Wolves, Boys, and Other Things That Might Kill Me by Kristen Chandler

From the back cover:

"What did you feel?" says Virgil.
"I don't know," I say, wondering myself.  "I felt, I feel, different."
Virgil stands next to me in the dark, close but far away.  He laughs softly, "So, what, you're Wolf Girl now?"
I laugh, too.  "Shut up, Virgil."
But I do feel different.
My mind hums.  The spell of the day is wrapped around and inside of me.  Eloise says wolves aren't people, but I wonder if people can be like wolves.

From me:
Ok, the most important thing to know about this book is this. is. not. a. werewolf. book.

Good, now that that's out of the way - this was a really great read.  I actually did think it was about werewolves when I began reading, and honestly, I was not looking forward to yet another werewolf book. (Not that I'm not counting down the days until The Savage Grace is released!!!)

KJ, the main character, is an accidentally strong, crusading, determined, hysterical teenage girl who turns a town upside down in order to save the wolves that have made her town their home.  She's not alone in her quest - super hot new kid, Virgil  and his mother, Eloise are wolf-lovers too and they help KJ understand and appreciate the wolves.  They also stand by her when her plans go awry...which is a lot of the time.

I thought that the characters, including the wolves, were great, interesting and easy to like (or not, in some cases).  Many of the "supporting roles" added tons of humor, mystery, and action.

There was something for everyone - romance, action (gunshots!!), and animals.  I know "animals" isn't exactly a genre, but some people are drawn to books about nature/animals, so there.

I would highly recommend this book and hope to read more from Kristen Chandler! 

The Mercy Falls Series: Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

Howdy All,
Continuing my "Season of Sequels," next up is Linger by Maggie Stiefvater.

From the flap:

the longing.
Once Grace and Sam have found each other, they know they must fight to stay together. For Sam, this means a reckoning with his werewolf past. For Grace, it means facing a future that is less and less certain.

the loss.
Into their world comes a new wolf named Cole, whose past is full of hurt and danger. He is wrestling with his own demons, embracing the life of a wolf whole denying the ties of being human.

the linger.
For Grace, Sam, and Cole, life is a constant struggle between two forces – wolf and human – with love baring its two sides as well. It is harrowing and euphoric, freeing and entrapping, enticing and alarming. As their world falls apart, love is what lingers. But will it be enough?

Favorite Quotes:

Page 70:

“I struggled for words to explain it. It wasn’t all about almost losing Sam and wanting to keep him near. It wasn’t all about lust. It was about falling asleep with Sam’s chest pressed against my back so I could feel his heart slow to match mine. It was about growing up and realizing that the feeling of his arms around me, the smell of him when he was sleeping, the sound of his breathing – that was home and everything I wanted at the end of the day. It wasn’t the same as being with him when we were awake. But I didn’t know how to say that to Rachel. I wondered why I’d wanted to tell her. ‘I don’t know if I can explain it. Sleeping feels different when he’s there.’

‘I’ll sure bet it does,’ Rachel said, her eyes wide open.”


I love Grace and Sam together. They’re sweet, but it’s never too saccharine. When we see them together in the book, it’s easy to see that they are better with each other.



My Thoughts:

I really, really enjoyed this sequel to Shiver. As I said in the “quotes” section, I love reading about the relationship between Grace and Sam. Not only do they deal with paranormal issues (Grace is becoming a wolf and Sam is unsure that he will stay human), they deal with real-life issues, as well. Grace has to defend her relationship with Sam from her parents’ judgment, something that many teens face. Her reaction, and theirs for that matter, seemed real and full of emotion. What I’m trying to say is that this series is about more than werewolves – it’s about two people who have to face many obstacles in order to be together.

My one complaint about the book is the addition of Cole. I found nothing redeeming about his character whatsoever. I figured we were supposed to wrinkle our noses at him when he was first introduced, and I also figured that he would do something to “prove himself.” I never found that Cole presented himself as likeable or even useful. Maybe things will change in the next book, but I’m not holding my breath.

Overall, it’s a great read. Check it out before the next book, Forever, is released this summer.