Sara Bennett Wealer

Elaine Gillies is a high schooler whose family owns the funeral home in her small town. As a family-run business, Elaine pitches in by playing piano, greeting guests, and ensuring details are correct, earning her the title of "Funeral Girl." However, Xander, a new student, loves that Elaine lives in a funeral home. Xander is a ghost hunter and is keen to investigate Gillies Funeral Home. Against her better judgment, Elaine allowed for a ghost hunt. Amazingly, a full apparition appears to show more Elaine. In researching the apparition, Elaine finds that a former proprietor's daughter may have fought similar battles to those she faces now. Meanwhile, Elaine faces challenging decisions regarding her friendships, relationships, and future.

Grave Things Like Love is a young adult paranormal romance that focuses on Elaine's coming of age. Elaine's home, which functions as a funeral home, is an intriguing setting. Elaine dutifully helps her parents run the funeral home, often forgoing friends and her personal life. Elaine finally begins to do things for herself after meeting Xander. Xander's influence makes Elaine push her boundaries, and she allows a paranormal investigation in the funeral home. I enjoyed Flossie's presence and learning about her past. I wish she had reached out to Elaine more. As Elaine's world breaks down around her, she figures out what she wants to do with her life, rather than what her parents expect. Elaine's love triangle with Xander and Miles forced her to examine what she really wanted and come to terms with her long-ignored feelings.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. show less

Teenage love is tough enough, but throw in life at a mortuary, a demanding family, and a ghost with an attitude, and nothing is simple.

Elaine loves her family...she thinks. Actually, she does, but sometimes, being counted on to help out with everything is almost more than she can take. But she understands the problems and reasons. If only she had a bit more breathing space. When a new guy comes to town and has an interest in paranormal investigations, she's sure he's only bugging her due to show more her family's mortuary. He is cute, though, and soon she finds herself drawn to him, despite the rumors that he's a trouble maker. When a seance gets a bit out of control, a ghost decides to give Elaine a hard time, and that's the last thing she needs.

Teen romance meets a tiny hint of paranormal, and that in the most perfect setting, a morgue. The set-up is very well done as Elaine tries her best to help the family and business, which puts her at odds with her social life...or the one she'd like to have. She's easy to connect with, especially since she does have a giving heart. Even when she makes mistakes, it's understandable and her attitude isn't over the top. In other words, she a wonderful character to follow to the very end.

While there are paranormal aspects in the plot, this read more toward the high school romance side. There is quite a bit of drama, which has absolutely nothing to do with ghosts and spooks in the night. When the ghost does haunt, it's more like a side-dish and adds a nice flair, but the other problems always hold the main focus. On this end, the author keeps up a steady pace, and something is always happening thanks to the array of characters, weaving side plots. There were some moments which dragged a tiny bit, but then, I do tend to be an action fan and lose interest on drama aspects quickly.

Romance is key in these pages, and that includes a love triangle with a dose of insta-attraction. Elaine can't chose between her love interests, which will thrill some readers and bother others. But it's laid out nicely with tension and confusion, and all of those other things which make high school romance so much fun.

Readers, who enjoy romance and high school drama, will enjoy this one, especially when they like a tad bit of ghostly chills with it. I received a DRC and enjoyed the world building and characters quite a bit. show less

This book? Awesome. Loved it. Maybe it's because I can relate to the rivalry of the girls. Maybe it's because I played in a close-knit band growing up and there was both friendly and not-so-friendly competition between us, especially when we completed solo. Whatever the case may be, Sara Bennett Wealer nailed it.

Because of the dual perspectives, the reader gets a glimpse into the minds of both the girls and how a friendship turns into a bitter rivalry. Through a series of delicately balanced show more flashbacks from senior year to junior year, the story of Kathryn and Brooke unfolds.

Brooke is a live-out-loud girl with money, friends, an incredible voice, and deep-seated passion for music. But she's not happy. Her friends don't understand her music, her older brothers are the stars of the show both at school and home and, in many ways, she's just riding their popular coattails as "Baby B". That is, until she meets Kathryn. Kathryn's a quiet, shy soul who shares Brooke's love of music. She's got her own musical gift--a soulful soprano voice. Then, through a series of both conscious actions and misunderstandings, Brooke and Kathryn's friendship shatters and reforms into a bitter rivalry, one tinged with regret on both sides.

I loved how we get to see in the minds of both of the girls. It's fascinating how both of the girls are so different but had many of the same goals and how that twists their view of each other. You'd think that, with two points of view and flashbacks between junior and senior year, the story would be muddled and confusing. However, it's not. Not at all and, if anything, this style of storytelling provides the reader with a clear picture of the girls' relationship.

Anyone who has been in competition with someone else (which is pretty much all of us, at one point or another, right?) will totally relate to this story. A beautifully told aria of friendship and betrayal, passion and drive, RIVAL hits all the right notes. (Come on. You knew it had to be said--this is a music-driven book, after all.) show less

Summary: Brooke and Kathryn used to be really good friends, until jealousy and distrust tore them apart. Now bitter enemies, the two girls try their best to avoid each other, until they realize that they will both be competing in the Blackmore singing competition—a competition they both desperately need to win.

My thoughts: I was completely surprised by Rival. I was expecting catty girls and petty tricks (not that there’s anything wrong with that!), but Rival was so much more—it’s show more about friendship and learning to be yourself. No bitchiness here (okay, slight bitchiness, but the fun kind!). The story is told in alternating perspectives, which really suited the “she said/she said” conflict. Both Brooke and Kathryn were extremely interesting characters, and it was not easy to choose which girl to side with—they each had good reasons to want the Blackmore prize, and they were both genuinely good people.

Sara Bennett Wealer obviously has experience with choir, and it shows in her writing. Every part of the book that involved singing (which was quite a bit) was very detailed and well written. Being a former show choir girl myself, I can confirm that this book will be appreciated by those who have a passion for singing. I enjoyed every description of Brooke’s rich alto and Kathryn’s melodic soprano, and the frequent mentions of daily practice brought back memories.

Through and through, Rival is a great book. It is an extraordinary look at friendship, rivalry, and forgiveness. The characters were well developed, the story was engaging, and the writing was perfectly suited to the genre. I would definitely recommend Rival to anyone—be they interested in music or not. show less