Review: Lock & Mori by Heather W. Petty

Lock & Mori by Heather W. Petty

Publisher-Simon & Schuster Books

Released- Sept 15th 2015

Purchase- Amazon / B & N

In modern-day London, two brilliant high school students—one Sherlock Holmes and a Miss James “Mori” Moriarty—meet. A murder will bring them together. The truth very well might drive them apart.
Before they were mortal enemies, they were much more…
FACT: Someone has been murdered in London’s Regent’s Park. The police have no leads.
FACT: Miss James “Mori” Moriarty and Sherlock “Lock” Holmes should be hitting the books on a school night. Instead, they are out crashing a crime scene.
FACT: Lock has challenged Mori to solve the case before he does. Challenge accepted.
FACT: Despite agreeing to Lock’s one rule—they must share every clue with each other—Mori is keeping secrets.
OBSERVATION: Sometimes you can’t trust the people closest to you with matters of the heart. And after this case, Mori may never trust Lock again.

My Thoughts:

I may not read many books from this genre, but when the mood strikes, there is nothing like a whodunit mystery to keep me well entertained, and I'm happy to say Lock & Mori did just that!

I'm not sure what it is about Sherlock Holmes books, but ever since reading Every Breath by Ellie Marney, I find myself looking for books of it's kind. Heather W. Petty, is a fantastic storyteller who kept this book suspenseful, mysterious and gripping the whole way through. The story starts off with a simple game of  'who can solve the crime first' between Lock and Mori but half way through the book it was already clear who the serial killer was. Now, being this is a mystery book and learning the revelation so soon on would have normally bothered me, but by that point I was already completely absorbed in the separate, heartbreaking, storyline, which was even more disturbing then the horrible murders. I loved the way Petty interlocked the storyline with plot to personal and the inner struggles that both Lock and Mori had to face, it made it more then a simple mystery that had to be solve.

I absolutely adored Lock and Mori. From the moment they met you could feel the tension and chemistry. My favoirte part was watching them observe the clues and learn what the other knows, even in secrets. They have the greatest banter and warm bubbling moments that made me smile. Lock is truly amazing. He's condescending and presumptuous and can be a real pain, but underneath his eccentric behaviour and vast intelligence, he's got a lot of heart.  Mori is also just as wonderful, protective and clever and I hated what she had to go through in this book. Lock and Mori are a perfect match, they understand each other, challenge each other and were a brilliant team.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book. It did have some content that I usually like to stay away from, it wasn't over graphic, but graphic enough to hurt my heart, but this was a story I wont soon forget. Smart, refreshing and thrilling, this was an incredible debut and I can't wait for the next book!

Find the author:

Goodreads / Website                              4 Snowflakes

Review: Shade Me by Jennifer Brown

Shade Me by Jennifer Brown

Publisher- Katherine Tegen Books

Released- Jan 19th 2015

Pre-Order- Amazon / B & N

Nikki Kill does not see the world like everyone else. In her eyes, happiness is pink, sadness is a mixture of brown and green, and lies are gray. Thanks to a rare phenomenon called synesthesia, Nikki’s senses overlap, in a way that both comforts and overwhelms her.Always an outsider, just one ‘D’ shy of flunking out, Nikki’s life is on the fast track to nowhere until the night a mysterious call lights her phone up bright orange—the color of emergencies. It’s the local hospital. They need Nikki to identify a Jane Doe who is barely hanging on to life after a horrible attack.The victim is Peyton Hollis, a popular girl from Nikki’s school who Nikki hardly knows. One thing is clear: Someone wants Peyton dead. But why? And why was Nikki’s cell the only number in Peyton’s phone?As she tries to decipher the strange kaleidoscope of clues, Nikki finds herself thrust into the dark, glittering world of the ultra-rich Hollis family, and drawn towards Peyton’s handsome, never-do-well older brother Dru. While Nikki’s colors seem to help her unravel the puzzle, what she can’t see is that she may be falling into a trap. The only truth she can be sure of is that death is a deep, pulsing crimson.

My Thoughts:

Shade Me, was an interesting whodunit mystery that puts a new spin on your typical thriller. And while this may not be a favorite, it was still entertaining from start to finish. 

Nikki Kill has never been able to fit in, her world isn't exactly like everyone else's. See, Nikki has a rare condition called, Synesthesia. Letters, numbers, objects and even people have a  particular color around them and a particular emotion. So, granted, it was a little hard growing up and hard dealing with school and if that wasn't enough, Nikki also lost her mother when she was little and they were never able to solve her murder. So, Nikki isn't exactly miss popular in school, so why did the most popular girl in school, Peyton Hollis, call Nikki an hour before her attack? Why was she the only contact on her phone and what does this have to do with Nikki Kill?

