Review: Endgame by C.J. Daugherty

Endgame by C.J. Daugherty

Publisher- Little Brown/Atom (UK)

Released- June 4th 2015

Purchase- Amazon/ TBD

Broken. Scattered. But not defeated.The spy is gone but the cost has been high - the rebels at Cimmeria Academy have lost their leader and Carter West is missing. Nathaniel can taste victory. But Allie and the other survivors aren't done yet. First they have to get Carter back. Then they plan to make Nathaniel pay.One way or another - the game must end.Endgame is the thrilling fifth and final book in the internationally bestselling Night School series.

My Thoughts:

It's over and I'm so sad. The Night School books have been one of my favorite escapes providing remarkable mystery, incredible writing, amazing characters and pure solid entertainment. C.J. Daugherty took over my  imagination book after book and it makes me sad to think that there wont be a new book to look forward to next year, but if this series has to end, I couldn't ask for anything better!

Endgame starts off seconds after Resistance ends. The beginning of the book is straight out of an action movie. It got my heart pumping from minute one and this was one ride I didn't want to stop. Allie is still recovering from the tailspin disaster at Hampstead Heath, mourning the lost of Lucinda and worried sick over Carter's capture, but she's more determined then ever as she and the rest of the Night school students and teachers fight to once and for all put a stop to this war Nathanial has started. This book felt very different amongst the rest. More dire, more intense and way more suspenseful. We're in total mission-mode here and I loved how realistic Daugherty made it feel. When the action hit it was in your face fast and exciting but then there were the longer slow periods of waiting and planning time that was both calculating and maddening. I also loved how involved the guards were in this book. It gave it that extra push, specially when Number Nine is introduced. But above all, I loved the energy that crackled throughout this last hurray. From the first book fans craved to see what Night School was all about but this book shows us just how it all goes down. And I loved every minute!

Allie, Carter, Sylvain, Zoe, Rachel and Nicole. I'm truly going to miss all of these remarkable characters. Allie has grown so strong  throughout the entire series and I was so proud of the way she took control of her own fate but still wise enough to let others help her. I'm also glad we had the chance to see what becomes of Christopher, Gabe and of course Nathaniel and the future of the organizations. As for Carter and Sylvain, well, I don't want to spoil anything but I believe this was the ending that was always meant to be. I do wish we had a little more romance, but I can't really complain given the very complicated and fast paced plot, any more romance then what we got, would have felt forced.

Bottom line, I absolutely loved this book and this series. It has been one of my most treasured and solid escapes that was such a complete joy to experience. I'll miss this world, but even though I know it's done, I still think there might be room for a spin-off, so,  fingers crossed. Congrats to Daugherty for such a brilliant series and I'm looking forward to your next adventure!

Find the author: 

Website / Goodreads                               4.5 snowflakes

Review: Don't Look Back by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Don't Look Back by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Publisher- Disney-Hyperion
Released- April 15th 2014
Pre-Order- Amazon / B & N

Samantha is a stranger in her own life. Until the night she disappeared with her best friend, Cassie, everyone said Sam had it all-popularity, wealth, and a dream boyfriend. Sam has resurfaced, but she has no recollection of who she was or what happened to her that night. As she tries to piece together her life from before, she realizes it's one she no longer wants any part of. The old Sam took "mean girl" to a whole new level, and it's clear she and Cassie were more like best enemies. Sam is pretty sure that losing her memories is like winning the lottery. She's getting a second chance at being a better daughter, sister, and friend, and she's falling hard for Carson Ortiz, a boy who has always looked out for her-even if the old Sam treated him like trash.
But Cassie is still missing, and the facts about what happened to her that night isn't just buried deep inside of Sam's memory-someone else knows, someone who wants to make sure Sam stays quiet. All Sam wants is the truth, and if she can unlock her clouded memories of that fateful night, she can finally move on. But what if not remembering is the only thing keeping Sam alive.

