Kathy's (kmartin802's) First 2015 Thread

Looking forward to a great 2015 filled with marvelous books.

So, here's how 2014 went.

I read 296 books with a total of 99,731 pages.
I added 621 books to my LibraryThing account.
344 of books added this year are, as yet, unread.
I read 203 books that I received for review and 93 off my TBR mountain.

Welcome back!

Happy New Year, Kathy!

1. Since You've Been Gone by Mary Jennifer Payne (224 p.) -- Edie and her mother have been on the run from her abusive father for 5 years. The have just landed in London, England, where Edie has to get used to a new school filled with bullying students and bullying and indifferent teachers. Her mother finds a job but disappears after her first shift. Edie tries to find her without going to the police because she's afraid they'll send her back to her father. She has the help of a fellow student who has an undeserved, bad reputation among the students and teachers. She and Jermaine try to retrace her mother's steps. There is no happy ending but Edie does realized that she is stronger than she thought.

2. Rule Breaker by Lora Leigh (448 p.) -- Intensely erotic story. Gypsy was kidnapped, abused, almost raped, and watched her brother die when she was 15. She feels intensely guilty and has been abandoned by her parents. To give her life meaning, she works undercover to aid the Unknowns who are helping Breeds. Rule is a lion breed who is determined not to give in to the mating heat. However, he was there when Gypsy was rescued and has been watching over her covertly ever since. Now they need to work together and the attraction can no longer be denied. Some long running questions are answered in this one: what is going on with baby Amber? is the main one.

3. I'll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios (400 p.) -- Amazing contemporary story about Sky Evans who is eager to get out of her dead-end town to attend college in San Francisco. Everything she's done has been working toward that goal. But her plans are nearly derailed when her mother loses her job and starts drinking again. Sky has been taking care of her since her father died when she was 12 and doesn't know how she'll be able to leave her. Then Josh Mitchell comes back to town, without a leg, from his tour of Afghanistan. Josh is dealing with guilt, post-traumatic stress, and his new disability. Sky and Josh get much closer than they ever were and now maybe love will keep her from leaving. Excellent story!

4. Dreaming Spies by Laurie R. King (352 p.) -- Another lovely adventure for Mary and Sherlock. This time they are assisting Crown Prince Hirohito recover a book that he mistakenly gave the King of England. They need to deal with blackmailers and forgers and ninjas. I enjoyed this look at Japan and at Oxford.

5. Bite Me by Shelly Laurenston (375 p.) -- Fun paranormal about the romance of a honey badger and a bear/Siberian tiger hybrid. Livy is a photographer and different from her thieving family but she calls them in when she learns that her father was hunted, stuffed, and mounted. Vic is also looking for the leader of the group that hunts shifters. Lots of characters from earlier books make appearances here as Blayne and Bo's wedding takes place in this story. This was lots of fun.

6. Mars Evacuees by Sophia McDougall (416 p.) -- A group of kids, evacuated to Mars to get them away from invading aliens, have all sorts of adventures. Alice Dare's mother is a famous pilot; Josephine is a genius; and Carl and Neil are chosen by lottery to attend. When the adults disappear, they decide to make their way to the nearest base in hopes of finding help. What they find is a crashed alien ship with a young survivor. They learn that the aliens are on the run from another species that has followed them to our solar system. The kids have to be rescued so that they can bring the word back to Earth and both humans and aliens will have to work together to defeat the greater enemy. Lots of adventure, danger, and excitement.

7. Trust No One by Jayne Ann Krentz (338 p.) -- Grace Elland discovers her boss's body and then finds herself mired in a story with revenge, embezzlement, and murder. Assisting her is a guy she met on a blind date. Julius Arkwright is a very successful venture capitalist who is bored because it is all too easy. Things get really interesting when he gets involved in Grace's problems.

8. Closer to Home by Mercedes Lackey (361 p.) -- Mags and Amily are back in Haven where Amily becomes King's Own but Nikolas doesn't die. He almost drowns which breaks the bond with Rolan but he's revived by Mags and then Chosen again by another companion. Mags is busy developing his spy network from among the many poor orphans in Haven. Amily is busy trying to keep a family feud between two high class families from exploding into violence. There's a Romeo and Juliet vibe as the youngest daughter of one the feuding families falls for the son of the other.

9. Better Than Perfect by Melissa Kantor (336 p.) -- Juliet's perfect life crumbles when her father leaves and her mother overdoses on prescription drugs. With her mother in a psychiatric hospital, Juliet pushes herself even harder to be perfect herself - to work hard and get into Harvard with her perfect boyfriend. But meeting a new boy who has a band and being invited to join the band herself starts her thinking about what is really perfect for her. Great story with engaging characters.

10. Stone in the Sky by Cecil Castellucci (320 p.) -- Sequel to TIN STAR. Tula is making a life for herself on Yertina Feray when a rare plant is discovered on Quint which results in a boom for the planet and attracts the attention of the Imperium. Representing the Imperium is her old enemy Brother Blue who wants her dead. She is smuggled of the station and wanders the galaxy searching for her old friend Caleb. She finds and gets to know groups of humans called the Wanderers. She finds Caleb who has become a pirate. They go back to Quint to try to make a life but have to deal with Brother Blue and galactic politics before they can. Tula is also torn between her love for the alien Tournour and the human Reza. She has to decide what she wants for her future after the revenge she has been living on is finally taken.

11. No Parking at the End Times by Bryan Bliss (272 p.) -- Abigail's father packed up the family, sold everything, and took them all to San Francisco because a charismatic preacher said the world was going to end. But it didn't end and now Abigail, her Mom, her Dad and her twin Aaron are living in the van ans eating at church charity kitchens. Their father's faith is still strong but Aaron's is gone and Abigail's is wavering. The final straw for Abigail happens when her dad gives the last of his money to the preacher, the van is towed, Aaron runs away and her parents don't do anything but pray. Abigail runs away to find her brother and wants to go back home to be with their uncle. Lots of discussion points her about faith vs. fanaticism.

12. The Secret Cipher by Whitaker Ringwald (256 p.) -- Jax, Ethan and Tyler get sucked into another adventure when they find out that there were three urns stolen. They recovered the urn of hope and returned it to their great-aunt but now they have to find the urn of love and the urn of faith before they are used by a super-villain to conquer the world. They are helped by the girl the urns were made for who has been living in the realm of the gods. Exciting adventure but major cliffhanger ending.

