Review: The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett by Chelsea Sedoti

A teenage misfit named Hawthorn Creely inserts herself in the investigation of missing person Lizzie Lovett, who disappeared mysteriously while camping with her boyfriend. Hawthorn doesn't mean to interfere, but she has a pretty crazy theory about what happened to Lizzie. In order to prove it, she decides to immerse herself in Lizzie's life. That includes taking her job... and her boyfriend. It's a huge risk — but it's just what Hawthorn needs to find her own place in the world.

Publication Date: January 3, 2017

Talk about an unexpected delightful book! I loved this story, even after finding out what Hawthorn’s theory was about Lizzie’s disappearance. It was a definite “jump the shark” moment, but Hawthorn was so freaking likable, the premise worked. There were some moments of heartbreaking realism that had me choking up, especially toward the end. If you love quirky YA novels, then you must pick up this book! Hands down this was a five star read for me!

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher for a copy for review purposes!

Review: Please Don't Tell by Laura Tims

Joy killed Adam Gordon—at least, that’s what she thinks. The night of the party is hazy at best. But she knows what Adam did to her twin sister, Grace, and she knows he had to pay for it.

What Joy doesn’t expect is that someone else saw what happened. And one night a note is shoved through her open window, threatening Joy that all will be revealed. Now the anonymous blackmailer starts using Joy to expose the secrets of their placid hometown. And as the demands escalate, Joy must somehow uncover the blackmailer’s identity before Joy is forced to make a terrible choice.

In this darkly compelling narrative, debut author Laura Tims explores the complicated relationship between two sisters, and what one will do for the other. It’s a story that will keep readers turning pages and questioning their own sense of right and wrong.

Publication Date: May 24, 2016

This was a YA book that had wonderful crossover appeal. Sometimes when I read YA, I start thinking to myself, “Wow, I’m way too old to be reading this.” However, this wasn’t the case with Please Don’t Tell and I loved the themes the author presented over the course of the story.

Please Don’t Tell is told in alternating points of view, hopping between Joy and Grace. On the surface, Joy is the wild and carefree twin while Grace is the do-gooder, overachiever. But there’s so much going on with the characters beneath the surface. I especially loved Grace’s chapters as she narrates the events that lead up to a character’s death.

There was a lot of darkness in the book and I loved the complexity of the characters. The author made each character three-dimensional, even minor ones. There is a hint of romance in the book, but it was realistically done. All the characters felt so real to me and I rarely find that quality.

The mystery wasn’t the strongest and I figured out the twist early on. However, I still enjoyed how everything came together as past and present collided. The resolution had the same realism as the rest of the novel. Highly recommend this book!

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Review: Behold the Bones by Natalie C. Parker

Summary:

Candace “Candy” Pickens has been obsessed with the swamp lore of her tiny Louisiana town for . . . forever. Name any ghostly swamp figure and Candy will recite the entire tale in a way that will curl your toes and send chills up your spine.

That doesn’t mean Candy’s a believer, however. Even though she and her friends entered the swamp at the start of summer and left it changed, Candy’s the only one who can’t see or feel the magical swamp Shine. She’s also the only one who can’t see the ghosts that have been showing up and spooking everyone in town ever since. So Candy concentrates on other things—real things. Like fighting with her mother and plotting her escape from her crazy town.

But ghosts aren’t the only newcomers in Sticks, Louisiana. The King family arrives like a hurricane: in a blur and unwanted—at least by Candy. Mr. King is intent on filming the rumored ghostly activity for his hit TV show, Local Haunts. And while Candy can’t ignore how attracted she is to eighteen-year-old Gage King and how much his sister, Nova, wants to be friends, she’s still suspicious of the King family.

As Candy tries to figure out why the Kings are really in town and why the swamp that had previously cast her aside now seems to be invading every crack in her logical, cynical mind, she stumbles across the one piece of swamp lore she didn’t know. It’s a tale that’s more truth than myth, and may have all the answers . . . and its roots are in Candy’s own family tree.

Publication Date: February 23, 2016

Natalie C. Parker can definitely write great, atmospheric YA novels. I loved her first outing in the series, Beware the Wild, so I was stoked to get my hands on the sequel Behold the Bones. Although the gothic feel was still there and the writing was amazing, I didn’t have as much love for book two as the first in the series.

My main complaint with Behold the Bones? I just didn’t care for the main character Candy as much. Candy was well developed, but I just found her too abrasive for me. I didn’t mind that she was tough, I liked that about her, but she could be rude and obnoxious to the people who loved her. I liked her friends much more than Candy and would have rather read a book from Abigail’s POV.

The beginning was exciting and I was interested in the “curse” affecting Candy and her family. But there was a major slowdown after the beginning and I found my interest waning. Luckily, the plot picked up again about two-thirds of the way through and I was able to finish the rest of the book quickly.

The swamp setting is by far the star of the book and the chapters that highlighted the haunted Louisiana swamp were the most riveting. Although the hauntings start affecting other areas of the town, the creep factor went away up anytime the swamp came into play.

