Sunday, August 29, 2010

Shadow Bound

I was browsing the free books on my Nook one day and found Shadow Bound by Erin Kellison.  I thought I had seen it mentioned on a blog or someone's Twitter feed and decided to try it out.  It's the first book in Kellison's Shadow series.  I love reading books that make up a series, and I must say that I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book.

Cover:  The cover didn't do much for me.  That's okay, though, because since it was an ebook I hardly ever saw the cover.

Characters:  Talia knows she is unique and different.  She doesn't necessarily know what she is, but she knows she's not entirely human.  She's smart and dedicated but has come to accept that her uniqueness will keep her from ever getting close to anyone.  Adam has devoted his life to stopping the wraiths.  He knows a war is on the horizon, and he has taken it upon himself to fight it.  He has his own personal demons to fight and finds an ally in Talia. 

I really enjoyed these characters.  I felt the author gave them depth and personality but also showed personal growth in them throughout the book.

Writing:  I liked the way the author wrote the book.  I didn't find it too confusing.  The POV alternated between Adam's and Talia's.  I've said numerous times that I enjoy when POV alternates, and I'll say it again.  I really like hearing from two different people and seeing how they are perceiving a certain situation.

Plot:  I enjoy reading paranormal books, but sometimes the plot just gets repeated.  This plot was different.  New types of paranormal beings were introduced, which was refreshing.  There was suspense, action, and sexual tension, which in my opinion, make a good book.

Overall: 4/5  I really liked this book.  I had trouble putting it down and found myself wanting to read just one more chapter.  I've been on a roll lately.  The last few books I've read have given me this feeling.  I'm excited to read the next book in this series to find out what happens next.

Friday, August 27, 2010

Deja Dead

I've been wanting to read the Temperance Brennan series by Kathy Reichs since I read a blog post about it a few months ago (Sorry, I can't remember which blog!).  I'm a huge fan of the show, Bones, and figured the books would be pretty good, too.  I definitely didn't expect the show and books to be identical, but I was thinking the character of Tempe Brennan would be the same.  Wrong.  Anywho, I still really liked the first book, Deja Dead.

Cover:  The cover is neat.  Once I started getting into the story, I began to understand the meaning behind the map and pins.  Read the book to find out! ;-)

Characters:  In the books, Tempe is a middle aged anthropologist living and working in Canada.  She's divorced and has a daughter in college.  Tempe is good at what she does and works with local law enforcement to solve cases.  She is determined, intelligent, and resourceful.  What makes her great at her job is her ability to think outside the box and come at a problem from different angles.  She works closely with a few police officers, Ryan and Claudel.  Ryan is kind to tempe and supports her ideas.  I think she might have a little crush on him, too.  Claudel, on the other hand, is a jerk.  He dismisses Tempe like she's some kind of dummy.

Writing:  Reichs uses a lot of scientific and medical terminology.  At times, I thought she used it too much.  I would get confused in some parts and have to just skim until I could find a part that I understood again.  I thought Reichs did a good job at knowing where to end a chapter.  Most of her chapters ended and left me wanting to know what was coming. 

Plot:  I really liked the plot of this story.  The concept was that Tempe found some human remains, which led her to believe that there was a serial killer on the loose.  She then fights to convince local law enforcement that she is right and get them on board to find this guy.  There are quite a few twists and turns.  Just when I thought the bad guy had been caught, BAM!  Something else happened.

Overall: 4/5  I really liked this book.  The beginning was a little slow for me, but the story eventually picked up and caught my interest.  I'm definitely going to read more books in this series.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Fallen

I have been wanting to read Fallen by Lauren Kate from the first time I saw the cover.  Before I had even read what the book was about, my mind was made up.  I chose to order the book on my Nook, which kind of jipped me from having my hot little hands on that gorgeous cover.  That's okay, though, because the content more than made up for that.

Cover: GORGEOUS!  That's all I can say. 

