Review: We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

Published: May 13th 2014 

Publisher: Delacorte Press

A beautiful and distinguished family.
A private island.
A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate, political boy.
A group of four friends—the Liars—whose friendship turns destructive.
A revolution. An accident. A secret.
Lies upon lies.
True love.
The truth.
We Were Liars is a modern, sophisticated suspense novel from National Book Award finalist and Printz Award honoree E. Lockhart.

Read it.
And if anyone asks you how it ends, just LIE. 

My Thoughts

”...a novel should deliver a series of small astonishments…”

”We are liars. We are beautiful and privileged. We are cracked and broken.”

This story is a mixture of tragedy, privilege, mystery, and a series of surprises and twists. The writing is amazing, which makes up for the experience that is sometimes frustrating and obscure. I had my suspicions throughout. I caught the small clues and made the right conclusions, but the final catastrophic twist is a bit too tragic to digest, so I resorted to ignorant bliss.

An accident Cady Sinclair can’t remember anchors this story in many ways. As we unravel the layers of this story that involves a mysterious accident that has left Cady’s head broken in countless medically diagnosed ways, we travel with her as her world falls apart. She’s no longer going to college in the coming year, she no longer plays sports or participates in clubs. She’s high on Percocet half the time, but can’t remember the events of that evening that changed her life forever.

This book is about so many little things all at once. There’s so much that makes this novel complete, and E. Lockhart uses stories such as Wuthering Heights and fairy tales like Beauty and the Beast and Sleeping Beauty to weave her novel. She sprinkles in her own fairy tale of a king and his three daughters to share the petty, greedy and unkind ways of the aunties.

Then you have the patriarch Harris Sinclair that fuels the greed, pettiness and unkindness of his daughters… and the attempt of the Liars which are the cousins Cady, Johnny and Mirren with their friend Gat that make an attempt to re-create their sheltered world at Beachwood Island.

I am told that if asked how this story ends, I.AM.TO.LIE... We Were Liars ends happily ever after...

“We are Sinclairs. Beautiful. Privileged. Damaged. Liar. We live, least in the summertime, on a private island off the coast of Massachusetts. Perhaps that is all you need to know.”

4 Snowflakes

Remember When Trilogy on Sale for $2.99!

Exciting News!! T. Torrest's Trilogy of Remember When is on sale for $2.99! Be sure to get a head start on your Black Friday shopping by getting this amazing series at the limited-time, low price!!

All three best-selling books of the Remember Trilogy in one bundle! 
(Including FOUR bonus chapters in Trip's POV, one of which has never before been released to the public!)
REMEMBER WHEN, REMEMBER WHEN 2: The Sequel, and REMEMBER WHEN 3: The Finale. 

Remember When is the first story in an NA romance trilogy. It will take you back to that time before the real world kicked in, that limbo between adolescence and adulthood, that trial of hanging on to the past while figuring out where the future will lie.
With heart-shredding romance, steamy love scenes and hilarious eighties references, readers of all ages will find themselves rooting for Layla and dreaming about Trip for years to come. It's an endearing journey through the tumultuous world of friendship, family and high school…
…and the memory of that one incredible guy your heart just can't seem to forget.

Remember When 2 is the second story in an NA romance trilogy. It will bring you back to that exuberant and riotous time of life in your twenties when you struggled to figure out your place in the world and the person you were meant to be…
…and the person you were meant to be with.


Remember When 3 is the third and final book in the Remember Trilogy.
It’s a story about taking chances and following your heart…
and knowing that sometimes, you just have to learn when to let go.

***All books are intended for readers 18+ due to some questionable language, alcohol abuse, smokin' hot sexual situations, and 1980s flashbacks.***

Purchase Links

US

UK

Canada

Australia

Review: The Dark World by Cara Lynn Shultz

The Dark World by Cara Lynn Shultz
Publisher- Harlequin Teen
Published- May 27th 2014
Purchase- Amazon / B & N

Paige Kelly is used to weird--in fact, she probably corners the market on weird, considering that her best friend, Dottie, has been dead since the 1950s. But when a fire demon attacks Paige in detention, she has to admit that things have gotten out of her league. Luckily, the cute new boy in school, Logan Bradley, is a practiced demon slayer-and he isn't fazed by Paige's propensity to chat with the dead. Suddenly, Paige is smack in the middle of a centuries-old battle between warlocks and demons, learning to fight with a magic sword so that she can defend herself. And if she makes one wrong move, she'll be pulled into the Dark World, an alternate version of our world that's overrun by demons-and she might never make it home.