I have a lot of mixed emotions about this book. First off, I had the hardest time connecting with Nikki. From minute one you can feel the attitude and snark dripping from the pages. I get that she's had a hard life and that her condition and her mothers death has made her into this bitter, jaded, distrusting and frustrated person, but it wasn't easy to watch her constantly push people way. However, I did admire her dedication and determination to find Peyton's attacker and I loved the fact that she can totally handle her own in a kickass and confident way. I also really missed my dose of romance, even a light one. I get this was a mystery and most of the time love takes a back seat, but I guess I just didn't care for the insta-attraction we got instead. It was way to fast and there wasn't enough time for a connection or spark between the characters besides the purple-violet-pulsing-glow between them.

Now, what I did like about this book was the concept and mystery. I thought Jennifer Brown did a great job of driving her protagonist into finding clues in coloured hints. It made it more fascinating and unique then your typical whodunit mystery. I also thought the twist was smart and very unexpected. I wasn't exactly blown away with the revelations of who the attacker was, but I was impressed with the motives behind it.

All in all, I thought Shade Me was a decent read. It was a lighter mystery but still has great edge, intriguing characters and smart writing. The ending doesn't exactly leave us hanging, but there are a few loose ends that need to be cleared up, so I might just have to pick up the sequel when it comes out.  An entertaining escape!

Find the author:

Goodreads / Website                                3.5 Snowflakes

Double Review: Last Year's Mistake by Gina Ciocca

Last Year's Mistake by Gina Ciocca
Release Date: June 9, 2015
Publisher: Simon Pulse

Before:
Kelsey and David became best friends the summer before freshman year and were inseparable ever after. Until the night a misunderstanding turned Kelsey into the school joke, and everything around her crumbled—including her friendship with David. So when Kelsey's parents decided to move away, she couldn't wait to start over and leave the past behind. Except, David wasn't ready to let her go...

After:
Now it's senior year and Kelsey has a new group of friends, genuine popularity, and a hot boyfriend. Her life is perfect. That is, until David's family moves to town and he shakes up everything. Soon old feelings bubble to the surface and threaten to destroy Kelsey's second chance at happiness. The more time she spends with David, the more she realizes she never truly let him go. And maybe she never wants to.

Told in alternating sections, LAST YEAR'S MISTAKE is a charming and romantic debut about loving, leaving, and letting go.

Milka's Thoughts:

At the end of 2014, I listed Ciocca's debut Last Year's Mistake as one of my most anticipated books for 2015, which means that I was extremely excited to start reading it. Unfortunately, it seems like this “most expected” title did not do it for me this time...

Last Year's Mistake introduces us to Kelsey and David. After being friends for years, through misunderstandings and uncomfortable situations, they found themselves drifting apart. Then Kelsey moved away from Connecticut to Rhode Island and thought that her days with David were over. She thought wrong. When David shows up at Rhode Island and at her school, Kelsey's life turns upside down. She's reminded of feelings she had for David over a year ago and she does not know how to fit David into her new life.

I did not like Kelsey at all. Though she desperately tries not to be “one of those girls”, she is self-centered and has a tendency to think that the world revolves around her. She thinks that she is better/superior to the “sluts” and “skanks” David attracts and in general, it feels like she thinks that in comparison to other girls, she is better. I love opinionated characters, but I am not okay with slut shaming. NOT AT ALL. I hate the whole “those girls” vs. “me” comparison, especially when it makes it seem like “those girls” always equal something trashy. The way Kelsey acts and talks makes it very difficult to like her and I hated how the author had brought in issues with Kelsey's health to make her seem more likable, especially after she does not really delve into them but rather just mentions them to someone further divide her from “those girls”.

The relationship between Kelsey and David is fairly interesting at first, but it started to drag very quickly and eventually the whole “will they, won't they” scenario just gets old. The whole dynamic just feels very cliché, filled with silly misunderstandings and predictable twists and turns. In addition, I wasn't a fan of how the dynamic between the two affects people around them, especially the individuals they are in relationships with. By the end, I felt the presence of these characters, especially Kelsey, was so toxic that I did not care anymore what happens to them.

What really made me keep up with this novel was the structure of it with the alternating chapters following the life of Kelsey and David in the past and in the present. Through a structure like this, the reader gets to experience the first meeting between the two and what exactly made them to lose contact. With a structure like this, Ciocca adds context to the story and adds layers to character development. Unfortunately, though the structure was enjoyable for me, the way Kelsey is portrayed both in the past and the present made it very difficult for me to feel anything for her.

