Blog Tour: How to Break a Boy by Laurie Devore

Today on WinterHaven Books I am kicking off the blog tour for How to Break a Boy by Laurie Devore!!  For my stop I am sharing my review with you!

How to Break a Boy by Laurie Devore

Publisher: Imprint

Release Date: Jan 31st, 2017

Purchase: Amazon

Keep your enemies close, but your friends closer.

Olivia Clayton has mastered the art of tearing others down to stay on top. She and her best friend, Adrienne, rule their small southern town like all good mean girls do--through intimidation and manipulation.

After Olivia suffers a family tragedy and catches Adrienne sleeping with her boyfriend, Olivia is over it. She decides to make a change--but it's impossible to resist taking Adrienne down one last time. Up to her old tricks, Olivia convinces golden boy Whit DuRant to be her SAT tutor and her fake boyfriend. But when it starts to feel real, Whit gets caught up in Olivia and Adrienne's war.

Olivia may ruin everything she touches, but this time she won't go down without a fight--not if it means losing Whit.

And definitely not if it means losing what's left of herself.

“If the Heathers had had smartphones.” ―Kirkus Reviews

My thoughts:
How to Break a Boy was my type of contemporary novel!  It wasn't soft and dreamy, it was tough, dark and a little scary which worked for me.

In a nutshell the story is about Olivia and how she lives her life in the shadow of her partner in crime friend Adrienne.  These two together were a high school students worst nightmare.  They were ruthless, mean, and always out to get somebody even if you just make eye contact wrong you are on their list. When Olivia's brother dies, she changes and begins to think maybe this mean girl lifestlye isn't what she wants anymore.  Leaving isn't always easy though and so begins her journey to find herself without popularity, her brother, and her toxic friend.

It was painful to read quite a few places in this story.  So many times Olivia could have done the right thing, but she stays under Adriennes thumb and causes chaos for so many people.  I won't lie I wanted to slap her so many times throughout this book, but her saving grace was that she little by little saw her errors and wanted to correct them.  It took awhile, but she slowly grew a backbone and for that I am grateful.

My favorite character in this though was Claire.  She was a kind of secondary character and I thought she was amazing.  She got caught up in the mess of Olivia's fight with Adrienne and I felt sorry for her, but I liked her positive attitude which helped guide Olivia.  It wasn't always easy for her, but she didn't let things tear her down.

My other favorite character was Whit which won't surprise you if you read this book.  He was definitely a shining character throughout and my heart broke for him when things turned bad.  He was an innocent bystander, but he definitely caught the brunt of the fight and I can't lie it ticked me off.  He didn't deserve what happened to him and I was shocked at the extent Adrienne went.  He handled it better than most though and I have to give him credit for standing his ground.

My one problem with this story though was that I wanted more of a conclusion with Adrienne. I don't think she should have been able to walk away so easily and I know that her world changed somewhat, but it wasn't enough for me.  I wanted her to suffer more honestly.

I thought this story was going to be more of a revenge story, but it turned out to be more of a saving story and I liked it.  There were frustrating scenes and I wanted to punch a few people, but you know high school is tough and this shows just how tough it can be.  I know this is extreme, but peer pressure is out there and I've seen a lot of bad things so if you think about it this really isn't that extreme.  I'm glad the author chose to show the darker side of school and I can even understand why she chose to let things be at the end.  Nothing is ever tied up perfectly in a bow and this story shows that.  I'm just glad a few characters ended up where I hoped they would.

Dark story with shinning moments that held me captivated till the last page.  Can't ask for more than that!

3.5 snowflakes

About the Author
Laurie Devore was born and raised in small town South Carolina and graduated from Clemson University. She now lives and works in Chicago, where she misses the charms and contradictions of the south every day. In her spare time, she reluctantly runs marathons, watches too much TV, and works a "y’all" into every conversation. How to Break a Boy is her debut novel.

Review: Beautiful Broken Girls by Kim Savage

Beautiful Broken Girls by Kim Savage
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Release Date: Feb 21st, 2017
Purchase: Amazon

Mira and Francesca Cillo—beautiful, overprotected, odd—seemed untouchable. But Ben touched seven parts of Mira: her palm, hair, chest, cheek, lips, throat, and heart. After the sisters drown themselves in the quarry lake, a post-mortem letter from Mira sends Ben on a quest to find notes in the seven places where they touched. Note by note, Ben discovers the mystical secret at the heart of Mira and Francesca's world, and that some things are better left untouched.

My Thoughts:
This was very different than I thought it was going to be.  I expected a dark thriller, but it turned out to be more of a sad story with a dark twist and I have to say it kinda worked.

The whole story is about Ben trying to find out why his neighbors, Mira and Francesca, committed suicide together.  He finds a note shortly after their passing and feels like it's his duty to Mira to find out her story.

Like I said I thought this was going to be a thriller, but it was just really sad.  The more we learn about the two sisters, the sadder it gets and a lot of things start coming to light by the end.  These things are not said in so many words and I kind of wish they had been.  I think it would have given the story another layer that it needed.  Keeping it as it was though did give the story a bit of mystery that was intriguing and let the reader draw their own conclusions.  In my opinion both ways would have worked, but I personally would have liked a better overall explanation.

My favorite thing about this story was the setting.  It felt very Jersey Shorish and mob/old gangster.  I thought this was a fun spin and I liked the way the girls family was described.  They were blood and blood always helped blood.  This helped lighten the story a tad, and it needed that because it was so sad.

One thing that I wished would have been wrapped up was Nick.  I am still not quite sure what his role was and it bothers me a tad.  I think the author left a little too much up to the readers imagination and could have tightened her storylines.  I for one like to have things spelled out for me so I feel a bit off not knowing things for certain.  

I did like this though and enjoyed it more than the authors previous works.  I think this style is just something I will have to get used to if I continue on with Savage (her previous book had the same kind of open endedness) and I think I will because this one was intriguing and fun.

3.5 snowflakes

  

Review: The May Queen Murders by Sarah Jude

The May Queen Murders by Sarah Jude
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Release Date: May 3rd, 2016
Purchase: Amazon

Stay on the roads. Don’t enter the woods. Never go out at night.

