Wanderlost

Wanderlost is by Jen Malone.

Not all those who wander are lost, but Aubree Sadler most definitely is on this novel’s whirlwind trip through Europe.

Aubree can’t think of a better place to be than in perfectly boring Ohio, and she’s ready for a relaxing summer. But when her older sister, Elizabeth, gets into real trouble, Aubree is talked into taking over Elizabeth’s summer job, leading a group of senior citizens on a bus tour through Europe.

Aubree doesn’t even make it to the first stop in Amsterdam before their perfect plan unravels, leaving her with no phone, no carefully prepared binder full of helpful facts, and an unexpected guest: the tour company owner’s son, Sam. Considering she’s pretending to be Elizabeth, she absolutely shouldn’t fall for him, but she can’t help it, especially with the most romantic European cities as the backdrop for their love story.

But her relationship with Sam is threatening to ruin her relationship with her sister, and she feels like she’s letting both of them down. Aubree knows this trip may show her who she really is—she just hopes she likes where she ends up.

The Breakdown:
1. Malone writes an adorable novel that proves sometimes you have to get lost to find yourself. Aubree's perfect sister gets arrested covering for her so she convinces Aubree, who is very much a homebody/mama's girl to cover for her as a tour guide in Europe. I loved getting to know Aubree and experiencing Europe with her.  Now, I want to go to Europe more that ever, who wants to sponsor my trip?

2. One of my favorite things about this book is the senior citizen's tour group that Aubree is leading.  They are a colorful array of characters. They make me laugh on multiple occasions.  Plus, I love the way they come to really care for Aubree.

3.  Sam was too cute. He is funny and sweet, and it is hard not to fall for him.  The chemistry between he and Aubree is great, even when they are just one the phone together. I enjoyed watching their relationship unfold.

4. I have two complaints with the book.  First, the ending with Sam finding out Aubree's true identity and forgiving her was a little rushed feeling to me.  Second, and this is still bugging me, why did the police officer who arrested Elizabeth dislike her so much.  They obviously where in high school together, but I really want to know why he had such a chip on his shoulder about her.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read

Magic Binds

Magic Binds is the latest book in Ilona Andrews' Kate Daniels series.

Mercenary Kate Daniels knows all too well that magic in post-Shift Atlanta is a dangerous business. But nothing she’s faced could have prepared her for this…

Kate and the former Beast Lord Curran Lennart are finally making their relationship official. But there are some steep obstacles standing in the way of their walk to the altar…

Kate’s father, Roland, has kidnapped the demigod Saiman and is slowly bleeding him dry in his never-ending bid for power. A Witch Oracle has predicted that if Kate marries the man she loves, Atlanta will burn and she will lose him forever. And the only person Kate can ask for help is long dead.

The odds are impossible. The future is grim. But Kate Daniels has never been one to play by the rules…

The Breakdown:
1. I really enjoy this series.  Andrews, who is a husband and wife writing duo, do a great job in keeping it fresh and entertaining.  Andrews, also, does a fantastic job of making Kate and Curran's relationship a partnership between them. Plus the supporting characters, both friend and enemy are always interesting and complex characters.

2. I loved that this book really dealt a lot with the complexity that is Kate's father, Roland.  On the one hand, he wants to be a father to Kate, but then there is the drive to be the most powerful and control everything.  It is interesting to watch him want to please Kate and at the same time try bring her to submission. He has a very skewed outlook on humanity in general.

3. Oh, and in this book Andrews finally reveals who/what Christopher is and how he came to have his mind broken.  It is a crazy story, so of course, I loved it.

4. Kate is really struggling with her power/claiming of Atlanta.  She turns to an old enemy to help with that and help her defeat her father.  It makes for an interesting relationship, and I can't wait to see how is progress in the next books.

5.  Then there was the moment I have been waiting for, Kate and Curran's wedding.  It suited them so perfectly. I definitely ship them so hard.  Plus the bombshell at the end has me dying for the next book.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read

Three Dark Crowns

Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake is the first book of the series of the same name.

Every generation on the island of Fennbirn, a set of triplets is born: three queens, all equal heirs to the crown and each possessor of a coveted magic. Mirabella is a fierce elemental, able to spark hungry flames or vicious storms at the snap of her fingers. Katharine is a poisoner, one who can ingest the deadliest poisons without so much as a stomachache. Arsinoe, a naturalist, is said to have the ability to bloom the reddest rose and control the fiercest of lions.

But becoming the Queen Crowned isn’t solely a matter of royal birth. Each sister has to fight for it. And it’s not just a game of win or lose…it’s life or death. The night the sisters turn sixteen, the battle begins. The last queen standing gets the crown.

