Romancing the Nerd by Leah Rae Miller

Romancing the Nerd (Nerd #2)
Author:  Leah Rae Miller
Publisher:  Entangled Teen, 352 pages
Publication Date:  April 5, 2016

From Goodreads:
Dan Garrett has become exactly what he hates—popular. Until recently, he was just another live-action role-playing (LARP) geek on the lowest run of the social ladder. Cue a massive growth spurt and an uncanny skill at taking three-point shots in basketball and voila…Mr. Popular. It’s definitely weird.
And the biggest drawback? Going from high school zero to basketball hero cost Dan the secret girl-of-his-dorky dreams. A tuba-playing nerd with an eclectic fashion sense, Zelda Potts’s “Coolness” stat is about minus forty-two. Dan turning his back on her and the rest of nerd-dom was brutal enough, but when he humiliates her at school, Zelda decides it’s time for a little revenge—dork style. Nevermind that she used to have a crush on him. Nevermind that her plan could backfire big time.
It’s time to roll the dice…and hope like freakin’ hell she doesn’t lose her heart in the process.

Review:

After absolutely loving The Summer I Became a Nerd, I was so excited to read this one.  But it was just ok.  The romance was lacking for me and I actually didn't even like the main characters too much individually.  They acted really young and it was a bit simple for me.  

And why did everyone say "ya know" all the time?  Things like that normally don't bother me but every time I read that phrase I cringed.

Posted by:  Pam

Book Review: The Mirror King by Jodi Meadows

The Mirror King (The Orphan Queen #2)
Author:  Jodi Meadows
Publisher:  Katherine Tegen Books, 544 pages
Publication Date:  April 5, 2016

From Goodreads:
Wilhelmina has a hundred enemies.

HER FRIENDS HAVE TURNED. After her identity is revealed during the Inundation, Princess Wilhelmina is kept prisoner by the Indigo Kingdom, with the Ospreys lost somewhere in the devastated city. When the Ospreys’ leader emerges at the worst possible moment, leaving Wil’s biggest ally on his deathbed, she must become Black Knife to set things right.

HER MAGIC IS UNCONTROLLABLE. Wil’s power is to animate, not to give true life, but in the wraithland she commanded a cloud of wraith mist to save herself, and later ordered it solid. Now there is a living boy made of wraith—destructive and deadly, and willing to do anything for her.

HER HEART IS TORN. Though she’s ready for her crown, declaring herself queen means war. Caught between what she wants and what is right, Wilhelmina realizes the throne might not even matter. Everyone thought the wraith was years off, but already it’s destroying Indigo Kingdom villages. If she can’t protect both kingdoms, soon there won’t be a land to rule.

Review:
I liked this sequel and the ending was satisfying and sweet (albeit sad), but I didn't love it.  Wil and Tobiah spend a lot of time apart, and the pacing felt really slow to me.  

I did think the character growth was important, especially for Wil, who has to figure out what kind of queen she wants to be, and how she has to take responsibility for her actions.  I just thought the wraith boy had a lot more potential to be a bigger part of the story, especially as he evolved.

And there's one twist that I sort of saw coming, but it was rather convenient that Wil forgot something that happened in her past.  Um…what?  How did you forget that?  I know that's vague but I don't want to spoil anything.  

I have to say, though, Tobiah's list…that is worth a star (ok, 5 stars) by itself.  Definitely recommend the series and it's so nice that it's a duology.  More of these please!

Posted by:  Pam

Book Review: Revenge and the Wild by Michelle Modesto

Revenge and the Wild
Author:  Michelle Modesto
Publisher:  Balzer + Bray, 384 pages
Publication Date:  February 2, 2016

From Goodreads:
The two-bit town of Rogue City is a lawless place, full of dark magic and saloon brawls, monsters and six-shooters. But it’s perfect for seventeen-year-old Westie, the notorious adopted daughter of local inventor Nigel Butler.

Westie was only a child when she lost her arm and her family to cannibals on the wagon trail. Nine years later, Westie may seem fearsome with her foul-mouthed tough exterior and the powerful mechanical arm built for her by Nigel, but the memory of her past still haunts her. She’s determined to make the killers pay for their crimes—and there’s nothing to stop her except her own reckless ways.

But Westie’s search ceases when a wealthy family comes to town looking to invest in Nigel’s latest invention, a machine that can harvest magic from gold—which Rogue City desperately needs as the magic wards that surround the city start to fail. There’s only one problem: the investors look exactly like the family who murdered Westie’s kin. With the help of Nigel’s handsome but scarred young assistant, Alistair, Westie sets out to prove their guilt. But if she’s not careful, her desire for revenge could cost her the family she has now.