My Thoughts:
It’s no secret that Jennifer L. Armentrout is one of my all time favorite authors and it’s so hard not to go all screaming-fan-girl every time I read one of her books. But dame! She just keeps getting insanely better and better. In the last few years, I've really grown to like mystery books, but if Jennifer keeps writing like this, mystery is going to be my new favorite genre! Just wow!

Don’t Look Back, follows the story of a girl named Samantha Franco who is struggling with amnesia ever since she came stumbling out into the dark, battered and bloody. Her best friend, Cassie is also missing and Sam is presumed to be the last person to see her alive. Frustrated and lost, Sam wants nothing more to remember her past memories and help find Cassie, but the more she learns about her former-self, the more she realizes how ugly her life was. With a second chance to renew her life, Sam grabs at this unfortunate blessing to be a better person and somehow make all the wrongs in her life right again, but she hasn't given up on trying to find out what really happened to her and Cassie on that faithful night. The only thing is, what if her lost memories are the only reason she’s still alive?

Truth? I wasn't really prepared to love this book the way I did since mystery isn't usually my main escape without some kind of paranormal-goody backing it up, but hey, it’s a JLA book, so of course I'm going into this with an open mind, but yeah, I wasn't prepared to be blown away!

Jennifer’s mix of mystery, thriller and bubbling romance has a pitch perfect pace and flows with incredible suspense and intrigue. This is my favorite kind of whodunit. I've always loved amnesia-type books, it gives us that extra edge since we’re learning everything along with our main protagonist. This book has a brilliant cloud-of-doubt lingering over the entire book. Nothing is as it seems and I didn't know who to trust and found myself trying to remember whole conversations between the characters to see if I could catch any clues. Nope, I couldn't  find any. Jennifer really created this one in a tight hold, only letting go at the right time and place. I loved the flashbacks, memories and notes. They were the perfect pieces to the puzzle and did an amazing job of keeping me on my toes. But it was the big revelation and the motive behind it that left me utterly floored. I was bouncing out of my seat! I would never have suspected this person, never saw it coming and thought it was such a brilliantly played move.

I loved every single one of these characters. They’re all well developed, easy to connect with and easy to love and/or hate.

My heart really goes out to Sam. I can’t imagine what it’s like to lose your memories, but this girl makes it look like a blessing and a curse. I loved the way Jennifer portrayed her. I could feel how lost, deflated and desperate she was to help find Cassie, a girl who was suppose to be her best friend and enemy in the same breath. And then later I felt like I was going insane right along with her. I have no love for mean-girls, which is what I found so refreshing in this book since Sam is your ultimate mean-girl and we see the way she use to be with stories about her former-ways and later in her own memories. The genuine regret and sorrow in Sam is heartfelt and sincere and I love her child-like personality as she stumbles along in her renewed life, but she also has a fierce determination and fire in her that fuels the story from start to finish.

Scott is the best brother evah! I loved him so much. I've always been very fond of brother/sister bonds in books, and this one is just made of awesome. He’s protective, kind and funny and I even screamed a big ‘Hell Yeah’, in one of his scenes. Loved! Julie is also pretty awesome and I liked what she brought into Sam’s life. 

But it’s Carson Ortiz that really owned this book for me. My gawd. Can you say intense and sexy as hell? He is Sam’s constant rock and the only real friend in her life, but it hasn't always been this way. I thought it was pretty cool of Carson to give Sam another chance since he pretty much has every right to hate her, and yet, he stays true till the end, loyal, protective and wonderful.

I liked the fact that Sam’s ‘friends’ and even Del didn't smoother the story line. They played their parts well mind you, but they weren't the center of the plot which I was grateful for. It gave us more time to explore Sam’s past without the unwanted attention and immaturity of Sam’s mean-girl groupies and a boyfriend I would love to punch-out.