Although Behold the Bones wasn’t my favorite book, I still would read more from the author and look forward to checking out her future novels.

Rating: 3/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the novel for review!

Review: The Shadow Queen by C.J. Redwine

Summary:

Lorelai Diederich, crown princess and fugitive at large, has one mission: kill the wicked queen who took both the Ravenspire throne and the life of her father. To do that, Lorelai needs to use the one weapon she and Queen Irina have in common—magic. She’ll have to be stronger, faster, and more powerful than Irina, the most dangerous sorceress Ravenspire has ever seen.

In the neighboring kingdom of Eldr, when Prince Kol’s father and older brother are killed by an invading army of magic-wielding ogres, the second-born prince is suddenly given the responsibility of saving his kingdom. To do that, Kol needs magic—and the only way to get it is to make a deal with the queen of Ravenspire, promise to become her personal huntsman…and bring her Lorelai’s heart.

But Lorelai is nothing like Kol expected—beautiful, fierce, and unstoppable—and despite dark magic, Lorelai is drawn in by the passionate and troubled king. Fighting to stay one step ahead of the dragon huntsman—who she likes far more than she should—Lorelai does everything in her power to ruin the wicked queen. But Irina isn’t going down without a fight, and her final move may cost the princess the one thing she still has left to lose.

Publication Date: February 16, 2016

Retellings are very easy to muck up completely and I was glad to see that The Shadow Queen didn’t fall into that trap. I liked the direction that Redwine went when retelling “Snow White” and I really found myself rooting for Lorelai.

The characters were all very likable, although I was pretty devastated by a death that I felt happened way too early. Lorelai was a good protagonist and I felt for her as she struggled between using her magic and risking that her magic would lead a trail straight to her and her family. Queen Irina was scary evil, but I appreciated the author giving her a back-story to make her less of a one-dimensional villain. Prince Kol won me over too. I wasn’t too sure about how I felt the whole half-dragon thing, but I was able to get into the romance early on between him and Lorelai.

The pace was mixed with the middle dragging a little more than I liked. It just seemed to take a really long time for Lorelai to make a move against Irina and I grew tired with the angst. There are a lot of high fantasy elements in this one, which normally isn’t my thing, so that could be a bit of why I grew bored as well.

The conclusion wrapped everything up nicely and I was pleased to find that it wasn’t a cliffhanger. I’d definitely check out the next book in the series to see how the author expands upon the world.   

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the novel for review!

Review: The Last Good Day of the Year by Jessica Warman

Summary:

Ten years ago, seven-year-old Samantha and her next door neighbor Remy watched helplessly as Sam's little sister was kidnapped. Later, Remy and Sam identified the man and he was sent to prison.

Now, Sam's shattered family is returning to her childhood home in an effort to heal. As long-buried memories begin to surface, she and Remy wonder what they really saw. The more they re-examine the events of that fateful night, the more questions they have about what happened to Turtle . . . and they become more certain that Turtle's killer is still out there, hidden amongst the members of their tight-knit community.

Master storyteller Jessica Warman keeps readers guessing in an arresting page-turner that questions whether the potential for evil lurks within us all.

Publication Date: May 12, 2015

I read another book by the author and remembered really enjoying it, so I was extremely excited to get my hands on a copy of The Last Good Day of the Year. The premise sounded chilling and I expected to get really drawn into the story of a young girl’s abduction. I did end up liking The Last Good Day of the Year, but more so as a character study of how a family deals with tragedy than an actual suspense novel.

The beginning of the book was so fantastically good! I was so scared over the scene in the basement and the way Turtle was taken. Actually most of the flashback sections were much more intriguing than the parts that took place ten years later. The scenes with older Sam just didn’t resonate as much with me and I didn’t feel much toward her as a character. I guess I wanted more emotion from her about her sister’s abduction and the part she and her childhood friend Remy played in naming the purported murderer.

The pacing was a little uneven in my opinion. The beginning and end were very suspenseful, but the middle was mostly about how Sam’s family was falling apart because of the abduction. The book did a good job of showing how people can react dramatically different when faced with unspeakable tragedy. I only wish there was more clues given about the central mystery. The conclusion seemed to come out of nowhere and was wrapped up way too quickly.

I did find the book unputdownable at times, so I was definitely drawn into the story. The novel wasn’t what I expected, but still a good read nonetheless.

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the novel for review!

Review: Powerless by Tera Lynn Childs and Tracy Deebs

Summary:

Kenna is tired of being "normal". The only thing special about her is that she isn't special at all. Which is frustrating in a world of absolutes. Villains, like the one who killed her father, are bad. Heroes, like her mother and best friend, are good. And Kenna, unlike everyone else around her, is completely ordinary— which she hates.

She’s secretly working on an experiment that will land her a place among the Heroes, but when a Villain saves her life during a break-in at her lab, Kenna discovers there’s a whole lot of gray area when it comes to good and evil and who she can trust.. After all…not all strength comes from superpowers.

