Never Cry Werewolf, Heather Davis, Harper Collins, 224 pages

(Nov. 2)This book was just okay for me. I enjoyed it but no matter how hard I tried I never did feel a connection to any of the characters and I felt the relationship between Austin and Shelby was rushed and a little unbelievable.

Also, there were a few questions that never got answered, a few things about secondary characters that never had resolution. One example was Ariel’s home life and why things were bad. I felt like that would have been something shared between Shelby and Ariel at some point.

I think that the premise was good and honestly I think I would have liked it better if the story wasn’t rushed. At 224 pages I just felt let down. Like I got most of the story but not all of it.

Again, I liked it, just don’t think I’d pick it up again unless I’d forgotten a book at home and was in line or at the doctor’s office and it was there. I’d probably pick it up then.

It was a good first attempt and I will read Heather’s next book.

I’d recommend it if you want something lighter, something that didn’t require much on your part in the way of emotions or mystery.

The Ex Games, Jennifer Echols, Simon Pulse, 302 pages

(Oct. 19)This book is filled with snark and banter between ex’s Nick and Hayden. They had a relationship in the 7th grade that ended badly, yet, 4 years later, neither of them has let it go completely.

Now, as Juniors, their friends are hooking up and throwing them together almost daily. Sparks fly, it’s inevitable.

I really enjoyed the witty conversations these two had but all the misunderstandings got a little annoying. Not enough to make me put it down or anything. I just wanted to yell at them both to explain what they meant so they’d get together sooner. And stay that way.

Overall the story of a battle between the sexes was a good one. I liked the fact that Echols did her research when it came to snowboarding and added snowboarding terms at the beginning of each chapter, what they meant, and how they applied to Nick and Hayden. I thought that was a little something extra from the author. And I always like a little something extra.

The secondary characters were enjoyable and believeable. Plus, I thought the relationship between Hayden and her brother Josh was very real. They fought, they teased, they helped each other out. I thought it was pretty cool that Hayden didn’t mind being around him and his friends, even when they were embarassing and juvenial, like in the diner that night.

The only thing about it that I didn’t think was believeable and it may just be me and the way I was brought up, was when Josh cussed in front of his mom. He’s 14-ish but still, she didn’t even bat an eyelash and it wasn’t like he said damn, or hell. That was my only problem with the story.

Overall a good, quick, fluffy romance. If you are in the mood for something like that, go pick it up.

Now the quotes section...

“What are you going to do, tell on me because I won a snowboarding contest?”

“That’s exactly what I’m going to do,” he called haughtily over his shoulder.

Uh-oh. I definitely did not want my parents butting into my business, especially not about this. “You had better not,” I shouted after him. “Do you hear me, O’Malley? I will tell Gavin’s sister you slept with a stuffed bunny rabbit until you were in middle school, so help me God!”

Josh dropped his board, slid down to me, and clampd his hand over my mouth. “Shhhhh! Mr. Big Ears was very special.”

“What are you doing here?”

“I just happened to be in teh neighborhood, walking my dog...” This was sounding lame. “...several miles from my home, in the middle of the night, in the snow. And I found myself in your backyard.”

His eyes flew wide open. “With the cats?”

“If that’s what you call them.”