Review ~ Friday Night Alibi - Cassie Mae (ARC)

eARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Release Date: 29th July 2013

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group - Flirt

Description:
In the wealthy town of Sundale, Kelli Pinkins has hatched the perfect plan to capitalize on her sweet reputation. For a generous fee, she will be every trust-fund baby’s dream: a Friday-night alibi, the “girlfriend” or “BFF” that parents dream about. With college approaching in the fall, Kelli’s services are in demand more than ever, which means that her social life is nonexistent. But Kelli is A-okay with that. She’s raking in cash for school. Besides, relationships are tricky, and sometimes very messy. She’d rather be at home on Xbox LIVE, anyway. Then the unexpected happens: She meets college stud Chase Maroney.

Chase isn’t like the preppy, privileged guys Kelli usually meets in Sundale. For starters, he’s twentysomething, always wears black, and he shoots back one-liners as fast as she can dish them out. But Kelli’s attempts to drive Chase away falter when she realizes that he treats her like he reallyknows her, like he cares about knowing her. When Kelli finally gives in to the delicious kiss she’s been fighting for so long, she faces a tough decision: make Chase a real-life boyfriend and risk her heart . . . or keep her clients and lose her first true love.

My Opinion

I'm really getting into the new adult genre right now, with their steamy romance so I was ecstatic to add this book to my tbr pile when I got accepted to read it. However for me this book is more YA (even though the characters are 18-21) in terms of the romance and attitude. This didn't stop me enjoying though, and it was a quick book to relax with.

First of all I loved how the book started, with the different price packages Kelli had for being an alibi. It really intrigued me and I found myself smiling from page one. I really liked the concept and thought it was original and a fresh take on the standard romance plot line. I may have to try it myself as I prefer curling up with a book on a Friday than going out partying - just kidding, sort of...

As well as this I loved the playful teasing and banter that went on between Chase and Kel. It was sweet, funny and did make me laugh as they tried to one up each other all the time. You could see what was developing but I liked how the author postponed the romance and built the tension between them. Some moments were pretty intense. I also liked Kel's wit. She was smart-mouthed and not afraid to give as good as she got (well unless it came down to true feelings). I love strong female leads and although Kelli has her issues that makes her vulnerable, I like how Chase and her connected over them.

One issue I have with the book is the age at which the characters are supposed to be. Being a new adult book I know they have to be within the age bracket they are but it just didn't feel right. Kelli is meant to be 18 but she seems so immature and naive. Being 18 myself I could never imagine myself or anyone I know 'blowing raspberries,' it's like a primary/early high school thing and just felt very childish. There were a few other problems with age and language that didn't fit. At times it felt like the author was trying to be too young/cool with her language and use all the stereotypes. I don't know if it's a British thing but after about the age of 15 it becomes uncool to use text talk and clippings such as 'whatevs.' That may just be me being picky but it really irritates me to read. This is why for me - besides the lack of steamy/passionate romance - this book seems to suit the YA genre better.

As well as this, as much as I liked Kelli as the lead character, her internal monologue did become slightly annoying at times, especially when she uses 'hello!' 'Barf,' 'Bleck,' a lot to express her feelings towards something or other. It was used frequently and the repetitiveness started to become annoying. As well as this by the end the only way the author described how Chase made Kelli feel was by using a comparison to popcorn popping. I don't mind this but there are only so many times I can read it and I found myself wishing for a different simile, it was just repetitive. 

The only other thing was there were a few continuity issues where Kelli would say something and then it would not be the same in a few pages. I know this is an ARC so hopefully they will get picked up as I did find myself having to skip back to check whether I was imagining/read something wrong previously - I hadn't just so you know.

Overall this is a sweet romance that does keep you hooked with it's original take on a high school romance. There are a lot of cliches, and repetitiveness but it's enjoyable and something that is an easy summertime, beach read. For me it is more YA than NA as there isn't much steamy romance sections and the characters do not act their age but it's still a sweet romance and I enjoyed the playful relationship.

3.5

                               

  

Review ~ If I should Die (Revenants #3) - Amy Plum

Paperback purchased by myself

Published: May 1st 2013 by Atom

ISBN: 1907411046

Description

I will not lose another person I love. I will not let history repeat itself.

Vincent waited lifetimes to find me, but in an instant our future together was shattered. He was betrayed by someone we both called a friend, and I lost him. Now our enemy is determined to rule over France s immortals, and willing to wage a war to get what they want.