I think the main reason I found myself struggling with this novel is Kelsey. I find it so important to establish some sort of connection with the main characters and unfortunately with Kelsey, I did not even want to feel any sort of connection as more and more were revealed of her. Last Year's Mistake clearly wasn't for me, but I think that for a reader who does not interpret Kelsey quite the way I did, it could be a very entertaining contemporary read. So yes, not for me, but maybe hopefully for you?

2 Snowflakes

Tina's Thoughts:

Last Year's Mistake, is told in a before and after alternating chapters as we start off with senior year and Kelsey Crawford's life is just about perfect. Things at home are good, she has real friends and a boyfriend who adores her, but that all changed the minute she saw David Kerrigan walking down the hall at her school. Back up to the summer of freshman year and we see a younger David and Kelsey meeting for the first time at Kelsey's uncle's summerhouse. They become fast friends, best friends for the next three years, that is till something between them changed everything they had and the two haven't spoken to one another in more then a year. Two worlds collide from the past to the present as this story of first love and second chances unfolds. The heart wants what it wants, no matter how much they try to deny it.

Drama, drama drama! Man, this book is crazy with the drama and angst, but you know what? I actually enjoyed this because of it. This is a book that is filled with all kinds of stuff that would have me rolling my eyes and banging my head against the wall. We've got jealousy and head games and hateful and hurtful things said one minute only to go wistfully down memory lane the next. But despite the hot and cold and back and forth and the push and pull and the sole fact that I wanted to shake these characters straight from the minute we meet them, I still have to admit, this was crazy entertaining and I was absolutely compelled to see how everything would play out.

I've always been a huge sucker for best friends-turned-romance and second chance love and man, did Gina Ciocca ever nail that intense, uncomfortable and awkward energy but still manages to bring on the emotional feels and warm moments that pulled at my heart strings. She does such a fantastic job delivering complicated characters in a realistic, exhausting and heartfelt way. It made me remember that, this is what first love felt like. This is the stuff that makes young love what it is. It's messy and flawed and its tied up with moments of stupid mistakes, haunting regrets, the uncertain heart and the intangible what if's. It's twisted and unsure, crazy and perfect all wrapped up in one giant pulsing bleeding heart.

I really enjoyed all of these characters. They were easy to relate to and connect with, even if they did manage to frustrate me half the time.

Kelsey and David are great individually but stronger together. But dame if they didn't give the reader a helluva time. I loved seeing their history leap off the pages and I was so anxious to see where it all went wrong cause Kelsey and David were some solid besties that knew each other better then anyone and were there for one another in good times and bad. Seeing them now in senior year wasn't always easy, but weather they were ignoring it, fighting it or hiding it, they still had some of the best sizzling chemistry evah. Granted they had there share of issues and not with just each other but I couldn't help root for them throughout the story and love the sweeter and warmer moments that made my heart flip and grin a stupid grin. I also liked the secondary characters as well. Ryan was indeed an ass, but I liked that he always treated Kelsey like gold. You could tell he really did love her. I though Violet was a bit of a flake but Candy and Matt were good people and I loved what Kelsey's family and David's dad brought to the storyline.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book. It does have it's ups and downs, but I love how realistically it portrays the high school years and teenage trouble. This brought me back to my younger days and reminded me that even then, love is worth fighting for especially at it's messiest moments. A great debut and a fun escape. I look forward to seeing more from this talented author.

Find the author:
Goodreads / Twitter                              4 Snowflakes

 

Review: Faking Normal by Courtney C. Stevens

Faking Normal by Courtney C. Stevens
Publisher-Harper Collins
Released- Feb 25th 2014
Pre-Order- Amazon / B & N

An edgy, realistic, and utterly captivating novel from an exciting new voice in teen fiction.Alexi Littrell hasn't told anyone what happened to her over the summer. Ashamed and embarrassed, she hides in her closet and compulsively scratches the back of her neck, trying to make the outside hurt more than the inside does.When Bodee Lennox, the quiet and awkward boy next door, comes to live with the Littrells, Alexi discovers an unlikely friend in "the Kool-Aid Kid," who has secrets of his own. As they lean on each other for support, Alexi gives him the strength to deal with his past, and Bodee helps her find the courage to finally face the truth.A searing, poignant book, Faking Normal is the extraordinary debut novel from an exciting new author-Courtney C. Stevens

My Thoughts:
Faking Normal is a heartbreaking story about a girl named Alexi who is going through the phases of life and pretending that what happened during the summer doesn't matter, but inside she’s dies a little everyday and has the scars on her neck to prove it. Who would have thought that the boy everyone refers to as the 'Kool-Aid Kid', would be the only person who became the constant in her life, and while Bodee has his own family heartaches, they still manage to find something in each other they didn't even know they needed. Strength.

