Showing posts with label ya. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ya. Show all posts

7/15/2014

Check Out: Nova by A.J. Kane

Nova: Daughters of Darkness by A.J. Kane
Release Date: May 2014
Genre: Witches, Paranormal, Fantasy, Magic
Buy it: Amazon
A prophecy, a dark lord who looks way too good in black, and, well, Ireland … the perfect ingredients for a dangerous brew.

Nova and her sisters are witches. They've always known about magic and their ability to use it, but never in their wildest dreams did they imagine the role it would play in their lives. It all begins with a trip to Ireland and then some haunting dreams. Nova is torn from her sisters and then her heart is torn in two when she begins to fall for the guy no girl should ever fall for. Will she make the right choices? And when the battle rages, who will be left standing?
About the Author:
A.J. Kane resides in beautiful southern Maine where she writes Paranormal, Fantasy and Romance. She is currently working on the second book in her new adult paranormal trilogy, Daughters of Darkness; due out in 2014. Her writing is fueled by chocolate, coffee and pasta, in no particular order. She has a life goal of traveling to Ireland at least once, and possibly never leaving. Her hobbies are reading, cursing (quite frequently), singing and listening to PINK obsessively, even though she is a rock chick at heart. Some of her favorite bands are mostly unknown, like Halestorm, Prospect Hill and Our Last Night. A.J. would love to hear from you! Contact her on Twitter @ajkaneauthor www.twitter.com/ajkaneauthor or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ajkaneauthor.

Teaser:
Nova turned to see her parents and Kyna standing behind Branna. “Why are you out here in this? You should be in the circle, where you’ll be safe!” she reprimanded Niamh and Craven.
“And leave you three out here to fend for yourselves? Nova, you know we can’t do that.” The incredulous look on her father’s face would have been comical if the situation weren’t so serious.
Even though Nova understood their need to see for themselves that their children were safe, she still hated the fact that they were in danger.
“We were born for this and have the powers to defend ourselves.”
“Oh, we are not defenseless, Nova.” Her mother said. Joining hands with Craven, Niamh chanted a spell, causing plumes of smoke to billow in and swirl around them; hiding them from view.
“Cool” Kyna loved it when her parents performed magic.
Her mother grinned. “See, we did manage to keep some power to ourselves.” Their parents looked at each other, happy they could show their daughters they were here to fight, not to be protected.
The archers, now in the trees, began to rain arrows down on the demon swarm. That gave Nova, her sisters and their parents a chance to break through the throng. Spotting Felken, who had been missing since the king tossed him away, Nova and her sisters went after him.
Branna shot fire blasts at a cluster of demons in their way,
“Where is he?” Kyna yelled as she dodged a scaly arm swiping at her neck. She parried and stabbed through the arm with the knife in her left hand. Sweeping her right hand up, she glided the blade of that knife across the demon’s throat. Blood, black and thick, gurgled up out of its mouth, and she watched the life drain from his cold yellow eyes. It made her sick to think of how many lives she had taken so far and how many more she had yet to take. As if she sensed the struggle within her sister, Nova gave Kyna’s shoulder a reassuring squeeze.
“We’ll get through this, Kyna. We won’t be the same people when it’s over, but we will get through it.”
“Ah, girls, you may want to get over here.” Niamh’s voice trembled with fear. Following her mother’s line of vision, Nova felt her heart stop. This can’t be real, she thought. Even with all the crazy shit she’d seen recently, this definitely took the cake.
“What the fuck is that!” Branna yelled, her hands engulfed in flames, ready to blast the shit out of the new arrival.

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.

6/16/2013

My Life Next Door Review and Giveaway

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick
★★★★☆
Release Date: June 14, 2012
Publisher: Dial Books
Age: Young Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Family, Political, Love, Summer
Format: Hardback
Source: Purchased
Buy it: Amazon | Barnes and Noble
A gorgeous debut about family, friendship, first romance, and how to be true to one person you love without betraying another

"One thing my mother never knew, and would disapprove of most of all, was that I watched the Garretts. All the time.”

The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, numerous, messy, affectionate. And every day from her balcony perch, seventeen-year-old Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them . . . until one summer evening, Jase Garrett climbs her terrace and changes everything. As the two fall fiercely in love, Jase's family makes Samantha one of their own. Then in an instant, the bottom drops out of her world and she is suddenly faced with an impossible decision. Which perfect family will save her? Or is it time she saved herself?

A dreamy summer read, full of characters who stay with you long after the story is over.
This book served as an excellent summer read. I read it on vacation and couldn't have chosen a better book! It's one of those stories that would be perfect for a book club, it's definitely one to discuss with others. The thick plot and complex characters give you something to think about. It's more than fun and flirty, it delves deep into an evolving story about growing up.

The great thing about this book is that almost all the characters and likable, even the ones that your not supposed to like. Samantha is labeled as a rich girl used to getting what she wants, but she was so much more than that (and she was also nothing like that in her own eyes). She's worlds away from her own family and life. She's unhappy in the controlling environment and tired of straight lines and pressed clothes. Ever since she was young and the rambunctious-ever-growing Garrett family moved in next door she has been fascinated by them, and unbeknownst to Sam one of the Garretts' has also had his eye on her. Jase is an amazing book boyfriend. He's sweet, caring, and great with the little kids of his family. He's torn between being a man in his house and a child in his family. The responsibilities that fall upon all of the Garrett's are large and consuming, but he does a great job being a teenager as well. Just an all around excellent cast of personalities and minds!

