Vampire Knight (1-3) by Matsuri Hino

I love Manga – it’s special and different when compared to American comics/stories.  Manga borders on the silly while having serious moments.  This one is no exception.  I loved it.

Yuki is the adopted daughter of the headmaster of a special boarding school.  The day classes are fairly normal but at night a different set of students come to learn and they are vampires.

Yuki works as the special guardian with Zero.  Their job is to keep the vampires a secret and prevent them from harming the human students.   Both Yuki and Zero have been victims of vampires in the past which led them to the academy.  Yuki has no memory of her life before vampire Kaname saved her from another vampire. 

As is common in Manga there is a love triangle between Yuki, Zero and Kaname.  I get the feeling that she loves Zero more but we’ll see.

If you love silly romance or anything vampire – I recommend this series. I’ve read through volume 3 and I hate having to wait to get my hands on future volumes.

Matsuri Hino also wrote Captive Hearts – a super silly comedy about a man who is cursed to fall in love with a particular girl.

She has a great style and I love her inserts about her life as she writes these stories.

Two Moon Princess by Carmen Ferreiro-Esteban

It took a little work but not much to get into this story. I wasn’t sure what to think about it at first and then suddenly I was swept away and could not put it down. This is the story of Princess Andrea. A mix of coming of age with science fiction with fantasy and rounded out by a touch of romance. Andrea wants to become a knight. As the fourth daughter she has no claim to the throne and wants nothing to do with being a lady. Her parents refuse her request and so she sets off on her own adventure. Wild and high spirited, Andrea finds herself leaving her world and entering California. She learns that nothing is what she thought it was. Upon returning home, she inadvertently starts a war which she has to work to stop. What I liked best was that Andrea had a fairly immature view of the world and it surprised her as she matured. I loved her confusion and the fact that she was unsure of herself, even right up to the end. She was real and insecure. There were some language issues but I only noticed them early on, the story completely sucked me in. I was uncertain of everyone’s motivation and, while I guessed who would be her love interest, I was still surprised by each turn of events. I would love to read more and see where her next adventure takes her.

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers

I wasn’t sure how to feel about this book when I first started. The story is Ismae’s – as she is rescued from a life filled with pain and hatred. She is taught to be an assassin for the convent of St Mortain as she was conceived from Mortain himself. Sent out to find a traitor to her duchess, Anne of Brittany, Ismae soon discovers that nothing is as it seems. The story is part adventure and part romance. I enjoyed both aspects of it. Robin LaFevers wove together an amazing tale, leaving me longing for more. It was a little slow to start with but soon I couldn’t put it down. I now have a long year’s wait for the sequel and I’m not sure I can wait. I want it now. Especially, knowing that the sequel will explain what is happening with Sybella, another member of the convent and dear friend to Ismae.

The Unbidden Magic Series

With the final book coming out this summer, Netgalley had an offer for their reviewers – all four of the current books of the Unbidden Magic Series as one long e-book. The number of pages was daunting but that didn’t stop me from burning through the books in a matter of days. Allie is just a normal girl trying to survive what life has offered her. She lives with her mother in a travel trailer on a piece of her mother’s step-brother’s land. Her mother was suffering from a mysterious illness that prevented her from working. Poor didn’t even begin to express how they lived. That was until Allie fell off the porch and something strange happened. Her life would never be the same. Allie was meant for greater things that involved magic, demons, fairies and an upcoming war between the light and the dark. The stories are witty and entertaining. Maybe a little over the top but I think that’s what I loved about them. It’s tough to talk about a series without giving away too much information but I will say the thing that tickled me the most was Allie’s boy trouble. She’s awkward and brash but that doesn’t stop the boys from lining up and threatening her reputation. They compare this series to Sookie Stackhouse, not sure I agree but I will say these are a fun read and I’m not all that excited that I now have to wait for the 5th book. Especially since the fourth ended with such a cliffhanger.

