Question: How is it the book this one?

I really enjoyed this one.  I have read every book in this series and the last couple have left me a little wanting but this one was really good.  I loved the story line about Kevin.  I liked that she explained Stephanie's dilemma about deciding between Joe and Ranger....which of course is still up in the air.  As always Lula is da bomb!

Answer: have read every book in this series and the last couple have left me a

I really enjoyed this one. <hl> I have read every book in this series and the last couple have left me a little wanting but this one was really good. <hl> I loved the story line about Kevin. I liked that she explained Stephanie's dilemma about deciding between Joe and Ranger....which of course is still up in the air. As always Lula is da bomb!

I really enjoyed this one. I <hl> have read every book in this series and the last couple have left me a <hl> little wanting but this one was really good. I loved the story line about Kevin. I liked that she explained Stephanie's dilemma about deciding between Joe and Ranger....which of course is still up in the air. As always Lula is da bomb!


Question: How many pages has the new pra?

"The catcher in the rye" is the story of some days in Holden Caulfied's life, as he tells it in the hospital where he was taken after his "meltdown". In his own words, "I'll just tell you about this madman stuff that happened to me around last Christmas just before I got pretty run-down and had to come out here and take it easy".The plot is quite simple, mainly what happens when a particularly sensitive teenager gets kicked out of school, and decides to travel alone a little bit instead of just telling his parents what happened. However, even if the main premise is common enough, the way it is delivered is what makes this book so special that it has become a classic. Salinger makes us get to know Holden, giving  the reader interesting insights into his musings, likes and dislikes (yeah, generally mostly dislikes).You want some examples?. For instance, and regarding teachers, he says that "You can't stop a teacher when they want to do something. They just do it". Or when he starts to think about the things we say over and over again, without giving them any actual meaning: "I'm always saying `Glad to `ve met you` to somebody I'm not at all glad I met. If you want to stay alive, you have to say that stuff, though".Holden's views are interesting, and different readers will interpret them in diverse ways, specially if their age isn't the same. To teenagers, Holden  reflects the highs and lows they have to deal with, and their struggle with the "phony world" of adults that sometimes seems so weird, so wrong. To adults, Holden is a part of themselves that they somehow lost with the years, the innocence and the shock before things they have grown accustomed to with time.There are quite a few symbols in this book, but you will able to understand it even if you don't know a thing about symbology (or aren't interested in it). Despite that, I'd like to share with you a specially important symbol, the catcher in the rye that gives this book its title. Holden wants to be the catcher in the rye when he grows up: "Anyway, I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all. Thousands of little kids, and nobody's around--nobody big, I mean--except me. And I'm standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff--I mean if they're running and they don't look where they're going. I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. That's all I'd do all day. I'd just be the catcher in the rye and all. I know it's crazy, but that's the only thing I'd really like to be." . He doesn't know why, he just wants to come out from somewhere and catch little children before they fall from the cliff. In a way, that shows how much he wants to preserve their innocence, against a phony world that tries to corrupt them...I really liked this book, and I found it engaging and very easy to read. I'm not from USA, so I didn't have to read it as obligatory reading material for school, but I ended up reading it all the same mainly out of curiosity because many of my American friends recommended it to me. After reading "The catcher in the rye", I must say that they were right, and I would like to recommend this book to you, if you haven't read it yet. And if you are forced to read it for school, please JUST GIVE IT AN OPPORTUNITY. I know it is hateful having to read something merely because someone says so, but in this case that will work to your advantage... What can I say?. This book, unlike so many others, is really WORTH YOUR TIME.Belen Alcat

Answer: catcher

<hl> "The catcher in the rye" is the story of some days in Holden Caulfied's life, as he tells it in the hospital where he was taken after his "meltdown". <hl> In his own words, "I'll just tell you about this madman stuff that happened to me around last Christmas just before I got pretty run-down and had to come out here and take it easy". The plot is quite simple, mainly what happens when a particularly sensitive teenager gets kicked out of school, and decides to travel alone a little bit instead of just telling his parents what happened. However, even if the main premise is common enough, the way it is delivered is what makes this book so special that it has become a classic. Salinger makes us get to know Holden, giving the reader interesting insights into his musings, likes and dislikes (yeah, generally mostly dislikes).You want some examples?. For instance, and regarding teachers, he says that "You can't stop a teacher when they want to do something. They just do it". Or when he starts to think about the things we say over and over again, without giving them any actual meaning: "I'm always saying `Glad to `ve met you` to somebody I'm not at all glad I met. If you want to stay alive, you have to say that stuff, though". Holden's views are interesting, and different readers will interpret them in diverse ways, specially if their age isn't the same. To teenagers, Holden reflects the highs and lows they have to deal with, and their struggle with the "phony world" of adults that sometimes seems so weird, so wrong. To adults, Holden is a part of themselves that they somehow lost with the years, the innocence and the shock before things they have grown accustomed to with time. There are quite a few symbols in this book, but you will able to understand it even if you don't know a thing about symbology (or aren't interested in it). Despite that, I'd like to share with you a specially important symbol, the catcher in the rye that gives this book its title. Holden wants to be the catcher in the rye when he grows up: "Anyway, I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all. Thousands of little kids, and nobody's around--nobody big, I mean--except me. And I'm standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff--I mean if they're running and they don't look where they're going. I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. That's all I'd do all day. I'd just be the catcher in the rye and all. I know it's crazy, but that's the only thing I'd really like to be." . He doesn't know why, he just wants to come out from somewhere and catch little children before they fall from the cliff. In a way, that shows how much he wants to preserve their innocence, against a phony world that tries to corrupt them... I really liked this book, and I found it engaging and very easy to read. I'm not from USA, so I didn't have to read it as obligatory reading material for school, but I ended up reading it all the same mainly out of curiosity because many of my American friends recommended it to me. After reading "The catcher in the rye", I must say that they were right, and I would like to recommend this book to you, if you haven't read it yet. And if you are forced to read it for school, please JUST GIVE IT AN OPPORTUNITY. I know it is hateful having to read something merely because someone says so, but in this case that will work to your advantage... What can I say?. This book, unlike so many others, is really WORTH YOUR TIME.Belen Alcat

"The <hl> catcher <hl> in the rye" is the story of some days in Holden Caulfied's life, as he tells it in the hospital where he was taken after his "meltdown". In his own words, "I'll just tell you about this madman stuff that happened to me around last Christmas just before I got pretty run-down and had to come out here and take it easy".The plot is quite simple, mainly what happens when a particularly sensitive teenager gets kicked out of school, and decides to travel alone a little bit instead of just telling his parents what happened. However, even if the main premise is common enough, the way it is delivered is what makes this book so special that it has become a classic. Salinger makes us get to know Holden, giving the reader interesting insights into his musings, likes and dislikes (yeah, generally mostly dislikes).You want some examples?. For instance, and regarding teachers, he says that "You can't stop a teacher when they want to do something. They just do it". Or when he starts to think about the things we say over and over again, without giving them any actual meaning: "I'm always saying `Glad to `ve met you` to somebody I'm not at all glad I met. If you want to stay alive, you have to say that stuff, though".Holden's views are interesting, and different readers will interpret them in diverse ways, specially if their age isn't the same. To teenagers, Holden reflects the highs and lows they have to deal with, and their struggle with the "phony world" of adults that sometimes seems so weird, so wrong. To adults, Holden is a part of themselves that they somehow lost with the years, the innocence and the shock before things they have grown accustomed to with time.There are quite a few symbols in this book, but you will able to understand it even if you don't know a thing about symbology (or aren't interested in it). Despite that, I'd like to share with you a specially important symbol, the catcher in the rye that gives this book its title. Holden wants to be the catcher in the rye when he grows up: "Anyway, I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all. Thousands of little kids, and nobody's around--nobody big, I mean--except me. And I'm standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff--I mean if they're running and they don't look where they're going. I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. That's all I'd do all day. I'd just be the catcher in the rye and all. I know it's crazy, but that's the only thing I'd really like to be." . He doesn't know why, he just wants to come out from somewhere and catch little children before they fall from the cliff. In a way, that shows how much he wants to preserve their innocence, against a phony world that tries to corrupt them...I really liked this book, and I found it engaging and very easy to read. I'm not from USA, so I didn't have to read it as obligatory reading material for school, but I ended up reading it all the same mainly out of curiosity because many of my American friends recommended it to me. After reading "The catcher in the rye", I must say that they were right, and I would like to recommend this book to you, if you haven't read it yet. And if you are forced to read it for school, please JUST GIVE IT AN OPPORTUNITY. I know it is hateful having to read something merely because someone says so, but in this case that will work to your advantage... What can I say?. This book, unlike so many others, is really WORTH YOUR TIME.Belen Alcat


Question: Do you have a good storyline to  fight?

I will start out with the good. The story line was really good. I thouroughly enjoyed both Rule and Shaw. Both had reedeming qualities. I'm glad they found each other.Now for the bad and it's REALLY REALLY bad. I don't think I have ever read a book with so many errors. There was at least one on every other page and sometimes multiple on the same page. These range from use of the wrong word, an extra word in a sentence, missing punctuation, to massively long run on sentences.Some examples: gook = goodFailing instead of flailing"Know what I you can do""Said told me you've"Even me a chance = given me a chance"Always was the always""But wait awaited me" - I think this was supposed to be "what awaited me""With the sheer for of will alone" = sheer force of willLast one I promise:"On the days I worked I stayed on the Hill with Rule since his place was closer to the bar and he didn't mind coming to have a drink and waiting for me to get off so he could take me home he and Lou were like the best of friends now."PLEASE GET AN EDITOR ASAP. Any second set of eyes would have caught 85% of these errors.