My Thoughts:
After the accident that very much took her life, but was brought back, Paige Kelly's life hasn't been the same. For one thing her best friend, Dottie, is a ghost from the 50's and only Paige can see and talk to her. She may be considered the school freak and insane but soon Paige will find out just how sane she really is. With the help from Logan, a new transfer at school, Paige learns that she's actually a Traveler; a person with a type of energy who can open a portal to the human world and the Dark World and with an old-aged war brewing between the Demons and Warlocks for control over the throne, Paige is caught in a spiralling twist between the demons who want to kidnap her and the boy trying to protect her and hopefully find a way to come out of this alive.

The Dark World is a very fun ghostly paranormal that has everything I  like in an escape. Witty warm characters, funny dialogue, incredible writing and smart world building. Plus give me a book about Travelers, Demons, Slayers, Magic and Warlocks and I'm completely sold. I've read Shultz Spellbound series and already knew that I love the way this women writes, but I think she's stepped it up even more with this book. It's solid, intriguing and fascinating, and I had a great time learning along with Paige about the different demons and how they create havoc in the human world and what the role of a slayer and warlock entails. I also got a kick out of Paige's training sections. It was comical and enlightening and gave the perfect excuse for our two main leads to learn each others strengths and weaknesses and it doesn't hurt that the tension was very yummy indeed.

Paige is an amazing character. Despite being a freak in everyone's eyes, Paige doesn't take crap from anyone. I love her good natured humor, random liners and the ability to go with the flow. I also love that she's quick to do the right thing even to those who don't exactly deserve it. She resistant, brave and a good person. 

Logan is made of awesome. Skilled, confident and collected when in battle-mode but awkward and shy when it's just one on one. He may be a badass demonslayer with a magical sword but he still has his uncertainties and secrets that make him feel more real. 

Ajax, is another character that I just adored. Funny, sexy and a real charmer, he brought endless amusement and entertainment to the story. The romance was also very well done and set at a gradual pace but inevitable just the same. The moments between Paige and Logan are really very sweet and touching and has an all consuming touch that the sap in me can't seem to get enough of. I also liked the ending, not exactly a cliff hanger but enough to have me craving for more.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book. It's chalked full of non-stop demonic and magical action that kept the story moving at a quick and steady pace. The writing is very smart and these characters had me invested from minute one. A promising start to a new series I very much plan to continue. Well done!

Find the author:
Goodreads / Website                              4 Snowflakes

Review: Hounded by Kevin Hearne

Hounded by Kevin Hearne
Publisher: Del Rey
Release Date: May 3, 2011
Purchase: Amazon

The first novel in the Iron Druid Chronicles--introducing a cool, new, funny urban fantasy hero.
Atticus O'Sullivan, last of the Druids, lives peacefully in Arizona, running an occult bookshop and shape-shifting in his spare time to hunt with his Irish wolfhound. His neighbors and customers think that this handsome, tattooed Irish dude is about twenty-one years old--when in actuality, he's twenty-one "centuries" old. Not to mention: He draws his power from the earth, possesses a sharp wit, and wields an even sharper magical sword known as Fragarach, the Answerer.
Unfortunately, a very angry Celtic god wants that sword, and he's hounded Atticus for centuries. Now the determined deity has tracked him down, and Atticus will need all his power--plus the help of a seductive goddess of death, his vampire and werewolf team of attorneys, a bartender possessed by a Hindu witch, and some good old-fashioned luck of the Irish--to kick some Celtic arse and deliver himself from evil.

My Thoughts:
I loved this book!  I have really been on the look out for something different with no romance...Okay step away from the tomatoes.  I know this is weird and not the norm BUT hear me out before you leave stinky tomatoes all over the comments...

Romance for me has become predicable and when I read I like to be surprised.  The last three books I read the romance just got in the way of what could have been an amazing world with ridiculously awesome characters, but the romance dragged it down.  So I decided lets pick up something where the romance is either way nonexistent or way way WAY in the back ground.  Do you know how hard this was to find?!  My good friend and reading buddy Rachel at the Readers Den finally showed me where I could find this hidden gem and let me tell you I am officially addicted!  Hounded by Kevin Hearne is witty and showcases a gorgeous world filled with all things creepy, god like, and can seriously kill you at the point of a finger.  Yeah this definitely screamed my name.

