FLIRTING WITH MAYBE by Wendy Higgins was released in the U.S. on March 5, 2013 in eBook format only. It is currently available to order online at AMAZON and BARNES & NOBLE.

Published by HarperTeen, the story is 92 pages.

Description…

He was fifteen and she was seventeen. 

When sophomore Ryan “The Kid” McPhearson makes the Varsity baseball team, he finds himself submersed into the life of upperclassmen, and falling in love with senior Brooke Bennet. To Ryan she’s his dream girl, perfect. Maybe to the outside world a two-year age difference doesn’t matter, but this is high school. Everything matters.

Ryan soon realizes Brooke’s life is not so perfect. He becomes her closest friend, her safe place to fall when she needs to escape. Ryan seems to be benched in the friend zone with no chance to bat.

Time is both a curse and a blessing. It ushers Brooke away to college, and Ryan into the arms of his first girlfriend. It alters Ryan from a kid to a high school graduate, ready to venture to college himself. But when Ryan sees Brooke again he realizes there are some things even time can’t touch.

Though much has changed, one question still remains. Will the things that mattered in high school always stand between them?

FLIRTING WITH MAYBE is an absolutely delightful and heartwarming novella that follows the relationship of Ryan and Brooke as their friendship develops into the possibility of something more.

Told from Ryan’s point of view, this short story spans nearly three years, giving readers glimpses of significant moments in his life involving Brooke as he progresses from a shy high school sophomore to a more confident high school graduate.

It is a story that tests whether love can overcome any number of obstacles – age, appearances, friends, family, self-worth, distance – even when that love may be one-sided. And it puts it to the test time and time again as life takes Ryan and Brooke in different directions.

This novella is fun and flirty, but also bittersweet. It introduces a character who is outwardly shy but sure of himself and his feelings and one who appears in control but is actually a bit of an emotional mess, which makes for an exciting dynamic and makes this an incredibly engaging read.

While this is only a novella, the story feels complete and the characters are easy to connect with. The author gives readers enough of a peek into their lives to become attached and to feel invested in the outcome. And she keeps them riveted by taking them along on the emotional roller coaster ride she put her main character on.

For readers looking for a quick maybe love story that’s not only hopeful, light and sweet but substantive, FLIRTING WITH MAYBE is a must.

Reviewer gives this novella…

On a personal note…

What a sweet story. I loved getting to meet Ryan McPhearson, even if it was for only a short while. And although Brooke was so very flawed, I liked getting to know her too.

For a short story that spanned such a long time period, I thought the pacing was perfect and there were just the right number of peeks into Ryan’s life. I was immediately drawn into the story and made an instant connection with the main character.

What I liked most about this story were its characters. Neither was perfect, but the possibility for them to be perfect for each other made me hopeful for a happy ending.

And I liked that the author touched upon some very real issues involving body image, self-worth, alcoholism, broken families. It gave the story a bit more depth and its characters, as well.

Of course, I adored the love story, even if it was a bit of an unrequited one. Whether it ended up that way… well, I’ll never tell.

As much as I loved the novella, I would love to see this story fleshed out a bit more and made into a full-length novel. The story is there. The characters are there. And of course getting only a short peek at their lives makes me want to know more about them. But then I knew that would be the case when I decided to read this standalone contemporary.

Regardless, I definitely recommend FLIRTING WITH MAYBE. It’s a wonderful short story that gave me all sorts of smiles, with a main character I’m very glad I met.

GLITTER & DOOM by Bethany Griffin was released in the U.S. on March 26, 2013 in eBook format only. It is currently available to order online at AMAZON and BARNES & NOBLE.

Published by Greenwillow Books, the story is 44 pages.

GLITTER & DOOM is a novella in the author’s Masque of the Red Death series set between MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH and DANCE OF THE RED DEATH.

Description…

A 50-page, digital-only novella set in the world of Bethany Griffin’s dark and haunting retelling of the classic Edgar Allan Poe story Masque of the Red Death. When a rich teenage girl who spends her nights in the most desirable club and a smart, young inventor meet, they might have more in common than they know.