Review:

There's a lot to like about Revenge and the Wild.  It's different, for one thing.  I mean, you have a 17 year old recovering alcoholic who is hunting for the cannibals who ate her family.  What?  Then you have a book that mashes up steampunk, western, and paranormal (werewolves, banshees, vampires, ogres, etc).  And it's entertaining for sure.  I still didn't love it, though, and I think there are a couple of reasons for that.  One, the romance was lacking for me.  Just not enough chemistry between the couple.  Second, every single guy is in love with Westie.  Really annoying.  But that plot twist that I didn't see coming…whoa.  Quite brutal.  

Posted by:  Pam

Book Review: Tell the Wind and Fire by Sarah Rees Brennan

Tell the Wind and Fire
Author:  Sarah Rees Brennan
Publisher:  Clarion Books, 368 pages
Publication Date:  April 5, 2016
*ARC received from publisher via NetGalley

From Goodreads:
In a city divided between opulent luxury in the Light and fierce privations in the Dark, a determined young woman survives by guarding her secrets.

Lucie Manette was born in the Dark half of the city, but careful manipulations won her a home in the Light, celebrity status, and a rich, loving boyfriend. Now she just wants to keep her head down, but her boyfriend has a dark secret of his own—one involving an apparent stranger who is destitute and despised. Lucie alone knows the young men’s deadly connection, and even as the knowledge leads her to make a grave mistake, she can trust no one with the truth.

Blood and secrets alike spill out when revolution erupts. With both halves of the city burning, and mercy nowhere to be found, can Lucie save either boy—or herself?

Review:

Confession:  I have not read A Tale of Two Cities, although I do know the basic plot.  But I was intrigued by a re-telling and I absolutely love Sarah Rees Brennan so I was super excited to read this one.  And it was good, but not great.

I really liked the magic, the premise of the City of Light and the City of Dark (the info dumping in the beginning was a bit much though).  But the characters fell a little flat for me, especially Ethan.  I only got to know him from what Lucie thinks about him, not from seeing it for myself.  Now Carwyn, he was interesting and complex and had a few funny lines, but this book didn't have the humor that made the Lynburn Legacy books so amazing.  

I do admit that, by the end, my heart did break a little.  So all and all, a mixed bag for me.

Posted by:  Pam

Book Review: Forever Dusk by Jocelyn Adams

Forever Dusk (Mortal Machine #3)
Author:  Jocelyn Adams
Publisher:  Entangled Publishing
Publication Date:  February 8, 2016
*ARC received from publisher via NetGalley

From Goodreads:
Since their last battle, life for the Mortal Machine—the secret-society that protects Earth and its inhabitants from dark outside forces—has become almost...normal. For everyone but Addison. The evil she’s imprisoned in her soul has begun eating away at her sanity, and despite her soul mate Asher’s efforts to hold her together, it’s causing painful and terrifying delusions.
Consequently, nobody believes Addison's warnings that Marcus, their old enemy, has returned. When Marcus threatens Asher and the Machine, she agrees to find what he seeks—a treasure that, in his hands, could be deadly.
If she relies too much on Asher, she knows he’ll likely imprison her, if only to preserve what's left of her deteriorating mind. But if she fails this final test, Earth will fall. So Addison is forced to distance herself from her love, to prevent the life she wants with Asher from being over before it truly begins.

Review:

Satisfying ending to the trilogy but this was my least favorite book because it had a couple of my pet peeves in it.  One, almost nothing happened.  It was a lot of waiting and sitting around, the reader was in Addison's head way too much.  Two, Addison and Asher didn't work together.  Why why why can't authors write books where the couple work together?  Instead, Addison was alone.  A lot.

I do recommend this series, however, especially the first book.  

Posted by:  Pam

Book Review: These Vicious Masks by Tarun Shanker and Kelly Zekas

These Vicious Masks (These Vicious Masks #1)
Authors:  Tarun Shanker and Kelly Zekas
Publisher:  Swoon Reads, 320 pages
Publication Date:  February 9, 2016

From Goodreads:
Jane Austen meets X-­Men in this gripping and adventure-­filled paranormal romance set in Victorian London.