New Girl by Paige Harbison

I read a review about this book which prompted me to request it from NetGalley. I’m so glad I did. New Girl is a re-telling of Rebecca by Daphne DuMaurier. I have never read Rebecca nor was I familiar with the story so I thought it would be a fun way to discover a classic and I would have no pre-conceived ideas of how the plot should go. The other thing I knew about the book was there was a twist at the ending. I had expected more of a twist than I got. That’s not to say it was a bad ending or twist but my overactive imagination was sure there was something so unexpected going to happen like the “New Girl” turned out to be Rebecca and everyone was playing along with her fantasy but it was nothing like that. The only twist is that you find out what really happened to Rebecca and it’s not that much of a twist. The story was great. I could not put the book down. I devoured it in hours (which always leaves me unsatisfied because it’s over). The main character’s name is not revealed until the last page or so which makes describing the book a little tricky. The “new girl” is accepted to Manderley, a private boarding school in New Hampshire. She has spent her whole life in a small town in Florida and is stunned to learn she will be spending her senior year at a boarding school she had been interested in years prior. She’s not that excited to go. She gets to the school to find that she is “replacing” Becca who mysteriously disappeared at the end of the last school year. The book flips between the new girl’s story and Becca’s. There’s not a lot of “plot” in this book but it’s an interesting picture into the life of the New Girl. I enjoyed her journey through her senior year. It wasn’t easy and yet her character remained believable. The circumstances remained believable. Sometimes it’s nice to just experience someone else’s life and that’s what New Girl really is. She’s not perfect but she’s not overly flawed, just human. She’s in a bad situation but doesn’t let that stop her from succeeding. It was nice to see her struggle and the awkwardness she felt as she changed. I think it’s a great book for young women to read. It’s probably too “girly” for boys but it’s still a great story to experience.

The Green Man by Michael Bedard

This book just goes to show you don’t have to be a great writer to write a great book. Some of the language was not what you would consider correct in terms of modern English teachers but it was still beautiful. Michael Bedard wove a story that was not only touching but funny and suspenseful. O has just been recruited to spend the summer with her aunt, Emily, while her father goes to Italy. Emily is an elderly woman, poet and bookstore owner with a bad heart. O is not thrilled to spend the summer with her aunt but she’s not exactly disappointed. She’s just used to the way things go. O has a secret – she’s writing poetry herself. She fears that she, too, is crazy or will become crazy because that seems to be the fate of poets. Emily may be crazy but she is haunted by ghosts of poets that have taken residence up in her bookstore and by a darkness that appears every leap year that August 8th falls on a Saturday. There are many facets to this story and they seem to work well together. For me, the real story is about writing and those who are captivated by the words. There is a poetry to this book that spoke to me more than any book I have read recently. I laughed, cried and felt inspired.

Hades by George O’Connor

This is the fourth book in the graphic series The Olympians by George O’Connor. This is an amazing retelling of the story of Hades and Persephone. I was just captivated by the beauty of the drawings and the passion of the characters.
With tons of research into the myths, George O’Connor has created a story that weaves together all the bits and pieces. This telling of the Hades myth is not only touching but opens up a humanity in the Greek Gods that I believe was often missing in the more serious versions. Hades is portrayed as a man who has been given a job to do. He is shrouded in darkness but he is not evil.
Persephone has more personality in George O’Connor’s story than she has been given before. Here is a young woman smothered by her overprotective mother. Though Hades took her against her will, he is willing to give her more freedom than she ever had before and a chance to become the woman she wants to be.
Then there is Demeter, Persephone’s mother, who nearly destroys the world with her grief at the loss of her daughter. Through a connection with Hecate she is able to find her daughter.
In the end, this is a powerful story that can be enjoyed by girl or boy. It’s dark but romantic and I can’t wait to pick up more.