The Breakdown:
1.  I very much enjoyed Blake's book. An island where sisters are expected to kill each other to gain the crown. Each is raised by a foster family that has the same gifts as them, and the year they turn sixteen begins their battle to be the last queen standing. This book is mostly setting up the characters and the things that happen leading to the Beltane which is the start of game for the crown.

2. Loved that Blake spent time with each sister so that I could get to know them and the people they loved.  She showed how each was preparing for the battle for the crown, and how those around them were scheming for them to win. From Natalia and Peityr who want to make Katherine charm all the suitors and keep the Poisoners in power. Jules who loved Arsinoe like a sister and would do anything to save her.  Luca, the priestess, who is desperate to have Mirabella come to power.

3. Blake did an excellent job of making the sisters unique.  Katherine is sweet and kind despite being raised by poisoners who were not always kind to her. Mirabella is strong and loyal.  She has fears that she will not be able to kill her sisters.  Arsinoe, who was probably my favorite, is wild and funny.   Of the sisters, only Mirabella appears to have come into her powers.  Both Katherine and Arsinoe seem to be powerless, which makes for an interesting Beltane festival.

4.  At the Quickening, where the queens are presented at Beltane, everything gets a little crazy, and it was impossible to put down the book from that point. Oh, and Blake throws an amazing curve ball at the end that I sure did not see coming.  I cannot wait for the next book.

To Read or Not to Read:
Must Read

P.S. I Like You

P.S. I Like You is by Kasie West.

Signed, sealed, delivered…

While spacing out in chemistry class, Lily scribbles some of her favorite song lyrics onto her desk. The next day, she finds that someone has continued the lyrics on the desk and added a message to her. Intrigue!

Soon, Lily and her anonymous pen pal are exchanging full-on letters—sharing secrets, recommending bands, and opening up to each other. Lily realizes she’s kind of falling for this letter writer. Only, who is he? As Lily attempts to unravel the mystery and juggle school, friends, crushes, and her crazy family, she discovers that matters of the heart can’t always be spelled out…

The Breakdown:
1.  I simply adored this book.  It was so funny and sweet that I had a hard time putting it down. I loved the concept of a passing notes and getting to know and falling for another with their words.  Plus, I loved the cast of characters.

2. I very much enjoyed Lily.  She is awkward and funny, and I totally relate to her.  She has a crazy family which are all amazing. She wants to write songs, but is shy about sharing her work, which who hasn't experienced fear of not being good enough at what they love.

3. One of my things about this book is the relationship between Lily and her best friend, Isabel, and the relationship with her family.  They are so dynamic in them with both fights and moments of aww happening during the story.  Plus the relationship between Lily and her Chemistry pen pal is adorable in how they are so honest in their letters to each other.

4. I would have to say that my one complaint with this book is that I figured out pretty fast who Lily's Chemistry pen pal was so the big reveal was not a shock to me. Other than that loved the book.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read

Illuminae

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff is the first book of The Illuminae Files

This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she’d have to do.

This afternoon, her planet was invaded.

The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that’s little more than an ice-covered speck at the edge of the universe. Too bad nobody thought to warn the people living on it. With enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra—who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to fight their way onto an evacuating fleet, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit.

But their problems are just getting started. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet's AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a tangled web of data to find the truth, it's clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: the ex-boyfriend she swore she'd never speak to again.

The Breakdown:
1. I just got home from an author event with the authors of this book. It was so much fun to hear them talk about the book and where the idea started.  In case you are wondering, Kaufman had a dream that she and Kristoff were writing a book together in email form.  I love events like this, because you get to learn so much about the author's process and how their books come to life.  If you get the chance, definitely attend one.  On the downside, I did not win the chance to have my name be one of the characters that is killed off in the next book.

2. This book takes an interest approach to the format of the book.  It is not written in the traditional prose, but rather written like a post-mission/incident report.  It is in the form of interviews, emails, text, and surveillance summary reports.  It gives an interesting perspective on the story.  The main problem, for me, is that this makes it hard to really connect with the characters.

3. Despite the AI going a little crazy, I really ended up liking AIDEN.  It presented an interesting cases about the evolution of an AI. Plus, it really seemed to be starting to develop emotions, and its attachment to Kady was intriguing.

4. So the plague, known as Phobos, makes people go crazy.  They honestly reminded me of the Reavers from "Firefly" and "Serenity." As a lover of epidemiology, it was interesting to me how it spread and mutated.

5.  I was a on the fence on whether I liked this book or not until almost the very end. At the end, the authors gave me quite a surprise, and I am intrigued enough to continue with the series.  Plus this book, really does include some beautiful art in the schematics of the ships and other things.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read