Altared Plans by Rebecca Talley

Altared Plans
byRebecca Talley

LDS Romance
250 pages, 5.5x8.5, softcover
Target reader: LDS Women/Young Adults

Cedar Fort
978-1599552804
Release Date: June 5, 2009



From the publisher:

The perfect day. The perfect marriage. The perfect groom. What could go wrong?

Caitlyn has been preparing for her perfect wedding all her life. But when her fiancé abandons her at the altar, Caitlyn vows she ll never love again.

Going to BYU doesn't make that easy, however, and avoiding all social contact can only last so long. When her bishop calls her to be the mom of her family home evening group, Caitlyn is suddenly thrust into surprising circumstances that leave her flustered the attention of two unwanted suitors.

Travis, the FHE dad, has plans to woo Caitlyn by using his cowboy charms while Chase has his own ideas for dating her. Will Travis or Chase change her mind about love? Or will it be deja vu?

Read Chapter 1.

View book trailer.

Getting stood up for a date is bad. For a wedding, it's even worse. But for a temple wedding? Devastating.

Altared Plans is a fun little romance that takes place mostly at BYU in Provo, Utah. Caitlyn's heart has been broken; she's been hurt and healing slowly. She meets Travis and there's an immediate interest that she tries to deny. Hurt again, she turns to Chase, the safe guy. We've all been there, haven't we? Do we go with what's safe or what's exciting?

A light, clean romance with some comic scenes, this is not the type of book I normally choose to read, but I know Rebecca and I won a copy in a contest, so I gave it a read on a slow Sunday afternoon. I would have liked to see more of a relationship developing over time between Caitlyn and Travis. I felt like it moved too fast, especially after the way she'd been hurt by her previous fiancé. I wasn't fully convinced by some of the other characters.

The plotting and pacing were fine, although, as I said, I felt the romance developed to quickly with little depth to base it on. Dialog was good. Ending was good. Nothing spectacular but it was good. To truly make me love this book, Travis' ex-girlfriend would have had to be a psycho killer who kidnapped Caitlyn and tortured her and... oh wait. Wrong genre. (Sorry)

But for what it is—a light romance—it was okay, a fun afternoon of reading escape—and it didn't make me feel like I had to wash my brain out with soap when I was done. Fine for teens of all ages. Nothing that will embarrass you if your mother reads it.

If you like light clean romance, you'll like this book.


Plot:

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Cover: I thought it was great!



Content Ratings

Language:

Violence:

Drugs/Alcohol:

Immorality:

Values/Themes:

Age Appropriate: Nothing in here I wouldn't let 12+ year olds read.

Writing Mechanics: A few little glitches, but not bad.


© 2010 It's a Book Affair

Summer in Paris by Michele Ashman Bell

Summer in Paris
by Michele Ashman Bell

Young Adult Romantic Suspense
210 pages, 6x9", softcover
Target reader: 14+

Valor Publishing Group
978-1-935546-17-7
Release Date: March 16, 2010



(see review)

From the publisher:

Kenzie Williams feels like she has it all; wealth, friends, popularity and talent. But when her father tells her that he has declared bankruptcy, her whole world in New York City turns upside down. Her parents' solution while they sort through their financial and marital problems is to send Kenzie to live with her relatives in Paris . . . Idaho!

Feeling like she's been sentenced to three months in Hickville Prison, Kenzie arrives in Idaho feeling like a square peg, with name brand clothes, in a round, horribly podunk, hole.

Leaving everything she loves behind, Kenzie is forced to get up at the crack of dawn, do chores, and hang out with her cousin's loser friends. She feels like she's about to die until she meets Adam White, the town outcast, whose been accused of killing his best friend and is being blamed for some trouble that's been happening around town.

Not only is Adam the best-looking guy she's ever seen, but he's also the most fascinating guy she's ever met and Kenzie is determined to get to know him and find out his secret. But, the longer she stays in Paris, the more she realizes, Adam isn't the only one keeping secrets.

This is a great book for girls, ages 12 to 16. If you like non-fantasy YA, you will like really this one—especially ifyou liked that "Miley Cyrus goes back to her roots on the farm" movie. There's some suspense, some mystery, a little bit of clean romance. I liked the messages on being true to what you know is right, avoiding prejudice, and valuing the simple things in life. They came through clearly but weren't preachy.

This is not a cross-over to adult book, which is why it's only getting 3 stars from me—because I'm an adult. I felt the plot was a little predictable and things worked out a little too easily in the end.