April, niece to the dying city’s cruel dictator, is Araby Worth’s glittery and frivolous best friend. But she’s more than she appears. And when she disappeared in Masque of the Red Death, where did she go? This short novella answers that question, taking us deep underneath the crumbling city, where April crosses paths with Kent, the serious young inventor who is key to rebellion. Glitter & Doom is a story of chilling action, of spies, and of surprising love. Can love be anything but doomed is a city that’s burning down around its survivors?

A dark, unnerving story about two of the most fascinating characters from Masque of the Red Death.

GLITTER & DOOM is a captivating short novella told in two parts – Glitter, from Alice’s point of view and Doom, from Kent’s. It offers readers a peek at the world from two characters who play an important role in the series’ outcome and gives insight into events that take place outside of the main story but are integral to it.

This story allows readers to get to know both characters a little bit more, to see how they first met and to see just what parts they played in the events leading up to the climactic conclusion at the end of the first book, MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH. And it gives them a few more reasons to detest both Prospero and Malcontent.

Glitter let’s readers see how Alice and Elliott became the people they were when they are first introduced in book one. It reveals a moment from their earlier lives that is both horrifying and heartbreaking. It shows a different side of Alice than the one most often seen through Araby’s point of view. And it doing so, it makes her a much more relatable character.

Doom gives readers Kent’s backstory and let’s them make a stronger connection to a character who only plays a supporting role in the novels. It let’s readers see what his motivations are and why he feels the way he does. And by getting this short peek at his history and his early encounters with Alice, he becomes a much more three-dimensional character than he is in the novels.

GLITTER & DOOM is a quick but riveting read that will offer up a different reading experience depending upon whether it is read prior to the final book in the series or after, though it can be read either before or after DANCE OF THE RED DEATH. It is both a heartwarming and bittersweet story that delivers danger, excitement, suspense and romance in each of its two parts.

And while not essential to an overall enjoyment of the series, the stories and characters in GLITTER & DOOM add quite a bit to it, making it a must read for fans.

This novella also includes a short excerpt of Chapter One from DANCE OF THE RED DEATH.

Reviewer gives this novella…

On a personal note…

I had no idea when I picked up GLITTER & DOOM that it was two short stories from Alice and Kent’s points of view. I thought it was only Alice’s story. When I found out that it was both of their stories I was even more eager… and anxious… to read it.

Though I can’t say why that is. But those who read DANCE OF THE RED DEATH will know exactly what I’m talking about… or why I can’t say anything about how I felt when reading this novella.

I have always thought Alice was awesome. And reading her short story and reading about her in Kent’s made her even more so. She was brave. Fearless. Clever. And seeing her with Kent in the scenes in this novella makes me wish for an entire novel from her point of view.

And I loved seeing a younger Elliott, even though what happened was absolutely devastating. I loved getting to see those tiny glimpses of Will. I loved getting to see what Alice thought of Araby. And I loved the fact that this novella made me absolutely adore a character I hadn’t paid much attention to in the novels – Kent.

What I most loved, however, is the thing I can’t talk about. Though I suppose it wouldn’t be too revealing to say that because I read this after the series ended, I made a much stronger emotional connection to the story than I would have had I read it prior to reading DANCE OF THE RED DEATH.

While I normally am a proponent of reading things in order, I’m glad I read it out of sequence. It felt like a much more important story than it might have if I hadn’t known how things ended for all this series’ main characters.

Even though this was such a short novella, the author managed to break my heart a couple of times. Once in Glitter and once in Doom. And she made me fall in love with her series all over again.

I cannot recommend GLITTER & DOOM enough. This is a must, must, must read and a short story I must, must, must read again.

ORIGINS: THE FIRE by Debra Driza was released in the U.S. on January 8, 2013 in eBook format only. It is currently available to order online at AMAZON and BARNES & NOBLE.

Published by Katherine Tegen Books, the story is 15 pages.

ORIGINS: THE FIRE is a free eBook short story that includes the first seven chapters of MILA 2.0

Description…

Heart-stopping and electric, MILA 2.0: Origins: The Fire contains a short prequel story and an excerpt to MILA 2.0, the first book in a riveting Bourne Identity–style trilogy by Debra Driza.

