Review: Made for You by Melissa Marr

Made for You by Melissa Marr
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: September 16th, 2014
Purchase: Amazon

Bestselling author of the Wicked Lovely books Melissa Marr’s first contemporary YA novel is a twisted southern gothic tale of obsession, romance, and murder. A killer is obsessed with Eva Tilling. Can she stop him, or will he claim her?

When Eva Tilling wakes up in the hospital, she’s confused—who in her sleepy little North Carolina town could have hit her with their car? And why? But before she can consider the question, she finds that she’s awoken with a strange new skill: the ability to foresee people’s deaths when they touch her. While she is recovering from the hit-and-run, Nate, an old flame, reappears, and the two must traverse their rocky past as they figure out how to use Eva’s power to keep her friends—and themselves—alive. But while Eva and Nate grow closer, the killer grows increasingly frantic in his attempt to get to Eva.

For the first time, New York Times bestselling author Melissa Marr has applied her extraordinary talent to contemporary realism. Chilling twists, unrequited obsession, and high-stakes romance drive this Gothic, racy thriller—a story of small-town oppression and salvation. Melissa’s fans, and every YA reader, will find its wild ride enthralling.

My thoughts:
I love Melissa Marr.  She is by far one of my favorite authors and I know every time I pick up one of her books I will be in love with it.  Made for You is another great addition to her growing line up and I am so so glad I got the chance to read this one.

Made for You is creepy and I mean CREEPY!  I was on the edge of my seat the entire time while I read this and man was it amazing!  We have Eva who is just trying to get through high school without stepping on any Southern toes and her group of friends who are too wrapped up in the Southern ways.  Throughout the story we learn that certain people are acceptable to date while others are not because of their status in society. This plays a part in several places throughout the story and sets up the stage for our stalker.

This stalker really puts the S in stalker.  I thought Marr did an amazing job at showing just how off their rocker they really were.  Sometimes I find it hard to believe backstories, but this one was just crazy and I could really see the truth in it. Especially with certain current events taking place these days.  I won't say more because I don't want to give anything away, but I can guarantee if you read this you will see what I mean.

The only part that threw me was the death vision stuff.  Every time that part would come up I felt like it just didn't fit.  I kept thinking why is this in here!  The story doesn't need it!  But I stand corrected.  Marr uses this storyline beautifully and by the end I understood why Eva needed these death visions.  I am curious to know if there will be a sequel since Eva does have these abilities and I can definitely see a potential for more stories.

One more thing I have to talk about is the whole parental role. Again Melissa Marr is amazing and finally shows what parents are for.  Were Eva's parents there for her in the beginning, no.  But they more than made up for that and it shows readers the YA can have parents in them.  I have had so many problems with this in the past and I know why parents are usually left out, but it just bothers me.  Marr does such a great job bringing Eva's parents into the story, but she still kept Eva strong and independent.  Loved loved loved this.  Do I want parents in every book no not at all, but they should have a place in more than they do and this book is a great example of how they can be woven in.

I think this is my first official stalker YA book that I have loved and I just want more!  The whole story fit to me and even though I was super shocked at who the villain turned out to be I still think it was brilliant! Marr did a wonderful job setting up her thriller to be believeable and it was definitely a job well done!

4.5 snowflakes

Review: Magonia by Maria Dahvana Headley

Magonia by Maria Dahvana HeadleyExpected publication: April 28th 2015 by HarperCollins

Neil Gaiman’s Stardust meets John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars in this fantasy about a girl caught between two worlds…two races…and two destinies.
Aza Ray is drowning in thin air. Since she was a baby, Aza has suffered from a mysterious lung disease that makes it ever harder for her to breathe, to speak—to live. So when Aza catches a glimpse of a ship in the sky, her family chalks it up to a cruel side effect of her medication. But Aza doesn’t think this is a hallucination. She can hear someone on the ship calling her name. Only her best friend, Jason, listens. Jason, who’s always been there. Jason, for whom she might have more-than-friendly feelings. But before Aza can consider that thrilling idea, something goes terribly wrong. Aza is lost to our world—and found, by another. Magonia. Above the clouds, in a land of trading ships, Aza is not the weak and dying thing she was. In Magonia, she can breathe for the first time. Better, she has immense power—and as she navigates her new life, she discovers that war is coming. Magonia and Earth are on the cusp of a reckoning. And in Aza’s hands lies the fate of the whole of humanity—including the boy who loves her. Where do her loyalties lie?