Answer: The story line was really good

The story line was really good .

I will start out with the good. <hl> The story line was really good . <hl> I thouroughly enjoyed both Rule and Shaw. Both had reedeming qualities. I'm glad they found each other. Now for the bad and it's REALLY REALLY bad. I don't think I have ever read a book with so many errors. There was at least one on every other page and sometimes multiple on the same page. These range from use of the wrong word, an extra word in a sentence, missing punctuation, to massively long run on sentences. Some examples: gook = goodFailing instead of flailing"Know what I you can do""Said told me you've"Even me a chance = given me a chance"Always was the always""But wait awaited me" - I think this was supposed to be "what awaited me""With the sheer for of will alone" = sheer force of willLast one I promise:"On the days I worked I stayed on the Hill with Rule since his place was closer to the bar and he didn't mind coming to have a drink and waiting for me to get off so he could take me home he and Lou were like the best of friends now."PLEASE GET AN EDITOR ASAP. Any second set of eyes would have caught 85% of these errors.

I will start out with the good. <hl> The story line was really good <hl>. I thouroughly enjoyed both Rule and Shaw. Both had reedeming qualities. I'm glad they found each other.Now for the bad and it's REALLY REALLY bad. I don't think I have ever read a book with so many errors. There was at least one on every other page and sometimes multiple on the same page. These range from use of the wrong word, an extra word in a sentence, missing punctuation, to massively long run on sentences.Some examples: gook = goodFailing instead of flailing"Know what I you can do""Said told me you've"Even me a chance = given me a chance"Always was the always""But wait awaited me" - I think this was supposed to be "what awaited me""With the sheer for of will alone" = sheer force of willLast one I promise:"On the days I worked I stayed on the Hill with Rule since his place was closer to the bar and he didn't mind coming to have a drink and waiting for me to get off so he could take me home he and Lou were like the best of friends now."PLEASE GET AN EDITOR ASAP. Any second set of eyes would have caught 85% of these errors.

<hl> The story line was really good <hl> .


Question: What impact did the book have?

I enjoyed Money Secrets of the Amish. It's just a shame that what the book had to offer was no surprise to me. Being from Lancaster County, PA, I must admit that a lot of what the book had to offer was already common knowledge for me.These things include:Using couponsShopping at consignment shopsPurchasing meats and produce directly from the farmerShopping yard salesThe one idea I did really like was having a clothing/good swap with gal pals. I have heard of these before but would love to either be invited to one or organize one.The author does share some gems of knowledge, but none that I didn't already know.I really enjoyed the way the author gives assignments at the end each chapter. She also provides a lot of good resources such as blogs and other books to check out.All in all, I would have to admit that this book is valuable and a good read for anyone wanting to cut their expenses.Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the <...> <...> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 <...> : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Answer: It's just a shame that what the book had to offer was no surprise to me

I enjoyed Money Secrets of the Amish. <hl> It's just a shame that what the book had to offer was no surprise to me . <hl> Being from Lancaster County, PA, I must admit that a lot of what the book had to offer was already common knowledge for me. These things include:Using couponsShopping at consignment shopsPurchasing meats and produce directly from the farmerShopping yard salesThe one idea I did really like was having a clothing/good swap with gal pals. I have heard of these before but would love to either be invited to one or organize one. The author does share some gems of knowledge, but none that I didn't already know. I really enjoyed the way the author gives assignments at the end each chapter. She also provides a lot of good resources such as blogs and other books to check out. All in all, I would have to admit that this book is valuable and a good read for anyone wanting to cut their expenses. Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the <...> <...> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 <...> : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

I enjoyed Money Secrets of the Amish. <hl> It's just a shame that what the book had to offer was no surprise to me <hl>. Being from Lancaster County, PA, I must admit that a lot of what the book had to offer was already common knowledge for me.These things include:Using couponsShopping at consignment shopsPurchasing meats and produce directly from the farmerShopping yard salesThe one idea I did really like was having a clothing/good swap with gal pals. I have heard of these before but would love to either be invited to one or organize one.The author does share some gems of knowledge, but none that I didn't already know.I really enjoyed the way the author gives assignments at the end each chapter. She also provides a lot of good resources such as blogs and other books to check out.All in all, I would have to admit that this book is valuable and a good read for anyone wanting to cut their expenses.Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the <...> <...> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 <...> : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

<hl> It's just a shame that what the book had to offer was no surprise to me <hl> .


Question: Is it a good story line?

I didn't know what I was getting into with this book but I was drawn to it. This story is awesome how it unfolds. I will be reading more from this author!!!

Answer: This story is awesome how it unfolds

This story is awesome how it unfolds .

I didn't know what I was getting into with this book but I was drawn to it. <hl> This story is awesome how it unfolds . <hl> I will be reading more from this author!!!

I didn't know what I was getting into with this book but I was drawn to it. <hl> This story is awesome how it unfolds <hl>. I will be reading more from this author!!!

<hl> This story is awesome how it unfolds <hl> .


Question: Is the book good about love?

This review is going to be hard, I loved Cam and his baking, turtle owning self. I did not love Avery, I didn't hate her or even dislike her but her actions just made it hard to love this book completely. She was a child, I get that something terrible happened to her at a young age and that probably messed her up. However, she refused to tell anyone about it even though we could tell they kinda knew. The ending was so sweet and towards the end I was getting super nervous because Cam still didn't know and I kept seeing that this was a series. My mind just kept going to the bad place where scary cliffhangers live. This is the place where characters die when they shouldn't and I was terrified! I also am not sure that the parental aspect was that believable. I am just not sure. The best friends Brit and Jacob were fun but I never really felt emotionally invested in their story. The only thing I keep thinking is thank goodness there was not a cliffhanger. Anyway the main reason this story gets 4 stars is because of Cam. He was so sweet (I loved that he called her sweetheart) and the fact that he never pushed her except for her to trust him just made me love him more. The sunday morning breakfast! I think my favorite thing about this story is the progression of their relationship. I love that they started as friends , sort of, but then worked their way up to dating. Him constantly asking her out was a great part of this story. It would probably make any woman swoon! A couple of times he was a d-bag but honestly Avery deserved it! He has his own secret to tell and I wish we had learned more about him. This story would have been perfect if it had alternating POVs! Anyway its still good so I think you should give it a shot. While reading it I felt more content than I do now writing this review.

Answer: this story gets 4 stars is because of Cam. He was so sweet (I loved that he called her sweetheart) and the fact that he never pushed her except for her to trust him just made me love him more. The sunday morning breakfast! I think my favorite thing about this story is the progression of their relationship. I love that they started as friends , sort of, but then worked their way up to dating. Him constantly asking her out was a great part of this story. It would probably make any woman swoon! A couple of times he was a d-bag but honestly Avery deserved it! He has his own secret to tell and I wish we had learned more about him. This story would have been perfect if it had alternating POVs! Anyway its still good so I think you should give it a shot. While reading it I felt more content than I do now writing this review.

This review is going to be hard, I loved Cam and his baking, turtle owning self. I did not love Avery, I didn't hate her or even dislike her but her actions just made it hard to love this book completely. She was a child, I get that something terrible happened to her at a young age and that probably messed her up. However, she refused to tell anyone about it even though we could tell they kinda knew. The ending was so sweet and towards the end I was getting super nervous because Cam still didn't know and I kept seeing that this was a series. My mind just kept going to the bad place where scary cliffhangers live. This is the place where characters die when they shouldn't and I was terrified! I also am not sure that the parental aspect was that believable. I am just not sure. The best friends Brit and Jacob were fun but I never really felt emotionally invested in their story. The only thing I keep thinking is thank goodness there was not a cliffhanger. <hl> Anyway the main reason this story gets 4 stars is because of Cam. He was so sweet (I loved that he called her sweetheart) and the fact that he never pushed her except for her to trust him just made me love him more. The sunday morning breakfast! I think my favorite thing about this story is the progression of their relationship. I love that they started as friends , sort of, but then worked their way up to dating. Him constantly asking her out was a great part of this story. It would probably make any woman swoon! A couple of times he was a d-bag but honestly Avery deserved it! He has his own secret to tell and I wish we had learned more about him. This story would have been perfect if it had alternating POVs! Anyway its still good so I think you should give it a shot. While reading it I felt more content than I do now writing this review. <hl>

This review is going to be hard, I loved Cam and his baking, turtle owning self. I did not love Avery, I didn't hate her or even dislike her but her actions just made it hard to love this book completely. She was a child, I get that something terrible happened to her at a young age and that probably messed her up. However, she refused to tell anyone about it even though we could tell they kinda knew. The ending was so sweet and towards the end I was getting super nervous because Cam still didn't know and I kept seeing that this was a series. My mind just kept going to the bad place where scary cliffhangers live. This is the place where characters die when they shouldn't and I was terrified! I also am not sure that the parental aspect was that believable. I am just not sure. The best friends Brit and Jacob were fun but I never really felt emotionally invested in their story. The only thing I keep thinking is thank goodness there was not a cliffhanger. Anyway the main reason <hl> this story gets 4 stars is because of Cam. He was so sweet (I loved that he called her sweetheart) and the fact that he never pushed her except for her to trust him just made me love him more. The sunday morning breakfast! I think my favorite thing about this story is the progression of their relationship. I love that they started as friends , sort of, but then worked their way up to dating. Him constantly asking her out was a great part of this story. It would probably make any woman swoon! A couple of times he was a d-bag but honestly Avery deserved it! He has his own secret to tell and I wish we had learned more about him. This story would have been perfect if it had alternating POVs! Anyway its still good so I think you should give it a shot. While reading it I felt more content than I do now writing this review. <hl>


Question: Is this book about pain and suffering?