Bite Club by Rachel Caine

I love this series and each book gets better and better. However, I was a little shocked to find the format of this story was different. Normally, her books are all third person but this one had a few chapters told in first person by Shane. It was jarring in the beginning but soon I found his perspective to be rather refreshing. It was nice actually getting into the head of his character.
This is an emotional roller coaster. Shane is off his rocker and breaking Claire's heart. I love that she is so strong. She has so much faith in people that, even though her heart is breaking, she still fights for Shane. She still believes he loves her.
I forget how young her character is. She mentioned not turning 18 yet and I was stunned for a moment - wait isn't she 40 yet (not really) but I expected her to be older by now because she has grown so much over the series. When the books started she was a little mousy and now she's standing up to people she knows will probably kill her. She's not crazy and she is scared but she doesn't back down when she is right.
Tough decisions come up in this book and Claire treats them with reverance. I just cannot believe how wonderful these books are. I can't wait for the library to get the next one.

How David Met Sarah by Anne Kelleher

I have to admit that this is one of the hardest reviews I have ever had to do. It’s not because of the book but because I believe so strongly in the cause it represents. If you haven’t guessed, literacy is quite important to me. However, there is another cause that I don’t often talk about and that’s providing individuals with disabilities the opportunity to live their life to the fullest.
When my son started to read, it was amazing. He was just so smart and wanted to read everything. My mom commented that she wasn't surprised because reading allows for a certain amount of power. The story of Martin Luther seconded this idea. If you are not familiar with his story let me paraphrase – Martin Luther believed that the Bible should be translated into the common language (in this case German) so that everyone could have access to reading God’s word. The church had all the power because they were the only ones who could read the Bible.

What do you do when you don’t have the ability to read at an adult level? I never thought about this. To me, reading is reading. I never thought about it. I read anything and everything without thought or care – if it appeals to me then I read it. But what would my life look like if all I could read were children’s books. This makes me think of the scene in Lorenzo’s Oil when the boy indicates he’s sick of the stories his mother reads to him and wants something more age appropriate.
This is the case for many adults with disabilities that affect their ability to read at an adult level. They are relegated to the children’s section of the library for life. That is until Anne Kelleher wrote How David Met Sarah.

For me, How David Met Sarah was a beautiful snapshot in the life of a man who falls in love with a girl he sees in a restaurant. David may have a different life than mine but he was no less of a man. It was such a touching story. For those like David, this is a story they can relate to. David has work problems, life problems and through all this he’s found something to make it all okay. He has found a beautiful angel that occupies his every thought.

I highly recommend this book. I think it’s a must have whether or not you have someone in your life like David. I think it’s the perfect tale of what it’s like to live with a disability. Not everyone in David’s world accepts him. People can be very cruel and David’s story made me cry. I cry still. I am so grateful to have been given a review copy of this book.

I want to share one more point that I loved about this book. You know that David has a disability but it’s never used to describe David. In fact, David’s disability is never defined. A few words are thrown around when his parent’s talk to Sarah’s mother and it made me realize that as a parent of a child with a disability that I am like that too. I try not to let my son’s disability define him and then I throw it out there because I’m afraid the world won’t understand him.

Thank you Anne Kelleher for writing such an amazing story and I hope other authors step up and follow suit.

This post is part of a book blogtour, visit How David Met Sarah

Nice Shot, Cupid by Kate McMullan

Nice Shot, Cupid is the fourth book in the Myth-O-Mania series from Capstone Kids.
I think I liked this story better than Say Cheese, Medusa. It's not that this is a better story but I understand the rythym of the books better now. There's a lot to be said about Kate McMullan's myth books.
Nice Shot, Cupid tells the story of Psyche and Cupid. Psyche was the beautiful daughter of a king and Cupid, the son of Aphrodite. Mortals were so taken with Psyche's beauty that they stopped worshipping the goddess Aphrodite. Angry, Aphrodite told Cupid to make Psyche fall in love with a horrible man but Cupid feel in love with her himself.
Psyche is kidnapped and all she can think of is her love for the Voice, which is Cupid behind a curtain. When she sees him, she knows he's her true love but Aphrodite won't let her be with him until she's completed a series of tasks. The list of tasks continue to grow as Psyche ages.
Without Hades help, Psyche would never be able to settle down with Cupid and find happiness.
I loved Psyche. She's beautiful but that doesn't matter to her. She's kind and thoughtful. She's willing to accept her fate but doesn't mind doing the hard work. She loves Cupid so she doesn't mind all the tasks Aphrodite makes her do.
It's a sweet story of love, perseverance and gratitude. I highly recommend it for all ages. It's a great introduction into Greek Myths and a good catalyst for discussing good personality traits.