Publication Date: June 2, 2015

Powerless had a super strong start! I ended up loving the concept of the world being separated into heroes, villains, and “normals.” At first, the idea sounded silly, but the author made it work. The book was extremely well written and action-packed.

Kenna as a normal was very likable. She felt useless around superheroes, but made up for her lack of powers with spunk. Although she hated being without powers, she tried to use her other qualities to help others. The secondary characters were interesting too, especially once the reader is introduced to the villains.

The book wasn’t long, but there was so much that happened between the pages. The novel never dragged and seemed to move to one action scene to the next. The suspense was spot on as danger constantly closed in on Kenna and her friends.

What I didn’t like about the book was the petty squabbles between members of the group. The constant bickering was VERY annoying. It made me dislike some of the characters at times and they lost my sympathy for their cause.

The romance in the book was good, but lack of time between the characters alone together kept it from being great. After the ending, I imagine there has to be a sequel, so I see more of a development in that area in subsequent books. The ending was really good and made me excited to read more.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the novel for review!

Review: Learning to Live by Kira Adams

Summary:

Ciera Nelson wants what any other outcast wants, invisibility. If she can just make it through the rest of her year with minor incidents and a head held low she will be able to put the hell hole they call school in her rearview. Unfortunately, life has different plans for her.

Topher Carlson is one of the biggest jocks on campus. All the guys want to be him, all the girls want to claim him. When secrets are uncovered, Topher’s life spins wildly out of control.

They are far from friends when the school year begins, but each will impact the other’s life in ways they never dreamed possible. Can Ciera help Topher realize that popularity and status mean nothing in the real world? Can Topher help Ciera learn the true meaning of living?

Sometimes you have to let go to really live. Sometimes being alive means taking risks.

Publication Date: January 2015

I haven’t read a good tearjerker in a long time and Learning to Live left me a bawling mess. I figured the book would be sad, but I was shocked over how devastated I was left by the end. This is the first book I read by Kira Adams, but it certainly won’t be the last.

Ciera and Topher are definitely characters that grow on you over time—especially Topher. Topher was a gigantic a-hole at the beginning of the book and some of the things he did to Ciera were pretty much unforgivable. But as I got to know Topher and learn about why he was such a head case, he earned my sympathy. For Ciera, I really wanted to reach into the book and shake her from time to time. Her forgiving nature definitely made her too saint-like.

CIera and Topher had good chemistry once they got over their issues. I liked that their relationship was gradual and that Topher had to really work to earn her trust. The book is told in dual POV, which was a huge plus. The reader got a glimpse of how their perceptions about one another evolved as they spent more time together.

SPOILER ALERT: This book is really, really a lot like A Walk to Remember. And since I adore the book and the movie, I was definitely into the storyline big time. And just like A Walk to Remember, I was hoping and praying for a different ending. I did see that there’s a novella about Topher that happens two years after the events of Learning to Live, but I don’t think I can move on from my heartache to read it. END OF SPOILER

The pacing in the book is solid and I read it in probably less than four sittings. Once you reach the final third mark, there’s no putting the book down. The epilogue was beautiful and tragic and will definitely leave you with a book hangover.

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the novel for review!

Review: Devoted by Jennifer Mathieu

Summary:

Rachel Walker is devoted to God.

She prays every day, attends Calvary Christian Church with her family, helps care for her five younger siblings, dresses modestly, and prepares herself to be a wife and mother who serves the Lord with joy.

But Rachel is curious about the world her family has turned away from, and increasingly finds that neither the church nor her homeschool education has the answers she craves. Rachel has always found solace in her beliefs, but now she can’t shake the feeling that her devotion might destroy her soul.

Publication Date: June 2, 2015

I liked Devoted a lot more than I expected to. The beginning was really slow for me and I just couldn’t seem to connect with the setting or the main character. I’m really glad I stuck it out. Devoted became exceptionally better as the book progressed and the author very subtly explored what it mean to be raised in a closed-off religious community.

I enjoyed Rachel as a character more so as she begins to question her group’s religious views. Her change is gradual and I found it more believable than her simply waking up one morning and realizing that the life she is living isn’t the societal norm. I also liked that her central problem wasn’t her belief in god, but rather whether she was being treated unfairly because she was born a woman.

My favorite part of the book was that the catalyst for the events was Rachel getting in trouble for reading her favorite book “A Wrinkle in Time.” She is chastised by her father for reading something unholy because of the fantasy elements contained in the novel.

There’s not a romance in the novel, but I wouldn’t have found one appropriate. The book was more about a teen girl finding her voice and being able to see that despite her family’s preaching, there was good to be found outside of her sect.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the novel for review!

Guest Review: Shade Me by Jennifer Brown

Summary:

Nikki Kill does not see the world like everyone else. In her eyes, happiness is pink, sadness is a mixture of brown and green, and lies are gray. Thanks to a rare phenomenon called synesthesia, Nikki’s senses overlap, in a way that both comforts and overwhelms her.

