Abandon by Meg Cabot

Pierce is very unusual. She died when she was 15. When she died, she went to the Underworld, but didn't know it. So when she saw John, the man she met after her grandfather's funeral in the cemetery, she asked him to save her. And he did.

Two years later she's alive--she was brought back to life--and moving with her mom to Isla Huesos, where her mother grew up and where she met John for the first time. Where she runs into John again, after having escaped his palace in the underworld when she was 15. She feels drawn to him, despite the danger. John fears for her safety, since the Furies try to destroy anyone he cares about. Can Pierce save herself and John? Or is it hopeless?

A good love story and twist on the Persephone and Hades story. This is the first in a trilogy, and although Pierce is a little slow on the uptake, it's well-written and she is a strong character. Can't wait for the other books!!

But I Love Him by Amanda Grace

Ann has been dating Connor for the past year. For their relationship, she's given up track, her friends, even her mom. She's even moved in with him now.

But Connor isn't the perfect boyfriend Ann envisioned. While he promised her from the beginning he would never hurt or hit her--he breaks that promise. Ann knows it's her fault--she's not doing things right--and he's always sorry afterwards.

The night of their one year anniversary, though, things go too far. And she has to figure out if she can really stay with someone like him.

An emotional and harrowing book. Ann and Connor are both sympathetic, although Connor loses that as time moves on. This book starts at the end of the year and moves backward in time, while flashing forward again to the present. A hard book to read, but even harder to put down.

Lament by Maggie Stiefvater

Deidre's life is about to change, even though she doesn't know it. She heads to the high school to participate in a musical competition, nervous about her performance. Then Luke Dillon, the new boy, helps her out and suddenly her life is unraveling. She finds four-leaf clovers everywhere and she discovers she can move things with her mind.

Before she knows it, she's thrust into a large battle with the Faerie Queen, and everyone she cares about is in danger.

A great love story. There is enough action, suspense, and plot here to keep anyone entertained. Deidre is believable even if the adults aren't always, and her and Luke's story makes the novel fantastic.

Note: the sequel to Lament is Ballad and it's about James. I don't want to say much here, because it'll give away some of the things that happen in Lament, but it is another fantastic love story. Again, filled with action, suspense, and a storyline that is believable and fascinating.

The Law of Nines by Terry Goodkind

Alex has no idea the fate that's awaiting him as he sees a truck barreling down on him as he's walking down the street. Without thinking, he reaches out and saves the woman standing nearby.

What happens next is impossible for Alex to believe. The woman he saves, Jax, says she's in his world to find him. He's the only one that can save her world. Alex refuses to believe, at least until too many things happen that can't be explained. Soon, he and Jax are on the run and hiding from men out to kill them.

All of this revolves around some land Alex inherited when he turned 27. And the gateway to another world that is somewhere on that land.

If you haven't read the Sword of Truth series first, you'll still understand what's going on in this book. However, you won't get some of the more interesting and subtle hints to what's going on and understanding Jax's story. Otherwise, this is yet another great book by Goodkind. Lots of action, a love story, and magic all wrapped up together in a great package.