It shouldn't be possible, none of it should be, but this is my reality. I know Vincent is somewhere out there, I know he s not completely gone, and I will do anything to save him.

After what we've already fought to achieve, a life without Vincent is unimaginable. He once swore to avoid dying - to go against his nature and forsake sacrificing himself for others - so that we could be together. How can I not risk everything to bring my love back to me?

This is the final book in a series. I haven't included as much detail in the review due to the fact I didn't want to include spoilers.

My Opinion 

After the impossible cliff hanger the second book in the series left me on I couldn't believe I was going to have to wait a year to get my hands on this book. To make matter worse it was released during the middle of my exams so only now have I found a chance to read it as I didn't want to break the story up but rather read it the whole way through, due to it being a final installment.

I'm always nervous starting the final book in a series and besides having to force myself not to flick to the end to find out if everything will be OK, I worry the author won't do the series justice. However I should have guessed from Amy Plum's previous writing style that she would resolve everything well with no loose ends so that the reader feels satisfied and happy. For once I thought a series came to a natural resolve and conclusion without being stretched out or forced.

I wasn't sure how the author was going to fit all the detail into one final book but the answer is simple. It is action packed with never a dull moment! It kept me turning the pages from start to finish and I was hooked throughout the entire novel. The story moves at a fast pace and although it just touched on a few bits I would have liked more detail on (Kate's friends) there was enough so as not to confuse and keep your understanding and interest. 

As well as this it brought on many emotions from me, sad, happy, laughter I went through them all at certain parts of the story and I couldn't tear myself away from the engaging and believable characters. I like how Kate came into her own in this book due to Vincent's absence and although I did predict some of the twists a lot earlier than they were revealed it didn't stop me enjoying the rest of the book as when I got to it, it was not only better than expected but Plum's writing describes everything beautifully to hook the reader's imaginations and draw them into the spectacular world she has created. 

Overall I would highly recommend this series to everyone who loves romance, Parisian settings, the paranormal or YA. Amy's writing is beautiful to read like the worlds she creates are enthralling and exciting. The characters will take you on an emotional journey and you grow to love the whole revenant family. This final book resolved everything brilliantly and I was left satisfied with the ending that although leaves it open for another book seems final enough if there never is.

Review ~ The Sweetest Dark (The Sweetest Dark #1) - Shana Abe

ARC received in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Expected release: 9th April 2013
ISBN: 9780345531704

Description
“With every fiber of my being, I yearned to be normal. To glide through my days at Iverson without incident. But I’d have to face the fact that my life was about to unfold in a very, very different way than I’d ever envisioned. Normal would become forever out of reach.”

Lora Jones has always known that she’s different. On the outside, she appears to be an ordinary sixteen-year-old girl. Yet Lora’s been keeping a heartful of secrets: She hears songs that no one else can hear, dreams vividly of smoke and flight, and lives with a mysterious voice inside her that insists she’s far more than what she seems.

England, 1915. Raised in an orphanage in a rough corner of London, Lora quickly learns to hide her unique abilities and avoid attention. Then, much to her surprise, she is selected as the new charity student at Iverson, an elite boarding school on England’s southern coast. Iverson’s eerie, gothic castle is like nothing Lora has ever seen. And the two boys she meets there will open her eyes and forever change her destiny.

Jesse is the school’s groundskeeper—a beautiful boy who recognizes Lora for who and what she truly is. Armand is a darkly handsome and arrogant aristocrat who harbors a few closely guarded secrets of his own. Both hold the answers to her past. One is the key to her future. And both will aim to win her heart. As danger descends upon Iverson, Lora must harness the powers she’s only just begun to understand, or else lose everything she dearly loves.

Filled with lush atmosphere, thrilling romance, and ancient magic, The Sweetest Dark brilliantly captures a rich historical era while unfolding an enchanting love story that defies time.

My Opinion
The main thing that attracted me to this book was the cover, it is absolutely beautiful and now that I have read it I love how the smokey dress effect links in with the plot. I'm not normally a fan of books set in a historical setting but I know quite a bit about the WW1 so for once a book set in this time period intrigued me as there were paranormal elements.

I liked the originality of the story and how the author picked on different paranormal species. As well as this it was one I would have believed to normally be aimed at guys so it was a nice twist to take dragons and turn them into a book girls would love. 

