ARC Review: Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke

You stop fearing the devil when you’re holding his hand…

Nothing much exciting rolls through Violet White’s sleepy, seaside town…until River West comes along. River rents the guesthouse behind Violet’s crumbling estate, and as eerie, grim things start to happen, Violet begins to wonder about the boy living in her backyard. Is River just a crooked-smiling liar with pretty eyes and a mysterious past? Or could he be something more? Violet’s grandmother always warned her about the Devil, but she never said he could be a dark-haired boy who takes naps in the sun, who likes coffee, who kisses you in a cemetery...who makes you want to kiss back. Violet’s already so knee-deep in love, she can’t see straight. And that’s just how River likes it.

Blending faded decadence and the thrilling dread of gothic horror, April Genevieve Tucholke weaves a dreamy, twisting contemporary romance, as gorgeously told as it is terrifying—a debut to watch.

From Goodreads

This was a difficult book to pin down and kind of convoluted to follow. We only see the story from Violet's side, which suits the story just fine for the mystery element, but the timeline is so compressed that I found it difficult to believe. In just a few short weeks (I think 3 at most) she takes in a sketchy boarder, falls in love, takes in the sketchy boarder's equally sketchy brother, witnesses several deaths, and discovers way too many family secrets.

It starts off easily enough with a solid background that, while eccentric, is doable. Two almost-adult fraternal teenage twins living in their family's run-down estate while their parents are traveling Europe as artists. The logic of needing a boarder to help cover expenses is normal enough, but that's about where it stops. River is almost too unique for this story. Between his mannerisms, attire, & ability, he's just a bit overdone. His brother Neely is the same way, minus an ability (unless smashing people's faces in counts). It just seemed like they were trying too hard to stand out.

I also had some trouble with all the different story lines. It felt like they were picked up when convenient & then ignored when they caused any sort of ripple in the character interactions. And those were peculiar as well. Sometimes it seemed that there were too many people in the story that I couldn't necessarily tell who was important and what story lines might emerge. Usually that's a good thing in a mystery/suspense type book, but for this one it was just information overload.

To be quite honest I think all of that could have been forgiven had it not been for the climax. That whole scene felt like it was grasping at straws. I know this is the first in a new series, so it's setting something larger up, but it just felt hokey and kitschy. 

I will say this, I did like the character dynamics. They were an illustration in contrasts since almost everyone had an opposing personality within someone else. The setting was fairly well constructed & suited the story's needs quite well. But I honestly can't see myself wanting to read anything more of this series. 

Have any of you read it? Did I miss something critical or do you think it's just not my kind of book?

ARC graciously provided by Around the World ARC Tours

May Genreflecting: Review: The Killer's Cousin by Nancy Werlin

After seventeen-year-old David is forced to stand trial for his girlfriend's death, he is sent to live with his aunt and uncle and their young daughter, Lily, to avoid the media frenzy. But all is not well at his relatives' house. His aunt and uncle are not speaking to each other, and Lily seems dead set on making David's life a torment. And then there's the issue of their older daughter, Kathy, who died under mysterious circumstances a number of years back. As things with his family grow more and more tense, David starts to wonder: Is he the only one who's hiding something?

From Goodreads

I had read another book by Nancy Werlin & really enjoyed it. The Killer's Cousin though is a whole different animal than Impossible. This suspense novel leaves you just enough in the dark about what's taken place prior to the beginning of the book that you're just a bit confused. You know that something terrible has taken place & that the main character David is escaping persecution based on a murder charge, but you don't get the whole story until the end of the book. As you watch David interacting with his estranged family & the students at his new school, you begin to understand just how isolated and different he really is from everyone else.

All is not well in his aunt & uncle's home as evidenced by their silent treatment of one another and the strained familial bonds are taxed even further when the subject turns to their surviving daughter, 11 year old Lily. She seems a bit peculiar at first, but quickly becoming menacing. Before you know it, the book seems to turn into a horror film where the parents are oblivious to the destruction going on around them. As David sorts through his emotions & experiences over the last year, he's also trying to figure out what's really going on in this family and why he gets the feeling that it has something to do with the way his older cousin Kathy died.

Despite its age, this is a pretty good suspense novel. There are definitely some things that cause it to be dated (VHS tapes, the novelty of "the Net", the X-Files as a popular tv show) if you skip past that background noise and focus on the main story, it's really quite timeless. We spend a great deal of time with David and his thoughts which gives us a very specific vantage point to view the series of events he sees unfolding. I really enjoyed watching him piece things together while still struggling with his identity and self-esteem.

This book definitely followed the pattern of a suspense novel in that we spend the entire novel dreading the discovery of the truth of some past event. While normally we're dreading/anticipating a future event, I think this reversed system worked well considering that there were two mysterious events to be reconciled. The anticipation of David's discoveries is palpable throughout the novel giving you the sense of foreboding and edginess.

