Mini Reviews (Because I'm drowning in books!) Part II

Part two of my mini reviews feature more YA fiction.  I know, some might wonder if I'm already crossing over to mainly YA books but it's just that there were a lot of YA books lying around in my TBR pile so I went ahead and read them to make way for some adult fiction (like True Grit by Charles Portis, which I'm very excited to read).

Girl, Stolen by April Henry
Henry Holt and Co., 213 pages
From The Boyfriend, bought from Fully Booked 

Sixteen year-old Cheyenne Wilder is sleeping in the back of a car while her mom fills her prescription at the pharmacy. Before Cheyenne realizes what's happening, their car is being stolen—with her inside! Griffin hadn’t meant to kidnap Cheyenne, all he needed to do was steal a car for the others. But once Griffin's dad finds out that Cheyenne’s father is the president of a powerful corporation, everything changes — now there’s a reason to keep her. What Griffin doesn’t know is that Cheyenne is not only sick with pneumonia, she is blind. How will Cheyenne survive this nightmare, and if she does, at what price?

Review:  After reading Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott, it's no wonder that I would want to read something similar but entirely different, and in my opinion, Girl, Stolen by April Henry made that grade.  It was refreshing to read about a handicapped protagonist who, although burdened with a disability, was very resourceful and courageous.  It was great to read about someone that I know I and a lot of other people would want to look up to, someone who could be a role model.  Cheyenne deserves to be emulated by teens everywhere, as she tackles her situation and conquers her fear with her quick thinking, resourcefulness, and intelligence.  The second best character in this book in my opinion was not Griffin, but his father, Roy, who was so pathetic and scary and was nothing short of a monster.  I know that his presence - and the plot itself - might classify this book as from a darker YA genre, but there really are people like Roy who exist in real life, and his character was very spot-on.  Ms. Henry was able to write about a unique story with as much poignance, clarity, and emotion as possible.

Wherever Nina Lies by Lynn Weingarten
Point, 288 pages
Received via Random Acts of Kindness from Ashley @ BookAHolics Anonymous  

Nina was beautiful, wild, and adored by her younger sister, Ellie. But one day, Nina disappeared. 2 years later, everyone has given up hope that Nina will return, but Ellie knows her sister is out there. If only Ellie had a clue where to look.Then she gets one, in the form of a mysterious drawing. Determined to find Nina, Ellie takes off on a crazy, sexy cross-country road trip with the only person who believes she's got a chance - her hot, adventurous new crush. Along the way, Ellie finds a few things she wasn't planning on. Like love. Lies. And the most shocking thing of all: the truth.

Review:  Obviously, this is one book I would place on my wishlist.  Why?  For its title.  I'm such a sucker for books that has characters with the same name as me.  So I really thank Ashley @ BookAHolics Anonymous for including this to the books she sent me for RAK.  

Moving on, I really thought Lynn Weingarten's Wherever Nina Lies was such a joyride I had to read it thrice after the first reading.  It was that good.  Sure there were some elements there that do not add up in reality, but those were exactly what made it more fun to read, because it was written with such convincing clarity you would willingly step into its fictional world and accept it as truth.  I also loved the characters and their unique personalities.  Really great read, and cover too!

Your Heart Belongs to Me by Dean Koontz
Bantam, 368 pages
Bought from Celina's Books and Magazines 

The news that he had incurable cardiomyopathy struck Ryan Perry as hard as any heart attack. The 34-year-old Internet tycoon felt that his days were numbered; but thanks to a transplant, he was able not only to survive but to move forward, enjoying every day with the gratitude of a true survivor. Then one day a gift arrives; a heart pendant accompanied by a Valentine's Day box of candy hearts. With it comes a chilling message ("Your heart belongs to me") and an even more frightening video. Suddenly, Ryan's healthy, throbbing heart has become the target of a madwoman.

Review:  I was really looking forward to my first-ever Dean Koontz book.  I was so interested in the story of Your Heart Belongs to Me that I did not hesitate to buy myself a copy.  The plot was awesome, the characters awesomer, the beginning was great, the middle was great plus one, but the end?  Not so much.  It began to get muddled and it was almost as if another story was spliced to the ending.  I thought that Mr. Koontz was trying to wax philosophical with this novel but it ended up being something entirely different.  Otherwise, I would still keep this book if only for the beginning and middle parts.

