Matriarch by Shauna Kelley (5 stars)

About Matriarch
Vetala Chronicles, Book 2

(from Goodreads)

Lenora Scheid finally seemed to have built a life for herself. After more than a century of traveling the earth to visit scenes of the dead and dying, life was finally beginning… 

At long last, she discovered that she was Vetala, a member of a secret race of not-exactly-vampires but not-quite humans. She saved Michael, her naliyah and soul mate, from her father, a man bent on the destruction of humanity. She reunited with her mother, a woman she hadn't seen in more than a century. 

But Lenora’s idyllic peace lasts only a moment as she realizes that her time with Michael has left him fighting for his life. To save him, she must square off against her father and the Matriarch, an ancient organizations that rules over her kind. The quest to save Michael seems to uncover more secrets than answers. 

With her mother and some new friends by her side, Lenora learns more about what it means to be Vetala, and what it is going to take to save her family, and humanity, from the man who raised her. 

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Review

Poor Lenora. After everything she went through in book one (see link to my review below), her life only gets more complicated. She must determine who to trust, and nothing is simple. Even her love for Michael, her naliyah and soul mate.

In a race to save Michael's life, she must travel the world and ultimately face her father. Just as important, she must figure out who's telling the truth... or at least, which truth will save them.

LOVE this book. Too many times, a second book is filler in a series, or worse, a letdown. This is neither. Instead, it's a fast-paced, series-building, didn't-see-it-coming adventure. But it's not just action. There's a lot of emotion and mind-play. Lenora is torn in so many directions, especially with Michael. During one highly emotional scene between the two loves, I cried from the raw intensity of it. 

Most of all, I love Lenora as a character. She's determined, yet has a huge heart. Sometimes the heroine is strong until it comes to a relationship, and then she's a big pile of goo. Not Lenora. She loves intensely, but she's not going to do it one-sided. And I adore that about her.

Plus, this series is a truly unique paranormal story with a memorable character you'll love to root for. I highly recommend!

Rating: 5 stars

Check out my 5-star review of Book 1, Naliyah, here.

About the Author
(from Amazon Author Central)

Shauna Kelley lives near Baltimore, Maryland with her husband and beloved mutts. Dedicated aunt, adventurous baker, and action movie fanatic, she spends her days writing, teaching, and crocheting.

Kelley's first novel, Max and Menna, was a ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Award finalist for Young Adult Fiction in 2010. Naliyah is her third novel.

Kelley delights in the opportunity to interact with readers. Find her online at her blog or on Facebook.

Note: I was a beta reader for this novel (lucky me!). A positive review was not requested or guaranteed; the opinions expressed are my own.

Naliyah by Shauna Kelley (5 stars)

About Naliyah
(from Goodreads)

Lenora Scheid can tell you much of human nature. After more than a century of traveling from warzone to warzone, she has experienced more than she can handle of mankind’s thirst for blood and power…she cannot, however, tell you what she is.

Not exactly human, but not precisely vampire either, Lenora’s whole life has been spent under the watchful eye of her father. With only her dreams of a mysterious blue‐eyed man as company, she has little choice but to follow her father across the world despite his refusal to help her understand her true nature.

As Lenora reaches the end of her tolerance with their life of travel and death, she comes face to face with her blue‐eyed man and everything changes. Can this man save her from a life of brutality? Or will the secrets kept from her for so long destroy them both?

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Review

Lenora Scheid has spent most of her life on the move and struggling to remember details. Her father isn't much help, and they seem to up and move every time she gets close to figuring out who--or what--she is.

Still, he's all she's every had, and she has to trust him. Then, she makes a friend. Someone who wants Lenora to break free. But Lenora's attempts at a life lead to tragedy. In answer, her father uproots them again. Finally, she crosses paths with a man she's known only in her dreams. Are the answers she craves far behind? Will she be able to live with what she learns.

I love Shauna Kelley's work! She crafts amazing characters with deep flaws but great strength. 

Lenora is one of those great characters. She is more mature than a normal young person, thanks to life events and extenuating circumstances, but she clutches to youthful beliefs--like trusting her father and following him past her own gut. Yet, she grows and begins to question. When faced with uncertain influences on her journey to answers, she continues to become stronger--putting more emphasis on her gut than her past. 

And she's not the only great character. There are several, including her father, who were captivating, but I could never quite decide whose side they were on. Was the father protecting her or using her for his own purposes? What about the blue-eyed man? Since this is the first book in a series, I was left with more questions than answers, but I couldn't put it down.