I was very surprised how much I enjoyed this book. The first time I read the blurb, I didn't really see this as a ‘me’ escape since I tend to stay away from heavy hearted books that usually makes me feel depressed or mournful. But for some reason this book didn't make me feel like that come the end. It’s an emotional raw read, but it’s also full of hope, love and friendship and even had a few scenes that made me genuinely smile.

This may be Stevens’ first novel, but her writing is so comfortable it made me feel like I've been reading her books forever. Her writing has a way of getting under my skin and makes me think, but in a way that doesn't make me feel overly sad. Yes, it’s a sad story, but amazingly enough it doesn't read like one.

I really liked everyone of these characters, or well, almost all of them. They are all very sharply developed and easy to like and connect with.

Lexi is a great protagonist. I thought it was very brave of her that even though she went through this terrible ordeal, she still puts on a happy face with her friends and her family, but I hated what this shameful secret was doing to her inside. It took real courage to face her demons, but it’s still good  to see that even though she’s been faking normal for so long, that she was still looking for normal at the same time. The whole Captain Lyrics was really very sweet and very touching and it gave the readers, as well as Lexi, something to look forward to with the mystery of it all. I really loved who it turned out to be.

While this is mostly Lexi’s story, Bodee really owned this book for me. He’s never been the most popular kid and he has sort of a bad rep but I loved that he had this he-is-who-he-is attitude. After what happened with his parents, he too has been dealing with his own demons, and yet, he still manages to be Lexi’s constant rock no matter what. Lexi and Bodee are two broken pieces, but they don’t try to really fix each other, instead they’re just there, together supporting and caring and somehow making each other whole.

I also liked Lexi’s friends but I couldn't stand Kayla for pretty much the entire book, and thought she was a nasty selfish sister who only thought about herself and her messed up relationship, but I’m glad that she had the right reaction come the end. I wasn't really sure of how she would react, so I felt relieved that she didn't disappoint.

I liked the ending but it felt like something was missing. It ended on a hopeful note, but for some reason it still had that up-in-the air feeling and I wanted a little more closure for both Lexi and Bodee’s situation.

All in all, I was really impressed with this book. It’s heartbreaking and emotionally charged, but it’s also very moving and touching and sweet in very unexpected ways. A brilliant debut. I look forward to reading more of Stevens books in the future.

Find the author:

Goodreads / Website                             4 Snowflakes

Review: Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge

Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge
Publisher-Balzer + Bray
Released-Jan 28th 2014
Pre-Order- Amazon / B & N

Since birth, Nyx has been betrothed to the evil ruler of her kingdom-all because of a foolish bargain struck by her father. And since birth, she has been in training to kill him.With no choice but to fulfill her duty, Nyx resents her family for never trying to save her and hates herself for wanting to escape her fate. Still, on her seventeenth birthday, Nyx abandons everything she's ever known to marry the all-powerful, immortal Ignifex. Her plan? Seduce him, destroy his enchanted castle, and break the nine-hundred-year-old curse he put on her people.But Ignifex is not at all what Nyx expected. The strangely charming lord beguiles her, and his castle-a shifting maze of magical rooms-enthralls her.As Nyx searches for a way to free her homeland by uncovering Ignifex's secrets, she finds herself unwillingly drawn to him. Even if she could bring herself to love her sworn enemy, how can she refuse her duty to kill him? With time running out, Nyx must decide what is more important: the future of her kingdom, or the man she was never supposed to love.

My Thoughts: 
Well, this was different.

Cruel Beauty is by far one of the most bewildering and strangely enchanting fairytale I've ever read. This was a book that I was very excited for. Just look at that cover! Plus, I also love fairytales and Beauty and the Beast is a classic and a favorite. Only…this one felt a little too outlandish for my taste. What was supposed to be a retelling of sorts ended up mostly being about the mythology and fantasy elements that were entwined within these pages. I’m usual a pretty open reader and can go with just about anything and while I like the idea of combining genres, this one sadly didn't seem to work the way I hoped and ended up feeling scattered and overwhelming to process.

I had a hard time connecting with a lot of these characters. I felt their actions and thoughts were going everywhere and nowhere at once.

Nyx Triskelion, was probably the most conflicting character I have ever read. She had a twisted inner battle between right and wrong, want and need happening throughout the entire novel which made me want to shake her straight a few times and demand she make up her confounded mind. I could understand where she’s coming from and even sympathize with the situation she’s in. It’s not fair that she was chosen to end the darkness surrounding her kingdom and her resentment, hatred and hostility was even justified, but with her every repetitive wicked thought she became more bitter and selfish. She is not a happy character and her constant complaining, hot and cold demeanor and back and forth inner banter throughout the entire novel proves just that.