England, 1882. Evelyn is bored with society and its expectations. So when her beloved sister, Rose, mysteriously vanishes, she ignores her parents and travels to London to find her, accompanied by the dashing Mr. Kent. But they’re not the only ones looking for Rose. The reclusive, young gentleman Sebastian Braddock is also searching for her, claiming that both sisters have special healing powers. Evelyn is convinced that Sebastian must be mad, until she discovers that his strange tales of extraordinary people are true—and that her sister is in graver danger than she feared.

Review:

I admit, I read this book because of the Jane Austen meets X-Men description.  And while it's accurate, this book was disappointing.  Basically, it's pretty silly even though some horrible things happen.  It's like the authors were trying to be funny but it just didn't work.  Evelyn was supposed to be sassy but I didn't like her.  And the two guys…they have potential, but I wasn't in love with either one of them.  

Entertaining and fun, but…just ok.

Posted by:  Pam

Book Review: Pull by Anne Riley

Pull
Author:  Anne Riley
Publisher:  Spencer Hill Press, 424 pages
Publication Date:  February 2, 2016

From Goodreads:
Rosie Clayton witnesses a mugging on her first night in London—and then the scene rewinds itself.

She finds herself standing in the same place again, with the mugging happening just like before, except this time a stranger steps in and stops it. There's no way the same incident can have two outcomes. Rosie thinks she’s losing her mind, until just a few days later, the stranger saves her.

The stranger, Albert, and his band of misfit crime-fighters, have the special ability to Pull, which allows them to rewind just enough time to undo a recent event. Someone is hunting Albert and his crew– and now that Rosie’s been seen with them, she’s a target too. Rosie is left with no choice but to trust Albert to keep her safe.

As Rosie learns more about this unbelievable ability and the people – if you can call them that – who want them dead, she discovers that the group’s desire for her blood might be more than mere coincidence. Each step into this magical side of London introduces Rosie to a family history that she never knew existed, and dangerous forces that could unravel her world in an instant.

Her family may be the reason they’re all being hunted—and she may be the only one who can figure out how to save them. Sure, between the lot of them, they have a few shots to get it right. The thing about Pulling, though, is you have to be alive to do it.

Review:

Pretty good.  Loved the concept, the pulling.  Everyone travels back in time, not just the people who have the power, which gets rid of a lot of the time traveling issues with some books I've read.  And I liked the idea that they could combine their pulling to go back further and further in time.  

My biggest complaint is just that I wanted MORE.  More with Albert and Rosie. More about the evil group…that was not well fleshed out AT ALL.  More about the other pullers, more about Rosie's abilities.  So many questions, it just seemed like a lot of this book skimmed the surface of things.   

Rosie's family.  Now while I appreciate the fact that they were present (which is lacking is a lot of YA books), they were SO ANNOYING.  And sort of pointless (except for the brother, who I had no sympathy for at all, I really didn't like him). Here's an example.  Apparently Rosie's dad has temper tantrums and goes into rages.  Why?  No idea.  Anything ever done with that?  No.  Was it ever really talked about or resolved?  No.  That's the sort of thing that bothered me throughout the book.  

And the ending…wraps things up but it all felt so rushed and easy.

Basically, this book had all sorts of potential but it was lacking.

Posted by:  Pam

Book Review: Starflight by Melissa Landers

Starflight (Starflight #1)
Author:  Melissa Landers
Publisher:  Disney-Hyperion, 358 pages
Publication Date:  February 2, 2016

From Goodreads:
Life in the outer realm is a lawless, dirty, hard existence, and Solara Brooks is hungry for it. Just out of the orphanage, she needs a fresh start in a place where nobody cares about the engine grease beneath her fingernails or the felony tattoos across her knuckles. She's so desperate to reach the realm that she's willing to indenture herself to Doran Spaulding, the rich and popular quarterback who made her life miserable all through high school, in exchange for passage aboard the spaceliner Zenith.

When a twist of fate lands them instead on the Banshee, a vessel of dubious repute, Doran learns he's been framed on Earth for conspiracy. As he pursues a set of mysterious coordinates rumored to hold the key to clearing his name, he and Solara must get past their enmity to work together and evade those out for their arrest. Life on the Banshee may be tumultuous, but as Solara and Doran are forced to question everything they once believed about their world—and each other—the ship becomes home, and the eccentric crew family. But what Solara and Doran discover on the mysterious Planet X has the power to not only alter their lives, but the existence of everyone in the universe…

Review:

LOVED this one.  Reminded me of Firefly, which is a huge compliment.  It definitely had that whole ragtag colorful character crew thing going for it.

Loved the hate to love relationship between Solara and Doran.  So much tension!  

Sci-fi action, adventure, and romance, this was such a FUN read.