My thoughts

I like my books with some straight nonsensical magic in them and this book suited my tastes just fine. The grandiose world reminded me of a cross between Alice in Wonderland and Peter Pan. The premise was completely unique as was the style of Maria's prose. If you like books that are a bit off kilter this one is so for you. The best part are the carefully woven truths hidden within the works of fiction. I googles Magonia (cause I'm as curious as a cat) and was amazed at the lore I discovered. 

Aza Ray was a brilliant character. She was smart and funny and she was also dying. There were quite a few times I was in tears with certain scenes with Aza's family. They do so much to try to help her manage and stay positive. I had to put the book down a few times simply because I couldn't read past my crocodile tears. Let's get back to the funny, witty Aza. I was in like with her from this paragraph on.

"Yes, I'm a reader. Kill me. I could tell you I was raised in a library and the books were my only friends, but I didn't do that did I? Because I have mercy. I'm neither genius nor a kid destined to become a wizard. I'm just me. I read stuff. Books are not my only friends, but we're friendly. So there."

e-arc loc. 180

Maria did a great job of creating Aza's inner monologue. She was able to create every nuance imaginable for a dying girl who was walking toward her death with dignity and strength. Then the proverbial stuff hits the fan. 

There are ships in the sky and birds everywhere and then Aza leaves her life she knew behind to board one of these ships. Well she was actually captured while she was dying but the result is the same. This is where things took a turn for the weird....and the awesome. There was the Magonians themselves who were blue skinned and the Rostrae who were a human/bird hybrid. This was my favorite part, the magical system of the world. The way the ships moved and came close the Earth's surface are tied to bizarre weather patterns such as crazy hail storms or acid rain. These are created by squallwhales. Whale like creatures who glide along beside the Magonian ships to create storms to disguise them from human eyes. That is just the tip of the iceberg since there is so much more detail involved. I could prattle on for an hour. Then there was the magic of their songs. It allowed them to do things such as man the ship and clean things and even sings ENTIRE NEBULAS INTO EXISTENCE! Aza discovers she has the most power of them all but she is so new to this world she doesn't know who to trust or what to do. She must learn to trust herself or destroy the world at someone elses hand. 

With magical prose to compliment the world, Headley's debut is sure to please fantasy lovers everywhere.

4 Snowflakes

Review: Forbidden by Kimberley Griffiths Little

Forbidden by Kimberley Griffiths Little
Publisher: Harpercollins
Release Date: Nivenmber 4, 2014
Purchase: Amazon / B&N

In the unforgiving Mesopotamian desert where Jayden’s tribe lives, betrothal celebrations abound, and tonight it is Jayden’s turn to be honored. But while this union with Horeb, the son of her tribe’s leader, will bring a life of riches and restore her family’s position within the tribe, it will come at the price of Jayden’s heart.

Then a shadowy boy from the Southern Lands appears. Handsome and mysterious, Kadesh fills Jayden’s heart with a passion she never knew possible. But with Horeb’s increasingly violent threats haunting Jayden’s every move, she knows she must find a way to escape—or die trying.

With a forbidden romance blossoming in her heart and her family’s survival on the line, Jayden must embark on a deadly journey to save the ones she loves—and find a true love for herself.

Set against the brilliant backdrop of the sprawling desert, the story of Jayden and Kadesh will leave readers absolutely breathless as they defy the odds and risk it all to be together 

My Thoughts:
I had been waiting to read Forbidden for a while and I was pleasantly surprised by it. Desert Gypsies come to mind when I think of this book.