The Gentle Lord, had his moments where we can see the true demon he is but shows some compassion, if only just a glimpse. This was a character that I was at least interested in continuing to learn about and I felt he was slightly better developed. He may be a monster who acts in monstrous ways, but his story and curse goes deeper, which is where the mythology comes into play and I found myself intrigued by his back-story.

The love story for this particular novel is very strange. I’m not even sure I can call this romance since it reads like toxic more then anything else. I’m all for insta-love in books, but this is one time where it just wasn't believable nor likable, even in a fairytale setting. I’ll give the love triangle between Ignifex and Shade points for unique, but it was oddly approached, way too abrupt, forced and felt very awkward given the situation.

With that said, this may not have been a story that worked for me, but this is probably just me. The writing is strong and stunningly passionate and I have to give props to Hodge’s imaginative vision in her fairytale retelling with a mythology and fantasy edge that will surely entertain readers who are looking for something fresh, bold and at times, even compelling. I just wish I could have loved this one.

Find the author:
Goodreads / Website                                2.5 Snowflakes

    

Review: The Promise of Amazing by Robin Constantine

The Promise of Amazing

by Robin Constantine

Publisher- Balzer + Bray

Released- Dec 31st 2013

Pre-Order- Amazon / B & N

Wren Caswell is average. Ranked in the middle of her class at Sacred Heart, she’s not popular, but not a social misfit. Wren is the quiet, “good” girl who's always done what she's supposed to—only now in her junior year, this passive strategy is backfiring. She wants to change, but doesn’t know how.Grayson Barrett was the king of St. Gabe’s. Star of the lacrosse team, top of his class, on a fast track to a brilliant future—until he was expelled for being a “term paper pimp.” Now Gray is in a downward spiral and needs to change, but doesn’t know how.
One fateful night their paths cross when Wren, working at her family’s Arthurian-themed catering hall, performs the Heimlich on Gray as he chokes on a cocktail weenie, saving his life literally and figuratively. What follows is the complicated, awkward, hilarious, and tender tale of two teens shedding their pasts, figuring out who they are—and falling in love.

My Thoughts:

The Promise of Amazing was one of my most anticipated books. That cover alone screams; Adorable, read me! But at last, I just couldn't love this one.

Our story begins with Wren Caswell who is an average shy girl that wants a bigger life, but doesn't think that she can actually have one. Her family owns a reception hall called the Camelot and it's there that she unexpectedly saved the life of a boy who was chocking. Grayson Barrett. Thus begins a very rushed and somewhat confusing relationship between the two.

First off, I want to make it clear that I didn't hate this book, the story has a lot of promise, but it just didn't quite deliver the qualities I like in my contemporary escape. The writing however, is something I did really enjoy. Robin Constantine has a fun, fresh and natural style that sparks up the dialog in ways that gives these characters a clear tone in both personality and attitude. 

Now plot wise, the beginning of the story was strong, but then it went into a different direction giving it that feeling of going everywhere and nowhere at once. Wren is worried about college life and overwhelmed about her future. She has a good family, good friends who are all understanding and supportive. Her heart has been broken once before and while she's over it, it still hurts. But then everything about Wren kinda stopped when she met Grayson and then everything just became all about him.

Personally, I don't see the attraction. Yes, Grayson can be charming, but he's also kinda an ass. He has a lot of issues that would normally make any girl think twice about getting involved. I'm all for renewing your life, learning from your mistakes and wanting a second chance, but I had a hard time believing that Grayson suddenly wanted to change his wicked ways cause a girl that he doesn't even know, saved him from chocking. I get that he's grateful, but it felt like he was using this life changing experience as a wake-up call and decided to fall in love with the person who did the waking. At this point I was all for giving him a chance to prove himself worthy, and yet, he ends up playing the same games. He could have walked away from that whole 'Operation Amsterdam', but instead he became this spineless cowardly guy who got pushed by his so called friend. Then he made a rather ugly move by giving Wren a gift that wasn't actually his to give away. Not cool peeps. Basically, besides his looks, he doesn't have very much going for him and his long string of mistakes made him very hard to like.

The relationship was rushed into an insta-love and while I normally don't mind stories like that, this one didn't have those ground breaking moments that made it believable or swoon-worthy. The ending also felt way to convenient. Wren just up and decides that Grayson's past doesn't matter and all is forgiven and for kicks comes up with a plan to help Grayson get even, which quite frankly doesn't really add up with Wren's personality and made her feel out of character. The nail on the coffin was that we even have Grayson and Luke make amends and go their separate ways, which, I'm sorry, I thought was total bullshit for all the crap Luke put them through.

