Title: Cold Fury
Author: T.M. Goeglein
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Publish Date: July 24, 2012
Genre: YA, Thriller, Crime
Pages: 313
Source: Author

Sara Jane Rispoli is a normal sixteen-year-old coping with school and a budding romance--until her parents and brother are kidnapped and she discovers her family is deeply embedded in the Chicago Outfit (aka the mob.

Now on the run from a masked assassin, rogue cops and her turncoat uncle, Sara Jane is chased and attacked at every turn, fighting back with cold fury as she searches for her family. It's a quest that takes her through concealed doors and forgotten speakeasies--a city hiding in plain sight. Though armed with a .45 and 96K in cash, an old tattered notebook might be her best defense--hidden in its pages the secret to "ultimate power." It's why she's being pursued, why her family was taken, and could be the key to saving all of their lives.

Sara Jane, for all intents and purposes, could be the girl next door. There’s one little detail, however, that sets her apart from the rest. Sara Jane’s family has a long and arduous history with the Chicago mob. Her oblivion is quickly unveiled when her parents and brother are kidnapped, and Sara Jane is left with few answers, a couple clues and a cold, hard fury that might be both her best defense and her best offense. Sara Jane must somehow simultaneously outrun crooked cops, escaped masked villains and outsmart the criminals fast enough to find her family because, as are many things with the mob, her family is running out of time. Can she discover the truth fast enough, or will Sara Jane lose her wits along the way?

When I started Cold Fury by T.M. Goeglein, I have to admit that I was a tad bit skeptical. While, in theory, I love thrillers and mysteries, there’s a sort of paradox in the realm of fiction regarding the mob. In the case of Cold Fury, we have a teenage heroine that must somehow outsmart the mob, which definitely tests our ability to suspend reality. This novel defies the odds though, spinning us into the dark underbelly of Chicago where nothing is exactly as it seems. With twists, turns and an ever-unraveling plot, Cold Fury clutches you in the throes of a life-and-death adventure at breakneck speed. You’ll have to hold on tight because it’s one heck of a ride.

I’ll admit that one of my biggest fears when approaching Cold Fury was that Sara Jane was going to be too much of a hardened character for me to access her emotions, empathize with her situation and make me want to be a part of her journey. Quite the contrary though, she was as tangible as she was resourceful, and her emotions rang true despite the fact that she seemed to consistently land on her feet in the most dire of situations. The story is captivating, and the plot seems very much like a runaway train. There were times when I was white-knuckling the book because of not only the suspense, but the believability, as well. Cold Fury could easily have settled into a realm of the cliché, but it fought and against the odds, added an impressive host of secondary characters to become invested in and really made me want to read the conclusion. The true beauty of the story, however, is the incredibly rich writing style of the author. The descriptions are so keenly astute and observant that I felt I was truly on the streets of Chicago with Sara Jane throughout the book. Vivid and haunting, the world comes alive through his incredible prose as it grips you and won’t let go. With a touch of romance, a theme of family and survival and a teenage girl that rivals any superhero, Cold Fury is solid gold.

I was completely and utterly blown away by Cold Fury, guys. It’s a phenomenal novel that is incredibly underrated, and I think that every reader should give it a go. I give it a flawless 5 out of 5, and I highly recommend it to both YA and adult fiction fans, especially those who enjoy thrillers, mysteries and crime stories.

I received this book free of charge from the author in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

Title: The Implosion of Aggie Winchester
Author: Lara Zielin
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Publish Date: August 4, 2011
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Pages: 278
Source: Publisher

Sixteen-year-old Aggie Winchester couldn't care less about who's elected prom queen - even if it's her pregnant Goth-girl best friend, Sylvia Ness. Aggie's got bigger things to worry about, like whether or not her ex-boyfriend wants to get back together and whether her mom will survive cancer.

But like it or not, Aggie soon finds herself in the middle of an unfolding prom scandal, largely because her mom, who is the school's principal, is rumored to have burned prom ballots so Sylvia won't be elected queen. Aggie's own investigation makes her wonder if the election could be dirty on both sides.

Aggie's life is a bit of a whirlwind, and prom is the last thing on her mind. Like it or not though, when scandal rocks the school and her mother is at the heart of it, Aggie can't help but recognize prom is at the forefront of everything. Aggie has to take it all in stride. From her mother's breast cancer, to the snubs from her pregnant best friend, to her ex-boyfriend and her potential new romantic interest, everything is a bit too much. To come to terms and put things right, Aggie knows she must control the tiny piece of her life that she can. She has to figure out who burned the ballots, prove it wasn't her mother and help Sylvia win. Things be a bit more complicated than she'd hoped though.

I'd never heard of this one before it arrived on my doorstep, and I'll admit - I figured it would be an extremely light read that just might distract me from the dark books for which I hold a serious candle. The Implosion of Aggie Winchester turned out to be different than I'd thought though. Quirky, ironic and a touch dramatic at times, it's a sweet and oddly sensible tale that lets its small differences shine through and make it stand out from the crowd. Author, Lara Zielin, took a time-tested concept and added subtle twists and turns, gave us a lovable heroine and showed us that there can be good in these sweet, simple tales. Sweet and churning, this contemporary tale provides us with a wonderful host of characters and a plot that might seem trite at first glance, but could very well end up surprising you, too.

To be completely honest, I thought I was going to hate this book. For one, it's riddled with cliches (think cancer, goths & geeks, teen pregnancy and prom). For another, it seems as if the entire storyline revolves around a so-called mystery involving prom ballots. I was pleasantly surprised, however, to find that The Implosion of Aggie Winchester lent a sort of sincerity and truth to an otherwise tepid story. Aggie began as a first flat character. Her life revolved around a series of events - a breakup, an ex-best friend, the drama of her mother's illness and her friend's pregnancy. However, as we move through the story, we watch as she evolves from the one-sided character that cared about little but the superficial into someone we can genuinely relate to. There is a soft undertone of humour and wit that weaves its way through the otherwise very typical storyline, and it freshens the plot, ups the pace and really pushed The Implosion of Aggie Winchester to the next level. The bottom line is simple, friends. Simple and honest, this novel pushes past its foundation of cliches into a genuine, honest read that any teen or young woman can find sincere.

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by The Implosion of Aggie Winchester. Was it the deepest novel I've ever read? Heck no. Was it fun, genuine and honest though? Yes, it most certainly was. I give it a 4 out of 5, and I recommend it to all fans of YA fiction, especially those who enjoy contemporary.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.