Jayden’s betrothal ceremony to Horeb was right around the corner. Her sister, Leila was engaged to Zenos, who was supposed to be their future tribe leader, but he died, which made his brother Horeb (the horrible, as I dubbed him) the next Nephish tribal leader.

Jayden was reluctant and scared, as anyone would be if you were forced to marry someone you didn’t love. But her mother insisted, and it was her duty to their family and tribe. The desert was harsh and the obstacles the small group faced was nothing compared to the grief Jayden felt when she had to rely on someone to take care of her newborn sister after her mother’s death.  Horeb’s true colors shown through when Jayden asked for his help and he turned his back on her, and instantly I knew we had a bad guy in the making.

Their tribe was to travel across the desert to this other location where they would stay and then eventually travel back. It was the way of their tribe. I couldn’t imagine traveling on a camel caravan through the desert. Dust, filth, dry, humid...no thanks!

As the tribe moved forward, Jayden begged another woman (Dinah) in the tribe to help nourish her baby sister until she could find other means. The way this woman handled the situation was just horrible!! Jayden promised her mother on her deathbed she would take care of her baby sister. She made many sacrifices to see she lived, despite her gut feeling to never let her out of her sight.

Jayden is so loyal and honest, and berothed to a man who is evil. Her sister Leila craved a different life, even though it was against what she was brought up to consider. Along the way, Jayden runs into a mysterious Kadesh, who’s mysterious, kind, and intelligent, and stole Jayden’s heart along the journey to catch up with their tribe at the oasis.

Horeb sensed there was an attraction between the two and would stop at nothing to get what he wanted.

Jayden’s family had fallen apart, her world turned upside down, and she had to rely on hope and promises to pull herself together to move forward.

I could never live my life as a desert girl. Moving constantly, traveling by camel and covered in dust. Throughout this story, Jayden grew strength and a will to carry on, show bravery when life was at its worst, and make heart wrenching decisions.

Her character was believable and was easily to adapt to. She had courage and strength when most would have thrown in the towel. Kadesh was like a dream guy. Says the right things, is honorable, and I really, really, really liked him. He could easily fill a spot on the “Book Boyfriend Roster.”

This story is full of creative imaginings, dance, action, courage, and a sweet romance that won me over.

4 Snowflakes

Review: Sea of Shadows by Kelley Armstrong

Sea of Shadows by Kelley Armstrong
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: April 8th, 2014
Purchase: Amazon / B& N

In the Forest of the Dead, where the empire’s worst criminals are exiled, twin sisters Moria and Ashyn are charged with a dangerous task. For they are the Keeper and the Seeker, and each year they must quiet the enraged souls of the damned.

Only this year, the souls will not be quieted.

Ambushed and separated by an ancient evil, the sisters’ journey to find each other sends them far from the only home they’ve ever known. Accompanied by a stubborn imperial guard and a dashing condemned thief, the girls cross a once-empty wasteland, now filled with reawakened monsters of legend, as they travel to warn the emperor. But a terrible secret awaits them at court—one that will alter the balance of their world forever.

My Thoughts:
I am a huge fan of Kelley Armstrong and Sea of Shadows is another wonderful addition to my Armstrong shelf.  With strong female leads, two heroic warriors, and monsters behind every corner this book gives us a strong tale that left me begging for more.

I really don't know why I don't read more fantasy.  I usually really enjoy them and Sea of Shadows is proof of that.  I loved this book. It was fast paced and I promise I jumped in my seat at least 10 times.  I never knew what was behind the door and man can this author create some badies.  If this is ever made into a movie I will surly watch it, but I will have to have my head half hidden in a blanket!  Don't get me wrong though I loved every single second of this!

Moria and Ashyn are twins and their role in their village is a complicated one.  Since they are twins and have passed the Keeper/Seeker tests when they were babies they each play a significant role and must abide by several rules.  Ashyn and Moria love their titles and their first priority is to their village.  When tragedy strikes during Ashyn's first mission into the Forest of the Dead everything changes and these two sisters must save their village from the what was once only legend.