13. Shadow Study by Maria V. Snyder (384 p.) -- Yelena and Valek story. Yelena loses her magic and has to try to find out why and find out if she can get it back. An old enemy escapes from prison and _targets her which the Council knew and didn't tell her. Meanwhile, Valek is dealing with a Commander who doesn't seem to trust him and who is keeping secrets from him. Both of them are wondering if they can trust the authorities that they have loyally served for years. Valek also is being pressed by a new young assassin who wants his job.

14. Vampires Never Cry Wolf by Sara Humphreys (320 p.) -- Somewhat lackluster paranormal romance that had pacing issues for me. All the action, romance, twists and turns were packed into the last third of the book. Sadie is a vampire; Killian is a werewolf. The two species signed a peace treaty some years ago but neither side wants to interact with the other. Sadie and Killian fall in love which causes all sorts of problems.

15. The Memory Key by Liana Liu (368 p.) -- Science fiction story about Lora whose memory key malfunctions which raises questions about her mother's death five years earlier. It is the standard "evil corporation doing anything to protect the bottom line" story with a few twists. The pace is fast and the main character is very well-developed.

16. The Grendel Affair by Lisa Shearin (292 p.) -- Fun urban fantasy. Makenna is new on the job. She has a unique skill; she is a seer who can see through any magical disguise. Her skill comes in handy when a villain finds a way to mask henchmen from detection. The villain's goal is to out the supernaturals so that they can take their rightful place at the apex of civilization. I like the growing relationship between Makenna and her partner Ian. I like Makenna's quirky viewpoint.

17. How to Win at High School by Owen Matthews (528 p.) -- With chapters only a page long at the longest, we see Adam Higgs go from high school loser to high school god and back to a more average position. He begins his quest to own his high school with a homework business, branches into booze and fake IDs, before beginning to sell drugs. He climbs but crashes when his house of cards falls apart. Along the way he finds and loses a girlfriend and wrecks his relationship with his older brother. It was fascinating reading akin to watching a train wreck.

18. Cursed Moon by Jeye Wells (370 p.) -- Second Kate Prospero book was excellent addition to the series. The characters are all complex and interesting. This time a Raven has come to Babylon, stolen powerful potions from powerful covens, and plans to create chaos on Halloween which will be the night of the Blue Moon. Kate has to deal with lots of things from her past and her guilt over her actions in the first book as she hunts down the Raven.

19. The Winner's Crime by Marie Rutkoski (401 p.) -- Middle book in trilogy is filled with plots. Kestrel has agreed to marry the Emperor's son in exchange for the freedom of the man she loves. She has lied to him because she knows he won't accept her sacrifice. But it is hard to keep up the lies when he comes to her engagement ball. Kestrel also gets involved in spying on the emperor. There are ample opportunities for Kestrel and Arin to hurt each other and they take every one. Arin also finds an ally for his country and Kestrel discovers that the emperor has no intention of letting Arin's country be. Cliffhanger ending.

20. Trace of Magic by Diana Pharaoh Francis (303 p.) -- Riley has a unique magical ability and has managed to stay under the radar until Detective and Tyet-enforcer Clay Price needs her to help him with a missing person case. When her sister's boyfriend goes missing, she learns that the cases are connected. There is lots of violence, some romance, and some sex in this action-packed story. I liked the world building, magic system, and characters.

21. Bridged by Kendra Elliot (304 p.) -- Mason and Ava get involved in the case of a serial killer who is hanging bodies from bridges. Ava is also dealing with her mentally ill sister while Mason wrestles with his insecurity because of their age difference. However, despite the problems, Mason and Ava look to be building a strong relationship. The story was suspenseful and action-packed. Scenes from the killer's viewpoint added creepiness.

22. Lost Boy by Tim Green (304 p.) -- 12-year-old Ryder has to hunt down the father he has never met when his mother has a serious accident and will die without an expensive surgery. He is helped by fireman Doyle McDonald and his neighbor Mr. Starr who is wheelchair bound and has a serious progressive disease. He and Ryder have to travel to Atlanta to try to contact Ryder's father who is an Atlanta Brave. This was a great story with lots of heart and unexpected heroes.

23. Shadow Scale by Rachel Hartman (608 p.) -- Sequel to Seraphina. This epic fantasy has great characters and a well-developed world. Seraphina is half-dragon and sets off on a journey to find other half-dragons to help protect Goredd when the dragons go to war. She also runs into an old friend turned enemy who is manipulating all sides of the upcoming conflict to her own ends. Seraphina learns a lot about herself and about half-dragons in this exciting story.

24. Bound by Flames by Jeaniene Frost (390 p.) -- Third in the Night Prince series brings the conflict with Szilagi to a head. Leila is kidnapped and tortured and the videos are sent to Vlad who goes ballistic. Leila is also cursed by a necromancer and even Mencheres can't break the curse. The story is filled with action and emotional intensity and also shows two strong people fighting to build a marriage.

25. Dragon in Exile by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller (360 p.) -- 18th Liaden novel. This one is filled with changes and told from multiple viewpoints. Korval is trying to fit in on Surebleak which is suffering growing pains because of Korval's presence. Fans of the "good old days" would like to oust Korval so that they could have power again. Korval is also trying to finish off the Department of the Interior to eliminate that threat. Many characters from earlier books have roles in this one. There is just a hint of what is going on with Theo, Daav and Aelliana though Daav and Aelliana's changes are epic. We learn more about the Bedel and their culture. Great story!

26. Boys Don't Knit by T. S. Easton (265 p.) -- Funny contemporary with a quirky main character. Ben Fletcher is a worrywart with friends who get him into trouble. Their plan to steal liquor from a store leads to a bicycle accident, a knocked-over crossing guard, a damaged Porsche Cayenne, and probation for Ben. As a condition of his probation Ben has to keep a diary which tells about his life with his embarrassing parents, the school bully, and his need to keep knitting class secret from everyone - but especially his father. Turns out the Ben is a talented knitter. The story is funny and touching and Ben gains a better self-esteem and he gets the girl.

27. The Dragon Conspiracy by Lisa Shearin (304 p.) -- Mac and Ian have to find some stolen cursed gems before the villain uses them to strip the magic from all the supernaturals in the New York area. They have to fight harpies, gorgons and a dragon bent on revenge. The story was fast-paced and exciting. I really like Mac's point of view.