My only complaint is how much of a jerk Doran was.  I mean, really.  He grows, but it's hard to forget how truly mean he was to Solara.  And why?  Just because he was a shallow mean jerk.  After I finished the book, I read where the author says she pitched this as "Overboard" meets "Firefly" and that makes so much sense and makes me appreciate Doran's character growth even more.  But when I was reading the book I had a hard time loving his character even though I did love who he becomes.  Not sure how much sense that makes.

And the best part?  A complete story.  No cliffhanger.  The next book in the series is a companion novel focused on different characters.  I wish there were more of these!!

Posted by:  Pam

Book Review: The Dark Days Club by Alison Goodman

The Dark Days Club (Lady Helen #1)
Author:  Alison Goodman
Publisher:  Viking Books for Young Readers, 496 pages
Publication Date:  January 26, 2016

From Goodreads:
London, April 1812. On the eve of eighteen-year-old Lady Helen Wrexhall’s presentation to the queen, one of her family’s housemaids disappears-and Helen is drawn into the shadows of Regency London. There, she meets Lord Carlston, one of the few who can stop the perpetrators: a cabal of demons infiltrating every level of society. Dare she ask for his help, when his reputation is almost as black as his lingering eyes? And will her intelligence and headstrong curiosity wind up leading them into a death trap?

Review:

I really enjoyed this:  Demon hunters in Regency London…yes please!

Loved the world Alison Goodman has created, the different types of demons, what happens to the demon hunters when they fight the demons.  

And Lord Carlston…dark but not too dark…what happened to his wife????  Loved his relationship with Helen.

Also enjoyed how the rules of society interfered with demon hunting…poor Lady Helen really had to figure out how to get around that…quite refreshing when usually all of that is ignored (although it could be frustrating too, sometimes I wanted more action and less getting dressed up for parties, etc.).  

Also thought it was realistic that she didn't embrace her calling right away, she really didn't want to be a demon hunter, she just wanted to have the life she was meant to have.

Warning…potential love triangle (I think).

Loved this!!  Reminded me a bit of Infernal Devices, which is about the highest compliment I can give.

Posted by:  Pam

Book Review: Firstlife by Gena Showalter

Firstlife (Everlife #1)
Author:  Gena Showalter
Publisher:  Harlequin Teen, 480 pages
Expected Publication Date:  February 23, 2016
*ARC received from publisher via NetGalley

From Goodreads:
ONE CHOICE.

TWO REALMS.

NO SECOND CHANCE.

Tenley “Ten” Lockwood is an average seventeen-year-old girl…who has spent the past thirteen months locked inside the Prynne Asylum. The reason? Not her obsession with numbers, but her refusal to let her parents choose where she’ll live—after she dies.

There is an eternal truth most of the world has come to accept: Firstlife is merely a dress rehearsal, and real life begins after death.

In the Everlife, two realms are in power: Troika and Myriad, longtime enemies and deadly rivals. Both will do anything to recruit Ten, including sending their top Laborers to lure her to their side. Soon, Ten finds herself on the run, caught in a wild tug-of-war between the two realms who will do anything to win the right to her soul. Who can she trust? And what if the realm she’s drawn to isn’t home to the boy she’s falling for? She just has to stay alive long enough to make a decision…

Review:

This one was a bit of a mixed bag for me. LOVED the concept, with two different places you could go after your "firstlife." It definitely made me think about what the world would be like if everyone knew for sure there was an afterlife.  Would that lessen how important your first life was?

But I had a lot of questions about the two places, especially that it seemed such a slam dunk which place was good and which place was not. Why was Ten so undecided? Not sure that made sense to me. I mean, come on, one place was in perpetual darkness, the other in light.

And I'm a big Gena Showalter fan (can I just tell you how much I loved Cole Holland from The White Rabbit Chronicles?) but I was a little disappointed with the love interest.  For some reason I wasn't feeling it, but that may be because of ultra high expectations.  Also, I wasn't sure who the love interest was going to be.  There are two guys and you think there's going to be a love triangle, but one ends up being a friend, like a big brother type (no romantic feelings on either side) and the other ends up the love interest.  But it seemed kind of sudden to me, no build up, etc.  It's like suddenly this guy is the brother friend guy and the other one is the love interest. And Ten doesn't spend that much time with either one of them so I never FELT the relationships develop.

Ten is a fantastic main character, the world is interesting, so I will be continuing the series.