Wide Awake by David Levithan
Knopf Books for Young Readers, 240 pages
Bought from Celina's Books and Magazines 

In the not-too-impossible-to-imagine future, a gay Jewish man has been elected president of the United States. Until the governor of one state decides that some election results in his state are invalid, awarding crucial votes to the other candidate, and his fellow party member. Thus is the inspiration for couple Jimmy and Duncan to lend their support to their candidate by deciding to take part in the rallies and protests. Along the way comes an exploration of their relationship, their politics, and their country, and sometimes, as they learn, it's more about the journey than it is about reaching the destination.

Review:  Background Music:  Imogen Heap's 'Have You Got It In You'

Wide Awake by David Levithan could have been a prequel to Boy Meets Boy, where equality in all sexes was already prevalent; except some scenes from the latter were obviously more dated and occurred earlier than Wide Awake.  Emotionally-charged despite less heavy and traumatic scenes, the story happened in less than a week and tackled some dire issues heavily debated among communities such as homosexuality, religion, and politics (which I almost never talk about).  This book would really help the younger generation to become more self-aware and keep their eyes open for social issues confronting their times, at the same time maintaining that patented David Levithan intelligent humor and appeal that will certainly captivate its readers and advance their vocabulary.


*****
Four more books down!  


Check out my Mini Reviews Part One

Book Review: Solid by Shelley Workinger

Photo taken from Goodreads

Book Info

  
Title:  Solid

Author:  Shelley Workinger
Publisher:  CreateSpace

Language: English

Format:  E-book (PDF)

Pages:  236 pages

ISBN - 10:  1453624821

ISBN - 13:  978-1453624821
Source:  Reviewer's digital copy from the author, Shelley Workinger

Buy this book on Amazon 

Summary

From Goodreads 

"Teens who discover they were secretly genetically altered before birth are brought together at a classified site where they forge new friendships, find love, develop "super-abilities," and even unearth a conspiracy."

Review

A very fast read that I was able to finish in a day, Solid by Shelley Workinger tells the story of Clio, a teenager struggling to become normal, only to discover she has been genetically altered way before her birth, without her family knowing it.  Placed in a camp with other similarly-fated teens, she not just uncovers a big conspiracy, but also finds real, lasting friendship, and a sense of belongingness.

This story was very fast-paced, engaging , and precise.  The narration is very straight to the point and carried with it an undertone of urgency, as if reading this slowly - even putting this down - will have dire consequences to the outcome of the story.  Although it starts as a seemingly ordinary teen story, this will not turn the reader off as there are some very interesting events that will catch the reader's attention.  The voice - Clio's voice - was very authentic and believable, it was like actually listening to Clio tell you her story.  Through her voice, we were able to learn about the other characters, the significant events, and the rather strange circumstances that she and her friends encounter.  Clio's friends, for that matter, were also very interesting and alive.  The author captured the reader's attention with very colorful descriptions of the characters, that after being introduced it's as if they have really come alive.  What's more interesting to note was that although they were very different from each other, as a group they were very good together and I think every teenager will find a little of themselves in every personality from the book.

Reading the plot, one would think that it would be as complicated as say, that of the X-Men.  But let me assure you that although this may have the same excitement as that of the famed comic book, the premise is lighter, less complex, but much easier to accept.  In a way, it was funny to read about special abilities that aptly suited teenagers' behaviors like wanting to be unnoticed and blend in, standing out and becoming popular, and showing exceptional skills in particular areas.

This book is not like your typical superhero books where it tells you that everything is possible if you just believe in it, or that "With great power comes great responsibility."  In my opinion, one of this book's messages is to accept yourself, whatever your flaws may be, and to know that it's all right to ask for other people's help.  Which are things that most young adults - even real adults - seem to have difficulty grasping.  And for that, this book is something that should be read by everyone, not just the teenagers, and not just those fascinated with special abilities.

Rating

If you have any questions on this particular rating, please refer to my ratings system here.