Atticus is a Druid and has lived a very long time by learning to be well paranoid and cautious.  He knows exactly what to do when certain creatures walk into his book shop and he protects himself like with wards and bindings.  Atticus was the character I have been hoping to find.  He isn't sloppy and yes certain things did surprise him, but it was not because he was lacking in the intelligence department.  He did everything he possibly could to prevent certain situations and for once what happened was caused because of his lack of thinking.  I never once wanted to throw my book out the window because of something I could see that he couldn't.  We have all had those books and it can be so frustrating, but I'm telling you this book isn't one of those.  I was pleasantly surprised right along with Atticus and it was refreshing.  His character is flawed I'm sure, but for this first installment I can't think of a single thing that I didn't like about him.

Now the story was the truly shining thing for me and seeing as how I loved Atticus and the whole cast of characters this is saying something.  I love paranormal and this book incorporates everything and I mean everything!  We have fae, Thor, vampires, werewolves, druids, witches, and well just everything.  What was truly brilliant though was how the author wove all these random creatures into the story.  If someone told me about this I would automatically think the story would be too crowded and not focused.  This couldn't be farther from the truth though.  This story had direction and each character played a part whether small or big.  Even the little old lady across the street played a part and I loved it.  This world didn't feel crowed, it felt enormous and showed just how brilliant Kevin Hearne is.

This book has been a wonderful pallet cleanser for me and I think after a few more I will probably dip my toes back in the romance pool, but for now I am content to hang out with Atticus, Oberon ( you really have to meet this character.  He is hilarious!), and the wonderful cast of characters that make up this phenomenal world.

5 snowflakes

Review: Beware the Wild by Natalie C. Parker

Beware the Wild by Natalie C. Parker
Publisher- Harper Teen
Published- Oct 21st 2014
Purchase- Amazon / B & N

It's an oppressively hot and sticky morning in June when Sterling and her brother, Phin, have an argument that compels him to run into the town swamp -- the one that strikes fear in all the residents of Sticks, Louisiana. Phin doesn't return. Instead, a girl named Lenora May climbs out, and now Sterling is the only person in Sticks who remembers her brother ever existed.
Sterling needs to figure out what the swamp's done with her beloved brother and how Lenora May is connected to his disappearance -- and loner boy Heath Durham might be the only one who can help her.
This debut novel is full of atmosphere, twists and turns, and a swoon-worthy romance.

My Thoughts:
After a huge fight with his sister, Phineas takes off into the forbidden swamp that stretch throughout the town. Scared and worried about her brother, Sterling waits for him to come back but instead of Phin, a girl named Lenora May, emerges from the swamp. She took over Phin's life and no one seems to remember him besides Sterling and what's worse is she's starting to have memories of the sister she's never had. Sterling will do anything to get back her brother, but she doesn't know if she has the heart to send Lenora May back to the one place she fears the most.

Truth? I had my doubts at first about this one, but it turned out that I really ended up enjoying this book a lot more then I thought. Beware the Wild isn't like most books I've read, it has a really unusual but fascinating plot, likeable and animated characters that piece the story out in a suspenseful, haunting and intense way and the writing has this irresistible pull that had me completely absorbed. If your gonna tell a swamp story? This is a nifty way to do it!

I really enjoyed the plot concept, it's definitely out there, but given this is a paranormal, it was easy to just go with the flow. My favorite part of the story was learning about the swamp and hearing the stories related to it and then later how it's connected to Sterling's family. The swamp was written so vividly that it was it's own main character. It's alive with evil forces and ghost of the victims consumed but it. Riddled with darkness and danger and magic that has the power to entice and repulse you at the same time. It's eerie and maddening and completely intriguing.

While the swamp was definitely it's own force, I have to hand it to these amazing characters that made it so worth the while.

Sterling is such a great character. I love her determination, strength and bravery. She's been through a lot in  her life with an abusive father but the bond that she has with her brother is unshakable. Phin was always there for her, protecting her and taking care of her and my heart really went out to Sterling for losing such an anchor.

I was a little surprised that I liked Lenora May has much as I did. By all rights the reader should have hated her for taking Phin's place, and yet I found myself sympathetic towards all she's been through. Parker really could have went either way with a character like this, but I'm really glad with the direction she went with. Lenora is a good person who was lost and wanted to taste life again. Like Sterling, it's hard to fault her for it, no matter the circumstances of how she came into her life.

