The Music of What Happens by Bill Konigsberg

The Music of What Happens by Bill Konigsberg - 345 pages

Max is a chill guy with great friends who know he is gay.  However, he has a secret about an encounter with an older guy.  Jordan is uncomfortable around anyone other than his mom and two best friends.  He's hiding the fact that his mother is spiraling out of control and that they might lose the house.  Now Max and Jordan are working together on a food truck trying the save the house.  Over the course of the summer, they'll have to face these secrets and decide what to do about them.

I read this book as I wasn't sure if it should go in the teen or adult collection.  I believe that it is a teen book.  However, due to its subject  matter I also believe that it is definitely for older teens. 

Life After Darkness by Michelle Knight

Life After Darkness by Michelle Knight, 221 pages

This is Michelle Knight's second book about surviving the ordeal of being one of the Cleveland kidnapping victims.  It is amazing how far she has come and now leads a "normal" life.  It took her many years of therapy and finding true love to help her reclaim her life.  I have a lot of respect for her.

Dancing at Midnight by Julia Quinn

Dancing at Midnight by Julia Quinn - 378 pages

Lady Arabella is intrigue by Lord John Blackwood.  He's moody and mysterious, but yet kind and funny.  He is likewise entranced by the young beauty.  However, John is tormented by events from the war and determined to save Belle from himself.  Will Belle allow him to retreat away from her?

I found this book difficult to get through.  I started reading it nearly a month ago and finally finished it yesterday simply because I didn't have anything else to read.  While there were several laugh out loud moments, overall the book was very dark and depressing.

When All the Girls Have Gone by Jayne Ann Krentz

When All the Girls Have Gone by Jayne Ann Krentz - 341 pages

When Charlotte receives a strange message and is unable to contact her stepsister, she works with detective Max Cutler to discover why she disappeared and who murdered several members of an investment club.

This is the latest romantic suspense novel from Jayne Ann Krentz.  It was very readable.  It was quick and engrossing.  I enjoyed the story and look forward to further books about these characters as they left a mystery unsolved that I believe will take place over several books.

Brotherhood in Death by J.D. Robb

Brotherhood in Death by J.D. Robb - 591 pages

Eve Dallas has one of her most disturbing cases ever.  It seems a group of friends who attended college together 30 years ago are being targeted for torture and death.  The reasons behind these crimes almost makes her sympathize with the murderers.

This is the latest in the Eve Dallas series by J.D. Robb, the pseudonym of Nora Roberts.  It was a great entry into the series.  It was probably the book that humanized Dallas the most with ties to her friends and her past.  I listened to this on audio and the narration was excellent.

Missoula by Jon Krakauer

Missoula: rape and the justice system in a college town by Jon Krakauer - 367 pages

I discovered while writing this entry that its very hard to type Missoula when you live in Missouri, the fingers just want to finish it with ri.  That's about the only levity I felt regarding this book.  It's a hard read but I think a valuable one.  Krakauer was inspired to write the book after learning how many women in his life had been a victim of acquaintance rape.  His research led him to Missoula where a flawed system in a college town was allowing rapists to continue in their horrible activities unchecked.  The book covers several pivotal cases and the Department of Justice investigation that helped bring about a new dawn in Missoula in how sexual assaults are prosecuted. 

Hope: A Memoir Of Survival In Cleveland by Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus

Hope: A Memoir Of Survival In Cleveland by Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus with Mary Jordan and Kevin Sullivan, 336 pages

Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus write about their horrific and brutal kidnapping at the hands of Ariel Castro.  Along with Michelle Knight, the three girls were subjected to unthinkable acts.  This book was extremely well written with details never revealed before.  The book details Ariel Castro's childhood, upbringing, his marriage, and his children. The book also details the birth of Amanda Berry's daughter, Jocelyn.  What these women endured was unimaginable.  They are true survivors. I am sure May 6, 2013 will be a date these brave young women never forget.

Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick

Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick - 273 pages

It is Leonard Peacock's 18th birthday.  Instead of getting presents from others, he plans to give presents to his four "best" friends and then one a gift to himself.  He's going to take his grandfather's World War II Nazi gun and shoot his former best friend Asher Beal and then himself.  How his gifts are received will determine what happens to both himself and Asher Beal.
This book has been on my list to read for a couple of years.  The uncertainty of what would happen was intriguing to read.  *** SPOILERS*** However, once I realized that the author also wrote Silver Linings Playbook I realized that the book would most likely have a redeeming ending.  Once figuring out the ending, a lot of the "need" to read the book disappeared.  I did think the addition of letters from his future family were an interesting touch for most of the book.  Although, that too fell a little flat at the end of the story.

