Showing posts with label 3 Stars. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 3 Stars. Show all posts

11/30/2018

Review: Scarlet Stone by Jewel E. Ann

Scarlet Stone by Jewel E. Ann
★★★☆☆
Release Date: 2016
Age: Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Format: ebook
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Buy it: Amazon | Barnes and Noble
"“My name is Scarlet Stone, and my biggest fear is that someday I will find what I want most in life, and it will be impossible to steal.” 
What happens when life just stops? When one moment makes you question your entire existence? 
Scarlet Stone is a third-generation thief who has everything: a doting fiancé, a spacious London flat, and a legitimate job offer. In a single breath, everything becomes nothing, and she finds herself on a plane to Savannah, Georgia in search of the meaning of life. 
After securing a six-month lease for a beachfront house on Tybee Island, Scarlet changes the way she looks, thinks, eats—basically her entire outlook on life. She needs peace, but what she gets is a housemate who looks like Thor, acts like a warden, and smells her proximity like a Bloodhound. 
Theodore Reed is a carpenter and perfectionist with a body built of steel, a black, hollow heart, and a hunger for revenge. He doesn’t like company, girly-smelling crap, and British accents. 
He resents every breath she takes. She’s fascinated by his every move. 
In time, they discover their coexistence is toxic, their physical attraction is electric, the secrets they keep mean the difference between life and death, and the only truth they share is that everything is a lie. 
“Over eighty-five percent of the world's population believes in a higher power, yet, very few people believe in miracles.”
Do you believe?"

 I LOVE Jewel E. Ann's books. I'm currently on a quest to read everything she's written. So far everything has been phenomenal, but this book was a little much for me. Her writing is entrancing and all consuming. Once I start her books I cannot put them down, and this book was no different. Kids? What kids? Dishes? What dishes? My house is a wreck but hey, my heart is happy!! While I flew through this crazy story I was often cringing or shaking my head.

 Scarlet Stone follows Scarlet, or Ruby, on a search for peace. She lets go of her past and embarks on a journey for her future. On this journey she shares a home with Thor, I mean Theo. From encounter one I was not a fan of their relationship.. For someone who seems so strong her choices made her weak. Without giving too much away, their angry passion made me cringe. It was upsetting the way he treated her and yet she still followed him like a puppy. He has a devastating past but I'm sorry. No. Especially at the end, I wanted a different outcome for her. And his moods would go from one extreme to another. 

 Like I said, beautiful writing but just not my cup of tea, or carrot juice. Still a solid read! And check out her other books! You won't be disappointed!

4/25/2015

Review: The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider

The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider
★★★☆☆
Release Date: 2013
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Age: YA
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Tragedy, Love, Coming of Age, High School
Format: ebook
Source: Library
Buy it: Amazon | Barnes and Noble
Golden boy Ezra Faulkner believes everyone has a tragedy waiting for them—a single encounter after which everything that really matters will happen. His particular tragedy waited until he was primed to lose it all: in one spectacular night, a reckless driver shatters Ezra’s knee, his athletic career, and his social life.
No longer a front-runner for Homecoming King, Ezra finds himself at the table of misfits, where he encounters new girl Cassidy Thorpe. Cassidy is unlike anyone Ezra’s ever met, achingly effortless, fiercely intelligent, and determined to bring Ezra along on her endless adventures.
But as Ezra dives into his new studies, new friendships, and new love, he learns that some people, like books, are easy to misread. And now he must consider: if one’s singular tragedy has already hit and everything after it has mattered quite a bit, what happens when more misfortune strikes?
This is a good book, with great writing, that is mysterious enough to make you want to read to the last page and it had everything I needed in a story right now, because my one year old keeps me more entertained than a lot of the books I've sat down to read. But, this one kept me hooked because I had to know how it ended!

The Beginning of Everything is a good coming of age story about a boy who loses everything he thought he was made of only to gain perspective and become more of who he really is. It's funny, yet not mindless, and filled with witty quotes and kids who talk like adults. It's a YA novel that adults can appreciate as well and I found Robyn Schneider's writing style similar to John Green's. It takes place mostly over the beginning of Ezra's (OMG I love that name, Vampire Weekend anybody?) senior year when he becomes reunited with his past and realizes things are different from the outside. The reflective nature of this book is something I always love, characters who change and grow. Cassidy brings a puzzling nature to the story as the reader and Ezra try to figure her out. She's straight forward when it comes to speaking her mind but not her heart. Toby was by far my favorite character. He's Ezra's best childhood friend and they rekindle their friendship as if they've never parted. I think we all have friends like Toby and can relate to their relationship.

I will say, and nothing to do with the writing, but after reading the story I'm just not crazy about the title or cover of this book. I love them, but not for this story. Severed Heads, Broken Hearts is the UK title and I love that so much more for this story.

7/28/2013

The Truth About You and Me Review

The Truth About You and Me by Amanda Grace
★★★☆☆
Release Date: September 8, 2013
Publisher: Flux
Age: Young Adult
Genre: Coming of Age, Contemporary Romance, Drama, Teacher, Love, High School, College
Format: ebook
Source: Publisher via Netgalley
Preorder it: Amazon | Barnes and Noble
Smart girls aren't supposed to do stupid things.
Madelyn Hawkins is super smart. At sixteen, she's so gifted that she can attend college through a special program at her high school. On her first day, she meets Bennet. He's cute, funny, and kind. He understands Madelyn and what she's endured - and missed out on - in order to excel academically and please her parents. Now, for the first time in her life, she's falling in love.
There's only one problem. Bennet is Madelyn's college professor, and he thinks she's eighteen - because she hasn't told him the truth.
The story of their forbidden romance is told in letters that Madelyn writes to Bennet - both a heart-searing ode to their ill-fated love and an apology.
For me, this book was an okay read. It is a story that treads the water but never dives in. I wanted to be pulled under, but it never happened. My feelings for the characters never went beyond my initial takes, I didn't feel connected to their development and I really wasn't feeling their love. I'd say this is a coming of age book, a finding oneself book, more than a love story.