Notice

I received this book free of charge from the author, Shelley Workinger, in exchange for an honest and truthful review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

Please contact me for questions, comments, and suggestions.  

Book Review: Travels in the Scriptorium by Paul Auster

Photo taken from Goodreads

Book Info

   

Title:  Travels in the Scriptorium

Author:  Paul Auster
Publisher:  Henry Holt and Co.

Language: English

Format:  Hardcover

Pages:  145 pages

ISBN - 10:  0805081453

ISBN - 13:  978-0805081459

Source:  Purchased, Book Sale

Buy this book on Amazon 

Summary

From Goodreads: 

"An old man awakens, disoriented, in an unfamiliar chamber. With no memory of who he is or how he has arrived there, he pores over the relics on the desk, examining the circumstances of his confinement and searching his own hazy mind for clues. Both chilling and poignant, Travels in the Scriptorium is vintage Auster: mysterious texts, fluid identities, a hidden past, and, somewhere, an obscure tormentor. And yet, as we discover during one day in the life of the man--identified only as Mr. Blank--his world is not so different from our own."

Review

Travels in the Scriptorium by Paul Auster left me hanging, speechless, and confused.  It's a story about an old man who wakes up and finds himself in a strange room, not remembering how he even got there in the  first place.  He almost could not remember anything about himself, his past, and why he was in the room.  As he tries to work out the how, what, and why, a camera is revealed to be watching his every move.  I thought it would be something action-packed, a suspense thriller.  So how the novel turned out was pretty surprising - and that is not entirely a good thing.

Needing answers, I searched some more about this novel and found that this was a book whose characters were from Auster's other books, as well as some future works.  That was when understanding dawned on me:  This story is partly autobiographical, I wish I could say more about this concept but it would ruin the suspense.  Now, if this was not my first Auster read, I probably would have gotten it straight away.  Therefore, advice to readers:  Read this if you have already read other books by Paul Auster; if you have some on your TBR, bump them up and make sure to read them first before this book.

So confusion and subsequent enlightenment aside, the story was strangely engaging as Mr. Blank, the protagonist, struggled with his memory, read a report of a man on a mission, and pieced together said report's missing ending.  A story within a story, the characters were equally intriguing and charismatic, although they seem more caricatures than real people - which is exactly what drew me to them, because they did not seem real, and never tried to be.

The writing style was very unique as Auster approached the narration as if watching from a surveillance camera.  The reader, as if a voyeur, witnesses Mr. Blank's constant battle  with his forgetfulness, the mystery of his room, as well as the bigger mystery of the people who calls and visits him during the day.  The only knowledge that the reader is privy to without having to resort to monitoring him through the hidden camera and bugs is the old man's thoughts, which the narrator slips surreptitiously into the story.

I really regret not having read any of Auster's novels before, as he seemed to write very interesting and unique stories, and as it would help me get in on the joke way before I even finished reading this.  In a way, it was funny to read something like Travels in the Scriptorium and find some very familiar names that you were introduced to and are now haunting you in this book.

Rating

If you have any questions on this particular rating, please refer to my ratings system here.

Notice

All opinions expressed in this book review are my own and not influenced by any party in any way.

Please contact me for questions, comments, and suggestions.  

Book Review: The Fire Inside by Raymond Rose

Photo taken from Goodreads

Book Info

   

Title:  The  Fire Inside

Author:  Raymond Rose
Publisher:   Christopher Williams Books

Language: English

Format:  E-book (Adobe Digital Edition)

Pages:  339 pages
Source:  Advanced reader's digital copy from the author, Raymond Rose

Buy this book on Amazon 

Summary

From Goodreads: 

"Ten years ago, Jack and Bruce barely survived a battle royale between good and evil that left half of their city destroyed. Over the years, they’ve drifted apart – their lives going separate paths. Now Bruce is back in town looking for Jack’s help. Because what’s about to happen is worse than anything they could imagine!"

Review

Can you say X-Men with a twist?  The Fire Inside, the first book in the Sidekicks series by Raymond Rose should have been made into a graphic novel, what with all the action-packed scenes and death-defying heroics by its totally amazing characters.