Always an outsider, just one ‘D’ shy of flunking out, Nikki’s life is on the fast track to nowhere until the night a mysterious call lights her phone up bright orange—the color of emergencies. It’s the local hospital. They need Nikki to identify a Jane Doe who is barely hanging on to life after a horrible attack.

The victim is Peyton Hollis, a popular girl from Nikki’s school who Nikki hardly knows. One thing is clear: Someone wants Peyton dead. But why? And why was Nikki’s cell the only number in Peyton’s phone?

As she tries to decipher the strange kaleidoscope of clues, Nikki finds herself thrust into the dark, glittering world of the ultra-rich Hollis family, and drawn towards Peyton’s handsome, never-do-well older brother Dru. While Nikki’s colors seem to help her unravel the puzzle, what she can’t see is that she may be falling into a trap. The only truth she can be sure of is that death is a deep, pulsing crimson.

Shade Me is award-winning author Jennifer Brown’s first book in a thrilling suspense series about Nikki Kill.

Publication Date: January 16, 2016

About Guest Reviewer Joanna:

Joanna Franklin Bell is a writer living outside Baltimore, MD. Her articles can be read in "Baltimore Magazine" and various Patch.com sites; her award-winning short story can be found on the "Single Dad Laughing" blog; and her books can be found on Amazon. "Muse: A Cat's Story" is her children's chapter book, "Mrs. Just-So" is her children's picture book, and "Take a Load Off, Mona Jamborski" and "That Birds Would Sing" are her novels. Her third novel, "See No Demons, Hear No Demons" will be released in 2016. Catch up with Joanna on Facebook at:  https://www.facebook.com/JoannaFranklinBell

Guest Review:

My birthday is next week. I will be 42. Yes, thank you, I know. I attribute my youthful looks to my high-carb late-night diet, but I realize not everyone can keep up with that program. Well enough about me. The point is, I have solidly transitioned to adult literature, other than a constant and forever love of all things Harry Potter. I read Hunger Games with a little disappointment, rolled my eyes at the whole Divergent thing, and opted right out of The Fault in Our Stars. Teen angst? Can't do it anymore. DONE that, both in life and in literature. Moving on.

But I was given a copy of Shade Me by Jennifer Brown's publisher in exchange for an honest review, and I accepted it mostly because I didn't realize it was a YA book. I wouldn't have necessarily known it was a YA book either, after the first many chapters—I was aware the protagonist was a kick-ass teen named Nikki Kill but a teenage character does not necessitate a teenage audience. Lord of the Flies was not, you know, written for young British schoolchildren just because it stars them. Right? Right.

Nikki won my heart pretty quickly. There are lots of garbage-y stereotypical ways to write about a dark horse teen with no friends who smokes and studies martial arts, and Jennifer Brown fell into none of the traps. Nikki was actually unique and didn't try too hard to prove to the reader how bad-ass she is, making her all the more bad-ass. She has synesthesia too, and while that's interesting and unique, I still think Brown could have devolved into a preschooler's rainbow-world of red and blue and green and yellow… but I was so pleasantly surprised. Her colorful (literally, colorful) descriptions took me into awesome phrases like "ragemonster red" and "brown mist, bruise-violet swirls, sickly green waves" that wed colors to emotions. Nikki's brand of synesthesia is actually intuitive or maybe psychic—her colors can help her spot a liar or a skeptic or even an imminent death. I call it Cheater's Synesthesia, but Brown just calls it Nikki. And I liked it.

Brown falls prey to a couple of amateur writing traps that drive me nuts—her antagonist "bares her teeth," and her protagonist "squints" when she's peering closely or narrowing her eyes. I edit the hell out of both of those mannerisms when I am reading my clients' rough drafts, and I hope Brown's editor doesn't let her get away with them either. Also, I never fully followed some of the family drama and who was whose stepmother, but maybe that was intentionally left vague…? It didn't really matter, since the main thrust of the story was clear and intense and emotive. And very, very colorful.

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Review: Ruthless by Carolyn Lee Adams

Summary:

Ruth Carver has always competed like her life depends on it. Ambitious. Tough. Maybe even mean. It’s no wonder people call her ruthless.

When she wakes up with a concussion in the bed of a moving pickup truck, Ruth realizes she has been entered into a contest she can’t afford to lose.

At a remote, rotting cabin deep in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Ruth’s blindfold comes off and she finds herself face-to-face with her captor: A man who believes his mission is to punish bad girls like Ruth. A man who has done this six times before.

The other girls were never heard from again, but Ruth won’t go down easy. She escapes into the wilderness, but her hunter is close at her heels. That’s when the real battle begins. That’s when Ruth must decides just how far she’ll go in order to survive.

Back home, they called her Ruthless. They had no idea just how right they were.

Publication Date: July 14, 2015

Ruthless was a great atmospheric thriller about a teen girl’s struggle to survive against a serial killer. This book was definitely a read in one sitting kind of novel. There was so much tension as Ruth tried to escape her captor while he always seemed to be one step ahead of her.