Characters: The characters in this book were rather intriguing. The fact that they all had some sort of troubled past and dark side made them really fascinating to me. It could also be because I work with troubled adolescents. Luce sucked me in right away. I felt for her. She was in a strange, frightening place and felt as if she was being doubted and attacked. She even felt like her own parents were afraid of her. Luce seemed very relatable. She had a secret that she didn't want to share with anyone and felt like she had a past far worse than any of the other students at her new school. Then there was Daniel. Oh, if only Daniel were real. ::swoon:: He definitely had that "bad boy" image that good girls like. He's mysterious and brooding. I won't say too much about him. He's one of those characters that you just must read about to get to know. Cam's charm and good looks seemed too good to be true. I was wary of him from the beginning.

Writing: Lauren Kate did a fantastic job writing this book. She knew exactly how much to put into each chapter and just where to end each chapter. It seemed as if I'd finish a chapter and think, "Just one more! I have to read one more!" The writing was easy to follow but still included enough detail for me to create the world of Fallen in my head. I liked how she was able to convey the characters' emotions through descriptions of their body language and dialogue. That was part of what drew me into the book so deeply.

Plot: I thought the plot was wonderful. It was refreshing after reading so many books about vampires. While there were some paranormal (I guess you'd call it that) aspects to the book, the plot didn't rely on it too heavily. In my opinion, the real paranormal stuff didn't come until later in the book. The rest of the story seemed to do just what the characters in the book did; fit in with the normal world.

Overall:  5/5  I absolutely loved this book!  I NEEDS the next one!  The story completely sucked me in.

Monday, August 23, 2010

The Forest of Hands and Teeth

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan is a book that I've been wanting to read.  I picked it up one day while shopping at Books-A-Million, but it sat on my bookshelf for quite some time.  I enjoyed the book but wasn't blown away by it. 

Cover:  The cover makes me think in two different ways.  Sometimes, looking at it makes me feel as if I'm on the Consecrated side looking into the village.  At other times, I feel like I'm in the village looking out at the consecrated.  This simple image can be interpreted differently.

Characters:  The main characters of the book are Mary, Travis, Harry, Cass, Jed, and a young boy.  Mary is a young woman who longs for something other than life in the village.  She is sure that something exists beyond The Forest of Hands and Teeth.  Jed is Mary's brother, but he doesn't share her sentiments on life and The Forest.  Travis, Harry, Cass, and the young boy share Mary's journey throughout the book as she searches for a different kind of life.  These characters are up against the Consecrated, zombie-like beings who only know the urge to feed on human flesh.

Writing:  I found the book easy to read and follow.  It didn't appear to be filled with unnecessary details and facts that drag the book along.  Considering that the story takes place in the future, the author did a great job writing from that type of perspective.  The people of this time period would not have the same luxuries and conveniences of our time, and that was conveyed well in the writing.

Plot:  I found the plot to be slow in the beginning.  It eventually picked up, and I found myself eager to find out how the book ended.  My interpretation of the plot line is a story of having a dream and following it, no matter what obstacles turn up or what others think about it.  Mary had a dream of finding the ocean.  She knew deep inside that it was real, despite being told otherwise.  Everyone told her to forget her silly notions and do what was best for the village and future generations.  She chose to follow her dream instead.

Overall: 3/5  I liked The Forest of Hands and Teeth.  I wasn't blown away by it, but I'll definitely read the books that come after it.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Why Just One? (4)

I see a lot on the internet about popular book series. One that I've heard a lot about, especially because of the new book coming out, is the Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins. These books make up this week's series that I'm eager to read.


Hunger Games
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Catching Fire
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mockingjay
 

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Teaser Tuesday (8)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme held by Miz B at Should Be Reading. It's a great way to share what you're reading or what you're planning on reading. Here's how it works. Grab a book, open to a random page, and share two teaser sentences. Be sure to avoid posting spoilers and include the book's title and author.

This week's Teaser Tuesday is from Deja Dead by Kathy Reichs:

The bones of the pelvis encircled a bathroom plunger, its long wooden handle projecting upward like an inverted Popsicle stick, its red rubber cup pressed hard againt the pelvic outlet.  Its position suggested deliberate placement. - p. 22

I can't wait to read the rest of this book!

Monday, August 16, 2010

Weekend Wrap-Up (5)

There's not much to say about this weekend.

