodreads:  We meet Liesl the night after the day her young father has died. That same day she is visited by a ghost, Po, an eight year old boy who lives on the other side, the territory between life and death that runs parallel to the living world. Po has come to tell her that her father is stuck on the other side, and that she is the only one who can help him cross over. A couple of wooden boxes. Some ashes. Some magic dust. A ghost, its pet, and a boy who forgot to wear a hat in the cold. From these seemingly odd, random characters Oliver weaves the enchanting story of how, with the aid of Liesl, these elements come together over the course of one week to restore love and luster to a world gone grey and heartless.

The Son of Neptune (Heroes of Olympus #2) by Rick Riordan
Release Date:  October 4, 2011

From Goodreads:  In The Lost Hero, three demigods named Jason, Piper, and Leo made their first visit to Camp Half-Blood, where they inherited a quest:
Seven half-bloods shall answer the call,
To storm or fire the world must fall.
An oath to keep with a final breath,
And foes bear arms to the Doors of Death.
Who are the other four mentioned in the prophecy? The answer may lie in another camp miles away, where a new camper has shown up and appears to be the son of Neptune, god of the sea...

 The Mark of the Golden Dragon (Bloody Jack #9) by L.A. Meyer
Release Date:  October 4, 2011


From Goodreads:  Jacky Faber, soldier, sailor, spy, and sometime pirate, condemned for life to the English prison colony in Australia for high crimes against the Crown, has once again wriggled out of the grasp of British authorities. Back on her flagship, the Lorelei Lee, she happily heads back to England in the company of dear friends and her beloved Jaimy Fletcher.
However, due to a typhoon, an earthquake, tidal waves, pirates, and her own impetuous nature, Jacky is cast into a world of danger that extends from the South China Sea to the equally treacherous waters of politics in London's smoky dens of intrigue, deception, and betrayal.
Can she save herself from recapture and a final trip to the gallows? Can she also save her own dear Jaimy from the madness that seems to be overtaking his tortured mind? Devious Chinese businessmen, willowy Eurasian maidens, fierce Gurkhas, loyal friends, and wildly romantic highwaymen are all involved in this tale of love, courage, and redemption.

 Variant by Robison Wells
Release Date:  October 4, 2011


From Goodreads:  Benson Fisher thought that a scholarship to Maxfield Academy would be the ticket out of his dead-end life. He was wrong.
Now he’s trapped in a school that’s surrounded by a razor-wire fence. A school where video cameras monitor his every move. Where there are no adults. Where the kids have split into groups in order to survive.
Where breaking the rules equals death.
But when Benson stumbles upon the school’s real secret, he realizes that playing by the rules could spell a fate worse than death, and that escape—his only real hope for survival—may be impossible.

 The Apothecary by Maile Meloy, Ian Schoenherr-Illustrator
Release Date:  October 4, 2011


From Goodreads:  It's 1952 and the Scott family has just moved from Los Angeles to London. Here, fourteen-year-old Janie meets a mysterious apothecary and his son, Benjamin Burrows - a fascinating boy who's not afraid to stand up to authority and dreams of becoming a spy. When Benjamin's father is kidnapped, Janie and Benjamin must uncover the secrets of the apothecary's sacred book, the Pharmacopoeia, in order to find him, all while keeping it out of the hands of their enemies - Russian spies in possession of nuclear weapons. Discovering and testing potions they never believed could exist, Janie and Benjamin embark on a dangerous race to save the apothecary and prevent impending disaster.

 The Lost Stories (Ranger's Apprentice) by John Flanagan
Release Date:  October 4, 2011


From Goodreads:  Inspired by questions and letters his loyal readers have sent over the years, John Flanagan offers a gift in response: a collection of "lost" tales that fill in the gaps between Ranger's Apprentice novels. For the first time, readers can learn the truth behind how Will came to be orphaned and what his real relationship to Halt is, or watch Alyss in action as the young Araluen diplomat disguises herself and becomes the perfect spy.

 Mercy Lily by Lisa Rondinelli Albert
Release Date:  October 8, 2011


From Goodreads:  Mom has slowly been losing herself to MS. After traditional treatment fails, she takes bee sting therapy, administered by Lily, to alleviate her pain. Lily is trained as a veterinary assistant, so she can easily handle the treatments. What she can't handle is what happens when the bee sting therapy fails and it becomes clear that Mom wants to die.
One beautiful spring day, Lily's mother asks her for the most impossible thing of all—mercy. They live in Oregon, where the Death with Dignity Act allows a patient to make the decision to end their own life.
While navigating first love, friendship, and the other normal worries faced by high school sophomores, Lily also has to choose: grant Mom's request, or cling to Mom's fading life for all it's worth.

  The Next Door Boys by Jolene B. Perry
Release Date:  October 8, 2011

From Goodreads:  With her body still recovering from last year's cancer treatments, Leigh Tressman is determined to be independent. Despite the interference from her overprotective brother, the ever-expanding line of young men ready to fall in love with her--not to mention the physical frustrations and spiritual dilemmas Leigh discovers what it actually means to stand on her own and learns that love can be found in unexpected but comfortable places.

 Seers by Heather Frost
Release Date:  October 8, 2011


From Goodreads:  For Kate Bennet, surviving the car wreck that killed her parents means big changes and even bigger problems. As she begins to see auras and invisible people, Kate must learn to trust Patrick O'Donnell, a handsome Guardian, or risk her life being overrun with Demons. She soon realizes that both she and her heart are in big-time trouble.