Ruth was an imperfect character and I think that quality made her relatable. She hasn’t always been the nicest person and her aggressiveness has unfortunately led her to become a target of a deranged serial killer named “Wolfman.” The book opens with a bang as Ruth wakes up disoriented in the bed of a pickup truck. In flashback scenes, readers are given a better sense of what Ruth was like before her abduction and how her captivity changes her.

The present scenes are full of suspense and action as Ruth fights off Wolfman and runs into the woods in a dramatic escape attempt. Her struggles were truly heart wrenching, particularly the scenes where salvation seemed just out of her reach. The Wolfman’s flashback scenes aided in making his character more fleshed out. As far as Ruth’s flashbacks, I wished the author focused on more than one particular time in her life to give more insight into how she became so driven.

Fans of fast-paced YA thrillers will love Ruthless. I wasn’t sure a cat and mouse game in the woods would hold my interest, but the author threw in enough twists to keep me glued to the pages.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the novel for review!

Review: Underneath Everything by Marcy Beller Paul

Summary:

Underneath Everything is a seductive, gorgeously written debut about two girls bound by an obsessive and toxic friendship, perfect for fans of Lauren Oliver and Courtney Summers.

Mattie shouldn't be at the bonfire. She should be finding new maps for her collection, hanging out with Kris, and steering clear of almost everyone else, especially Jolene. After all, Mattie and Kris dropped off the social scene the summer after sophomore year for a reason. But now Mattie is a senior, and she's sick of missing things. So here she is. And there's Jolene: Beautiful. Captivating. Just like the stories she wove. Mattie would know—she used to star in them. She and Jolene were best friends. Mattie has the scar on her palm to prove it, and Jolene has everything else, including Hudson.

But when Mattie runs into Hudson and gets a glimpse of what could have been, she decides to take it all back: the boyfriend, the friends, the life she was supposed to live. Problem is, Mattie can't figure out where Jolene's life ends and hers begins. Because there's something Mattie hasn't told anyone: She walked away from Jolene over a year ago, but she never really left.

Publication Date: October 27, 2015

Underneath Everything was an interesting story about toxic female friendships. Specifically, the book focused on the dynamic between a quieter, passive friend and the dominant, outgoing friend. Jolene and Mattie had been best friends until their friendship dissolved over a boy named Hudson.

The book is very character-driven since not much happens in terms of the actual plot. I found the secondary characters interesting, especially Jolene, but I couldn’t really muster much enthusiasm for Mattie. Her personality was sort of blah and the only trait I could really remember about her most of the time was her odd obsession with maps.

I liked the author’s writing style and I was curious about what happened the night Mattie and Jolene’s friendship imploded. The flashbacks were also a highlight of the book and I liked how ambiguous the author kept Jolene and Mattie’s relationship. I kept wondering if they were just friends or something more.

I think at the core of the novel is a girl struggling to find her identity separate from her “soulmate.” Although I wasn’t totally blown away by the story, I did think it painted an honest depiction of how complicated female friendships can become.

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the novel for review!

Review: What We Saw by Aaron Hartzler

Summary:

The party last Saturday night is a bit of a blur.

Kate Weston can piece together most of the bash at John Doone’s house: shots with Stacey Stallard, Ben Cody taking her keys and getting her home early—the feeling that maybe he’s becoming more than just the guy she’s known since they were kids.

But when a picture of Stacey passed out over Deacon Mills’s shoulder appears online the next morning, Kate suspects she doesn’t have all the details, and begins to ask questions.

What really happened at the party after she left?

Who was still there?

What did they see?

When Stacey levels charges against four of Kate’s classmates, the whole town erupts into controversy. Facts that can’t be ignored begin to surface, and every answer Kate finds leads back to the same question:

Where was Ben when a terrible crime was committed?

This story—inspired by real events—from debut novelist Aaron Hartzler takes an unflinching look at silence as a form of complicity. It’s a book about the high stakes of speaking up, and the razor thin line between guilt and innocence that so often gets blurred, one hundred and forty characters at a time.


Publication Date: September 22, 2015

What We Saw is a must read for every high school and college age girl. I guarantee this novel will haunt you long after you shut the book because there’s so much brutal honesty between the pages. This is probably one of the best YA novels I’ve read this year and I love the powerful message the author delivered with using a ripped from the headlines premise.

I thought the author made a smart decision by having the story told by everygirl Kate instead of the rape victim Stacey. Kate was stuck in the middle of the controversy and provided insight into both sides. Kate has loyalty to the accused basketball players because of her newfound romantic relationship with one of the team’s star players Ben, but she was also a friend to Stacey years ago in middle school.

What We Saw tells the story of just how accepted our society is of slut shaming and sexism. From the second, charges are brought against the male students, there is a general consensus among the students and faculty that Stacey is just a slut who is trying to ruin the boys’ futures. There is never any concern about the victim or what type of PTSD she must be suffering after being assaulted and having the damning images spread online.

