Teaser Tuesday, # 58 Pawn by Aimee Carter

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...

Pawn by Aimee Carter

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Publication Date: November 26, 2013

Teasers from Pages 197

He'd drawn two stick figures standing on a beach, with waves and a sand castle nearby. Their little fingers were interlocked, and between them was a sideways figure eight--the symbol for eternity.

"I love you too," I whispered. I refolded the note and tucked it safely in my pocket. As long as we were both alive, I had to believe that everything would be okay.

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!

Pawn by Aimee Carter - Book Trailer and Release Celebrations

Winterhavenbooks is excited to share the trailer for Aimee Carter's upcoming release of Pawn! To celebrate the launch of the trailer, Harlequin Teen is also hosting a Giveaway! Prize pack includes: Copy of Pawn and The Goddess Test boxed set!

Author: Aimée Carter
Imprint: Harlequin TEEN

Release: December 2013

Price: $17.99 / $19.99

Format: Hard cover

ISBN: 978-0-373-21055-8

 

About: You can be a VII, if you give up everything. In a not so distant future, America has become a meritocracy. Upon your seventeenth birthday you take a test and are branded with a number signifying your status. For Kitty Doe, her dyslexia leaves her a “III”—part of the working class—and assigned far from her home and boyfriend. She’s ready to become an outlaw, until a chance encounter leads to an amazing opportunity. The niece of the prime minister—America’s leadership is now inherited and members of the ruling family are ranked “VII”—has been killed, and Kitty is asked to impersonate her. Now nestled in the ruling Harte family, Kitty begins to see the truth behind the pretense of equality and options for all.

PAWN TRAILER LINK:
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UrHJEQNnbM

 

GIVEAWAY URL:

http://bit.ly/1auqi3b

Review: Pawn by Aimee Carter

Pawn by Aimee Carter

Publisher- Harlequin Teen
Released- Nov 26th 2013

Pre-Order- Amazon / B & N

YOU CAN BE A VII. IF YOU GIVE UP EVERYTHING. For Kitty Doe, it seems like an easy choice. She can either spend her life as a III in misery, looked down upon by the higher ranks and forced to leave the people she loves, or she can become a VII and join the most powerful family in the country.
If she says yes, Kitty will be Masked—surgically transformed into Lila Hart, the Prime Minister's niece, who died under mysterious circumstances. As a member of the Hart family, she will be famous. She will be adored. And for the first time, she will matter.
There's only one catch. She must also stop the rebellion that Lila secretly fostered, the same one that got her killed …and one Kitty believes in. Faced with threats, conspiracies and a life that's not her own, she must decide which path to choose—and learn how to become more than a pawn in a twisted game she's only beginning to understand.

My Thoughts:
Once you turn 17 your life is ranked by the number branded to the back of you neck. It establishes your importance into society. A society that promises that the citizens will be taken care of, but you have to give back first. Everyone has their role to play, but it just so happens that Kitty Doe is a III (3)…well, it’s better then being a I (1) and going Elsewhere. Still, the life she was hoping for with her boyfriend, Benjy feels even more impossible so when Prime Minister Daxton offers Kitty the life of a VII (7) she agreed but not understanding the consequences. Kitty was Masked, altered to be Lila Hart, one of the most important girls in the country, but at a price that not only cost Kitty her identity but her life and the only life she wanted with Benjy.

To be honest, I was very conflicted throughout this entire book. There were some things that worked and didn't work for me when reading Pawn. Already a big fan of Aimee Carter’s Goddess Test series, I’m very comfortable with the way this woman can write and was surprised how amazingly put together this story is. Carter doesn't waste anytime moving her characters in a game of scandalous politics and conspiracy set in a world that is merciless, corrupt and unfair. But I fear that there are just too many head-games, threats, lies, betrayal and deception that it made it incredibly hard for me to like or be invested with any of these characters with the exception of Kitty and Benjy. There is so much back-stabbing and pointless murders, even within the Hart family that it made the entire story-line feel untrustworthy and lacked the essential point of what has been sacrificed and fought for. Hope. There just doesn't seem to be enough of it.

With that said, I still found this book to be quite fascinating. I have always had a hard time with books that are overly political, but Carter has spun a very carefully crafted plot that has more then it’s share of twist and turns to keep the readers guessing and on their toes. I also really love the fact that we have an already established romance. I love watching characters fall in love in stories, but it’s really nice to be able to sink into how they already feel for one another and enjoy their moments between them without having to guess or worry about how things move along. Kitty and Benjy have a wonderfully sweet relationship that kept me committed throughout the story and thankfully there isn't a love triangle insight.