Finding Me: A Decade Of Darkness, A Life Reclaimed by Michelle Knight with Michelle Buford

Finding Me: A Decade Of Darkness, A Life Reclaimed by Michelle Knight with Michelle Buford, 252 pages

Finding Me is a very detailed book about Michelle Knight's time in captivity as one of the three Cleveland kidnapping victims at the hands of Ariel Castro.  This is a very well written, but yet, definitely disturbing and depressing account of Michelle Knight's childhood, teen years, and time in captivity.  Michelle was kidnapped in 2002 from a store, after Ariel offered her a ride and lured her into his home.  He did not kidnap his next victim until almost two years later.

Michelle was held in heavy chains and locked in an upstairs room and the basement over her eleven years in captivity.  Ariel beat her severely, starved her, raped her, and threatened to shoot her if she tried to escape.   Michelle was often chained to one of the other victims, Gina.  Michelle miscarried five babies at the hands of Ariel.  To survive what Michelle endured is unbelievable.  Thoughts of her son, who was in foster care at the time of her disappearance, motivated her will to live.  Michelle is definitely a survivor!

Masks by E.C. Blake

Masks by E.C. Blake, 372 pages

What originally seemed like an excellent read turned into a "just okay" read. The author has a great storyline but unfortunately went crazy with odd details (like when/how various characters relieved themselves) that interrupted the story a bit much. The idea was great - masks that reveal what the wearer is thinking so that no one can overthrow the powers that be. The main character, Mara, is daughter to the Master Maskmaker. When her masking fails, she is sent to a prison camp to mine for magic. Mara is gifted with all magic, however, and uses accidentally uses the magic to save herself from various fates. At some point, Mara has to make the choice to use her magic or be used because of it. The story is a bit slow moving at first but then picks up pace. Over all it's a good story if you don't mind the occasional pothole in the road. Judging from the last chapter in the book, there will be a sequel.

Dancing at Midnight by Julia Quinn

Dancing at Midnight by  Julia Quinn - 375 pages

Lady Arabella is taking a break from the London season when she meets her cousins' neighbor Lord John.  She immediately falls in love.  The problem is that he doesn't feel he is worthy of anybody's love after an incident that occured during the war.  So now she must scheme to get him to fall in love and propose.
I didn't realize until I was about a quarter of the way through this book that it is a prequel to Julia Quinn's collaboration "The Lady Most Likely . . .".  It was interesting to read the romance between the main characters although I thought the "incident" was a tad overdone.

The Dark Heroine: Dinner With A Vampire by Abigail Gibbs

The Dark Heroine: Dinner With a Vampire by Abigail Gibbs, 534 pages
(book one of The Dark  Heroine series)

Romeo & Juliet meets Twilight sums up what this book is about. Seventeen year old Violet Lee's life is changed forever when she witnesses a mass murder before her eyes and is taken prisoner by the murderers. Everything she thought she knew about her world is false. There are monsters in the world and they aren't just evil men. They are vampires. Caught in a web of lies and betrayal, Violet Lee's life is threatened on a daily basis. Yet she finds herself drawn to her captor, Kaspar, at the same time as loathing him. As their attraction for each other grows, truths come out that will shatter everything they hold dear.
I was done with this book in one day. It's pretty easy to figure out the plot line, but it doesn't stop the book from being enjoyable.

Charmed Destinies: Mercedes Lackey, Rachel Lee and Catherine Asaro

Charmed Destinies - 3 stories in 1,  384 pages

Counting Crows by Mercedes Lackey is a story about a young woman who is wedded to a border Lord to protect the king's claim on the land and to keep the young woman's father safe from a neighboring dark wizard. After being "Glove Fasted" to a husband she's never met, Gwynn heads to her new home escorted by rough soldiers accompanied only by her half-sibling Robin. She is determined to love her husband and be a good wife. When she meets him, however, she finds him to be a true terror and faces beating after beating at his hands. But, she is not without resource. Gwynn is also a sorceress and the way she deals with her abusive husband will leave you smiling.


Drusilla's Dream by Rachel Lee is a funny tale of two modern day office workers. Their desire for each other meets up in a fantasy world reality. As each begins to spin their own tale in their fantastical worlds, they are interrupted at key points by every day life like the janitor mopping the floor or the computer having an error. You'll find yourself chuckling at their creative imaginations that play out like dreams. In the end, will they finally confess their mutual attraction and live the fairytale?

Moonglow by Catherine Asara was by far my favorite tale in this book. Iris is a powerful young mage who thinks her power is quite limited. Jarid is a young prince who watched his parents die before his eyes before he lost his hearing, sight and voice, and was raised by one of the murderer's as a son. Each has hurts that they bury deep inside leaving them crippled to their true power. When Iris accidentally discovers that Prince Jarid is still alive, the kingdom works fast to set the new King on the throne. Because Iris is the strongest female mage in the land, she becomes Jarid's wife before he can see/hear/speak with her. Yet they can reach each other through their emotions and in that comes great healing. This a warm fuzzy story that will leave you sighing with contentment.