Kate’s feelings and actions were very authentic in the novel. She’s not a trailblazing feminist by any means, but I appreciated how despite her boyfriend and friends warning her to stay out of the controversy, she made it a point of digging around for the truth about what happened at the party.

This book will bring you to tears as you realize that there are so many women and men out there who think a rape victim “asked for it.” The ending is far from a HEA, but very realistic and honest like the rest of the novel. 

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the novel for review!

Review: The Escape by Hannah Jayne

Summary:

When two boys walk into the woods, and one comes out covered in blood, what would you believe?

Fletcher and Adam venture into the woods for an afternoon hike, but when day turns into night and neither boy returns, their town is thrown into turmoil. Avery, the detective's daughter, is the one to find Fletcher—dishelved, disoriented, and covered in blood. He has no memory of what happened, but Avery can't shake the feeling that something's off. When Adam's body is finally found, Avery is determined to uncover the truth. But if she stands by her gut, and Fletcher, is she standing by a friend, or a murderer? The answer might cost her her life.

Publication Date: July 7, 2015

This was a very okay read for me. I didn’t particularly love the book, nor did I despite it. There was a solid mystery to figure out and the suspense was well done, but I didn’t particularly like the conclusion. Also, the character development didn’t always mesh well for me.

I thought the beginning of the book started off with a bang. The scenes in the woods were expertly written and I loved the descriptive language the author used. I felt like I was right alongside the characters as they fought for their lives. I had hundreds of theories over what could have happened to the boys from them witnessing a drug deal gone bad to a supernatural attack by a Big Foot creature. Suffice it to say I was wrong on both accounts and what actually happened left me annoyed over the red herrings placed in the book.

Avery was an okay character and I actually liked her more in the beginning of the book than in the latter chapters. Instead of insta-love, she has a case of insta-friendship with Fletcher that didn’t make much sense. There isn’t a romance, but I couldn’t understand why she was so set on believing his innocence when she barely knew him. Fletcher had his ups and downs for me in the book, but I at least could make sense of most of his actions.

The pacing was well done until the conclusion. It felt very rushed and I didn’t feel as much resolution as I had hoped. I also didn’t feel as much suspense as I had in the opening chapters.

Overall, a good, quick teen thriller that is a perfect rainy day read.

Rating: 3/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher for a copy for review!

Review: Princess of Thorns by Stacey Jay

Summary:

Game of Thrones meets the Grimm's fairy tales in this twisted, fast-paced romantic fantasy-adventure about Sleeping Beauty's daughter, a warrior princess who must fight to reclaim her throne.

Though she looks like a mere mortal, Princess Aurora is a fairy blessed with enhanced strength, bravery, and mercy yet cursed to destroy the free will of any male who kisses her. Disguised as a boy, she enlists the help of the handsome but also cursed Prince Niklaas to fight legions of evil and free her brother from the ogre queen who stole Aurora's throne ten years ago.

Will Aurora triumph over evil and reach her brother before it's too late? Can Aurora and Niklaas break the curses that will otherwise forever keep them from finding their one true love?

Publication Date: December 9, 2014

Princess of Thorns is unlike any fairytale retelling I have ever read before—mostly because the novel has very few of the same elements of the classic tale of Sleeping Beauty. Although the book didn’t make me feel like I was reading a new spin on Sleeping Beauty, I did enjoy the plot and the high fantasy elements.

The characters took a little while for me to like, but they did grow on me enough that I found myself hoping both Aurora and the cursed Prince Niklass would find their happy endings. Probably my favorite part of the entire book was their romance. They had respect for each other and a solid friendship that evolved. Their dialogue was a lot of fun too. The romance was slow building, especially since Niklass believed Aurora to be a boy for a good part of the story.

I thought the character development was well done and I really enjoyed the author’s ethereal writing style. My one complaint would be that there wasn’t enough world building. I never felt myself transported along with Aurora. The author had a lot of stuff to work with and I would have liked to know more about the fairies, ogres, curses, etc.

Although this is a standalone, I wouldn’t mind reading more about the amazing world the author crafted. I actually think a prequel about Aurora’s mother would be a fantastic read. The author has several other novels released and I look forward to checking them all out.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the novel for review!

Review: Prophecy by Julie Anne Lindsey

Summary:

On the other side of death, is destiny.

Callie Ingram is spending her senior year focused on one thing: swimming. Her skill as a competitive swimmer is going to secure a scholarship and her future, or so she hopes. She has big plans, and Liam Hale, her gorgeous new neighbor, isn’t going to affect them. But when Callie sees Liam beheading someone, she learns his family has a secret that will change everything. The Hales are Vikings, demi-gods who’ve been charged by The Fates to find their new destined leader.

Callie’s caught in the middle of a budding Norse apocalypse, in love with Liam Hale and desperate to protect her best friend…who the Hales believe is marked for transformation. Putting the clues together as fast as she can, can discovers she has the power to rewrite destiny, for herself and all humankind

Publication Date: October 6, 2014

What drew me to read Prophecy was the very beautiful cover. I really, really love it! I thought the description was interesting too—especially since I never read a paranormal YA book about Vikings who are demi-gods living alongside us. I was happy with the execution of the plot and I really liked the main character Callie.