Bottom line, sadly I couldn't love this one the way I wanted to, but it may be just me. The writing is smart and terrific and I liked the other characters in this book, but unfortunately our main male lead is a little to flawed for my taste and I didn't understand the connection between him and Wren. Still, I really enjoyed Constantine's style and look forward to reading more of her books in the future.

Find the author:

Goodreads / Website                                2.5 Snowflakes 

Review: In The After by Demitria Lunetta

In The After by Demitria Lunetta
Publisher- Harpter Teen
Release-June 25th 2013
Purchase-Amazon / B& N / Chapters

They hear the most silent of footsteps.They are faster than anything you've ever seen.And They won't stop chasing you...until you are dead.Amy is watching TV when it happens, when the world is attacked by Them. These vile creatures are rapidly devouring mankind. Most of the population is overtaken, but Amy manages to escape—and even rescue “Baby,” a toddler left behind in the chaos. Marooned in Amy’s house, the girls do everything they can to survive—and avoid Them at all costs.After years of hiding, they are miraculously rescued and taken to New Hope, a colony of survivors living in a former government research compound. While at first the colony seems like a dream with plenty of food, safety, and shelter, New Hope slowly reveals that it is far from ideal. And Amy soon realizes that unless things change, she’ll lose Baby—and much more.

My Thoughts:
"This is how I think of time: the past is Before and the present is the After. Before was reality; the After a nightmare."

It happened on a Saturday. Amy was just watching T.V when it happened. The world was under attack, being eaten alive by alien-zombie like creatures who hunt and devour human flesh. Amy couldn't leave her home for thee weeks. Fourteen-years old and all alone in a world terrorized by monsters. But Amy learns to survive. Learns that these creatures are noise and light sensitive. They move during the day, better to see their prey. So Amy learns how to live in darkness, alone and in a world without sound. But when she stumbles on a little girl no more then three years old, she begins to feel alive again. Baby is her reason and the only thing keeping her sanity. 3 years later they are both rescued and brought to New Hope. A fresh start. A place to begin again, only Amy begins to question the safe haven. Who are the real monsters here? The humans or the aliens....?

I've always loved survival/sc-fi stories. It's both scary and fascinating. I'm drawn to how one would go about living in a world at it's very end. Testing the human emotion, condition and how it effects spirit. Demitria Lunetta does really well with capturing desperation and the strength and weaknesses in humans. Giving up, fighting back, letting go and dare to hope again. In the After is a creepy thrilling post-apocalyptic story filled with monsters and madness that will leave readers on the very edge of their seats.

Funny enough when I think of all the characters in this book only two really seem to jump out. That would be Amy and Baby. They have such a sweet and tender connection. In a crumbling world it's hard to find anything really worth fighting for, specially when everyone you know has died. I liked that these two found each other, despite the age difference. I liked how they found their own way to communicate. It made it feel more personal and even drives the point of what kind of world they've been reduced to. They made the journey captivating till the very end. Rice was another character that I liked, but he had very little screen time that I couldn't quite connect with him the way I wanted to. Something I hope Lunetta changes in the next book.

The creatures are creatively written and pretty freaky my friends. The yellow fangs and droopy green skin. Unmerciful animals who don't bother waiting for their prey to die before being devoured whole. I liked that they move during the day instead of the night. It was refreshingly different compared to other reads.

New Hope, at first glance, is a safe haven to those who survived. A place to start over, to educate and learn how to be apart of a dying world. A place to rise above, a new civilization for when humans reclaim the earth. But once we get further in the establishment, we see that things aren't what they seem. Reality becomes fuzzy and everyone seems like they're tripping over themselves. Guarding a well kept secret, controlling, calculating and very suspicious. I wasn't expecting this kind of environment. I thought it would be more relaxed, a place to learn to live again for Amy and Baby. 

But it's the twist that really made this book for me. I never would have guessed it. I mean, I knew something was up, but I wouldn't have predicted what we got. Lunetta does a really good job concealing the obvious till she's ready to let us in. This really was such an unfair brutal twist of fate.

All in all, I thought this was a cunningly entertaining debut. The writing is consuming, it's characters are heartfelt and the concept, while not entire original, still leaves a lasting impression in the world of apocalyptic reads. 

I'm looking forward to seeing where Lunettta takes us next!