Maddie is a liar. Point blank. It's hard to even want to like someone who is supposed to be a genius but is, in all ways that count, quite the average person. The girl lacks common sense. What's that phrase, book smart but not street smart. Maddie's not life smart. She lures a teacher into a relationship built up on false pretenses and while she constantly thinks about the thing, her age, that separates them; she never once thinks about him (honestly). Their relationship is short lived and the way in which they fall out was sad, for him. He ends up losing so much more than she does. The ending of the book was by far my favorite part. Amanda Grace couldn't have concluded their story better.

The Truth About You and Me is told in the form of a letter. Maddie is writing a letter to help Bennett. Maddie is naive and young, it's hard to blame her for the way she acts because really; she's just a kid. As I got into the book I couldn't stop reading, I wanted to know what happened. I wanted to know why Maddie was writing these letters and I wanted to know how their story panned out. I was hooked in from the beginning and easily blew through the story. If you're looking for something light (even with the dense subject matter) and easy to get into, I recommend this one.

6/15/2013

Dirty Little Secret ARC Review

Dirty Little Secret by Jennifer Echols
★★★☆☆
Expected Release Date: July 16, 2013
Publisher: MTV Books
Age: Mature YA, New Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Music, Drama, Family
Format: ebook
Source: Publisher via Edelweiss
Preorder it: Amazon
Bailey wasn’t always a wild child and the black sheep of her family. She used to play fiddle and tour the music circuit with her sister, Julie, who sang and played guitar. That ended when country music execs swooped in and signed Julie to a solo deal. Never mind that Julie and Bailey were a duet, or that Bailey was their songwriter. The music scouts wanted only Julie, and their parents were content to sit by and let her fulfill her dreams while Bailey’s were hushed away.

Bailey has tried to numb the pain and disappointment over what could have been. And as Julie’s debut album is set to hit the charts, her parents get fed up with Bailey’s antics and ship her off to granddad’s house in Nashville. Playing fiddle in washed-up tribute groups at the mall, Bailey meets Sam, a handsome and oh-so-persuasive guitarist with his own band. He knows Bailey’s fiddle playing is just the thing his band needs to break into the industry. But this life has broken Bailey’s heart once before. She isn’t sure she’s ready to let Sam take her there again…
Jennifer Echols books have always been an escape for me, she has an uncanny ability to create likable characters and page turning plots. Dirty Little Secret, while a good read, wasn't quite what I was expecting. It is a novel filled with music, romance, and family drama. There were parts I loved, like when Bailey shows her raw talent, and parts that I didn't enjoy as much.

Bailey made me think of Rowen from Nicole Williams' Lost and Found. She's in a dark place in her life and she's hiding behind a mask, a shell of the girl she once was. She's left feeling betrayed by those closest to her and betrayed, in a way, by herself. In the book she is secretly pursuing her love of music in any way she can and trying to stay out of the publics eye as her sister chases fame and hits it big. She's given up on the life-long dream she's had, but is awoken by a chance encounter. The opportunity she gets when she meets Sam is all it takes to help her follow her dreams again.

Sam is one of those characters that is fun and endearing, easy to fall in love with. But, just when I thought I had him figured out he became this heartless mess. In his defense he makes his intentions to get stardom in anyway he can clear, but he ends up hurting Bailey in the process. When he turns back into his charming self I had myself doing double-takes, like, what just happened? I don't know what it was about him, but I found myself wishing Bailey would move on. He adds a great element to the story but I wish his character was a little different.

Bailey, from the beginning, was hard for me to reach and identify with. Her parents are awful and have no regard for her happiness or well being. She's not a strong character or a likable one. She's dark and moody, and really has every right to be.

I don't listen to country music, at all, but Jennifer left me fascinated. Her musical knowledge and obvious research (or experience) made her an expert on guitar chords and pitch. The book is very well rounded and well put together, fueled by family drama and enhanced by an interesting background rags to riches story, it is a book I couldn't put down and had to know the ending.

The thing that this book lacked for me, don't throw anything at me, was heart. I didn't connect with these characters like I wanted to, the plot was not executed like I was expecting; it's a Jennifer Echol's novel and I was looking for more. I am still a huge fan of hers but this one book fell a little flat for me. That's not to say that it isn't good, but it wasn't all-that for me, maybe for the next person.

The next Echols book on my list is Such a Rush. I purchased a copy a few months back and I plan on picking it up soon and checking it out!

12/05/2012

Eve and Adam Review

Eve and Adam by Katherine Applegate and Michael Grant
★★★☆☆
Release Date: October 2, 2012
Publisher: Macmillan: Feiwel & Friends
Age: YA
Genre: Science Fiction
Format: ebook
Source: Publisher via Netgalley
Buy it: Amazon | Barnes and Noble
And girl created boy…

In the beginning, there was an apple—

And then there was a car crash, a horrible injury, and a hospital. But before Evening Spiker’s head clears a strange boy named Solo is rushing her to her mother’s research facility. There, under the best care available, Eve is left alone to heal.