The romance in this book was the main thing I liked. It was developed well and consistent throughout, I may have liked a little more passion but it was in keeping with the time period so may have looked slightly odd if the author had. Jesse was definitely my favourite character and I fell in love with his personality. I was a bit colder towards Armand but by the end I had grown to like him too. 

As well as this for once I actually liked the fact that Lora is an orphan. Generally if I read anything like this in description it turns me straight off a book as I find them full of cliches and the same stereotypical drama. The Sweetest Dark however did none of this and I thought that Shana Abe did an excellent job of creating an interesting character that doesn't use their past as a way to create sympathy by bringing it up every second. I fell in love with Lora because of her actions and quick wit not because she whined about her past and pitied herself.

There were a few things that  I didn't like though. For one, the writing at times was quite jumpy and moved from one scene to the next abruptly with the use of an asterisk rather than the author filling in what happens during the blank moments. I can handle this a few times in a book but sometimes there was only 2/3 paragraphs in between and at times it felt like the author didn't know how to link up sections with detail so resorted to missing it out altogether. As well as this at random points in the book a few letters were used as chapters. Although they are cleared up towards the end and I understood at that point, while reading them they became increasingly annoying as I had no idea who was meant to be reading/writing them, who they were for, or what they signified. This added to the jumpy nature of the book and broke up the flow.

Overall though The Sweetest Dark was an enjoyable read, and I liked how the action picked up towards the end. It's a book that makes you fall in love with the characters and I'm glad I have received the sequel via NetGalley too so I can start it straight away.

3.5

Review ~ Scent of Magic (Healer #2) - Maria V. Snyder

ARC received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Publisher: Mira
Released: 4th Jan 2013
ISBN: 1472009886

Description

Hunted, Killed—Survived?

As the last Healer in the Fifteen Realms, Avry of Kazan is in a unique position: in the minds of her friends and foes alike, she no longer exists. Despite her need to prevent the megalomanical King Tohon from winning control of the Realms, Avry is also determined to find her sister and repair their estrangement. And she must do it alone, as Kerrick, her partner and sole confident, returns to Alga to summon his country into battle.

Though she should be in hiding, Avry will do whatever she can to support Tohon’s opponents. Including infiltrating a holy army, evading magic sniffers, teaching forest skills to soldiers and figuring out how to stop Tohon’s most horrible creations yet; an army of the walking dead—human and animal alike and nearly impossible to defeat.

War is coming and Avry is alone. Unless she figures out how to do the impossible ... again.

My Opinion
I'm sad to say I did not finish this book. I gave it a good go and tried to stick with it but after I had forced myself to get to 54% I just couldn't read anymore so this is by no means a review of the book, just my thoughts on why I could not continue it.

The main things I didn't like about this novel was for one there were no chapter headings. I know I have a ARC copy so it may be lacking in formatting  editing etc but I thought the book would at least be sectioned into chapters. This made it incredibly hard to read as there were no obvious breaks which allowed me to come to a natural pause while reading. It just seemed to drag on and on and I was waiting for a break that never arrived. As well as this the constant switching of character's POV and the person in which the book was written in was irritating. I have read a few books have done this successfully but most signify the change either through titles, breaks or some other form of sign. This book did none of this and instead jumped right from one character to the other leaving me confused which in turn lead me to backtrack to see if I had missed something (may be down to arc copy I don't know). It was made all the more difficult by Kendrick being in a totally different setting as it did not relate well to the main first person section.

In the end it was the jumpy style of writing that switched between person, POV and setting, the lack of headings to form breaks and annoying nicknames (Poppa bear/The Monkeys) which sounded like they belonged in a children's fairy tale rather than YA a fantasy book that lead me to lose interest and not be able to finish this book. I do however love the cover.

Review ~ Makai Queen - Tara Fairfield

Paperback received from author in exchange for an honest review

ISBN: 193775670X

Description
Off the coast of Lanai, far beyond the sailboats, there is a hidden world beneath the beryl-blue sea, the marvelous kingdom of Moku-ola, a place where man and beast live in harmony. Unknown and forbidden to those living above the surface, it has never been discovered....until now.

Tessa, a curious teenager with a taste for adventure roams the sandy beaches of Lanai. Feeling lost and hurt she longs for meaning and a place in this world. By chance, Tessa encounters a mysterious man who appears to be drowning. The attempted rescue puts her own life in danger as she is abducted and dragged out to sea.