Those are the rules in Rowan’s Glen, a remote farming community in the Missouri Ozarks where Ivy Templeton’s family has lived for centuries. It’s an old-fashioned way of life, full of superstition and traditions, and sixteen-year-old Ivy loves it. The other kids at school may think the Glen kids are weird, but Ivy doesn’t care—she has her cousin Heather as her best friend. The two girls share everything with each other—or so Ivy thinks. When Heather goes missing after a May Day celebration, Ivy discovers that both her best friend and her beloved hometown are as full of secrets as the woods that surround them. 

My thoughts:
The May Queen Murders was a little bit backwoods, a little bit superstition, and a whole lot of crazy.

Ivy lives with her family in a farming community called Rowan Glen.  This secluded part of town is very old fashioned and heavy on superstition, but it works for the families that live here.  Outsiders think they are weird and cultish, but the families that stay in the Glen just want a simple life.  They tend to their own look out for one another and stay to themselves.  Nothing wrong with that unless you have a crazy murderer on the loose.

The characters Ivy, Rook and Heather were an okay trio.  I will admit I was a little irritated with Heather and Ivy in the beginning.  I'm over the whole best friend being a horrible friend and Heather was not one of the worst I have ever read, but she's not wonderful by any means.  She was very mean at one point and I just couldn't figure out why Ivy chose to stick with her.  I get being shy I was that girl in school, but after awhile you just have to have enough strength within yourself to say I don't deserve to be treated that way. In the end I understand a bit more about Heather, but I would have liked to have seen a few scenes where Heather and Ivy actually got along.  I think that would have helped me forgive Heather for her behavior.  I needed to see more than just hate on her part instead of just reading about their fun past.

I thought I would love this story, but I'm on the fence about it. I liked the premise, but everything kind of fell apart at the end.  I think the author tried to throw too much into the big reveal and during those last three chapters I just couldn't keep up with what was going on.  I had suspicions early on and while I did guess some of them I didn't guess them all because the author chose to have several crazy endings.  It all unraveled really quickly and I feel kinda let down.  I wish the author would have stuck with one ending and picked only one direction for the big climax.  As it is I am left wondering why she chose to throw so much at her readers.  Okay I'm trying to explain this without spoilers...if you really don't want to know things about the book stop here!  If you are okay knowing a few things then keep reading =)
I think I can safely tell you there were three different endings that took place. I honestly think each ending was strong enough to have held the book up on it's own.  I of course preferred one, but I would have been okay even if that one wasn't the one picked. I just wish there had just been one.  After I finished reading the small town looking out for each other felt like a sham because there was so much corruption with all three stories!  I was so confused for awhile I had to put the book down just to reorganize my brain. It was all just too much.

This story was dark I will say that and that part I liked.  I honestly think I liked this until the ending.  It was a bit slow, but the build up was great.  Adding in the farming town was a nice touch and added something spooky.  I really think I would have given this one 4-5 stars of that ending hadn't of happened.  I keep going back to this in my head and I can't let it go.  There was one part in the end that I LOVED.  It was twisted and dark and I really wish the author would have stayed in that direction.  It felt very unresolved and I'm unhappy about it.  I wanted more from that part of the story because in that instance it felt like a true thriller.

I'm going with 3.5 stars because I did like the darkness that hung over this story.  It was unique and different and I loved the glimpse of thriller I got at the end.

3.5 snowflakes

 

Review & Giveaway: Some of the Parts by Hannah Barnaby

Some of the Parts by Hannah Barnaby 

Published: February 16, 2016

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

Purchase Links:  Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble

Sometimes bad things happen, and we are not the same when they are over.

For months, Tallie McGovern has been coping with the death of her older brother the only way she knows how: by smiling bravely and pretending that she's okay. She’s managed to fool her friends, her parents, and her teachers so far, yet she can’t even say his name out loud: “N—” is as far as she can go. But when Tallie comes across a letter in the mail, it only takes two words to crack the careful façade she’s built around herself:

ORGAN DONOR.

Two words that had apparently been checked off on her brother’s driver’s license; two words that her parents knew about—and never confided to her. All at once, everything Tallie thought she understood about her brother’s death feels like a lie. And although a part of her knows he’s gone forever, another part of her wonders if finding the letter might be a sign. That if she can just track down the people on the other end of those two words, it might somehow bring him back.

Hannah Barnaby’s deeply moving novel asks questions there are no easy answers to as it follows a family struggling to pick up the pieces, and a girl determined to find the brother she wasn’t ready to let go of. 

My Thoughts

“Maybe this is the ultimate puzzle. Maybe, knowing there are pieces of Nate still in the world, I can find a way to fix what I did.”
A heartfelt story about loss, grief and the road to recovery. Some of the Parts by Hannah Barnaby sacrifices no expense at sharing a poignant story about a girl who tirelessly searches for ways to recover from the death of her brother.

Tallie McGovern lives is very different life than six months prior. She’s working at a job that requires little engagement from her. Her friends are no longer a part of her life, and mostly importantly she attends a grief counseling group at school to attempt to find ways to recover from the lose of her older brother.

The accident that took Nate’s life plagues Tallie with an overwhelming guilt because she was driving the car the day it happened. Then, months after that horrific event, Tallie comes across a correspondence that reveals her brother’s organs were donate the day he died. That leads Tallie on a quest, with the help of Chase, to find the organ recipients in an attempt to put the pieces of Nate together and find some comfort in knowing a part of him is still out there.

Throughout the story, I had to keep reminding myself that Tallie was young, grief stricken and well young… Some of her choices would have bothered me if she were older, wiser and in a different frame of mind. For example, I struggled with the lies and deceit that got her through the day, such as going through her dad’s history browser, reading her mom’s journal, skipping class, falsifying who she was to the possible donor recipients and doctors, and pretty much disregarding the two people who really cared about her. I found it ironic that she was upset her father read her email when Tallie was guilty of much worse.

There was a part of the story that I felt was conveniently dropped, and it revolves around her newly acquired friend Mel who has odd interests, such as welding old pieces of farm equipment into dangers sculptures, abstract paintings, and taxidermy. She’s different, but the reason Tallie gravitates to her is because Mel is the only one that doesn’t treat her differently. However, Mel’s true self was never fully explored. She shared something at the end with Tallie (view spoiler) that felt unresolved. I would have liked to see this fleshed out a bit more.

