Witch & Wizard

James Patterson's Witch & Wizard is a Young Adult book about teenage siblings, Whit and Wisty, who are arrested for being a wizard and witch, to their own surprise. The New Order has claimed control of the government and banned anything pertaining to the arts, and all magical people are being executed. As they begin to learn about their powers, Whit and Wisty are on a mission to save other young witches and wizards and find their missing parents. The book is a very quick read, and I enjoyed the magic and spells, but I didn't ponder the cliffhanger for long after I finished. However, fantasy is a guilty pleasure of mine and as the series unfolds I will continue reading.

Dear John

I recommend Dear John for anyone who enjoys a good love story. I was swept away from the first page, and felt like I was right there with John and Savannah as they fell in love. I felt their pain as the distance slowly tore them apart. I was moved when John finally accepted his father's Asperger's syndrome and their relationship reached a new level. And I was devastated when their love just wasn't enough to keep them together. John was lovable because he wasn't a white knight who swept in to rescue Savannah. He was a soldier, rough around the edges, and a former trouble maker. The tragedy of 9/11 provided more heartbreak for the characters, and made their long-distance relationship even more difficult to endure. Dear John is a solid, modern love story. I just love to live in the world Nicholas Sparks creates.