Witch Song by Amber Argyle

I got this e-book from the publisher for free in return for an honest review.
Brusenna has been an outcast her entire life and suddenly, she is alone. Tired of waiting, she starts a journey to find her mother and the other witches she hadn't known existed before her mother disappeared.
On her journey, she learns of Espen, a witch who is determined to rule the world and destroy the other witches. Senna has to stop her, save her mother and just survive in a world she was completely unprepared for.
With a few new friends, her constant companion and guardian is Joshen, a stable boy with dreams of greatness serving the witches. They set off to find and destroy the one witch no one else has been able to defeat.

I enjoyed this book. I can't say it was my favorite and it took me far too long to read. Part of that may have been because it was an e-book not a "real" book but I can't say for certain. The book just seemed really long. I liked Senna as a character but her lack of confidence started to wear on me just a tiny bit. I loved how she grew though. It wasn't that she was a witch but she became powerful as a person. She discovered her own ability to lead, I think I would have preferred her becoming that person sooner in the book.
Joshen was great and I have no complaints about him. The characters were good but the book only touched on most of the other characters. I can barely remember anyone's name and certainly couldn't distinguish which character was which. The difference in cultures was a little weird since there seemed to be only two "peoples" in all of this world even though the entire world was affected by Espen's evil.
I never really understood why Espen was doing this (a little but there are more questions here that would contain spoilers). I thought the ending was a little too easy and strange.
I must stress that I liked this book but it did fall a little flat for me.

Burnt Mountain by Anne Rivers Siddons

This is not my usual genre but Burnt Mountain had gotten such great reviews that I wanted to try. I was hesitant when I read the description because I was really sure how this book was going to go and I was pleasantly surprised.
Thayer Wentworth's life was constantly altered by Burnt Mountain. It was there that her father and grandfather died. It was there that she discovered a new happiness and escape from her overbearing mother. It was there she found her first love and her first heartbreak. It was because of that loss that she found Aengus, her husband and what she thought was the perfect life but Burnt Mountain called once more and this time it took her husband.
This was a sad and happy tale. Even in all the saddness, there was something hopeful and wonderful about Thayer. The story starts with her mother and how her mother got everything she had hoped for and still wasn't happy (okay there was one thing she wanted and never got which was something quite silly). Her mother was ambitious and nearly destroyed Thayer and her sister trying to get what she wanted. There's a touch of magic and timelessness in this story without delving into fantasy.
I really connected with Thayer and her awkwardness in life. She lacked focus but it wasn't distracting. Her story will make you sad and angry and grateful that you didn't grow up with her.

Angel by James Patterson

I can't say this was the best book in the Maximum Ride series but it was definitely the most interesting plot. Fang has left the flock and Max must choose between pining over him or returning the feelings Dylan has for her. It's not a typical triangle. Max and Fang have grown up together as they run from the scientists that created them (for those not reading the series currently the kids have been hybrid with birds and have wings). Dylan was created to be Max's perfect mate.
With Fang gone, Dylan is upping his "game" and working hard to win Max over.
Fang is not without his own turmoil. He left to start his own "flock" of kids who have been experimented on to fight the scientists. Along with new characters, Fang brings Max's clone in to fight. There are some real emotional twists and turns. Fang wants to be with Max but couldn't ask her to give up her destiny to follow his. He misses her so much that it's hard to be with her clone, Maya. Maya doesn't want to be a clone and is struggling to create her own identity which is hard because Fang keeps giving her lovelorn looks.
Max loves Fang but Dylan has a certain synchronicity with her. She wants to be loved for who she is not because the scientists make her the perfect mate. She's certain that Dylan loves her because of chemistry not because of her. Meanwhile, the scientists are pushing for Max and Dylan to run off and have children to ensure the survival of the human race.
As if all that was not enough, a new enemy has emerged called the Doomsday Group who's sole goal is to replace humans with hybrids. The two flocks have to battle an enemy that is recruiting fast and on a one way track to destroying all humanity.
There are so many interesting points in this story. I did get a little annoyed with Max's emotional roller coaster but it was completely understandable. It wasn't untrue to her character but I wished it had been given slightly less focus. It's all building up for the last book which comes out in February. That makes me the most sad. I've really enjoyed these books and these characters. Can't wait to see how it all ends.