Find the author:

Goodreads / Website

                                                                 4 Snowflakes

Review: Levitating Las Vegas by Jennifer Echols

Levitating Las Vegas by Jennifer Echols 

Publisher-Pocket Star

Release-May 6th 2013

Pre-Order-Amazon / B & N

Nothing up her sleeves...or so she’s been led to believe.Showgirl Holly Starr is sick and tired of assisting her dad, a celebrity magician, in his Las Vegas casino magic show. As soon as he keeps his promise to her and shares the secrets to his tricks, she can break out on her own. But can she really make it? For years Holly has taken medication to stave off crazy hallucinations that she can levitate objects. Just when she thinks she’s ready to make a career and a life for herself, her medicine—and her luck—run out.Elijah Brown suffers from a similar delusion—that he can read minds—and he’s out of medicine too. Determined to save himself and his old flame Holly, he kidnaps her and takes her straight to the source, a town high in the Rockies where their medicine is made. What they discover there leads them to suspect their powers are not imaginary after all...and neither is the intense attraction they feel for each other.They make a pact to stick together as they return to Vegas to confront the people who kept them in the dark so long. But soon they’re pitting their powers against each other in a dangerous world where the nightlife is seductive, domination is addictive, the sex is beyond belief...and falling in love is murder.

My Thoughts:
I've been a fan of Jennifer Echols since I read her book, Going To Far and have been following her work ever since. I notice that she usually writes two kinds of escapes. One I refer to as her fluff-n-stuff books. Light, sweet, romantic contemporary and then we have her more edgy stuff that's a little more intense, raw and, for me, favored. But this book would be the first paranormal we got from Echols as well as her first New Adult. Before reading this, I heard it was a bit odd, but after reading it, I think it's not so much as odd then just something totally unexpected and out of the box for fans who already know what to expect when reaching for Echols latest release. In a nut shell? This is very different then anything I've read from her before and if I'm being honest, I'm not exactly sure how I feel about it. On one hand, I liked that it was unpredictable and that the characters kept me on my toes the entire read. But on the other hand, I think it was a tad overly bizarre and even frustrating at times.

Holly and Elijah have liked each other since they were in ninth grade, but the night that they agreed to go to prom together, their parents put a sudden end to it. That moment triggered such a strong emotion in both of them that they started to do things that weren't normal, but magical. That's when they were told that they had an illness called MAD (mental adolescent dysfunction) and were put on medication to cure their illusions, but was it really a cure? Or was it to curve their very real natural magical talents? 

The general story line is pretty cool when I think about it. Magic has always been one of my favorite genres and Echols tackles it like a weapon and with gritty seduction. But I think it's these characters I feel mostly conflicted by.

I liked Holly and I liked Elijah...and that's about it. Okay, I also liked Shane, but as for everyone else? It felt like they were all just a bunch of controlling liars who play people like puppets. I was really upset with Holly's parents the most. I don't know why, but overbearingly protective parents in books is kind of a pet peeve of mine to begin with, but in this book they were trying to tell their grown daughter what to do and who to date and it was very frustrating. It bothered me what Kaylee was doing to Shane throughout the entire book and Rob was just the biggest jerk ever and I was mad at what he got away with in the end. But I really enjoyed what Holly and Elijah brought into this book. They had some really sweet moments and a couple odd heated ones as well.

I really enjoyed the magical aspect in this book and liked the twist in the story line. Holly and Elijah's magical talents tended to get in the way of their emotions, but once they figured out what was real it became it's very own...sensation. But we also see a more addicting, dangerous and manipulative side to magic. Something that Echols explores in this book with a much darker force then I expected. 

This one definitely had it's moments and even though it wasn't a favorite and may not be for everyone, overall I thought Levitating Las Vegas was fresh and wonderfully weird and it turned out to be a an entertaining and fun experience. New Adult is the new boom these days and I'm glad that Jennifer Echols decided to try her hand in this genre. I can only imagine what's in store for us in the future from this very talented author and I look forward to seeing her explore this new flavor.

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                                                                   3.5 Snowflakes 

Review: Prophecy by Ellen Oh

Prophecy by Ellen Oh
Released-Jan 2nd 2013
Published-Harper Teen
Purchase- Amazon / B & N

The greatest warrior in all of the Seven Kingdoms... is a girl with yellow eyes.Kira’s the only female in the king’s army, and the prince’s bodyguard. She’s a demon slayer and an outcast, hated by nearly everyone in her home city of Hansong. And, she’s their only hope...Murdered kings and discovered traitors point to a demon invasion, sending Kira on the run with the young prince. He may be the savior predicted in the Dragon King Prophecy, but the missing treasure of myth may be the true key. With only the guidance of the cryptic prophecy, Kira must battle demon soldiers, evil shaman, and the Demon Lord himself to find what was once lost and raise a prince into a king.