I also really loved Heath. He's the only one who believed in Sterling when everyone else had no memory of who Phin was. He know she wasn't crazy since he's been through the same ordeal by losing his best friend to the swamp. Together they made a really sweet team. 

All in all, I had a lot of fun with this book. I love that Parker took her time and plays with the readers mind. I loved that this had such a creep-worthiness to it's tone and setting and that the characters never gave up hope even when all seemed so hopeless. A great entertaining escape.

Find the author:
Goodreads / Website                              4 Snowflakes

Review: Two Blue Lines by S.C. Montgomery

Two Blue Lines by S.C. Montgomery

Published: October 23, 2014 by SC Montgomery

His fear . . . Her secrets . . . Their choice.

What if the only girl you’ve ever loved lied to you?
Lied to everyone?
Those two blue lines changed everything for Reed Young and Melissa Summers. In more ways than one.
And now, he must decide for himself . . .
Man up or walk away?

SC Montgomery has created an emotional tale of first love, difficult choices, and impossible secrets. A deliciously angsty debut you need to read for yourself.

***Reader Warning*** Two Blue Lines is the emotional, honest story of two teenagers whose lives are about to change forever. While not glorified, or portrayed in detail, there are themes of sexual assault and teen pregnancy, as well as allusions to teenage drinking and some foul language. It is all meant to create an honest, relevant novel, but please be aware and read only if you’re comfortable.

***Note, while this novel is a standalone that deals with mature subject matter, it may be helpful to read Lines in the Sand first to understand what makes Reed Young tick and hear about the summer that changed his life forever. Well, before this one. 

My Thoughts

Three years after Lines in the Sand, we get to fall into Reed’s story once again on a fateful day he constantly refers to as The Great Disappointment. That is when he and his girlfriend of three years, Melissa Summers, find out that at the young age of sixteen, they are now pregnant.

From the beginning of Two Blue Lines, Reed has no choice in how they will deal with the pregnancy because Melissa insists on keeping the baby. Her feelings are deep seeded due to the fact that she never knew her real birth mother and being adopted left her scarred in ways she finds difficult to resolve. As these two young teenagers face the consequence of their circumstance, you immediate see the impact it will have on their lives.

This story was truly well written. I’ve read a few teen pregnancy books in the past, but I have to give S.C. Montgomery a huge applause for handling this subject matter so expertly! Her character development and plot twists were well developed. The story never slowed down for Reed and Melissa and I was completely captivated by them the entire time.

I have to say how much I really came to adore Reed. Despite seeing his dreams of being an engineer slip through his fingers, he handled himself very well. I appreciated the sacrifices he made almost immediately and his unwavering love and loyalty to Melissa.

Where in no way does this book glorify teen pregnancy, it definitely paints a realistic picture of the costs and sacrifices involved. I enjoyed this book from beginning to end and would love to have read an epilogue of maybe a year later. Well done!

4 Snowflakes

Review: Lines in the Sand (Crossing the Line Prequel) by S.C. Montgomery

Lines in the Sand (Crossing the Line Prequel) by S.C. Montgomery

Published: October 10, 2014

Two best friends. One emotional adventure.

When Reed Young and Jonah King unearth some mysterious remains at their favorite beach hangout, their summer is thrust into an exciting tailspin.
Determined to get to the bottom of the mystery, they embark on a heartrending journey to find out the truth . . . and make it right.

But neither of them expected the secrets they would find.

***Reader note***While Lines in the Sand is a standalone novella, appropriate for younger readers, it is intended as a prequel to Two Blue Lines, which continues Reed Young’s story as he’s forced into a situation nobody wants to find themselves in at sixteen. Read and enjoy at your own discretion. 

My Thoughts
Lines in the Sand by S.C. Montgomery is a short prequel to Two Blue Lines. I appreciated reading this novella first because it gave me a glimpse into Reed Young and his best friend Jonah.

These two thirteen year old boys live by the ocean, and one day when they are enjoying the beach they come across a skeleton bone and some articles of clothing. At first, they are led to believe it’s the remains of an old witch that went missing many years prior and to come in contact with her would be a curse. However, when they find out the true backstory to who the skeleton bone and clothing belongs to, it ignites a deep sentiment that forever becomes a part of Reed Young’s life.