Just when Eve thinks she will die—not from her injuries, but from boredom—her mother gives her a special project: Create the perfect boy.

Using an amazingly detailed simulation, Eve starts building a boy from the ground up. Eve is creating Adam. And he will be just perfect... won’t he?
I wanted to love this novel. I wanted it to be everything I thought it would be in my head. I wanted intense and suspenseful, crazy and out of this world. But, ultimately, it fell short. I liked it and it was a good read, but it was missing a certain spark I look for. It does feature an intriguing and secretive science fiction premise, some dramatic science experimentations, and an addicting love story and I think the sequel will be a fun read. It's light and flows well, the characters develop at a good pace together and it was quite the experience getting into their heads.

Eve and Adam began strong. The authors succeeded in making me feel like I had to keep reading, but as I progressed I found my interest waning. There are multiple parts throughout the book where I got reengaged but overall I just wanted to get to the end to see how it played out and be done.

The book alternates POVs between Eve and Solo, I liked Solo. Eve, eh, not as much. Where Solo is questioning everything and has this purpose, Eve was (while brilliant) not really anything special. Nothing really stood out about her to make her memorable.

I did love the twisting turn of events there toward the end when the reader discovers some truths alongside Solo and Eve. Overall, Eve and Adam is a good read. It's an easy to get through book, even at almost 300 pages. Book 2, Adam and Eve, will be out sometime next year.

11/21/2012

Just Like Heaven Review

Just Like Heaven by Clarissa Carlyle
★★★☆☆
Release Date: July 2012
Age: YA
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Realistic Fiction
Format: ebook
Source: Author for Review
Buy it: Amazon
Arthur Cooper is the star quarter back and all round heart throb of Collinswood High School. Demi Mitchell is the A-student girl who likes poetry and dreams of following in her lost mother's footsteps of becoming a nurse. When Arthur and Demi's worlds collide they touch each others lives in a way neither of them could ever have expected.
But what happens when you don't get the happy ending? When the love of your life leaves...can you pick up the pieces and is there any hope for a future?
In this heart warming and sometimes tear jerking story, follow the lives of these 2 young adults fresh out of high school as their lives intertwine with each other and touch those around them, finding true love in each others arms, promises hard kept and ultimately coming to grips with the difficult decision on what is truly the most important thing in life.
This is a story of young love you will not soon forget.
Just Like Heaven is a good read filled with a light romance that blossoms over time and some emotional turns. I did feel disconnected from the characters and felt that the descriptions could've been more elaborate. I enjoyed the change in POVs from Arthur's to Demi's, but overall there was just a little something missing for me; I like to get lost in a book and I just couldn't seem to immerse myself into this one. If you're looking for a fast paced romance about young love, then check it out!

Demi's life is turned upside down when she falls in love with Arthur, they experience a fast romance that escalates quickly. Arthur's parents, father mainly, were the villains in this story, by not allowing Arthur to mature the way he should. But, Arthur is an adult at 18 and really should've been making his own decisions about things. Responsible is definitely not a defining characteristic of our main man.
 I'm torn when it comes to his role in the book, he just wasn't enough of a man for me, but I like where the author took the story.

I found the dialogue in the book to be forced and general. Some of the lines I felt could be said by either character, there seemed to be no individual voices. The story line is one I found myself really enjoying, as it takes place and then goes to the future which I love in books.

My favorite character was definitely Arthur's little brother Jared. He is this loving and attentive soul in a sea of sometimes pure craziness. And, Demi's dad, who supported and loved her throughout the story.

Not going into detail about specifics in this story is hard, because I don't want to spoil anything. There's a lot I'd like to discuss with other readers and I know a lot of readers will enjoy this book. It will make you think about what you would do in this situation and a lot about forgiveness. It's a fast paced story that will leave the reader feeling complete and satisfied, a solid ending and new beginning.

10/25/2012

Blog Tour: Dead Perfect


Dead Perfect by P.G. Shriver
★★★☆☆
Release Date: February 2012
Age: YA
Genre: Drama, Contemporary Romance, Supernatural
Format: ebook
Source: Young Adult Novel Reader Blog Tours
Buy it: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

MEL 
My lifelong dreams never included falling in love. Graduating top of the class, going to college somewhere far away and starting a life in a place where my alcoholic mother could never find me were the first three goals on my list. Then the unexpected auto accident with Mother, after her regular doses of vodka, altered all of that. With her gone, my life and my perspective changed forever.  
 

DAVIS  
Desperate to find Joanie so I could break free, I returned to my old school. The search led me to her, my Aphrodite, a familiar lost look in her soulful eyes. Fantasies of her forced reasoning from my mind. I had to meet her! Once fallen, would her love for me survive the ghostly secrets haunting us?
Dead Perfect through me for a loop! In a good way. I kept trying to picture where the author was taking the story. As the book began I felt like I had it all figured out. It starts with Mel's POV, I felt bad for her and saw where the story was headed. But, then it switches to Davis' POV and bam. The author throws us a curve ball as their perspectives switch back and forth and a unique and addicting story line unfolds.

Mel is in a car accident where she loses her mother. Her life is turned upside down. Then she meets Davis. Their love is declared almost immediately and the book really only takes place over a very short period of time. I felt like their romance could've used some building up, but it is sweet and definitely an emotional journey. These two characters clicked and I was happy for them.