I have to say that I really loved this book - in fact I could not put it down! At one point I was sitting in my car in the school car park waiting to go in and pick up my son, and I was reading it on my kindle. I had tears streaming down my face (luckily I was wearing sunglasses) when I got to this really heart-wrenching scene. The story was both sad and beautiful and I will definitely be reading more of this author's books - now that I am hooked!

Answer: I have to say that I really loved this book

<hl> I have to say that I really loved this book - in fact I could not put it down! <hl> At one point I was sitting in my car in the school car park waiting to go in and pick up my son, and I was reading it on my kindle. I had tears streaming down my face (luckily I was wearing sunglasses) when I got to this really heart-wrenching scene. The story was both sad and beautiful and I will definitely be reading more of this author's books - now that I am hooked!

<hl> I have to say that I really loved this book <hl> - in fact I could not put it down! At one point I was sitting in my car in the school car park waiting to go in and pick up my son, and I was reading it on my kindle. I had tears streaming down my face (luckily I was wearing sunglasses) when I got to this really heart-wrenching scene. The story was both sad and beautiful and I will definitely be reading more of this author's books - now that I am hooked!


Question: How is the book?

I did things in the "wrong" order, I watched three seasons of the show before touching a book from this series but I think that works. They really do complement each other and of course, after reading a book or two I went back and indulged in a little Varys and Dany visually. I have now read all 5 books and am in awe of the way the whole saga and whole universe it inhabits hang together and have such depth and vibrancy. One should read the books emphatically as the TV shows cannot and do not explain all the nuances that you need to know to make sense of it all. In addition : the way the chapters focus on the players in turn works out really well, complements and again is better than the linear TV experience

Answer: a book from this series but I think that works

<hl> I did things in the "wrong" order, I watched three seasons of the show before touching a book from this series but I think that works . <hl> They really do complement each other and of course, after reading a book or two I went back and indulged in a little Varys and Dany visually. I have now read all 5 books and am in awe of the way the whole saga and whole universe it inhabits hang together and have such depth and vibrancy. One should read the books emphatically as the TV shows cannot and do not explain all the nuances that you need to know to make sense of it all. In addition : the way the chapters focus on the players in turn works out really well, complements and again is better than the linear TV experience

I did things in the "wrong" order, I watched three seasons of the show before touching <hl> a book from this series but I think that works <hl>. They really do complement each other and of course, after reading a book or two I went back and indulged in a little Varys and Dany visually. I have now read all 5 books and am in awe of the way the whole saga and whole universe it inhabits hang together and have such depth and vibrancy. One should read the books emphatically as the TV shows cannot and do not explain all the nuances that you need to know to make sense of it all. In addition : the way the chapters focus on the players in turn works out really well, complements and again is better than the linear TV experience

I did things in the "wrong" order, I watched three seasons of the show before touching <hl> a book from this series but I think that works <hl> .


Question: How is the write?

I love the whole Hunger Games series.  One thing that I really appreciate is the fact that the author brings the action to completion before moving on to the next book in the series.  The reader is not left in the middle of a scene.  The writing is excellent and the characters are very well crafted.  I love this book.

Answer: The writing is excellent

I love the whole Hunger Games series. One thing that I really appreciate is the fact that the author brings the action to completion before moving on to the next book in the series. The reader is not left in the middle of a scene. <hl> The writing is excellent and the characters are very well crafted. <hl> I love this book.

I love the whole Hunger Games series. One thing that I really appreciate is the fact that the author brings the action to completion before moving on to the next book in the series. The reader is not left in the middle of a scene. <hl> The writing is excellent <hl> and the characters are very well crafted. I love this book.


Question: How is heroine?

A few months ago I read and really enjoyed Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout. So when I came across Obsidian it was no question about reading this book. Obsidian is a 'don't want to put down' book. I was hooked from the first sentence.Katy moves to a small town in West Virginia during the summer before her senior year. She's not too happy about the move but she loves and supports her mom's decision. Katy is also a book blogger. I must admit I was a little nervous when I read about that. However Jennifer L Armentrout pretty much nailed the blogger aspect of it. To satisfy her mom's request of not becoming antisocial,  she goes next door to meet the neighbors. What she doesn't expect is that the events that unfold after she knocks on their door will change her life forever.The characters in the book are great. I loved each and everyone of them. Katy is the main character. She's feisty, inquisitive and stands up for herself. Dee, Daemon's sister is delightful. She's the perfect best friend. Daemon is a jerk in the beginning. He's arrogant, overprotective, and drop dead gorgeous. Katy and Daemon have chemistry.  White hot chemistry.The story line in this book is very fast paced.  It's full of action, adventure and a little romance. There are secrets to uncover, enemies to out run and if all that's not bad enough they have to go tackle senior year. After I finished reading the last page I immediately wanted to read the next book in this series.  Jennifer L. Armentrout knows how to write a story! I want to live in her head with all these fantastic characters. I have high hopes for the next book in this series.

Answer: She's not too happy about the move

A few months ago I read and really enjoyed Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout. So when I came across Obsidian it was no question about reading this book. Obsidian is a 'don't want to put down' book. I was hooked from the first sentence. Katy moves to a small town in West Virginia during the summer before her senior year. <hl> She's not too happy about the move but she loves and supports her mom's decision. <hl> Katy is also a book blogger. I must admit I was a little nervous when I read about that. However Jennifer L Armentrout pretty much nailed the blogger aspect of it. To satisfy her mom's request of not becoming antisocial, she goes next door to meet the neighbors. What she doesn't expect is that the events that unfold after she knocks on their door will change her life forever. The characters in the book are great. I loved each and everyone of them. Katy is the main character. She's feisty, inquisitive and stands up for herself. Dee, Daemon's sister is delightful. She's the perfect best friend. Daemon is a jerk in the beginning. He's arrogant, overprotective, and drop dead gorgeous. Katy and Daemon have chemistry. White hot chemistry. The story line in this book is very fast paced. It's full of action, adventure and a little romance. There are secrets to uncover, enemies to out run and if all that's not bad enough they have to go tackle senior year. After I finished reading the last page I immediately wanted to read the next book in this series. Jennifer L. Armentrout knows how to write a story! I want to live in her head with all these fantastic characters. I have high hopes for the next book in this series.

A few months ago I read and really enjoyed Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout. So when I came across Obsidian it was no question about reading this book. Obsidian is a 'don't want to put down' book. I was hooked from the first sentence.Katy moves to a small town in West Virginia during the summer before her senior year. <hl> She's not too happy about the move <hl> but she loves and supports her mom's decision. Katy is also a book blogger. I must admit I was a little nervous when I read about that. However Jennifer L Armentrout pretty much nailed the blogger aspect of it. To satisfy her mom's request of not becoming antisocial, she goes next door to meet the neighbors. What she doesn't expect is that the events that unfold after she knocks on their door will change her life forever.The characters in the book are great. I loved each and everyone of them. Katy is the main character. She's feisty, inquisitive and stands up for herself. Dee, Daemon's sister is delightful. She's the perfect best friend. Daemon is a jerk in the beginning. He's arrogant, overprotective, and drop dead gorgeous. Katy and Daemon have chemistry. White hot chemistry.The story line in this book is very fast paced. It's full of action, adventure and a little romance. There are secrets to uncover, enemies to out run and if all that's not bad enough they have to go tackle senior year. After I finished reading the last page I immediately wanted to read the next book in this series. Jennifer L. Armentrout knows how to write a story! I want to live in her head with all these fantastic characters. I have high hopes for the next book in this series.


Question: What is the excitement level in the ending?

This book has a really nice pacing and generally a very good style for a mystery novel. There is perhaps too much emphasis on Swedish recent history (at least for those of us not familiar) and plenty of "message", but that rarely detracts from the story and the pacing of the story.The main focus is clearly on mistreatment of woman in Sweden; but, it is not preachy or anything. My chief issue with it is that it is really pretty gruesome in places. It is hard to put down for the story as it is very engaging, but some of the descriptions are really hard to read. I am not sure that much detail was needed.If you can get past that, the character development of one of the main two characters (Lisbeth) is really amazing - she is Autistic or Asbergers or something (although the author does not say that, the symptoms are well described). The character development of the other main character is not as well developed, but he is more than a cardboard character.The process of the story unfolding is very nicely done with paths colliding. The reader is no farther along than the characters, unlike many mysteries where you get extra clues they do not. This means that you get pulled along with them vs. being apart from them. This works very well in this story.I think it is a great read.