This story is engaging, short and enjoyable. I highly recommend readers who are considering to read Two Blue Lines to start off with this book first. Good story!

4 Snowflakes

Teaser Tuesday #79, My True Love Gave To Me

Welcome to Teaser Tuesdays! Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: Grab your current read Open to a random page Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers! My Teaser Tuesday is for the following...

MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME
Twelve Holiday Stories Edited by Stephanie Perkins

Published: October 14, 2014 by St. Martin's Press



Blurb:
If you love holiday stories, holiday movies, made-for-TV-holiday specials, holiday episodes of your favorite sitcoms and, especially, if you love holiday anthologies, you’re going to fall in love with MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME: TWELVE HOLIDAY STORIES by twelve bestselling young adult writers, edited by international bestselling author Stephanie Perkins.

Teaser #1 from ebook page 9/260

"I kept your tie safe," she said, and held out a red silk necktie. He'd been dancing on the coffee table when he threw it at her. 
"Thank you," he said, taking it and slinging it around his neck. "That was a good catch--but I was actually trying to lure you out onto the dance floor."
"That was a coffee table, Noel."
"There was room for two, Margaret."

Teaser #2 from page 13/260

"It's our last chance to dance together!" he said. "It's our senior year!"
"We have months left to dance," Mags said, stopping at the food table to get a mini quiche.
Noel walked down the couch, stepped onto the coffee table, then stretched one long leg out as far as he could to make it onto the love seat next to Mags. 
"They're playing our song," he said.
"They're playing 'Baby Got Back,'" Mags said.
Noel grinned.

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Teaser Tuesdays post, or share your ‘teasers’ in a comment here if you don’t have a blog Thanks! 

A Little Something For Our Older Crowd...

Okay so every now and then I like to talk a little about something I've read that was beyond amazing and not YA.  I reviewed this on my other blog and that just simply wasn't enough!  This has recently been released and I love love love this writing team and this newest release of theirs is beyond everything I hoped it would be!  If you haven't guessed here's the book I'm currently obsessed about...

Burn For Me by Ilona Andrews 

Published on October 28th, 2014 by Avon

Amazon

So yes I know this is WAY older than what our young readers read, but we do have quite a few older readers in our mix and I wanted to clue them in to my newest find.  I adore the Kate Daniels series and this series opener is just as good.  Amazing world building, kick you know what characters, and just enough steam to fog up your glasses.  This has quickly topped my favorite of 2014 list and it is on my favorite of all time list.  Yes it really is that good!

You can find more of my gushing here..

 Review

 Happy reading!!

Review: The Retribution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

The Retribution of Mara Dyer 
by Michelle Hodkin
Publisher-Simon & Schuster 
Published- Nov 4th 2014
Purchase- Amazon / B & N

Mara Dyer wants to believe there's more to the lies she’s been told.There is.She doesn’t stop to think about where her quest for the truth might lead.She should.She never had to imagine how far she would go for vengeance.She will now.Loyalties are betrayed, guilt and innocence tangle, and fate and chance collide in this shocking conclusion to Mara Dyer’s story.Retribution has arrived.

My Thoughts:
The Retribution of Mara Dyer is the epic, mind exploding conclusion to this highly anticipated series and so amazingly worth the long two year wait. This does not disappoint!

You know, I don't even know what to say. Apart of me wants to scream and jump around all over this review praising all the awesome that it is, but given this is the last book in the series- a book fans have been on hands and knees waiting for, I don't think I should spoil anything. But I will say that I'm in total awe of the brilliant way Hodkin turned this last hurrah. All those questions that have been burning since book two come together piece by agonizingly messed up piece, but in the best way possible. I can't tell you how liberating it was to finally get some hardcore answers as to what the hell was going on, but I loved that Hodkin did it at a leashed pace, bringing us closer till the moment when everything hits click. This book is a lot darker then I would have thought, more edgy and twisted. The things that are done aren't very pretty and even Mara isn't the same girl that we once knew. Her anger and hatred is at its max extreme and apart of me was rooting her on while the other part was scared she'd go to far. But leave it to Hodkin to find the perfect comedic balance to calm the mood or moment. Jamie, Stella and Daniel were amazing characters that had Mara's back. No matter what. And I love the back and forth banter and zingers that made me laugh out loud, which is saying something considering how intense this book really is. 
I'm not going to say anything about the romance or Noah since that would probably be the biggest spoiler, but I will say this; Fate and destiny plays a large part of this love story, but love can endure despite it.