Next week I'll be reviewing All Unquiet Things and hosting a giveaway so be sure to check back in next Friday!

May Genreflecting: Mystery & Suspense: The Details

Based on the Collins English Dictionary, a subgenre is "a category that is a subdivision of a larger genre." (Source) Mystery & suspense books are by nature very inquisitive. There is either a puzzle to be solved or some future event to be anticipated. When I hear the word mystery I often find myself thinking of a good detective novel like Sherlock Holmes. It's the thrill of the chase that allows me to thoroughly enjoy these stories. Suspense novels often times give me a sense of dread that I just can't quite pinpoint. They're not necessarily scary or of-putting, they just exude a sense of anticipation that keeps me on the edge of my seat.

While suspense doesn't really have subgenres per se, mystery certainly does. Depending of what kind of setting and characters you enjoy, there is definitely something to be found for you among mystery books. I personally prefer paranormal mysteries. While contemporary mysteries are alright, I prefer basic realistic/contemporary fiction. I have been known to enjoy a historical mystery for the sake of the time period. The 1920's & 1940's are some of my favorite decades, so if a mystery is set during those years I am far more likely to read it. When it comes down to it though, I love a good paranormal mystery for the simple fact that there are so many non-traditional elements. In a paranormal book, almost anything can happen, so I find the over-abundance of possibilities even more exciting in a mystery context.

Some of my favorite books that fall under these categories are The Raven Boys by Maggie Stievfater, Heist Society by Ally Carter, & The Body of Christopher Creed by Carol Plum-Ucci. 

While you may hold strong to the notion that The Raven Boys is simply a fantasy/paranormal fiction book, I would argue that it falls under paranormal mystery. We are presented with a challenge/puzzle at the very beginning of the book. We know the two possible outcomes for the book & now we must follow the characters are they work their way through each obstacle to discover the truth. 

Heist Society on the other hand is a fantastic example of what I love in a good suspense novel. While for the most part the stakes are not life & death in these fun novels about a teenager burglar & her band of merry thieves, there is definitely a sense of an impending situation. Nothing is as simple as a heist, the motives behind all of these jobs are what drive the story and leave you guessing as to whether they will succeed & where they will go next.

Do you have any favorite mystery or suspense novels? I'm looking to broaden my reading palate & would love some suggestions! Come back next week when I discuss my older book The Killer's Cousin.

Frost Burned (Mercy Thompson #7) by Patricia Briggs review

Obviously MAJOR SPOILERS abound as this is the 7th book in a series.

Mercy Thompson’s life has undergone a seismic change. Becoming the mate of Adam Hauptman—the charismatic Alpha of the local werewolf pack—has made her a stepmother to his daughter Jesse, a relationship that brings moments of blissful normalcy to Mercy’s life. But on the edges of humanity, what passes for a minor mishap on an ordinary day can turn into so much more…

After an accident in bumper-to-bumper traffic, Mercy and Jesse can’t reach Adam—or anyone else in the pack for that matter. They’ve all been abducted.

Through their mating bond, all Mercy knows is that Adam is angry and in pain. With the werewolves fighting a political battle to gain acceptance from the public, Mercy fears Adam’s disappearance may be related—and that he and the pack are in serious danger. Outclassed and on her own, Mercy may be forced to seek assistance from any ally she can get, no matter how unlikely.

From Goodreads

If you've read my blog long, or even if you're new around here, you might know that I ADORE the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs. I found this series fairly early in the game, right before the 4th book was published. I devoured them all and eagerly await the next installment every time. Unsure if they were "appropriate" for my blog audience, I refrained from reviewing them for quite some time. When I finally did bite the bullet, I did 2 sets of mini-reviews that cover the first 5 books (1-3, 4-5) and have subsequently reviewed each released book since then. Even more exciting was the fact that I finally got the chance to meet Patty at a signing for this book! It made all the difference in the world to hear her talk about her characters and actually read to us in the voices of those characters. But enough rambling, let's dig into the review!

Some time has passed between the ending of River Marked and the beginning of this book. Mercy has healed from her wounds and is settling in as the alpha's mate. Now residing in the Hauptman household, she is also officially step-mother to Adam's daughter Jesse. The easy-going nature of this relationship is what lulls you into a fall sense of security because right from the get-go we know something is wrong when no one from the pack can be reached.

There is a lot of suspense and detective work that has to go into discovering just what has happened to the pack. Making things even more difficult is the shear number of those involved. Despite these obstacles, and being a bit out of her element being the one solely in charge of the well-being of any and all pack members, Mercy shines throughout the book. Her dedication to the ones she loves can lead her into trouble if she's not cautious, as it naturally does in this book, but she wouldn't be Mercy if she didn't fight tooth and claw.

