Grace and Sam share a kinship so close they could be lovers or siblings. But they also share a problem. When temperature slips towards freezing, Sam reverts to his wolf identity and must retreat into the freezing woods to protect his pack. He worries that winter by winter his human side will fade away and he will be left howling alone at the lonely moon. A stirring supernatural teen romance; now in trade paperback and NOOK Book.
Shiver (Wolves of Mercy Falls/Shiver Series #1)
by Maggie StiefvaterFrom a dazzlingly talented young writer, a haunting and original supernatural romance in the vein of TWILIGHT.
For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf--her wolf--is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack
Editorial Reviews
Publishers Weekly
Stiefvater leaves the faeries of Lament and Ballad for a lyrical tale of alienated werewolves and first love. For years, Grace has been fascinated by the yellow-eyed wolf that saved her from its pack when she was a child. Sam, bitten by a wolf as a boy, is that wolf. Long obsessed with each other at a distance, they finally meet after a wolf hunt (inspired by the apparent death of a local teen) sends a wounded and temporarily human Sam into Grace's arms. Their young love is facilitated by Grace's hands-off parents (“Once upon a time, I would've leaped at the rare opportunity of curling up with Mom on the couch. But now, it sort of felt like too little, too late,” Grace muses), but threatened by two linked crises: the fact that Sam will soon lose the ability to become human and the instability of a new lycanthrope. Stiefvater skillfully increases the tension throughout; her take on werewolves is interesting and original while her characters are refreshingly willing to use their brains to deal with the challenges they face. Ages 13–up. (Aug.)VOYA - Bonnie Kunzel
Grace and Sam met six years ago when she was attacked by werewolves. Sam changed from a yellow-eyed wolf to a yellow-eyed boy and carried her home. Although bitten, Grace survived and did not change, the only werewolf victim ever to do so. She has a more developed sense of smell, improved hearing, is stronger physically, but she is still a girl, only now a girl connected to a wolf, her guardian who watches her every winter. When Grace finally meets Sam again in human form, it is in the fall of her seventeenth year. Sam, attacked and forcibly changed when he was seven, has grown up spending his winters with Beck, his werewolf mentor, running through the woods with the pack, and his summers in human form, learning how to read, write, and become a man. The chapters have temperatures for headings because these werewolves are turned, not by a full moon, but by the cold, and there is plenty of cold in Mercy Falls, Minnesota. Also the number of times they can change is limited, and this change may be Sam's last in human form. After the wolves attack a local teenager, Sam is shot and winds up in Grace's arms, literally. She saves him, but the days are getting colder and the nights longer. Neither can bear the thought of being separated, but one cannot argue with Mother Nature. The first volume in The Wolves of Mercy Falls series is yet another winner for the author of Lament. (Flux/Llewellyn, 2008)/VOYA December 2008). This novel is perfect for Twilight fans or a Romeo and Juliet list. It is sensuous, intense, riveting, and so very satisfying. Reviewer: Bonnie KunzelSchool Library Journal
Gr 9 Up—Grace, 17, loves the peace and tranquility of the woods behind her home. It is here during the cold winter months that she gets to see her wolf—the one with the yellow eyes. Grace is sure that he saved her from an attack by other wolves when she was nine. Over the ensuing years he has returned each season, watching her with those haunting eyes as if longing for something to happen. When a teen is killed by wolves, a hunting party decides to retaliate. Grace races through the woods and discovers a wounded boy shivering on her back porch. One look at his yellow eyes and she knows that this is her wolf in human form. Fate has finally brought Sam and Grace together, and as their love grows and intensifies, so does the reality of what awaits them. It is only a matter of time before the winter cold changes him back into a wolf, and this time he might stay that way forever. Told from alternating points of view, the narrative takes a classic Romeo & Juliet plot and transforms it into a paranormal romance that is beautiful and moving. Readers will easily identify with the strong, dynamic characters. The mythology surrounding the wolf pack is clever and so well written that it seems perfectly normal for the creatures to exist in today's world. A must-have that will give Bella and Edward a run for their money.—Donna Rosenblum, Floral Park Memorial High School, NYFrom the Publisher
"A must-have that will give Bella and Edward a run for their money." -- School Library Journal
Mollie Johnson