Overall, this story explores the grief of a sibling that harbors intense sadness and guilt over the death of her brother. I appreciated the messages explored throughout the novel. Emotional story…

3.5 Snowflakes

If this sounds like a book you might enjoy, I'm giving away a hardback copy of Some of the Parts by Hannah Barnaby.  Simply fill out the Rafflecopter and share a thoughtful comment. Entries will be reviewed for comments.  Open to US Residents only.

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Review: After the Woods by Kim Savage

After the Woods by Kim Savage
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Release Date: Feb 23rd, 2016
Purchase: Amazon

Would you risk your life to save your best friend?

Julia did. When a paroled predator attacked Liv in the woods, Julia fought back and got caught. Liv ran, leaving Julia in the woods for a terrifying 48 hours that she remembers only in flashbacks. One year later, Liv seems bent on self-destruction, starving herself, doing drugs, and hooking up with a violent new boyfriend. A dead girl turns up in those same woods, and Julia’s memories resurface alongside clues unearthed by an ambitious reporter that link the girl to Julia’s abductor. As the devastating truth becomes clear, Julia realizes that after the woods was just the beginning. 

My Thoughts:
After the Woods is a thrilling creeptastic ride that showed me just how crazy people can really be.

The synopsis does a fantastic job setting up the story.  The book starts out showing us what happened in the woods that day with Julia and Liv, but as you can guess we don't know everything and man was this book explosive.

I think my favorite part of this book was the atmosphere that Kim Savage has created.  This setting was creepy from the get go and that darkness continued throughout the story in so many ways.  It almost felt like a sinister shadow was following each and every character and I promise I could feel it in my fingers while holding this book.  This to me was genius!  I loved this and I didn't want to put this book down!

The only thing that truly bothered me was the ending. After so much build up I expected an explosion, but that's not what happened.  Things become very clear to the reader, but I think a certain character got off a little too easily.  I think Julia deserved more after what she did for this person and it just didn't feel right to me.  I liked Julia and I thought she was a super strong character, but she needed more closure from these horrific events.

Other than the ending I truly enjoyed this book.  I even liked the romance!  It felt a bit rushed, but that's not uncommon amoung YA books and in this one I actually totally bought it.  If you are looking for a super suspenseful kidnapping story with a huge twist this is for you!  I can't wait to see what Kim Savage comes up with next!

3.5 snowflakes

Review: The Ward by Jordana Frankel

The Ward by Jordana Frankel
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Publication Date: April 30, 2013
Amazon  B&N

Sixteen-year-old Ren is a daredevil mobile racer who will risk everything to survive in the Ward, what remains of a water-logged Manhattan. To save her sister, who is suffering from a deadly illness thought to be caused by years of pollution, Ren accepts a secret mission from the government: to search for a freshwater source in the Ward, with the hope of it leading to a cure. However, she never expects that her search will lead to dangerous encounters with a passionate young scientist; a web of deceit and lies; and an earth-shattering mystery that’s lurking deep beneath the water’s rippling surface. Jordana Frankel’s ambitious debut novel and the first in a two-book series, The Ward is arresting, cinematic, and thrilling—perfect for fans of Scott Westerfeld or Ann Aguirre.

 My Thoughts...

Combined unique elements give this a fresh Dystopian feel. Ren is a racer in the Ward, a district that is suffering from illness and a lack of clean "fresh" water. It isn't an easy place to live, nor is it easy for Ren to gain acceptance by the "guys" in the racing arena. One mistake lands Ren into a precarious situation, one that also makes her realize she cares for her friend turned sister more than herself and she will do whatever she has to do to make sure she gets the treatment to make her better.

It took me a minute to adjust to the protagonists lingo. Words like "fresh" instead of saying clean water, and a few others. Actually, I found it a little annoying and distracted me from the flow of the story. The picture painted was interesting and unique. Not a fan of car racing, I did enjoy the uniqueness of these races, bouncing from one rooftop to another, using water pressure and other elements to change it up.

This story is packed with action, romantic elements, deception, and mystery. I'd say this story is mostly action with a small percentage of romance. With Ren being more of a tomboy, I had hoped she found a guy who not only made her feel pretty, but enhanced her feminism. She certainly was a character with a tough exterior and took a beating not only physically, but emotionally as well. This was a good read and by the end I felt that I liked Ren a lot more than I had throughout the first 3/4 of the book.

The secondary characters were pretty cool. I had a slight bookish crush on her Bookie...can't lie. Even though he had a mysterious edge, I could tell he had feelings for Ren. Then there's the Scientist....he turned up to be an awesome character and one that I really liked, but yet, not enough for me to want him and Ren together.

She seemed to always land herself in predicaments that had a ripple effect, causing more grief or an added layer of frustrating obstacles. The cure for which Ren and the Scientist worked hard for was pretty clever I thought. She plays a major roll in the turnover in the health of not just her sister, but for all the people in the Ward. Loved the ending!  The symbol of the copper penny was pretty cool in my book, and I loved how the doormat was covered with them at the end. I know this seems like gibberish to those of you who haven't yet read this, but seriously was struck giddy with a smile by it.

Overall, I liked The Ward. I found it to be unique and pretty darn interesting. If you give it a go, be prepared for lots of action and an ending that will make you smile.

3.5 Snowflakes

Review: Hellraisers (The Devil's Engine #1) by Alexander Gordon Smith

Hellraisers (The Devil's Engine #1) by Alexander Gordon Smith
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Release Date: December 1st 2015
Purchase: Amazon

From the author of the Escape from Furnace series, an explosive new horror trilogy about an ordinary American kid caught up in an invisible war against the very worst enemy imaginable.

There is a machine from the darkest parts of history, concealed in an impossible location, that can make any wish come true, and the only price you have to pay is your soul. Known as the Devil’s Engine, this device powers a brutal war between good and evil that will decide the fate of every living thing on Earth. When a 16-year-old asthmatic kid named Marlow Green unwittingly rescues an ass-kicking secret soldier from a demonic attack in the middle of his Staten Island neighborhood, he finds himself following her into a centuries-old conflict between a group of mysterious protectors and the legions of the Devil himself. Faced with superpowers, monsters, machine guns, and a lot worse, Marlow knows it's going to be a breathless ride—and not just because he’s lost his inhaler along the way.

My Thoughts:
This book is a great example of why I still finish every book I start.  I've always had this problem and I've tried to stop, but then I pick up a book like this one and realize if I had stopped at 50 pages or so I would have seriously missed out.  Is this book great...no but by the end it did grabbed me and the story line is pretty interesting so I'm glad I didn't put it down.