Answer: The main focus is clearly on mistreatment of woman in Sweden

This book has a really nice pacing and generally a very good style for a mystery novel. There is perhaps too much emphasis on Swedish recent history (at least for those of us not familiar) and plenty of "message", but that rarely detracts from the story and the pacing of the story. <hl> The main focus is clearly on mistreatment of woman in Sweden ; but, it is not preachy or anything. <hl> My chief issue with it is that it is really pretty gruesome in places. It is hard to put down for the story as it is very engaging, but some of the descriptions are really hard to read. I am not sure that much detail was needed. If you can get past that, the character development of one of the main two characters (Lisbeth) is really amazing - she is Autistic or Asbergers or something (although the author does not say that, the symptoms are well described). The character development of the other main character is not as well developed, but he is more than a cardboard character. The process of the story unfolding is very nicely done with paths colliding. The reader is no farther along than the characters, unlike many mysteries where you get extra clues they do not. This means that you get pulled along with them vs. being apart from them. This works very well in this story. I think it is a great read.

This book has a really nice pacing and generally a very good style for a mystery novel. There is perhaps too much emphasis on Swedish recent history (at least for those of us not familiar) and plenty of "message", but that rarely detracts from the story and the pacing of the story.<hl> The main focus is clearly on mistreatment of woman in Sweden <hl>; but, it is not preachy or anything. My chief issue with it is that it is really pretty gruesome in places. It is hard to put down for the story as it is very engaging, but some of the descriptions are really hard to read. I am not sure that much detail was needed.If you can get past that, the character development of one of the main two characters (Lisbeth) is really amazing - she is Autistic or Asbergers or something (although the author does not say that, the symptoms are well described). The character development of the other main character is not as well developed, but he is more than a cardboard character.The process of the story unfolding is very nicely done with paths colliding. The reader is no farther along than the characters, unlike many mysteries where you get extra clues they do not. This means that you get pulled along with them vs. being apart from them. This works very well in this story.I think it is a great read.

<hl> The main focus is clearly on mistreatment of woman in Sweden <hl> ; but, it is not preachy or anything.


Question: How was the author?

I was afraid to finish this book because I had read about so many disappointed readers. I am really glad I got through it. I loved it and I think the ending is fitting after the horrors the characters live through. I also like the way Collins portrays the authorities of district 13 as being almost if not, just as bad as the Capitol government, just that they are trying to establish themselves as the authority, but in the end are playing with their people, and children, just as easily. This is not a fairy tale, it is not a happily ever after ending. It is a book to make us think closely about how horrible wars can really be, and to ask ourselves "Where do we stop"?, where do we draw the line with revenge? With the differences between Peeta and Gale's reactions to the wars, it also shows how these situations change and mark everyone in different ways. Excellent, excellent, excellent. Thank you Suzanne Collins for creating these stories that entertain but at the same time provoke important thoughts for teenagers and adults alike.

Answer: Thank you Suzanne Collins for creating these stories that entertain but at the same time provoke important thoughts for teenagers and adults alike

I was afraid to finish this book because I had read about so many disappointed readers. I am really glad I got through it. I loved it and I think the ending is fitting after the horrors the characters live through. I also like the way Collins portrays the authorities of district 13 as being almost if not, just as bad as the Capitol government, just that they are trying to establish themselves as the authority, but in the end are playing with their people, and children, just as easily. This is not a fairy tale, it is not a happily ever after ending. It is a book to make us think closely about how horrible wars can really be, and to ask ourselves "Where do we stop"?, where do we draw the line with revenge? With the differences between Peeta and Gale's reactions to the wars, it also shows how these situations change and mark everyone in different ways. Excellent, excellent, excellent. <hl> Thank you Suzanne Collins for creating these stories that entertain but at the same time provoke important thoughts for teenagers and adults alike . <hl>

I was afraid to finish this book because I had read about so many disappointed readers. I am really glad I got through it. I loved it and I think the ending is fitting after the horrors the characters live through. I also like the way Collins portrays the authorities of district 13 as being almost if not, just as bad as the Capitol government, just that they are trying to establish themselves as the authority, but in the end are playing with their people, and children, just as easily. This is not a fairy tale, it is not a happily ever after ending. It is a book to make us think closely about how horrible wars can really be, and to ask ourselves "Where do we stop"?, where do we draw the line with revenge? With the differences between Peeta and Gale's reactions to the wars, it also shows how these situations change and mark everyone in different ways. Excellent, excellent, excellent. <hl> Thank you Suzanne Collins for creating these stories that entertain but at the same time provoke important thoughts for teenagers and adults alike <hl>.

<hl> Thank you Suzanne Collins for creating these stories that entertain but at the same time provoke important thoughts for teenagers and adults alike <hl> .


Question: Who is author?

Ella and Micha... could two young people be more messed up yet compliment each other more perfectly? I think not.Jessica Sorensen has a rare talent when it comes to building sexual tension between characters, and The Secret of Ella and Micha (The Secret #1) perfectly exemplifies her ability. She hooks you at the beginning by creating characters you instantly adore. Then, she builds a world filled with dysfunction and reality that Ella and Micha must overcome... together.I actually downloaded this book a few weeks ago and popped it open when I needed to kill some time before an appointment. I found myself wanting to find out what happens to them and between them so I went home and finished reading it. Lucky for me, it is a quick, easy read because I have very little time (most of my books are 'read' via audiobooks on my commute to work).Go ahead and take a few minutes to fall in love with Ella and Micha AND Jessica Sorensen. You won't be disappointed.T.R. Graves, Author

Answer: Jessica Sorensen

Ella and Micha... could two young people be more messed up yet compliment each other more perfectly? I think not. <hl> Jessica Sorensen has a rare talent when it comes to building sexual tension between characters, and The Secret of Ella and Micha (The Secret #1) perfectly exemplifies her ability. <hl> She hooks you at the beginning by creating characters you instantly adore. Then, she builds a world filled with dysfunction and reality that Ella and Micha must overcome... together. I actually downloaded this book a few weeks ago and popped it open when I needed to kill some time before an appointment. I found myself wanting to find out what happens to them and between them so I went home and finished reading it. Lucky for me, it is a quick, easy read because I have very little time (most of my books are 'read' via audiobooks on my commute to work).Go ahead and take a few minutes to fall in love with Ella and Micha AND Jessica Sorensen. You won't be disappointed. T.R. Graves, Author

Ella and Micha... could two young people be more messed up yet compliment each other more perfectly? I think not.<hl> Jessica Sorensen <hl> has a rare talent when it comes to building sexual tension between characters, and The Secret of Ella and Micha (The Secret #1) perfectly exemplifies her ability. She hooks you at the beginning by creating characters you instantly adore. Then, she builds a world filled with dysfunction and reality that Ella and Micha must overcome... together.I actually downloaded this book a few weeks ago and popped it open when I needed to kill some time before an appointment. I found myself wanting to find out what happens to them and between them so I went home and finished reading it. Lucky for me, it is a quick, easy read because I have very little time (most of my books are 'read' via audiobooks on my commute to work).Go ahead and take a few minutes to fall in love with Ella and Micha AND Jessica Sorensen. You won't be disappointed.T.R. Graves, Author


Question: How is the story?

This book is so slow. I continued to read it  by pure determination. It was a huge disappointment and I found myself skimming pages to get through the bordom. Two stars is being generous.

Answer: Two stars is being generous

Two stars is being generous .

This book is so slow. I continued to read it by pure determination. It was a huge disappointment and I found myself skimming pages to get through the bordom. <hl> Two stars is being generous . <hl>

This book is so slow. I continued to read it by pure determination. It was a huge disappointment and I found myself skimming pages to get through the bordom. <hl> Two stars is being generous <hl>.


Question: How was the book?

Sometimes John Grisham gets it exactly right. The Racketeer joins the list ofA Time to Kill: A Novel,The Rainmaker, andThe Appealof lawyers' lawyer books that delight with every page.Meet Malcolm Bannister, age 43, African-American, and an inmate at a federal work camp in Frostburg Maryland. Five years ago, he was a lawyer in the town of Winchester Virginia, making somewhat of living along with two partners. Overzealous federal prosecutors indicted him for violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, otherwise known as RICO, and when the dust had settled Bannister found himself on the wrong end of a ten year sentence. That Bannister's "crimes" were essentially illusory is beside the point. A jury, under the gun of the so-called "shotgun charge" read to deadlocked panels, convicted him and his appeals have run their course. Malcolm is gonna finish out his time, and then return to a world without his profession, wife and kid.There are only two things for an inmate with the skills of Bannister to do-practice a little jailhouse law and scheme to get out.The opportunity for the second comes with the murder of a United States District Judge in Roanoke. Killing a federal judge is a very serious offense. In fact only four sitting federal judges have been killed in our nation's history-all within the last thirty years. I actually appeared before one of those judges Robert Vance of the Eleventh Circuit. A classmate of mine from law school was appointed to represent his assassin and I followed his trial and conviction closely. So when I say as a trial lawyer in the federal courts for thirty seven years that this book is incredibly authentic, I have a substantial basis for that opinion. Lawyers reading this book will recognize the cast of characters from lawyers, inmates, U.S. Marshals, FBI agents, judges and corrections officers. It is absolutely spot on.It is also incredibly imaginative. Grisham always tells a good story, but this one is quite special. Pick it up today.