Highlights:

Last class of the summer semester.
Freshly squeezed lemonade from the county fair.
Gave my kitchen and dining room a good, deepl clean.
Finished The Forest of Hands and Teeth.

Low points:

Hubs worked night shift all weekend, which left me to sleep alone.  It also left us with very little time together.
We went to the county fair to see The Clarks play but left because it looked like a bad storm was rolling in.
I wanted the hubs to help me measure our huge living room window so I could buy curtains.  Unfortunately, he slept in, ate breakfast, and then slept again before leaving to work the night shift.

My fall semester starts in a few weeks.  I'm really hoping to get some enjoyable weekends in before I get stuck with weekends full of homework.  

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Yay! Another award!

I found a comment on my last post letting me know that I've been given The Versatile Blogger award.  Woo hoo!  I love getting awards and hearing that readers like my blog.  As some of you may know, The Versatile Blogger Award comes with some rules. 

1.  Thank and link back to the person who gave you the award.

Brooke at Brooke's Box of Books gave me the award.  She has an awesome blog, so check her out!

2.  Tell us 7 things about yourself.

1.  I have a huge problem with procrastination.
2.  I'm afraid of the dark.
3.  I've suffered from chronic headaches for 9 years.
4.  I'm one semester away from finishing grad school.
5.  I plan to get my doctorate degree, teach at the college level, and supervise therapists.
6.  I have a 12 year old brother who is like my own child.
7.  I'm a terrible cook.

3.  Pass the award along to 15 bloggers who you have recently discovered and who you think are fantastic for whatever reason!

http://21pages.x10hosting.com/
http://laurenscrammedbookshelf.blogspot.com/
http://supernaturalsnark.blogspot.com/
http://casuallymusing.com/
http://jennandtonica.com/
http://booksncooks.wordpress.com/
http://www.poeticserendipity.blogspot.com/
http://andanythingbookish.blogspot.com/
http://www.bookhookedblog.com/
http://www.craftybookworm.blogspot.com/
http://agoodaddiction.blogspot.com/
http://www.theneverendingshelf.com/
http://www.crazy-for-books.com/
http://book-faery.blogspot.com/
http://allygreeson.blogspot.com/

4. Contact the bloggers you've picked and let them know about the award! I’m sure they’ll be thankful ;-)

Monday, August 9, 2010

Teaser Tuesday (7)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme held by Miz B at Should Be Reading.  It's a great way to share what you're reading or what you're planning on reading. Here's how it works. Grab a book, open to a random page, and share two teaser sentences. Be sure to avoid posting spoilers and include the book's title and author.




This week's Teaser Tuesday is from Club Dead (Sookie #3) by Charlaine Harris.



There was a quiet crowd in the bedroom, I noticed. Eric had gotten me situated on the bed, which was so high, I might need a stepstool to get down. - p. 180

Weekend Wrap-Up (4)

I don't know about anyone else, but I had a boring weekend.  My husband was out of town for work, which meant I had lots of time to myself.  Normally, I have class on Saturday mornings but not this week.  What are the chances?  I have no work or school for the entire weekend, and he has to work all weekend out of town.  I found myself doing a whole lot of being lazy.

After work on Friday, my friend came over.  She's been having some rough times and needed to vent.  We had some pizza and spent about 4 hours dishing on everything that's been going on with us.  She left around 10:00, but I found that I wasn't tired at all.  I had wanted to finish reading Living Dead in Dallas (Sookie #2), so I spent some time both on the couch and in bed reading that.  It was about 4 A.M. when I finally finished the book and settled in to go to sleep.  Unfortunately, I only slept about 4 hours.  Ugh.

Saturday was a totally lazy day for me.  I ended up with an awful migraine from not getting much sleep the night before.  After a quick trip to the drug store, I settled in to spend the night alternating between reading and watching HGTV.  I love the shows on HGTV.  I hate that they always make me hate the way my house is decorated.

We've been in our house for just over a year.  Planning a wedding left us with little money to put into our new house.  Most of our furniture is used that we've brought with us from our parents' houses or got from friends/family.  I'd love to do so many different things to our house, but I have no idea where to start.