In the beginning, we the reader stay pretty much in the dark about what's going on in this world that Smith has created.  At first I was okay with this because the story starts off really action packed and had a lot of adrenaline coursing through the words.  At one point I felt like I was in some crazy Transformers from hell movie!  After awhile though I just wanted to know what was going on. Contracts, Engines, souls, demons it all just didn't make sense and after 100 pages something should make sense.  This was why I almost put the book down.  I didn't get enough in the beginning to pull me in even though there was so much action.

Pan is who kept me reading.  She is one bad a$$ character and I just wanted to see what she would do next.  I wish the book would have been told in just her POV.  The flipping back and forth got to be a tad confusing and I didn't like reading Marlow's thoughts as much.  His constant thoughts on his asthma got to be annoying and he wasn't a strong enough character for me.  He started out strong, but as the story went on we learn really quickly that he is just a coward and runs from everything.  He does try and make this up by the end, but even with that I still wasn't connected to him like I was Pan. She was interesting from the get go and like I said the reason why I kept reading. 

The story really took off after we learn about the Engine and the world that's been created.  This happens in the last third of the book and for some this will be too late.  I wish the author would have moved things around because the ending was so explosive and actually had me on the edge of my seat, but people won't get to this point if they aren't captivated from the get go.  I hope more people are like me and will refuse to put down a book because this world is unique and one that I think a lot of people will find interesting.

One thing though if you don't like gore turn away mow.  Things really got icky at the end and I even had to take a moment or two while I was reading.  It was gore galore and the visuals I got were just down right gross.  So be prepared if you decide to read this.  You can of course skip over the grossness, but A what's the fun in that and B you will miss some things so just read with one eye open.

All in all like I said I did enjoy this.  I liked the cast of characters (minus Marlow which is shame because he's a main character), I enjoyed the unique story line and am interested to see where it is going, and I liked the lack of romance.  Yes there is one brewing, but the world is the main focus which is just what I like in my reads these days. 

3.5 snowflakes

Blog Tour Review: Placebo Junkies

Today on WinterHaven Books I am participating in the blog tour for Placebo Junkies by J.C. Carleson hosted buy the publisher.

Placebo Junkies by J.C. Carleson
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Release Date: October 27th, 2015
Purchase: Amazon

Going Bovine meets Trainspotting in this gritty portrait of at-risk teens gaming the prescription drug trial system.

Meet Audie: Professional lab rat. Guinea pig. Serial human test subject. For Audie and her friends, “volunteering” for pharmaceutical drug trials means a quick fix and easy cash.
Sure, there’s the occasional nasty side effect, but Audie’s got things under control. If Monday’s pill causes a rash, Tuesday’s ointment usually clears it right up. Wednesday’s injection soothes the sting from Tuesday’s “cure,” and Thursday’s procedure makes her forget all about Wednesday’s headache. By the time Friday rolls around, there’s plenty of cash in hand and perhaps even a slot in a government-funded psilocybin study, because WEEKEND!

But the best fix of all is her boyfriend, Dylan, whose terminal illness just makes them even more compatible. He’s turning eighteen soon, so Audie is saving up to make it an unforgettable birthday. That means more drug trials than ever before, but Dylan is worth it.
No pain, no gain, Audie tells herself as the pills wear away at her body and mind. No pain, no gain, she repeats as her grip on reality starts to slide….

Raw and irreverent, Placebo Junkies will captivate readers until the very end, when author J. C. Carleson leans in for a final twist of the knife.

My Thoughts:
This book made me feel like I was on one of the trial drugs Audie was taking.  It was crazy and just not at all what I was expecting, but it you it kinda worked.

I will say first that the synopsis is a little misleading.  I totally get why, but I'm sort of shocked that this book is being promoted as a drug trial volunteer taking things too far for her terminally ill boyfriend.  What this book is actually about is so much more intense, so much darker, and so complex.  I think that's why it worked for me, I really fell into the story halfway through when things started to change for Audie and I just couldn't put the book down.  I'm drawn to all things dark and really things don't get much darker than this.  The little glimpses we get throughout the story from a certain persons point of view were just bone chilling and I found myself hoping after each chapter that there would be more. 

I think the story itself was an interesting one.  I can't say I have ever read one like this before which automatically puts it in a fun category, but what really stood out for me was the whole drug trial money making scheme.  I never really thought about all this and after reading Audie's journey I am left wanting to know more about this trial thing.  Do people really do this for a living??  I think in the next few days I will more than likely look into this subject more because I am so intrigued.  When I book makes me want to do research I know I have found a unique read and it's awesome!

The one thing that did bother me a tad was that by the end of the story I felt like there was a certain agenda trying to be thrown at me.  It wasn't too heavy handed but I felt it there in the shadows.  The author gives us a side note at the end saying this wasn't her intention, but I still felt it nevertheless.  I think that should have been left out.  We get to see how terrible these drug trials are for most people without the added few scenes at the end and that was enough for me.  I mean we have all heard the commercials listing millions of horrific symptoms so I didn't really need to hear the campaign against pharmaceutical companies.  I think the message was loud and clear from the get go and so I wish the author would have focused more on wrapping up this dark tale.

All in all I actually really liked this one. It took me for a dark and strange loop, but it totally worked in the context of the story.  I felt for Audie and her predicament and I have to say I love how she went out in a blaze of glory.  No that is not a spoiler I promise, if you read this you will get it I promise. 

Placebo Junkies is for contemporary fans but also for the readers like me that need a side of dark and creepy with their contemporaries.  It will grab you I promise and make you wonder what Audie will do next!

3.5 snowflakes

About the Author:

 J.C. Carleson never intended to be an author. Although she was always a proficient writer of term papers, reports, and other necessary but mundane documents, she didn't consider herself cut out for the creative life.
Nearly a decade as an officer in the CIA's clandestine service changed that.
With her head now brimming with stories of intrigue, scandal, and exotic locales, Carleson was finally ready to give writing a shot. Her fiction and non-fiction works alike tap into her unique experiences, drawing readers into the highly charged, real world of espionage.