Far beneath the oceans surface, Tessa is brought to the frightening and wondrous land of Moku-ola. As the dangers of this world threaten her very survival, Tessa must overcome the barriers of self-doubt to discover the keys to her royal destiny.

My Opinion
Recently I have developed an interest for books that are set underwater so I was glad when the author asked if I would be interested in reviewing the book as well as running a spotlight. The book sounded interesting and exactly what I was looking for so obviously I jumped at the chance to read it.

This book took me only a few hours to read due to its short length, however despite the number of pages there is certainly a lot packed into it. Makai Queen was a fast paced and engaging read with a solid story structure. I loved how the book began and the twist that involved the brothers at the start, it really did make me question who was lying to begin with and I couldn't guess where the author was going to take the novel. As well as this I enjoyed the romance element in the book, it was kind of a love at first sight thing but it wasn't packed with cliches and soppy emotions that overpower a story. Fairfield balanced Tessa's decisions and emotions about becoming queen well with the romance so as not to overshadow the main plot wich was original and interesting.

In general I enjoyed this book, it was a fast and easy read however at points I would have loved more detail, especially into the surroundings they were in. Fairfield created this engaging underwater story but I never really built up a clear picture of what the city/houses looked like due to a lack of description. I would have also loved the author to use the senses more to describe things, especially colours in more detail so I could get immersed in the world more. Instead of getting lost in the world I did feel slightly detached from everything. As well as this the only other problem I had was the ending. I'm not sure if there is a sequel but to me it seems a little rushed and didn't satisfy me when I reached it. It didn't really leave on a cliff hanger but for me it didn't really sum everything up and tie all the loose ends up either, especially with the romance and Donnie. It just seemed abrupt and it kind of left the book on a low point

Overall though, besides the many references to God which irritated me slightly (personal preferences to religion though) and the previous issues mentioned, Makai Queen was an engaging, quick and easy read that was good to relax to on a gloomy day. There were a few sad points and a few funny points which balanced the story nicely and if there is a sequel I would definitely want to see where the author takes the story next. I would definitely recommend this to people looking for something new to read.

Review ~ MILA 2.0 by Debra Driza

• Expected Publication: 28th March 2013
• eARC received through Netgalley for an honest review

Description
Mila 2.0 is the first book in an electrifying sci-fi thriller series about a teenage girl who discovers that she is an experiment in artificial intelligence.

Mila was never meant to learn the truth about her identity. She was a girl living with her mother in a small Minnesota town. She was supposed to forget her past —that she was built in a secret computer science lab and programmed to do things real people would never do.

Now she has no choice but to run—from the dangerous operatives who want her terminated because she knows too much and from a mysterious group that wants to capture her alive and unlock her advanced technology. However, what Mila’s becoming is beyond anyone’s imagination, including her own, and it just might save her life.

My Opinion
I was really excited to receive a copy of this book via Netgalley, not only had the cover intrigued me but it sounded like it would be fast paced, action packed and full of tense, exciting moments. However these moments kind of never arrived. Although I did enjoy this book and I read most of it in one sitting there were quite a few flaws that left me struggling to get through parts.

I liked the concept of androids as it is not something I have come across a lot and that fact that Mila is struggling to cope with the fact she isn't human was developed well. I liked how the book started off. By placing Mila in high school and describing her to be slightly unstable due to a death in the family really worked for me and it created a sense of suspicion and intrigue about what was really going on. As well as this the fact that normal high school issues were brought into the equation only added to make the lies more believable. 

When Hunter was introduced I thought I was really going to like this book as I wasn't expecting there to be any romance which made it a nice surprise. Sadly though, this is the point things started to go down hill for me. After Hunter's brief introduction Mila is quickly thrown into a new world where she finds out the truth. This leads to Hunter being cut out of the book rather dramatically and abruptly which left me disappointed. I found that most of the book was like this actually. 

The writing was quite jumpy and disjointed with Mila's internal monologue becoming increasingly annoying and this only became worse when her android functions got reactivated. This writing style was most evident in the build up, during and post action sequence. Instead of describing what was happening the author would use phrases like "target immobilised" or "threat detected" which led the writing to become irritating to read as it didn't give much of a picture to base visualisations on. I know it fit in well with the military side but for me it lessened the flow of the writing, leading my attention to slip.