Devil's Food Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke

I've finally carved out some reading time. It's amazing how much I can read if I don't watch TV in the evening.
Joanne Fluke has a style that I just love. Her books are light, fun with a touch of suspense. She has a formula that works and hasn't gotten stale yet (which is saying a lot for a long series like this). I highly recommend the entire series but I think this is my favorite so far (except I'm not sure I like the ending).
What I liked best is that she twisted it just a little without getting far fetched but I also liked that Hannah was put in a position where she really had to think about her dating situation.
I'll try not to add any spoilers for those reading earlier books but I apologize if they pop up.
Hannah Swenson is getting ready for the spring season at The Cookie Jar. There are weddings, parties, Valentine's Day all to plan for. Her friend the minister is finally able to go on his honeymoon when a blast from the past comes to visit. Reverand Matthew had spent time at the parsonage as a teen when his parents had gone on a mission. He was joined by his cousin Paul. The boys were so close that they were nearly twins. It's been a long time since anyone has seen them so when Matthew is murdered things start getting strange.
Meanwhile, Hannah has a bigger problem. She has competition for Norman's attention. Cute, sexy new dentist Beverly has a past with Norman and seems to be wiggling her little behind into Hannah's comfortable pattern. Beverly is seeing both Mike and Norman. Hannah is jealous and Norman is acting weird. Will she finally lose Norman because she couldn't choose him over Mike or will she have to share them with Beverly? It's a tough season for Hannah and she has to solve a murder on top of it.
I like Hannah because she tries to be smart. She always ends up alone with the killer and at risk of losing her life but she tries to learn from it and not make those mistakes again. I like that she's smart and she has community support behind her.
This is a mystery series that has recipes. I have to say, they made me sooooooo hungry. Last night I stopped and made the coffee she described. It probably wasn't the same but it was so good. I even shared some of the recipes with my son who can't wait to try them this weekend. I have found myself talking more about the recipes to those around me than the book (that's because they get tired of me talking about the plots - I can see it in their eyes).

Love Bites by Ellen Schreiber

This seventh installment of Ellen Schreiber's Vampire Kisses was great. Some series' have a tendency to go off on weird tangents or lose their steam but Schreiber continues to craft a great story.
Alexander's best friend Sebastian arrives to stay a few days with Alexander. Raven didn't even know he had a best friend since Alexander talks so little about himself. She sees this as an opportunity to learn more about her boyfriend but things go array when Sebastian falls in love with Raven's best friend Becky. Becky has a boyfriend and doesn't know that Raven is dating a vampire. Things can go horribly wrong if Raven doesn't do something cleaver.
The thing I love about Raven is she is so true to herself. She refuses to compromise her values and she is loyal to a fault. She is honestly torn between wanting to protect Becky and to protect Alexander. She really likes Sebastian and he can't help who he is.
Another beautiful part of this story is Raven's desire to become a vampire and Alexander's reluctance to change her. Raven learns more about why he doesn't want to make her a vampire and begins to understand the consequences of that choice (for her).
There is some backstory that comes into play with this book but not enough that if one picked this volume up first that they wouldn't be able to follow the story. There's still a ton of character growth between Raven and Alexander.
I love this series and really think it's the best of it's kind. The stories are not so filled with drama that they become bogged down and Schreiber's writing is light and enjoyable. This is a real teen with an unusual situation but there's so much more.
I like the lack of love triangles, even though Schreiber has toyed with them Raven has remained completely faithful to Alexander. They have real world problems (some with supernatural twists but pretty believable).
This series is more geared towards girls but I think there's enough action and "manliness" that a young man would enjoy them. The characters are in high school and approaching 18 fast but the writing is simple enough for a younger reader. The books are short, especially compared to similar series. (There's even a manga series based on these books that my son is devouring).