I absolutely adored every member of the Garrett family, they all touched my heart. But, 4 year old George is definitely my favorite member!
“Is Jase already gonna marry you?”
I start coughing again. “Uh, No. No, George. I’m only seventeen.” As if that’s the only reason we’re not engaged.
“I’m this many.” George holds up four, slightly grubby fingers. “But Jase is seventeen and a half. You could. Then you could live in here with him. And have a big family.”
Jase strides back into the room, of course, midway through this proposition. “George. Beat it. Discovery Channel is on.”
George backs out of the room but not before saying, “His bed’s really comfortable. And he never pees in it.”
Family is probably the largest theme of this book. Two characters that I would love to read more about are Sam's older sister and Tim!

What begins as an easy going and relaxing Sarah Dessen-like beach read becomes complex and deep as the story progresses. Ideas of morality and owning up to your mistakes are constant themes as this young woman is tested and forced to choose between the love for her family and the love of a new one. This book is inspirational and beautifully written, unfolding with surprise favorite characters and friendships that were very unexpected. I took a lot away from this book and look forward to more by Huntley Fitzpatrick.

If you're looking for a book about first love with an emotional back story, family drama, and so much more then My Life Next Door will rock your world! When going through the goodreads page I realized that a lot of my friends have read this one and almost every single one gave it 4 or 5 stars! That's how great it is and it's not just me that thinks so!


GIVEAWAY
To celebrate summer I'd like to pass my hardcover copy onto a new reader!
This is a US only giveaway and you must be 13 or older to enter.


5/07/2013

This Girl Review

This Girl (Slammed #3) by Colleen Hoover
★★★★★
Release Date: April 30, 2013
Publisher: Atria Books
Age: Mature YA/New Adult
Genre: Realistic Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Drama, Love
Format: ebook
Source: Purchased
Buy it: Amazon | Barnes and Noble
There are two sides to every love story. Now hear Will’s.

Colleen Hoover’s New York Times bestselling Slammed series has brought countless readers to their knees with a whirlwind of love, passion, and heartache.

Layken and Will’s love has managed to withstand the toughest of circumstances and the young lovers, now married, are beginning to feel safe and secure in their union. As much as Layken relishes their new life together, she finds herself wanting to know everything there is to know about her husband, even though Will makes it clear he prefers to keep the painful memories of the past where they belong. Still, he can’t resist his wife’s pleas and so he begins to untangle his side of the story, revealing for the first time his most intimate feelings and thoughts, retelling both the good and bad moments, and sharing a few shocking confessions of his own from the time when they first met.

In This Girl, Will tells the story of their complicated relationship from his point of view. Their future rests on how well they deal with the past in this final installment of the beloved Slammed series.
This book is BUTTERFLYING PERFECT. It's everything a fan could ask for and everything we didn't think to ask for. This Girl is the third book in the Slammed series and I definitely recommend reading both book 1 and 2 before reading this review or this book. So go. Read them. Then email me so we can gush about how much we adore Will...

 Slammed and Point of Retreat were two of the most emotionally charged and inspiring books I've ever read. They sucked me in, held me, and consumed me wholly. This Girl is just about as perfect as a companion book to one of the greatest series could be. With all of the raw feelings and forbidden love seeping from the pages it's a book that I will be reading and rereading for a while to come.

In This Girl the reader has the opportunity to relive all of the happy and sad moment from Slammed in Will's point of view. We get inside his head and see what he was thinking when everything was going on. There's a little drama in the midst and some revelations leave Lake feeling insecure and hurt. This book ties up the series nicely as it flashes between the past and present as Lake and Will are on their honeymoon. Layken wants to know everything he'd been through when they fell in love and he expels all of his secrets for her. It's a beautiful and unforgettable story that ties into the other books well.

 Slammed was so fresh and deep and it stands out in the YA genre as something different. I love the poetry woven through out and I loved the poetry included in This Girl. Colleen Hoover, you wonderful author you, I just have to say that you have a gift, a real talent and I will definitely be reading anything and everything you write!

If you haven't seen them yet here are the new covers for Slammed and Point of Retreat!




MORE FROM COLLEEN
We know that I could go on and on about Slammed but let's talk about some other books by Colleen. Hopeless is one of my favorites (all of her books are my favorites) this one is truly a remarkable and unputdownable book and Losing Hope (from Holder's POV) is coming out in July! She's also got Maybe Someday, a New Adult stand alone coming out in 2014. Another title to expect from her in 2014 is Ugly Love. As soon as I hear or know more about these and other titles by Colleen I'll be sure to spread the news!

1/13/2013

Blog Tour: The Cadet of Tildor Review

 

The Cadet of Tildor by Alex Lidell
★★★★★
Release Date: January 10, 2013
Publisher: Penguin Publishing
Age: YA
Genre: Fantasy, Action, Adventure, Magic,
Format: ebook
Source: AToMR Tours
Buy it: Amazon | Barnes and Noble
Tamora Pierce meets George R. R. Martin in this smart, political, medieval fantasy-thriller.