28. Obsession in Death by J. D. Robb (416 p.) -- Eve has to track down a killer who wants to be her new best friend and who is killing people that they believe were disrespectful of Eve. The killer thinks that she and Eve are partners in bringing justice. Eve disagrees and, when the killer believes that Eve won't be her friend, sets herself up as a _target. Eve also has protect her friends, and realizes just how many people are now in her life, because the killer wants to eliminate any who is close to her. Great story.

29. The Orphan Queen by Jodi Meadows (400 p.) -- I got the first twelve chapters from Edelweiss. They introduce Wil who should be the queen of her country except that it was conquered and her parents were killed. She is living in the land of her conquerors and surviving on the streets with her gang of other noble orphans. When she gets a chance to infiltrate the palace of her conqueror, she uses it to find out what she will need to regain her country. There is a potential love triangle in the persons of the masked Black Knife who also haunts the night protecting the city from magic users and magical creatures and the heir to the throne whom Wil knew when they were children.

>22 kmartin802: I enjoyed The Dragon Conspiracy, too! We definitely share some reading interests.

>23 kmartin802: I'm on hold for Obsession in Death, but my branch isn't getting it so I may be waiting a while.....

Oh, I am so JEALOUS! Shadow Scale and Dragon in Exile are on my pre-order lists, but not here yet.

30. First Time in Forever by Sarah Morgan (375 p.) -- Emily comes to Puffin Island with the six-year-old niece she has just met to help her hide from the paparazzi who are after her because her mother was a movie star. Emily had long since decided not to love anyone or take any responsibility for another and is struggling about how best to take care of little Lizzie. Ryan Cooper has also decided to live a care-free life. He spent too much of his childhood being parent to his younger siblings when their parents died. The two fall in love but have hard work overcoming childhood traumas.

31. Blackbird Fly by Erin Entrada Kelly (304 p.) -- Great middle grade story about Apple Yengko who came from the Philippines to Southern Louisiana when she was four. Now a middle schooler with a dream of being a singer-songwriter, she is bullied and harassed and has to learn not to pay attention to the opinions of others. She also has to deal with a mother who doesn't want her to play music and a best friend who dumps her to be part of the in-crowd. Luckily, the new boy in town helps her stand up for herself and another picked-on girl becomes a friend when they find they have music in common.

32. Demon Hunting in the Deep South by Lexi George (336 p.) -- Second book in a fun Southern urban fantasy series that plays it for laughs. Evie is the shy type who is teased by the in-crowd for being fat but Ansgar Dahlvahni, demon hunter, has fallen for her. He tries to convince her that she is perfect which trying to keep her out of jail when she is accused of killing one of her biggest tormentors. The story has demons, demonoids, and other paranormals all living in this small Southern town. It was both spicy and funny and I can't wait to read the other two books in this series.

33. Liars, Inc. by Paula Stokes (368 p.) -- Tension filled mystery. Max has two good friends - Preston DeWitt and Parvati Ames. He and Parvati are secretly dating because her parents disapprove of him. Max has had a troubled past but has been adopted by good people. The three decide to liven up their senior year by starting a business to provide alibis, excuses and forged signatures to their fellow classmates. When Preston asks Max to supply an alibi, he doesn't think twice about it. Then Preston disappears and the FBI is convinced that Max killed him. Max and Parvati are scrambling to find out what happened to Preston which leads Max to secrets both friends have been keeping from him.

34. Holding Strong by Lori Foster (480 p.) -- 2nd novel in the Ultimate series. Denver is a heavyweight MMA fighter in training for his next fight. Cherry is a nursery school aide and part of the group. She has a crush on him but he thinks she is too much of a flirt to get serious about. When Cherry's past comes back to haunt her, Denver is there to protect her from her criminal foster brothers. Along the way he finally realizes that she is the right girl for him. He's a bit of a chauvinist but she is a great character. Good romance. I especially liked the tie-ins with earlier series.

35. Solitaire by Alice Oseman (368 p.) -- This book was hard to read because I really didn't like the main character. She seemed really self-absorbed. It wasn't until I was well into the book that I realized that she was suffering from depression. Tori Spring tells the story of the blog Solitaire which begins by doing pranks at her school but the pranks escalate. It also tells about two boys in her life; one an old friend and the other someone new.

36. The Cemetery Boys by Heather Brewer (288 p.) -- Stephen and his father return to his father's home town after a series of personal disasters. They leave Stephen's mother behind in an asylum. They find the town dying and filled with people who believe that they need to make sacrifices to some mystical winged ones. Stephen meets twins Devon and Cara who believe this stuff. He hangs out with Devon in the local cemetery and starts a romance with Cara. He almost gets swept into the whole myth.

37. Teacher Beware by Charlotte Raine (288 p.) -- Told from three points of view this thriller had interesting characters, a nice, but quick, romance, and a fast pace. Grace is a school teacher making a new start after being attacked by a student. Sam is a cardiologist who has a troubled relationship with his family and a difficulty connecting to others. Deke is a troubled kid who turns to murder to help his family.

38. Thrown by Colette Auclair (322 p.) -- Nice romance with well-rounded characters. The conflict between the two of them was realistic. Grady was a very successful movie star. Amanda rides jumpers and dreams of the Olympics. After an accident that killed a friend, Amanda needed time away and took a job teaching Grady's daughters to ride.

39. Lies I Told by Michelle Zink (352 p.) -- This is the story of 17-yearr-old Grace who has spent the last 6 years of her life - since she was adopted out of a bad foster care situation - traveling the United States running cons to separate rich people from their money and valuables. Now they have come to Playa Hermosa, California to steal $20 million in gold bars. But things get complicated when she falls for the boy she is supposed to use to get close to the family and when she comes to like the people her family is planning to steal from. She has to decide whether to stick with her family or stick with her new love. The ending left lots of questions for me.

40. The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things by Ann Aguirre (336 p.) -- Wonderful first romance between two kids who are overcoming terrible pasts. Sage is orphaned and living with her aunt; Shane has been physically and emotionally abandoned by his father after nursing his mother while she died of cancer. Both have anger issues. Sage tries to bury her angry self with a positive attitude and involvement in lots of environmental causes. Shane uses music. Both run afoul of the school bully who has anger issues of his own. This was a wonderful story about building new lives.

41. Echoes by Laura K. Curtis (300 p.) -- Nice romantic suspense title. Callie comes to St. Martin's to uncover the mystery of her her past and encounter Mac Brody who is suspicious of her because she resembles his missing wife who he was divorcing. This one has a villain who is crazy and gun runners as the villains. Both Mac and Callie are interesting people and the romance is realistic.