Plus, the spin on what Lenora is really appealed to me. Her gifts are unlike any I've ever read before, and I'm quite intrigued to see where this story goes.

Highly imaginative, captivating, and rich in characters and story. A must read!

Ratings: 5 stars

Please check out my reviews of two of Shauna Kelley's other books: Don't Wake Up and Max and Menna.

About the Author
(from Amazon Author Central)

Shauna Kelley lives near Baltimore, Maryland with her husband and beloved mutts. Dedicated aunt, adventurous baker, and action movie fanatic, she spends her days writing, teaching, and crocheting.

Kelley's first novel, Max and Menna, was a ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Award finalist for Young Adult Fiction in 2010. Naliyah is her third novel.

Kelley delights in the opportunity to interact with readers. Find her online at her blog or on Facebook.

Note: I was a beta reader for this novel (lucky me!). A positive review was not requested or guaranteed; the opinions expressed are my own.

2013 TBR (To Be Read) Pile Challenge

This 2013 To Be Read Pile Challenge comes from Adam at Roof Beam Reader. 

I tried this challenge last year, and just let myself get way too far behind. So it's time to take it on and complete it!

Here are the basic rules: 

1. Each of these 12 books must have been on your bookshelf or “To Be Read” list for AT LEAST one full year. This means the book cannot have a publication date of 1/1/2012 or later (any book published in the year 2011 or earlier qualifies, as long as it has been on your TBR pile – I WILL be checking publication dates). Caveat: Two (2) alternates are allowed, just in case one or two of the books end up in the “can’t get through” pile. 

2.  To be eligible, you must sign-up with Mr. Linky at Adam's website (done!) – link to your list and add updated links to each book’s review.  Every listed book must be completed and must be reviewed (doesn’t have to be too fancy) in order to count as completed.

3.  The link you post in the Mr. Linky below must be to your “master list” (see mine below).  This is where you will keep track of your books completed, crossing them out and/or dating them as you go along, and updating the list with the links to each review (so there’s one easy, convenient way to find your list and all your reviews for the challenge).  See THIS LINK for an idea of what I mean.  Your list must be completed by December 31st, 2012.

4. Leave comments on this post as you go along, to update us on your status. Come back here if/when you complete this challenge and leave a comment indicating that you CONQUERED YOUR 2013 TBR LIST!  Every person who successfully reads his/her 12 books and/or alternates (and who provides a working link to their list, which has links to the review locations) will be entered to win a $50 gift card from Amazon.com or The Book Depository!

5. Crossovers from other challenges are totally acceptable, as long as you have never read the book before and it was published pre-2012!

Here’s my list:
(I've included a few I never got around to last year)

1. This Year it Will be Different by Maeve Binchy
2. Little Bee by Chris Cleave
3. Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith
4. The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
5. The Passage by Justin Cronin
6. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Caro
7. Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
8. The Host by Stephanie Meyer
9. The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara
10. State of Wonder by Anne Patchett
11. The Magicians by Lev Grossman
12. Made in the USA by Billie Letts

Alternates:

1. Dead Man’s Walk by Larry McMurtry
2. Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Neale Hurston

When I review each of the above books, I'll link them to my post.

A couple of notes about my picks...

1. I've always wanted to read Binchy (she was a favorite of my book club gal, Dot Kellner, in Colorado).
2. A book I didn't get around to in last year's TBR challenge, and one that I missed reading with my Colorado book club. 
3. Can't believe I haven't read this one yet. I'll wait to rent the movie until after I read it.
4. Leftover from last year's TBR, and one I've been wanting to read (and really digest) for years.
5. Recommended by my brother-in-law, and then I went home and realized I have had it for at least a year. I understand book 2 is out, so good timing.
6. A great author friend, Shauna Kelley, recommended this to me. It's one of her favorites and one she re-reads every year.
7. Picked this up purely on the reviews. Hope it's good. It's been gathering dust, so I'm hoping this challenge will finally put it into my read pile.
8. Leftover from last year. I'm hesitant, but I want to read it before the movie.
9. Supposedly one of the best historical fiction books on the Civil War, and a leftover from last year's challenge.
10. I had a different Anne Patchett book on last year's list, but I wanted to read this one more.
11. From last year's list.
12. From last year's list, and I love Billie Letts. Shocked I didn't get around to it.

My alternates are the same as last year.

Wishing everyone a 2013 filled with great reads!

Don't Wake up, Shauna Kelley (4.5 stars)

From Amazon: Gillian has always encompassed the vast space between pretty and ugly. In fact, she is painfully aware that there is nothing remarkable about her, until her husband Ricky experiences a mysterious fall that leaves him in a comatose state. As doctors and nurses rush to assure her that Ricky will recover well, Gillian thinks of the years of cold silence and manipulation that have overshadowed their marriage.