Bottom line. This series is the best physiological thriller that I've ever read. It's crazy addicting and spins you into madness from the first book till it's epic freaken conclusion. Also, chapter 73? BEST chapter evah!!! My heart, my gawd, my heart!! Congrats to Michelle Hodkin for such an amazing series. It's been one helluva wicked ride and I greatly look forward to anything else you put to pen. Bravo!

Find the author:
Goodreads / Website                                 5 Snowflakes

Review: The Walled City by Ryan Graudin

The Walled City by Ryan Graudin
Publisher: Little Brown
Release Date: November 4th, 2014
Purchase: Amazon

730. That's how many days I've been trapped.
18. That's how many days I have left to find a way out.

DAI, trying to escape a haunting past, traffics drugs for the most ruthless kingpin in the Walled City. But in order to find the key to his freedom, he needs help from someone with the power to be invisible....

JIN hides under the radar, afraid the wild street gangs will discover her biggest secret: Jin passes as a boy to stay safe. Still, every chance she gets, she searches for her lost sister....

MEI YEE has been trapped in a brothel for the past two years, dreaming of getting out while watching the girls who try fail one by one. She's about to give up, when one day she sees an unexpected face at her window.....

In this innovative and adrenaline-fueled novel, they all come together in a desperate attempt to escape a lawless labyrinth before the clock runs out.

My Thoughts:
First I want to say this is upper and I mean WAY upper YA.  The things that go on throughout this book are really mature and disturbing and aren't meant for a younger audience in my opinion. 

I am honestly struggling with it being labeled as Young Adult.  I know the characters were young, but the whole storyline really felt adult.  I think it would have worked better as an adult novel because the author could have delved more into the characters and this dirty world.  I felt like things were held back and we were given just enough grit to slide under that YA radar.  I am all about authors pushing the envelope, but certain things I think should stay in adult and a brothel is one of them.

The story switches POVs which I did like.  It was interesting to see what each character was going through and how it affected them.  I always cringed when I would read Mei Yee's chapter because she was the one in the brothel. Even though the scenes weren't explicit I could still grasp what was going on and my heart would just break for her every time.  The other girls in the brothel had it just as bad some even worse and I started reading with one eye closed because I just couldn't take it anymore.  Jin and Dai were who I craved reading about.  I loved Jin's fierceness and loyalty to her sister.  She did what she had to do to survive and I really connected with her.  Dai I felt like needed redemption.  He was a great character that I rooted for even though a lot of his past he was responsible for.  He was trying to right a wrong and I respected that. 

I had two big problems with this book though.  One being the romance.  I didn't buy it at all and maybe this is just me realizing I don't want romance in my books anymore.  Do I like steam yes yes I do, but I am starting to crave books where the romance is just not there or heavily in the background.  I don't really know why that is but that's where I am headed in my reading life.  When I picked The Walled City up I expected it to be gritty and something all together different.  It was don't get me wrong, but I felt like the romance cheapend it.  It just wasn't needed and I don't think a girl living in a brothel would fall head over heels for a guy so fast.  Mei Yee needed to recover and find herself before those feelings surfaced in my opinion.  Did she need Dai yes she did, but I would have liked their relationship to have started out as something entirely different.

My other problem was the world. I don't understand why Hak Nam was left to rot.  Why didn't the criminals there take over other cities? What kept all the violence in one area?  Why didn't people leave?  This world needed more explaining in the first few chapters.  I still don't understand why Hak Nam was what it was.  I wish the author would have focused on this rather than the romance.  If that had happened I am pretty positive this read would have been a 5 for me.

Okay I know I had lots of problems with this one, but I did like it overall. I thought the story was unique and it really held me captivated.  I didn't want to let certain characters go at the end and I did find myself wanting more.  I also really liked the authors writing style.  I can't explain it but it definitely grabbed me and never let me go.  This is why I am going with a 3.5.  Even with the problems I am still glad I read this and it is something different which is awesome.

3.5 snowflakes

Giveaway: Stronger by Lani Woodland

Stronger by Lani Woodland
Available now on ebook!
Amazon / Goodreads

Blurb:

It's been said, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. In the aftermath of an alien invasion, the old saying became literal. 