42. Skandal by Lindsay Smith (336 p.)-- Yulia and Valentin have escaped to the United States but all is not well. They are working for a CIA that doesn't trust them and Rostkov is still pursuing his goals against the United States. Yulia is getting to know her father again and he seems greatly changed. She is also trying to help Valentin with his psychic power while getting a handle on her own. The 1964 setting really shines in this thriller.

43. The Mystery Writers of America Cookbook edited by Kate White (174 p.) -- A cookbook with recipes contributed by many of the members of the Mystery Writers of America. The recipes range from the simple to the remarkably complex. They also range from appetizers to after dinner drinks and all things in between. Many sounded good. I liked the introduction to each recipe done by the writer who tied the recipe to their characters or who gave a glimpse into their family recipes.

44. The Paper Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg (227 p.) -- Delightful and original fantasy where Ceony becomes apprenticed to a paper magician despite her disinterest in that kind of magic. She quickly comes to like her new teacher and, when his heart is stolen by his ex-wife turned evil magician, she sets off to find it and heal him. I liked the magic and especially liked the paper dog her teacher made for her.

45. The Glass Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg (222 p.) -- Ceony finds herself in more trouble as the villains of the first book want her because of what she did in that book. Her romance with Emery seems to her to be stalled and her supervisor keeps threatening to take her away from Emery and place her with a new paper magician. This one is quite adventurous and features additional information about being a paper magician and also talks about being a glass magician. Ceony learns something that will make her life even more complicated.

46. Dream a Little Dream by Kerstin Gier (336 p.) -- First book in a new trilogy that combines lucid dreaming and mystery. Liv is a great main character being curious, brave, smart, resilient and very rational. I also liked her new boyfriend Henry and look forward to learning more of his secrets in future books. The plot which had a group of boys attempting to summon a demon was interesting and scary too.

47. The Pretty App by Katie Sise (352 p.) -- Blake Dawkins has become the school queen bee by developing a "mean girl" attitude to cover her insecurities. Her father has always told her that her only value is in her beauty. New she has a chance to compete to be the prettiest teen in the US which may allow her to further her own dream of being a television interviewer. There are lots of problems along the way including a boy she falls for who is lying to her.

48. Lion's Share by Rachel Vincent (270 p.) -- Abby and Jace have to track down hunters who are killing shifters. Abby and Jace are also attracted to each other despite obstacles like Abby's fiance and Jace's position of authority over her. Abby forces her way into Jace's enforcers to protect her secret and flouts his authority at every turn which puts him into a bad situation with the other Alphas. This story has some werecat politics and lots of romance.

49. Dear Hank Williams by Kimberly Willis Holt (220 p.) -- This was a wonderful middle grade story told entirely in letters written by 11-year-old Tate P. Ellerbee to rising star Hank Williams. Tate talks about her life and her family; her dreams and her goals; and everything else. It was heart-warming and heart-wrenching.

>34 kmartin802: I had to click through to see if you won that cookbook through Early Reviewers. Mine had not arrived before I left home, but I'm looking forward to perusing it when it does arrive.

No, I was approached directly by the publisher to see if I wanted a copy.

50. Written in Red by Anne Bishop (433 p.) -- Great Urban Fantasy story that had paranormals who were really not humans in disguise. Meg Corbyn is on the run and takes refuge in the Courtyard run by the Others. She is a cassandra sangre who is owned and controlled by someone who cuts her to trigger visions which he sells to those willing to pay. Her owners want her back and the Others want to keep her. Since some of the Others are elementals who control the weather, the confrontation takes place in a blizzard.

51. Murder of Crows by Anne Bishop (369 p.) -- 2nd in trilogy. The Controller wants Meg but he also wants to further the aims of Humans First and Last by using blood prophet blood to make two drugs which sow chaos and grind them up for meat which kills many. The Others are ready to exterminate all the humans in the Midwest if the Controller isn't found and stopped. Meg and Simon are still working on their relationship which is new and confusing for both of them. Meg's presence is also bringing more humans to the courtyard and helping the relationship between humans and Others.

52. Vision in Silver by Anne Bishop (416 p.) -- Excellent third book in a series. The Others are dealing with the blood prophets they freed from imprisonment but are struggling to find an environment where they will be happy. The Humans First and Last movement is continuing to foment unrest between the Others and the humans in Thaisia. Montgomery's daughter Lizzy escapes to him with a bear full of jewels and a diary filled with explosive secrets. Meg and Simon are working on their relationship which is complicated by their being different species.

53. Hard Knocks by Lori Foster (61 p.) -- Novella which introduces the Ultimate Fighters series. Gage and Harper are the main characters. It is a typical sort of romance; they love each other but haven't told each other. They get together at the rec center to watch Cannon's bout in Japan (where Gage should have been if he wasn't injured) and the passion overcomes them. Each confesses love for the other - HEA.

54. Lucky Break by Chloe Neill (112 p.) -- Ethan and Merit decide to vacation in Colorado to rest and revitalize after hard time in Chicago. They hadn't planned to step into the middle of a feud between shifters and vampires. Nor had they expected to solve a current murder and an ancient disappearance. Nonetheless, working together, they do both.

55. Every Last Promise by Kristin Halbrook (288 p.) -- Story is told by Kayla Martin who is returning to her small town after a summer away. She left because she was in a car accident and one of the other passengers died. The court of public opinion is calling her a murderer. She feels guilty but not because of the accident. The theme here is being torn between love of home and the need to do what is right even if it means losing that home.

56. Archie Greene and the Magician's Secret by D. D. Everest (310 p.) -- Very similar to early Harry Potter books, young orphan Archie Greene (but with a loving grandmother) receives a magical book on his twelfth birthday. Taking it to a bookshop in Oxford introduces him to a new magical world that he is a part of. Soon he discovers that he has an unusual magical talent; he's a book whisperer. Evil Greaders want to let loose the magic in the magical books and are especially eager to release the magic in the Terrible Tomes. It is up to Archie and his cousins to stop them.

57. Darkmouth #1: The Legends Begin by Shane Hegarty (416 p.) -- First in a new middle grade fantasy. Finn is in training to be the next Legend Hunter in his town, which happens to be the only one which is still having attacks by Legends. Finn doesn't want the job but his father is determined that Finn learn it. He is really inept. He knows the theory but freezes up in practice. The problem is that the Legends are planning an attack.

