Pandemonium (Delirium #2)

by Lauren Oliver

Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date: February 28, 2012
Genre: Young Adult Dystopian
Source: Publisher

I’m pushing aside the memory of my nightmare,
pushing aside thoughts of Alex,
pushing aside thoughts of Hana and my old school,
push,
push,
push,
like Raven taught me to do.
The old life is dead.
But the old Lena is dead too.
I buried her.
I left her beyond a fence,
behind a wall of smoke and flame.

Gooodreads Summary

I’ve been impatiently waiting for Pandemonium to be released from the time I read the last word of Delirium. I remember flipping through the pages at the end of Delirium thinking that there has to be more, that the author wouldn’t really leave me hanging like that. But leave me she did, and the year in between books lasted for what seemed like eternity.

Pandemonium is a hard book to rate for me. I absolutely adored the book, but the author put in a few plot twists that I ended up disappointing me. But those elements aren’t specific to this book, and are more personal preference than anything else. Unfortunately, said plot elements are kind of spoilery, so I’ll put those in spoiler text at the end of the review. I have a burning need to discuss what the heck happened, so if you’ve read the book already.. those hidden paragraphs are for you. And if you haven’t read Pandemonium yet, don’t worry, I won’t give anything away. You’ll have to be shocked, dismayed, overjoyed and whatever else you might feel on your own. Don’t say I don’t love ya’.

Pandemonium is divided into two timelines: Now and Then. Now, Lena is working for the Resistance undercover. She is attending an all-girls academy and is tasked with observing the DFA (Delirium Free America) organization, and specifically the organization’s golden boy, Julian Fineman. She is to stay close to Julian at all costs, and while not knowing why, she obeys her orders and does her job. Lena attends a rally held by the DFA, which ends up getting attacked by Scavengers and Julian is whisked away by his bodyguards in underground tunnels to keep him safe. Lena follows close behind, and she stumbles upon a small group attempting to kidnap Julian and they both end up being taken. Locked in a small cell with no knowledge of where they are or how long they’ll be down there, Lena and Julian can’t help but interact, talk and connect.

In Then, Lena is running. Running from the life she was supposed to escape with Alex and the image of him falling, shot and possibly dead. Injured herself, she runs until her legs physically can’t carry her anymore and she collapses, wishing for death if it means she can be with Alex again. She is saved by a small group of people who live outside the wire, and she is slowly brought back to life. Lena is now faced with a life she was never supposed to live alone, in a place far away from anything she ever knew. Still grieving Alex, she’s left the old Lena behind and a new Lena has had to take her place. A Lena that knows the raw edge of hunger. A Lena that has to work, earn her place and learn to live on scraps and whatever she can scavenge. A Lena that has to learn to live without Alex, the love of her life and the sole reason for leaving her life behind in the first place.

Delirium was one of my favorite books last year. I was blown away by the exquisite writing, the idea of a world without love or passion and a girl who was willing to risk it all for the boy she loved. Pandemonium left me in awe. Everything good in Delirium was carried over into this book, and made even better. I was intrigued by how each chapter was divided between Now and Then, and when I was firmly entrenched in the Now, the author would yank me out of it and thrust me back into Then. Or vice versa. There were little cliff hangers throughout the whole book, and I felt like I raced through it even faster because I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next.

Lena really stole the show for me in this book. She left everything behind to be with the boy she loved, who she now thinks is dead but isn’t quite sure and has to learn to live this new life without him and just survive. If I was Lena, I’m pretty sure I’d be a big pile of goo and would cry myself to sleep every night. Lena has an inner core of strength that I couldn’t help but admire and respect. Her personal growth in this book is wonderful to watch. Lena struggles with finding herself in this new world and discovering that’s is okay to pull bits of Old Lena, New Lena and Resistance Lena together to make a stronger and better Lena. One that is sure of her values and what’s important to her. One that will stand up for what she believes in even if it’s not the most popular ideal or way of thought.

Big spoiler – hidden behind white text and definitely highlight and read at your own risk:

I LOATHE the love triangle that Oliver introduced in this book. I feel like it kind of cheapens the love that Alex and Lena shared in Delirium. Don’t get me wrong, I like Julian, he’s a nice guy. But he’s not Alex. And I died at the end when Alex showed up while Lena and Julian were having a “moment” and you could see how hurt and shocked he was. And then… it ended. What. the. hell. You can’t keep doing this to me Lauren Oliver! It’s killing me. Alex escaped prison, traveled all that way to find her and Lena is freakin’ involved with another guy. Aggh! She has to end up with Alex. She has to. I’ll feel bad for Julian, but.. it’s Alex and Lena. Nothing else makes sense. And now I’m left hanging.. again. And now I have to wait a whole year that will seem like an eternity.. again. Gah. GAH!