When the aliens attacked Earth, their bombs changed our atmosphere. Through DNA manipulation, humanity survived, but exist now as two distinct classes of people: the Valudis who heal and gain strength from every hurt, and the weaker Debilii, for whom the slightest injury can be fatal. The Debilii are servants for the Valudis, who in turn act as warriors and protectors. And ruling over them all are the alien Orions who decided they liked Earth enough to stay. 

Despite being born a Debilii, Lexie Hake bravely joined the resistance to free Earth from the Orions. When several run-ins with Bryant, a handsome Valudis, bring her secret activities to the aliens’ notice, the whole rebellion is put at risk. Lexie is forced to take a more active role in overthrowing the Orions. ‪She might be Earth’s last chance at freedom, and if she fails, the Orions’ ruthless reign may never end.

WinterHaven Books is delighted to share this giveaway with you, our friends and followers! This book sound AMAZING! Good luck!

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Teaser Tuesday #78 Talon by Julie Kagawa

Welcome to Teaser Tuesdays! Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: Grab your current read Open to a random page Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers! My Teaser Tuesday is for the following...

Talon by Julie Kagawa
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: October 28, 2014

Long ago, dragons were hunted to near extinction by the Order of St. George, a legendary society of dragon slayers. Hiding in human form and growing their numbers in secret, the dragons of Talon have become strong and cunning, and they're positioned to take over the world with humans none the wiser.

Ember and Dante Hill are the only sister and brother known to dragonkind. Trained to infiltrate society, Ember wants to live the teen experience and enjoy a summer of freedom before taking her destined place in Talon. But destiny is a matter of perspective, and a rogue dragon will soon challenge everything Ember has been taught. As Ember struggles to accept her future, she and her brother are hunted by the Order of St. George.

Soldier Garret Xavier Sebastian has a mission to seek and destroy all dragons, and Talon's newest recruits in particular. But he cannot kill unless he is certain he has found his prey: and nothing is certain about Ember Hill. Faced with Ember's bravery, confidence and all-too-human desires, Garret begins to question everything that the Order has ingrained in him: and what he might be willing to give up to find the truth about dragons.

Teasers from e-book page: 71

All right, enough was enough! Why should I be hunted? I was a freaking dragon. The apex predator, according to Talon. If survival meant not getting shot at all costs, maybe I should be the one doing the hunting. 

Teasers from e-book page: 72

Hello, boys. I grinned, and felt my back haunches wriggle as I tensed to pounce. Payback's a bitch. 


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Review: Stitching Snow by R. C. Lewis

Stitching Snow by R.C Lewis
Publisher- Disney-Hyperion
Released- Oct 14th 2014
Purchase- Amazon / B & N

Princess Snow is missing.
Her home planet is filled with violence and corruption at the hands of King Matthias and his wife as they attempt to punish her captors. The king will stop at nothing to get his beloved daughter back—but that’s assuming she wants to return at all.
Essie has grown used to being cold. Temperatures on the planet Thanda are always sub-zero, and she fills her days with coding and repairs for the seven loyal drones that run the local mines.
When a mysterious young man named Dane crash-lands near her home, Essie agrees to help the pilot repair his ship. But soon she realizes that Dane’s arrival was far from accidental, and she’s pulled into the heart of a war she’s risked everything to avoid. With the galaxy’s future—and her own—in jeopardy, Essie must choose who to trust in a fiery fight for survival.

My Thoughts:
Stitching Snow, is a very unique and unusual futuristic sci-fi twist on the classic tale of Snow White. Truthfully? If I didn't already know this was a retelling, I probably wouldn't have made the big leap into thinking this was about Snow White, there is very little that resembles the old tale and felt entirely like it's own science-fiction fantasy storyline complete with robot drones, aircraft shuttles and a lot of techy-techy talk. We also have a lot of different planets with their own political plans of war and trade with Essie caught in the middle between what she did in the past and what and what she means for the future.

While the writing is very sharp, I admit it still took a bit to get use to. The sci-fi is very advanced and detailed and felt overwhelming at times to follow while the political stuff always seems to leave me dazed. I was also slightly disappointed with the villains. They were more disturbing and unhinged rather then evil and their ending seemed a little easy and abrupt. Still, what Lewis achieved entwining this story was pretty creative and imaginative new look into storytelling. I especially liked the seven drones bit, some are not mentioned but there are a couple that are present throughout the story and my favorite was, Dimwit- the ever adorable loyal hair-brain pet. 