Posted by:  Pam

Spoiler Review: Winter by Marissa Meyer

Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4)
Author:  Marissa Meyer
Publisher:  Feiwel and Friends, 827 pages
Publication Date:  November 10, 2015

From Goodreads:
Princess Winter is admired by the Lunar people for her grace and kindness, and despite the scars that mar her face, her beauty is said to be even more breathtaking than that of her stepmother, Queen Levana.

Winter despises her stepmother, and knows Levana won’t approve of her feelings for her childhood friend—the handsome palace guard, Jacin. But Winter isn’t as weak as Levana believes her to be and she’s been undermining her stepmother’s wishes for years. Together with the cyborg mechanic, Cinder, and her allies, Winter might even have the power to launch a revolution and win a war that’s been raging for far too long.

Can Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, and Winter defeat Levana and find their happily ever afters?

Review:

I liked this conclusion to the Lunar Chronicles, but I didn't love it.  Basically, it was my least favorite book of the series.  I loved the series, don't get me wrong, and I thought the book was really good (I rated it 4 stars), but I didn't really like Winter or Jacin and I didn't care about their love story.  I LOVED Cinder and Kai, Scarlet and Wolf, and Cress and Thorne.  I respected Winter and her choice not to use her Lunar abilities, but I never felt that connection to her that I felt with the rest of the group.  And Jacin…I really didn't like him.  That made it hard to love the book.  Maybe part of it was because they weren't the true focus of the book like the couples were in the other books…I don't know.

And even though Cinder and Kai were my favorite couple, once again they aren't together enough.  They're the only couple who doesn't spend a significant amount of time together and I was hoping we would get that in this book, but we didn't.

And I was soooo disappointed with what happened to Wolf.  Why couldn't they reverse his operation?  Why did he have to spend the rest of his life as a beast man?  It was amazing that Scarlet didn't seem to care, but HE did.  He didn't want it, it was his worst fear.  I mean, come on, this is a fairy tale, I would have bought that they could reverse it.  I just thought that was unnecessary to the story and it made me sad.

Finally, the big fight between Cinder and Levana was pretty meh.  And I didn't buy that just having her real face revealed would weaken her so much.  I read somewhere that Marissa Meyer said that she wished she hadn't made the Lunar abilities so strong because it put her in a tough position in the series and I think it shows with how Levana was defeated.  

So I know I've just complained about the book.  I read it pretty much in one sitting (even with it being so long) and I loved the touches of Snow White we got (I like retellings that are REALLY loose) and the cast of characters (at least six of them) were AMAZING.  Thorne and Cress ended up being my favorite couple in the end and their story and what happened with them was the most satisfying for me. Definitely recommend the series, I'm a huge fan, but maybe having eight main characters was too much.  

What did you think of the book?

Posted by:  Pam

Book Review: The Anatomical Shape of a Heart by Jenn Bennett

The Anatomical Shape of a Heart
Author:  Jenn Bennett
Publisher:  Feiwel & Friends, 304 pages
Publication Date:  November 3, 2015

From Goodreads:
Artist Beatrix Adams knows exactly how she's spending the summer before her senior year. Determined to follow in Leonardo da Vinci’s footsteps, she's ready to tackle the one thing that will give her an advantage in a museum-sponsored scholarship contest: drawing actual cadavers. But when she tries to sneak her way into the hospital’s Willed Body program and misses the last metro train home, she meets a boy who turns her summer plans upside down.

Jack is charming, wildly attractive . . . and possibly one of San Francisco’s most notorious graffiti artists. On midnight buses and city rooftops, Beatrix begins to see who Jack really is—and tries to uncover what he’s hiding that leaves him so wounded. But will these secrets come back to haunt him? Or will the skeletons in Beatrix’s own family’s closet tear them apart?

Review:
LOVED this one. Perfect combination of light and fluffy with drama/serious issues. It reminded me of My Life Next Door in the sense that the drama did not involve love triangle/relationship drama but family drama. Jack was absolutely adorable and the open discussion of sex was refreshing. At one point, he's asking Bex about her likes and dislikes when it comes to sex and when she's embarrassed to tell him he basically says, if we can't talk about it, how can we do it? LOVED that. For this reason alone, every teenager should read this book.  One minor complaint: Although everything was wrapped up in the way I like, there was one small detail that was left open. WHY????

The Anatomical Shape of a Heart made me smile and I'm definitely checking out the author's other books.