Few people in Mercy Falls adore the wolves the way Grace does; in fact, most want them dead after the attack on a local teenage boy. But Grace feels a connection with the wolves, especially the one with the yellow eyes. After all, he is the one who saved her years ago when she was attacked. Sam may not remember everything when he shifts, but he remembers Grace. He has silently watched her from the woods since she was a young girl, feeling a connection to her but never knowing why. When the two finally meet, both of their worlds fall into place as Grace and Sam find something in each other that they have never felt before. But winter is fast approaching and Grace risks losing Sam forever to the pack. Every shiver is a reminder that everything she has always wanted could be gone in an instant. Reviewer: Mollie JohnsonChildren's Literature - Janis Flint-Ferguson
Grace has always had an interest in the wolves that lived in the wood behind her house. She watched for them and, in later years, watched out for them, especially the one with the stunning yellow eyes. When wolves kill her classmate's brother, the town goes crazy and begins to hunt the wolves. Grace just cannot allow that to happen and steps into the situation to protect the wolves, coming away with an understanding that the wolves are not just wolves, but young men and women who change into wolves as the temperatures dip and the weather becomes icy cold. The young man with the yellow eyes, Sam, becomes Grace's boyfriend and so begins a direct connection to the strange group of people who live their lives in two worlds. Her classmate calls on Grace to explain what's happened to her brother Jack, who may now be a wolf himself. Told from the points of view of the two protagonists, this novel explores the love story between Grace and Sam, but also introduces a world where werewolves exist as part of the natural world, creatures to be loved and feared. The subtlety of the fantasy intertwines with a concern for wolves and the difficult existence of being human and animal. Shiver is a teen love story that is difficult to put down, gently haunting its readers with the agony of lost identity and a hope for the impossible. Reviewer: Janis Flint-FergusonProduct Details
- ISBN-13:
- 9780545682787
- Publisher:
- Scholastic, Inc.
- Publication date:
- 04/29/2014
- Series:
- Wolves of Mercy Falls Series , #1
- Edition description:
- Reprint
- Pages:
- 416
- Sales rank:
- 39,308
- Product dimensions:
- 5.20(w) x 7.90(h) x 0.90(d)
- Age Range:
- 13 - 17 Years
Meet the Author
Maggie Stiefvater is the #1 NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author of the novels SHIVER, LINGER, and FOREVER. Her novel THE SCORPIO RACES was named a Michael L. Printz Honor Book by the American Library Association, while PUBLISHERS WEEKLY selected Maggie's THE RAVEN BOYS as a Best Book of the Year. She is also the author of LAMENT and BALLAD. Maggie lives in Virginia with her husband and their two children. You can visit her online at www.maggiestiefvater.com.
Customer Reviews
Average Review:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Shiver
4.4 out of 5
based on
0 ratings.
4056 reviews.
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When I bought this book (as Barnes and Noble was closing), the lady told me not to start it until morning, otherwise I wouldn't be able to put it down. I didn't listen, and at 3:30 am, I finally put the book down and went to bed. It's rare that you find a YA novel that can move anyone. This book was incredibly romantic in a normal, down to earth way, despite it supernatural story. Unlike Twilight, the female lead (Grace) is strong and fun to follow, and Sam is absolutely wonderful. They find themselves through the same journey that they find each other. Grace finds out Sam's secret almost immediately, so the suspense is from dealing with this unworldly thing in the real world. I've recommended this book to teenagers and adults, and they've all loved it. It's one of the best books I've read recently, and I think anyone can enjoy it.
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Before buying this book I read some of the reviews for it and many people said it was like twilight but everyone keeps saying that about non-twilight books. It's getting old having everything compared to twilight. I didn't know what I was in for and I'm sure glad I purchased this book. The chemistry and struggle between the main characters is unforgettable. It's the best. I can't wait for the next book and it comes out like a year from now.
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Years ago, Grace was attacked by a starving wolf pack, and only survived because one wolf, the one with brilliant yellow eyes, protected her. Ever since then she's watched for "her" wolf each winter, caught in a longing she can't quite explain. Then one fall a boy appears on her porch, injured, with those same yellow eyes. Grace knows he is her wolf.