I have a hard time expressing my feeling’s for some of these characters since all of them seem to have their own secrets and agendas, twisting my stomach with pure hatred for the things they have done or threatened to do.

Daxton and Augusta are cold, unflinching manipulative characters that will do anything to uphold the Hart family name and needs and while I liked Celia most of the time, even she had underhanded moments that surprised me, but really shouldn't have. 

Knox and Greyson seem friendly and genuine enough but the way these characters use each other as a means to an end even has be doubting them as well. I guess only time will show their true intentions.

The only real characters that I seem to have cared about or trusted was Kitty and Benjy. Kitty is a spunky character that was thrown into a world even more horrific then the one she left. While Benjy played the ever loyal and loving boyfriend any girl would be lucky to have.

All in all, this may have turned out to be only a decent read for myself, but I’m sure fans will enjoy the political edge, thrilling mystery, suspense and light romance that this book has to offer. I may not have always been entertained by the things that happened, but I was always intrigued right till the very end and curious enough to want to know what happens next.

Find the author:

Goodreads / Website                               3.5 snowflakes

Review: The Goddess Inheritance by Aimee Carter

The Goddess Inheritance by Aimee Carter

Released-Feb 26th 2013

Publisher-Harlequin Teen 

Pre-Order- Amazon / B & N

Love or life.Henry or their child.The end of her family or the end of the world.Kate must choose.During nine months of captivity, Kate Winters has survived a jealous goddess, a vengeful Titan and a pregnancy she never asked for. Now the Queen of the Gods wants her unborn child, and Kate can't stop her--until Cronus offers a deal.In exchange for her loyalty and devotion, the King of the Titans will spare humanity and let Kate keep her child. Yet even if Kate agrees, he'll destroy Henry, her mother and the rest of the council. And if she refuses, Cronus will tear the world apart until every last god and mortal is dead.With the fate of everyone she loves resting on her shoulders, Kate must do the impossible: find a way to defeat the most powerful being in existence, even if it costs her everything.Even if it costs her eternity.

My Thoughts:

After the mean lady cough-Carter-cough gave us that cruel hair-pulling cliffy at the end of Goddess Interrupted, I couldn't wait to get my hands on the last book of this much loved and devoured series!

It's been nine months since Calliope kidnapped Kate and took her to the King of the Titans, Cronus. 

Calliope wants revenge, wants Henry and wants to raise Kate's baby as her own. 

Cronus has taken a special liking to Kate and wants her to rule beside him as he ultimately destroys the world. 

Kate has to make an impossible choice between her love for Henry and their son, between her immortal family or the end of the world. 

With both worlds on the path of war and destruction, Kate must do everything she can to defeat the King of the Titans and protect the people she loves.

No matter what it takes.

Wow! What an ending! 

Since this is the last book in the series, I don't want to say to much plot wise. But I will say that Carter did a fantastic job wrapping this up. I loved the twist and turns and the unpredictability of it all. It's engaging, captivating and nerve wracking as hell. Fans of this series is going to want to hang on ever word.

Carter's writing is as strong and solid as ever, but I think she may have stepped it up a notch. You could feel the excitement and suspense surge in your mind and can feel the desperation and emotions of these characters leap right off the pages. 

I've always had a big thing for twist in mythology and love the idea of these characters being played and handed in a new light. Giving us readers endless new entertainment. My applause! Carter did a terrific job with this world, making it entirely her own.

I've always loved Kate Winters. I loved her strength and tolerance in the first book and her selflessness in the second but I don't think I've ever been more proud of her then in this book. Her self-sacrificing tendencies  are both ridiculously-heroic and frustratingly-noble. What a stubborn, determined and fierce character. As a daughter, a wife and a mother, her unflinching relentlessness to protect the people she cared about most was truly mesmerizing to behold. Such an amazing amazing character.

Henry has always been dark, moody and brooding, but being that he's the God of the underworld, I guess that's a fitting reason. But we finally get to see a more real, vulnerable and passionate side to him that's been long over due. 

Henry and Kate have what I call epic love. It's never been easy, it's never been just handed to them, but it's always been worth the fight. I hung on ever moment between them in this book. Loving the fact that I have no more doubts or questions about how Henry truly feels. I also loved watching them with Milo and being a family. It was warm and moving and wonderful.