 Website / Goodreads / Twitter

 

Review: Drowning Is Inevitable by Shalanda Stanley

Drowning is Inevitable by Shalanda Stanley
Expected publication: September 8th 2015
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

Olivia has spent her whole life struggling to escape her dead mother’s shadow. But when her father can’t even look at her because Olivia reminds him of her mother, and her grandmother mistakenly calls her “Lillian,”  shaking a reputation she didn’t ask for is next to impossible. Olivia is used to leaning on her best friend, Jamie; her handsome but hot-tempered boyfriend, Max; and their wild-child friend, Maggie, for the reality check that her small Louisiana town can’t provide. But when a terrible fight between Jamie and his father turns deadly, all Olivia can think to do is grab her friends and run.

In a flash, Olivia, Jamie, Max, and Maggie become fugitives on the back roads of Louisiana. They’re headed to New Orleans, where they hope to find a solution to an unfixable problem. But with their faces displayed on all the news stations, their journey becomes a harrowing game of hide-and-seek from the police—and so-called allies, who just might be the real enemy.

Shalanda Stanley’s breathtaking debut novel explores the deep ties between legacy, loyalty, and love, even as it asks the question: How far would you go to save a friend?

My Thoughts

I must start this review by saying that I was extremely excited about reading Drowning is Inevitable and that my expectations were EXTREMELY high. Now that I have read it, I can say that though it did not quite fill my expectations, it was a solid debut that will I will remember for a while, maybe not for the story itself, but for the way it was written.

Olivia's mother Lillian killed herself just days after Olivia was born. Living in a little town has meant that Olivia has always grown in the shadow of her mother's decision. Her is like a ticking clock and people are dying to see whether her life will be as short as her mothers. Throughout her first almost 18 years old life, her father has been mostly absent, still too hurt to spend time with a physical memory of what he lost when Lillian died. Her grandmother is present, but thinks that Olivia is Lillian. Thus, Olivia's friends Jamie and Maggie and her on/off boyfriend Max have become her real family and support group. ¨

Jamie has his own problems, mainly his alcoholic and violent father. One night, Jamie finally acts against his father and the events turn deadly. In a blink of an eye. Jamie, Olivia, Maggie and Max before fugitives and they flee to New Orleans in search of a solution for their unexpected situation. There they are faced with the artistic scene, Maggie's druggie mother and difficult decisions regarding their futures.

The premise of the novel is extremely interesting and the way the story is introduced to the reader instantly caught my attention. The fact that Olivia, defined by others through the actions of her mother, gets her own voice was something I was really interested to read about, and throughout the novel, Olivia's voice, especially her inner thoughts, was one of the most interesting aspects of Stanley's debut. Once the characters reach New Orleans, I started to feel like occasionally the author had attempted to put too much in. The events turn very action packed at points, and for me, that kind of ruined the atmosphere of the book, at least for a while.

Though the pacing of the story could have been better, Drowning is Inevitable definitely deserves praise for the way it has been written. Stanley's prose is beautifully constructed, at parts lyrical, and parts melancholy. Getting a look inside Olivia's mind allows the reader to feel emotions ranging from joy to complete sadness and confusion. At points, both the subject and especially Olivia's thoughts are extremely morbid, which might not be for everyone, but which definitely fits into the overall tone of the novel.

The way Stanley writes friendships is done interestingly. The relationship between Olivia and Jamie is very codependent, which, at the moment of them being in danger, turns Olivia's future pretty grim.
What Olivia shares with Max is very different, partly due to the element of romance between the two.

Though the novel, in general, is very dark for most of its duration, there are glimpses of hope here and there. Despite the fact that the story itself was bit of a disappointment, mostly due to some poor pacing decisions, the way Stanley expresses herself and tells the story of these characters through writing is definitely worth a read.

3.5 snowflakes

Review: Blood and Salt by Kim Liggett

Blood and Salt by Kim Liggett
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's and Sons Books for Young Readers
Release Date: September 22nd, 2015
Purchase: Amazon

Romeo and Juliet meets Children of the Corn in this one-of-a-kind romantic horror.

“When you fall in love, you will carve out your heart and throw it into the deepest ocean. You will be all in—blood and salt.”

These are the last words Ash Larkin hears before her mother returns to the spiritual commune she escaped long ago. But when Ash follows her to Quivira, Kansas, something sinister and ancient waits among the rustling cornstalks of this village lost to time.

Ash is plagued by memories of her ancestor, Katia, which harken back to the town’s history of unrequited love and murder, alchemy and immortality. Charming traditions soon give way to a string of gruesome deaths, and Ash feels drawn to Dane, a forbidden boy with secrets of his own.

As the community prepares for a ceremony five hundred years in the making, Ash must fight not only to save her mother, but herself—and discover the truth about Quivira before it’s too late. Before she’s all in—blood and salt.

My Thoughts:
This book surprised me.  When I sat down to read it I grabbed my favorite blanket, a mug of hot tea, and settled in for a creepy ride.  Maybe I have just read too many creepy books as of late and my creep threshold is starting to change, but this one didn't creep me out like I expected.  Now if I read this in the middle of a cornfield I might think different, but I wasn't so the thriller part didn't scare me.  I was so shocked because that cover I mean creepy right??  Well I was shocked and I said something surprised me so can you guess what it was?  Let me tell you because I don't think you'll ever guess what it was especially from me!

I know I am beating a dead horse when I say everyone knows I am not a romance kinda girl these days so I was very surprised when the romance in Blood and Salt actually grabbed me.  Yes it is filled with instalurve and all things YA these days, but and this is a big but I kinda got it this time.  Ash and Dane were your normal YA couple, but it was way more intense than most books.  This intensity came from the backstory of this book and that I really liked.   Their bond was a lot of physical attraction, a little deception, a little blood, and a whole lot of craziness that exploded at the end.  I don't mind reading instalurve when things hit the fan at the end.  Makes my inner crazy go woohooo!!!!

I wasn't prepared for what was thrown at me and I felt like I had been thrown against a wall multiple times throughout the story.  I was all prepared for cornfields and blood (that first chapter is a doozy) and when things changed to immortality, cults, and history I was like WHAT???  This was not something I was prepared for and maybe that was a good thing.  I have been picking my books carefully as of late and I don't know if I would have picked this up if I had known what lie ahead.  I am super glad I didn't know because this story is super fun and one I definitely want a sequel to.