Grace feels more connected to Sam than anyone else in her life, and Sam would do anything for her. But right from the beginning, a shadow looms over their time together. As the weather gets colder, it's harder and harder for Sam to stay human. And he's sure that this time, when he turns into a wolf, it will be for good.
SHIVER is a melancholy, romantic novel with equal parts tenderness and passion. Readers will find themselves swept up in Grace and Sam's unfolding relationship as they are finally able to talk and touch, and struggle to hold on to what little time they have together. The book is filled with gorgeous imagery that comes alive in your mind, and adds to the sense of fleeting beauty.
Some may find the story a little slow-moving: many of the scenes are simply Grace and Sam being together, and of the few subplots that increase the suspense, all but one are dropped with little or no resolution. But the book is well worth picking up just for the character study of a boy growing up torn between human and animal worlds, and the main characters' chemistry and frantic attempts to hold off Sam's change will keep appreciative readers glued to the page.
Recommended for paranormal fans who prefer thoughtfulness and simmering emotion to action and violence.
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I loved reading this book! It is a story that keeps you entertained for hours.
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Not bad, but certainly not great either.
I didn't go on any great adventures while reading, and the book really didn't entertain my mind. Hate to say it but reading felt like labor at times; boring and time consuming.
The author hadn't described the scenes and events thoroughly enough in this book. You were told what happened, rather than shown.
The romance between Sam and Grace felt forced, cheesy even. He didn't talk or act like any 17. 18. 19 year old boy I know. Heck, in one scene, I mistakenly thought Grace and her mother were chitchatting when I realized it was actually Sam, not her mother, she was talking to.
More on the characters, a little flat if I may say so. They didn't have any interesting characteristics or dialogue to set them apart. Sure, there's the photographer best bud Olivia and the other best friend, obnoxious whatever-her-name-was, but they didn't really have any sparkle or realistic personality to them.
Okay, enough of the book bashing. Time to shout out some positives (:
I liked how the temperature forced the werewolves to change, rather than the moon. It was a very unique and interesting spin, I think.
The writing flowed and was kind of pretty. Not descriptive enough for my liking, but not bad.
To be frank, it's one of the better paranormal books out there on the shelves today. It certainly surpasses Evermore, Evernight, Wings, and Uninvited, poor books beloved by others that I found to be terrible.
But. Try Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause if you haven't already read it. I found it to be MUCH better than Shiver.
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This book was so good that I finished it in one day, I just could not put it down. I was no mad at myself in the end because I finished it so fast, I did not wanted the book to end. It's just so beautiful, all of it the writting the characters. It's seriously a must read. What Edward is to "Twilight", Sam is to "Shiver." Not that I'm trying to compare the books because Shiver to me was sooo much better. The ending took my breath away.
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At the edge of the woods in Mercy Falls, Grace lives alone. Oh, her parents are there but nigh unto incapable. Wrapped up in themselves and their careers, they are aggravatingly oblivious, managing to check in with their seventeen-year-old daughter in the unlikely event it occurs to them. And since she's never known any different, and they are her parents, the eminently practical Grace made her peace with it a long time ago. She doesn't weep over lost chances. She just makes dinner, does her homework, and quietly obsesses about the wolves in the woods. Yeah, Grace has one thing that consumes her. One messy, inexplicable fact in her otherwise staid existence. When she was a child she was mauled by wolves and left for dead. Somehow she survived and, ever since, a solitary wolf watches her from the shadows. Every winter, like clockwork, he skirts the edges of her home like a silent guardian, only to disappear again when summer arrives and temperatures rise. His presence is the one constant in her life. Until someone else is mauled by wolves. Until a boy named Sam turns up on her back porch. A boy with strangely familiar yellow eyes. And the world begins to change.
