Review: Silencing Breath by Joanne Brothwell

Goodreads Summary:

Silencing Breath, book two in the Stealing Breath series.
Just as Sarah Ross is learning everything she can about her new abilities as an Indigo Child and settling into a normal life with her beloved Evan, her entire world shatters when Evan disappears without a trace.

Desperate to find him, Sarah’s search leads her to a sadistic serial killer who confirms her worst fears are true; Evan has been kidnapped, and he is once again in the clutches of his abusive family of necromancers.

Sarah uncovers not only Evan's dark past he tried so desperately to protect her from, but also The Key of Solomon, an ancient text for summoning the dead.

Knowing her abilities are limited in the face of this ancient power, Sarah is forced to face the Malandanti in order to save him. However, one question remains: once he is found, will Evan be the same man she fell in love with?

Publication Date: March 15, 2013

This was a dark and intense read, much more so than the first book in the series Stealing Breath. In this novel, it is four years after the events of the first novel and Sarah and Evan are still in love and living together. Evan makes only a short appearance before his reincarnated father and his brother Stefano abduct him.

The story is told in dual POVs (Sarah in first person and Stefano in third person). This is the second time I’ve seen a writer do this lately and I think the author pulled it off well. For me personally, I would’ve found the constant switching difficult to do. Honestly, I think I preferred Stefano’s chapters, I found him to be such an intriguing character.

The characters were all well developed. Stefano really grows as a character and I liked Alex as a new addition to the series. However, I really missed Evan in this book. Since he was such a favorite of mine from the first book, it was tough to read what he goes through while in the evil clutches of Stefano and his dad.

Silencing Breath is DARK. There are a few scenes that were really tough to read, especially for me since I’m squeamish. The author has a talent for gritty descriptions and this was one of the few books lately to scare the pants off of me. There’s everything from human sacrifice, necromancy, skinwalking and torture. Plan to sleep with the lights on if you read Silencing Breath.

The book leaves off on a cliffhanger and I’m anxious to get my hands on the next installment. This is one of the most creative paranormal series I’ve read and I hope Sarah’s Indigo powers continue to develop along with her relationships.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Thanks to the author for providing a copy of this novel for my honest review!  

Review: The Samantha Project by Stephanie Karpinske

Goodreads Summary:

Samantha was seventeen when she finally learned the truth about herself; that she’s part of a corporation’s top secret genetic enhancement project. They told her she was the only one who survived the experiments. But then she meets Erik. He was raised in a lab until a scientist took him and hid him so nobody would ever find him. But Samantha and Erik somehow found each other. They share a indescribable connection that neither one of them can explain.

Their enhanced genes give them special abilities, like the ability to read minds and communicate with their thoughts. Even with their powers, they’re not safe. The people who are after them will never stop looking. But the more imminent danger is something that lies deep within their cells. It’s just one of many secrets they have yet to discover about themselves.

Publication Date: December 19, 2012

The Samantha Project was a good read with interesting sci-fi themes and a very likable protagonist. Although Samantha was created in a lab, she felt like a very real teen girl. I liked reading the story from her perspective as she unravels the mysteries about her past.

Samantha is introduced as a very normal good girl with the perfect boyfriend and family. Since her life comes off as so perfect, the reader can suspect that something is going to happen to take it all way. As Samantha is faced with the truth about her origins, she decides to fight back against the people trying to control her. Although she came off as naïve at times, I liked her bravery.

The secondary characters were well done. I loved Samantha’s football star boyfriend Colin. He was so sweet! It did get me mad when Erik came into the picture. I feel like he was introduced too late in the game for me to feel like he was a good romantic match for Samantha, especially since I was already preparing for Colin to become my new book boyfriend. The villain in the story could have been characterized a little better and came off as a little too unbelievable.

The second half of the novel is much better than the first. The pacing was very slow in the beginning and I felt myself losing interest. I’m glad I kept up with the book though because the last fifty percent was much more exciting. Once the bad guys start making a move to go after Sam, I couldn’t put the book down.

Overall, The Samantha Project is a good sci-fi book for young adults. This is the first in the series with the sequel already released. I would be interested in reading in continuing the series, especially if there’s more Colin.

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

Thanks to ATOMR Tours for providing a copy of this book for review!