Mila can’t remember anything before the fire that took her father’s life. It’s normal to have some memory loss after traumatic events, but Mila doesn’t remember if she’s ever learned to ride a bike, or if she’s ever been in love. Nothing.

What she doesn’t know is that she isn’t supposed to remember—that she was built in a computer science lab and programmed to forget. Because if she remembers, she might discover her true identity.

The question is: If she relived the fire, what would she see?

ORIGINS: THE FIRE offers readers a short introduction to the world of MILA 2.0 along with several chapters from the full-length novel. It is a teaser-length story that gives just a taste of the author’s writing and only hints at who Mila is. The context for this story itself is revealed in MILA 2.0.

It’s an engaging read that tells the tale of the fire that was an integral part of Mila’s memories. And it ends in a way that may be a bit of a surprise to those who haven’t yet “met” Mila or read the description for the novel.

Readers should not expect a novella-length story. It is simply a brief intro. But for those who have yet to purchase the full-length novel, it gives a nice long look at seven chapters from the book.

Set before the events in MILA 2.0, ORIGINS: THE FIRE can be enjoyed by both those who have read the book and those who have yet to read it.

Reviewer gives this short story…

On a personal note…

I really liked this short story. I found myself totally caught up in what was happening, so I was more than a little bit surprised when it ended so suddenly. Of course I wanted more!

I’d been alerted to the fact that it was so short before I started reading it, so I wasn’t as surprised as I would have been had I not known that most of the eBook was taken up with several chapters from MILA 2.0.

It was interesting reading it after having read MILA 2.0, knowing exactly what was going on. But I can imagine, if I read this story first, I would have wondered what the heck happened right there at the end.

I am glad that this was written and that I read it. It makes me even more sympathetic toward Mila and makes me wonder a little bit more about Mila’s mom. Though I won’t say why, as my questions about her are rather spoiler-y.

As this was such a short read, I won’t make my review any longer than it already is, but I will just say that the eBook offers readers a great short story and a nice long look at the full-length novel.

DIE FOR HER by Amy Plum was released in the U.S. on April 2, 2013 in eBook format only. It is currently available to order online at AMAZON and BARNES & NOBLE.

Published by HarperTeen, the story is 6o pages.

DIE FOR HER is a novella in the author’s Die for Me series set between UNTIL I DIE and IF I SHOULD DIE.

Description…

Set in the romantic and death-defying world of the international bestselling Die for Me trilogy, this digital original novella follows Jules, a brooding, immortal French artist who has fallen in love with his best friend’s girlfriend.

Jules Marchenoir is a revenant-an undead being whose fate forces him to sacrifice himself over and over again to save human lives. He’s spent the better part of the last century flirting his way through Paris, but when he met Kate Mercier, the heroine from Amy Plum’s Die for Me trilogy, he knew his afterlife had changed forever and he had found the love of his life. Until Kate fell for his best friend, Vincent. Now Jules is faced with an impossible decision: choosing between his loyal friend and a love truly worth dying for.

DIE FOR HER is a wildly entertaining and incredibly revealing novella in author Amy Plum’s Die for Me series told from Jules’ perspective. Released between books two and three, this short story takes a look at events from the first two books in the series from his POV and concludes at the same point in the story as UNTIL I DIE.

As it does parallel the story as told from Kate’s point of view, this novella should not be read prior to having read both previously released books. And as it reveals certain things that were hinted at in that second book, and which will likely come to light in IF I SHOULD DIE, it is best read prior to reading that third and final book in the series.

Jules is one of the author’s more charismatic characters. His charming and flirtatious behavior serve to make him one of the more likable characters in this series, even if at first glance he appears to be a bit shallow. But in this novella, readers will get to see a different side of Jules and will learn that there is more to him than what meets the eye.

This novella also gives readers an expanded look at the world as well as a look at it from an alternate viewpoint. It offers a quick look at events that couldn’t be explored from Kate’s perspective, insight into events where her POV may not have been the most accurate, and an eye-opening peek at scenes involving both Kate and Jules.