I love love loved the romance! Sam and Carson’s situation isn't found in very many books, actually, I can’t really think of one quite like this. It’s exciting, refreshing and even a little surreal given their history. The chemistry is off the freaken charts hawt. There were some real intense moments here where I could actually feel the sparks flyin’. So good! But it’s the friendship that I loved the most. In some twisted up way, it was fate that Sam got this second chance and being able to get a do-over, but finally, with the right person.

All in all, another JLA win! Don’t Look Back is an instant favorite! The mystery is captivating, gripping and exhilarating. The twist and turns are calculating and creepy but not overly disturbing and the romance is squeeze-worthy and pulse pounding delicious. Amazing characters, amazing writing and an amazing plot. I couldn't love this book more. I was totally invested and entertained from the first page till its gasping conclusion. I hope Jennifer continues to write more for this genre. She’s a natural story-teller and I can’t ever seem to get enough of her worlds. Loved!!

Find the author:

Goodreads/Website                             5 Puffy Snowflakes

Review:The Unseemly Education of Anne Merchant by Joanna Wiebe

The Unseemly Education of Anne Merchant 
by Joanna Wiebe
Publisher-BenBella Books
Released- Jan 14th 2014
Purchase- Amazon/ B & N

So many secrets for such a small island. From the moment Anne Merchant arrives at Cania Christy, a boarding school for the world’s wealthiest teens, the hushed truths of this strange, unfamiliar land begin calling to her—sometimes as lulling drumbeats in the night, sometimes as piercing shrieks.One by one, unanswered questions rise. No one will tell her why a line is painted across the island or why she is forbidden to cross it. Her every move—even her performance at the school dance—is graded as part of a competition to become valedictorian, a title that brings rewards no one will talk about. And Anne discovers that the parents of her peers surrender million-dollar possessions to enroll their kids in Cania Christy, leaving her to wonder what her lowly funeral director father could have paid to get her in… and why.As a beautiful senior struggles to help Anne make sense of this cloak-and-dagger world without breaking the rules that bind him, she must summon the courage to face the impossible truth—and change it—before she and everyone she loves is destroyed by it.

My Thoughts: 
Wow, what a handful.

I don’t even know how many times I wanted to give up on this book, but as I kept reading, my pesky curiosity would keep me turning the pages till I figured out what the hell was going on. A big part of me was really glad I did since all the revelations turned out to be worth the frustration, exasperation and pure bewilderment of this novel, but man, what a freaken trip getting there.

Getting a fresh start at Cania Christy boarding school is just what Anne Merchant needs. After the death of her mother, Anne hasn’t been the same and having a mortician for a father doesn't usually pay the big bucks, but some how he got her in an expensive school on Wormwood Island, Maine, an Academy that only admits the best of the best. But once Anne gets to Cania Christy things go from strange to plain ol’crazy. Just exactly what kind of place did her father land her in...

... And that my friends, is the biggest question here and the biggest asset, The Unseemly Education of Anne Merchant has to offer. The mystery of Wormwood Island. There is a lot to process here since this book has got to be one of the most evasive and intricately connected storylines I read in a very long time. The sheer mystery alone will have readers curious and hell bent to try to figure out what going on. Once the big reveal happened and our protagonist finally gets in on the big secrets, I could see why Wiebe chose to be so deceptive. It’s actually very clever once I go back and lock the pieces together and intertwine the island, the village, the school, the students, the tuition and the crazy-ass Headmaster. The twist and turns really made this book standout and demand attention.

But wait, there’s more. I can’t leave out the Big V and PT. It all starts off with the obsessive competition all the students are racing for, the Big V, which is to win Valedictorian. Each student has a Guardian to oversee their progress academically but mostly making sure they are using their PT selection to the fullest. Prosperitas Thema is a moral quality statement that marks your strength and success in order to win the Big V. Strangely enough, Anne first quality selected is Seduction, but she actually went with her alternative PT, which was, Looking Closer. Why the first was even mention is beyond me since it was never really applied to the storyline except as a sexual advance by another character. The parents of the students also play a big role into the story; asking how far would you go for your child? 