Posted by:  Pam

Book Review: Forget Tomorrow by Pintip Dunn

Forget Tomorrow (Forget Tomorrow #1)
Author:  Pintip Dunn
Publisher:  Entangled Teen, 400 pages
Publication Date:  November 3, 2015

From Goodreads:
It's Callie’s seventeenth birthday and, like everyone else, she's eagerly awaiting her vision―a memory sent back in time to sculpt each citizen into the person they're meant to be. A world-class swimmer. A renowned scientist.

Or in Callie's case, a criminal.

In her vision, she sees herself murdering her gifted younger sister. Before she can process what it means, Callie is arrested and placed in Limbo―a hellish prison for those destined to break the law. With the help of her childhood crush, Logan, a boy she hasn’t spoken to in five years, she escapes.

But on the run from her future, as well as the government, Callie sets in motion a chain of events that she hopes will change her fate. If not, she must figure out how to protect her sister from the biggest threat of all—Callie, herself.

Review:

LOVED the premise of this and it really made me think.  What would life be like if, on our seventeenth birthday, we found out something important about our future? Like you saw yourself married to one person but you were currently dating someone else?  You saw yourself in a career you currently had no interest in?  These future memories (sent by your future self) determine everything in your life.  

In this book, the main character actually sees herself killing her little sister.  What?? Although I loved the premise, the world-building and romance were just so-so.  But that ending…talk about cliffhanger.  I read the synopsis of the next book and now I really don't know what to think.  This one is worth reading for the ending alone.

Posted by:  Pam

 

Book Review: The Distance From Me to You by Marina Gessner

The Distance From Me to You
Author:  Marina Gessner
Publisher:  G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, 352 pages
Publication Date:  October 20, 2015

From Goodreads:
McKenna Berney is a lucky girl. She has a loving family and has been accepted to college for the fall. But McKenna has a different goal in mind: much to the chagrin of her parents, she defers her college acceptance to hike the Appalachian Trail from Maine to Georgia with her best friend. And when her friend backs out, McKenna is determined to go through with the dangerous trip on her own. While on the Trail, she meets Sam. Having skipped out on an abusive dad and quit school, Sam has found a brief respite on the Trail, where everyone’s a drifter, at least temporarily.

Despite lives headed in opposite directions, McKenna and Sam fall in love on an emotionally charged journey of dizzying highs and devastating lows. When their punch-drunk love leads them off the trail, McKenna has to persevere in a way she never thought possible to beat the odds or risk both their lives.

Review:

Really enjoyed this one. I would never, in a million years, hike the Appalachian Trail but I loved reading about MacKenna's struggles. She was smart and resourceful and she never lost sight of her goal. I also appreciated her desire to get away, leave technology behind, and just live in the moment.

I felt so bad for Sam and his life, I just wanted to give him a hug.  

Let me just say, the last 20% or so of the book was INTENSE.

My biggest complaint is the open ending. Realistic, but I wanted to know what happened!  This is one of those books that needed an epilogue.  I sort of wrote one in my head so I'm going to pretend that's what happened.

Posted by:  Pam

Book Review: Return Once More by Trisha Leigh

Return Once More (The Historians #1)
Author:  Trisha Leigh
Publisher:  Bloomsbury Spark
Publication Date:  October 20, 2015

From Goodreads:
If you could learn the identity of your one true love—even though you will never meet— would you?

Years have passed since refugees from a ruined earth took to space, eventually settling a new system of planets. Science has not only made the leaps necessary to allow time travel, but the process engineered a strange side effect—predicting your one true love.

If you could save your one true love from an untimely death, would you be able to resist?

Sixteen-year-old Kaia Vespasian is an apprentice to the Historians—a group charged with using time travel to document the triumphs and failures of the past—and she can’t resist a peek at her long-dead soul mate in Ancient Egypt. Before she knows it, she’s broken every rule in the book, and the consequences of getting caught could destroy more than just her new romance.

Or would you have the strength to watch him die?

But when Kaia notices a fellow classmate snooping around in a time where he doesn’t belong, she suspects he has a secret of his own—and the conspiracy she uncovers could threaten the entire universe. If her experience has taught her anything, to changing history means facing the consequences. The Historians trained her to observe and record the past, but Kaia never guessed she might have to protect it— in a race across time to save her only chance at a future.

Review:

I absolutely loved this book.  It wasn't perfect, I had a couple of issues with the time travel stuff and the one true love thing didn't make much sense, but I just didn't care because there was just something about this book!

Time travel moral dilemmas, action, romance.  Twists and turns, twists and turns.  

That ending.  Jaw dropping.  Need. Next. Book. Right. Now.  