Prophecy was a hodge podge of mythology, but I found it easy to pick up on what was happening. The pace was very quick and I liked that the action started from the get go. Although the Vikings were an interesting lot, I actually thought the scenes with the villains were the most intriguing. There definitely was some nail biting going on.

The love triangle was just okay for me and I actually have a hard time deciding on who the right guy should be for Callie. Justin was soooo nice and sweet, but I could tell he was being friend-zoned. Liam was a little jerky at first, but he ended up winning me over eventually. A poor normal guy like Justin probably would never stand a chance against a super hot, brooding Viking.

The book didn’t end on a cliffhanger, but there is definitely more story to tell. I look forward to see what the author has in store in future installments.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the novel for review!

Review: If You're Lucky by Yvonne Prinz

Summary:

When seventeen-year-old Georgia’s brother drowns while surfing halfway around the world in Australia, she refuses to believe Lucky’s death was just bad luck. Lucky was smart. He wouldn’t have surfed in waters more dangerous than he could handle. Then a stranger named Fin arrives in False Bay, claiming to have been Lucky’s best friend. Soon Fin is working for Lucky’s father, charming Lucky’s mother, dating his girlfriend. Georgia begins to wonder: did Fin murder Lucky in order to take over his whole life?

Determined to clear the fog from her mind in order to uncover the truth about Lucky’s death, Georgia secretly stops taking the medication that keeps away the voices in her head. Georgia is certain she’s getting closer and closer to the truth about Fin, but as she does, her mental state becomes more and more precarious, and no one seems to trust what she’s saying.

As the chilling narrative unfolds, the reader must decide whether Georgia’s descent into madness is causing her to see things that don’t exist–or to see a deadly truth that no one else can.

Publication Date: October 20, 2015

If You’re Lucky surprised me in several ways. I thought I knew where the plot was going, but the author took it in a completely different direction. It wasn’t the story I wanted per se, but I did end up liking the book and found myself eager to finish Georgia’s story.

I thought the author did a good job of telling the story from Georgia’s point of view. We learn early on that she is suffering from a serious mental illness, so it was quite difficult to figure out what parts of her account was real and not. I actually think Georgia’s struggles in therapy and the trials of finding the right combination of medication was the strongest aspect of the novel.

Georgia’s grief was another part of the story that strengthened my connection to her character. Her medication prevents her from feeling too much and she laments over her inability to grieve. Her trying to come to terms with losing the brother she loved so much was heartbreaking.

The mysteries surrounding Fin was just okay for me. He definitely came off as creepy, but I never felt enough menace about his character. I’m assuming my indifference about him came from the author wanting the readers to figure out on their own whether or not Fin is a bad guy. But it also had the effect of taking away from the overall suspense of the story.

I did like If You’re Lucky and I would recommend the novel to fans of contemporary and realistic YA fiction.

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the novel for review!   

Review: We'll Never Be Apart by Emiko Jean

Murder.

Fire.

Revenge.

That’s all seventeen-year-old Alice Monroe thinks about. Committed to a mental ward at Savage Isle, Alice is haunted by memories of the fire that killed her boyfriend, Jason. A blaze her twin sister Cellie set. But when Chase, a mysterious, charismatic patient, agrees to help her seek vengeance, Alice begins to rethink everything. Writing out the story of her troubled past in a journal, she must confront hidden truths.

Is the one person she trusts only telling her half the story? Nothing is as it seems in this edge-of-your-seat psychological thriller from the debut author Emiko Jean.

Publication Date: October 6, 2015

This was a good YA debut with solid writing. I liked the characters and the setting definitely upped the creepiness factor. My main issue was guessing the twist very early on in the novel. Since I knew exactly where the story was going, it took away some of my overall enjoyment.

The prologue in We’ll Never Be Apart is strong and definitely pulled me into the story of Alice, Cellie and Jason. I enjoyed reading from Alice’s point of view since I could tell from the beginning she’s not a reliable narrator. The secondary characters are never really fully developed, especially the staff and patients in the mental health hospital.

The plot was interesting and I really enjoyed the diary entries that Alice recorded as part of her therapy. Her past was difficult to read about as she went in and out of foster homes and sometimes ended up in very abusive situations. The story behind how she wound up in foster care was truly chilling. The flashbacks didn’t hurt the pacing since it made me more invested in Alice’s story.

My main complaint is that a lot of the suspense in the story depended on the twist. If the clues were a little subtler, I think the book would have been a much stronger read. Overall, I liked We’ll Never Be Apart and I wouldn’t hesitate to read another book by the author.

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the novel for review! 

Review: A Million Miles Away by Lara Avery

Summary:

Perfect for fans of Nicholas Sparks, this breathtaking story of love and loss is guaranteed to break your heart and sweep you off your feet.