Now, given that we don’t learn anything till almost near the end gave this book a huge info-dump making the beginning of the story hard to get through but the end of the book hard to put down. The pacing and flow feels way off, but was actually intentionally off balance to throw the reader and our main protag into a frenzy of questions with endless possibilities. It was difficult at times to wrap my head around, but I ended up really liking the ideas, concept and the paranormal twist that Joanna Wiebe created.

I wish I could say the same thing about the characters though. They were driving me insane. The one character that I did like was Anne. I liked that she can total handle her own and that she’s not afraid to ask questions or stand up for herself, which sadly she had to do a lot in this book. She lives with a housemother who treats her like a business deal, the over played mean girls don’t waste anytime harassing her simple cause they can and the Headmaster’s idea of a warm welcome were insults and sexual innuendo’s and this pretty much happens within the first few chapters. So be warned, it starts off a bit ridiculous but it does get better.

As for the rest of the characters, Ben and Pilot, I liked but I didn't. Ben acts cold and cruel towards Anne almost through the entire novel, but since he was trying to protect her, he’s easy to forgive. And as for Pilot, well, he was a good friend, the only friend that Anne had, but not everything is as it seems in this book. And that’s all I’m gonna say about that.

My biggest issue here was Teddy. This is one guy I just did not understand. His looks are less then desirable, and he has a creepy factor going on that makes me want to shutter just thinking about him. He’s pleasant and supportive one minute and hostile and demanding the next. I also didn't care for his ‘it would be an abuse of power’ comment, only to turn around and suggest otherwise. Sick. But what I don’t get the most about this guy is I'm still not sure if he's good or evil. Everything about him felt very inconsistent, damaged and wrong.

I also had a little issue with all the other sexual-attention used in this book, it was uncomfortable, tacky and gave the book an ick-factor that wasn't really necessary nor needed to get any points across.

And last but not least, the love story. I’m not sure if I can say there was any real romance in this book since the mystery pretty much took up the entire novel, but I will say that I loved the connection between Ben and Anne and who Ben turned out to be. I never saw that coming and thought it was a very sweet touch to the storyline and probably one of my favorite moments.

In a nut shell, I liked this book, but it was a struggle getting there. The writing is good, frustrating yes, but smart. The character drove me nuts, but even I have to admit, everything happens here for a reason and I liked that nothing is what it seems. The plot has a million twists and turns that made my head spin and made me feel like I was constantly missing something but when push comes to shove, this has a really great and creative story, and I’m curious enough to want to know what happens next. If you’re a fan of boarding school books, paranormal and crazy mystery then this may be a book you’d enjoy. It may not have always been easy to get through, but it was still worth the read.

Find the author:
Goodreads / Website                                3.5 Snowflakes

Review:The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Publisher- Disney-Hyperion 
Released- Nov 5th 2013
Pre-Order- Amazon / B & N 

Seventeen-year-old Cassie is a natural at reading people. Piecing together the tiniest details, she can tell you who you are and what you want. But it’s not a skill that she’s ever taken seriously. That is, until the FBI come knocking: they’ve begun a classified program that uses exceptional teenagers to crack infamous cold cases, and they need Cassie.What Cassie doesn’t realize is that there’s more at risk than a few unsolved homicides— especially when she’s sent to live with a group of teens whose gifts are as unusual as her own.Sarcastic, privileged Michael has a knack for reading emotions, which he uses to get inside Cassie’s head—and under her skin. Brooding Dean shares Cassie’s gift for profiling, but keeps her at arm’s length.Soon, it becomes clear that no one in the Naturals program is what they seem. And when a new killer strikes, danger looms closer than Cassie could ever have imagined. Caught in a lethal game of cat and mouse with a killer, the Naturals are going to have to use all of their gifts just to survive.