58. The Secrets We Keep by Trisha Leaver (293 p.) -- Ella and Madison are identical twins but they have separate lives. When Ella goes to get Maddy after she sneaks out to attend a party at her boyfriend's, they argue and are in a car accident. Maddy dies but Ella tries to take her place both because of her feelings of guilt and because she thinks her parents loved Maddy more. Trying to be someone she's not leads Ella to learn some secrets about Maddy.

59. Flirty Dancing by Jenny McLachlan (178 p.) -- Cute story about friendship and bullies. Bea Hogg is shy and picked on at school by former best friend Pearl. When the change comes to put together a dance group to compete for Starwars, Bea is not invited. But Bea's Nan arranges for her to enter the contest with another partner. Ollie is the school hottie and the object of Pearl's affections. Bea and Ollie become friends and Bea finds her courage as the two prepare for the contest.

60. Ferals by Jacob Grey (288 p.) -- In this fantasy world, Caw can talk to crows. He has been raised by them since his parents sent him away when he was five. It was the Dark Summer and the evil Spinning Man was killing ferals and wreaking havoc. Now, eight years later, some of the Spinning Man's followers have escaped from prison and are determined to get him back from the Land of the Dead. Unfortunately for Caw, he is the only one who can wield the weapon to cut the barrier between his world and the Land of the Dead. Nice beginning to a new middle grade fantasy series.

61. Deadly Spells by Jaye Wells (400 p.) -- 3rd in series has Kate trying to stop a war between the Covens and she is also working on her love life. She tries a date with Danny's mentor only to find out he is a douche. She and Morales exchange some kisses but she runs scared. And Volos is still trying to keep Kate in his life despite the fact that she hates the man he has turned out to be. This one has a Brazilian shape-shifting assassin as the villain and has all sorts of twists and turns.

62. Shadow of Doubt by P. A. DePaul (368 p.) -- 2nd in series - Cappy reunites with women he rescued from a drug cartel (and fell in love with) when she is accused of killing a senator's son. Lots of villains who want both Cappy and Michelle dead make for a twisted plot. Cappy is conflicted about having a romance with Michelle because his life is so dangerous and secret. He anguishes a little too long for me.

63. The Novice by Taran Matharu (355 p.) -- First in a fantasy series introduces Fletcher, orphan and demon summoner, who gains his first demon and goes to school to learn to summon demons and help in the war effort. There he faces prejudice from noble students and befriends other outcasts - a dwarf and an elf - while uncovering a plot to start a war with the elves and corner the firearms market currently controlled by the dwarves.

64. Drive Me Crazy by Terra Elan McVoy (288 p.) -- Two 12-year-olds travel for a week with their honeymooning grandparents. Lana is worried about her mother who has been suffering from worse and worse headaches but is covering up her worry and trying to have a good time on the trip. Carrie doesn't want to go on the trip at all. She is really involved with a group of friends who aren't good for her and is afraid that they will drop her if she is gone too long. The two spend a good part of the trip angry with each other but eventually become friends.

65. Hot Lead, Cold Iron by Ari Marmell (400 p.) -- Mick Oberon, exiled fae, is working as a PI in 1932 Chicago. When he is hired by a mob wife to find her missing daughter, he gets in trouble both with the mob and with the fae. The book has lots of magic and lots of plot twists. Told in the first person with 1930s slang.

66. The Heat of the Moment by Lauren Barnholdt (304 p.) -- One of the most annoying characters I've ever read about tells this story in tight first person. It takes place on a class trip to Florida where our MC Lyla has decided that this is the time to have sex with her boyfriend. However, she also keeps running into a new boy Beckett who she finds herself attracted to. She also finds herself rooming with her two former best friends that she thinks of as enemies because of something they did during her sophomore year.

67. Lowcountry Boneyard by Susan M. Boyer (268 p.) -- 3rd Liz Talbot mystery. She's a private investigator based in Charlotte who gets the case of finding out what happened to socialite Kent Heyward. The case has her digging up long-buried family secrets and experiences a few near-death encounters. Luckily, she has a guardian spirit in her deceased friend Colleen who manages to provide hints and warnings of upcoming danger. This was also a romance as she and her partner Nate finally resolve their conflict about where they should live.

68. Crimson Bound by Rosamund Hodge (448 p.) -- Fairy tale based fantasy with lush writing and a complex and twisty plot. Rachelle makes the wrong decision, becomes bloodborn, and tries to redeem herself by finding a long-lost sword to kill the Devourer before he turn the world into his playground. This story has friendship, love, and a character who has to make very hard choices.

69. Clockwork Heart by Dru Pagliassotti (320 p.) -- Steampunky fantasy beginning to a trilogy. Taya is an icarus who flies on metal wings acting as a courier in the city of Ondinium. She gets involved in a mystery when she rescues two members of the Exalted caste from a wireferry accident. She is torn between two brothers. Alistair is a member of the Exalted and on the ruling council. He is slick and charming and makes a play for her. His brother Cristof has abandoned his caste and works as a clockmaker in the territory of the lowest class. When Alistair is the victim of a terrorist plot, Taya and Cristof band together to solve the case. The story has lots of twists and turns and is a nice romance too.

70. The Cost of All Things by Maggie Lehrman (416 p.) -- A story told from 4 points of view about a world where magic exists and hekamists can do all sorts of spells if the person who takes the potion is willing to deal with the consequences. Ari takes a potion when her boyfriend dies which erases him from her memory but also costs her the ability to be an excellent ballerina. Kay uses a spell to make herself beautiful and another to make Ari and Diana friends who will never leave her. Win tells his story of spiraling depression and the spell that could save him but would cost him who he is. Markos was Win's best friend who is trying to understand why he died and also trying to find a place in a family that doesn't seem to have room for him. We also hear from the hekamist's daughter Echo who is willing to do anything to save her mother's life and sanity. Old secrets and old potions come to light in this twisty and tangled story.

71. Dead Heat by Patricia Briggs (336 p.) -- Charles and Anna are traveling to Arizona to buy Anna a horse for her birthday and to let Charles say goodbye to an old friend who is dying. They don't expect to find themselves in the middle of a fae plot but do when the fae _targets Charles's friend Joseph's granddaughter.