As soon as I found out Maggie Stiefvater was writing a new series to do with werewolves, I began counting down the days. LAMENT was on my Best of 2008 list, and I was relying on the mysteriously titled SHIVER to tide me over until the release of the sequel BALLAD. And honestly the first thought I had after finishing was that it was perfectly titled because Grace and Sam's story sends shivers down your spine repeatedly. The second thought was how the characters surprised me--in a good way. I don't know exactly what I was expecting. Probably something along the lines of Dee and Luke in LAMENT, all urgent and angsty dangerous as hell. But Grace and Sam are an entirely different breed. She is cool and methodical and even and I warmed up to her as I got to know her better. He is warm and thoughtful and artistic and I liked him right from the start. On the paranormal scale, this one falls much heavier on the realistic end of the spectrum. There's even a scientific (sort of) explanation for the werewolves' condition, with the result that the emphasis remains on the characters themselves. They and their storyline are so tied to the seasons, to the minutest fall in temperature, that I discovered I was responding to them in the same way. I loved how contained they both were. Maggie Stiefvater has managed to craft an intensely involving, desperate love story without the cliche teen stupidity a la Romeo & Juliet. Quite the feat. The descriptions are lovely, the young protagonists sympathetic, and there's a scene in a candy shop that will leave you absolutely salivating. I dare you to read that one just once.
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I haven't read a well written book in a while. I mean, literally I've been reading little paperback summer books which are entertaining but 3/4 of the way through you just want it to end, or you already know how it's ending so you're bored. With Shiver though, I was so pleased, so haaaappy when I read it. Through out the whole book I laughed, I cried, I even anxious, scared for poor Sam. Maggie Stiefvater wrote this book beautifully with the most delicate words to describe every emotion and longing. Truly beautiful. Lately everything is about Vampires and I'm glad to see some werewolves out there (I'm a werewolf person myself per say...) If you enjoyed Twilight, I'm sure you'll fall in love with this book just as much. Heck, I like this book even more.
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I adore this book.
Shiver is told through the two main characters, Sam and Grace, and I loved them both. The first-person narration moves between them seamlessly and is never jarring. Spending time with Sam and Grace is enjoyable; they are believable, likeable characters with flaws and quirks and all the things that make people people. The supporting characters are equally well-drawn, if not always equally likeable.
Moreover, the plot is original. Sam is a werewolf, and in the world of the novel, werewolves are human in the heat of summer and wolves in the cold of winter. As the werewolves age, however, their human-time decreases until they remain wolves until death. And Sam feels his last summer coming on just as he and Grace get to know one another.
Sam and Grace's star-crossed romance is at times cute and steamy, but always genuine. There are some PG-13 moments, but these are handled tastefully; I never felt that Shiver was dirty or overly descriptive.
And the words, oh the words! The language is more than descriptive; it's poetic. When I wasn't busy being absorbed by the plot, I was drinking in Stiefvater's descriptions; I felt the Minnesota winter of the novel. I frequently reread sentences and lingered over well-worded paragraphs. And on top of that, Maggie Stiefvater is funny! I laughed many times, and you probably will too.
Finally, the ending is abrupt but satisfying. I was left with a smile...and a craving for the sequel (Linger, which is due in Fall 2010). I highly recommend curling up next to the air conditioner with this one.
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"Shiver" is an amazing story, especially if you are a fan of werewolves, or wolves in general. I loved Mrs. Stiefvater's writing style, and how she was able to switch point of views flawlessly. Absolutely cannot wait for "Linger".
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As a young 13 year old reader, and a Twilight fan i thought shiver was going to be like a story kind of similar to Twilight's New Moon. As i began reading this book, I felt it was a little slow up until about page 80. After I read up to that page I could not put the book down. The storyline somewhat reminded me of what Twilight would be like if Bella had chosen Jacob, but the book in itself was so mmuch more than that. To be honest, I love this book more than the Twilight series. Sometimes while reading the book, I felt as thought I was the characters. Even though this is a fantasy story, It felt very real to me. Maggie Stiefvater has well outdone herself with this book! I felt the ending was perfect!! I just left me wanting to read more. I you have not read this book i suggest you get off your computer run to a bookstore and buy this book immediately!!! FAVORITE BOOK OF ALL TIME CANNOT WAIT FOR THE SEQUEL!
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This book was a really good book. I was looking for something really good to read and saw shiver. Right when i saw the title i grabed the book. something was telling me get it so i did. I went home and read the whole thing in one night. The book was so amazing i dont even have words to explain it.