My Thoughts:
Cassie gives a whole new meaning to being able to read someone. She's always had this special gift of being able to see a person and know who they are and what they want just by the way they dress or order food. But she never thought someone would be reading her as well. Cassie is a natural profiler. Recruited by the FBI as a special agent in The Program that has naturally gifted teens who are trained to help behind the scenes with cold cases the Bureau can't solve. And since Cassie's mother is presumed dead, this is the chance to do something she's been waiting to do for five years. To use her abilities to solve unsolvable crimes and maybe even solve her own mother's mystery. But when a new killer surfaces it hits a little to close to home and becomes personal. Cassie and the team of Naturals will have to use all their skills to catch a killer before it's to late.

I have never had much of a comfort zone with these kind of books. Serial killers isn't an escape I tend to venture often, but the book junkie in me can't seem to resist pushing the limits. I'm really glad I gave this book a go. I haven't had this much fun since The Body Finder days. Barnes knows how to bring on the very creepy and crazy.

I've read some of Jennifer Lynn Barnes other books before and always enjoyed the way this women can write. She has some real fantastic skills when developing the tone of her books. In her wolf series she really captures that intense dark and disciplined edge but for this book, the writing is very smooth, controlled and instantly absorbing with an overall piercing eeriness I look for in my mystery thriller escapes, as well as adding in some lighter amusing moments to shake off the scare.

I was really impressed with The Naturals right from the start. It's a a very calculating story that combines specific specialized physic skills with psychopathic serial killers. Now, this concept isn't anything new but it doesn't stop it from being completely fascinating. I loved the way Barnes may have seemed to used the traditional physic genre but twisted it into something a little bit different. In other books I've read with this kind of element, the characters usually tend to use their abilities from within, like mind reading or actually feeling the exact emotion stirring, but in this book, these characters gifts are designed to use their advantages to the physical of a subject. Mannerisms, facial expression, quirks, the clothes they wear or the car they drive, they see what's outside of a person before they dwell what may be lurking inside. 

The thrill factor is very disturbing, especially to someone like me who gets freaked out easily. On top of the thoughts of the deranged killer and what was done to the victims we also have some horrific stories that are apart of Cassie's training. Cases of other killers and what they have done, but it's more then that. It's the way Cassie and Dean analyze these scenes. When they work together to climb into the warped mind of the killers and put themselves literately in their shoes committing these horrible crimes. It's was like watching ice creeping slowly into veins. Powerless and Unsettling.

I really enjoyed all of these characters and love the way Barnes developed them throughout the story and through Cassie's profiling eyes. They are all kinds of brilliant and messed-up.

Cassie is a brave, calm, collected and curious girl that doesn't show how much everything affects her, but inside her emotions are everywhere. The Program is personal to her because of her mother, but at the same time she wants to be able to learn her role and make her dent with the team.

Michael has this twinkle of mischief the minute we meet him. He's overly confident and arrogant. He knows how to read emotions and may seem more put together then the rest of the team, but he still has a past that makes him vulnerable and human. I love the banter and playfulness he has with Cassie and the rest of the group. A very charming character.

Lia is spunky and a bit scary. She's the compulsive liar of the group and can tell when a subject is telling the truth. She brings in a lot of entertainment and sass to the story.

Sloane is eccentric and a fun addition. She's our pattern and number specialist and a bit awkward. Loved the coffee scene.

Then we have the very complicated Dean. He too is a natural profiler with a very large chip on his shoulder. Unlike Michael, Dean has been in the program at a very young age and  doesn't even have to work at knowing how a killer thinks. He comes off a little harsh but his past carries him in ways no one else can understand.

The teams chemistry was one of my favorite parts of the story. They are all bizarrely intriguing with incredible gifts that are fun to explore. The romance is well on its way to forming one of those pesky love triangles, but for now we only got a few moments that were light but sweet. The sap in me would usually complain with the lack of swoon, but the thrills and mystery took on a life of it's own in this book and anything more would have felt forced or rushed. I am however looking forward to seeing how things developed since I like both guys very much.

