Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

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.

I was drawn into this book immediately and couldn't put it down! What a beautifully moving story-- it is one of the most well-written books I have read in a long time. I loved Sam and Grace's stories. I loved reading how it went from their seemingly forever separate stories to suddenly becoming just one story-- theirs. Not "his" and "hers". I don't even know how to describe this book. There were times when my heart literally ACHED for Sam or Grace. I felt like I knew them and I felt helpless to make everything okay. I felt nervousness every time it would note a temperature drop and longing when they were apart and pain when things went so very wrong and loneliness when there just didn't seem to be a way and... love. Love when the book finally came to a heart-wrenching close. Love for Sam and Grace, love for the author for the emotional ending and love for the book in general. I would definitely recommend this. Now, what are you waiting for?? Go pick it up!!

I wanted to make a small note about the cover-- I have hated this cover since I started reading the book. It talks MULTIPLE times about a golden forest and it just made more sense to me that it should have been golden, like fall. But as I wrote this review and was pondering the book, I thought the cover just looked so...cold. Which is the whole point. Duh. Now I have to say that I like it much better. :)

Watch for the sequel, Linger, which comes out in July 2010!!