DIE FOR HER is not only a riveting read but a heartbreaking one. For fans of the series, and especially Jules, this story is not one to be missed. And for those readers who may not have picked up on the hints in UNTIL I DIE, reading this novella will make them want to go back for a second look.

As it doesn’t cover new ground or bridge a gap between novels, it’s not mandatory to read DIE FOR HER to complete the series. But for those readers who like to take a longer look at the world or who like to see another character’s views on what has transpired, this novella is a must.

And as it includes a short excerpt of chapter one from IF I SHOULD DIE, readers will get to continue the story right to the edge of a small cliff.

Reviewer gives this novella…

On a personal note…

Jules is my favorite male character in this series. While Vincent may have held the top spot in DIE FOR ME, I’ve always been fond of his ever flirty best friend Jules. But after having read UNTIL I DIE, Vincent was out and Jules was in.

So I was totally thrilled to be able to read this short novella from his perspective. And I was even more thrilled to find out that what I thought was going on with Jules wasn’t just  wishful thinking.

As a fan of this character, I couldn’t help but fall instantly in love with this story. It made me grin, it tore my heart out and it made me want to read an entire novel from his point of view. It also made me happy that I was right to adore him, that he wasn’t just a flirt, that he was so much more.

And I am so glad I read this before reading IF I SHOULD DIE. I would have been wondering if my suspicions were correct for the entire read until all was revealed. And not knowing Jules’ thoughts would have made for a completely different reading experience of that last book.

I don’t usually get all swoon-y over a novella. And I almost never fall madly in love with one. But it couldn’t be helped. This story was all sorts of awesome.

RADIANT by Cynthia Hand was released in the U.S. on December 4, 2012 in eBook format only. It is currently available to order online at AMAZON and BARNES & NOBLE.

Published by HarperTeen, the story is 69 pages.

RADIANT is a novella in the author’s Unearthly series set between HALLOWED and BOUNDLESS.

Description…

From New York Times bestselling author Cynthia Hand comes a riveting original novella (available only as an ebook) set in the world of the Unearthly series.

Clara is desperate to get away—from the memories that haunt her in Wyoming and the visions of a future she isn’t ready to face—and spending the summer in Italy with her best friend, Angela, should be the perfect escape. . . .

For as long as she can remember, Angela has been told that love is dangerous, that she must always guard her heart. But when she met a mysterious guy in Italy two years ago she was determined to be with him, no matter the costs. Now she must decide whether she can trust Clara with her secret, or if telling her the truth will risk everything she cares about.

Alternating between Angela and Clara’s perspectives, Radiant chronicles the unforgettable summer that will test the bounds of their friendship and change their lives forever.

RADIANT is a short novella that alternates between Clara and Angela’s points of view. Set in the summer between the events that took place in HALLOWED, the second book in the series, and those in BOUNDLESS, the final book, this story takes readers to Italy where they’ll learn just a little bit more about the mysterious boy from Angela’s past.

And because of the dual perspectives, readers will get to know Angela a little bit better, from her insecurities to her wariness about falling in love.

Even though RADIANT includes Clara’s point of view, it is Angela’s story and it is a bit of a love story. It reveals some weaknesses in Angela’s character as well as some of her vulnerabilities, developing her into someone who is more than a little bit selfish but also rather sympathetic.

A new character is introduced in this novella. Someone who this story makes clear will have a rather significant role to play in the final book in the series. Their presence and the questions they raise about events to come add mystery and suspense, making for an incredibly engaging read.

RADIANT leaves readers on the edge of a cliff with its parting line. And for those that haven’t yet read the final book in the series, they’ll want to dive right in to find out just what that one decision means for the story. For those that have, it will reveal the possibility of a very different outcome had a different decision been made.

While this series can be enjoyed without having read this novella, getting more insight into another character from the series and getting the chance to see just how different things might have been, makes RADIANT an exciting, must read addition to this series.

And for those that don’t yet have BOUNDLESS, this novella offers an incredibly entertaining sneak peek at the prologue and first chapter.

Reviewer gives this novella…

On a personal note…

It was so easy to fall right back in love with this series when reading RADIANT. While Clara wasn’t exactly at her best – pining over Tucker, suffering from her visions – and Angela seemed to be at her worst – selfish, jealous, weak – I still found myself glued to this short story.