72. The Trouble with Magic by Patricia Rice (311 p.) -- Nice historical paranormal romance. Felicity can't touch anything for fear of seeing things. She is on the run from the man her father wants her to marry because she saw him see his mother fall to her death down some stairs. She's afraid he's a murderer. She runs to Scotland to try to find a book that was once in her family that has a way for her to get rid of her gift. One the way she runs into Ewen Ives who is an inventor currently facing bankruptcy because one of his inventions failed and destroyed a lot of property. They fall in love, save him from bankruptcy, and convince her father to let them get married.

73. Making Pretty by Corey Ann Haydu (368 p.) -- Montana has a summer full of changes as her father prepares to get married for the fifth time, this time to a young woman Montana thought was her best friend. Montana is also trying to reconnect with her sister and best friend who have been away at different colleges. She also begins a romance with the cute boy she has been watching across the park for the whole year. She is desperately trying to find some stability and someone who puts her first in their life. She is spectacularly needy.

Wow, just two more!

74. The Improbable Theory of Ana and Zak by Brian Katcher (336 p.) -- Slacker Zak and go-getter Ana get to know each other really well when they have to track down Ana's little brother who has decided that he'd rather spend time at a science fiction convention than at the Quiz Bowl competition they are in town for. Zak is a pro at conventions and is getting over the death of his father and his mother's remarriage. Ana is terrified of disappointing her parents and having them disown her as they did her older sister. Both grow and change in this fast-paced story which takes place in little more than 24 hours.

75. Dark Debt by Chloe Neill (368 p.) -- 11th in Chicagoland Vampires series: Ethan and Merit have two major problems - Ethan's old maker Balthasar has reappeared and would like to take everything Ethan has built and a new crime organization called The Circle has nefarious plans for the vampires of Chicago. Bathasar's strong psychic powers are triggering vampire vulnerabilities in Merit that she thought she had escaped. Mallory and Catcher are preparing to marry and Merit fears it is for expedience rather than love. Merit is her usual snarky kick-butt self.

76. The Reading Zone by Nancie Atwell (128 p.) -- Lots of good ideas for helping kids become voracious, critical readers.

Congratulations on blowing past the 75 book mark!

77. Blood on the Bayou by DJ Donaldson (250 p.) -- Second Andy/Kit mystery has them investigating a series of murders in New Orleans that look like they were done by a werewolf. Clues lead Andy back to his home town where similar crimes were done. There Kit meets a new man who helps her decision to let the old boyfriend go to Shreveport alone. Kit does some stupid things but Andy comes to her rescue. The vividly described setting was a star here.

Congrats!

78. The Fog Diver by Joel Ross (336 p.) -- Middle grade post-apocalyptic science fiction where a crew of kids has to scavenge the Fog to find a big haul to save their rescuer and adoptive mother from fogsickness. They find themselves on the run from the powerful Lord Kodoc who wants Chess because he was fog born and can navigate the Fog covered world. They are also caught between the mutineers of Port Oro, the settlement that might have the cure for Mrs. E, and Lord Kodoc's forces. Lots of air battles in floating ships. Very steampunk feeling but with great relationships among the kids.

79. Clockwork Lies by Dru Pagliassotti (352 p.) -- 2nd book in Clockwork Heart trilogy is packed with action as Taya and Cristof need to prevent a war almost single-handedly. This book has assassination attempts, kidnappings, betrayals by trusted associates, long-train rides while concealed and air battles. Excellent and exciting.

80. A Sense of the Infinite by Hilary T. Smith (400 p.) -- Issue packed contemporary young adult. Annabeth has always depended on her friendship with Noe. Noe has been her anchor and guide. But now Noe is growing away from her and leaves her floundering. This book has depression, suicide attempts, eating disorders, an abortion, and rape which places it firmly in the "older young adult" category. It also has beautiful writing and fascinating characters.

81. The Liar by Nora Roberts (512p.) -- Shelby heads for home with her 3-year-old daughter Callie when she is widowed and learns that her husband was a liar and thief. He left her with millions in debts and a mystery to solve. He also left her his partners and a PI who think she knows where he stashed the $29 million in jewels and stamps he stole. When she gets home, she is surrounded by the love and support of her family and meets a new man Griff Lott who falls in love with her and her daughter. He is the perfect man but Shelby is afraid to risk her heart again.

82. Edge of Dreams by Diana Pharaoh Francis (224 p.) -- 2nd Diamond City Magic has Riley stumbling into the path of a villain who is making Sparkle Dust and who wants to use Riley's unique magic for his benefit. She is also working on her relationship with Clay Price now that she knows that she wants him to be part of her life. She learns some startling things about the father who disappeared when she was young and about what he did to her before he left.

83. Velvet by Temple West (416 p.) --Ggrief-stricken girl finds herself with an aunt, uncle, and cousin she doesn't know when she attracts the attention of a demon. Luckily, Adrian - hot, rich vampire - is there to protect her and be her pretend boyfriend. Except they really do fall in love with each other despite the demon and the rules that Adrian lives by.

84. Rock Hard by Nalini Singh (396 p.) -- Charlotte is still trying to get over the trauma of being assaulted and abused by a former boyfriend when she is drafted to be the PA of the ruthless businessman who is trying to save the company she works for from going out of business. He is a former rugby star and bigger than life. He terrifies her at first. But, since he would like to have a relationship with her, he helps her to regain her courage. They both have lots of issues to work through before they get to happily ever after.

85. Garden of Lies by Amanda Quick (352 p.) -- Another entertaining historical mystery from Quick, features Ursula Kern who heads her own secretarial agency and Slater Roxton who is an archaeologist and adventurer as they investigate the death of one of Ursula's employees and friends. They find themselves involved in the trade in an exotic drug, murder, and blackmail.

86. Kissing in America by Margo Rabb (400 p.) -- Eva and her friend Annie travel on the bus from New York to Los Angeles to take part in the Smartest Girl in America contest. Eva has an ulterior motive; the boy she has a crush on has just moved to Los Angeles. Eva is dealing with grief because of the loss of her father in a plane crash. The story is very much about dealing with grief.

87. The Cage by Megan Shepherd (400 p.) -- Alien abduction story. Six teens are captured and place in a habitat to be studied by aliens. Cora is determined to escape though the others are reconciled to their situation (or feel hopeless). Cassian, an alien, says he is their caretaker and encourages them to get with the program. The kids are manipulated and controlled in the hope (or fear) that they will develop psychic powers which would elevate humans to one of the "intelligent races." This is the beginning of a series.