There is a new king on the throne of Tildor. Currents of political unrest sweep the country as two warring crime families seek power, angling to exploit the young Crown's inexperience. At the Academy of Tildor, the training ground for elite soldiers, Cadet Renee de Winter struggles to keep up with her male peers. But when her mentor, a notorious commander recalled from active duty to teach at the Academy, is kidnapped to fight in illegal gladiator games, Renee and her best friend Alec find themselves thrust into a world rife with crime, sorting through a maze of political intrigue, and struggling to resolve what they want, what is legal, and what is right. Alex Lidell (www.alexlidell.com) was a finalist in the 2010 Amazon Breakthrough Novelist Award competition and lives in New Jersey. This is her first novel.
I love fantasy books. The only thing with the fantasy genre is I've found it hard to find books that I love every aspect of, sometimes it's too much. Alex Lidell has made the perfect fantasy adventure book. She's taken everything I look for and then some. With a similar world building to books like Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder and Graceling by Kristin Cashore; Lidell has proved to me that she can run with the greats!

Renee is training to be soldier for the Crown. She's working her butt off only to be second to every boy. Until a new instructor comes, one everyone has heard of, and he teaches her how to use what she has against an enemy. She starts training with him and his group of fighters and really starts believing in herself. Renee was an exceptional character, filled with spark and life destined to continue on this path that not many girls aspire too. Her personality exuded pure loyalty to her cause and her friends. My favorite attribute of Renee's was the fact that she wasn't perfect, she didn't get it right all the time, she messed up a lot, and did not win every fight. But, she got back up and tried again. That was exceptionally done on the authors part. It gave the reader a character to relate to, look up to, and not feel overshadowed by. We could all be Renees if we set our minds to something and gave it our all. Girls need great fictional role models and Renee is one of them.

The world of Tildor lived beneath my feet while reading. Alex Lidell is a fantastic writer and storyteller, who gets much praise from me. Her conversations and words were fluid, the language of the book fit perfectly, and I enjoyed the change in POVs between Alec, Renee, and Savoy. My only complaint, and a very small one, was when the POVs changed mid-chapter. Normally they would switch off chapter to chapter but when they did so mid-event it caused a second look for me. I was never lost and Lidell did a good job making sure we knew exactly when it changed but I felt like it made more send to do whole chapters in one POV. But, maybe she has a reason for doing it the way she did.

I absolutely loved this book and its high fantasy. There is a bit of romance, but that's not what this story is about. From beginning to end Renee, while still maintaining her witty attitude, changes and grows immensely. By the end of the book she is a true fighter. Such a strong character, strong story, and wonderful premise. Kick butt heroines are my thing, girls rock and are capable of so much! Thank you to the author and AToMR for the opportunity to read and review this book. I can't wait to recommend it to everyone I know!

Tour Wide Giveaway
$20 Amazon Gift Card, PLUS a copy of THE CADET OF TILDOR with swag – US
$20 Book Depository Gift Card – International


About the Author
facebook | goodreads | website | twitter
Alex Lidell is a YA fantasy writer and author of ABNA Finalist THE CADET OF TILDOR (Penguin, 2013).
Although English is Alex’s primary language, it wasn’t her first.  Coming from Russia, Alex learned english in elementary school and fell in love with reading when the school librarian put Tamora Pierce’s ALANNA into her hands.  Years later, in college, it was another book that re-united Alex with russian, which she had shunned in adolescence. The Three Musketeers.*  Alex thanks both books, and the writers who created them.
Beyond writing, Alex is also a photographer, a horseback rider, and a paramedic.  The latter two go hand in hand more often than one would like.  She is trying to self-teach herself and her horse to sword-fight.
Alex would love to see THE CADET OF TILDOR in the classroom and is working on developing teacher guides for the novel.  She enjoys “e-meeting” both students and educators.



1/12/2013

Flat-Out Love Review

Flat-Out Love by Jessica Park
★★★★★
Release Date: April 11, 2011
Age: YA
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Realistic Fiction, Family, College, Drama
Format: paperback
Source: Purchased
Buy it: Amazon
Flat-Out Love is a warm and witty novel of family love and dysfunction, deep heartache and raw vulnerability, with a bit of mystery and one whopping, knock-you-to-your-knees romance.

Something is seriously off in the Watkins home. And Julie Seagle, college freshman, small-town Ohio transplant, and the newest resident of this Boston house, is determined to get to the bottom of it.

When Julie's off-campus housing falls through, her mother's old college roommate, Erin Watkins, invites her to move in. The parents, Erin and Roger, are welcoming, but emotionally distant and academically driven to eccentric extremes. The middle child, Matt, is an MIT tech geek with a sweet side ... and the social skills of a spool of USB cable. The youngest, Celeste, is a frighteningly bright but freakishly fastidious 13-year-old who hauls around a life-sized cardboard cutout of her oldest brother almost everywhere she goes.

And there's that oldest brother, Finn: funny, gorgeous, smart, sensitive, almost emotionally available. Geographically? Definitely unavailable. That's because Finn is traveling the world and surfacing only for random Facebook chats, e-mails, and status updates. Before long, through late-night exchanges of disembodied text, he begins to stir something tender and silly and maybe even a little bit sexy in Julie's suddenly lonesome soul.