Posted by:  Pam

 

Book Review: First & Then by Emma Mills

First & Then
Author:  Emma Mills
Publisher:  Henry Holt & Co., 272 pages
Publication Date:  October 13, 2015

From Goodreads:
Devon Tennyson wouldn't change a thing. She's happy watching Friday night games from the bleachers, silently crushing on best friend Cas, and blissfully ignoring the future after high school. But the universe has other plans. It delivers Devon's cousin Foster, an unrepentant social outlier with a surprising talent for football, and the obnoxiously superior and maddeningly attractive star running back, Ezra, right where she doesn't want them first into her P.E. class and then into every other aspect of her life.

Pride and Prejudice meets Friday Night Lights in this contemporary novel about falling in love with the unexpected boy, with a new brother, and with yourself.

Review:

What I Liked:  Football, Jane Austen references, romance, family dynamics, character growth, and a normal high school girl who doesn't know what she wants to do or where she fits in.

What I Didn't Like:  There was a slight disconnect for me with this book, and I think in part it's because Devon, the main character, seems disconnected.  I just couldn't get a handle on her.  She's best friends with Cas, a popular football player, but then she doesn't have any other friends.  Acquaintances, sure, but no real friends at all. And it's not like her and Cas spent that much time together.  Also, there were just too many random, odd characters.  Too much quirky.  And characters who were in the book but didn't seem to serve much purpose, sort of popping in and out.  Finally, Ezra had the potential to be an awesome book boyfriend, but I didn't feel like I got to know him and I was left with wanting more.

So while I really enjoyed this one, I didn't love it.

Posted by:  Pam

 

Book Review: Dark Heart of Magic by Jennifer Estep

Dark Heart of Magic (Black Blade #2)
Author:  Jennifer Estep
Publisher:  Kensington, 368 pages
Publication Date:  October 27, 2015
*ARC received from publisher via NetGalley

From Goodreads:
As a thief, I stick to the shadows as much as possible. But when the head of the Sinclair Family picks me to compete in the Tournament of Blades, there's no escaping the spotlight—or the danger.

Even though he's my competition, Devon Sinclair thinks I have the best shot at winning what's supposed to be a friendly contest. But when the competitors start having mysterious "accidents," it looks like someone will do anything to win—no matter who they hurt.

As if I didn't have enough to worry about, mobster Victor Draconi is plotting against Devon and the rest of my friends, and someone's going around Cloudburst Falls murdering monsters. One thing's for sure. Sometimes, humans can be more monstrous than anything else…

Review:
It's rare that I like a sequel better, but I really enjoyed this entertaining and fun book. There's a magical competition, mystery (someone is murdering creatures and also sabotaging the tournament), a touch of romance, and the darkness is balanced by humor. This series reminds me a bit of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, it has that whimsical quality to it.

Loving the fact that there's no love triangle, and the author does a nice job of developing the characters. Even though it was obvious who the killer was, Dark Heart of Magic was a great followup and I can't wait for the next one!

Posted by: Pam

Book Review: Persuasion by Martina Boone

Persuasion (The Heirs of Watson Island #2)
Author:  Martina Boone
Publisher:  Simon Pulse, 464 pages
Publication Date:  October 27, 2015
*ARC received from publisher via Edelweiss

From Goodreads:
Grieving the death of her godfather and haunted by her cousin Cassie’s betrayal, Barrie returns from a trip to San Francisco to find the Watson plantation under siege. Ghost-hunters hope to glimpse the ancient spirit who sets the river on fire each night, and reporters chase rumors of a stolen shipment of Civil War gold that may be hidden at Colesworth Place. The chaos turns dangerous as Cassie hires a team of archeologists to excavate beneath the mansion ruins. Because more is buried there than treasure.

A stranger filled with magic arrives at Watson’s Landing claiming that the key to the Watson and Beaufort gifts—and the Colesworth curse—also lies beneath the mansion. With a mix of threats and promises, the man convinces Barrie and Cassie to cast a spell there at midnight. But what he conjures may have deadly consequences.

While Barrie struggles to make sense of the escalating peril and her growing and forbidden feelings for Eight Beaufort, it’s impossible to know whom to trust and what to fight for—Eight or herself. Millions of dollars and the fate of the founding families is at stake. Now Barrie must choose between what she feels deep in her heart and what will keep Watson’s Landing safe.

Review:

I enjoyed this sequel, but it did suffer from middle book syndrome.

What I liked:  Curses, Southern gothic atmosphere, quirky characters, buried treasure, mysteries.  The world created by Martina Boone is fascinating.  I also love love love Eight.  Awesome book boyfriend.