I also thought the ending was really well done. Somethings I get lucky and guess who the killer might be but this time I was really quite shocked. I never saw that coming and thought it was a brilliant move on Barnes part.

Bottom line, I thoroughly enjoyed myself with this book. It's fascinating, compelling and simply brilliant. It also scared the hell out of me, yes, but it was so much fun getting there. I can't wait to see where Barnes takes this next! 

An exceptional read!

Find the author:
Goodreads / Website                              4.5 Snowflakes 

Review: Fracture by C.J. Daugherty

Fracture by C.J. Daugherty

Publisher- Atom

Released- Aug 15th 2013

Purchase- Amazon / TBD/ Fish Pond

Devastated by the loss of her friend and under constant threat from an unknown spy at Cimmeria Academy, Allie Sheridan is finding it hard to cope.In Fracture, the third book in the Night School series, she’s not the only one losing it – everything is falling apart. And when Nathaniel begins to reveal his game plan, Isabelle starts to lose control.As the school slides into a deadly morass of paranoia and suspicion, everyone is guilty until proved innocent. Anyone can be held without proof, and convicted without a trial. No one is safe.This time Nathaniel doesn’t need to hurt them. This time they’re hurting themselves.

My Thoughts: 
Such a brilliant world! Seriously. C.J. Daugherty's Night School series is one of my favorites books to escape with.  I always look forward to the next installment, craving that heart pounding excitement, alluring mystery and charming romance that I've come to expect from these books. I simply adore Daugherty's writing. She is a true master at pacing her stories in a way that plays with your mind and pulls at your heart. The flow and tone is also pitch perfect, but what I love most about these books is that it's still crazy addicting. I love how unpredictable everything feels, I never know what to expect and I'm continuously guessing from start to finish. I'm happy to say that Fracture is just as riveting and strong as the previous books and once again, an instant favorite!

Tormented after the lost of her best friend, Jo, Allie is beside herself. She feels like everyone at Cimmeria Academy has let her down and she doesn't know who she can trust. Wanting to take action into her own hands, Allie escapes the school and tries to find the answers no one else seems to be going after. But her attempt to escape to London failed and Allie is sent back to the Academy. Fueled only by the desperate need to avenge Jo's death, Allie is filled with a new found hope. Revenge. She will train. She will fight and together with her friends, she will find a way to avenge Jo, stop Nathaniel and find the spy lurking in the walls of Cimmeria Academy.

I always thought that the third book in a series is the most difficult to write. There is a lot of information and truths that need revealing but you don't want to say to much or give away the entire story. Where's the fun in that? After all, there are two more books planned for this series. So, with that said, Fracture is a great in-between novel, but this was more like a filler then anything else. 

With the help of their Night School training, Allie and her friends form a secret group and try to plot out who the spy could be. We are treated to seeing these characters fight back in the only way they know how. United. We also  finally find out what Night School is truly about and while there were scattered clues among the other books, it was still something else to finally get the grand picture after all this time. I loved how Daugherty waited for the perfect moment to let us in on the big secret, it was a great way for Allie to accept and appreciate where her destiny truly lies as well as capturing that curiosity in readers to keep us guessing and invested. Which totally worked. We learn more about Lucinda's role and how it's connected to Isabelle, Nathaniel and eventually Allie. We also get some action packed scenes that involve Nathaniel and his ultimate goal to take over the school, but at last, we still don't know who the spy is. So, while a lot happens in this installment, at the same time, nothing actually gets resolved. This might be disappointing or frustrating to some readers, but I for one love how Daugherty is setting up for future books. The biggest anchor in these novels has always been the building mystery in both story line and characterizations. When I really think about each of the characters I've grown so attached to, I wonder if I really know them at all.  Daugherty has us skeptical of everything about this world. We truly don't' know who we can trust and all we can do is sit back and hope against hope that are favorite characters don't betray us in the end. Yes, the wait can be exasperating, but it also gives us something to ponder and look forward to, which is wonderful since I'm not ready to let these books go just yet. 