To Julie, the emotionally scrambled members of the Watkins family add up to something that ... well ... doesn't quite add up. Not until she forces a buried secret to the surface, eliciting a dramatic confrontation that threatens to tear the fragile Watkins family apart, does she get her answer.

Flat-Out Love comes complete with emails, Facebook status updates, and instant messages.

Flat-Out Love is a beautifully broken romance, a turbulent family drama, and one of the most touching stories of all time. Every character in this book is flawed, every person is real, and every person is absolutely positively breathtaking. Jessica Park succeeded in creating an unforgettable story that I was thinking about for days after finishing. It features a mind boggling twist of events that left my jaw on the ground and my heart leaping out of my chest. I absolutely wouldn't have had it any other way!

Flat Finn and his adventures captured my tortured heart. Jessica Park expertly takes on serious matters and does so carefully and colorfully. I enjoyed the emails throughout the book. But, it was everything from the thoughtfulness-to the love-to the awkward moments-to the earth shattering revelations made this book one of the best. I love to laugh; and, laugh I did at this quirky, fun, and realistic journey. But, as life often is, the book is filled with imperfect events, mistakes, heartache, and so much more. It is truly a magnificent read that everyone should experience!


1/07/2013

Tempestuous Review and Giveaway

Tempestuous by Kim Askew and Amy Helmes
A Twisted Lit Novel
★★★★☆
Release Date: December 18, 2012
Publisher: Merit Press
Age: YA
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Retelling, Realistic Fiction, High School
Format: Hardback
Source: Publisher for Review
Buy it: Amazon | Barnes and Noble
Recently banished, unfairly, by the school’s popular crowd, former “it girl,” Miranda Prospero, finds herself in a brave new world: holding dominion amongst a rag-tag crew of geeks and misfits where she works at the Hot-Dog Kabob in the food court of her local mall. When the worst winter storm of the season causes mall workers and last-minute shoppers to be snowed-in for the night, Miranda seizes the opportunity to get revenge against the catty clique behind her social exile. With help from her delightfully dweeby coworker, Ariel, and a sullen loner named Caleb who works at the mall’s nearby gaming and magic shop, Miranda uses charm and trickery to set things to right during this spirited take on Shakespeare’s The Tempest.
Tempestuous is a catty and wit-filled teen novel with hilarious lines and relatable characters. Together these authors create a world that lasts one night, reminiscent of a mystery infused version of The Breakfast Club. Breaking all social boundaries Miranda and the other characters travel the roads of self discovery and find new friends along the way. It is a must read for fans of young adult comedies and fans of John Green.

Miranda is one of those girls that has all of the answers. A born leader, but this leader takes the fall for a cheating scheme in her school and is outcasted and forced to (exhale) get a job! As her life tumbles around her she meets some new and unexpected new associates. This princess begins working in the mall's food court and befriending a gang of unlikely misfits. From there her story just gets better. It is an all around feel good contemporary romance that left me smiling at the direction it took. Everything about this book screams brilliant; from the slew of characters to the drama that plays out. It happens to be a book that for me was unputdownable.

Tempestuous is a Nancy Drew, Clue, Mall Rats combination; filled with teen rivalry and some all around fun. When a winter storm strands mall employees overnight Miranda and her fellow consorts band together against her former friends; all the while evading a robber who is likely hiding out in the mall as well. The book is exciting and includes calculating tactics for revenge; it took me back to high school days and the vengeance I (we all) wished I (we) could've performed on some unsuspecting scum. Taking what they need from stores, with every intent on returning it, they set out to spend the night and in turn have the time of their lives.

The book begins near the end, the prologue highlighting the mess this group creates for themselves. Then goes to the beginning of the crazy night. From the start it builds and builds, keeping me hooked and interested. Fans of Young Adult fiction will swoon over Caleb's character in this PG rated romance, even if Miranda is too blind to see it. My favorite part of the book was the relationship between Caleb and Miranda. Beginning pretty much as enemies, the manipulator Miranda isn't used to someone who doesn't grovel at her feet. Caleb's character was real and authentic, he stood his ground and was overall a really great guy and great for her.

It is a fun and fast read that I really enjoyed. A loose adaptation of The Tempest by William Shakespeare, that many will love! Make sure to add it to your TBR pile!

Another Twisted Lit book by Kim and Amy: Exposure (Modern Day Spin on Macbeth)

Giveaway
One hardback copy of Tempestuous by Kim Askew and Amy Helmes
US Only

12/16/2012

Accordance by Shelly Crane Review

Accordance (Significance #2) by Shelly Crane
★★★★★
Release Date: September 2011
Age: YA
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Supernatural Abilities, Imprinting, Romance, Love, Drama
Format: ebook
Source: Author for review
Buy it: Amazon | Barnes and Noble
In the sequel, Maggie learns much more about all the strange things that happened to her, and has to face new ones. She rebels against it, but ultimately, must face it for her new families sake and maybe even her life. Bish went from being her biggest supporter to her biggest pain in the butt and Kyle's intentions to attract her interest may not be so innocent. Caleb and Maggie face many new obstacles together and fight to work through them but will one that should be a good thing be too much for Maggie to handle?
I have to start by saying I am freaking in LOVE with this series! L-O-V-E! Every single page I turn my heart melts more and more. As I finish one book, the next book is even better. No lie. I am very excited to share this review with you and if you take anything away from it go check these books out. Shelly Crane is fan-freaking-tastic! :)

I really enjoyed Significance and I while I was looking forward to book 2, Accordance I was wary. Sequels, especially second books, seem to never be as good as first or even third books. Something about being that middle child. In the Significance series, this is not the case. Accordance built up on book 1 and prepares the reader to be rocked and ready for book 3!