My in-laws stopped  briefly Saturday evening.  My mother-in-law is always bringing me candy dishes for some reason.  I like candy but not enough to have a candy dish in every room in my house.  While they were here, they invited me over for breakfast Sunday morning and made plans to mow our grass.  The hubs won't be back in town for a few more days, and our grass was getting straggly. 

I tried to be more productive on Sunday.  Breakfast with the in-laws was good.  I made a trip to Target to get some organization tools.  I picked up some laundry sorters.  I can never see the laundry room floor, so I'm hoping this will help me to keep it a little neater.  My father-in-law came over to mow our grass, while my mother-in-law and I pulled weeds in my flower beds.  After that, I cleaned up the house a little bit.  My weekend finished up with some ice cream from Dairy Queen, Big Brother, and True Blood.

All I can say is I hope next weekend is better than this weekend.

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Saturday Spotlight (2)

While checking out other blogs through the Book Blogger Hop, I've been trying to pick a particular blog to focus on.  I feel like this is a good way to share blogs that I find and like.

Blog Name: Supernatural Snark

What I Like:  The thing that caught my attention about this blog was the Cover Critique post.  I liked how she created a dialogue between the designers of the two different covers.  I also liked that she had lots of books on her blog that I have read or want to read.  I know that her blog is one I check back to for more book recommendations.

Living Dead in Dallas

Since I've started watching True Blood on a regular basis, I've been wanting to finish the Sookie Stackhouse series.  With the first season, I noticed a lot of differences between the book and movie.  I've been eager to see what kind of differences popped up in Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris compared to the second season. 

Cover:  I like the illustrations on the covers of the Sookie books.  This cover reminded me of Sookie and Bill flying to Dallas.  Obviously, she didn't fly there on his coffin, but it still reminded me of this.

Characters:  At times, I found Sookie and Bill annoying.  I didn't like when they called each other "sweetheart" or "honey."  It just didn't seem to fit them.  It could also be because I don't remember them talking to each other like that in the show.  Like the show, I like Eric best.  I find him humorous, and his sneakiness is attractive.  He wants Sookie and tries, even though she always refuses him.

Writing:  I liked the writing style.  It's easy to understand, and there isn't a lot of unnecessary stuff added in.  There were just enough details to get wrapped up in the story but not so many that I got distracted.

Plot:  I had an idea of what the plot was going to be since I had already seen Season 2 of True Blood.  It didn't play out exactly like the TV show, but there were enough major similarities to know how the books was going to end.  I wasn't a big fan of how the murder in Bon Temps was played out.  It would've made more sense to me to have explored it more before diving into the trip to Dallas.  By the time I got towards the end of the book when the murder was discussed again, I had forgotten some of the details.

Overall: 3/5  Watching the show before reading this book kind of ruined the book for me.  I did enjoy discovering the differences between the two.  It was very interesting to see which changes were made.

Friday, August 6, 2010

Book Blogger Hop (2)

The Book Blogger Hop is a weekly meme hosted by Jennifer over at Crazy for Books. Each week, she gives bloggers the opportunity to share their blog and discover new ones. Make sure you read her rules for the hop, otherwise your blog link could be deleted. This is not just meant for pimping out your own blog. It's a great chance to find new bloggers you didn't know about. There's also a question posted with each Hop. Be sure to answer it when you post about the hop on your blog.




Question: Do you listen to music when you read? If so, what are your favorite reading tunes?



Answer: Sometimes I do, and sometimes I don't. I think it all depends on my mood and where I'm reading. I do a lot of my reading in our living room, game room, or bedroom. If I'm in the living room or game room, the TV is usually on. It's not uncommon for me to be reading and watching TV at the same time. If my husband is sleeping when I read in bed, I don't listen to music. If I'm by myself when I read in bed, I pick a Pandora station on my iPhone and listen to whatever comes on.



In addition to commenting on cool new blogs I find through the Hop, I've also decided to start doing a special post for a blog that really cathes my attention. Be sure to stop back later to see which blog I've chosen!



Happy Hopping!