Since the death of Jo, all of these characters seem to grieve and grow in different and even surprising ways.

In the begging of the story, Allie is back to her old rebellious ways. She's defiant, hurt and lashes out in mean ways and while she may seem like a brat, she's actually portrayed very realistically. She was the only one there when Jo died. She blames and hates herself and when it doesn't feel big enough, she starts to blame everyone else around her. Later in the book, Allie realizes that she's not the only person who lost a friend that night and that everyone is doing what they can to find the person responsible  for helping Jo's killer get inside the school. My heart really goes out to Allie, but I'm glad she finally snapped out of her grief-stricken stage and decided that the best way to avenge Jo was is to fight back. 

Even Carter and Sylvain decided to put their personal grudge behind them for now and work together, for both Allie and Jo. It was strange to see this unlikely alliance, but it was also really great to see Sylvain and Carter as well as Rachel, Nicole and Zoe work as a team. They have brilliant chemistry and it's exciting and entertaining to see them in action.

I'm still waving my Team Carter flag, but I have to admit, Sylvain is growing on me. For someone who I didn't think could be redeemed, Syl turned out to be the only one who is giving the confidence and warmth Allie desperately needs. Carter is acting like his older self that we met in the first book (not really sure who he was in the second) but he still has a lot of issues that he needs to work out.

Which brings me to the romance. For now, that part of the story is on hold, but I'm actually glad that Daugherty took this step for Allie. She has so many conflicting problems right now that it would feel forced for her to just pick up where she left off with Slyvain at the Winter ball and her heart still breaks when she thinks of Carter. Allie is confused and lost right now and the last thing she needs to focus on is her love life. So there isn't any romance in this book, but we still got a few heated moments that made my heart smile. 

All in all, Fracture is another thrilling installment in the Night school series. I'm enjoying the slow but steady rhythm in the plot, the writing is remarkable and these characters are beautifully complicated and compelling.  I also really liked the way this ended. It was action packed and gripping and I'm mighty curious where Daugherty will take this next. 
Another amazing read in the Night School series!

Find the author:
Goodreads / Website                                4.5 Snowflakes

Review: The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

The Evolution of Mara Dyer 
by Michelle Hodkin
Publisher- Simon & Schuster 
Released- Oct 12th 2012
Purchase- Amazon / B & N / Chapters

Mara Dyer once believed she could run from her past.She can’t.She used to think her problems were all in her head.They aren’t.She couldn’t imagine that after everything she’s been through, the boy she loves would still be keeping secrets.She’s wrong.In this gripping sequel to The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, the truth evolves and choices prove deadly. What will become of Mara Dyer next?

My Thoughts:

Bizarre, crazy, insane, sensational and astonishing! Dame, dame, dame!! I about jumped out of my skin after finishing this book and wanting the last installment so badly that it physically hurts that it's not in my hands this very second. What a freaken sequel people!

The Evolution of Mara Dyer is a twisty physiological thriller that keeps you on the very edge of madness till the very last page, then it will have you hanging and begging for more. I love Michelle Hodkin's writing! She is a mastermind at spinning a mystery that just keeps throwing in loops after loops till your dizzy with pure curiosity and aching with anticipation. I love that this story is so exasperating. I love that the minute we think we've figured out a tiny clue we're back to square one. And I love that her characters are so complicated and put together in the same breath. I loved the first book, but this book was so much more that my head is still spinning days after I finished it. It just blew me away.