At the start of the book I was a bit conflicted when it came to Ava's character. But as the story moved on, with out a doubt, she's been redeemed in my eyes. 

I also loved James, throughout the entire series he's been a constant force in Kate's life and a true friend.

I'm not sure what else I can say without wanting to spoil ya'll, so all I'm gonna say is that I loved every minute of The Goddess Inheritance and I know that fans will love it just as much.

Aimee Carter has created something fun and alive in the land of mythology. I had the best time in this world and with these characters. While I'm sad to see one of my favorite series end, I can let them go with a warm smile and a heavy heart.

Unique. Imaginative. Epic. Loved!

Fun times are still ahead. Look for Aimee Carter next adventure in; Masked! 

Find the Author:

Goodreads / Website

                                                                      5 Snowflakes 

Goddess Interrupted (Goddess Test, #2) by Aimee Carter

Goddess Interrupted is the second book in author Aimee Carter's Goddess Test series. I was excited when I saw it was on Netgalley. Since I adored the first book, The Goddess Test, I was anxious to read dive into this one.

Paperback, 304 pages

Published March 27th 2012 by HarlequinTeen

Goodreads Blurb:

Kate Winters has won immortality. But if she wants a life with Henry in the Underworld, she'll have to fight for it.Becoming immortal wasn't supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she's as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he's becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate's coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans. As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person whom she would really rather not meet. Henry's first wife, Persephone

My Thoughts:

Goddess Interrupted is the second book in author Aimee Carter's Goddess Test series. I was excited when I saw it was on Netgalley. Since I adored the first book, The Goddess Test, I was anxious to read dive into this one.

Kate Winters goes back to the underworld, back to Henry. When Henry isn't there to greet her upon her arrival, Kate's insecurities start to unfold. She learns that Cronus is trying to escape and Caliope has sided with the powerful and very bad Cronus. She wants to destroy the council and kill Kate. Henry and a few others are captured and held captive. Kate seeks out the one person who can help her, Persephone.

Kate's internal conflict over whether Henry loves her and whether he still is in love with Persephone gets the best of her. I felt that her insecurities throughout Goddess Interrupted, was slightly annoying. I would have liked to see more of Henry, also. His role was small and I felt he seemed weak in comparison to the first installment. Kate and Henry's relationship doesn't really get to a deeper level until the ending.

Overall, this was an okay read. It didn't hold quite the excitement level I had hoped for, but still the story held it's own.

Rating:

3 Snowflakes

For more about this author, follow the links listed below.

 

http://www.goodreads.com/aimeecarter

 

website

http://www.aimeecarter.com/

Find her on Twitter at @aimee_carter

 

The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

Rating: 5 Snowflakes

What an incredible debut from author Aimee Carter!! The Goddess Test was absolutely amazing!!! I’ve always had a love for Greek Mythology and Aimee has just set the precedence for Greek Mythology lovers.

The story is about a girl named Kate and her mother who is deathly ill. Kate’s mother wants to go back to her hometown where she was born and raised to die. Kate has taken care of her mother for the past four years and that’s all she knows. She doesn’t have a life outside of home and school. Kate loves her mother more than anything and will do anything to make her happy in her final days. The story really unfolds when Kate begins school in Eden. When Kate ends up falling victim to a vicious prank she meets Henry, a beautiful, dark and mysterious guy who makes a deal with Kate and now Kate has a bargain to uphold and many choices to make. She faces many hardships but also discovers comforts in other places and people, especially Henry. She is falling for him and is finding she relates to him more than she ever thought. They both have hardships they have been dealt but together they can face them hand in hand.

The characters in this story are well defined and well written. Our protagonist, Kate, was an all around amazing character. There wasn’t anything annoying about her and the emotions and the heart she showed was absolutely captivating! This had me on the edge of my seat with a Kleenex box in hand. This book truly pulls you to the core. Henry was yet again, another amazing character. You really learn and understand him better and become so wrapped up in everything he has gone through. I really loved the secondary characters as well. They brought so much to the story. They played such an important part in making it as wonderful as it could be.

This is a beautifully written book with such fresh and vivid details you can actually picture the settings and the see the story unfold in your own eyes. I was so captivated by this book. I will definitely be buying this as soon as it comes out. I’m looking forward to the next book Goddess Interrupted. This is a Must read!!!