88. Prudence by Gail Carriger (368 p.) -- A new generation, a new adventure. Rue Akeldama and her friends Primrose and Percy Tunstall and Quesnel Lefoux take off in Rue's new dirigible to go to India in search of tea for Dama. They drop neck deep in trouble between the Indian vampires and shapeshifters. This was all sorts of fun with Carriger's usual tongue-in-cheek writing.

89. Night of the Highland Dragon by Isabel Cooper (352p.) -- 3rd in series. Historical paranormal. William Arundel is a human who investigates paranormal activity for a secret government organization. Judith is a dragon in disguise whose family has lived for generations in the highlands of Scotland. At first William is suspicious of her but then the two start working together and fall in love.

90. Ever After by Jude Deveraux (368 p.) -- Romance with Montgomeries and Taggers and ghosts. Hallie inherits a house on Nantucket and finds Jamie Taggert in residence. Hallie was almost scammed out of the house by her stepsister who was going to try to impersonate her. Hallie is a physical therapist; Jamie was injured in a Humvee attack in Afghanistan but Jamie thinks it is just a skiing injury that any rich playboy could suffer. Jamie suffers from PTSD. He has come to Nantucket to get away from the coddling of his huge family. The ghosts have their work cut out for them. Hallie has a crush on her next door neighbor who has been her hero since she was a child.

91. Devoted by Jennifer Mathieu (328 p.) -- This book tells the story of Rachel Walker who was raised in a very restrictive Christian cult and who needs to leave it to be the person she should be. It tells of her conflicted feelings. She loves her family and she loves God but she can't live the life that her parents say is her only option. This is a story about making hard decisions to be the person you are supposed to be.

92. Book Scavenger by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman (354 p.) -- 7th grader Emily and her family have just moved to San Francisco which is the home of hero Garrison Griswold, a publisher who set up the Book Scavenger game. She makes a new friend in James who lives in the apartment above hers and the two try to solve Griswold's latest puzzle. They are in danger because others want the treasure that Griswold has hidden to. Great adventure and great story about friendship too.

93. The Ruby Circle by Richelle Mead (348 p.) -- Series finale has Sydney and Adrian finding the missing Jill, defeating an old enemy, coming to a state of detente with the Alchemists, and adopting a baby who could be a real game changer.

94. Fountain of Secrets by Anita Clenney (342 p.) -- 2nd in series. Lots of characters and complex plot. I thought it was slow-paced despite all the things that happened. Kendall, Jake and Nathan are searching for relics that might cure Nathan's curse. They are looking for the Fountain of Youth and the Holy Grail. They travel through portals, interact with protectors who may have been alive with King Arthur, and battle a mysterious villain named the Reaper who also wants the relics.

95. The Revenge Playbook by Rachael Allen (368 p.) -- Four girls decide to get revenge on the football team that has done them wrong. As the girls try to outwit the team in their "secret" scavenger hunt, they form a strong friendship and develop their own strength as people. They also, mostly, find new boyfriends who are worthy of them.

96. The Unleashing by Shelly Laurenston (373 p.) -- Start of a new series. Former Marine Kera is killed and offered a second life if she will serve Skuld and be one of her Crows. She agrees if she can bring her dog. She meets her sister Crows who are a wacky assortment of women; falls for a guy she thought was a homeless Vet who turns out to be a very much feared Raven. She also has to learn to fly and learn to let loose her rage because an ancient god wants to come back to Earth and take over. I liked the romance, the humor, and the dog.

97. Blood Will Tell by April Henry (258 p.) -- Excellent mystery told from multiple points of view including the actual murderer. Nick, Alexis, and Ruby are teenagers in the Search and Rescue program. They are called in to look for a lost 7-year-old. They find her but she is hit by a car and the kids have to keep her stabilized until the ambulance gets there. The next morning they are called to Nick's neighborhood to look for evidence in the murder of a young woman. DNA evidence surfaces that indicates that Nick was the killer. It is up to his friend's Alexis and Ruby to get to the bottom of this case. Along the way, Nick learns life-altering things about his family that shakes his image of who he wants to be and Alexis finds herself in danger from the murderer. Excellent mystery for middle graders and young adults.

98. Clockwork Secrets by Dru Pagliassotti (320 p.) -- 3rd in series. Taya and Cristof find themselves trying to get back home before enemies who want to destroy their country. There are air battles, land battles, and Taya is taken prisoner by enemies. They start in Alzana, are framed for regicide, rescue one survivng princess, and escape in their air ship. They travel to Cabisi which is neutral except for selling horrible weapons to their enemies. Lots of great adventure!

99. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas (419 p.) -- Wonderful fantasy about a human girl named Feyre who gets forced into the land of the Fae by Tamlin. He is under a curse and needs her to fall in love with him to break it. When she doesn't declare her love, he is forced to go Under the Mountain with the tyrant Amaranth. Feyre has to do three very difficult tasks to save him.

100. Spiraled by Kendra Elliot (294 p.) -- 3rd Callahan & McLane thriller has Ava unarmed and in the middle of a Mall shooting. The shooter commits suicide but the similarities to an earlier shooting has law enforcement forming a task force to try to find out why seemingly ordinary young men are going crazy shooting people and then taking their own lives. Though on vacation, Ava gets involved in the investigation which helps her overcome the stress of reconnecting with her mentally ill sister. The stress is also testing her relationship with Mason.

101. Between the Notes by Sharon Huss Roat (400 p.) -- Story of a girl whose family loses their home and business and who have to move to the poor part of town. Ivy decides to keep it a secret from her friends which is harder than she expects. The boy next door is the school's notorious "drug dealer" and the new boy who comes between Ivy and her best friend has secrets too. Throw in her musical talent, devastating stage fright, and mentally handicapped little brother and you have a full story.

102. Dragon in Exile by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller (416 p.) -- 18th Liaden novel. This one is filled with changes and told from multiple viewpoints. Korval is trying to fit in on Surebleak which is suffering growing pains because of Korval's presence. Fans of the "good old days" would like to oust Korval so that they could have power again. Korval is also trying to finish off the Department of the Interior to eliminate that threat. Many characters from earlier books have roles in this one. There is just a hint of what is going on with Theo, Daav and Aelliana though Daav and Aelliana's changes are epic. We learn more about the Bedel and their culture. Great story!

