Review - Glimmer

by Phoebe Kitanidis
publisher: Balzer + Bray
date of publication: April 17, 2012
format: ARC
pages: 352
source: SBB ARC Tours
Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

From Goodreads:

What if you forgot your identity and had to rely on other people to tell you who you were?

And what if to discover your true self, you first had to unravel a mystery so big and terrifying you were not sure you’d survive solving it?

When Marshall and Elyse wake up in each other’s arms with zero memory of how they got there or who they are, it’s the start of a long journey through their separate pasts and shared future.

Terrified by their amnesia, the two make a pact to work together to find the answers that could jog their missing memories. As they piece together clues, they discover they’re in the idyllic mountain resort town of Summer Falls, where everyone seems mysteriously happy, but as Marshall and Elyse quickly learn, darkness lurks beneath the town’s perfect facade. Not only is the town haunted by sinister ghosts, but none of its living inhabitants retain bad memories of anything—not the death of Marshall’s mom, not the hidden shame in Elyse’s family, not even the day-to-day anguish of high school.

Lonely in this world of happy zombies, Marsh and Elyse fall into an intense relationship...but the secrets they uncover could be the death of this growing love—and the death of everyone, and everything, they love in Summer Falls.

Glimmer first piqued my interest when I read the plot description on the Southern Book Bloggers site.  As it was coming up for an ARC tour, I signed up and anticipated an interesting read.  After all, I am a huge fan of ghost stories, so a town overrun by "sinister ghosts" and residents with a Stepford-like quality sounded too good to miss.  However, what you see isn't always what you get.  While the above-mentioned elements do make up a sizable chunk of the story, there is also a number of quirks that made Glimmer somewhat confusing to read.

When we are first introduced to Elyse and Marshall, they are in a very unusual predicament.  The two wake up naked, in bed together, and with absolutely no memory of who they are or how they got there.  From that point on, these two are one big bundle of confusion and accusation as they set out to figure out who and where they are.  Whether due to the nature of their situation or some other reason, I found these two characters to be very difficult to connect with.  I vacillated between liking and disliking the both of them, which made the reading experience less smooth than I would have liked.

The premise is a very interesting one.  I definitely agree with the description of sinister for the ghosts.  Their habit of appearing out of nowhere and smiling maniacally as they try to catch various people succeeded in giving me the creeps.  Also, the town itself was surprisingly sinister in its own right.  Things might appear to be happy and idyllic, but there are some seriously odd things going on in Summer Falls.  I enjoyed the plot the most out of all the elements in Glimmer.

Glimmer had both good points and bad points for me.  Among the good points were the great setting and plot.  They really made for a unique and enjoyable read.  My main point of contention lies with the main characters.  They both ran very hot and cold and I found myself having a difficult time gaining a lock on them.  This added a level of detachment that was detrimental to the reading experience.  Overall, however, I enjoyed the book.  If you enjoy ghosts in your reading choices and are looking for a new approach to them, pick this one up!

Obligatory legal statement: This ARC was provided to me free of charge by the publisher via Southern Book Blogger ARC Tours. No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review.

Review - Belles

by Jen Calonita
publisher: Poppy
date of publication: April 10, 2012
format: ARC
pages: 356
source: Southern Book Blogger ARC Tours
Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

From Goodreads:

Fifteen-year-old Isabelle Scott loves her life by the boardwalk on the supposed wrong side of the tracks in North Carolina. But when tragedy strikes, a social worker sends her to live with a long-lost uncle and his preppy privileged family. Isabelle is taken away from everything she's ever known, and, unfortunately, inserting her into the glamorous lifestyle of Emerald Cove doesn't go so well. Her cousin Mirabelle Monroe isn't thrilled to share her life with an outsider, and, in addition to dealing with all the rumors and backstabbing that lurk beneath their classmates' Southern charm, a secret is unfolding that will change both girls' lives forever.

What I Thought

I usually only read contemporary fiction when the premise catches my eye.  In this case, Belles by Jen Calonita is one of those books.  The book's description lends it a Cinderella story-like vibe, and the fact that it is set in the south made it all the more intriguing.  I also couldn't help but appreciate the play on words in the title itself.  I knew that this would be one contemporary novel I should read and I am glad that I did.