Caleb and Maggie flee for safety and get to spend more time together and get to know each other, they also have plenty of opportunities to grow closer to each other's families. They visit California and end up being "chaperoned" by Kyle and Maggie's older brother Bish. Have I mentioned how much I adore Kyle? I do. The big drama in this book seemed to center around the brother/sister relationship between Mag and Bish. Since Bish is being kept in the dark about their world it has put a large strain on the trust between them. He knows something's going on with her and her new boyfriend and she spends a lot of time worrying about how he would handle knowing. They have a close and well rounded bond and it kills her to keep such a huge secret from him.

Maggie develops some unique abilities and even begins using and controlling them in Accordance. A lot is revealed about her future in Caleb's world and while she might not be taking the news very well; it was a lot of fun to watch everything unfold. Maggie is extremely powerful, more powerful than is known for sure yet.

Everyone from Significance plays large parts in Accordance and there are additional characters that I am growing to adore; like Lynne. With the imprint of Caleb and Maggie and the changes in them has come changes to the family surrounding them and I am so freaking excited for some and sad for others. A lot happens in this book and there is absolutely never a dull moment. Maggie and Caleb grow closer and their steamy moments become hotter. I am currently reading Defiance and DYING to read the last book; Independence.

For readers looking for an intense paranormal romance with dramatic events and plenty of action this series is one of my favorites so far. I can't wait to see where the author takes the next 2 books! Shelly Crane has me hooked to Caleb and Maggie's story, what I'm really looking forward to reading about and hope is included in following books are the images Caleb see's when they imprint. :) Wonderful book 2! I am also looking forward to checking out Shelly's Collide series!

12/10/2012

Significance Review and Giveaway


Significance (Significance #1) by Shelly Crane
★★★★★
Release Date: June 2011
Age: YA
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Supernatural Abilities, Drama, Love, Romance, Imprinting
Format: ebook
Source: Author for Review
Buy it: Amazon | Barnes and Noble
Maggie is a seventeen year old girl who's had a bad year. She was smart and on track, but then her mom left, her dad is depressed, she's graduating - barely - and her boyfriend of almost three years dumped her for a college football scholarship. Lately she thinks life is all about hanging on by a thread and is gripping tight with everything she has.
Then she saves the life of Caleb and instantly knows there's something about him that's intriguing. But things change when they touch, sparks ignite. Literally.
They imprint with each other and she sees their future life together flash before her eyes. She learns that not only is she his soul mate, and can feel his heartbeat in her chest, but there is a whole other world of people with gifts and abilities that she never knew existed. She herself is experiencing supernatural changes unlike anything she's ever felt before and she needs the touch of his skin to survive.
Now, not only has her dad come out of his depression to be a father again, and a pain as well, but Caleb's enemies know he's imprinted and are after Maggie to stop them both from gaining their abilities and take her from him.
Can Caleb save her or will they be forced to live without each other after just finding one another?
My favorite part of this book? Everything! I love the large family, the innocence, the fun, the drama, the danger, the paranormal, the.. EVERYTHING. There is so much to love and Shelly Crane is now forever in my heart. No freaking lie. This book nurtured me through the flu, yeah, it's that good.

What Shelly does is take an idea we've all heard about, Soul Mates, and makes it her own. She builds an incredible supernatural world around love and the connection we all yearn for in another human being. She takes insta-love and makes it make sense, when those sparks fly it's all or nothing. She made me fall in deep with a book that I will be rereading just to feel that same way again.

I fell in love with Caleb's character from the beginning. Warning: The word love will be used A LOT in this review. From the second he landed on Maggie I was pulled in. The imprinting idea was interesting and it took me a little getting used to, but now it's as natural as anything. Paranormal books are always my favorites, there are no rules when reading them, anything can happen!

Maggie continued to surprise me throughout the story with what a strong person she was. The heartbroken and untrusting person she could have been was not the determined and open minded woman she became. Character building is definitely one of Shelly's (many) talents. Throughout this book Maggie became one of my best friends, as sad as that may be that I have fictional best friends, it's so true. I felt connected to her and wanted that happy ending for her.

My favorite character was Kyle. I know I know. But, I can't help it. Bish was definitely a close second. Kyle was just, he was fun and I felt heart broken for him. I hope he has a happy ending.. Same with Bish, and I hope to see more of Bish and *** in future books! Oh Kyle. I really do like Kyle. Funny, sweet, class clown Kyle.

I continuously found myself gnawing on my finger nails. The intensity, especially towards the end of this book made me a restless mess. Shelly Crane adds some delicious drama to upturn the love story and create some additional tension. It was really tense, and made it that much better. It is an unforgettable book, and the perfect beginning to a series. With the character introductions and world building out of the way I know the other books are going to impress!