Okay, I feel better. I just had to get that off my chest.

My Summary: Pandemonium is definitely a must-read. It doesn’t fall into the dreaded second novel trap where it becomes a filler book just to keep the series going. Stuff actually happens, character development definitely occurs and it’s completely and utterly addicting. I admit, I ignored pretty much everything – and everyone – while I read the book. Lauren Oliver is just that talented. Even though a few things happened that I personally wish hadn’t, I’m sure there’s a reason and that the author will fix everything and make it all better. I can overlook those personal preferences though, and whole heartedly say I loved this book and would highly recommend the series it to anyone.

My Rating: A+

The Marriage Bargain

By Jennifer Probst

Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Publication Date: February 14, 2012
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: Publisher

A marriage in name only…

To save her family home, impulsive bookstore owner, Alexa Maria McKenzie, casts a love spell. But she never planned on conjuring up her best friend’s older brother—the powerful man who once shattered her heart.

Billionaire Nicholas Ryan doesn’t believe in marriage, but in order to inherit his father’s corporation, he needs a wife and needs one fast. When he discovers his sister’s childhood friend is in dire financial straits, he’s offers Alexa a bold proposition.

A marriage in name only with certain rules: Avoid entanglement. Keep things all business. Do not fall in love. The arrangement is only for a year so the rules shouldn’t be that hard to follow, right?

Except fate has a way of upsetting the best-laid plans…

Goodreads Summary

One of the best things about being a book blogger is reading reviews that other people have written on books that I’ve read. Especially the big releases when something crazy happens, and I HAVE to analyze and discuss it with someone the instant I’m done reading the book. Writing reviews for popular releases is fun, but everyone does it. Another benefit about book blogging is all the recommendations I receive for lesser known books that I never would have read without that someone’s stamp of approval. There are so many books that just slip under the radar, but are actually complete gems and truly enjoyable reads. The Marriage Bargain is like the wallflowers at a ball: it may have a plain exterior, but when you dig a little deeper you find a hidden treasure and a wealth of personality.

Alexa needs $150,000, and she needs it fast. Her parents have run into a bit of financial trouble, and are in danger of losing her childhood home. On a whim, she performs a spell that a customer told her about, listing all the qualities she wants in a man: loves animals, loves big families and above all, has cash to spare. Enter, Nicholas Ryan. The two were childhood friends but lost touch over the years. He hates animals, wants nothing to do with family and doesn’t really want to get married, but has to in order to inherit the company he built with his uncle. Nick is filthy rich though, and the two connect and agree to get married for a year, which is amount of time Nick’s uncle stipulated he must be married in order to fully inherit the company. In return, he’ll give Alexa the money she asked for, which he assumes will be used to expand her book store. Alexa doesn’t want Nick to know how she intends to spend the money, since her plan his to make him think the worst of her in order to keep him at arm’s length. Alexa is in very real danger of falling in love with Nick, but her heart has been broken by him before and Alexa is one to learn her lesson the first time.

Y’all know how much I love my couples that hate each other in the beginning and fall in love at the end. While I wouldn’t say Nick and Alexa hate each other, there is a definite wall between the two. It was so fun to watch that wall break down. Nick is absolutely convinced that a wife and family aren’t for him due to his own screwed up family growing up. He associates family with pain, and doesn’t want to open his heart to anyone and have them stomp on it. Alexa is the complete opposite of any woman he’s ever dated, and the things he’s sworn off are the most important to her. His controlled and rigid life goes into an uproar when he brings Alexa home as his wife, and I loved how flustered he was as he tried to bring it all back under his reign.

The heat and chemistry between the two are intense. The build-up before the couple gave in to their physical attraction was so well done. This book was hot, hot, hot!

Inevitably, Nick does something to screw everything up and has to make up for it. I absolutely loved how he apologized and it was so perfect for the story. The ending just melted my heart and I was so pleased by their happily ever after. I really wish there would have been an epilogue though. But I’m just selfish and wanted a bit more time with them.