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This book was great,I loved reading it.In some parts I think Grace gave up too easy,and didn't show enough emotion in other parts{like when Jack dies or when she thinks she's lost Sam for good}But when your reading it you imagen how you feel so that makes up for that.I wish there would have been more at the end,don't get me wrong the ending was good ,I just wanted more.I will read the book again.To give you more about the story,Grace was bitten by wolves,but she never changed{if you were bitten you changed in the cold weather into a wolve}because her father forgot her in the hot car when she was young.She fell in love with the wolve with yellow eye's{Sam} that saved her when she was bitten.His last summer being human they find each other and try to keep him from changing so they can be together.
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I finished Shiver this morning, and I honestly can't wait for the sequel, Linger.
I know it's wrong to judge a book by its cover, but it's what drew me in from the start. The cover is absolutely gorgeous, and the story itself only adds to the beauty. The characters seem very real (even Grace's oblivious parents), the romance isn't too over-the-top, and while some of the events in the book are a bit outrageous, they make Shiver a bit more exciting.
I'm getting a bit tired of people comparing Shiver to Twilight. Grace, in my opinion, is a strong girl. When her life was on the line, she kept her cool and handled the situation as best as she could. She may have been extremely upset when Sam vanished, but she didn't allow herself to become a full-blown zombie and detach herself from her friends/life completely, and didn't tempt the grim reaper to hear Sam's voice (Which didn't/probably couldn't happen in Shiver, anyway) like someone we all know of. While Grace did often go into detail about his eyes, I didn't mind it. It was nothing like Bella's constant descriptions of Edward's "cold, hard lips". Eesh.
I highly recommend Shiver to anyone who loves fantasy, romance, and wolves/werewolves.
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so far i think its a great book
Its heart warming and well written
A++++++++++++
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Shiver, by Maggie Steifvater, is by far one of the best books I've read in my life. Her story combines mystery with romance, intrigue with passion. I can even go as far as saying that I enjoyed this book more than I enjoyed the Twilight series! Anybody who loves the works of Stephanie Meyer with also love Shiver.
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this book is the first book I read when the main characters haven't had dozens and dozens of boyfriends/girlfriends before they find each other and it makes the book good since it's so pure and innocent. Other books like the house of night series has too much cussing and the main girl makes out with some guy for a year and they're not in a "relationship" yet. What the heck?
Of course. I digressed.
This book all in all is good. Especially the last few sentences of the book, which reveals the true ending. I was like, OMG! the way the author surprises you at the end is just so cute. I think the main guy is cute although he's a little too shy at times for a guy. He blushes all the time (more often than the girl herself) but I would definitely recommend this book to ALL of my friends.
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Even from the cover, I was amazed. The cover made me want to read the book, and when I did read the book I was doubly amazed. The author, to me, had an unusual way of writing, but overall it was great.If I could give it more than 5 stars, i would. I am VERY picky about books, if they are not good (in my opinion) i give up reading them. This one i read in about 2 hours after purchasing, it was great! I recommend this book to all teens (me being a teen also :] ) anyhoo I hope anyone that thinks of checking it out enjoys it :]
also.. if anyone wants to reccomend books to me im open to ideas... running out of books to read.
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There are no words to describe how amazing this book is. There shouldnt be any negative comments. Cant wait to read the rest of the series.
