Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine, 274 pages
I don't know a single person who's read this book and didn't like it. If you're one of the few who doesn't know the story, it's a retelling of Cinderella with a twist (which you learn in the first few pages so it's not a spoiler)--Ella is cursed to be obedient. Despite being a retelling it feels original with lovable characters including a heroine who has a dry wit I relate to. Excellent for all ages.
Zero Day by Jan Gangsei, 359 pages 
This is a young adult thriller based around a terrorist group and the kidnapping of the daughter of the President of the United States. It was very gripping and I didn't want to put it down. I went into this book believing it was a stand alone book and from what I can tell, the author doesn't plan on making a sequel anytime soon. If that's true, then the ending is a not very satisfactory cliff-hanger. Personally I believe there will be a sequel and I still highly recommend reading it.
The Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone series by Greg Keyes
This series includes The Briar King (552 pages), The Charnel Prince (518 pages), The Blood Knight (547 pages) and The Born Queen (448 pages). This was an excellent high fantasy series as a whole. The first two books weren't as exciting, though still interesting enough for me to keep reading. By the time I got to the third book though I was hooked and raced through it and the fourth one very quickly. While teens may find the story interesting, be aware that there are themes of sex and rape throughout the series, though never graphic or dwelt on in detail.
The Earl's Betrothal by Karen Tuft, 264 pages 
A fairly typical Proper Romance--scandal, forbidden love, a brooding earl. I remember really enjoying it as I read it (it’s a period romance after all), but in the end, kind of forgettable. Not gonna lie, I actually had to look it up to write this review because I couldn’t remember what the story line was....
Eat Pray Love-331
I LOVE this book! It’s one that I like to read yearly because of the mental and spiritual boost it gives me. It follows a woman’s journey to experience both pleasure and devotion and to learn how to balance the two. She’s a Christian who believes in God but finds principles in Hindu devotional practices that help her in her own faith. This idea of learning from other cultures and religions to better your own is something that I’ve always loved. She also learns how to love herself and be happy in her circumstances which I think is especially important in the world today. I will warn that there’s occasionally some strong language, and she does talk about her sexual relationships (though not in graphic detail). If this doesn’t deter you, I highly recommend this book. And actually, I just might come back to this and write a more in-depth post about it for those who don’t want to read it.
Psych's Guide to Crime Fighting for the Totally Unqualified by Shawn Spencer, 285 pages 
For all you Psych-o’s out there, this is the new episode you’ve been wanting but never thought you’d receive. Shawn Spencer's many skills include masterful writing that will definitely make you laugh and might even make you cry. Included are in-depth charts and pictures sure to make you into a passably amateur sleuth. If you don't believe me, believe this review by Pierre Despereaux: "With this book, Shawn Spencer joins the ranks of Monet, Rodin, and other artists whose work is vastly over-rated."
Beauty and the Clockwork Beast by Nancy Campbell Allen, 335 pages
This steampunk romance was amazing! The author did a great job incorporating steampunk elements into a period piece and the result left me wanting more! Vampires, ballgowns, airships, scandal and intrigue all coming together to tell a Beauty and the Beast story? I mean it would have been really hard for this to have gone wrong for me. If you want an introduction into the world of steampunk, I highly recommend this book.(Also, if anyone has other steampunk books they love, let me know!)