Essie plays the role of Princess Snow, which isn't a real spoiler given it's revealed pretty quickly in the story. But if your expecting birds chirping and kisses on dwarf's foreheads kinda princess, your not gonna find her in this book. Essie is, well, a badass. Left on the frozen planet Thandra when she was just nine years old, Essie had to learn how to survive in a hostile environment. Fighting in cage matches for profit and parts and fixing the drones for the miners, Essie may not be living the life of your average princess, but, at least she's alive. I thought Essie was pretty awesome, she's got spunk and she's feisty as hell, she's also very determined, capable, strong and doesn't take crap from anyone. She's got great energy and I totally loved her attitude and role throughout.
At first I wasn't sure how to feel about Dane. He had some ill motives at the beginning but slowly he earned my trust and admiration. I love how protective he was with Essie and I loved that the romance moved at a gradual pace, melting my heart slowly but surely .

All in all, I thought this was a decent entertaining escape. The storyline is quite fascination and action packed and fit for sci-fi junkies and retelling fans alike. Great character chemistry, witty dialogue and incredible writing skills. R.C. Lewis is definitely an author to look out for. A fun escape.

Find the author:
Goodreads / Website                                3.5 Snowflakes 

Review: Illusions of Fate by Kiersten White

Illusions of Fate by Kiersten White
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: September 9th, 2014
Purchase: Amazon

 Downton Abbey meets Cassandra Clare in this lush, romantic fantasy from New York Times bestselling author Kiersten White.

“I did my best to keep you from crossing paths with this world. And I shall do my best to protect you now that you have.”

Jessamin has been an outcast since she moved from her island home of Melei to the dreary country of Albion. Everything changes when she meets Finn, a gorgeous, enigmatic young lord who introduces her to the secret world of Albion’s nobility, a world that has everything Jessamin doesn’t—power, money, status…and magic. But Finn has secrets of his own, dangerous secrets that the vicious Lord Downpike will do anything to possess. Unless Jessamin, armed only with her wits and her determination, can stop him.

Kiersten White captured readers’ hearts with her New York Times bestselling Paranormalcy trilogy and its effortless mix of magic and real-world teenage humor. She returns to that winning combination of wit, charm, and enchantment in Illusions of Fate, a sparkling and romantic new novel perfect for fans of Cassandra Clare, The Madman’s Daughter, and Libba Bray.

My thoughts:
I have had a love/hate relationship with this book.  When I first picked it up I honestly didn't like it which really depressed me because I love Kiersten White.  It was just like what the description said in regards to the Downtown Abby feel and it just wasn't working for me.  It didn't flow at all in my opinion so I decided to put it down and return to it later since I refuse to give up on a Kiersten White book.

In doing this and making myself return to a book I thought I would end up giving a one to really opened my eyes to the timing of things.  If I had read this through at that moment I would have hated it.  By my putting it down my mood had time to change and when I picked it back up I ended up really liking it.  I didn't read it all in one sitting though and yes when I went back to it the next day after liking it I had to put it down again, but I learned that timing is everything.  I needed to be in the mood to visit this world and if I wasn't things just didn't click.  So I took my time with this one. I wanted to like it that much and yes I know sometimes this will not work, but in this case it did.  I ended up liking this one, not loving it but I can appreciate the world and characters that were brought to life.

I think the main reason why this book didn't grab me is because the world building wasn't that strong.  I got lost among the strange country names and I couldn't quite remember what was going on that Jessa was trying to stop from happening because it wasn't all that clear.  I know there was a war but I couldn't honestly tell you the ins and outs of it.  This could be due to the way I had to read this, but I don't think so.  I think Ms.White focused more on her characters than the actual plot of the story and I wish she would have thrown in more world.

The characters were great though I can't deny that.  I really liked Jessa and her group of friends.  I found myself really immersed in the magic of it all and I loved Finn.  The only thing that lacked was the depth of the characters though. I feel like we barely got to see who everybody truly was.  Eleanor had so many great secrets and I would have loved to have seen more of her and even the villain I wanted more from.  I guess I am saying I wanted the book to be longer.  That might have helped, this book doesn't even pass 300 so I think if we were given another say 100 pages things might have felt more complete.

I'm going with a 3 on this one because I did like it, but I didn't love it as much as her previous books.  This was different than what's on the shelf now a days so that is a definite bonus and Ms.Whites writing is always amazing.  I really enjoyed her descriptions and I have a feeling I would have fallen in love with this world if I would have been given more.

3.5 snowflakes