In the beginning of the book we meet Davis's parents. The dialogue from a particular dinner scene bothered me. It was corny and forced, then I finished the book and it didn't bother me anymore because there was a very good reason for the word choice. His sister Donna was probably my favorite character, either her or Franky. They had this love-hate fun relationship where they called each other names and picked on one another. It was cute and added a little reprieve from an otherwise intense read.

It's always hard to write reviews for books like this because on one hand I want to tell you all the secrets and on the other I had so much fun reading this book and finding them out on my own that I would never want to give anything away. So I will stop here so that I don't tell you too much.

Dead Perfect is a delightful and quick read that focuses on forgiveness and young love. It is also a mysterious drama that I wasn't able to put down; I was trapped until I read the last page. It develops quickly and has a two major plot lines that I never saw coming. I enjoyed this read for the well done element of surprise and likable characters. Definitely a good book and one I will be mentioning to those I think will love the elements!


About the Author
Born in California, and raised in Minnesota and Texas, P.G. spent her early years writing poetry and winning poetry contests, while escaping the drama in her own childhood by reading great books for children. Ever since her earliest days, she loved story telling. She wrote numerous short stories in High School and her early college years, continually trying to relive that first experience at the age of seven of seeing her name in print in the local newspaper.
P.G. sought her education at the University of Texas, where she studied English, literature, and Education. During the entire process of earning her BA and M.Ed, she never stopped writing and trying to be published. It was during this time that her first children's book No More Stinkbugs! was accepted for publication by Castle Keep Press. Many of her stories develop from nature.
P.G. graduated college and began her career in education, another great world that offered real experiences to humor and delight through children's books. She watched children interact, bringing to surface her own experiences as a child and yet more events to write about. While teaching, she discovered many great books for young people, such as The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963, Maniac Magee, So. B. It and many more. She is a fan of Dean Koontz novels, too, and loves reading fantasy and paranormal books.
P.G. was married 20 years in March 2012 and has a bright, young daughter who has begun her own college career. She lives on a small farm in Texas with her family and animals. P.G. has experienced great love and loss throughout her life. Those her family has lost have dedications in her books.
P.G. has two young adult books published, Dead Perfect and The Gifted Ones: The Fairytale the first book in The Gifted Ones Trilogy. She also has several children's books written under Gean Penny, her pseudonym. P. G. has since dissolved her contract for her first book with Castle Keep Press and moved the title to her own imprint, Gean Penny Books.

6/19/2012

Temptation by Karen Ann Hopkins Review


Temptation by Karen Ann Hopkins
★★★☆☆
Release Date: June 26, 2012
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Age: YA
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Amish
Format: ebook
Source: Publisher via Netgalley
Buy it: Amazon | Barnes and Noble


Your heart misleads you. That's what my friends and family say. But I love Noah. And he loves me. We met and fell in love in the sleepy farming community of Meadowview, while we rode our horses together through the grassy fields and in those moments in each other's arms. It should be ROSE & NOAH forever, easy. But it won't be. Because he's Amish. And I'm not.

I don't think know I could never be Amish. Let's just put that out there now. I depend way too much on the technologies of life, and I like it that way. Sure, there's something to a simple life, but a simple life is not for me.

Temptation is a beautiful love story with a main character who goes from an outgoing and lively English teenager to a completely different girl by the end of the book. The changes I saw in Rose we're extreme and if she were my daughter I think I'd be a little disappointed. This book had me captivated and entranced. Never before had I read anything about a forbidden love that had me turning pages as fast as I did with this one. I flew through it, it is an enjoyable read with some knock-the-breath-out-of-you turn of events. I badly wanted needed to know how Rose and Noah's story was going to end (only to get to the end and find out it's part of a series).

Rose is this independent girl, that is full of life and opinions. She's not afraid to be herself and speak her mind, and it doesn't hurt that she's gorgeous. Then, there's her opposite but equally handsome Noah. He's kind and gently and well, stuck in his ways. They are both well developed and full of life characters who fall utterly in love. I'm not sold on the decision that this young couple comes to. Young being the operative word. I felt the characters were naive and close minded. It will definitely be interesting to see where the author takes the series.

It's a good book and I know there are going to be so many different opinions on this one, I can't wait to read them all! I will probably be continuing this journey through the lives of Noah and Rose, it's intriguing and I am DYING to know how the next book plays out. Oh, and I have to mention the cover because it is just lovely!!


SPOILERS:
Normally, I don't do spoilers. But, for Temptation I will make an exception.

At 16 I didn't make the best decisions (who did?). I wanted to marry my 20 year old slacker boyfriend (who I loved) and never look back. Oh man, I would give my right arm to go back in time and talk to 16 year old me. I thank my mother EVERY DAY that she didn't let me be so stupid. Because, ultimately, that's a parents job right? Ok well. that's where something went terribly wrong in Karen's novel Temptation. Rose makes a life changing decision to live with Noah and become Amish after a tragedy ensues and rather than fight to keep her, her dad let's her do it (it takes a little convincing on his girl friends part) but still he gives in. I'm feeling a little shouty with all these caps and large font, but THEY ARE NECESSARY.
END SPOILERS

Have you read Temptation yet? What are your views?