If you ever wondered what happened to Batman, Spiderman, Flash Gordon, and all the other popular super heroes out there when they got older and needed to retire - or perhaps needed to start anew after their real identities were revealed - then The Fire Inside is perfect for you.  This book, with its world-weary and reluctant former super hero, perfectly captures what could have been a super hero's life after saving the world.  Bruce and Jack were part of the Teen Protectors, an elite group of super heroes who used their powers to defend mankind against The Villains.  Ten years later, with the two friends drifting apart and Jack leading a quiet, unexciting life, Bruce returns and asks for Jack's help that turns their lives - along with others like them - upside down.

This book was awesome!  A little predictable but hey, the fight between good versus evil has always been the issue and admit it or not, we all want good to win and have a happy ending.  I am not saying that that is what happens in this story, but I assure you that you will get a bit of that, plus a whole lot more than you can ever imagine.

It was such an adrenaline rush to read this book because of all the running and the fighting and the guessing that I literally found myself gasping for air as some shocking development was revealed.  The excitement never stops and when I turned the last page, my  first thought was I have to ask Mr. Rose to release the next book soon!  This book was on my mind for days after I have finished it and all the scenes kept coming back to me.

Bruce and Jack were very strong characters in this book.  They were the best of friends but they could not have been more different from each other.  Bruce is level-headed, analytical, and had a very satisfying family life with his parents.  Jack is emotional, volatile, and had never known any family until he became part of the Teen Protectors and met Bruce and others like him.  I swear, after reading about them, a part of my mind was somehow convinced that people like them do exist and that I had to find them.  Another part placed them along the ranks of other super heroes that I know.  They were so relatable and very likable and I enjoyed witnessing their friendship and their adventures.  The other characters were equally good as their own individual stories provided very credible information about each person.  They were very interesting and I liked reading about their powers.

That said, I am looking forward to the next  book off this series, as I hope to see more of these characters and their powers, and what would happen to them next. 

Rating

If you have any questions on this particular rating, please refer to my ratings system here.

Notice

I received this book free of charge from the author, Raymond M. Rose, in exchange for an honest and truthful review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

Please contact me for questions, comments, and suggestions.  

Book Review: Bandits by LM Preston

Photo taken  from Goodreads

 Book Info

Title:  Bandits

Author:  LM Preston
Publisher:  Phenomenal One Press

Language: English

Format:  Paperback

Pages:  348 pages

ISBN - 13:   978-0984198931

ISBN - 10:  0984198938

Source:  From the Author and Publisher

Buy this book on Amazon 

Summary

From Goodreads:

"Daniel's father has gotten himself killed and left another mess for Daniel to clean up. To save his world from destruction, he must fight off his father's killers while discovering a way to save his world. Time is running out, and Daniel must choose to either walk in his father's footsteps or to reinvent himself into the one to save his world."

Review

Ever wondered how a video game would translate into a novel?  Well, wonder no more because Bandits, the new novel by LM Preston, is coming out in June of this year! 

Bandits is about a young man - Daniel - whose father was killed because of a particular treasure that he has stolen and kept away in some hidden treasure trove.   Upon his father's death, Daniel, along with his younger brother Nickel, his best friend's sister Jade, and his cousin Faulk, decides to find the treasure in the hope that it will reveal to him who killed his father and commit revenge.  Little did he know that the road is treacherous and full of adventure, and the treasure itself will test his limits and challenge his views of his world, his heritage, and of his own self.

Part science fiction, part mystery, part young adult fiction, and part love story, once you prop yourself up to read this book you will find yourself in for a very intense and action-packed ride into exotic places, scary and intriguing planets, and death-defying situations.  Bandits is not for the faint of heart, as every chapter is riddled with flesh-heating trees, deadly beasts, and even more deadly traps.  You will not be given a minute's rest as if playing a video game where you advance to a higher level as you turn the pages.  Make sure to check your pulse rate before, during, and after reading this book to see if your heart can still take the hard-hitting, fast-paced, and dynamic scenes that will assault your brain and confront your imagination.