Answer: books that delight with every page

Sometimes John Grisham gets it exactly right. The Racketeer joins the list ofA <hl> Time to Kill: A Novel,The Rainmaker, andThe Appealof lawyers' lawyer books that delight with every page .Meet <hl> Malcolm Bannister, age 43, African-American, and an inmate at a federal work camp in Frostburg Maryland. Five years ago, he was a lawyer in the town of Winchester Virginia, making somewhat of living along with two partners. Overzealous federal prosecutors indicted him for violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, otherwise known as RICO, and when the dust had settled Bannister found himself on the wrong end of a ten year sentence. That Bannister's "crimes" were essentially illusory is beside the point. A jury, under the gun of the so-called "shotgun charge" read to deadlocked panels, convicted him and his appeals have run their course. Malcolm is gonna finish out his time, and then return to a world without his profession, wife and kid. There are only two things for an inmate with the skills of Bannister to do-practice a little jailhouse law and scheme to get out. The opportunity for the second comes with the murder of a United States District Judge in Roanoke. Killing a federal judge is a very serious offense. In fact only four sitting federal judges have been killed in our nation's history-all within the last thirty years. I actually appeared before one of those judges Robert Vance of the Eleventh Circuit. A classmate of mine from law school was appointed to represent his assassin and I followed his trial and conviction closely. So when I say as a trial lawyer in the federal courts for thirty seven years that this book is incredibly authentic, I have a substantial basis for that opinion. Lawyers reading this book will recognize the cast of characters from lawyers, inmates, U.S. Marshals, FBI agents, judges and corrections officers. It is absolutely spot on. It is also incredibly imaginative. Grisham always tells a good story, but this one is quite special. Pick it up today.

Sometimes John Grisham gets it exactly right. The Racketeer joins the list ofA Time to Kill: A Novel,The Rainmaker, andThe Appealof lawyers' lawyer <hl> books that delight with every page <hl>.Meet Malcolm Bannister, age 43, African-American, and an inmate at a federal work camp in Frostburg Maryland. Five years ago, he was a lawyer in the town of Winchester Virginia, making somewhat of living along with two partners. Overzealous federal prosecutors indicted him for violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, otherwise known as RICO, and when the dust had settled Bannister found himself on the wrong end of a ten year sentence. That Bannister's "crimes" were essentially illusory is beside the point. A jury, under the gun of the so-called "shotgun charge" read to deadlocked panels, convicted him and his appeals have run their course. Malcolm is gonna finish out his time, and then return to a world without his profession, wife and kid.There are only two things for an inmate with the skills of Bannister to do-practice a little jailhouse law and scheme to get out.The opportunity for the second comes with the murder of a United States District Judge in Roanoke. Killing a federal judge is a very serious offense. In fact only four sitting federal judges have been killed in our nation's history-all within the last thirty years. I actually appeared before one of those judges Robert Vance of the Eleventh Circuit. A classmate of mine from law school was appointed to represent his assassin and I followed his trial and conviction closely. So when I say as a trial lawyer in the federal courts for thirty seven years that this book is incredibly authentic, I have a substantial basis for that opinion. Lawyers reading this book will recognize the cast of characters from lawyers, inmates, U.S. Marshals, FBI agents, judges and corrections officers. It is absolutely spot on.It is also incredibly imaginative. Grisham always tells a good story, but this one is quite special. Pick it up today.

Time to Kill: A Novel,The Rainmaker, andThe Appealof lawyers' lawyer <hl> books that delight with every page <hl> .Meet


Question: How are relationship?

Fastested book I've ever read!! The timing of finding and getting to read it was perfect!! Really enjoyed the love story and all the characters!  Such a great book! Thank you for writing this!  <3

Answer: The timing of finding and getting to read it was perfect

<hl> Fastested book I've ever read!! The timing of finding and getting to read it was perfect !! <hl> Really enjoyed the love story and all the characters! Such a great book! Thank you for writing this! <3

Fastested book I've ever read!! <hl> The timing of finding and getting to read it was perfect <hl>!! Really enjoyed the love story and all the characters! Such a great book! Thank you for writing this! <3

Fastested book I've ever read!! <hl> The timing of finding and getting to read it was perfect <hl> !!


Question: Is a great work on the creations of this book?

This book was a first in many ways for me. It was my first book in the steampunk genre, which seems to have become all the rage. It was my first zombie and my first modern horror novel. And it was the first YA book I've read since being a YA myself.I hadn't been avoiding any of these--on the contrary: seeing review after review by my Goodreads friends has had me adding book after book that I would not normally have read or sought out. One of the reasons I'm making a point of telling you all this though is because unlike many readers who will read this review and/or the book itself, I don't have much to compare it to--frankly, I have nothing to compare it to! But here goes ...===SUMMARY===Dearly, Departedis set in 2195 and centers around the people of New Victoria and the Punks. While they share ancestors, the two groups have been in a war with one another for generations, though at this point it's not all-out and amounts to border skirmishes, as well as propaganda-driven ignorance and misinformation about one another.Nora Dearly, a young woman in New Victoria, is still mourning the loss of her father a year ago. She's home from boarding school and is greeted by the distressing news that her aunt has wasted away their fortune and one of them will have to marry advantageously to refill the family coffers. All of this gets shoved to the back of her mind though, when Nora's life takes a dramatic turn.Home alone one night, she is attacked by a group of flesh-eating, decomposing, and mindless zombies. Trying to fight them off, she is saved just in time by a team of soldiers--also zombies, but turns out they are the good guys.What follows is one revelation and danger after another. She learns that being "dead" doesn't mean what she thought it did, befriends zombies, and falls into requited love with one of them, Bram. All around her, various existential battles are being fought: Punks versus New Victorians, the living versus the dead, the good guys versus the bad ones.===REACTION===Overall, I enjoyed the book and found the middle portion very engaging. The beginning and end were fine while I was reading them, but easy to lose interest in between reads. There were several funny lines and great exchanges. I loved most all the characters and found Nora to be a surprisingly likable heroine (I have problems with a lot of the PNR ones); she also showed no signs of having been lobotomized, but instead acknowledged risks while also not freaking out at every little thing. I loved the secondary characters: they were very funny, the back-and-forth between them was entertaining, and they were well-defined; by the end, I liked some of them as much as I did the main onesThe author tries to pack a lot into one book and that was the book's main failure in my mind. There are too many storylines being explored and too many different factions, which was a shame because on their own I found most all of them interesting. The final section feels extremely rushed and includes a huge and non-subtle information dump explaining everything.One of the things that took a little getting used to was that the story is told in first person ... from five different people's POVs. By far, Nora and Bram get the most narration time, but we also spend significant time with the other three characters. At least the transitions were clear though, with the narrating character's name at the beginning of every chapter. The switch was annoying when it would happen just as I was really getting into a POV. It wasn't a deal-breaker though and I enjoyed Bram's and Nora's.I have learned by now that many fantasy/paranormal romance readers have certain pet peeves, a certain type of ending being one of them (Chicagoland Vampires anyone?), so I want to include this warning: while there is not a dramatic cliffhanger like that, the ending and epilogue are most definitely a setup for the next book, with a few plotlines left dangling.===STEAMPUNK and ZOMBIES and YA, OH MY!===Despite the issues I had with the author biting off more than she could chew, I thought this was a good introduction to these genres. It definitely piqued my interest and makes me want to move these books higher in my TBR list. I found Habel's creation interesting and there's no doubt she has a good imagination--I loved the Punk vs. New Victorian aspect and wanted that to be further explored.While I haven't read steampunk or zombies before, I love the science fiction classics, so I am familiar with world-building and etc. Though I never felt like I was back in the "regular" world, I did think that the integration was not consistent and at times confusing. Some examples are how not all the zombies were really zombie-ish (right? not an expert here), the Victorian-ness at times felt forced, and I often completely forget about this supposedly huge and defining division between the two societies.===BOTTOM LINE===At the end of the day, I enjoyed the book and would recommend it. Were there problems? Yes, most definitely. But the romance between Nora and Bram was sweet, the secondary characters were wonderful, and the novel has an interesting storyline ... well, several, which was one of the problems, but regardless: I did likeDearly, Departed. Though I will not be rushing out to buy the second book when it comes out, I am curious about what happens next in this world Habel has created.*Originally reviewed for Fiction Vixen Book Reviews. This review is of a copy provided by the author/publisher to FVBR.