What made me really love this book, as opposed to the "meh" feeling I had for the last one, was the reappearance of some long-missed companions. There are a lot of beings and characters in Mercy's world and we don't often get to see many of them as often as we'd like due to other storylines. This book however saw the return of many characters that I had missed and their interjection allowed us to see how Mercy has grown and changed since the series first started. She is no longer just a shapeshifting mechanic working for a fae in a local shop, aggravating her werewolf neighbor with broken down vehicles, but otherwise trying to stay out of the supernatural world. Rather than hide from this world that she can't help but be a part of, Mercy has embraced her role in it and is a bit more careful in her actions.

If you haven't read the series yet, give it a go. There's hardly any romance, but lots of supernatural action that will keep you wanting to read. If you're a bit squeamish though, be forewarned, as these are werewolves, vampires, & fae who don't always necessarily have the best interests of humans in mind.

Do you read this series? What do you think? Do you have any other series that are like it that you love? 

May Genreflecting: Mystery & Suspense: The Basics

I wanted to do a reading challenge for the subject of Genreflecting, but I didn't get much feedback (maybe because it asked you to read 2 books for each genre and discuss them or because it's not really a "reading challenge" per se, but more an educational experiment), so I've turned it into a monthly feature! For each month of 2013, there will be a specific genre that will be analyzed. I'm planning to have author input and at least 2 reviews of books in the genre as well.

April's genre is Mystery & Suspense! These two books often go hand-in-hand simply because they are so closely linked. While mystery books are usually trying to find out the who & why of an event and suspense books usually know something terrible has happened, but are experiencing the book with a sense of impending disaster. These book tend to be read by those teens seeking a more intriguing read as puzzles are often-times a main component. That's not to say that these are all "thinking" books though, I personally love some of the paranormal mysteries that seem to abound. But as that is a subgenre, you'll just have to wait until next week to learn more! (paraphrased from Teen Genreflecting, 2003)

A few of my favorite authors you may recognize in this genre are:
Carol Plum-Ucci- The Body of Christopher Creed
Lois Duncan- Daughters of Eve, I Know What You Did Last Summer
Christopher Pike- Chain Letter

I'm excited to say that I've chosen my two books, one older and one newer, to read for this challenge. The older book is The Killer's Cousin by Nancy Werlin (originally published in 1998) and I'll have a review and analysis up on Friday, May 24th. The newer book is All Unquiet Things by Anna Jarzab (originally published in 2010) and I'll have a review and analysis up on Friday, May 31st. I'll also be hosting a giveaway, so stay tuned!

The Possession of Cassie Quinn by Kathryn Knutson review

A long, dark driveway towards an old farmhouse. A new stepsister with a nasty streak. A little sister who runs off. Something sinister lurking in the woods. Cassie Quinn's new home comes with . . . complications. Cassie never believed in ghosts before. But now she is receiving strange messages, telling her to stay out of the woods. Are the messages just a ploy by her stepsister? Or are they warning her of an evil that stalks the shadows of the woods beyond her home?

From Goodreads

I am not a fan of horror anything. If I watch a horror movie it must be a) during the day, b) with all the lights on, & c) preferably with someone who has already seen the film and can tell me when to look away/be prepared for a fright. As sad as it sounds, I still have nightmares from various movies I've seen over the years. I thought books might be a better approach, alas my imagination's ability to improve upon the author's description to a frightening degree also nixed that. Why am I telling you all this? Because I found a suspenseful, horror-based book that didn't give me nightmares but did spook me.

The Possession of Cassie Quinn begins like any other story with a newly blended family (dad & daughter with mom & her two daughters) moving into a new home. The spirit/entity is already on the property waiting for the new inhabitants. Unique family dynamics, like an outgoing, inquisitive younger sister & a "I wanna be seen as a tough girl" step sister, give the spirit even more wiggle room. Standard haunting tricks ensue, but with an individual twist. The mysterious deaths of two teenagers in the woods should be a sign, but of course no one listens.

Another thing I thought I'd get bored of quickly would be the characters themselves. I was sure they were all going to be thick-headed morons who couldn't be bothered to open their eyes to what was going on around them. These teens are surprisingly adept at handling supernatural forces. While there are still some understandably stupid actions (repeatedly going off into the woods alone) they are believable. 

If you're looking for a way to ease into these types of books, I highly recommend this one. Even better, it's going to have a sequel. It might have take a little bit for the book to get going (back story will do that) but once it was on a roll I was sad to see it end. Until I realized there would be more. :)

Anyone have any recommendations for a fraidy cat who likes gentler horror/suspense books?