BUT I think teen girls will give it 4 or 5 stars. If I had teen girls on my Christmas list, I'd consider giving it to them as a gift. The first group of stars below are what I, as an adult reader, give the book (and I think most adults would agree with me); the second group of stars is what I think most teen girls would give the book.


Plot: /

Characters: /

Ending: /

Cover: This cover really doesn't appeal to me. I showed it to a few teen girls and their comments were along the lines of "What's up with her eyes?"



Content Ratings

Language:

Violence: There's no "on-screen" violence; there is some arson and references to deaths. There's a scene where a character is caught in a flash flood but it ends up okay.

Drugs/Alcohol: Some of the teens drink, but then have to face the consequences.

Immorality:

Values/Themes: Family is important; trust that inner voice that tells you something is wrong; be true to yourself.

Age Appropriate:

Writing Mechanics: A few glitches, but not too bad.


© 2010 It's a Book Affair

Hush, Hush

Hush, Hush
by Author: Becca Fitzpatrick

YA Paranormal Fantasy
400 pages, Hardcover
Target reader: 14+

Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
978-1416989417
Release Date: October 13, 2009



From the publisher:

For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch came along.

With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment.

But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure who to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.

For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life.

Read excerpt.

**NOTE: Some spoilers contained in this review.**

I heard so much about this book that I was really looking forward to reading it. While it was okay—basic plot is good and has potential, characters are okay, idea of fallen angels and nephilim is intriguing—it's not going on my all-time favorites list.

One complaint I have is that the book is uneven, inconsistent. Sometimes the plot is really good, sometimes it's predictable, sometimes confusing. Sometimes the pacing is good; sometimes it's too slow. Sometimes the characters are great; sometimes they're flat. There's some violence. I guess when you're dealing with fallen angels, you get that. There is also way too much sexual innuendo for my comfort.

Another complaint is the romantic relationship is so one-sided. Patch is mean, dangerous, and doesn't have Nora's best interests at heart. In fact, he tries to kill her more than once. And Nora knows it! Or at least, she's pretty sure about it. Patch is constantly rude to Nora, pushing her away—but every once in awhile, he gives her a little crumb of positive attention and she is such an idiot that she falls for it. And falls for him. Even though she is afraid of him. What is wrong with her?!?

But my biggest complaint is that it just is unbelievable in too many places. For example (there will be some spoilers):

• Nora takes iron pills when she's stressed and they work immediately to de-stress her. Really? Iron pills do that? Why haven't we heard of that before?
  
  
• The high school science teacher does a sex ed class, using students as examples. Totally inappropriate. He'd be fired—or worse.
  
  
• Nora is caught in the records office by the principal. She gives him a really lame excuse for being there and he buys it. No consequences. Seriously?
  
  
• Nora, who is portrayed as ultra-responsible, leaves her best friend at an amusement park with two guys they barely know so she can be with Patch. Who would do that?
  
  
• Nora calls her purse a handbag. My grandma calls her purse a handbag, but I don't know any 16 year old that would.
  
  
• Nora always keeps her cell phone in her pocket. Always. But when she needs to be caught without resources in the story line, she has conveniently left it in the car. Don't buy it.
  
  
• The previous school psychiatrist is calle DR. Hendrickson; the new one is MISS Greene. What? And she doesn't act like a psychiatrist at all, offering Nora orange juice, shaking her hand, offering up her back story with very little prompting.
  
  
• Nora lives out in the middle of nowhere, with the nearest house a mile away. Yet her mother regularly leaves her alone for weeks when she travels for work. No. No good mother would do that.

And there was so much more that just fell short of my willing suspension of disbelief. Clueless adults. Stupid girls. Unlikeable heroes. And yet...

Now that I've picked the book apart, I do have to say that the parts that were good, were good. This is my first book about fallen angels and nephilim, so that's a new idea for me. It was actually kind of fun to think about.

Nora and Patch have that same doomed, yet irresistible attraction that is so popular in the current paranormal fantasies. (Think Twilight.) I mostly like Nora, despite her idiocy at times. And when Patch isn't acting like a jerk, I like him. But I don't think Nora and Patch will replace Bella and Edward in the hearts of YA paranormal romance lovers.

Some parts of the plot were very good. There were some unexpected twists. It wasn't completely obvious who the bad boy was, or who Miss Greene would turn out to be. That was good. Also, it was a very easy read. Despite it's unbelievable parts, it was easy to get lost in the story. I also found the ending very intriguing and loaded with potential, and yes, I will be reading the next one in the series.