5/21/2012

The Peculiars by Maureen Doyle McQuerry Review

The Peculiars by Maureen Doyle McQuerry
★★★☆☆
Release Date: May 1, 2012
Publisher: Abrams: Amulet Books
Age: YA
Genre: Steampunk, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Supernatural, Adventure
Format: ebook
Source: Publisher via Netgalley
Buy it: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Book Depository
This dark and thrilling adventure, with an unforgettable heroine, will captivate fans of steampunk, fantasy, and romance. On her 18th birthday, Lena Mattacascar decides to search for her father, who disappeared into the northern wilderness of Scree when Lena was young. Scree is inhabited by Peculiars, people whose unusual characteristics make them unacceptable to modern society. Lena wonders if her father is the source of her own extraordinary characteristics and if she, too, is Peculiar. On the train she meets a young librarian, Jimson Quiggley, who is traveling to a town on the edge of Scree to work in the home and library of the inventor Mr. Beasley. The train is stopped by men being chased by the handsome young marshal Thomas Saltre. When Saltre learns who Lena’s father is, he convinces her to spy on Mr. Beasley and the strange folk who disappear into his home, Zephyr House. A daring escape in an aerocopter leads Lena into the wilds of Scree to confront her deepest fears.
A young adult steampunk western fantasy highlighting some primitive and racist behavior and amongst it all, a heroine to be proud of, one who stands up for herself. This book has its fair share of endless adventure and mystery folded in its richly written pages.

The Peculiars caught my eye as being unique when I saw it on netgalley, unique for me is always a pick, as original stories are fun to read. This book, much like other steampunky tales, features a slew of technical advances and inventions, the details are nothing short of fabulous. The characters however were hard for me to relate to and enjoy. Lena Mattacascar, our main character, while lively and brave didn't keep me interested in her story as much as I would've liked.

Lena is our adventurer, a young woman in search of truth and a bit of excitement on the way. When her belongings are stolen on a train ride and she meets a curious man named Jimson on her travels her life takes an unexpected turn and she follows her need for experience deeper than she thought possible. Lena winds up working for a strange and mysterious man, Mr. Beasley, who collects amazing books and just may be collecting something other than priceless literature. Harboring her own secrets she is determined to find truth around her and aid in a countrywide fight against peculiars.

As the story takes flight, literally, it picks up pace and begins unraveling facts at full speed. If the entire novel moved as the ending did I feel like i would have enjoyed it more. While its a fascinating read, it was hard for me to keep picking it up to finish. I do recommend it, as it's one of those books I think a lot of people will love. I absolutely adore the cover!

1/16/2012

Never Eighteen by Megan Bostic Review

Never Eighteen by Megan Bostic
★★★☆☆
Release Date: January 17, 2012
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Age: Young Adult
Genre: Contemporary, Cancer, Realistic Fiction
Format: e-book
Source: Publisher via Netgalley
Buy it: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Book Depository
Austin Parker is on a journey to bring truth, beauty, and meaning to his life. Austin Parker is never going to see his eighteenth birthday. At the rate he’s going, he probably won’t even see the end of the year. The doctors say his chances of surviving are slim to none even with treatment, so he’s decided it’s time to let go. But before he goes, Austin wants to mend the broken fences in his life. So with the help of his best friend, Kaylee, Austin visits every person in his life who touched him in a special way. He journeys to places he’s loved and those he’s never seen. And what starts as a way to say goodbye turns into a personal journey that brings love, acceptance, and meaning to Austin’s life.
Austin Parker cannot fix his own problems, as they are out of his hands, but he is on a mission to fix everyone else's. Not having the chance to live his own life the way he'd like to Austin is determined to make sure the people he's crossed paths with in life know how lucky they are to have a future and live it to the fullest. I admire Austin in his journey of closure, he wants to do something with his short life and feels this approach is his best chance. It was refreshing that even with his efforts things don't always go as he plans, and that's okay.

Megan Bostic has done a great job creating a book with so much feeling in it, for not only Austin and his struggles but for everyone in the story. She tackles many issues in the book, while most are only briefly discussed, they make room for a lot of emotion and consideration.

Never Eighteen is another inspirational book about struggling with an illness that I could never imagine having to face. Her characters, especially Austin and Kaylee, are strong ones with big hearts. Their friendship is as close to perfect as any, they joke and kid but both really love each other.

The book is fast paced, and a quick read. I think if the story was longer and maybe a little more detailed I could have really felt the pain and happiness expressed in the pages. I just felt like I flew through the pages and got to the end, and Austin is an admirable guy, but I felt disconnected from him even after just finishing the book, he was just, while relatable and like the boy next door, a hard to reach character. I would describe trying to connect with him as watching a TV show about someone watching a TV show and trying to understand what the characters in the show are watching on their set.

I liked Never Eighteen, it's a wonderful book about many tough issues that are everyday life for some. Austin's outlook on life and how he wants to be remembered is endearing and I'm so glad I got to read this book about his journey.