The Marlowe Girls by Beth Fred Blog Tour Stop and Amazon Gift Card Giveaway

Tour Schedule

The Fate of a Marlowe Girl

When twenty-four-year-old Tiffany escapes her sister Kammy's too wild Cancun bachelorette party, she finds herself in a bar with the unwanted attention of a gorgeous local named Luke.
Luke may be charming but Tiffany is leaving in two days and doesn't need any complications. But complications are exactly what she gets when the cops show up to raid Kammy's party. When Kammy is arrested, Tiffany agrees to have dinner with Luke, so he'll help her get Kammy out of jail. Kammy's arrest forces her to spend an extra day in Cancun, meaning she'll miss a crucial meeting, and as an accountant in tax season, she is already drowning in work. Not to mention, every second she spends with Luke makes it harder to leave. With Luke, Tiffany is almost ready to forget about work.
Will the airport be their final goodbye?

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

The Other Marlowe Girl

When twenty-four-year-old dance school drop out Kammy Marlowe is evicted by her mother, she goes to her favorite bar. She finds an unlikely friend in the blunt eye candy, Enrique. But Kammy knows there is no way she and Enrique have a shot because he's her brother-in-law’s brother and has been privy to her wild past.

Enrique swears he’s only interested in the person she is today, but their relationship is tested when her ex-husband's drug dealer attacks her, looking for money. With no options and a money hungry drug dealer on her back, Kammy accepts a position as a dancer at a strip club. But when Enrique shows up at the club, their relationship is over. With no reason to stay in Texas anymore, Kammy auditions for the Bolshevik Ballet and gets the opportunity to go to Russia. Only Enrique is determined to stop her.

Will she give up the chance of a lifetime to stay with the man she still loves?

Amazon

Author Beth Fred

Meet Beth Fred! That's me! I'm a full time ELF keeper and part time writer/blogger/writing instructor. I'm represented by Kathleen Rushall of Marsal Lyons Literary Agency. I like my tea hot, my romance sweet, and my guys chivalrous. Real men hold open doors, refer to you as ma'am, make promises they keep, and aren't afraid to profess their undying love. It's not breakfast if there aren't carbs(at least, not in the South). Fajitas, carnitas, and churros are just few of my favorite things. Bet you can't guess where I'm from ;) Wanna know more about me? You can find that here:

Blog * Facebook * Twitter

 Excerpt:

We arrived at my car. “Here we are,” I said. I stepped closer to the door, but I made no effort to get in, because what had started out as a really bad night, I was enjoying now.

“Get in the car, so you’re out of the rain,” he said.

“Okay.” I pulled his coat off and handed it to him.

I opened the door and sat down in the driver’s seat. Before I could close it, Enrique placed a hand on the door frame and leaned down. “I want to see you again. That’s the real reason I walked you to your car.”

Too bad. He had me convinced good guys still existed with that story about his cousin. “No cousin Nikki?” I teased.

“Cousin Nikki is very real, and I don’t like for her to walk around by herself at night. I wouldn’t lie to you. I just needed time to get the courage to tell you I. Want. To. See. You. Again. You shot me down pretty hard in there.”

“So you were hitting on me?”

Tour Giveaway

$10 Amazon Gift Card

Ends 5/5/13

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Music Monday: Dark Premonitions: Second Sight Book Three Soundtrack

Today, I'm sharing the songs that inspired the third book in the Second Sight series. I've put explanations next to a few of the picks. If you've read Dark Premonitions, then you'll probably be able to guess the meaning behind the rest.

Screaming Infidelities by Dashboard Confessional-I love this band! I thought this song was appropriate because fidelity has been a theme that's run through all three of the books.

Seal My Fate by Belly-Fate is another thing that I touch upon in Dark Premonitions. Has Kate's fate been sealed and is she simply waiting to die? Or can her destiny be changed?

Little Talks by Monsters and Men-This song is perfect for the scenes that take place at Aunt Lizzie's house in Maine. Kate and Jared both miss each other, but they're having a hard time getting over the past.

Umbrella by Marie Digby-Although I love Rhianna's version too, this one is a personal fave. The line: "Said I'll always be a friend, Took an oath I'm a stick it out till the end"goes back to Jared's promise of friendship since the first book.

That's What You Get by Paramore-This is another song about getting through the hurt caused by both Jared and Kate's actions.

Trouble Is a Friend by Lenka-Kate starts to feel the threat of the person who wants her dead and she feels him closing in on her throughout Dark Premonitions.

I Will Survive by Cake-This is such a cool version of the classic. Kate decides not to just let death come for her and she figures out ways to fight back.

Like a Star by Corinne Bailey Rae

Walking With a Ghost by Tegan and Sara

Angel Standing By by Jewel

Hopeless Wanderer by Mumford & Sons

Review: The Collector by Victoria Scott

Goodreads Summary:

He makes good girls...bad.