Abandon by Meg Cabot

Pierce died when she feel into the pool one winter. The doctors have nearly convinced her that everything that happened when she died was a dream but they don't know about the necklace and they don't know about him. John is the ruler of the underworld and he wants Pierce to be his.
This twist on the Hades/Persephone myth was as captivating as it was unexpected. It's more than a love story and more than a tale about good vs evil. Pierce is torn between two worlds and a long battle. She didn't put herself in the position she is in but she doesn't accept it willingly either.
I was really impressed by Pierce's character. She was strong but not overbearing. She just wants to survive high school like a normal person but she's in the middle of something that goes back far before she was born.
This is the first book of a trilogy starring Pierce and John. I can't wait until the second book. This first one had me so enthralled I barely put it down.

Beastly by Alex Flinn

This modern rendition of Beauty and the Beast was amazing but I am already disappointed in the movie (they changed the characters far too much).
The story follows Kyle Kingsbury, son of local legend newsanchor Rob Kingsbury. Kyle has been raised to know that beauty is what makes a person successful. He's arrogant and shallow. So much so that when an unattractive student at his school becomes his date for homecoming, he works to humilate that student. Turns out, she was a witch in disguise. For his act, Kyle is turned into a hairy beast.
Sadly, Kyle is rejected by his father and locked away in a house away from their manhattan home. Kyle decides to embrace the beast and changes his name. His only companions are a blind tutor and a foriegn maid. They become his family but he's still lonely.
Kyle pours himself into creating a rose garden but one night a man breaks into the greenhouse looking for money for drugs. That man offers his only daughter in exchange for his freedom. Things start to change for Kyle when that daughter turns out to be the girl who saved him from an even worse fate.
I don't want to give too much away but the story stays fairly true to the tale. In truth the plot isn't as important as the growth the reader sees in Kyle. He becomes someone so wonderful that everyone will fall in love with him.
I'm sad to see that the movie has so many changes but I will see it when it comes to video.

I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

When I first started reading this book, I wasn't sure if I was going to make it through it. The first couple of chapters bounce from present to past tense, settling on present tense for the remainder of the book. Present tense is not always the easiest on the brain for following a story. I have to say that the author was so good at scripting a tale that you forget the story tense and get sucked into the plot. It was an amazing story. I highly recommend it (and can't wait to get my hands on book 2).
The story follows a young man (who goes by John Smith through most of the book) who came to Earth when his planet was attacked. He was one of nine children brought to Earth with the idea that they would return to their planet when the time was right. As a protection, the children were given certain "spells" that prevent them from just being killed - they have to be killed in order. John is number four and the first three have been killed.
It's a great story of finding yourself, understanding your place in life. John has been on the run his entire life and just wants to make friends, fall in love and be normal. He questions his destiny but ultimately does what he believes is right. He gives everything of himself to those he is closest too. He has a few "whiny" moments but they are completely in character and poignant.
The author has created an amazing world and realistic characters. There's really something for everyone in this book. There's talk of environmental issues (without being preachy), committment, love, friendship and bully issues. I was just impressed.
Pittacus Lore is, in himself, a character. It's not overly obvious but Pittacus is an elder in the story and is somehow writing them at the same time. I am interested in how the author is going to bring this detail out in the stories.

