Review of Glass Sentence-S.E. Grove

A century after the Great Disruption, mapmaking becomes very important in this world of continents with different time zones.  Sophia comes from a family of explorers & cartologers and lives with her cartologer uncle Shadrack after her explorer parents go missing.  When Shadrack is kidnapped, Sophia must set out into unknown territory to find & rescue him.  Helping her is her new friend, Theo, and danger follows them as they travel across a fractured land to an uncertain future.  I enjoyed the complicated world created by this author but craved a bit more character development.  Also, I was disappointed in the maps; for a book all about maps, some areas traveled by Sophia & Theo aren't shown. The epilogue points to a sequel (maybe the maps will make more sense in the second book).  3 Elves - Recommended for juvenile, teen & adult readers

Review of Isla & the Happily Ever After-Stephanie Perkins

The last book in a loose trilogy that started with Anna & The French Kiss, this is a sweet, romantic book that wraps it all up.  You don't need to read the first two books to appreciate this latest novel, but the characters all connect in the end.  Away at school in France, Isla has found the perfect boyfriend, Josh, but her insecurities push him away.  An unlikely ally helps to bring them fact to face again but will Isla find the confidence to do the right thing?  Isla's childhood friend is a nice addition to this cast of characters.  4 Elves - Highly recommended for teens

Review of The Shadow Throne-Jennifer A. Neilson

The final book in a trilogy that started with the False Prince, this is a thrilling conclusion to a series full of thrills.  King Jaron is facing war, with new enemies cropping up from kingdoms all around him.  He is supposed to marry a princess from another kingdom to secure an alliance, but he's still in love with Imogen, a servant girl, and the princess isn't terribly enthusiastic about the marriage either.  War breaks out, and Jaron must think fast to outwit too many enemies to keep track of.  The series ends with a very satisfying conclusion to espionage & counter-espionage.  4 Elves - Highly recommended for middle grade reader

Review of Attachments-Rainbow Rowell

This debut novel by Rowell is charming & quirky.  Lincoln is an IT specialist working for a newspaper.  His job is to read flagged emails from employees to see if they are sending personal emails or anything contradictory to the newspaper's policies.  Bored out of his mind and forced to work the night shift, he is attracted to personal emails between Beth, a movie reviewer and her friend Jennifer, a copy editor.  Rather than warning the two friends about their emails, he looks forward to reading them and begins to fall in love with Beth, who lives with her boyfriend, a guitarist in a rock band.  Not realizing at first that Beth is attracted to him also, he starts to shadow her boyfriend while Beth shadows him.  He knows he needs to come clean & tell her about his email snooping, but will he lose her forever if he does?  4 Elves - Highly recommended for teens & adults

Review of Landline-Rainbow Rowell

I love this author (Eleanor & Park), so I was excited to read her new adult fiction novel.  But although the book had some interesting elements, like a magic telephone, the story of a marriage in trouble didn't capture my imagination.  The history of the couple, Georgie & Neal, was a bit pedestrian and side characters barely explored.  Rowell has proved to be a great writer, so I wish this book was as good as her YA fiction.  3 Elves - Recommended for older readers

Review of The Boyfriend List-E. Lockhart

A unique style with an unforgettable voice, this book was full of pathos, humor and might make you feel like a teen again.  Ruby's problems begin when she makes a list for her shrink of all the boys she has had a crush on or were really boyfriends.  No, actually her problems started before that when she dated her best friend's boyfriend who was just recently her boyfriend.  In no time, Ruby is having panic attacks, is shunned at school and has lost all of her friends.  Sounds sad?  Actually, it's hilarious!  4 Elves - Highly recommended for teens

Review of Kiss of Deception-Mary E. Pearce

An excellent beginning to a new fantasy series by the author.  I enjoyed her tale of a princess who escaped her arranged marriage only to end up kidnapped; the premise may sound familiar, but the world she creates is unique.  Her heroine, Lia, is brave & spunky - very likeable.  The two male major characters are complex & interesting (more than just handsome).  Looking forward to the sequel.  4 Elves - Highly recommended