I wanted to know more about this mystery man. I wanted to know what it was about him that made Angela’s behavior totally change. I wanted to know if he was someone trustworthy or if Clara was right to be wary.

RADIANT was such a tease. It made me incredibly curious about Angela’s vision – what it meant, when it would come to pass and just who was the guy in the vision. It made me worried about what visions Clara was having. And it made me super nervous about the new character.

But it was the last line that killed me. I had to fight the urge to pick up BOUNDLESS the instant I finished reading this story. It filled me with dread about the events to come. And it made me worried about how just one small choice could alter things so drastically and for the worse.

Fortunately I have BOUNDLESS so I don’t have to wait too long to read it. I cannot imagine how torturous the wait must have been for those who read this novella before it was available to dive right into.

UNDONE by Elizabeth Norris was released in the U.S. on March 5, 2013 in eBook format only. It is currently available to order online at AMAZON and BARNES & NOBLE.

Published by Balzer + Bray, the story is 105 pages.

UNDONE is a novella in the author’s Unravelling series set between the first and second books.

Description…

Before the accident. Before their universes collided. Before they fell in love.

Riveting and romantic, Undone: An Unraveling Novella contains three short stories set in the world of Unraveling, the first book in the gripping sci-fi duology by Elizabeth Norris.

Before Ben Michaels saved Janelle Tenner’s life, Janelle saved Ben when he stumbled through an interuniverse portal into a completely new world. That day, he fell in love with the girl of his dreams. And he never forgot her.

Through three stories told from Ben’s point of view, learn how Ben and his friends discovered their ability to travel between worlds, how Ben first met Janelle, and how he pined for her for years before he actually got the chance to meet her, save her life, and capture her heart. And find out what happens to Ben between the cliff-hanger conclusion to Unraveling and the beginning of its heart-stopping sequel, Unbreakable.

UNDONE is an exciting, fast-paced novella told from Ben Michaels’ perspective that bridges the gap between the events that took place in book one, UNRAVELING, and those that take place in UNBREAKABLE, the final book in the series.

The story also gives readers a quick peek at events in Ben’s life that took place prior to the start of UNRAVELING up through everything that readers had experienced through Janelle’s eyes in that book.

While much of the earlier part of the story had already been revealed, UNDONE let’s readers see just how Ben felt about those things that happened, how he reacted and just how important Janelle was to him.

The beginning of the story jumps rather quickly from moment to moment, only allowing for a glimpse, but the pace slows a bit to allow readers to connect to the new events, those exclusive to this novella.

Where the first part of the story offers a heartwarming and heartbreaking look at Ben’s life, the latter part of the story adds excitement and suspense to the mix. It introduces new characters, reveals that not all is as was expected for Ben and Eli, and sets the stage for things to come.

For those that read this story in sequence, the ending leaves off at a place in the story that will make them anxious to find out what happens next. For those that read it after both full-length novels, while there won’t be that same level of anticipation, it may just prompt a re-read of that next book.

UNDONE is a must for those that want to take a longer look at the world, to find out exactly what happened with Ben and Eli before Janelle’s arrival, or to get to know a little bit more about Ben – his feelings about Janelle, his attempts to return home, and his reasons for what he did after he got there.

And for those that wish to continue the story for just a little bit longer, this eNovella also includes a short two-chapter sneak peek at UNBREAKABLE.

Reviewer gives this novella…

On a personal note…

I am always a fan of getting to see a story from another charcter’s POV. And I loved getting to experience this story through Ben’s eyes. Even if it was only a brief peek.

As I did read this out of sequence, there wasn’t quite the same tension build as there would have been had I not already read the series to its conclusion. But I still enjoyed getting to see what was going on with Ben during the time that led up to everything that happened in UNBREAKABLE.

Of course my favorite part of this novella was seeing what Ben thought of Janelle from the moment they’d first met. Yes, I may have swooned once or twice. And I loved getting to know what was happening with him during those moments from UNRAVELING as seen from Janelle’s POV.

And yes, reading the novella made me want to re-read UNRAVELING so I could match up those previously revealed moments with what I now know about Ben.