Plot:

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Cover: Awesome cover!


Content Ratings

Language: Some light swearing; some sexual innuendo.

Violence: Murder, attempted murder. Masked men break in and terrorize teenage girls. There's a whole crazy demon scene at the end that's pretty violent.

Drugs/Alcohol: Trying to remember on this...I think there's some underage drinking.

Immorality: Begins with implied out-of-wedlock relationship; sex jokes and innuendo; steamy kissing scenes.

Values/Themes: This is another one of those books where the girl goes for the bad boy with no obvious redeeming characteristics because she feels like she knows him. This is stupid and dangerous behavior.

Age Appropriate: I'd say 16 or older.

Writing Mechanics: My editing fingers were really itching on this one.


© 2010 It's a Book Affair

Illuminations of the Heart by Joyce DiPastena

Illuminations of the Heart
by Joyce DiPastena

Historical Romance
425 pages, softcover
Target Reader: Adult

Walnut Springs Press
978-1935217268
Release Date: June 22, 2009



From the Publisher:

Her heart is lost in that first embrace, her world shaken to its foundations. There is just one problem: her name is not Clothilde. It is Siriol de Calendri.

Trained in the art of illumination in the far-off city of Venice, she is directed by her late brother's will to the county of Poitou in France, where she enters the guardianship of her brother's friend, Sir Triston de Brielle. Once in Poitou, Siri hopes to find employment in an illuminator's shop—until Triston unexpectedly snatches her heart away with a kiss.

Triston is a man of quiet honor and courage, but the guilt he carries for the death of his late wife, Clothilde, has left him numb and hesitant to love again. Worse yet, Siri bears an uncanny resemblance to his lost love. Or does she? Her merry laughter and twinkling eyes are very different from his late wife's shy smiles and quiet ways. Yet when he gazes into Siri's face, all he sees is Clothilde.

Then Triston's past returns to threaten them both. Will his tragic life with Clothilde be repeated with Siri? Trapped between the rivalry of the king's sons on the one hand and a neighbor out for vengeance on the other, Triston realizes it would be safer to send Siri away. But how can he bear to lose her again?

Siri is determined not to be cast off and not to live in another woman's shadow. She has illuminated many a priceless book with pen and paint. But can her own vibrant spirit illuminate the darkness in Triston's soul and make his heart beat for her alone?

I first met Joyce DiPastena when her book, Loyalty's Web, was up for a Whitney Award in 2007. I like to read all the Whitney Finalists, and I thoroughly enjoyed Loyalty's Web—even though it was a romance. Medieval romances don't bother me as much as modern-day romances. In fact, I kind of like them.

So when Joyce asked if I'd like review her newest book, Illuminations of the Heart, I jumped at it. I started reading it as soon as it arrived from her publisher, Walnut Springs Press.

This is one hefty book. At 425 pages, it's a longer read than I usually enjoy in a romance, and sometimes I thought the personal issues could have been resolved a little faster, but overall, I hardly noticed the length of the book because I was caught up in the story line and the historical aspects.

For me to really recommend a historical romance like Illuminations, it absolutely must meet certain criteria:

• A believable, self-assured, strong-spirited heroine, who is likely to take matters into her own hands—Siri definitely fits the bill.
  
  
• A hero/love interest that is compelling for reasons other than his good looks—it took a while for me to warm up to Triston, but he won me over.
  
  
• A plot line that is more than just falling in love—there's some mystery, mistaken identity, some politics. Plenty more than just two people trying to get together.
  
  
• Well-written, well-researched and historically accurate—this was amazing. I felt like I was actually there.
  
• Some twists and turns that I didn't see coming—I'm not going to tell you what they were because that would ruin the fun. But it was great to be surprised.
  
  
• I must get lost in the story and forget what time it is in my real-life—uhm, yes. I was late for a doctor's appointment because of this book.
  
  
• Clean—no details from the bedroom—I could recommend this to my mother and my daughters with no hesitation.

Illuminations of the Heart met all my criteria—and more. I give it a 4 out of 5 for a romance.


Plot:

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Ending:

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Content Ratings

Language:

Violence: Some threatening situations but not much violence.

Drugs/Alcohol:

Immorality:

Values/Themes:

Age Appropriate:

Writing Mechanics:

*I received a review copy from the publisher.


© 2010 It's a Book Affair