One question I continuously asked myself as I devoured this fascinating read was, "WHY DID IT TAKE ME SO LONG TO READ THIS ONE?!" I mean seriously, if you're like me and have been putting this one on the back burner, wait no longer. It's always been there and I always consider it but for some reason I thought it'd be like any other PNR, but boy was I wrong! I guess it's kind of perfect timing though, with the last book being released this month I don't have to wait through long periods of withdrawal. As soon as I finished the last page of Significance I picked up Accordance and began on that one! And, just to tease, Accordance begins immediately after this book! Which was great.

Ok, so it's been established that I loved this book. I adored this love story, enjoyed the paranormal and supernatural addition into the plot, and will be recommending this one endlessly. It's a great read and will leave any reader pining for more. If you don't already have a copy of Significance, here's your chance to win one!

Other books in this series:

Look for my reviews soon!


Giveaway
One Kindle or Nook copy of Significance by Shelly Crane!
International
Must be 13 or older to enter.


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.

12/02/2012

Betwixt Review

Betwixt by Melissa Pearl
★★★★★
Release Date: November 2012
Age: YA
Genre: Drama, Romance, Paranormal, Fantasy, Ghosts
Format: ebook
Source: Author for Review
Buy it: Amazon | Barnes and Noble
Beautiful, wild-child Nicole Tepper is hit by a car and left for dead. But when she wakes the next morning, Nicole finds herself in bed without a scratch. Perhaps she was more intoxicated than usual, as her mother is giving her the silent treatment and her friends are ignoring her as well.

Things take a turn for the weird when Nicole soon discovers she is actually hovering between life and death. Her body is lying in the forest while her spirit is searching for anyone who can hear her. Unfortunately the only person who can is Dale Finnigan, the guy she publicly humiliated with a sharp-tongued insult that has left him branded.
Desperate, Nicole has no choice but to haunt Dale and convince the freaked-out senior to help her. Will he find her body before it's too late? Or will the guy who tried to kill her with his car, beat him there and finish her off before anyone finds out?
My favorite part of this book was the mystery element. It was the, who did it and what's going to happen-that made it an incredible journey. My second favorite part of the book is Dale. I'm pretty sure I love him, nope I'm positive.

So, Melissa Pearl is just brilliant. She weaves these fantastical tales from her very vivid imagination and her books are those that trap me and keep me up late into the night. Her Time Spirit Trilogy was awesome and Betwixt was even better. It's a book that I was dying to read through and finish but dreading the end because I hated for it to be over. I can't wait for more by Melissa!

The first thing I did when I started reading this book was look up the meaning to Betwixt, I was curious. According to the glorious dictionary I learned that Betwixt means Between. Fitting and makes sense. The premise drew me into this book well that paired with the fact that Melissa wrote it; and I'm very excited to share what I thought about it.

After a family tragedy Nicole's parents, trying to cope, have given her freedom to grieve in her way and in doing so have pretty much ignored her for the past few years. Suffering from an immense amount of guilt, Nicole loses herself and her way with the wrong crowd and begins making bad choices. Nicole has become this queen B and is really not a nice girl. She's immature and out of control; and her friends could care less that something has happened to her when she disappears (which isn't as much her fault, but it's her fault they're friends in the first place). Thinking she has just run away, everyone begins living life as normal hoping she'll come home soon (and some hoping she doesn't). When Dale finds out that-that isn't the case he's the one by her side risking everything he's worked hard for, for a girl who before everything was one of the meanest people to him.

Since no one else knows she's there, Dale can only hear and not see her, Nicole grows a lot in this time. She learns how much she's hurt her parents, she reflects on the decisions she's made and it is a very important time for her development (I mean, it is most of the book). As she uncovers the events that led up to her ghostly experience, learns Dale's past, and begins to fall in love, her life takes a new lead. Life I said, hard to put down and I never wanted it to end. The entire story is very well done and thought through. It's original and heartbreaking, soul searching and raw emotions behind a beautiful cover. It's one I recommend to contemporary romance fans that may not be paranormal fans, this one may change your mind.

Throughout the book Melissa Pearl had my emotions on overdrive. She uses these complex issues and isn't afraid to make her readers feel real pain and joy with the characters. I loved this book and the relationship between Dale and Nicole was built up perfectly, not too fast and not too slow. It is first and foremost a love story. A paranormal and out of this world love story, and it works. Overall an excellent read, one can easily get lost in.

I recommend this book to fans of:
The Time Spirit Trilogy by Melissa Pearl, Ever by Jessa Russo, Hereafter by Tara Hudson, Notes to Self by Avery Sawyer, The Dragonfly Prophecy by Jacquelyn Castle, The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

11/26/2012

Blog Tour: Awaken Review and Giveaway


Awaken (Daughters of the Sea #2) by Kristen Day
★★★★☆
Release Date: October 2012
Age: YA
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Mythology, Supernatural
Format: ebook
Source: Young Adult Novel Reader Blog Tours
Buy it: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Other books in the series: Forsaken (Daughters of the Sea #1) available now and Chosen (Daughters of the Sea #3) coming early 2013
The sacrifices we make have the power to shift the very fabric of who we are, and ultimately who we are meant to be…
After learning of her true destiny as the intended Leader of the Tydes, Anastasia Whitman must now embark on a perilous quest to the Underworld before the age of eighteen in order to plant the seed of immortality and complete her essence to become a true Sea Goddess. But before she can make her legendary journey, an unexpected new student transfers to Lorelei; initiating a sequence of events that will unravel Stasia’s new life, and test the boundaries of her relationship with the mysterious, dark, and sexy Finn Morrison. The line between the Underworld and the Living begins to blur as gruesome ghosts, morbid reveries, and pure evil haunt her waking hours as well as her sanity. Once the details of Finn’s own startling destiny are revealed, the dangerous secrets he’s been hiding will threaten the very love Stasia believed to be indestructible. As time begins to run out, she will be forced to choose between the one she loves and the destiny she cannot escape.
Awaken is the sequel to Kristen Day's novel, Forsaken. I would not continue reading this review if you haven't yet read Forsaken. What I would do is scroll down and enter the giveaway to win both books! 