10/05/2011

Saved by Allegra Skye Review


★★★☆☆
Release Date: June 2011
Age: Young Adult
Genre: Vampires, Fiction, Supernatural, Paranormal Romance
Format: E-Book
Source: Author
Buy it: Kindle (.99 right now)
In SAVED (Book #1 of the Shadow Vampires), Keira and Amanda, twins, move with their family to a new town, and start their senior year at a new high school. But though they are twins, the girls have different fates. Amanda, beautiful, popular, is sought out by everyone. Keira, who has always lived in Amanda's shadow, is smaller, awkward, different. Even her mother, who is so close to Amanda, doesn't know what to make of her other daughter. Keira turns to books, and to her journal, for solace, and to find out about other worlds. Amanda makes friends easily at the new school, and quickly finds a boyfriend, while Keira is left alone, an outsider. But very quickly, it is clear that something strange is going on in Everstock. The town and the school are very divided. The popular, rich kids act as if they own the school and have nothing to do with the other kids, who are poorer and live in a different part of town. Not only are the kids meaner here, but an unknown infection has gripped the town, with more and more people going to the hospital. Something here is terribly wrong. But things change suddenly, as there is a terrible accident involving the twins. Not only are Keira and Amanda's lives changed forever, but a new dimension of life begins to open to Keira. As Keira recovers, she begins to change in ways she can't expect, receiving new and mysterious powers that no one can possibly understand. At the same time, a gorgeous, mysterious new boy, Cooper, appears at the school, who grips her imagination, and who refuses to tell her what secret he is hiding. As Keira and Cooper grow closer to each other, it soon becomes apparent that destiny has brought them together-and that they may each have to sacrifice it all if they want to stay together...
I liked Saved, it has some definite potential and I may check out the rest of the series. I love the twin element and I loved hating Amanda and Keira's parents, they are awful! If there is one thing this book is full of it's emotion. Allegra Skye does a wonderful job making the reader feel exactly what the characters are feeling, which is something I look for in a good writer. If I'm crying, screaming, or biting my nails while reading it's a job well done. The story could have used a little polishing up, it's an interesting story.

Saved is an incredibly sad book, so be prepared, a lot of that emotion felt while reading is depression. Keira, our main character has a very low self esteem and a poor self image. This makes her relatable to any teen or adult who's been there.

The relationship between Keira and Cooper, our secretive bad boy, is rushed and never felt real. Keira talks about love before she's said a hundred words to the boy. I need more than one interaction to believe that something is truly there. Their relationship felt awkward and forced and some of the dialogue could've used a little sprucing up.

I was a little confused in the book when Keira tries out for a sports team. It didn't seem like something she really wanted to do, just something she did to be more like her sister and it felt very out of character. She spends a lot of time acting like she's okay with being different then goes to trying to be something else. I don't know if this makes sense I just got some inconsistent vibes from the writing, which may go back to polishing the book a little. Keira starts off in a dark place in the beginning of the story and by the end, maybe because of Cooper and the way she begins looking at life, she's grown a lot and begins to enjoy the fact that she's different.

Saved starts out as a realistic fiction book with no hint at its sudden supernatural turn. I really enjoyed that and I like Allegra Skye's writing style.

Thank you to the great author for the opportunity to read and review this book!

8/27/2011

Vanish by Sophie Jordan Review

★★★☆☆
Release Date: September 6, 2011
Publisher: HarperTeen
Age: Young Adult
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Fantasy, Shapeshifters, Draki
Format: E-Book
Pre-order it: Hardcover, Kindle
To save the life of the boy she loves, Jacinda did the unthinkable: She betrayed the most closely-guarded secret of her kind. Now she must return to the protection of her pride knowing she might never see Will again—and worse, that because his mind has been shaded, Will’s memories of that fateful night and why she had to flee are gone. Back home, Jacinda is greeted with hostility and must work to prove her loyalty for both her sake and her family’s. Among the few who will even talk to her are Cassian, the pride’s heir apparent who has always wanted her, and her sister, Tamra, who has been forever changed by a twist of fate. Jacinda knows that she should forget Will and move on—that if he managed to remember and keep his promise to find her, it would only endanger them both. Yet she clings to the hope that someday they will be together again. When the chance arrives to follow her heart, will she risk everything for love? In bestselling author Sophie Jordan’s dramatic follow-up to Firelight, forbidden love burns brighter than ever
Vanish is the highly anticipated sequel to an amazing and charming fantasy book I loved called Firelight. As a huge fan of Firelight I wanted so much out of Vanish. As far as sequels go, I found it to be a disappointment. It's that awkward in-between novel, book 1 was great we got through book 2 now anticipating book 3. Our characters haven't really moved from where they were, with the exceptions of a few steps. It does have some twists and turns and leaves you wondering what's in store for the next book. Will I read the next book? Yes, my curiosity has me hooked I just hope it's better than this one. Come on Sophie Jordan, you can do it!!

I feel like throughout the whole book our heroine, Jacinda, where she was strong and amazing in Firelight has become a moody teenager who only thinks about herself and her feelings but not about their affect on others. She loves Will, and she makes that known in book 1, even in the short time they've known each other. But, being apart her feelings seem to shift and it leaves her confused and vulnerable (understandable), which is ok for some characters but it made me not like her anymore, she was just waa waa waa all the time. To me it was like she lost all of the qualities that I loved about her in Firelight. In Vanish we get more Jacinda and Cassian, up close and uncomfortable, and we watch her flop like a fish over her emotions. But, really Cassian and Will are both amazing characters and guys and either one is a great pick by me. Honestly, the book is predictable, like I said I wanted more. The best thing about the book is where Sophie Jordan takes Tamra's character, it's great.

So to sum it up. We start where Firelight left off- like right where it left off. We learn some new secrets, but the book seems like a standstill everyone is more or less in the same situations and predicaments as they are in book 1, I didn't see very much growth. Enter love triangle. Lot's of teen drama, but it feels petty (maybe that's just me). Another cliffhanger that should make Sophie Jordan famous as the holy-freaking-cliffhanger-lady. My opinions people, my opinions.