As the coma persists, Gillian dreams of a different life, one her marriage has denied her, and hopes Ricky does not wake up. Nonetheless, his eyes open to reveal a man who claims to remember nothing of his former self. Gillian, convinced that this is only a furthering of his past cruelty, seeks to test this new Ricky. She invents a family they never had, and fills his head with stories of an imaginary life. Ricky becomes a father, and an orphan, eagerly accepting magazine-clipped photos and an urn filled with cigarette ash as evidence of his once-happy life.

But, as Ricky persists in his assertion that he remembers nothing of their real past, Gillian begins to question how far she can go in punishing a man for sins he cannot remember committed.

Review

Life is not always a Kodak moment, even though we want it to be. Gillian’s dreams have long been crushed, and she struggles to find any joy. Her husband, Ricky, is cruel and distant. When he has a devastating accident, a big part of her prays he won’t make it… that he won’t wake up.

Then he does, but without any memories of their time together. Gillian assumes this is another one of his cruel mental games, so she tests him. She makes up the life she wanted, filled with kids, love, and happy times. She even kills off his mother, a woman who has only added to Gillian’s years of misery.

Gillian’s struggles and losses broke my heart. She lost her child, her sister, her parents, and her marriage, but I ultimately found myself wondering… was Ricky really as bad as she remembered, or did Gillian's grief cloud everything? Did Ricky and Gillian just lose their way, or is Ricky truly heartless and cruel?

I'm sure some readers will have a difficult time with the uncertainty of the ending and general sadness of the novel, but I found it compelling, raw, and intensely honest. I love character-driven pieces, especially ones that I think about long after the last page.  

Thought-provoking and intense, Don’t Wake Up shows the slow decline of relationships under the stress of dishonesty and miscommunication. A line from the book keeps echoing in my head, “Sometimes, when something is broken, it simply can’t be fixed.” Too often, determining if it’s truly broken is intense and uncertain.

I highly recommend this book to readers who appreciate flawed characters who are finding their way and real life endings.

Rating: 4.5 stars
But worthy of a round-up to 5 for GoodReads and Amazon.

Check out my review of Shauna Kelley’s previous novel, Max and Menna here. For more information about the author, please visit her blog.

Note: I received a complimentary copy for review purposes. A positive review was not requested or guaranteed; the opinions expressed are my own.

Loving Short Stories: Friday Finds

What great books did you hear about/discover this past week? Share with us your FRIDAY FINDS!


Every Friday, Should be Reading invites readers to share their favorite finds of the last week.

I am so excited about this week's find (although technically it was just at the end of last week, but I had scheduled posts to run and family fun to enjoy). There's little better than hearing about a new work from a favorite author.

I was thrilled to see Shauna Kelley's announcement on Facebook that she just published a collection of short fiction, Listening In and Other Stories.

From Amazon: A sick girl lives her life by listening in to her family beneath her. An alcoholic is haunted by music as she mourns the death of her child. A newly dead woman speaks of her demise, and shares a glimpse of what heaven must be like.

Shauna Kelley, author of Max and Menna, a Foreword Book of the Year Award finalist, brings these and more stories to life in her first collection of short fiction. From the mentally ill to the destitute to a sort-of prostitute, these stories shed light into the lives and minds of an unusual batch of characters, battling the situations life has thrust them into.

With her usual candor and eloquence, Kelley offers you seven tales of seven people trying to find a home, a life, and a place.

Shauna's debut novel, Max and Menna, was a heartbreaking and gritty tale about alcohol and growing up. The characters stay with me and have for months. I don't know a better compliment to give a work of fiction. My full review can be found on Rebeccas Reads.

I have no doubt her newest work will be equally as intriguing. I look forward to reading and reviewing it.

What did you stumble across this first Friday of 2012?

Best Book I've Read this Year: Day One in a 30 Day Book Meme

Last week I posted about a 30 Day Book Meme. There are 30 days of questions, and I'll try to answer one a week, if not more often.

Day One: The Best Book You Read Last Year

That's so hard! I have a list of my favorite books on the sidebar, but I haven't updated them in awhile. This past year has been a stellar reading year! Not only did I read some wonderful bestsellers, I found some excellent gems in smaller books.