When high school senior Kelsey's identical twin sister, Michelle, dies in a car crash, Kelsey is left without her other half. The only person who doesn't know about the tragedy is Michelle's boyfriend, Peter, recently deployed to Afghanistan. But when Kelsey finally connects with Peter online, she can't bear to tell him the truth. Active duty has taken its toll, and Peter, thinking that Kelsey is Michelle, says that seeing her is the one thing keeping him alive. Caught up in the moment, Kelsey has no choice: She lets Peter believe that she is her sister.

As Kelsey keeps up the act, she crosses the line from pretend to real. Soon, Kelsey can't deny that she's falling, hard, for the one boy she shouldn't want.

Publication Date: July 7, 2015

A Million Miles Away is a really hard book to rate. I think my rating is going to fall somewhere in the middle because I really enjoyed certain aspects of the story while I felt disconnected from other parts. I think the premise was solid, but the execution was just okay.

For the most part, I liked the main character Kelsey. I couldn’t imagine how horrible it must be to lose your twin in such a sudden way. She not only has to deal with her own grief, but also must try to handle the difficult grieving process her parents are going through.

I got why Kelsey pretended to be her sister in order to learn more about Michelle after her death. I think that was the strongest part of the book: the way the author showed the complexities of the grieving process. I empathized that Kelsey wanted to find that connection once again with Michelle.

But she definitely took things too far with Michelle’s boyfriend Peter. And although the romance was sweet and I really liked Peter, I couldn’t get behind their relationship. I understood at first why Kelsey lied, but she had too many chances to make things right and she didn’t. I was glad she finally tried to fix her mistakes at the end, but I honestly thought she got off easy for the things she did.

Overall, I liked A Million Miles Away and despite my mixed feelings about the characters, I would recommend the story to fans of YA novels with a lot of heart.  

Rating: 3/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the novel for review!

Review: Ten Thousand Skies Above You by Claudia Gray

Summary:

Ever since she used the Firebird, her parents' invention, to cross into alternate dimensions, Marguerite has caught the attention of enemies who will do anything to force her into helping them dominate the multiverse—even hurting the people she loves. She resists until her boyfriend, Paul, is attacked and his consciousness scattered across multiple dimensions.

Marguerite has no choice but to search for each splinter of Paul’s soul. The hunt sends her racing through a war-torn San Francisco, the criminal underworld of New York City, and a glittering Paris where another Marguerite hides a shocking secret. Each world brings Marguerite one step closer to rescuing Paul. But with each trial she faces, she begins to question the destiny she thought they shared. 

The second book in the Firebird trilogy, Ten Thousand Skies Above Youfeatures Claudia Gray’s lush, romantic language and smart, exciting action, and will have readers clamoring for the next book.

Publication Date: November 3, 2015

I read A Thousand Pieces of You last year and loved it. LOVED IT. I was so happy to revisit the world Gray created and reconnect with my favorite characters from the first book. Although I’m not sure I loved this book as hard, I still found myself hooked from the very first page.

I would recommend a quick reread of the first book before beginning Ten Thousand Skies Above You. I found it much easier to get invested in what was happening in all of the parallel universes that Marquerite visited. In the first book, Marguerite only visits a couple of worlds while she hops around much more in this book.

The world building was much stronger in this book. We learned more about the villain Conley’s plans as well as how many differences could be found in the parallel universes. It was interesting to read about how some worlds were practically in the dark ages while others were technologically advanced.

I liked Marguerite in this book again, but she can be a little judgey. I felt like she was pretty harsh to both Theo and Paul at times, especially in regards to making them feel responsible for acts committed by their parallel selves. I was a huge Paul fan from the first book, and I hold onto my crush steadfastly, so I wasn’t thrilled with the love triangle aspect. But I was happy that Marguerite seemed to grow throughout the book and realize her mistakes.

The ending was crazy!!! I was bowled over and I am so excited to read the next book. I wish it was coming out tomorrow. Fans of YA time-traveling romances will adore this series.

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the novel for review!

Review: The Cost of All Things by Maggie Lehrman

Summary:

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind meets We Were Liars in this thought-provoking, brilliantly written, and totally original realistic contemporary debut about three teens who must deal with the consequences of spells cast on them in the wake of their classmate’s sudden death.


Publication Date: May 12, 2015

The Cost of All Things has a very interesting idea at the center of the story: what would you be willing to give in order to make your wishes come true? The hekamist angle was original and the story felt fresh, especially since I don’t read a lot of books about magical realism.

I liked the main character Ari and I wish the story was told in only her point of view. The multiple POVs felt like overkill and I think after learning the fate of one of the characters, one of the POVs could be left out. Also, I thought the wishes would be more intriguing, but they seemed mostly superficial.

The setting was well done and the magical parts were probably my favorite sections. I thought the rules regarding how magic could be used and what to do if you wanted the spell reversed was thought provoking.

The ending was just okay for me and I did feel like the author rushed to conclude all of the characters’ storylines. The writing was good and I do look forward to see what else books she’ll release in the future.

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher for a copy for review!