As Awaken begins the reader is immediately thrown back into this mythological tale about sea gods and goddesses. Picking up where Forsaken leaves off, Awaken gave me more of Finn and the rest of the gang; and as the book built, the ending came with an extremely shocking conclusion. Is it 2013 yet? Because I need Chosen, the next installment.

Full of all of the action, adventure and more that I loved in the first book Awaken was a complete continuation of the story with no hiccup in between. The writing flows right into this chapter and it was like I never left this oceanic world. As more truths and secrets come to light the drama unfolds like a wild current, tearing Stasia's world and making her take hold of her future and destiny. Nadia, our evil princess and nemesis of the book, wreaks havoc on the island; attempting to destroy everything and everyone to get what she wants. The mystery element and shocking twists and turns held me captive until the last page.

The holy hotness element of Finn is still there and stronger than ever, I couldn't help but feel like, "okay, now she has him, what happens next?". Then Kristen Day went and answered that for me and it resulted in me having a heart attack. No really. This book kind of made me crazy, in a shock-the-crap-out-of-me ending kind of way. The love between Stasia and Finn better survive this turmoil.

My favorite character in this series has slowly become Carmen, a friend of Anastasia. She is just this spunky ball of awesomeness and the chemistry friction between her and her love interest is a ton of fun. I found myself grinning a lot throughout this book, and I'm looking forward to following the rest of this tale. 

Thank you Miss Kristen Day for making a sequel worthy of the predecessor and for making a series that I am anxious to continue!!

I recommend this series to fans of:

Giveaway



11/22/2012

Ever by Jessa Russo Review and Giveaway

Ever (Ever #1) by Jessa Russo
★★★★☆
Release Date: October 1, 2012
Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press
Age: YA
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Ghosts, Supernatural
Format: ebook
Source: Publisher via Netgalley
Buy it: Amazon | Barnes and Noble
Seventeen-year-old Ever’s love life has been on hold for the past two years. She’s secretly in love with her best friend Frankie, and he’s completely oblivious.
Of course, it doesn't help that he’s dead, and waking up to his ghost every day has made moving on nearly impossible.
Frustrated and desperate for something real, Ever finds herself falling for her hot new neighbor Toby. His relaxed confidence is irresistible, and not just Ever knows it. But falling for Toby comes with a price that throws Ever’s life into a whirlwind of chaos and drama. More than hearts are on the line, and more than Ever will suffer.
Some girls lose their hearts to love.
Some girls lose their minds.
Ever Van Ruysdael could lose her soul.
Ever's story took me by surprise and blew me away. The emotional entanglement captivated and held me throughout the story. I am vested in these characters and am hanging on for the next installment, because OMG Jessa Russo can write a cliffhanger. Whether you're for or against being left dangling and anticipating the return to a certain world and its characters, this book is definitely 100% worth a try.

Going into Ever I was excited, and wary. Excited for the original plot and creative story line. Wary for the word of mouth; I had heard some mixed feelings on the book but I always like to test the waters myself, and my oh my I am glad I did. It was an excellent read, one that I know a lot of Paranormal YA readers will love. Having just read Betwixt (which was also phenomenal) by Melissa Pearl I was already in the mood for some more ghostly adventures. The story is Ever's, it is her crazy life and the way she copes with the hand she is dealt. Loving a boy she can't touch and lusting after a boy she can.

Not only does this talented writer excel at story telling but Jessa Russo also knows how to make an effective and nail biting love triangle. She knows how to move her readers and make them fall in love and then add this element that I personally never saw coming. She pretty much pulled the rug out from under me, and personally I am team Frankie all the way, but I can't help but feel sad about that. Like most, it's a book you have to experience first hand to get the full effect.

The main reason I love Supernatural and Paranormal books is that ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN. This book was such a glorious escape from reality, even if it was heart breaking at times, it was worth the ride. I say 4 stars (closer to 4.5) because of all the questions I still feel are unanswered, as always occurs in the first book of a series. I am definitely looking forward to book 2!

I will be on the lookout for more books by Jessa Russo but in the mean time here's a little something something to keep everyone satisfied! So share the book love!

Giveaway
The ebook of Ever is currently only $.99 (price may change)
and I am going to gift a copy to one lucky winner!
This is an international giveaway for one Kindle ebook copy
Must be 13 or older to enter


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.