Answer: I found Habel's creation interesting

This book was a first in many ways for me. It was my first book in the steampunk genre, which seems to have become all the rage. It was my first zombie and my first modern horror novel. And it was the first YA book I've read since being a YA myself. I hadn't been avoiding any of these--on the contrary: seeing review after review by my Goodreads friends has had me adding book after book that I would not normally have read or sought out. One of the reasons I'm making a point of telling you all this though is because unlike many readers who will read this review and/or the book itself, I don't have much to compare it to--frankly, I have nothing to compare it to! But here goes ... == =SUMMARY===Dearly, Departedis set in 2195 and centers around the people of New Victoria and the Punks. While they share ancestors, the two groups have been in a war with one another for generations, though at this point it's not all-out and amounts to border skirmishes, as well as propaganda-driven ignorance and misinformation about one another. Nora Dearly, a young woman in New Victoria, is still mourning the loss of her father a year ago. She's home from boarding school and is greeted by the distressing news that her aunt has wasted away their fortune and one of them will have to marry advantageously to refill the family coffers. All of this gets shoved to the back of her mind though, when Nora's life takes a dramatic turn. Home alone one night, she is attacked by a group of flesh-eating, decomposing, and mindless zombies. Trying to fight them off, she is saved just in time by a team of soldiers--also zombies, but turns out they are the good guys. What follows is one revelation and danger after another. She learns that being "dead" doesn't mean what she thought it did, befriends zombies, and falls into requited love with one of them, Bram. All around her, various existential battles are being fought: Punks versus New Victorians, the living versus the dead, the good guys versus the bad ones.===REACTION===Overall, I enjoyed the book and found the middle portion very engaging. The beginning and end were fine while I was reading them, but easy to lose interest in between reads. There were several funny lines and great exchanges. I loved most all the characters and found Nora to be a surprisingly likable heroine (I have problems with a lot of the PNR ones); she also showed no signs of having been lobotomized, but instead acknowledged risks while also not freaking out at every little thing. I loved the secondary characters: they were very funny, the back-and-forth between them was entertaining, and they were well-defined; by the end, I liked some of them as much as I did the main onesThe author tries to pack a lot into one book and that was the book's main failure in my mind. There are too many storylines being explored and too many different factions, which was a shame because on their own I found most all of them interesting. The final section feels extremely rushed and includes a huge and non-subtle information dump explaining everything. One of the things that took a little getting used to was that the story is told in first person ... from five different people's POVs. By far, Nora and Bram get the most narration time, but we also spend significant time with the other three characters. At least the transitions were clear though, with the narrating character's name at the beginning of every chapter. The switch was annoying when it would happen just as I was really getting into a POV. It wasn't a deal-breaker though and I enjoyed Bram's and Nora's. I have learned by now that many fantasy/paranormal romance readers have certain pet peeves, a certain type of ending being one of them (Chicagoland Vampires anyone?), so I want to include this warning: while there is not a dramatic cliffhanger like that, the ending and epilogue are most definitely a setup for the next book, with a few plotlines left dangling.===STEAMPUNK and ZOMBIES and YA, OH MY!===Despite the issues I had with the author biting off more than she could chew, I thought this was a good introduction to these genres. It definitely piqued my interest and makes me want to move these books higher in my TBR list. <hl> I found Habel's creation interesting and there's no doubt she has a good imagination--I loved the Punk vs. New Victorian aspect and wanted that to be further explored. <hl> While I haven't read steampunk or zombies before, I love the science fiction classics, so I am familiar with world-building and etc. Though I never felt like I was back in the "regular" world, I did think that the integration was not consistent and at times confusing. Some examples are how not all the zombies were really zombie-ish (right? not an expert here), the Victorian-ness at times felt forced, and I often completely forget about this supposedly huge and defining division between the two societies.===BOTTOM LINE===At the end of the day, I enjoyed the book and would recommend it. Were there problems? Yes, most definitely. But the romance between Nora and Bram was sweet, the secondary characters were wonderful, and the novel has an interesting storyline ... well, several, which was one of the problems, but regardless: I did likeDearly, Departed. Though I will not be rushing out to buy the second book when it comes out, I am curious about what happens next in this world Habel has created.*Originally reviewed for Fiction Vixen Book Reviews. This review is of a copy provided by the author/publisher to FVBR.

This book was a first in many ways for me. It was my first book in the steampunk genre, which seems to have become all the rage. It was my first zombie and my first modern horror novel. And it was the first YA book I've read since being a YA myself.I hadn't been avoiding any of these--on the contrary: seeing review after review by my Goodreads friends has had me adding book after book that I would not normally have read or sought out. One of the reasons I'm making a point of telling you all this though is because unlike many readers who will read this review and/or the book itself, I don't have much to compare it to--frankly, I have nothing to compare it to! But here goes ...===SUMMARY===Dearly, Departedis set in 2195 and centers around the people of New Victoria and the Punks. While they share ancestors, the two groups have been in a war with one another for generations, though at this point it's not all-out and amounts to border skirmishes, as well as propaganda-driven ignorance and misinformation about one another.Nora Dearly, a young woman in New Victoria, is still mourning the loss of her father a year ago. She's home from boarding school and is greeted by the distressing news that her aunt has wasted away their fortune and one of them will have to marry advantageously to refill the family coffers. All of this gets shoved to the back of her mind though, when Nora's life takes a dramatic turn.Home alone one night, she is attacked by a group of flesh-eating, decomposing, and mindless zombies. Trying to fight them off, she is saved just in time by a team of soldiers--also zombies, but turns out they are the good guys.What follows is one revelation and danger after another. She learns that being "dead" doesn't mean what she thought it did, befriends zombies, and falls into requited love with one of them, Bram. All around her, various existential battles are being fought: Punks versus New Victorians, the living versus the dead, the good guys versus the bad ones.===REACTION===Overall, I enjoyed the book and found the middle portion very engaging. The beginning and end were fine while I was reading them, but easy to lose interest in between reads. There were several funny lines and great exchanges. I loved most all the characters and found Nora to be a surprisingly likable heroine (I have problems with a lot of the PNR ones); she also showed no signs of having been lobotomized, but instead acknowledged risks while also not freaking out at every little thing. I loved the secondary characters: they were very funny, the back-and-forth between them was entertaining, and they were well-defined; by the end, I liked some of them as much as I did the main onesThe author tries to pack a lot into one book and that was the book's main failure in my mind. There are too many storylines being explored and too many different factions, which was a shame because on their own I found most all of them interesting. The final section feels extremely rushed and includes a huge and non-subtle information dump explaining everything.One of the things that took a little getting used to was that the story is told in first person ... from five different people's POVs. By far, Nora and Bram get the most narration time, but we also spend significant time with the other three characters. At least the transitions were clear though, with the narrating character's name at the beginning of every chapter. The switch was annoying when it would happen just as I was really getting into a POV. It wasn't a deal-breaker though and I enjoyed Bram's and Nora's.I have learned by now that many fantasy/paranormal romance readers have certain pet peeves, a certain type of ending being one of them (Chicagoland Vampires anyone?), so I want to include this warning: while there is not a dramatic cliffhanger like that, the ending and epilogue are most definitely a setup for the next book, with a few plotlines left dangling.===STEAMPUNK and ZOMBIES and YA, OH MY!===Despite the issues I had with the author biting off more than she could chew, I thought this was a good introduction to these genres. It definitely piqued my interest and makes me want to move these books higher in my TBR list. <hl> I found Habel's creation interesting <hl> and there's no doubt she has a good imagination--I loved the Punk vs. New Victorian aspect and wanted that to be further explored.While I haven't read steampunk or zombies before, I love the science fiction classics, so I am familiar with world-building and etc. Though I never felt like I was back in the "regular" world, I did think that the integration was not consistent and at times confusing. Some examples are how not all the zombies were really zombie-ish (right? not an expert here), the Victorian-ness at times felt forced, and I often completely forget about this supposedly huge and defining division between the two societies.===BOTTOM LINE===At the end of the day, I enjoyed the book and would recommend it. Were there problems? Yes, most definitely. But the romance between Nora and Bram was sweet, the secondary characters were wonderful, and the novel has an interesting storyline ... well, several, which was one of the problems, but regardless: I did likeDearly, Departed. Though I will not be rushing out to buy the second book when it comes out, I am curious about what happens next in this world Habel has created.*Originally reviewed for Fiction Vixen Book Reviews. This review is of a copy provided by the author/publisher to FVBR.


Question: How good is the story?

Not only is this book deeply disturbing, it is horribly written. I don't know how this book became mainstream at all. I am not a conservator person but this book is disgusting and contains not literacy value at all

Answer: am not a conservator person but this book is disgusting and contains not literacy value at all

Not only is this book deeply disturbing, it is horribly written. I don't know how this book became mainstream at all. <hl> I am not a conservator person but this book is disgusting and contains not literacy value at all <hl>

Not only is this book deeply disturbing, it is horribly written. I don't know how this book became mainstream at all. I <hl> am not a conservator person but this book is disgusting and contains not literacy value at all <hl>


Question: How is the research?

Great book!  The research necessary to write this book is impressive and it brought this period in history alive.  I was always an American History buff and disliked Ancient History so it took me a little longer to read this than it did to read Killing Lincoln or Kennedy. All 3 should be required school reading IMO.

Answer: The research necessary to write this book is impressive

Great book! <hl> The research necessary to write this book is impressive and it brought this period in history alive. <hl> I was always an American History buff and disliked Ancient History so it took me a little longer to read this than it did to read Killing Lincoln or Kennedy. All 3 should be required school reading IMO.

Great book! <hl> The research necessary to write this book is impressive <hl> and it brought this period in history alive. I was always an American History buff and disliked Ancient History so it took me a little longer to read this than it did to read Killing Lincoln or Kennedy. All 3 should be required school reading IMO.


Question: How can I get half of the hotel payment?

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins is the last book of the Hunger Games trilogy.  Each book manages to stand on its own, but the truth is they are just sections of one book that is so hard to put down that the publishers did the readers a favor by breaking it up. All of it is extremely well written, with tight suspense, touching love scenes and the grinding, merciless affects of war on every aspect of all the character's lives.Katniss and Peeta are both severely damaged, but manage to carry on.  Gale does his best for the rebellion, but in the end learns the cost of being ruthless.Perhaps one of the best things about this story is the ACCOUNTING.  Each decision the characters make has an upside and a downside and what they win is always shown very clearly against what they have lost.This story touches the heart of wars and the powerful people who gain advantages from having others fight them.  Moving the pieces around on their game boards in their safe war rooms, they never have to think of the real people who are left with the choices to fight or die because they have been unfortunate enough to have some use to the game makers.The story is very hard to put down; it is a fast satisfying read.