See sounds amazing right??!!  This story really intrigued me and I really enjoyed the world that Armstrong created.  It wasn't too complicated which I appreciated and it was just overall interesting.  I really liked the beast bond these two had as well.  Since they were the Keeper/Seeker they got to have a beast bond with either an immoral wildcat or hound.  I'm so attached to these two animals that I will have to have my blanket handy for the next installment just incase the author decides to do something drastic.  I'm really hoping that she doesn't but I have learned that Kelley Armstrong will hold nothing back.

The characters were just amazing.  I think this is one of the rare occasions where I really and truly liked each and every one.  Ashyn needs a little toughing up, but since her sister is tough as nails I can over look it.  It helps that we get POVs from both sisters also. It helps break up the tough as nails story from the emotional one.  Sometimes its nice to have both in a story and Ashyn and Moria were perfect as the POVs.  The boys were just as great in my opinion.  There is a romance here but they both are very slow moving and were not by any means developed by the end of the story.  One even has a bomb dropped before anything can happen and I am left with a NOOOOO scream!  I hope that this isn't what it seems. *crosses fingers*

The one and only thing that made me drop a star from this review is the falling down.  In almost every chapter someone fell down.  It got to the point where I wanted to scream at the characters to watch were they were going.  It was way too much and I wish that had been edited out.  Especially for Moria.  She is supposed to a badarse and I didn't buy that she would fall down so much.  It made her and her sister seem clumsy which they shouldn't have been.  Other than that though I really enjoyed this book and I am very much looking forward to the sequel!

4 snowflakes

Valentine's Giveaway & Sneak Peek: CONFESSIONS OF A SECRET ADMIRER: A Valentine's Day Anthology

       Some secrets are meant to be revealed…

Or so you’ll discover, in three sexy, unforgettable Valentine’s Day stories from New York Times & USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Ryan and contemporary romance stars Candis Terry and Jennifer Seasons.

Waiting for You by Jennifer Ryan

Rancher Grant Devane has waited for Taylor Larson’s return to Fallbrook for more than ten years. Now that the fearless beauty has come home on her terms, he’ll do anything and everything necessary to win back her heart.

Sweet Fortune by Candis Terry

Sarah Randall is tired of being invisible to the opposite sex. So when a leap of faith sends her to Sweet, Texas, and into the path of ridiculously hot Deputy Brady Bennett, she’s determined to catch his eye … even if it means staying hidden just a little bit longer.

Major League Crush by Jennifer Seasons

Professional baseball player Drake Paulson can’t help wanting to know more about his cute, shy neighbor. But when he discovers her deepest secret and she flees, it’ll be up to him to win her trust—and her love—one gift at a time.

CONFESSIONS OF A SECRET ADMIRER: A Valentine’s Day Anthology

By Jennifer Ryan, Candis Terry, and Jennifer Seasons

Avon Impulse e-book; on sale: 2/4/2014

Here’s a sneak peek of a steamy secret confession from a love-struck admirer in each story!

I confess that…

“It's been ten long years, since Taylor left, and I've been planning how I'll get her back. I've got a Valentine's surprise that includes the key to my house - she already has the one to my heart.”

GRANT (Waiting for You by Jennifer Ryan)

“I went through hundreds of messages online before I found just the right ones to place in Brady’s fortune cookies. The temptation to stray to the X-rated ones was almost too much to resist.”

--SARAH (Sweet Fortune by Candis Terry)

“The way Drake Paulson fills out his baseball uniform makes me blush—in a good way.”

--BERTIE (Major League Crush by Jennifer Seasons)

Want more confessions? Click here to buy the e-book!

 

Confess to your crush this Valentine’s Day with something sweet from Lindt! Enter the Confessions of a Secret Admirer contest below for a chance to win a $50.00 gift card!

a Rafflecopter giveaway