What I'm Reading (3)

Last week, I tried reading multiple books instead of just one like I usually do. I found that I do like having an audiobook for my car and a regular book for home, work, etc. But I don't like having to choose which book to keep reading. It made me feel like I wasn't getting anywhere. So, I've decided to stick to reading one book at a time.




Right now, I'm reading Living Dead in Dallas (Sookie #2) by Charlaine Harris. I've seen the first 2 seasons of True Blood and have been watching the current season. I've been eager to read the rest of the Sookie books. Obviously, there are some major differences between the books and the show, but I love discovering them. My husband got annoyed with me when we watched the first season of True Blood. I had already read the first Sookie book and kept telling him about how the book was different from the show. He also hated that I had a general idea of what would happen.



I'm hoping to finish Living Dead in Dallas tonight, so I can start my next book. Here's what's coming up next for me:

The Forest of Hands and Teeth


Fallen

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Linger

When I downloaded Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater to my Nook, I downloaded its sequel, Linger. I figured if I loved Shiver I would probably want to start Linger right away. That's exactly what I did. Now, I liked Shiver but wasn't exactly head over heels in love with it. I can honestly say, though, that I fell hard for Linger. When I finished it today, I was heartbroken. I need to know what happens next!

From Goodreads:


Their eyes, human eyes in wolf skulls, remind me of water: the clear blue of water reflecting the spring sky, the brown of a brook churning with rainfall, the green of the lake in summer as the algae begins to bloom, the gray of a snow-choked river. It used to be only Sam's yellow eyes that watched me from between the rain-soaked birches, but no, I feel the weight of the entire pack's gaze. The weight of things known, things unsaid.



Sam, who spent most of his life as a werewolf, has undergone an unlikely cure and no longer transitions between fur and skin as the temperature changes from cold to hot. This should be a happy time for Sam and true-love Grace, but just as he begins to trust his new human life, Grace feels her humanity slipping away. Sam's focus is split between worry for Grace and his role as caretaker of the werewolf pack, which for the first time in years includes new members.




Cover: Like the Shiver cover, the Linger cover was so pretty. For me, the greens symbolized the warmth and life of the spring season and when the wolves shed their furry pelts for a less hairy appearance.

Characters: Sam and Grace are still crazy about each other. Sam's insecurities seem to be exposed a bit more in this book. I was surprised at how friendly Isabel and Grace became. Cole was a nice addition to the story. His growth throughout the story was touching.

Writing: Stiefvater does such a nice job of telling the story from the various perspectives. I'm a sucker for this style of writing. I also like how she adds Sam's lyrics and poems that Sam is fond of. Her writing in this story really pulled me in. I found myself hanging on the last word of every page, just waiting for what would come next.

Plot: I don't want to give away any spoilers, but I will say that I enjoyed the way Shiver tied in with Linger. What's the saying? When one door closes, another one opens. That's exactly what happened in this book. Just when you thought Sam and Grace would live happily ever after, something else pops up.

Overall: 5/5 I LOVED this book! I can't wait until the next book in the series is released.

Thursday 13 (3)

This week's Thursday 13 is a list of books from my eBook Wish List for my Nook.




Siren by Tricia Rayburn

Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz

13 to Life by Shannon Delany

My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Fallen by Lauren Kate

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Wake by Lisa McMann

Glass Houses (Morganville Vampire Series) by Rachel Caine

Book of Shadows by Alexandra Sokoloff

The Unseen by Alexandra Sokoloff

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Pretty in Plaid

I picked up the audio version of Pretty in Plaid by Jen Lancaster at a local bookstore.  I love audiobooks.  They're great for my lengthy commute to school and my short trip to work.  I've read another book by Lancaster, Bright Lights, Big Ass.  I really liked it and was looking forward to reading/listening to Pretty in Plaid.
 
Cover: The cover is super cute! There's a pair of legs wearing long argyle socks in pastel pink and green. I love them!


Characters: The main character is the author, Jen Lancaster. I have to admit that in the beginning when she was telling stories of her childhood I thought to myself, "Please don't let my children be like this." I found her to be a total brat when she was younger. She seemed to be very superficial and overly concerned with how other people saw her. She became more bearable as she got older. Lancaster seemed to be a mature and responsible teenager but then turned into a wild child in college. She always showed, though, that when she wanted something she went for it. Lancaster never let anybody stop her. I like that about her. She is outspoken, as well, which is another quality I admire.