103. Empire of Night by Kelley Armstrong (432 p.) -- Moria, Tyrus, Ashyn and Ronan travel to try to find the children kidnapped by the sorcerer who wants to be the Emperor. Lots of adventures including battles, kidnappings, and romantic relationships. Nothing is resolved as this is definitely the middle book in a trilogy.

104. First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones (315 p.) -- 1st in a series with a character who is both funny and kick ass. Charley Davidson is a reaper who sees dead people and guides them to the light. On the way she solves the cases that causes their murder. This one introduces a lot of characters including a potential love interest and a best friend.

105. Rogue (the Talon Saga) by Julie Kagawa (444 p.) -- 2nd book in Talon saga has Ember and Riley rescuing Garret from the Order and has both the Order and Talon hunting them down. Ember's brother Dante is the one who comes up with Talon's plan to recapture Ember. Ember thought he was mislead but now she has to write him off. Ember is also torn between her feeling for Garret and Riley. Her human half likes Garret but her dragon half is drawn to Riley. Some secrets about the Order and Talon are learned.

Did you get an ARC of Dragon in Exile? I've had it pre-ordered since January, bu have to wait another 10 days!

I bought the eARC from Baen the day it became available. I just couldn't wait. Also, the Kindle version was released mid-May. So I re-read it that day. I have the hardcover on order and I've heard that Amazon is shipping but I haven't gotten their email yet.

106. Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard (383 p.) -- First in epic fantasy trilogy. Mare is a Red blood who gets a job working for the Silvers, discovers she has psychic powers like the Silvers, and is swept into the complex politics and rivalries of the Silvers. She joins the Red Guard - revolutionaries who want to overthrow the Silvers. She also has romantic relationships with the Silver Crown Prince Cal and Cal's younger brother Maven. This story was filled with intrigue, adventure, and betrayals. Mare was a great character. I can't wait to read more.

>76 kmartin802: Hi, Kathy! De-lurking to say that this one sounds so good - thanks for the review!

107. Dragon Actually by G. A. Aiken (352 p.) -- Funny and sexy romance between warrior Annwyl the Bloody and dragon Fearghus the Destroyer. Annwyl needs to defeat her tyrant brother before he has her killed. She is a fierce warrior known for cutting off heads. She isn't afraid of the fierce dragon or anything else. Fearghus is a recluse who just wants to be left alone. But when Annwyl is injured outside his door, he takes her in, nurses her to health and falls in love with her. Love isn't easy between two such strong personalities and there's the brother who wants her dead too.

108. Emmy & Oliver by Robin Benway (352 p.) -- Great story. Emmy & Oliver were life-long best friends who lived next door to each other and even shared a birthday. But Oliver was kidnapped by his father when they were in second grade which changed everything. Emmy's parents became rigidly overprotective and Oliver's mother never stopped looking for him. When he is seventeen he comes home. He didn't know until then that his father had kidnapped him. He believed that his mother didn't want him. All sorts of relationships need to be rebuilt. Oliver is torn between his love for his father and the knowledge that his father committed a crime. He has to build a relationship with a mother who thinks he's still seven. Emmy has to convince her overprotective parents that they can let go so that she can stop lying to them and be the person she wants to be.

109. The Leveler by Julia Durango (256 p.) -- Science fiction. Nixy is hired by a billionaire to go into his virtual reality game to retrieve his son who might be intending to commit suicide. Nixy has done this before. Parents hire her to retrieve their kid when they stay in the game too long. However, Wyn isn't staying away by choice. He is being held captive by people who want his father to shut down the game. This was action-packed and there is a romance too.

110. Boundary Magic by Melissa F. Olson (302 p.) -- Army vet Lex Luther is living in Boulder, Colorado, and working at a convenience store. She foils the kidnapping of her dead sister's eighteen-month-old daughter and gets swept into the paranormal world. Her niece Charlie is a Null who takes away the magic of anyone near her. That makes her a desirable commodity for the local vampires. Lex herself is a dark witch who gains power from death and has the ability to Press vampires - that is change their memories and force them to accurately answer her questions. This book has her pair up with vampire Quinn to find out who wants to kidnap her niece. She is also learning to use her magic. Engaging characters.

111. Seeker by Arwyn Ellis Dayton (448 p.) -- Fantasy. The night Quin Kincaid takes her Oath, she will become what she has trained to be her entire life. She will become a Seeker. This is her legacy, and it is an honor. As a Seeker, Quin will fight beside her two closest companions, Shinobu and John, to protect the weak and the wronged. Together they will stand for light in a shadowy world. And she'll be with the boy she loves--who's also her best friend. But the night Quin takes her Oath, everything changes. Being a Seeker is not what she thought. Her family is not what she thought. Even the boy she loves is not who she thought. And now it's too late to walk away.

112. House of the Rising Sun by Kristen Painter (434 p.) -- New urban fantasy set in a New Orleans filled with fae, witches, and vampires. Augustine, a fae, becomes the city Guardian when his mentor and foster mother Olivia is killed by vampires. Olivia's estranged daughter Harlow comes to town needing money to keep her out of prison. Augustine and Harlow work together to get rid of the vampires who might have been let into New Orleans by Harlow's unknown father who is a real bad guy. Nice story.

113. Don't Ever Change by M. Beth Bloom (368 p.) -- YA contemporary about a girl who wants to be a writer but who is told by her writing teacher that she needs to live more life first. So, the summer after graduation she gets a job in a summer camp, finds herself becoming distanced from her best friends, and meets a boy or two. Told from her viewpoint this is a stream-of-consciousness novel but, mercifully, with punctuation. I kept reading in hopes that something would finally happen only to be disappointed.

114. Lick by Kylie Scott (303 p.) -- First Stage Dive romance pairs Evelyn with David. He is the lead guitar player and she is a college student/barista. They meet in Vegas and wind up married. First plan is an annulment but they decide to try to get to know each other. This is complicated but their strong personalities and quick tempers. Also complicated by an old girlfriend. Great, sexy romance.

Just finished Dragon in Exile--VERY satisfying!

115. Between Us and the Moon by Rebecca Maizel (384 p.) -- Sarah is dumped by her boyfriend just before her summer trip to Cape Cod. She is an astronomy nut who has been tracking a comet for 11 months. She decides that she needs to be more like her popular and out-going older sister. She changes her image, meets a boy, falls in love and grows up. Unfortunately, she lies to the boy about how old she is and the lie comes back to bite her. Nice coming of age story.