11/13/2012

Blog Tour: Colonization Review

Colonization (Paradise Reclaimed #1) by Aubrie Dionne
★★★★☆
Release Date: 2012
Publisher: Inkspell Publishing
Age: YA
Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopian, Space, Futuristic
Format: ebook
Source: Inkspell Publishing
Buy it: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Inkspell
Finding a new home has never been so dangerous.
Andromeda has spent all seventeen years of her life aboard a deep space transport vessel destined for a paradise planet. Her safe cocoon is about to break open as Paradise 21 looms only one month away, and she must take the aptitude tests to determine her role on the new world and her computer

assigned lifemate. As a great-granddaughter of the Commander of the ship, she wants to live up to her family name. But, her forbidden love for her childhood friend, Sirius, distracts her and she fails the tests. The results place her in a menial role in the new colony and pair her with Corvus, “the oaf”.
But when Andromeda steps foot on Paradise 21, her predestined future is the least of her worries. Alien ghosts from a failed colonization warn her of a deadly threat to her colony. And when Sirius's ship crashes on the far ridge in an attempt to investigate, she journeys to rescue him with Corvus.

Andromeda now must convince the authorities of the imminent danger to protect her new home. What she didn't expect was a battle of her own feelings for Sirius and Corvus.

Can she save the colony and discover her true love?
Colonization's cover was what completely drew me in to wanting to read this book, I did a cover reveal  for Inkspell back at the end of July (found here) and when I saw that there would be a blog tour for the book I was ecstatic!

Aubrie takes the best of both worlds when she creates a space book that scifi geeks like me will love, and crosses it with an adventure/finding oneself story that everyone in between will love (and I'm not even mentioning the love story that we all enjoy!). Set in deep space aboard a vessel heading for a new planet the story features a young set of characters growing up and taking control over their lives.

The romance in the story is very much a Hunger Games love triangle. You know exactly what I'm talking about. There's the best friend who you know would be more than that if it were possible and then there's this new flame that you feel guilty about rooting for then he happens to take over your heart. Yeah. It was pretty great. I have to say I'm still kind of team A but I'm learning to love team B (for both this book and THG). Aubrie creates just enough frustration and just enough long glances to satisfy but not over do it. Really enjoyed this aspect of the book and was pleasantly surprised with the outcome.

Our main character is Annie and she is pretty freaking cool. She begins as this against it all girl who in the beginning doesn't try real hard but ends up growing into the heroine of our story. Which is filled with some suspense and danger but she takes the risks and thinks of others before herself.

When the book started I immediately thought back to Across the Universe by Beth Revis. They talk about the generations aboard the ship, their jobs, the living quarters. It is all so cool, and I would absolutely love to get to be part of something like that, remember my previous comment; PURE SCIFI GEEK HERE FOLKS.

It's a great story and I'm looking forward to the rest of the series!

Giveaway

10/27/2012

The Raven Boys Review and Giveaway

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
★★★★★
Release Date: September 18, 2012
Publisher: Scholastic
Age: YA
Genre: Ghosts, Supernatural, Magic, Mystery
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher for Review
Buy it: Amazon
“There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.”
It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.
Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.
His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.
But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.
For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.
Maggie Stiefvater had me captivated with Shiver (and the whole Mercy Falls series). I freaking absolutely LOVE her confident writing and ability to create visually stimulating phrases. After Grace and Sam's story I just knew she was going to be an author that I followed religiously. I went out and purchased Lament and Ballad immediately after finishing the Mercy Falls books and have been all but stalking this wonderful writer since. I also happen to own a copy of The Scorpio Races and definitely am planning to get in gear and devour that one very soon! Hopefully by Thanksgiving!

Ok, so onto her newest endeavor, a well researched and beautifully written account of the supernatural variety. The Raven Boys follows an unlikely gang of misfits as they search for something that many don't know exists. Led by Gansey, these Raven Boys spend every waking second hunting down clues and information on the Ley Line, when they're not attending their posh and private feeder high school into Ivy League. The diverse make up of their group will appeal to many readers. Gansey is one of those people that everyone is friends with. He's kind of obnoxious, full of himself, and can convince pretty much anyone of anything. His vocabulary and the way he holds himself exudes confidence and he doesn't have any clue what a dollar is worth. He holds the power to the friendship of this close knit group and without him I felt like they wouldn't be as strong as they are. The other boys: Noah, Adam, and Ronan, add dimension to this story.

Blue Sargent meets these Raven Boys after a not so pleasant conversation and as chance would have it befriends them as their paths cross again. Shas grown up the daughter of a psychic, so who better to befriend a bunch of boys looking for magic. She's always been a powerful tool to her family, but left in the dark for a lot of things when it comes to her life, until she starts demanding answers. Especially when it comes to her father, or should I say Butternut. I loved Blue, from her quirkiness to her awesome clothing choices. Her relationship with her mother, Maura, is one that I love to find in YA books. She might just have the answers that the Raven Boys have been looking for.

It took me a very long time to finish The Raven Boys, not for lack of interest but for the sheer density of the book. There is a lot of information to absorb and I was afraid to do so quickly, I was savoring this one. It is a book 1 in a series and the wait for the following books will be brutal, thank goodness for the awesome people at Scholastic! hint hint.

Maggie gives it all to us. A beautiful world, amazing characters, and a story line that is unforgettable! This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Giveaway
The wonderful people at Scholastic provided me with an ARC of The Raven Boys to review and now that I've read it I'd like to pass it along!
This is a US only giveaway and it is for an Advanced Copy, the book is now available to buy and there may be changes between the final and this edition.

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.