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This was the sweetest book i have ever read! Grace and Sam were made to love each other! This book made me cry at the end. I hope one day i will meet a boy like Sam. Im definitley going to read the whole series. It took me forever to pick up this series because i dont know it looked boring. Never judge a book by its cover! All the charchters were great in this book and enjoyable to read. Loved this book and i heard great comments about this book. Hope i dont get disappointed
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It is worth reading Maggie Stiefvater's books just to see the poetry in her language. You'll want to re-read passages aloud they're so beautiful. Even aside from the language, there are so many positives I found in this book. I thought the dialogue between the teens was dead on. I thought the atmosphere was great: cold and dark and then, when there was romance in the air, you felt warm too. The book had a great beginning. One scene in particular was masterfully done: when Grace is helping Sam try not to phase. She's holding him, talking to him. Sam is shaking hard, writhing on the floor, on the verge of giving in. One of the best parts of paranormal fantasy, particularly when branded with a YA label, is how it can tackle issues of identity. That scene, for me, could be a very powerful metaphor for overcoming addiction. I realize it could mean something totally different to another reader, but that's why I liked it. Love can pull you out of some dark places and give you the courage to change or, in this case, fight against becoming a monster. Overall, I thought this book was great. I only had a few dislikes. I wish there had been more of a plot. SHIVER uses the same "plot" TWILIGHT uses ... which is mostly just 300 pages of two people making out. The way Sam and Grace push past physical boundaries is the only real page turner and, for me, even that got a bit boring (the part where Grace puts her face in his armpit and talks about how good it smells ... I didn't really get that). I also thought the parents were too conveniently absent. Even though they were gone all the time, I find it hard to believe they didn't know a boy was living under their roof for weeks at a time. My final dislike is kind of petty, but worth mentioning: In a book this poetic and pretty I thought it was lame that the word "retard" was used. Still, I think the novel is definitely worth reading. I'll be looking forward to the other books in the series and I hope SHIVER gives Stiefvater a platform for many more dark and lovely stories.
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Ever since Grace was attacked, she has been obsessed with wolves. Well, one wolf in preticular, a yellow-eyed wolf that saved her, protected her, and has loved her for years now. He can't seem to stay away, and she's glad. But when a boy from school is attacked and 'killed' people are starting to believe that wolves are way too dangerous. Dangerous enough for them to go on a hunt and kill them. Scared out of her mind, Grace desperatly tries to stop them. But it's no use; gun shots echo threw the woods. For her 'safety' and to her loss, she ends up back at her house, where yellow eyes are waiting there for her. And she just knows it's her wolf. The only difference is he's a human now. A bloody, dying, gun shot, victim. Luckly, he heals quickly and Grace is by his side. She's desperate to stay with him, with her wolf boy, her Sam for as long as she possibly can. But how long will that be? While he's recovering, Sam tells Grace everything. He's a 'werwolf' and his life is ruled by the seasons. Grace can't bear to lose him just as they get closer, and she does anything in her power to keep himm warm. As their love and relationship blossom, winter comes dangerously around the corner. But that's not all. The boy who was attacked, Jack, is now a wolf, too. He's unstable, and angry. All he knows is that Grace isn't a wolf, even though she was bitten. Does she know a cure? Can she save Sam from becoming a wolf forever? Will their love for each other overcome everything else?
Shiver, by Maggie Stiefvater, is an wonderfully, amazing, chilling book that I will never forget. I cryed, laughed, and fell in love with the charaters from beginning to end, and I loved the whole book. I finished all 392 pages in this book in like nine hours, and stayed up until 5 am just becuase I couldn't put it down. The plot was so original and heartfelt, the words were wonderfully descriptive (but not to the point where it's boring) and I felt like I was there with the characters. I loved how Grace was strong and caring, and I loved just about everything about Sam. He was loving, protective, caring, sweet, and all around charming. Even the simplest things they did together meant something beautiful. The charaters were developed and soulful, like you knew all about them, without the author having to explain.
I'll admit, before reading this book, I was worried about how sad it was going to be. It sounded like a depressing, desprerate love and I, being a person that loves happy endings, wasn't sure if I wanted to read it. But I'm so gald I did. Trying not to spoil anything, I will just say that the ending was amazing and left you starving for the next book, Linger, that's coming fall 2010 (to my extreme disappointment...CAN"T WAIT FOR MORE :) This is a MUST read. And defiantly a book to re-read over and over agian.
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OMG! I just loved this book Sam was so sweet and Grace I just loved her whole character. The author made you feel like you were inside the book and omg what more can I say... The ending was just perfect just when you thought, "NOOOOOOOOO no more Sam" it just takes the words right out of your mouth and your like YAY! lol I so recommend this book to any one who loves a good love story with a little side of action!
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OMG! I loved the book! It was so sweet and exciting. I couldn't put the book down. I wanted to know what was going to happen between Grace and Sam.I loved the way the author wrote from Grace's perpective and then from Sam's. You get the feel on how each of the characters felt and reacted to the situations. Very cool! Enjoy!
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I absolutely loved this book!!! It was a bit... Involved at times but still a very good read! I can't wait to read the next two!
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