Overall, it was an okay read. Because book one was so fantastic I definitely had high expectations. Still I recommend the series and will see it through to the end! If I was going to pick a team I'd say team Tamra! ;)

Some 4 and 5 Star reviews of Vanish

8/06/2011

Supernaturally by Kiersten White

★★★☆☆
Release Date: July 26, 2011
Publisher: HarperTeen
Age: Young Adult
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Action, Vampires, Fantasy, Fairies
Format: Hardcover

Evie finally has the normal life she’s always longed for. But she’s shocked to discover that being ordinary can be . . . kind of boring. Just when Evie starts to long for her days at the International Paranormal Containment Agency, she’s given a chance to work for them again. Desperate for a break from all the normalcy, she agrees. But as one disastrous mission leads to another, Evie starts to wonder if she made the right choice. And when Evie’s faerie ex-boyfriend Reth appears with devastating revelations about her past, she discovers that there’s a battle brewing between the faerie courts that could throw the whole supernatural world into chaos. The prize in question? Evie herself. So much for normal.

Let's begin with "Paranormalcy is one of my favorite books,". Kiersten White creates these awesome characters and amazing story line that is so fresh, fun, and funny, it's so hard to put the book down. So, here comes the hardest part I think every author is faced with. How do you make book 2 just as grand?

After the paranormal genre glory that I believe is Paranormalcy comes Supernaturally. How to describe it in one word? Random. With such a force that is Paranormalcy I had very high expectations for this one (I don't know what I keep doing this to myself). I felt like this book went all over the place. One minute we're here and dealing with this, the next that doesn't matter and we're here, then oh look another plot twist let's move over here. And Evie suffers from that-now I have everything I've ever wanted but I still need to complain about something- illness. It got a little old. But, it is fast paced and sometimes the twists weren't all that bad.

The book begins with Evie trying to be normal, then leaps straight back into her very not normal life. She's still our Evie, the unsure girl who can kick butt. We see some more weakness, doubt, and drama in this book. She also faces a demon from her past, but I don't feel like any of it really changes her. It still has that mystery and action that I loved from book one, but I fear this one suffers from the middle book syndrome. The stuck in the middle of the story, no longer in the beginning but we haven't gotten to the end yet. It's incredibly difficult to write a series of books, and my hat goes off to White and other authors who give it a shot.

Nothing really changes from one book to the other, other than the fact that Evie no longer lives in the Center but she continues to work for them, so... With the exception of Jack. And I did like Jack. I kept waiting for that moment, you know what I'm talking about if you've read it. Jack gets on Evie's last nerve. He's that annoying brother-like character we missed in book 1.

I didn't mean for this to sound like such a negative review because I did like Supernaturally for what it is, the middle child, Kiersten's still got her witty one liners and quirky set of characters but after waiting for this book for so long I felt let down.

Since it is a good book, I think you guys deserve some other opinions.

Cynthia's review at A Blog About Nothing
Amber's review at Down the Rabbit Hole
Jess' review at Gone with the Words
Mocha's review at A Cupcake and a Latte

7/22/2011

Intoxication


★★★☆☆
Release Date: May 30, 2011
Age: Adult
Genre: Drama, Suspense, Thriller, Mystery
Source: Author
Format: e-book
Buy it: Amazon $.99
For the fans of Stephen King and Dean Koontz... How do you force a confession out of a coworker trying to poison you? Do you kill those who dismiss your fears and believe you are paranoid? What do you do if you start questioning your own suspicions--and sanity--as you take the law into your hands? In this disturbing tale of derangement, a young psychopathic woman is slipping into madness as she fights an enemy that may exist only in her imagination. She has to resort to desperate measures when she realizes that a gun, security cameras in her apartment, and constant vigilance will not be enough to survive.
Intoxication is a quick read with a lot of suspense and a thrilling storyline. Following Leslie the reader is taken on a ride as she tries to identify who in her office is trying to poison her, and is someone really or as her friends think; is she just paranoid?

Full of excellent twists and a must read for: mystery, drama-suspense, and horror readers alike. A book that will surely keep you on the edge of your seat and leave you wanting more. Tim Kizer is a wonderful story teller in the Stephen King fashion.

I liked this one. Not something i normally would've gone for. I definitely wouldn't recommend it to everyone. There is language and violence, mainly for adult readers and some mature YA. I do recommend it for those looking for an extremely fast read (that is very entertaining), for those wanting some suspense and a little action, and those looking for a story that a tiny bit made me think of the movie Gothika.

Thank you to the very talented author for the chance to read and review this story!

7/12/2011

Wanted: Hero

Wanted: Hero Prelude to a Hero (Chronicles of a Hero) by Jaime Buckley
★★★☆☆
Release Date: May 27, 2011
Publisher: On the Fly Publications
Age: Young Adult
Genre: Adventure, Scifi
Format: e-book
Buy it: Amazon $.99

Wendell is a young man who learns what his potential is while on a strange, enchanted world with a funny old wizard and ugly troll to mentor and guide him. Prelude to a Hero, the debut book about how Wendell came to be the one expected to save an entire world. . . by accident.
Wanted: Hero Prelude to a Hero is a book that I may not have picked up off the shelves. It's different from the books I normally read and I'm glad I gave it a chance. It's an easy read and relatively short, it gives the reader just enough information to hook them in for more. More is what I'm now craving.