My Summary: So, yeah, the cover is a little underwhelming and I might have passed it by if it was sitting on the shelf at the store. This is definitely a case of where you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. The Marriage Bargain is light, fun and steamy and everything I look for in a romance novel. I definitely recommend it!

My Rating: A

 

The Vanishing Game

By Kate Kae Myers

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Publication Date: February 14, 2012
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Lite
Source: Netgalley

Seventeen-year-old Jocelyn follows clues apparently from her dead twin, Jack, in and around Seale House, the terrifying foster home where they once lived. With help from childhood friend Noah she begins to uncover the truth about Jack’s death and the company that employed him and Noah.

Jocelyn’s twin brother Jack was the only family she had growing up in a world of foster homes-and now he’s dead, and she has nothing. Then she gets a cryptic letter from “Jason December”-the code name her brother used to use when they were children at Seale House, a terrifying foster home that they believed had dark powers. Only one other person knows about Jason December: Noah, Jocelyn’s childhood crush and their only real friend among the troubled children at Seale House.

But when Jocelyn returns to Seale House and the city where she last saw Noah, she gets more than she bargained for. Turns out the house’s powers weren’t just a figment of a childish imagination. And someone is following Jocelyn. Is Jack still alive? And if he is, what kind of trouble is he in? The answer is revealed in a shocking twist that turns this story on its head and will send readers straight back to page 1 to read the book in a whole new light.

Goodreads Summary

The Vanishing Game is a little different than what we normally read and review here on the blog. The book has a bit of romance, but it’s secondary (or thirdly, even) to the mystery and suspense of following the clues and finding out whether or not Jocelyn’s twin brother is alive, or has faked his death and gone into hiding.

The book centers around Seale House, a foster home that Jocelyn and Jack lived in when they were children. Living in that house is the stuff of nightmares, and once they got out of the house, Jocelyn tried everything she could to block those memories. Jocelyn and Jack were placed in a new foster home, and lived happily there for awhile until Jack died in a tragic car accident. It’s been three weeks, and Jocelyn is barely managing to go on without him. She arrives home from school one day to a letter written from a place she never wanted to see again, and from someone she thought was dead.

While living in Seale House Jocey and Jack became best friends with another boy, Noah, and the three were inseparable. Jack would design these elaborate games, where Noah and Jocey had to follow clues to receive the prize at the end. His code name, Jack December. The letter that Jocey receives is from Jason December, and it’s post dated after Jack died. Desperately hoping her brother is really alive, she travels back to Watertown and the awful memories in search of Noah, her childhood friend and the only other person that can help her decipher the clues. Not only must they contend with an unknown enemy following their trail, Jocelyn and Noah must confront their haunting memories and finally lay the ghosts in Seale House to rest. The big question remains, is Jack really alive?

I was actually supposed to read this about a week ago, but I kept hemming and hawing and putting it off. I mistakenly read a few reviews on Goodreads before I started reading, and the excitement I felt sort of waned when I figured out that the romance wasn’t the primary storyline. Or even a secondary storyline, really. I finally couldn’t put it off any longer and I grudgingly started reading. I was immediately sucked in by the mystery of Jason December. I became so enthralled in fact, that I decided I didn’t give a crap about the romance and I was an idiot for looking at other reviews before making up my own mind.

I really, really enjoyed The Vanishing Game. It was sad and heartbreaking, and I can’t believe all that Jocelyn had to endure in her short life. Her memories of everything that happened in Seale House were horrifying. My heart broke for these kids, and I think it’s tragic that any child should have to live in such an environment. I loved the relationship between the two siblings, and how they stuck together through every hardship life through their way. The depression and utter bleakness that Jocey felt after Jack died was written so well that I felt like I had lost my twin or something. I also liked how Noah and Jocey didn’t just jump right back into their old friendship like they hadn’t been separated for years. They had some issues to work out first, and the initial awkwardness was a bit more realistic and believable.

The ending. Oh, the ending y’all. I never really could tell whether or not Jack was alive, and I did NOT expect the shocking twist at the end. I never, ever, ever would have guessed the book would turn out the way it did. I’m not one to guess the ending anyway, since I’m just not smart like that, but I don’t think anyone could have figured out what turn the book was going to take. The first 3/4 of the book was captivating, but that twist is what pushed The Vanishing Game into a truly great read.