I really think that the elements of this book - the characters, the voice, the plot - all these combined to make a really fantastic, unbelievably believable story.  Each character contributed to the uniqueness of the plot and they were all very credible and responsive to the demands of the story.  Daniel and his brother Nickel's characters were very strong and dominated the novel's entirety.  The voice was also able to convey the appropriate feel for each character's point of view.

One concern I have though is the too-quick coming together between Daniel and Jade.  It felt like their love story was too hurried and a bit unemotional.  But maybe that's just me.  It's probably because since I got too used to this book's intense scenes, I had too high an expectation for the romantic angle that I was unable to fully appreciate the simple approach that the author used to bring Daniel and Jade together.

Overall, I would recommend this book to almost everyone else, especially those who love to play video games, as well as those who read fantasy, sci-fi, and dystopian stories.  But for the faint of heart, better steer clear from this book - unless you are willing to risk a cardiac arrest.

Rating

If you have any questions on this particular rating, please refer to my ratings system here.

Notice 

I received this book free of charge from the author, LM Preston and the publisher, Phenomenal One Press, in exchange for an honest and truthful review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

Please contact me for questions, comments, and suggestions.  

Book Review: The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Photo taken from Goodreads

 Book Info

Title:  The Angel's Game 

Author:  Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Publisher:  Orion Publishing

Language: English

Format:  Paperback

Pages:  448 pages 

ISBN - 10:  0753826445

ISBN - 13:  978-0753826447
Music Background:  Lacrymosa by Evanescence

Source:  Gift, from The Boyfriend 

Buy this book on Amazon 

Summary

From Goodreads: 

"In the turbulent and mysterious Barcelona of the 1920s, David Martin, a young novelist obsessed with a forbidden love, receives an offer from an enigmatic publisher to write a book like no other before—a book for which "people will live and die." In return, he is promised a fortune and, perhaps, much more."

Review

It is often said that all books are beautiful in their own way - yes, even bad books.  But all the real literary masterpieces have one thing in common:  they suck in the souls of readers who make the mistake of opening their pages, trapping them within chapters of tales that may or may not be real, and might be too impossible to happen in real life that after readers have turned the final page and has gone onto a new book, the story lingers in their minds as if what they just read might come creeping its way out into their own lives.  If the story was as light and as pleasant as daylight then that its occurring in a reader's real life might be a wonderful idea.  But what if the story was as gothic and as terrifying as it was seductive, electrifying and fascinating?  Would a reader be thrilled to have it happen in his/her real life?  Would you?

And this is where The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon comes in.   A book about books, this is the story of David Martin, a writer of crime novels who was given a once in a lifetime chance to write an extraordinary book for a mysterious French publisher.  Little does he know that this would lead him to a series of mysteries and events that might take everything he holds dear, even his own life.

Set in the 1910s, this novel is both prequel and sequel to the author's first book, The Shadow of the Wind, as well as a stand-alone story of greed, mystery, friendship, love, and murder.  David's voice was as haunting and as engaging as he narrated the whole story, the underlined urgency egging the reader on to keep turning the page and fueling the curiosity for what is going to happen next.  Apart from playing the narrator, David also manages to be a very interesting character who undergoes some major changes in his personal views.  He is very imaginative, compassionate, a bit serious but has a great amount of sarcastic humor that peppers his dialogues throughout the book that would definitely catch any reader off guard by the sudden gust of witty and snarky remarks that is like a splash of cold water amidst a deluge of suspenseful and somber scenes.

However, the character I loved most was Isabella.  She was the perfect friend, sister, mother, even lover, all rolled into one.  In my opinion, she provided most of the comic relief as she traded jibe after jibe of entertaining remarks with David in their almost never-ending verbal sparring.  I even thought that she had better chemistry with David than Cristina, the latter's love interest.  But Cristina has her own unique characteristics that reveal her warmth and charm that helps her stand her ground among other equally fascinating characters.

What struck me the most was the 'Cemetery of Forgotten Books' which seemed to be one of the threads that connect The Angel's Game with The Shadow of the Wind.  A glimpse of this fantastic place would turn any book lover liquid with envy but nervous and a wee bit frightened at the same time.  I would love to tell you more about this particular place but I do not want to spoil the fun and will just have to make you read it yourself to find out what makes this place tick.