Answer: story is the ACCOUNTING

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins is the last book of the Hunger Games trilogy. Each book manages to stand on its own, but the truth is they are just sections of one book that is so hard to put down that the publishers did the readers a favor by breaking it up. All of it is extremely well written, with tight suspense, touching love scenes and the grinding, merciless affects of war on every aspect of all the character's lives. Katniss and Peeta are both severely damaged, but manage to carry on. Gale does his best for the rebellion, but in the end learns the cost of being ruthless. <hl> Perhaps one of the best things about this story is the ACCOUNTING . <hl> Each decision the characters make has an upside and a downside and what they win is always shown very clearly against what they have lost. This story touches the heart of wars and the powerful people who gain advantages from having others fight them. Moving the pieces around on their game boards in their safe war rooms, they never have to think of the real people who are left with the choices to fight or die because they have been unfortunate enough to have some use to the game makers. The story is very hard to put down; it is a fast satisfying read.

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins is the last book of the Hunger Games trilogy. Each book manages to stand on its own, but the truth is they are just sections of one book that is so hard to put down that the publishers did the readers a favor by breaking it up. All of it is extremely well written, with tight suspense, touching love scenes and the grinding, merciless affects of war on every aspect of all the character's lives.Katniss and Peeta are both severely damaged, but manage to carry on. Gale does his best for the rebellion, but in the end learns the cost of being ruthless.Perhaps one of the best things about this <hl> story is the ACCOUNTING <hl>. Each decision the characters make has an upside and a downside and what they win is always shown very clearly against what they have lost.This story touches the heart of wars and the powerful people who gain advantages from having others fight them. Moving the pieces around on their game boards in their safe war rooms, they never have to think of the real people who are left with the choices to fight or die because they have been unfortunate enough to have some use to the game makers.The story is very hard to put down; it is a fast satisfying read.

Perhaps one of the best things about this <hl> story is the ACCOUNTING <hl> .


Question: How is the end?

I’ve been saving this book so I could read it from cover to cover without really stopping. I am glad I did. It was very well done. It was good to see all the Brothers again, good to see them fighting and protecting their King. The heart of the story is Qhuinn and Blay of course, but their story flowed right along with the rest of the “family” and it all kept moving. When Layla’s pregnancy hits a crisis, it seems to bring to light Qhuinn’s need to look at himself squarely. Layla is a good reflector of Qhuinn’s best self, always trying to bring it out and show it to him. Qhuinn and Blay have a very hard time trying to come together, one step forward, two steps back. They do resolve their issues. Layla herself is a star player in this story. Her scene with Xcor was so powerful I had to go back and read it again. The book ended with many things left unresolved-it leaves me wanting much more. I can’t wait!

Answer: The book ended with many things left unresolved

I’ve been saving this book so I could read it from cover to cover without really stopping. I am glad I did. It was very well done. It was good to see all the Brothers again, good to see them fighting and protecting their King. The heart of the story is Qhuinn and Blay of course, but their story flowed right along with the rest of the “family” and it all kept moving. When Layla’s pregnancy hits a crisis, it seems to bring to light Qhuinn’s need to look at himself squarely. Layla is a good reflector of Qhuinn’s best self, always trying to bring it out and show it to him. Qhuinn and Blay have a very hard time trying to come together, one step forward, two steps back. They do resolve their issues. Layla herself is a star player in this story. Her scene with Xcor was so powerful I had to go back and read it again. <hl> The book ended with many things left unresolved -it leaves me wanting much more. <hl> I can’t wait!

I’ve been saving this book so I could read it from cover to cover without really stopping. I am glad I did. It was very well done. It was good to see all the Brothers again, good to see them fighting and protecting their King. The heart of the story is Qhuinn and Blay of course, but their story flowed right along with the rest of the “family” and it all kept moving. When Layla’s pregnancy hits a crisis, it seems to bring to light Qhuinn’s need to look at himself squarely. Layla is a good reflector of Qhuinn’s best self, always trying to bring it out and show it to him. Qhuinn and Blay have a very hard time trying to come together, one step forward, two steps back. They do resolve their issues. Layla herself is a star player in this story. Her scene with Xcor was so powerful I had to go back and read it again. <hl> The book ended with many things left unresolved <hl>-it leaves me wanting much more. I can’t wait!

<hl> The book ended with many things left unresolved <hl> -it leaves me wanting much more.


Question: How is the quality of the book?

I put  down Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix to read The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern right away.  Having both books in the forefront of my mind, the only comparison I can draw is they are  both written in third person, and there's magic.  Oh, and a train.  So if you think you're getting a dose of dueling wizards battling it out to the death in the name of good against evil with bolts of electricity flaring from wands, you'll be sorely disappointed.  The press is drawing the comparison for publicity and money.  Let's all just admit that there will never be another Harry Potter, and move on to embrace the new.That's you, publishers and media!Erin Morgentstern's The Night Circus is not the traditional circus you know.  It's a beautifully imagined, intricately detailed, magical place that enchants all who enter.  The circus is as much a character in the story--if not more so--than all the other characters combined.  I never use to understand people saying they wished they could live in a certain favorite fictional world.  Until now.  I would SO run away with this circus, easily donning black with a splash of scarlet to become a reveur, giving up my predictable life to follow the Night Circus to all its exotic and romantic locales: Constantinople, London, Munich, Sydney, Paris, to name a few.  Morgenstern was sure to involve all the senses when describing the circus. It's such a disappointment that it isn't real.Two rival magicians--Prospero the Enchanter and a man known only as Mr A. H-- decide to throw down and have a contest to see who can produce the better student of magic.  Chosen as children, Celia and Marco are kept separated, training their whole lives for the competition, but the rules are never explained.One sorta major detail left out in their education is only one can survive.  (The Night Circus is as similar to The Hunger Games as fried chicken is to beignets. Just saying.)  The circus venue is announced and the competition begins, although no one knows anything about it save student and mentor.There are cloud mazes in the air, a wishing tree, forests of sonnets.  Practically everything is controlled by magic, but the beauty of it is it's real magic disguised to look believable.  A person's grip on reality can be a fragile thing; it's best to leave others alone in their safe perceptions.  Years pass as Celia and Marco keep adding more and more magical entertainment, learning to respect each other long before they meet.  Once they do meet, their romance is slow to grow as both are aware it would complicate things if they collaborated on projects.I enjoyed how Morgenstern occasionally used the very rare second person POV, putting readers directly into the story, experiencing the circus for themselves:"You feel the warmth of breath on your neck, but when you turn no one is there."Harry Potter feels like a wild, epic adventure whereas, to me, The Night Circus and its cast of characters is a controlled execution, proper and refined, just like the Victorians are often portrayed, and this absolutely fits the story."The silence that falls between them is a comfortable one.  He longs to reach over and touch her, but he resists, fearful of destroying the delicate camaraderie they are building."Erin Morgenstern has a wild imagination, and I love her attention to detail.  An example of her creativity:"This woman's skin is shimmering and pale, her long black hair is tied with dozens of silver ribbons that fall over her shoulders.  Her gown is white, covered in what to Bailey looks like looping black embroidery, but as he walks closer he sees that the black marks are actually words written across the fabric.  When he is near enough to read parts of the gown, he realizes that they are love letters, inscribed in handwritten text.  Words of desire and longing wrapping around her waist, flowing down the train of her gown as it spills over the platform.The statue herself is still, but her hand is held out, and only then does Bailey notice the young woman with a red scarf standing in front of her, offering the love letter-clad statue a single crimson rose.The movement is so subtle that it is almost undetectable, but slowly, very, very slowly, the statue reaches to accept the rose.  Her fingers open, and the young woman with the rose waits patiently as the statue gradually closes her hand around the stem, releasing it only when it is secure.And then the young woman bows to the statue, and walks off into the crowd."Although I enjoyed Celia and Marco, my favorite character was Bailey (besides the circus itself).  He was the only one that had any real palpable tension.  I kept waiting for something to happen between Celia and Marco, but even they confess that the circus competition feels like an exhibition.  Curious things happen, but rather than being hooked, I was merely nibbling at the bait.  It is not until more than halfway through the book that Celia and Marco realize the consequences of losing, and this ratchets up the emotion, the tension, the suspense.  The reader becomes invested.Having said that,  Erin Morgenstern has still written an exquisite novel that will be treasured as creative genius.  Imagining her actually making tiny models of the circus and other things--she's an artist after all--only contributes to the magic.This from USA Today:"With a first printing of 150,000 copies, and rights sold in 30 countries, expectations are high for this first-time novel. Morgenstern says she didn't plan the book as a series, but enough questions dangle at the end to set the stage for a sequel."Through a short tweet session with Erin Morgenstern, she said she's not sure what they mean by "dangling questions" and said perhaps publishers are interested in tangential tales.This book is lovely as a stand alone.  I'm not doubting that Morgenstern can pull off lavish tangential tales, but this book resonates as it is, and sometimes it's best just to say, "That was a damn good story.""He sits back in his chair and steadily returns the stare aimed at him.  Taking his time as though he has all of it in the world, in the universe, from the days when tales meant more than they do now, but perhaps less than they will someday, he draws a breath that releases the tangled knot of words in his heart, and they fall from his lips effortlessly."The circus arrives without warning."