The beginning confused me and I felt lost. It's an introduction set in a foreign place that is hard to get into and understand. which led me to put the book down. Eventually, I went back and tried it again. Once the story starts moving it goes rather quickly, and is definitely easier to understand once Wendell's story starts. So what I'm saying is, really give it a chance it is a fascinating read.

It's a science fiction book with plenty of laughs and some cries too. It's a book many different people would appreciate for different reasons. Boys especially I think would enjoy the humor and story, filled with adventure and some action.

It is a story building introduction to a series that I think has some major potential and will garner a popular following. Great writing, fast paced (once you get into it) but sometimes it was a little confusing. Science fiction books are usually a little tough to follow, the names of places and people are new to us and take some getting used to. It features a slew of different characters and a new planet.

The story follows Wendell who is, admittedly, a dork. He is taken from Earth to fulfill his destiny, something he doesn't think he's capable of, and only just learned existed. There are trolls, a wacky wizard, and so many other fascinating secondary characters.

Even in this short prelude Wendell grows a lot. Things he thought were true end up being lies and he really has to figure out who the good guys are and who the bad guys are. And his ultimate decision is what to do with his life.

What would you do if you were captured by aliens claiming you were someone powerful and that you were from another planet and then they tell you that it's up to you to save them from something dark?

4/28/2011

Colin Preston Rocked and Rolled




★★★☆☆ 
Age: Adult
Genre: Fiction
Source: Author
Buy it: Amazon

It's September 1985 in the bosky precincts of Elerby University (though it conveys the intimacy of a small liberal arts college) in upstate New York. Colin is entering his sophomore year with a lousy love life and a lousy relationship with his father, but he does have a good friend in Karl (a handsome natural athlete who has a way with women) and in the Beatles—"when you love a band so much that its songs fill the empty spaces inside your head and heart." But along comes Jasmine, a serious dish with lips like butter, who really gets inside Colin's head and steals his heart.

The first thing I will point out is that this book is not a young adult book. It's a book about college and includes its fair share of drugs/alcohol, language, and sex and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone under 18.

Colin Preston is a likeable guy. He's an inexperienced college nice guy who falls in love with a free spirit who is sure to break his heart, but he's also much more than that. Colin was a real person and he could be anyone. His story is one of hope, loss, and hurt.

While part one of this story started out kind of slow for me (as its setting up the book),  part two and three made up for it. Betrayal is one word I would use to describe his journey, and Bert Murray does an excellent job portraying this betrayal in words. His writing is emotional yet easy to read, not too deep (which I find to be a good thing).

I enjoyed this debut novel from Murray, it was charming and a pretty accurate detail of college soul searching. Colin's reactions to situations are nothing short of what I expected. Murray didn't hold back in that department. The other characters in his story are another reason I really liked reading it, and one character in particular was Chester, my heart goes out to the guy. I haven't read many books set in the 80's but this one was pretty timeless and really could've happened in any setting.

It's a very relatable story and one told from the guys perspective, which is something I rarely read. It was refreshing and different for me. I am also a huge music fan and the inclusion of so many great singers/songwriters/artists from the time and before was a bonus for me! I am so happy I was given the opportunity by the author to read this book, Thank You!


I'd like to pass this book onto someone who would like to read it. Let me know if you're interested by Email Carole McKenzie

4/13/2011

She Smells the Dead


She Smells the Dead (Spirit Guide #1) by E.J. Stevens
★★★☆☆ 
Publisher: Sacred Oaks Press
Genre: YA Supernatural/Paranormal Fiction
Source: Author

A haunting and original novel from author E.J. Stevens. The story follows Yuki, a high school senior with an unusual talent, she smells dead people. No, they don't smell like rotting corpses, but they do smell like clues to help Yuki solve their mysterious deaths.They are lost spirits and need some resolution in their lives.

This book was pretty good. The premise had me hooked and I really expected to like it more. I felt the writing was a bit choppy. It would go from one subject or action to another without a constant flow. I was left thinking, "What happened to make that transition?". I felt like key occurances were cut out and that left me a little confused.

The story begins as a mystery. Yuki is trying to help the spirit of Jackson Green, then turns into a spiritual journey for Yuki and Calvin. There even ends up being a weird part of the book where in order to call up Calvin's spirit animal Yuki ends up doing a dance and drumming a beat. From a dream sequence Yuki has: "Focus your thoughts on what you require of him and continue to lead him with your drumming. If the situation is urgent drum the beat with your feet as you dance. " It was a little off beat with the feel of the story, misplaced I guess.

I loved Yuki's character, her relationship with Calvin was a little weird at first, very forward and sudden. But, I grew to like them as a couple. They complimented eachother well and I could see their characters grow together throughout the story.

Generally, I enjoy books with more than one supernatural element like Gena Showalter's Intertwined series, but I felt in this book it took away from Yuki's spotlight. The mystery surrounding Jackson Green's death sort of fizzled out. It confused me, and I'm still not really sure who was to blame or what really happen to his sons (I'm pretty sure I get it, but it was left to wilt away in a sense).

Overall, it was an okay read, I kept thinking back to Twilight through a lot of it. And I don't know if that's a good thing for you or a bad thing. In some ways it reminded me of that story, but done in it's own way, just some similarities. Check it out, see if you agree or disagree. I think for sure, fans of the Twilight Saga will find this story appealing.

Also, check out Bree from the Awesome Magic Attic for her review of this book and its' sequel.

Thank you to the wonderful author for the opportunity to review!