This book made me think of 'Lacrymosa' by Evanescence and this music kept playing in my head the entire time I was reading this book.  The gothic feel of this music perfectly matches the theme of the story, especially those times when the scenes got too intense and thrilling.  And like the lingering effect of music, most of this book's moments were stuck in my head even when I was not reading the book, even going so far as to look over my shoulder for fear that some mysterious person is stalking me.  Scary, yes, but shows that the story is very effective in embedding itself into my brain that it has almost blurred the lines between what is real and what is only in the book.  Which is a good indication that my soul has been sucked into its pages, as what I said about real literary masterpieces.

If that is so, I don't want my soul back.  But this book will definitely stay in my hands.

Rating

If you have any questions on this particular rating, please refer to my ratings system here.

Notice 

All opinions expressed in this book review are my own and not influenced by any party in any way.

Please contact me for questions, comments, and suggestions.  

Book Review: Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

Photo taken from Goodreads

 Book Info

Title:  Revolution 

Author:  Jennifer Donnelly
Publisher:  Delacorte Press

Language: English

Format:  Paperback

Pages:  472 pages

ISBN-13:  978-0375989506

Source:  Purchased, Celina's Books and Mags

Buy this book on Amazon 

Summary

From Goodreads:

"BROOKLYN: Andi Alpers is on the edge. She’s angry at her father for leaving, angry at her mother for not being able to cope, and heartbroken by the loss of her younger brother, Truman. Rage and grief are destroying her. And she’s about to be expelled from Brooklyn Heights’ most prestigious private school when her father intervenes. Now Andi must accompany him to Paris for winter break.

PARIS: Alexandrine Paradis lived over two centuries ago. She dreamed of making her mark on the Paris stage, but a fateful encounter with a doomed prince of France cast her in a tragic role she didn’t want—and couldn’t escape.

Two girls, two centuries apart. One never knowing the other. But when Andi finds Alexandrine’s diary, she recognizes something in her words and is moved to the point of obsession. There’s comfort and distraction for Andi in the journal’s antique pages—until, on a midnight journey through the catacombs of Paris, Alexandrine’s words transcend paper and time, and the past becomes suddenly, terrifyingly present. "

Review

Good books beckon to a reader and get them engaged until the last page.  Bad books seduce readers but fall short of their promises.  Great books, however, do all of the above, except fall short of their promise - they do not promise anything at all and no reader would mind.  Why?  Because who needs promises when a book just surpassed all your expectations and more? 

Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly is about two young women:  Andi living in modern-day Brooklyn, and Alexandrine from Paris in the time of the French Revolution.  Both girls are in a midst of a revolt, the difference is that Andi's is from within her self while Alexandrine's is that of the historical kind.  

So begs the question:  Is Revolution a good book, a bad book, or a great book?

This is not a mere time travel novel.  Yes, the past and the present parallel each other in this book, but that is not the main focus - it's the revolution that takes place within the characters' lives.  Both Andi and Alexandrine are wounded artists - Andi struggling emotionally because of the death of her younger brother, Truman, her mother's descent into insanity, and her father's indifference and ignorance of his daughter's plight.  Because of this, her performance in school has suffered that gets her father concerned about her academic future as she was tested to be a genius when she was younger - her  father being a scientist, putting premium on intellect rather than emotion.  Alexandrine, on the other hand, deals with a million troubles - poverty, a lack of promising opportunities to showcase her talent on the Paris stage, and a burgeoning French revolution among other things.  Both girls channel their hurt and through their art - music and acting respectively - both flawed artists who try to come to terms with their lives, Andi with accepting what has happened, and Alexandrine with finally realizing the significance of loving another human being other than herself and putting the happiness of another person before hers.  This premise is so skillfully written that readers would find themselves drawn into these girls' worlds, empathizing and sympathizing every step of the way.

Another striking detail is the use of real-life historical events and personalities in order to create a more credible narrative that has chapters set in the French Revolution.  The blending of fact and fiction is so seamless and almost indistinguishable that a reader not very well acquainted with that particular time in French history would be tricked into accepting every historical detail in this book as real and not tampered with.