I think this story could have been creepy if the author chose to make it so.  She had everything she needed for it to be that way cornfields,  blood, a tied up dead girl appearing everywhere, a cult, and crazy insane rituals.  I'm really curious where this story would have gone if the author would have stayed on that path.  I liked where she went though so I can't complain even if my mind is still going wait I want creepy!  I liked the vengeful immortals and the star crossed lovers bit with a bit of blood thrown in.  It kinda fit pretty well actually.

I also liked the characters and Ash and Dane didn't bother me.  I think some of that has to do with the ending, but that's okay.  If I can walk away from a book liking a character I can forgive them if they bugged me early on.  The only one who puzzled me was Rhys.  I liked his character in the beginning and then he really took a strange turn in the last fourth of the book.  He is 50% of why I want a sequel.  I think he is my dark and creepy story and I want it!

So if you are looking for a creepy read this really isn't it at least it wasn't for me.  It does have a nice mix of blood and goosebumps, but really this story is about a centuries old feud.  I have to give the author credit because I really liked the backstory she wove in.  The flashbacks and other characters really made this one come alive for me and even though I wasn't creeped out I was totally captivated and that makes this book a success for me.

3.5 snowflakes

Review: Mechanica by Betsy Cornwall

Mechanicaby Betsy Cornwell
Expected publication: August 25th 2015
by Clarion Books 

 Nicolette’s awful stepsisters call her “Mechanica” to demean her, but the nickname fits: she learned to be an inventor at her mother’s knee. Her mom is gone now, though, and the Steps have turned her into a servant in her own home. But on her sixteenth birthday, Nicolette discovers a secret workshop in the cellar and begins to dare to imagine a new life for herself. Could the mysterious books and tools hidden there—and the mechanical menagerie, led by a tiny metal horse named Jules—be the key to escaping her dreary existence? With a technological exposition and royal ball on the horizon, the timing might just be perfect for Nicolette to earn her freedom at last. Gorgeous prose and themes of social justice and family shine in this richly imagined Cinderella retelling about an indomitable inventor who finds her prince . . . but realizes she doesn't want a fairy tale happy ending after all.

My Thoughts

This is a solid 3.5 for sure. I thought Mechanica was a sweet take on Cinderella with some pretty amazing steampunk elements mixed in which just added to the allure of the story.

This story follows young Nicolette or Nick as her step sister have deemed her. She came from a loving home with her father and her talented mother who used to create animatronic creatures to sell in town. Nick's mother was an extremely talented woman who always was hard on her only because she wanted her to succeed. There is also a strained dynamic taking place between the humans and the fae. The relationship always seemed bit tense but then blew up completely after the murder of the beloved queen with some fae disease at fault. This began the outlaws of all fae and their magic which was what Nick's mother used to create her creations.When her mother died from the same illness as the queen the story line broke my heart. Nick and her mother had such a special bond. You could really feel the loss of the mother in Nick losing her fae attachments as well. It was like everything she has ever known and loved was slowly being taken away from her. Nick simply is existing in her deep despair and her step mother and evil sisters step in a slowly force her into servitude in her own home. Nick is at a loss when she get a letter from her mother and is able to access her secret work room. This changes her life since she is now able to create what she loves. She even had a new friend in her mother's creations. Nick makes the bold decision to attend the technological exposition. She wants to blow the world away with what her and her mother have created. This is the story line I loved. Nick is confident and bold and so very smart.

Then things go a bit mediocre for me. She is introduced to a young boy and girl named Cara and Finn at the local market where nick is trying to earn some capital for her invention. The story takes some seriously odd turns at this point which I was not really a fan of. There is a principal theme that i did enjoy though. In the story it is made known that the fae families are not related like regular humans but choose whom they want their family to be through friendship and caring for one another. If a group of fae love each other and decide to have a child, it is born from that love. The moral of the story being that family is whom you choose it to be. I really liked that message but I felt it was distracted from a bit.

Anyhow this is sure to be a sweet, heart warming read for all fantasy lovers. Despite my tiny problem with the later part of the book, I still enjoyed it immensely and will look forward to more in the series.

3.5 Snowflakes

Review: Kissing in America by Margo Rabb

Kissing in America by Margo Rabb
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: May 26th, 2015
Purchase: Amazon

In the two years since her father died, sixteen-year-old Eva has found comfort in reading romance novels—118 of them, to be exact—to dull the pain of her loss that’s still so present. Her romantic fantasies become a reality when she meets Will, who seems to truly understand Eva’s grief. Unfortunately, after Eva falls head-over-heels for him, he picks up and moves to California without any warning. Not wanting to lose the only person who has been able to pull her out of sadness—and, perhaps, her shot at real love—Eva and her best friend, Annie, concoct a plan to travel to the west coast to see Will again. As they road trip across America, Eva and Annie confront the complex truth about love.

In this honest and emotional journey that National Book Award finalist Sara Zarr calls “gorgeous, funny, and joyous,” readers will experience the highs of infatuation and the lows of heartache as Eva contends with love in all of its forms.

My Thoughts:
A road-trip novel about friendship, first loves, family and self-discovery - what else could you ask for?

It has been two years since Eva's father died in a tragic accident. Her mother has shut down and is not willing to talk about what happened to Eva's father. To escape her reality, Eva has found romance novels - reading about the adventures of cowboys and their lovers allows Eva to forget her own problems for a while. When Eva meets Will, a popular boy from her school, she thinks that she has finally found her own romantic story, until Will informs that he will be moving to California to live with his father. In order to spend more time with Will, Eva talks her best friend Annie into a plan that would take them to the West Coast and off they go to a road trip that will not only change their friendship, but also the ways they understand family and love.

As I started this novel and read the first couple of chapters, I was not quite sure if I could keep on reading. The moment Will is introduced, Eva enters into a vortex of instalove. After a couple of hangouts, she is sure that she is in love with Will. As someone who definitely does not believe in the "love at first sight" concept, I always have a hard time reading about these characters who declare they love someone without really knowing the other person. Yes, I do say that I love certain people without knowing them, but those people are usually celebrities and I am pretty sure that if I actually knew that, I would not love the majority of them so much as I do now.

Because of this instalove, I was surprisingly happy when Will actually took off to California, because I knew that now Eva would have to actually think about her feelings for Will. As she takes off to California, she is first nauseatingly in love with Will (I guess the word "puppy love" could be used here), but the closer she gets to California, the more she starts to realize that real life is not like a romance novel.