My Summary: This is one of those rare books for me where my focus was more on the story – the mystery, suspense, who is sending the Jack December letters, whether or not Jack is alive – than the individual characters. All the elements of the story blended together and the author has given us a book that you absolutely have to finish or you can’t move on with your life. It was nice to have a little break from reading mostly romance novels, and it was a break that I didn’t even know I needed. If anything, you have to read this book just so you can read the twist at the end. Be prepared to be amazed!

My Rating: A

Scarlet

By A.C. Gaughen

Publisher: Walker Childrens
Publication Date: February 14, 2012
Genre: Young Adult Historical/Fantasy
Source: Netgalley

Many readers know the tale of Robin Hood, but they will be swept away by this new version full of action, secrets, and romance.

Posing as one of Robin Hood’s thieves to avoid the wrath of the evil Thief Taker Lord Gisbourne, Scarlet has kept her identity secret from all of Nottinghamshire. Only the Hood and his band know the truth: the agile thief posing as a whip of a boy is actually a fearless young woman with a secret past. Helping the people of Nottingham outwit the corrupt Sheriff of Nottingham could cost Scarlet her life as Gisbourne closes in. It’s only her fierce loyalty to Robin—whose quick smiles and sharp temper have the rare power to unsettle her—that keeps Scarlet going and makes this fight worth dying for.

Goodreads Summary

Happy Monday y’all! It’s gray and dreary down here in Memphis, and winter finally decided to show up over the weekend so we’re all bundled up against the cold. Perfect day for writing reviews and reading all day! Now if only my munchkin would get that memo… 😉

Barbara and I got into a little tug-of-war over this book when it popped up over at Netgalley, and, well.. I won. And I don’t feel bad about it either (sorry Barbara!). I first saw Scarlet on someone’s WoW post, and I was immediately taken with the different point-of-view on the classic tale of Robin Hood. Not only was it not told from our beloved thief’s perspective, it was really a tale about his right hand man, Will Scarlet. Or in this case, his right hand woman. A.C. Gaughen has posed that Will Scarlet was indeed a young woman, and the heart and soul of Robin Hood’s merry band of men.

I won’t go into too much detail of the synopsis, since the one provided above does a pretty good job of explaining the story. This author’s version of the events is similar to the classic tale, and I’m going to assume that you all know the basics. The evil Sheriff of Nottingham takes over Rob’s lands while he’s away fighting the Holy Wars, and Rob returns to find his people are being overtaxed and struggling to feed their families. Rob recruits Scarlet to teach him and a select few others the fine art of thievery so they can steal from the rich, and give to the poor. Everyone with me?

Well, in the words of Ashley over at Bookish Brunette: “This book rocked my face off!”

The author has of course changed a few details, and one of them are the ages of the characters. Most often in Robin Hood retellings, whether it’s a book or a movie, Robin Hood is cast as an older man. In this author’s unique twist, Robin Hood is the oldest of the bunch, and he’s only in his early twenties. I think the younger cast in Scarlet will appeal to young adults, but the characters aren’t so young that adults won’t relate either. Clearly, since I loved the book and I was a teenager ages ago. I loved that the author made them a bit younger and gave the characters and the series room to grow.

As for the characters themselves.. completely brilliant. I thought Scarlet was one of the best heroines I’ve read in awhile. Her past is shrouded in mystery, and I loved watching every secret fall away and how I finally understood how she came to be who she is. Scarlet is an insanely good thief, and is fiercely loyal to the cause as well as Rob and the other guys in her crew. As for Rob.. be still my heart. You’ve got to admire a man who is willing to work on the other side of the law to help and serve the people he considers under his care. He may not have the manor anymore, but he is lord of the land in all the ways that matter and everyone knows it.

My Summary: Scarlet was such a beautiful story. I loved the details and imagery that A.C. Gaughen created with mere words, and the ease with which I was able to picture the story in my mind. I loved the authentic language and how it lent the perfect finishing touch to the characters and story. Out of all the retellings and movies created about Robin Hood, Scarlet is by far my favorite. Move over Kevin Costner, you’ve been replaced!

My Rating: A+

 

I’ve Got Your Number

By Sophie Kinsella

Publisher: The Dial Press
Publication Date: February 14, 2012
Genre: Chick Lit
Source: Netgalley

I’ve lost it. The only thing in the world I wasn’t supposed to lose. My engagement ring. It’s been in Magnus’s family for three generations. And now, the very same day his parents are coming, I’ve lost it. The very same day. Do not hyperventilate Poppy. Stay positive!!