Confessions of the Cleaning Lady by Miriam Newman

I want to start this post by saying I really enjoyed this book. I won a copy of this e-book off of Miriam Newman's blog. The premise was so delightful that I couldn't resist. It was the first book to go on my Nook so I didn't realize that it would get some weird formating issues (something to note when putting pdf files on the Nook). I don't know why but those weird formats were not on the original document so it was something weird with the translation to Nookish.
Anyway, aside from the weird formatting which only popped up now and again, I noticed that this book had some serious editing issues which concerns me for future DCL Publications purchases. There was mispelled words which can't be a fault of the Nook and occassional missing punctuation which may have been the Nook. The language of the book is not as strong as I would have liked. It wasn't the most well written book I have read but it wasn't the worst. (I have been doing a fair amount of critiquing and editing for friends which may have led to my need to edit this book).
Aside from all that, the story is entertaining. Being in the romance genre, it's a fluffy book and you know it's all going to work out in the end.
Shawna marries young due to a teen pregnancy. She loses the baby and eventually her husband. Alone, she works as a cleaning lady to make ends meet. She cuts down a tree in her yard, only to find that it housed fairies who were quite angry at her destroying their home. She helps them find a new home and they bless her with love. Shawna meets her new neighbor Mal, who hires her to clean his house. They fall in love. There's some drama with Shawna's family - her "father" is really her step-father and doesn't like her. Her real father left her mother while she was pregnant due to the Vietnam war and Shawna has never known him. There's meeting of families and some more drama as Mal is hurt in a horse riding accident. The fairies come and go (they sleep through the winters) and add little to the story.
I liked the romance and some of the "drama" was really interesting.
There were things that didn't work for me but I didn't let them ruin the story. The first is - Shawna and her husband get their marriage annulled. I don't remember when she got pregnant but she's 28 when the story starts (and strangly stays 28 through the whole story even though it covers at least 1 year). I can't imagine that someone can get their marriage annulled after 10 years or even up to that number.
I found the fairies were not used like they should have been. For leading the story with the fairies, they could be totally cut out and nothing would change except for the very ending but it wouldn't actually change the ending. I liked the fairies but it would have been nice if they had been an active part of the story.
Timelines bothered me in this story. I mentioned the annullment part but the other timeline that really bothered me (to the point I had to talk this over with my dad to get a real grasp on it) was Shawna's real father's situation. Remember Shawna is 28 and I had to check the publication date which was 2008. The story with Shawna's father was he was a Navy man who met her mother while on leave before shipping out to Vietnam for the war. (Hmm - I was born about 6 months prior to the end of the war and in 2008 I turned 34). I knew this little bit because my dad married my mom after he returned from Vietnam (or there about - don't worry about the details). Because that was personal to me, that timeline really bothered me. The other part of her dad's timeline that bothered me was that he died during this book from a lung disease (smoking related). When she can to see him, he was so old. I was a little shocked because everyone should be fairly young in this story. Her dad may be about 50 which shouldn't make him that old and the disease he was dying from is one that my grandmother and aunt live/d with. My grandmother had it for a really long time before dying in her 90's. My aunt is in her 60's and may not live as long as my grandmother did due to her smoking but I just can't see it killing her young father. It was just weird for me but that's me.
I did feel a little like the author was trying to make as much drama as she could. There were so many things coming at the characters that it felt a little like a greek tragedy. Again, I did like the story and I found myself wanted to see what happens next and I am thinking about when I can get my hands on the sequel.

Captive Hearts vol 1 by Matsuri Hino

This book was a collection of 3 romantic mangas. A Manga is an asian style graphic novel (for those who didn't know). They are not as seriously drawn as American graphic novels and this one was super over the top but it worked.
The stories are interesting tales of love but in the early stages of the relationship. The relationships are very innocent. I am not even certain there was any kissing. The first story is great - about a young man cursed to be the servant of a young girl and some times he has manservent fits.
Not only are the stories fun but the author inserts little notes through out the book which only add to the stories. She admits that they are silly and over the top which makes it easier for the reader to get into the stories.
My son actually picked out this book and the second volume but I have a feeling that this is not a book for boys. It's too romantic and silly and no fighting (unless boys getting hit over the head by a girl counts).
A fun and easy read but more time consuming that I thought. I expected to get both volumes done this afternoon and only got one which is nice to know that they take a little more effort (most manga are super quick reads and pricey when you buy them at the bookstore).