There were only a few relationships that I like in this book, one being Mila and her mum. It was believable and one of the few that I could sympathise and connect with. The rest of the time though I found the characters to be very distant, especially when Mila went into full android mode, and not very well developed. We were given little information on each and besides Mila and Mum, practically all of the characters I could relate to at the start were cut out and never to be heard from again.

Finally, the ending of this book seemed to fit with the rest of the writing. It was predictable and abrupt. Yes it leaves you on a cliff hanger and draws you into wanting to read the next book, especially with the promise of more romance however I hated the way it ended. I was watching the page count go down and questioning how the author could give the reader any kind of resolve and satisfaction in the space she had left to which the simple answer is, she didn't. The writing just cuts off at the start of a new scene and left me thinking "was that it? How can you leave a book like that?!"

Overall I liked the concept and ideas in this book. There were moments I enjoyed and a few relationships that I was able to connect with but on the whole this book was pretty disappointing due to the disjointed writing, lack of interesting character (all had been cut) and constant internal monologues. Although it ends on a cliff hanger I am not sure whether it is enough to entice me into getting the sequel, especially if the writing stays as it is but it might be of interest to sci-fi fans.

Book Spotlight - Hidden (Hidden Series) by M Lathan

Hidden

Description
Everyone keeps secrets. But Leah's secret means the difference between life and death. Earth and Hell.

Sixteen-year-old Leah Grant is one year away from leaving the Catholic orphanage where she has lived since she was two months old. She's barely spoken a word since getting magical powers at twelve, the day she learned she was the last of Satan's creatures left on Earth, the only one to escape the mass extinction after her kind tried to take over the world. Barely speaking keeps her alive, and taking the torment her bullies dish out keeps them alive.

But it isn't in her nature to be pushed without consequence forever. She was made to punish. At least, that's what she believes until she falls in love, and now she'll do anything not to let her secret tear them apart.

But the more she exposes about herself, the closer she will get to being captured for her powers that the evil covet and the good must end for the safety of us all.

Genre: YA Fiction, Paranormal

Link: Amazon

About the Author

M. Lathan spends her time reading and writing YA fiction with a needy mini schnauzer on her lap. Hidden is her first novel, and she is currently working on the second of the series to be released soon.

Follow Her Here:

Blog

Halo (Halo #1) - Alexandra Adornetto

Description
An angel is sent to Earth on a mission.

But falling in love is not part of the plan.

Three angels – Gabriel, the warrior; Ivy, the healer; and Bethany, the youngest and most human – are sent by Heaven to bring good to a world falling under the influence of darkness. They work hard to conceal their luminous glow, superhuman powers, and, most dangerous of all, their wings, all the while avoiding all human attachments.

Then Bethany meets Xavier Woods, and neither of them is able to resist the attraction between them. Gabriel and Ivy do everything in their power to intervene, but the bond between Xavier and Bethany seems too strong.

The angel’s mission is urgent, and dark forces are threatening. Will love ruin Bethany or save her?

My Opinion
Ok, so I'm going through a bit of a angel phase at the moment. I don't know why but it seems to be the paranormal genre I am enjoying most right now. 

When I saw this book the cover was what hooked me to begin with. I loved the colours and the fact that it was clearly about angels interested me. However I didn't instantly want to buy it. The description did only a little to intrigue me so instead of adding it to my basket on Amazon it stayed on my wish list for a while. I received this book for my birthday and when I unwrapped it I was a little disappointed as there were other books I wanted more, however I am now glad I got it and was able to read it as it exceeded my expectations.

The plot (although not entirely original) was interesting and engaging. I did skip a few pages here and there as it was a bit slow in places but even when doing that the story line was clear, simple and easy to follow. I loved the romance. Yes it was a stereotypical/ kind of cheesy romance but it is sort of a guilty pleasure. This book is a feel good book and it livened up a bad day.

The parts of the book I liked most was the concept of telling the book from the point of view of angels that are still attached to heaven. I have read many books that use the concept of fallen angels or just demons but never angels sent on a mission to help fight the dark forces around Venus Cove. It separated the book from other angel novels (such as hush hush) and helped make it different so I could enjoy it without a comparison.

In all honesty, I didn't expect to enjoy this book but I was glad I was proved wrong. The story line keeps you hooked and turning pages. I tried to finish it in a day but because I started it too late I had to stop around 4am. I'm also glad I got the second book "Hades" for my birthday so I can continue the series straight away! 

The third book is definitely going on my Christmas list too.