Waiting on Wednesday: The Line

Waiting on Wednesday recognizes that we as bookies pine for books. This post is about what I am impatiently waiting for right now. It was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

The Line by Teri Hall is set to be released on March 4, 2010.

An invisible, uncrossable physical barrier encloses the Unified States. The Line is the part of the border that lopped off part of the country, dooming the inhabitants to an unknown fate when the enemy used a banned weapon. It’s said that bizarre creatures and superhumans live on the other side, in Away. Nobody except tough old Ms. Moore would ever live next to the Line.

Nobody but Rachel and her mother, who went to live there after Rachel’s dad died in the last war. It’s a safe, quiet life. Until Rachel finds a mysterious recorded message that can only have come from Away. The voice is asking for help.

Who sent the message? Why is her mother so protective? And to what lengths is Rachel willing to go in order to do what she thinks is right? From Goodreads

How awesome does that sound?! It's got some serious mystery to it that I find ridiculously appealing and a unique plot. Quartered off sections of the country that left those on the other side to fend for themselves? Sign me up for reading that book! Anyway, I am hoping that Rachel will be a strong, female heroine because those are my favorite types. Maybe she can go all "superhero"-ish and saves those on the other side. Who knows? Can't wait to read it!

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Nora Grey is your average teenage girl. She is hanging out with friends, worried about college, and just generally shuffling through life. That is until her teacher decides it's time to switch lab partners and Nora gets stuck with the sketchy new kid Patch.

Patch is one of those guys that everyone warns you about. He's well-built, good-looking, mysterious, and rugged. Every word out of his mouth has a double-entendre that no one can miss and he just loves teasing his new lab partner. While Nora decides that she can put up with him in class, because there's just something about him that pulls her closer, she really doesn't like that he keeps showing up in her after-school life.

Suddenly things start to change. Nora feels like she is being watched and that there is someone messing with her. She practically totals her best friend's car when she hits a black-clad figure in the dark, but when she arrives at her friend's to report the damage, there's nothing there. And that's not all, at the same time that Patch and the mysterious incidents start occurring, two other mysterious boys jump into the picture. They seem a little to eager to be around for Nora's tastes and she doesn't really trust them.

Pretty soon, as the strange occurrences become more frequent and more extreme, Nora starts to piece together what she believes is going on. While she pegs some of the more obvious discrepancies in some stories, she doesn't ever see the whole truth coming. It's just too weird and unbelievable. Unfortunately Nora needs to become a believer quick, fast, and in a hurry or concede defeat and lose her life.

Hush, Hush was an eerie novel. I felt like I was reading the book through a haze that covered most of the story. That's not to say that the writing was off or that it was hard to follow, but Becca Fitzpatrick did a fantastic job of keeping the reader in just enough darkness to continue the intrigue. Nora is a standard "Mary Jane" type of character meaning that isn't anything really standout special about her, except that another nain character has taken an interest in her.

Patch in very captivating. Everything from his physical description (yay for well-built guys with scars) to his witty replies all feed into his special abilities. He's not only a charmer in the regular world, but he is also a mind controller. This ability fit in so well with his personality that it was almost too perfect.

The story was a little choppy at parts because that's what happens when you are dealing with angelic or really any kind of lore. It became cumbersome occasionally when you had to try to determine why something was possible or where it was coming from. And while I enjoyed the fact that there was an exterior antagonist, I really thought that Nora could have been a bit stronger and really done some more personal exploration. Overall though the story was quite fascinating and a wonderful read.

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday recognizes that we as bookies pine for books. This post is about what I am impatiently waiting for right now. It was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

The Dark Divine by Bree Despain is set to be released December 22, 2009!

Grace Divine, daughter of the local pastor, always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared--the night she found her brother Jude collapsed on the porch, covered in his own blood--but she has no idea what a truly monstrous secret that night held.

The memories her family has tried to bury resurface when Daniel returns, three years later, and enrolls in Grace and Jude's high school. Despite promising Jude she'll stay away, Grace cannot deny her attraction to Daniel's shocking artistic abilities, his way of getting her to look at the world from new angles, and the strange, hungry glint in his eyes.

The closer Grace gets to Daniel, the more she jeopardizes her life, as her actions stir resentment in Jude and drive him to embrace the ancient evil Daniel unleashed that horrific night. Grace must discover the truth behind the boy's dark secret...and the cure that can save the ones she loves. But she may have to lay down the ultimate sacrifice to do it--her soul. From Goodreads

This has real promise written all over it. A paranormal mystery/thriller that leaves someone's soul on the bargaining table sounds amazing! I have never understood why families (in stories and in real life) can't be as open as they should be about important things. I mean, if there is something bad that happened one night and it may come back to affect us later, I really think all family members that it might affect should be clued in. Anyway, this book has been getting some pretty high praise so I'm hoping it's as wonderful as it sounds!