Poppy Wyatt has never felt luckier. She is about to marry the ideal man, Magnus Tavish, but in one afternoon her ‘happy ever after’ begins to fall apart. Not only has she lost her engagement ring but in the panic that followed, she has now lost her phone. As she paces shakily round the hotel foyer she spots an abandoned phone in a bin. Finders keepers! Now she can leave a number for the hotel to contact her when they find her ring. Perfect!

Well, perfect except the phone’s owner, businessman Sam Roxton doesn’t agree. He wants his phone back and doesn’t appreciate Poppy reading all his messages and wading into his personal life.

What ensues is a hilarious and unpredictable turn of events as Poppy and Sam increasingly upend each other’s lives through emails and text messages. As Poppy juggles wedding preparations, mysterious phone calls and hiding her left hand from Magnus and his parents… she soon realises that she is in for the biggest surprise of her life.

Goodreads Summary

All right, I need y’all to bear with me a moment while I take a trip down memory lane. Several years ago I was a geeky, awkward teenager with bushy hair and crooked teeth. I’d just moved to TX and didn’t have any friends, so I spent most of my time reading books. I remember my mom bought a book one day called Confessions of a Shopaholic, and it was the first book I’d ever stayed up late to finish because I couldn’t physically put it down. I was caught up in the humor and the realness of Becky Bloomwood and her ability to make a simple situation into one gigantic mess. Basically, I fell in love with Sophie Kinsella’s books on the spot, and while she hasn’t always come through for me, I’ve still been a faithful reader ever since. I jumped at the chance to review I’ve Got Your Number, and it more than surpassed every expectation.

Poppy Wyatt has done the one thing every bride-to-be fears: she lost her engagement ring. This isn’t just any engagement ring either, it’s been in her fiance’s family for generations. Poppy is frantically searching for the ring, leaving flyers all around the hotel she was was at attending a luncheon, and speaking to every hotel employee she can find. She steps outside to make a phone call, and as she is bring it up to her ear, her phone is snatched right out of her hand by a bike riding thief. She stands there in horror, because not only has her phone been snatched, but every hotel employee has the phone number to that phone that is swiftly riding away from her. She steps back into the lobby, and on one of her rounds of pacing she stumbles upon a phone just sitting there in the trash. She picks it up, and when no alarms go off and she decides that anyone who would throw away a perfectly good phone doesn’t deserve it anyway.

This perfectly good phone does belong to someone, one Sam Roxton. Well, it belongs to his PA anyway, who quit without any notice. After she explains her situation to him, he grudgingly agrees to share the phone with her for a few days until her ring is found. She agrees in return to forward him every e-mail and text message sent to the phone. Can she help it if she happens to read every e-mail as she does so? Or send off one, maybe two, responses in his name to people he refuses to reply to? It’s what every good person would do, really.

Poppy is your typical Sophie Kinsella heroine. Kind-hearted, funny and every action or word is backed by good intentions. Poppy manages to get herself into all sorts of awkward situations that had me laughing so hard, I cried. Kinsella has a wonderful ability to create inner monologues that make the character even more real to me. I loved it when she was talking with Sam, and I equally enjoyed it when she was talking to herself in her head. The best thing about Kinsella’s novels is the humor. I can’t recall another author that makes me laugh as much as her.

Since the book is told from Poppy’s sole point-of-view, we only get to know the other characters through her eyes and observations. Her fiance is a total jerk, and I couldn’t wait until she got a clue and chucked him overboard. Sam was.. Sam. Sexy and powerful and absolutely capable of dealing with Poppy’s ability to get herself in a pickle. Also, he’s forgiving since some of Poppy’s pickles involve Sam and the phone space they share together. The ending of the book is so sweet, and I can’t help but want more of Poppy and Sam and the wonderful chemistry they have together.

My Summary: Sophie Kinsella really nailed it with I’ve Got Your Number. I haven’t loved the last few releases of hers, but after reading it twice in the last few weeks, this book has quickly become my favorite of all her books. I love the humor, the honesty and the realness of Poppy’s character. It felt like my best friend was telling me the story of when she really fell in love. Read it, and I hope you love it as much as I did.

My Rating: A+