Answer: The press is drawing the comparison for publicity and money

I put down Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix to read The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern right away. Having both books in the forefront of my mind, the only comparison I can draw is they are both written in third person, and there's magic. Oh, and a train. So if you think you're getting a dose of dueling wizards battling it out to the death in the name of good against evil with bolts of electricity flaring from wands, you'll be sorely disappointed. <hl> The press is drawing the comparison for publicity and money . <hl> Let's all just admit that there will never be another Harry Potter, and move on to embrace the new. That's you, publishers and media!Erin Morgentstern's The Night Circus is not the traditional circus you know. It's a beautifully imagined, intricately detailed, magical place that enchants all who enter. The circus is as much a character in the story--if not more so--than all the other characters combined. I never use to understand people saying they wished they could live in a certain favorite fictional world. Until now. I would SO run away with this circus, easily donning black with a splash of scarlet to become a reveur, giving up my predictable life to follow the Night Circus to all its exotic and romantic locales: Constantinople, London, Munich, Sydney, Paris, to name a few. Morgenstern was sure to involve all the senses when describing the circus. It's such a disappointment that it isn't real. Two rival magicians--Prospero the Enchanter and a man known only as Mr A. H-- decide to throw down and have a contest to see who can produce the better student of magic. Chosen as children, Celia and Marco are kept separated, training their whole lives for the competition, but the rules are never explained. One sorta major detail left out in their education is only one can survive. (The Night Circus is as similar to The Hunger Games as fried chicken is to beignets. Just saying.) The circus venue is announced and the competition begins, although no one knows anything about it save student and mentor. There are cloud mazes in the air, a wishing tree, forests of sonnets. Practically everything is controlled by magic, but the beauty of it is it's real magic disguised to look believable. A person's grip on reality can be a fragile thing; it's best to leave others alone in their safe perceptions. Years pass as Celia and Marco keep adding more and more magical entertainment, learning to respect each other long before they meet. Once they do meet, their romance is slow to grow as both are aware it would complicate things if they collaborated on projects. I enjoyed how Morgenstern occasionally used the very rare second person POV, putting readers directly into the story, experiencing the circus for themselves:"You feel the warmth of breath on your neck, but when you turn no one is there. "Harry Potter feels like a wild, epic adventure whereas, to me, The Night Circus and its cast of characters is a controlled execution, proper and refined, just like the Victorians are often portrayed, and this absolutely fits the story. "The silence that falls between them is a comfortable one. He longs to reach over and touch her, but he resists, fearful of destroying the delicate camaraderie they are building."Erin Morgenstern has a wild imagination, and I love her attention to detail. An example of her creativity:"This woman's skin is shimmering and pale, her long black hair is tied with dozens of silver ribbons that fall over her shoulders. Her gown is white, covered in what to Bailey looks like looping black embroidery, but as he walks closer he sees that the black marks are actually words written across the fabric. When he is near enough to read parts of the gown, he realizes that they are love letters, inscribed in handwritten text. Words of desire and longing wrapping around her waist, flowing down the train of her gown as it spills over the platform. The statue herself is still, but her hand is held out, and only then does Bailey notice the young woman with a red scarf standing in front of her, offering the love letter-clad statue a single crimson rose. The movement is so subtle that it is almost undetectable, but slowly, very, very slowly, the statue reaches to accept the rose. Her fingers open, and the young woman with the rose waits patiently as the statue gradually closes her hand around the stem, releasing it only when it is secure. And then the young woman bows to the statue, and walks off into the crowd. "Although I enjoyed Celia and Marco, my favorite character was Bailey (besides the circus itself). He was the only one that had any real palpable tension. I kept waiting for something to happen between Celia and Marco, but even they confess that the circus competition feels like an exhibition. Curious things happen, but rather than being hooked, I was merely nibbling at the bait. It is not until more than halfway through the book that Celia and Marco realize the consequences of losing, and this ratchets up the emotion, the tension, the suspense. The reader becomes invested. Having said that, Erin Morgenstern has still written an exquisite novel that will be treasured as creative genius. Imagining her actually making tiny models of the circus and other things--she's an artist after all--only contributes to the magic. This from USA Today:"With a first printing of 150,000 copies, and rights sold in 30 countries, expectations are high for this first-time novel. Morgenstern says she didn't plan the book as a series, but enough questions dangle at the end to set the stage for a sequel. "Through a short tweet session with Erin Morgenstern, she said she's not sure what they mean by "dangling questions" and said perhaps publishers are interested in tangential tales. This book is lovely as a stand alone. I'm not doubting that Morgenstern can pull off lavish tangential tales, but this book resonates as it is, and sometimes it's best just to say, "That was a damn good story. ""He sits back in his chair and steadily returns the stare aimed at him. Taking his time as though he has all of it in the world, in the universe, from the days when tales meant more than they do now, but perhaps less than they will someday, he draws a breath that releases the tangled knot of words in his heart, and they fall from his lips effortlessly. "The circus arrives without warning."

I put down Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix to read The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern right away. Having both books in the forefront of my mind, the only comparison I can draw is they are both written in third person, and there's magic. Oh, and a train. So if you think you're getting a dose of dueling wizards battling it out to the death in the name of good against evil with bolts of electricity flaring from wands, you'll be sorely disappointed. <hl> The press is drawing the comparison for publicity and money <hl>. Let's all just admit that there will never be another Harry Potter, and move on to embrace the new.That's you, publishers and media!Erin Morgentstern's The Night Circus is not the traditional circus you know. It's a beautifully imagined, intricately detailed, magical place that enchants all who enter. The circus is as much a character in the story--if not more so--than all the other characters combined. I never use to understand people saying they wished they could live in a certain favorite fictional world. Until now. I would SO run away with this circus, easily donning black with a splash of scarlet to become a reveur, giving up my predictable life to follow the Night Circus to all its exotic and romantic locales: Constantinople, London, Munich, Sydney, Paris, to name a few. Morgenstern was sure to involve all the senses when describing the circus. It's such a disappointment that it isn't real.Two rival magicians--Prospero the Enchanter and a man known only as Mr A. H-- decide to throw down and have a contest to see who can produce the better student of magic. Chosen as children, Celia and Marco are kept separated, training their whole lives for the competition, but the rules are never explained.One sorta major detail left out in their education is only one can survive. (The Night Circus is as similar to The Hunger Games as fried chicken is to beignets. Just saying.) The circus venue is announced and the competition begins, although no one knows anything about it save student and mentor.There are cloud mazes in the air, a wishing tree, forests of sonnets. Practically everything is controlled by magic, but the beauty of it is it's real magic disguised to look believable. A person's grip on reality can be a fragile thing; it's best to leave others alone in their safe perceptions. Years pass as Celia and Marco keep adding more and more magical entertainment, learning to respect each other long before they meet. Once they do meet, their romance is slow to grow as both are aware it would complicate things if they collaborated on projects.I enjoyed how Morgenstern occasionally used the very rare second person POV, putting readers directly into the story, experiencing the circus for themselves:"You feel the warmth of breath on your neck, but when you turn no one is there."Harry Potter feels like a wild, epic adventure whereas, to me, The Night Circus and its cast of characters is a controlled execution, proper and refined, just like the Victorians are often portrayed, and this absolutely fits the story."The silence that falls between them is a comfortable one. He longs to reach over and touch her, but he resists, fearful of destroying the delicate camaraderie they are building."Erin Morgenstern has a wild imagination, and I love her attention to detail. An example of her creativity:"This woman's skin is shimmering and pale, her long black hair is tied with dozens of silver ribbons that fall over her shoulders. Her gown is white, covered in what to Bailey looks like looping black embroidery, but as he walks closer he sees that the black marks are actually words written across the fabric. When he is near enough to read parts of the gown, he realizes that they are love letters, inscribed in handwritten text. Words of desire and longing wrapping around her waist, flowing down the train of her gown as it spills over the platform.The statue herself is still, but her hand is held out, and only then does Bailey notice the young woman with a red scarf standing in front of her, offering the love letter-clad statue a single crimson rose.The movement is so subtle that it is almost undetectable, but slowly, very, very slowly, the statue reaches to accept the rose. Her fingers open, and the young woman with the rose waits patiently as the statue gradually closes her hand around the stem, releasing it only when it is secure.And then the young woman bows to the statue, and walks off into the crowd."Although I enjoyed Celia and Marco, my favorite character was Bailey (besides the circus itself). He was the only one that had any real palpable tension. I kept waiting for something to happen between Celia and Marco, but even they confess that the circus competition feels like an exhibition. Curious things happen, but rather than being hooked, I was merely nibbling at the bait. It is not until more than halfway through the book that Celia and Marco realize the consequences of losing, and this ratchets up the emotion, the tension, the suspense. The reader becomes invested.Having said that, Erin Morgenstern has still written an exquisite novel that will be treasured as creative genius. Imagining her actually making tiny models of the circus and other things--she's an artist after all--only contributes to the magic.This from USA Today:"With a first printing of 150,000 copies, and rights sold in 30 countries, expectations are high for this first-time novel. Morgenstern says she didn't plan the book as a series, but enough questions dangle at the end to set the stage for a sequel."Through a short tweet session with Erin Morgenstern, she said she's not sure what they mean by "dangling questions" and said perhaps publishers are interested in tangential tales.This book is lovely as a stand alone. I'm not doubting that Morgenstern can pull off lavish tangential tales, but this book resonates as it is, and sometimes it's best just to say, "That was a damn good story.""He sits back in his chair and steadily returns the stare aimed at him. Taking his time as though he has all of it in the world, in the universe, from the days when tales meant more than they do now, but perhaps less than they will someday, he draws a breath that releases the tangled knot of words in his heart, and they fall from his lips effortlessly."The circus arrives without warning."

<hl> The press is drawing the comparison for publicity and money <hl> .