Writing: Lancaster's writing makes me feel as if I'm simply having a conversation with her. I like that it's not extremely structured like some books. It seems to be free flowing. She's also extremely witty and a smart ass, which is awesome. I like smart asses. She does such a great job at telling these stories and conveying her reactions and feelings at the time.

Plot: This book was a collection of stories about events from Lancaster's life from childhood to adulthood. In addition to the chapter title, she also used a piece of clothing or a fashion accessory as the staple of that chapter. I really liked this. It was very unique. Writing the book in this way allowed Lancaster to show how she grew as a person and also as a fashion lover. She always had a knack for looking great but went from shopping at your typical department stores (TJ Maxx, Marshall's, etc.) to shopping at the more expensive stores (Nordstrom, Tiffany's, etc.).

Overall: 3/5 I liked this book. I didn't find it as funny as Bright Lights, Big Ass, though. It did, however, provide more background for me after reading Bright Lights, Big Ass.

Why Just One? (3)

On Wednesdays, I try to share a series I've been wanting to read. My Goodreads TBR list has many for me to choose from, and I'm always finding more thanks to all the awesome book blogs out there. So far, I've mentioned the Sookie Stackhouse series and the Temperance Brennan series. This week, I'm talking about a series that I'm sure everyone is familiar with and will probably be wondering why I haven't read it yet. So, here's this week's series...


Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

Yes, I have not read any of the Harry Potter books. It seems like everyone and their grandma have already read this series and then waited anxiously for the movies. I tried to read the first book back in high school but just couldn't get into it. I've seen a few of the movies and thought they were okay. But I'm ready to try the books again.

Just yesterday, a client of mine was talking about the Harry Potter series. She was saying how much she loved the series but wasn't happy about the way it ended. Of course, this made me curious. So now I'm adding the Harry Potter books to my list of series I want to tackle.


Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Shiver

After seeing tons of good things about this book on Twitter and my online book board, I decided I had to read Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater.  I'd been sticking with books that I already owned but was getting itchy to read a book on my new Nook.  This was my opportunity. 

From Goodreads:
For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human ... until the cold makes him shift back again.


Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human--or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.
Cover:  The cover is gorgeous.  I love the twisting branches and little hearts hanging down from them.  The colors give it a "winter feel" with the cools blues.

Characters:  Sam and Grace are the main characters in Shiver.  There are other characters involved, but I feel like these two are the main players.  Sam seems to be an insecure, sensitive young man.  He's probably one of those guys who would be mysterious and catch all kinds of attention from girls but not know what to do with it.  Grace is a mature, independent teenager.  She plays the parent role in her family, while her parents are living their dreams.  Sam and Grace compliment each other.  Sam's insecurity is paired with Grace's confidence.  Sam's hopelessness is paired with Grace's hopefulness.  Together, they're a sweet couple who just seem made for each other.

Writing:  Stiefvater wrote beautifully in describing the relationship between Sam and Grace.  I like that she wrote from both of their perspectives.  The connection she described between the two lovers was much deeper than a physical one. 

Plot:  It was refreshing to read about werewolves.  I haven't read anything involving them before, so this was new to me.  Sam is a werewolf with a connection to a girl, Grace.  They've shared a bond for six years as werewolf and girl until a chance encounter allows Sam's human form to meet her.  Their love is strong, and they fight for a way to stay together, knowing that if Sam changes back to his wolf form he'll never change back again.  I found myself engulfed in the hope that Sam and Grace would find a way to stay together.  My thoughts went like this: "They're going to find a way to stay together."  "It's not going to happen."  "OMG!  They are going to do it!"  "Dammit!  I thought it was going to work."  I won't share my last thought at the end of the book.  I'm pretty sure one simple sentence would give away the ending. :-)

Overall:  4/5  I really liked this book.  I think I now know what all the hype was about.  I'm also really glad I bought Linger at the same time I bought Shiver.  As soon as I read the last line my head screamed, "I have to read Linger!"