I liked Eva as a character. There definitely is character growth involved when it comes to Eva, because while at the beginning I felt that she was a bit annoying, especially with the instalove stuff, towards the end she was actually someone I liked and was able to identify with to some extent. Eva has gone through a lot with her father's death, and because of the nature of his passing, she still is not quite sure what happened to her father just before he took his final breath.

I never felt anything towards Will. Yes, he is able to relate with Eva's loss and Eva is able to talk to him, but I constantly felt like Will is not quite as serious about what's between them as Eva is. Will seems experienced in love, definitely at least more experienced than Eva, and I could not help thinking that to some extent, Will does not quite understand the consequences of his actions.

As the girls get closer to California, Kissing in America starts to, fortunately, focus more on different kind of love than romantic love - a love between mother and a daughter. I love my mom to death and I always love to read about mothers and daughter who, despite differences in opinion, love each other. The death of Eva's father put a drift between Eva and her mother, and the road-trip in some way works as a way for them to work out their problems and to connect again. They are both strong personalities with strong opinions and it was fascinating to read about their relationship and the problems they face.

The way Margo Rabb writes the friendship between Eva and Annie was quite realistic and enjoyable. Eva and Annie are very different type of people, but I think Rabb is able to create a connection that makes it clear to the reader why these two people are such good friends. Eva particularly makes mistakes and does not always think about the feelings of Annie, but I feel like she is able to see her mistakes and learn from them. And most importantly, she is not afraid to say she's sorry.

Despite the difficult beginning (instalove), Kissing in America is an interesting and touching road trip story about a set of friends, first love and family. If you are taking a road trip this summer, I definitely recommend adding this to your road trip TBR. Also, this book would be perfect pick for mother-daughter book clubs because of the very realistic and problematic mother-daughter relationship of the novel.

Three and a half snowflakes

Review. Interview, & Giveaway: They Call Me Alexandra Gastone by T. A. Maclagan

Today on WinterHaven Books we have the amazing T.A. Maclagan with us!  She is stopping by to answer a few of my questions about her latest book and there is also a really fun contest and giveaway that you won't want to miss!  

1. How much research did you do before writing your novel?
I’ve always been a huge fan of spy books, both fiction and nonfiction, so in a way, I’ve been researching for the book most of my teen and adult life!

2. I would have loved to have known more about Milena's family, will we get to see more of them in the next book?
Yes! The next book is very much a family affair! The reader will be introduced to Milena’s enigmatic father, who is definitely not going to be winning father of the year.

3. Can you tell us anything about Milena's mom? I'm extremely curious about her connection to Perun.
Wow. Such a hard question. You’re very intuitive. All I can say is that Milena’s mom’s relationship to Perun is a central aspect of the sequel. No one is who they first appear to be

4. Whose character was the hardest to write?
Lex was probably the hardest to write. As a spy for the “other side” it took some trial and error to make her both likable and believable as a character. In some of my earlier versions she came across as too distant from Grant and Albert.

5. Are you Team Grant or Team Varos? I have to say I am torn!!
I have to say that I’m a bit torn as well. They are both good for her in their own ways. I probably lean toward being team Grant, just because Grant is so my sort of guy. I love the sporty geek types. That said, I’m not sure Lex is the right girl for him. I’m still working through my feelings on Lex’s romantic life

6. What can you tell us about the sequel?
The plan is for a duology, so readers will only have to wait for one more book before all their questions about Lex and Perun are answered. The sequel, if all goes according to plan, should be out next year. Expect lots of twists and turns and some very big reveals! Lex and the reader are in for a ride.

I am so excited for the sequel! Especially after reading these answers!  I just want to know more and it looks like I will get my wish yay!

T.A. thanks so much for stopping by, it's been amazing working with you!

About the Author

T.A. Maclagan is a Kansas girl by birth but now lives in the bush-clad hills of Wellington, New Zealand with her Kiwi husband, son and four pampered cats. With a bachelor’s degree in biology and a Ph.D. in anthropology, she’s studied poison dart frogs in the rainforests of Costa Rica, howler monkeys in Panama and the very exotic and always elusive American farmer. It was as she was writing her ‘just the facts’ dissertation that T.A. felt the call to pursue something more imaginative and discovered a passion for creative writing. They Call Me Alexandra Gastone is her first novel.

You can find her online at:

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Tumblr / Pinterest

They Call Me Alexandra Gastone by T. A. Maclagan
Publisher: Full Fathom Five Digital
Release Date: May 20th, 2015
Purchase: Amazon / B&N / iTunes / Kobo

When your life is a lie, how do you know what’s real?

Alexandra Gastone has a simple plan: graduate high school, get into Princeton, work for the CIA, and serve her great nation.

She was told the plan back when her name was Milena Rokva, back before the real Alexandra and her family were killed in a car crash.

Milena was trained to be a sleeper agent by Perun, a clandestine organization from her true homeland of Olissa. There, Milena learned everything she needed to infiltrate the life of CIA analyst Albert Gastone, Alexandra’s grandfather, and the ranks of America’s top intelligence agency.

For seven years, “Alexandra” has been on standby and life’s been good. Grandpa Albert loves her, and her strategically chosen boyfriend, Grant, is amazing.

But things are about to change. Perun no longer needs her at the CIA in five years’ time. They need her active now.

Between her cover as a high school girl—juggling a homecoming dance, history reports, and an increasingly suspicious boyfriend—and her mission in this high-stakes spy game, the boundaries of her two lives are beginning to blur.

Will she stay true to the country she barely remembers, or has her loyalty shattered along with her identity?

My thoughts:
I have to say I am really loving the whole spy/impersonating story lines that are coming out these days.  This is my second book that has incorporated this into its plot and while I did have a few problems, I still really enjoyed it.

Milena after watching her mom die is enrolled at Perun.  Perun is a school for spies sort of speak and there Milena trains to infiltrate the CIA and report back to her home country, Olissa.  Her first mission is to impersonate Alexandra Gastone and to do this she undergoes plastic surgery and watches countless videos so that she can emulate her. Nobody can know, she must become Alexandra for her country and to avenge her mother.

I really liked the political intrigue that was woven into this story.  I sometimes get lost inside the story and get really confused, but the author did a really great job at explaining things.  She didn't dumb it down for the reader, she took the time to set up her government and I appreciated the extra time and care.  