Isabelle and Mirabelle, the two Belles alluded to in the title, are as different as one would expect based upon the settings in which they grew up.  However, there are also differences of world outlook that are even more surprising and, at times, disturbing, namely on Mirabelle's part.  While Isabelle does her best to remain open-minded in her situation, Mirabelle holds certain prejudices against her cousin, all the while believing that she, herself, is being open-minded.  Isabelle is an admirable character in that she still manages to be herself even when life as she knows it has changed so drastically.  Mirabelle, on the other hand, was a hard sell based on her initial actions and the way in which she stands by while her supposed best friend sets out to ruin Isabelle.  I would have liked a little more depth from both girls, however.  I was left feeling like an impassive reader at times, as I just wasn't completely engaged at certain points in the book.

The plot was an interesting one and I did enjoy the aspect involving the Monroes learning to live with Isabelle and vice versa.  However, some of the scenes at the school came across with a bit of a soap opera quality.  The relationships, gossip, and sabotage were somewhat over-the-top and predictable.  However, the scenes between Isabelle and the Monroe family more than made up for it and I was left still able to enjoy the book immensely.

In the end, Belles proved to be a very enjoyable book and was a nice change of page from my typical reads.  If you're a southern YA reader who, like me, doesn't read much contemporary but is looking to change things up, I would recommend this one.  There is a lot of emotion involved, as well as a number of lessons being learned.  Jen Calonita has written an engrossing account of a family's changes and challenges.  I'm glad that I read it.

Obligatory legal statement: This ARC was provided to me free of charge by the publisher via Southern Book Blogger ARC Tours. No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review

Review - The Last Echo

Kimberly Derting
publisher: HarperTeen
date of publication: April 17, 2012
format: ARC
pages: 358
source: SBB ARC Tours
Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

From Goodreads:

Violet kept her morbid ability to sense dead bodies a secret from everyone except her family and her childhood-best-friend-turned-boyfriend, Jay Heaton. That is until forensic psychologist Sara Priest discovered Violet's talent and invited her to use her gift to track down murderers. Now, as she works with an eclectic group of individuals—including mysterious and dangerously attractive Rafe—it's Violet's job to help those who have been murdered by bringing their killers to justice. When Violet discovers the body of a college girl killed by "the girlfriend collector" she is determined to solve the case. But now the serial killer is on the lookout for a new "relationship" and Violet may have caught his eye....

What I Thought

We've finally come to the third installment in the riveting Body Finder series by Kimberly Derting.  The past 2 books have been wonderfully entrancing and intense.  I worried as to whether or not The Last Echo could evoke the same feelings that The Body Finder and Desires of the Dead, but I needn't have worried.  In fact, it went above and beyond and has become my favorite book in the series yet!

Violet has made a lot of changes since we first met her in The Body Finder.  This time, she has new challenges to face and she definitely shines.  As she goes up against the absolute creepiest adversary yet, the tension and thrill surrounding the events she encounters is amazing.  While she still holds onto a few bad habits that seem to have quite the hold on her, Violet proves to be a very strong character.  She has to be, due to all that she has gone through and all that she has yet to face.

The Last Echo has an amazing plot and quick, edge-of-your seat pacing that doesn't quit.  It was my favorite storyline yet and I was left very, very happy at the end due to the amazing plot twists and well-developed characters.  This book has fully cemented my appreciation of mysteries and thrillers.  I was left wanting more and more.  It was simply that engrossing!

I don't want to risk saying too much more about The Last Echo, as I know there are several of you out there who haven't read it yet.  If you've made it this far into the series, keep going!  If you have yet to pick up the first book, do it!  This is a series that keeps building upon itself and getting better every time.  The Last Echo has earned the highest rating of any book in the series.  It finally reached the full potential I was expecting and I couldn't be more impressed. 

Obligatory legal statement: This ARC was provided to me free of charge by the publisher via Southern Book Blogger ARC Tours. No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review.