My five star reviews for 2011 (in random order):

1. Max and Menna, Shauna Kelley
2. Valhalla, Jennifer Willis
3. Art of Racing in the Rain, Garth Stein
4. Turning Point, Melissa Luznicky Garrett
5. Come Back to Me, Melissa Foster
6. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Rebecca Skloot
7. Emeralds Never Fade, Stephen Maitland-Lewis
8. Call Me When You Land, Michael Schiavone

I loved each of these books for different reasons and they span genres. I look forward to reading more books in 2012 and adding to my 5-star list.

What is your top favorite 2011 book?

You Should be Reading Indies! New Blog Focus Announced

This blog is about to get the love and attention it deserves thanks to my newfound focus and dedication. To read more about my goals, please visit today's Depression Cookies blog post.

I recently stumbled upon a great site: Should be Reading. It's dedicated to books and book lovers. Every day has a theme and some book-related blog fun. The perfect find to inspire me to get this blog pumping.

My plan for the rest of 2011 is to review 3-4 books per month, minimum. Ultimately, I'd like to review a book every few days. Baby steps... In addition, I will post here three times per week. Again, hoping for more, but I have to start somewhere. Wish me luck!

What are you most excited about reading, right now? (can be a book you’re currently enjoying, or a book that’s yet to be published, etc.)

Honestly, I am excited to read more independent and small press published books. I enjoy finding hidden gems. My own independent journey has led me to some wonderful books and authors I wouldn't have found any other way. It's a shame so many well-written and thought-provoking books don't have the publishing industry dollars behind them. I hope my two little blogs will provide some exposure for the best of the independent books.

I love when Oprah puts out her top reads for the month or encourages readers to pick up a book she's enjoyed, but who shows love to the little guys/gals? The publishing industry is changing, thanks in large part to the eBook industry, and it's time we all took responsibility for finding good reads and not just read what Amazon or some other business pushes on us.

I will always read some traditionally published books as well. The Help, one of my favorite books in the last year, was turned down by multiple agents before it was published. Would it have been less entertaining as an independently published book? No. Would it have been discovered? Depends.

After fulfilling my review obligations for Rebeccas Reads, my next three books will be:


* Precipice, Melissa Luznicky Garrett
Her new book, Turning Point, is also on my list. I will be featuring some information about this book throughout October here and on my Depression Cookies blog, so stay tuned! Find out more about Melissa and her books at her blog, Someday, When I'm Famous.


* Megan's Way, Melissa Foster
I also have Chasing Amanda and Come Back to Me waiting in the wings. Come Back to Me will debut November 1, 2011. Again, stay tuned here and on my Depression Cookies blog for more information in the coming months. Find out more about Melissa and her books at her website.


* A Blue so Dark, Holly Schindler
Recommended by Shauna Kelly. Shauna's novel, Max and Menna, was one of my favorite reads this year, and an indie. More details in this earlier post. Find out more about Holly and her books at her website.

Look for reviews of these books soon.

Please take a chance on indie books. Be the first of your friends to recommend that diamond in the rough.

Please pass your suggestions on to me as well. I'll make sure and credit you for the find when I do the review.

Happy reading!

Call Me When You Land, Michael Schiavone (5 stars)

A great book, and I reserve 5 stars for truly exceptional pieces.

I've highlighted this book on my Depression Cookies blog twice: Friday Feature: Favorite Thing I Read This Week and Why 7/22/11 and Reading and Writing Go Hand in Hand.

A quick recap of my 7/22/11 post:

Call Me When You Land is a heartbreaking look into a family overcome by addicition. Katie loves her son, fifteen-year-old C.J., but she stuggles against poor choices, bad breaks, and self-destruction.

Reading this book was a lesson in character development. Shiavone exposed the characters in a slow-motion build, like watching an X-ray slowly come into focus. My heart was heavy, but I had hope and a strong desire to see this mom and child make it. The book is scheduled for a November 2011 release, please check it out.

My full review can be found at Rebecca's Reads.

Note: this book is at times gritty. If you are looking for light or breezy, this isn't the book for you. It's a no-nonsense book about addiction and its devastating effects on a family. For another great book with a similar theme, check out Shauna Kelley's Max and Menna (you can also read my take here).

If you've read this or any book I've reviewed, please leave a comment. I'd love to hear what you think.

Max and Menna, Shauna Kelley... wonderful, wonderful, wonderful

Few things make me happier than a good book. This book made me VERY happy. Please check out http://www.rebeccasreads.com/ for my full review (should be up soon).

I need to create a new rating system . . . I am considering having the following:

Don't waste your time

Borrow from a friend

Walk, don't run to the bookstore

Skip happily to the bookstore

Run as fast as you can to buy (or Click as fast as you can)

Max and Menna warrants a very fast RUN!