I am not sure if I buy where the story eventually went though.  I was right with the author up until the last few pages.  I would have liked a little bit more explanation and I think what would have really helped was more back story.  I don't know the why's of Olissa's hatred for the US other than the surface problems and even those were kind of debunked along the way.  I know this is the first book in the series so I am just going to assume the next book will answer my questions.  I'm intrigued so the author did something right that's for sure and I'll definitely pick up the next installment, because I want those answers!

Milena was an interesting character.  I really rooted for her and I did like her, but I did expect more of a bad arse.  After reading all about her training I felt like she didn't quite deliver on her supposed amazing skills.  I'm wondering if the author chose to go this route because she was young and out of practice??  Whatever the reason I wish she had been a bit more aggressive and able to defend herself.  That being said though I did feel for her and I can't imagine what she went through especially at the end after a huge bomb is dropped.  I think she will come into her own in the next book and I have a feeling I will like her even more.

Okay my complaints...1. I would have liked to have known more about Milena's mom and why she was murdered.  This was never explained and I needed that explanation.  This would have solved so much for me and honestly the whole book it was in the back of my mind.  I don't think I missed the explanation because I was hunting for it.  I wanted that and I wanted to know how Milena's family was involved with Perun.  These topics were kind of skirted around and well it bugged me.  2. the romance.  If you have read my reviews lately you know I am not a fan of romance at the moment.  That being said I can always overlook one if it is done right and I just don't think this one was.  I honestly though appreciate the author giving Grant and Milena flaws early on so that the inevitable love triangle won't be so bad.  I know one is coming and I just don't know how I feel about the other guy.  There is an age thing to deal with and we don't really get to see much of him, so I just don't know.  I can see why the romance was needed, but I wish the author would have focused more on back story and let the romance fall by the waste side.

Those are my only complaints and while they sound like big ones they really aren't.  I can get past them because the author did create a fun novel that kept me interested and pining for more.  I have lots of questions and I think the author will definitely deliver with the next installment.

3.5 snowflakes

  Giveaway! 
T.A. is giving away a $15 Amazon gift card to one lucky reader!  Fill out the form below to enter!
Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway 

I also have a fun contest to share!  Here's all the details!

Review: Between Us and the Moon by Rebecca Maizel

Between Us and the Moon by Rebecca Maizel
Release Date: June 30, 2015
Publisher: Harper Teen

A luminous young adult novel that evokes Judy Blume’s Forever for a new generation.

Ever since Sarah was born, she’s lived in the shadow of her beautiful older sister, Scarlett. But this summer on Cape Cod, she’s determined to finally grow up. Then she meets gorgeous college boy Andrew. He sees her as the girl she wants to be. A girl who’s older than she is. A girl like Scarlett.

Before she knows what’s happened, one little lie has transformed into something real. And by the end of August, she might have to choose between falling in love, and finding herself.

Fans of Jenny Han and Stephanie Perkins are destined to fall for this story about how life and love are impossible to predict.

My Thoughts:

Sarah (nicknamed Bean) is used to living in the shadow of her dashing older sister Scarlett. Whereas Scarlet is popular, beautiful and graceful, Bean is used to being regarded as geeky and logical, as someone who is more interested about the gathering of information than socializing with her peers. After Bean gets dumped by her boyfriend for being too logical and for rather watching the world than living in it, she thinks that in order for her to be desirable as a friend or even a romantic interest for someone, she needs to be more like Scarlett. When she travels to Cape Cod with her family for the summer, she devices “Project Scarlett”, an attempt to fit in and to see what is it in Scarlett that makes her so popular and so on demand among her peers.

Though Bean only turns 16 in this novel (which means that she is 8 years younger than me), I would it quite easy to identify with her. She's academically inclined and tends to always take the logical route when it comes to making decisions. She has a tendency to overthink EVERYTHING, which is definitely something I am able to identify and she tends to think that in order for her to be liked by other people, she needs to be something else than she actually is. She is more of a watcher, as someone who studies the way the people around her act, rather than a doer. Between Us and the Moon is a story of her coming to the realization that rather than being someone else, it is okay for her to be just as she is and that for people to like her, she needs to be honest and true to herself and those around her.

Bean's “project Scarlett” proves to be a success when she meets Andrew on the beach. The only problem is that whereas Bean is hardly 16, Andrew is already 19. Thinking that age is just a number, Bean lies that she is 18 and about to start at MIT. As the relationship between the two develops, Bean gets more and more uncomfortable about the fact that she is lying for Andrew. But how can she be honest when she knows that he will probably freak out and leave her. The more time they spend together, the more Bean starts to realize that Andrew really seems to like the real her with the geekiness and all. Though it could be argued that the whole relationship is built on a lie, I felt like the feelings between the two characters were real. Though I was able to understand Bean's decision to keep up with the lie, I was occasionally annoyed by her naivety and her irresponsibility – rather than thinking much about the consequences of the lie for Andrew, she is frequently occupied with thinking how the reveal of the lie would affect her. I think it is with this treatment of the relationship that Bean's young age becomes most evident – she is inexperienced with relationships and in love with someone she knows that probably would discard her if he knew her real age.

The family dynamics of Between Us and the Moon were to some extent even more interesting to read about than the relationship between Bean and Andrew. For most of the time, though her parents love her, it seems like they don't really see the real her – they expect certain type of behavior from her and do not seem to notice the changes that are taken place as a result of “project Scarlett”. The problematic relationship between Bean and Scarlett is interesting, but unfortunately one that is not discovered enough within the novel. For too long, Scarlett seems like the stereotypical mean girl/sister and when she finally is given some depth, it feels like it is too little too late.

Between Us and the Moon is a well written, slow-burning novel that impressed me with character development, especially when it comes to the main character Bean. Within the narrative, she grows from an unsure, naïve and occasionally irresponsible (in relation to Andrew) girl to a young woman capable of embracing her true self and the fact that it is okay for her to be just the way she is. Though I did enjoy the romance between Bean and Andrew, I found myself more attached to Bean and her growth, cheering for her and her development as a character. Despite the fact that Bean annoyed me at points in addition to the slightly unbelievable time Bean is able to keep up with her lie, Between Us and the Moon kept me entertained and really made me look forward to summer.

3.5 Snowflakes