What didn't quite work:  Barrie doesn't deserve Eight.  She keeps secrets from him, he's willing to sacrifice everything for her, and she is just so selfish.  I wanted to shake Barrie so many times during this book.

Although the first book told a complete story (main plot resolved) this one does not.  A little irksome.

I'm still in love with the series, highly recommend, but this book was frustrating.

Posted by:  Pam

Book Review: The Masked Truth by Kelley Armstrong

The Masked Truth
Author:  Kelley Armstrong
Publisher:  Doubleday, 352 pages
Publication Date:  October 13, 2015

From Goodreads:
Riley Vasquez is haunted by the brutal murder of the couple she was babysitting for.

Max Cross is suffering under the shadow of a life-altering diagnosis he doesn’t dare reveal.

The last thing either of them wants is to spend a weekend away at a therapy camp alongside five other teens with “issues.” But that’s exactly where they are when three masked men burst in to take the group hostage.

The building has no windows. The exits are sealed shut. Their phones are gone. And their captors are on a killing spree.

Riley and Max know that if they can’t get out, they’ll be next—but they’re about to discover that even escape doesn’t equal freedom.

Review:
This book.  INTENSE.  I could not put it down.  These characters.  My heart broke for them.

Such an excellent combination of action and character development.  And just when I thought I knew where it was going, it went somewhere else.  In all honesty, some of the things that happened were pretty implausible but I just went with it.

Riley and Max…loved loved loved them together.  Max was absolutely adorable and sarcastic and I just wanted to give him a hug.  Reading from his POV was eye opening and made me really think.

The ending…quite perfect and after all of the death and violence, I really needed it.

Posted by:  Pam

Book Review: Through the Dark by Alexandra Bracken

Through the Dark
Author:  Alexandra Bracken
Publisher:  Disney Hyperion, 400 pages
Publication Date:  October 6, 2015

From Goodreads:
Don't miss this breathtaking collection of stories set in the world of the New York Times best-selling Darkest Minds trilogy. IN TIME: Gabe's life has been devastated in the wake of the economic crash. The only option left for someone like him to escape his tragic past is to leave his small town behind and to attempt to become a skiptracer. This already almost-impossible task is made all the more difficult by his first "score,"a young girl who won't speak, but who changes his life in ways he could never imagine. SPARKS RISE: Sam didn't think things could get worse at Thurmand rehabilitation camp. Then the Reds arrive. Everyone assumed the kids with firepower had been killed years ago. Instead they were taken away, brainwashed, and returned as terrifyingly effective guards. To her horror, Sam recognizes one of them: Lucas, the one spark of light in Sam's dark childhood. Lucas has a deadly secret--he beat the brutal training that turned his fellow Reds into mindless drones. When Sam defends herself against an attack by a vile PSF guard and faces a harrowing punishment, Lucas must risk everything to save her. BEYOND THE NIGHT: The government-run "rehabilitation camps" have been shut down, but kids with Psi powers are anything but free. Sam would rather be on her own than put in the care of a foster family and given the "cure"--a dangerous procedure that unclaimed kids across the country are being forced to undergo. But there's more at stake than just her own safety. Sam once made someone a promise, and the time has come to fulfill it. Now that she's out of her camp, Mia only has one thought in her head: finding Lucas, her beloved older brother.

Review:

I love this series so much and I was so happy to be back in this world. These characters are some of my favorite characters EVER.  And I didn't think I could love anyone as much as Liam, Ruby, or Chubs, but oh Sam and Lucas…just thinking about you makes me tear up.  LUCAS!!!!  He's giving Liam a run for his money as top book boyfriend, I have to say.  My heart broke for him.

If you are a fan of this series, this is a must read.  And if you haven't read this series, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?????

The second and third novellas are the best.  The second one tells the story of Sam and Lucas and what happened after Ruby left the camp.  The third novella (it's around 200 pages, actually) tells us what happened after the end of the trilogy.  The focus is on Sam and Mia, Lucas's sister, but we see old friends and get a better sense of what's happening in the world.  And things are not perfect, which is realistic. Even though the camps are closed, the people with abilities are not trusted and there are now snatchers selling them on the black market, zones set up where they're supposed to live, etc.  Well done.  All of the small questions I had were answered.  

How can I say goodbye? I guess it's truly over. "sobs" Alexandra Bracken knows how to write an incredible series and also knows how to end one.  She's an auto buy author for me, no question.

Posted by:  Pam