This story is mostly narrated by Andi, and that narration showed a progression from downright gloomy and despairing, to hopeful and optimistic.  Peppered with sarcastic quips one expects from a jaded teenager, the narrative's voice can be classified as a consistent portrayal of a real teenager's way of speaking and storytelling.  However, other chapters are narrated through journal entries written by Alexandrine that adapts a dated voice that captures a reader's expectation of how a young woman in the old French world would speak.

One would note, however, that Andi's way of speaking during her time in France seemed too 'American' in that although it was understood that her conversations with the French were already translated to English, the nuances and idioms of typical French language were not present in the translations.  Some reviews showed this to be inexcusable, I found this considerate.  Why?  As a book of young adult fiction, this would obviously be read by a younger audience and they like a more straightforward presentation of a narrative, rather than wading through tall grasses of vague 'translated' French to English conversations.

As for the characters, they were not difficult to love - or hate, depending on the circumstances.  When I say love or hate, it means that the characters do not have difficulty in eliciting in me an appropriate emotion and reaction to their personalities and actions.  Andi, a poor rich girl, may sound like a cliche in the beginning, but once you get to know her, it is not difficult to feel for her and understand her pain as her issues are not as superficial as other teens.  She has real problems and really deep sadness that a 'simply divine skirt from Chanel' cannot solve.  Alexandrine, on the other hand, with her conniving and scheming, also gets under your skin without much effort, once her transformation to a deeply-caring young woman becomes complete.

Simply put, this is a great book.

Rating

If you have any questions on this particular rating, please refer to my ratings system here.

Notice 

All opinions expressed in this book review are my own and not influenced by any party in any way.

Please contact me for questions, comments, and suggestions.  

Book Review: Bella by Steve Piacente

Photo taken from Goodreads

 Book Info

Title:  Bella 

Author:  Steve Piacente
Publisher:  CreateSpace

Language: English

Format:  Paperback

Pages:  266 pages

ISBN-10:  1451571615

ISBN-13:  978-1451571615

Source:  Won from the author

Buy this book on Amazon 

Website

Summary

From Goodreads:

"A striking widow intent on proving the military lied about her husband's death lures a Washington journalist into the investigation. Working together, they discover the power of temptation, the futility of revenge, and the consequences of yielding to either."

Review

This book is my first-ever book giveaway win.  And you know what?  It definitely is an epic win!

Bella by Steve Piacente is about a woman's struggle to find out the truth about her soldier husband's death, and to reveal the truth to the whole nation.  Helping her win her cause is cocky and jaded newspaper reporter Dan Patragno whose life may have been tainted by this beautiful widow's entrance into his life.

At its core, Bella is not just a book that solves a mystery, nor is it only to document a woman's search for truth.  Like its title character, Bella is a complex story that will lure, tease, taunt, and leave you wanting for more.  Told through the eyes of Dan, the voice is bitter yet fascinated by this extraordinary woman.  But as much as it is about Bella's charm, struggles, frustrations, and complexities, it is also Dan's own as he is shown dealing with his problems that may or may not be caused by the appearance of Bella in his life.  Reading through his account, the reader cannot help but be torn between Dan's own opinions and Bella's demonstrated behavior.  The different aspects of Bella's multi-dimensional personality that is written in the book contradicts with each other, as we witness her transform from angry woman to aggrieved widow to charming temptress.  It is easy enough to agree with everything Dan tells us about this woman, yet we could not help but be caught off guard by the actual Bella gracing the pages of this book who appears so unpredictably predictable.

The premise of the story also holds its own as it compels the readers to immediately pick up this book as soon as one reads the blurb and synopsis.  Who can resist mysteries?  And then once the pages are turned, readers would be pleasantly surprised to realize that the story has a lot more to offer than the gratification of solving a mysterious case.  Actually, the purported mystery in this novel is solved early that leaves more room to explore Bella's character herself, which appears to be the main focus for this book - quite naturally since this is a book entitled Bella, right?

I would like to congratulate the author in crafting such a creative and emotional masterpiece that would surely beguile every reader's book desires and lure and trap them as Bella unconsciously did to Dan Patragno but unlike the latter, the reader would learn a very valuable lesson without getting too beaten up to appreciate it.

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