My Thoughts:

Kira is a seventeen year old girl, the first cousin to the young prince and his bodyguard and also the Kings secret Demon Slayer. She is hated and feared for her fierce yellow eyes and while she's a girl, fights like a male warrior. The people of Hansong believe that demons have not possessed the city for ten long years, but they will never know that Kira and her tiger-spirited talents has kept them safe all this time. When a sinister plot has taken over the kingdom, Kira must protect her young cousin from harms way so the prophecy can rightly be fulfilled. 

Prophecy is a smart and clever fantasy that may be targeted for young adults but has a middle grade quality to it. I'm not sure if it's the fact that I'm use to reading more intense and fantastical high fantasy books that has profound depth or if there is a certain spark that was missing from this debut novel, but never the less, while this book did indeed have it's moments, in the end it turned out to be an okay read.

There are many elements that I enjoyed about this book. I liked the story line very much. It's has it's fill of action, that funny enough actually reminds me a little bit of the anime's; Naruto, Bleach, Soul Eater and even a little Inuyasha. Not to say that Ellen Oh took specific qualities from those shows, just that it reminded me of them while reading, which made this somehow more entertaining. I also found the history and culture of the city and it's people to be interesting and well researched and then we have the magical aspects and demonic lore which ties well with fantasy/paranormal genres that fans will surely enjoy. The characters were well written and the writing is also well done.

However, while I may believe this book has a lot of potential for a first book in a planned trilogy, I wasn't overly wowed by it. I usually find pacing difficult to delivery in fantasy reads, it has to flow just right for it to grab the reader and then carry them through every twist and turn. Unfortunately this book tended to drop me off here and there and then come back to find me later. I was interested, but I can't say I was interested the entire time.

All in all, Prophecy is a decent read. It has a wonderful historical, fantasy and paranormal combination and a very intriguing concept. I may not have loved this the way I wanted to, but I liked the way it ended and am looking forward to seeing what Ellen Oh comes up for the next book.

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Goodreads/ Website                                  

                                                                  3.5 snowflakes 

Review: What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang

 

What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang
Publisher: Harper
Release Date: Sept 18, 2012 
Pre order: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Eva and Addie started out the same way as everyone else—two souls woven together in one body, taking turns controlling their movements as they learned how to walk, how to sing, how to dance. But as they grew, so did the worried whispers. Why aren’t they settling? Why isn’t one of them fading? The doctors ran tests, the neighbors shied away, and their parents begged for more time. Finally Addie was pronounced healthy and Eva was declared gone. Except, she wasn’t…

For the past three years, Eva has clung to the remnants of her life. Only Addie knows she’s still there, trapped inside their body. Then one day, they discover there may be a way for Eva to move again. The risks are unimaginable hybrids are considered a threat to society, so if they are caught, Addie and Eva will be locked away with the others. And yet…for a chance to smile, to twirl, to speak, Eva will do anything.

 
First let me say that I really really liked the whole idea of this book.  Two souls in one body, one dominate one recessive, one will stay one must leave by the time a child reaches an early age.  This doesn’t always happen and sometimes both souls stay which is the case with Addie and Eva.  They have learned to hide Eva away from seeing eyes because letting her out would mean hospitals and being shunned by the community.  See Hybrids, or souls who have not settled, are not allowed and when one is found they are swept away to “help” correct the problem.  Addie and Eva know this so for the past 3 years they have kept quiet and stayed away from attention.  All this becomes unraveled after meeting Hally, a girl in school who is more than they ever thought.
So sounds good right??!  I really like the whole story and plot.  It was inventive and in the beginning very creepy.  I think the author did a brilliant job letting us have Eva’s POV.  She was the recessive soul that should have disappeared but instead fought against nature and stayed inside Addie’s mind.  It showed a whole other side to Addie and I think the story works really well this way.  Ryan and Hally were great additions to the story also that I would have liked to have seen more of.  I wish the author would have shown the training sessions between Eva and Ryan, I think it would have been easier for me to buy their romance if those scenes were shown. 
My problem with this story was that there wasn’t enough action and interaction with the characters.  I felt like they were in one spot too long without anything really happening.  Like I said I loved the beginning, but towards the middle the story just stopped moving.  I wanted to see Eva and Ryan interact more, more action in the “hospital”, and more conversations between everybody.  If more scenes like that were thrown in I can guarantee that this would have been a 5 star rating for me.  As is though I can’t give it more than 3.5.  I am definitely going to read the sequel because I really want to know what happens with all the Hybrids. I am hoping that there is way more action and that the whole romance thing is better developed.  I am a little worried about the romance with both Eva and Addie being in the same body, but I have faith in the author that she will make it believeable and swoon worthy.
                                                                     3.5 stars
                                                      

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