God Save the Queen by Kate Locke

God Save the Queen by Kate Locke, 354 pages
(Book 1 of Immortal Empire series)

This was a great read and I'm looking forward to finishing the series. Xandra's youngest half sister, Dede, has gone missing and she will do anything to find her. Nevermind that the authorities found a body that her sister and brother agree is Dede. Xandra senses something odd is at foot and starts out on a road that will lead her to startling discoveries about herself and the world she lives in. Xandra is a halfie - half human and half vampire. Vampires rule this world controlled by the Monarchy. Queen Victoria is still alive and kicking - ruling for 175 years now. Goblins, Werewolves and other creatures that go bump in the night are very much real. This is your classic Sci-fi/Fantasy Steampunk novel complete with twists and turns that will keep your head spinning. To say anymore would give too much away. This is a definite - must read for yourself book. It does have language, violence, torture, sex and some pretty graphic parts, but considering you have vampires, werewolves, goblins and humans ... it's kind of hard not to.

Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder, 361 pages
Book 1 of the Study series

OH MY GOODNESS! This is one of the best Adult Fiction/Fantasy books I have read since the Mercy Thompson series. There are so many twists and turns that I had no way of figuring out the story until each point was revealed. Yelena finds herself in prison after murdering someone for just cause. The Code is strict, though, and even just causes cannot equal murder. She is presented to Valek, the person that metes out justice, and is given the choice of either becoming the Commander's food taster - thus living long enough until poison takes her life one day, or, heading to the executioner and ending her life now. Yelena chooses life, though not the easiest life. In her country, being magical means your immediate death and she is full of magic she must hide. She also had the father of her victim to contend with who will do anything to see her dead and avenge his son's death. Toss in mystery, romance, fantasy and one serious shock... and you have a fabulous new series to entertain your imagination.

Against Their Will - Nigel Cawthorne

Against Their Will: Sadistic Kidnappers and the Courageous Stories of Their Innocent Victims by Nigel Cawthorne - 358 pages

Depraved kidnappers, Horrific ordeals, courageous survivors. True stories of twisted criminals who hold their victims in endless captivity to satisfy their perverse desires, Against Their Will is a comprehensive compendium of the most disturbing kidnappings of all time.

Crank - Ellen Hopkins

Crank by Ellen Hopkins - 537 pages

All it took to change Kristina Snow's life was a trip to visit her father. Three weeks in Reno and Kristina has become Bree and begun her relationship with "The Monster". As meth leads Kristina into mind-altering and life devastating choices, her family and friends are powerless to stop her quick dive into a life of sex and drugs. Kristina's life spins out of control as she "flirts with the monster" and most readers find themselves soaring through this intense novel in a matter of hours. As with all of Ellen Hopkins' novels you will find yourself immersed and unable to put it down.

Jar City by Arnaldur Indridason

Jar City: A Reykjavik Thriller by Arnaldur Indridason; translated from the Icelandic by Bernard Scudder --- 275 pages

The first of Indridason's police thrillers to be translated and published in English, this novel was made into a film in Iceland in 2006 under its original title, Myrin.  The author worked for many years as a journalist before becoming a crime fiction writer.
His detective, Erlendur, and his team, are responsible for investigating the murder of an elderly man in his basement apartment. The old man turns out to be an unsavory character with a murky past and a number of sordid habits, but there seems to be no reason why someone should now be targeting him for murder. Then Erlendur happens to find an old photograph hidden under a desk drawer: it shows a grave marker for a four year old child. The photograph leads Erlendur on a journey into the past: the inexplicable deaths of children, old crimes ignored and unreported, a man missing for 25 years, a violent and sadistic bully locked in solitary confinement, and new state of the art technology brought to bear on incurable diseases all figure into a story of unintended consequences come home to roost.

Working in the tradition of the crime nordique, this author will appeal to fans of Per Wahloo, Maj Sjowall and Henning Mankell.

Exposed, by Kimberly Marcus

Exposed, by Kimberly Marcus, 255 pages

Liz and Kate are best friends, but Kate suddenly starts avoiding Liz.  After trying to figure out what she could have done to drive her friend away, Liz is blown away to find that Kate has accused Liz's brother of rape.  Not only does Liz find herself losing a best friend, she wonders if she will lose a brother, too.

As far as ya 'issues' books go, I thought this one delivered a refreshingly different perspective on rape- there was no masked man in an alley.  It challenges the reader to confront and challenge the preconceptions of what rape is. Teens who like Ellen Hopkins will probably like this- it's written in the same loose free verse.