Dante Walker is flippin’ awesome, and he knows it. His good looks, killer charm, and stellar confidence have made him one of hell’s best—a soul collector. His job is simple: weed through humanity and label those round rears with a big red good or bad stamp. Old Saint Nick gets the good guys, and he gets the fun ones. Bag-and-tag.

Sealing souls is nothing personal. Dante’s an equal-opportunity collector and doesn't want it any other way. But he’ll have to adjust, because Boss Man has given him a new assignment:

Collect Charlie Cooper’s soul within ten days.

Dante doesn't know why Boss Man wants Charlie, nor does he care. This assignment means only one thing to him, and that’s a permanent ticket out of hell. But after Dante meets the quirky Nerd Alert chick he’s come to collect, he realizes this assignment will test his abilities as a collector…and uncover emotions deeply buried.

Publication Date: March 25, 2013

Oh my Dante Walker, you have stolen my heart! I have to give the author credit for creating probably one of the most memorable characters in my recent reads. Dante was so much more than a typical YA bad boy.

Since I’ve heard a lot of hype surrounding this book, I had modest expectations. It seems like I have a tendency to end up not loving overhyped books. However, I was hooked from the beginning and it took me only a couple of sittings to finish The Collector.

The Collector is told from Dante’s POV. I can imagine not a lot of readers liking Dante at the beginning. He’s pretty rotten to everyone, including Charlie, the girl whose soul he has to collect. He didn’t bother me though because I couldn’t take him seriously. He talks like a wannabe gangsta and his lines kept reminding me of Seth Green’s character from Can’t Hardly Wait. It was obvious he was trying too hard to be a bad a** and there was a good guy just waiting to come out.

Charlie was also a lot different than a lot of YA heroines. She’s described as homely and is picked on brutally by her classmates. There are a few scenes in the beginning that definitely made me uncomfortable and had my heart breaking for Charlie. I loved how Dante began looking out for her, although she was only supposed to be his assignment.

The secondary characters were all developed exceptionally and I loved them all. Blue, Annabelle and Max were all great and they had their own share of humorous lines.

The plot was good without a ton of mythology to learn in order to follow the story. The novel moved at a good pace and although the book is part of the series, the end resolved most of the major conflicts. The romance had me swooning and I’m curious to see where it goes.

Loved, loved, loved this book! I was in the mood for a fun book with a sweet romance and this was the perfect choice!

Rating: 5/5 Stars

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.    

Stacking the Shelves and In My Mailbox #35

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews and features books you've added to your shelves, both physical and virtual. In My Mailbox from the Story Siren is another meme that highlights the books that bloggers have bought or received for review.

For Review:

The Truth About You & Me by Amanda Grace

True by Erin McCarthy

Buried by Gerilyn Marin

The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau

The Disappearing Girl Excerpt

Hey everyone! Today I'm sharing an excerpt from my upcoming The Disappearing Girl. I'm still going through edits, so keep in mind that this is a rough draft =) The book will be released in May. 

My form felt heavy as I got up from the sofa. If everyone claimed that I was so thin, why did I feel so weighed down? My feet shuffled behind Cameron as he led me over to the table.

The table was beautifully set. He had lit a single white taper candle and placed it between our place settings. A filled wine glass was next to a plate piled with steaming hot pasta smothered in marinara sauce with meatballs. Any girl would be thrilled to find that her boyfriend had gone to the trouble to be romantic. I was far from any girl.

I felt myself growing irate as I collapsed into the chair. I wasn’t sure why he couldn't understand that I was trying to avoid fatty foods. Instead of supporting my efforts, my friends and family seemed out to undermine everything I’d done to better myself.

Cameron ate silently for several minutes. My dinner lay untouched and I felt time slow down as I waited for him to finish. I wasn’t going to be bullied into eating when food was the last thing I wanted inside of my body.

His eyes turned cold as he stared at me. “What are you doing? Why haven’t you started eating?”

I was a petulant child. Refusing to eat, despite the promises the food in front of me would make me healthy again. I pressed my lips together in a tighter line and crossed my arms over my chest.

Cameron’s temper was building. I could feel the tension in the air. He was showing restraint when all he probably wanted to do was to scream at me for my irrational behavior. His voice was strained. “Kayla, you’ve been here all day and you haven’t eaten a thing…”

My expression was deadly as we locked gazes. “When the hell did it become everyone’s business whether or not I eat? Last time I checked, it was my body.”

I could tell what he was thinking by the way his features twisted. This wasn’t me. This wasn’t the quiet and meek girl he had been dating. This girl was bitter and wanted to unleash her rage on those around her.