Book Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Penguin Group
Age Range: Young Adult
Publication Date: October 19, 2010

Author Web Page:

Calla Tor has always known her destiny: After graduating from the Mountain School, she’ll be the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers.  But when she violates her masters’ laws by saving a beautiful human boy out for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the very essence of the world she has known.  By following her heart, she might lose everything  including her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice?

Magic, Shapeshifters, Romance and action are some of the elements Nightshade gather in this first presentation that promises to be an addictive series.  Nightshade tells the story of Calla, a GUARDIAN (werewolf) who is next to accomplish destiny and a life she has never questioned until the day she saves a human boy’s life in her territory.  This will mark the beginning of a countless number of laws Calla will break by protecting Shay.  I really enjoyed reading the story and regardless its 464 pages, narration flows graciously.  Our narrator Calla is a girl that even though she lives in a male chauvinism society and her life has been planned ever since she was born, she has courage and temper towards life that makes you love her as a character.  Secondary and tertiary characters have active roles in the series, something that gives a dynamic touch to this interesting story since at the same time the main story happens there’s another one developing.  The story has two love interests: Shay and Ren, both completely different with two common characteristics: their love for Calla and their courage.  I liked both for different reasons. Shay has a temper; he won’t get intimidated when EVERYTHING should lead him to fear and his desire for knowledge, which is his outstanding characteristic.  Even though there’s several things about Renald’s past I didn’t liked since he’s given a certain liberty and advantage Cala has not enjoyed yet, I liked seeing his attempt to build over nothing and try to be a modern alpha in a social structure were laws are archaic.  I believe some  aspects have not been fully developed, and I explain:

*Disclaimer: There could be some spoilers.

World Building: In the beginning the story, all elements exist without a consistent explanation.  It’s not until mid story that certain statements start to make sense. Also, werewolf conversions at a fascinating world seemed a little sloppy.

Character Voices: Their voices and attitudes at some point reflected more like an adult romance story presented with juvenile characters, which made every other line a bit funny.

In my humble opinion, this two aspects do not take anything from the story nor it’s a writing problem, but more like an edit execution problem.  I think the story shines at the end because of the twist Cremer gives to the mythical character’s legend by giving them a story.  The biggest compliment I can give Cremer in this first delivery is about how fascinating the world she created is. Nightshade is a story full of adventure and romance where a guardian will face the most difficult task; deciding between honoring her pack or the love that will allow her to know a truth which will not only free her, but also the people she loves.

Book Type: Softcover
Publisher: Penguin Group
Age Range: Young Adult
Publication Date: April, 2010

Author Web Page:

Sixteen-year-old Maggie Bennet’s life is in tatters. Her mother has disappeared, and is presumed dead. The next thing she knows, her father has dragged Maggie away from their elegant Newport home, off on some mad excursion to Yellowstone in Montana. Torn from the only life she’s ever known, away from her friends, from society, and verging on no prospects, Maggie is furious and devastated by her father’s betrayal. But when she arrives, she finds herself drawn to the frustratingly stubborn, handsome Tom Rowland, the son of a park geologist, and to the wild romantic beauty of Yellowstone itself. And as Tom and the promise of freedom capture Maggie’s heart, Maggie is forced to choose between who she is and who she wants to be.

With the same beauty as a portrait that can always be appreciated, that’s how Faithful is descriptively narrated. It tells the story of a youngster called Maggie Bennets, a girl who’s about to debut on society in 1904 when her plans are postponed due to the possibility that her missing mom for several months might still be alive. Maggie will embark a trip far from the place where her dreams and wishes are to find the truth about her mom’s singular character and an unexpected love. Even though the main character possesses the peculiar characteristics of any single girl from that time, there are sparks that an eternal characteristic from any girl is to meet love. It’s occasionally frustrating and sad at the same time seeing Magie’s battle with fact of leaving on a journey that could maybe return her mother under the risk of losing the opportunity of being someone in society that decided social status during that time. Faithful combines the epoch elegance with the scandals, prejudices and common limitations in high society. Maggie’s mother mystery is well worked and is certainly surprising, which makes you understand better the woman you “know” at the beginning of the story. One of my favorite characters is Mrs. Gale, who teaches Maggie that it doesn’t matter where we come from or what society expects from us women, we have the ability to be somebody by ourselves without resigning to our heart’s wishes. Faithful narrates the story of a young woman becoming who she should be and realizing truth makes you free and fills your life with hope.

 

Faithful is excellent material to show life of a specific period, under which laws society was ruled and the role of women in such societies. Extracurricular activities could involve creating a newspaper activity based on the period where students can be able to develop stories with the note tips the book offers.

Author Web Page:

Faithful  / 2010  / Penguin Group  /

Writing historical fiction is like inventing a time machine. Writing any kind of fiction means research (even a science fiction or fantasy world has to obey the laws of physics). But a writer who wants historical fiction to come alive has to virtually transport her readers by selecting details and sensory experiences. When I researched my novel Faithful I tried to take my readers back to a year, 1904, and to a place, Yellowstone National Park.

My research was made easier because I’ve been to Yellowstone and the setting hasn’t changed much. But for facts about Yellowstone of 1904 I turned to Park historians and the Park Research Center. I heard a lecture on “The Ghost Hotels of Yellowstone” to learn which hotels my character might have stayed in that aren’t there today. I read the journals of the Park Superintendent to learn about the weather in the summer of 1904 (were there fires? Was it unusually hot or cold or wet?) I read through a 1904 guidebook for what the tourists might experience (were there buffalo? – only in pens. Roads? – yes, but rough). I looked through old photographs to see what the bedrooms looked like and how many horses drew the wagons. I read colorful accounts of happenings: the robbery in the novel is based on real events of the time.

I scoured catalogues of period women’s clothing for fabrics and styles. I read novels and newspapers from the early 1900s to “feel” the cadence of language. I studied menus and advertisements and period architecture.

I did a lot of research, it’s true. Building a time machine requires attention to detail – to truly transport your reader the mechanics have to be exactly right. But it was fun. I could feel what it’s like to wear a corset (and not have to wear it again). I could envision the long train journey (and then take the plane). And I’ll use that research in my next novel, and hope in the meantime I’ve invented a time machine that transports my readers to “back in the day.”

Acknowledgment:

I want to thank Janet Fox  for visiting Windowpane Memoirs.   It’s been a pleasure.

Book Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Speak / Penguin Group
Age Range: Young Adult
Publication Date: May 13, 2010

Book Trailer:

“Yes I wanted to reach across the table;

right then and lift that lock off his forehead,

and then see him smile for me.

Only for me.

I would fallowed his sea eyes into the bear’s teeth.”