Wow, this is one helluva story-line. It takes on a different direction from the one that's already been established. The mystery of Jude and if he's alive or a hallucination. Is Mara really insane or is everything she sees really real? Hodkin brings in a new element to the story, something I don't really want to spoil for those who haven't read this yet, but I will say that I love how she blended the fainting and flashbacks to a long ago time that somehow connects Mara and maybe even to Noah together in an unexpected way. Then there is the creepy and crazed happenings that range from dead animals to blood on the mirror to spooky dolls with a hidden meaning. There is a lot of loose ends by the time this is said and done which can get frustrating, but in a way I'm glad that we don't have all the answers. It's something to ponder and something to look forward to once the last book is out and we can finally get all the answers fans are desperately craving. 

All of these characters are amazingly put together. I can just imagine Hodkin with a notebook filled with character traits and picking which one get what for which scene. She brings new meaning to head games.

Mara is a very wound-up character and for a very good reason. What must it be like to pretend to be insane when no one believes that your sane. What must it be like to not be believed in by your own family and haunted by things that aren't in your control. Mara is so many different kinds of people. She's good and caring and wants answers and wants to protect her family. But there is a darker side to her that hates and fears and wants revenge. The last installment is called The Retribution of Mara Dyer. That's a great title. I pray she finally gets it.

Noah is a complex character in a calm and controlled maddening way, but we get to see a new side to his inner demons and we come out of this understanding Noah Shaw a little bit more then we did. He's the only one that believes in Mara, but that's because he's just like her. They share something that can only be described as an all-consuming connection. Their love story is intense and raw and profoundly measured. There are so many moments that made my pulse race, my breath stop and my heart pound. All I can say is....more.

As frustrating as Mara's family is, I love them. They want what's best for her and who could blame them for not truly understanding the events that unfolded.They are good people and I love how united they are as a family, but sometime I wanted to bang my head against a wall and scream 'open your dame eyes already!'

I wish I could say more about some of the characters at the center, but I'm afraid of saying to much and I don't want to spoil anything, but I will say that their colorful personality was quite entertaining and I liked what they brought into the plot. 

In a nut shell, I loved this book. The spin is absolutely fantastic and even though it's not something new, I still loved Hodkin's take on this genre. That ending just about killed me. It was like being on roller-coaster that stops in mid air, upside down. This has just about everything I love in an escape. It's mysterious and thrilling and creepy and unhinged and has one of the sweetest love stories that is both mesmerizing and disastrous. A brilliant and amazing installment. I can't wait for the next book!!

Find the author:
Goodreads / Website                                  5 Snowflakes

Review & Giveaway: Breaking Glass by Lisa Amowitz

Breaking Glass by Lisa Amowitz
Publisher- Spencer Hill Press
Released- July 9th 2013
Purchase-Amazon / B & N

On the night seventeen-year-old Jeremy Glass winds up in the hospital with a broken leg and a blood alcohol level well above the legal limit, his secret crush, Susannah, disappears. When he begins receiving messages from her from beyond the grave, he's not sure whether they're real or if he's losing his grip on reality. Clue by clue, he gets closer to unraveling the mystery, and soon realizes he must discover the truth or become the next victim himself.

My Thoughts:
Jeremy Glass has had feelings for Susannah Durban since they were just kids but could never do anything about it since she was dating his best friend, Ryan. On the night Jeremy ended up at the hospital with a broken leg and high levels of alcohol streaming through his veins, is the same night Susannah goes missing. Weeks go by and no ones has heard from her, no one expect Jeremy. Is Susannah really contacting him from the other side? Or is Jeremy, like his mother, finally losing his mind. Through a chain of clues, Jeremy finally understands what he must do and uncover long ago secrets of the past  if he is to ever find out what really happened to Susannah, but the closer he gets to the truth, the more danger he's in, and risks becoming the next victim. 

Breaking Glass is a gripping and haunting story that are filled with so many surprises, twists and turns. The way Lisa Amowitz  spins this tale is incredibly clever, strong and very unpredictable. I never saw half of what happened coming. I enjoyed the way she did the Then and Now method. It gave us great insight into Jeremy's memories and gave us a wider look into his past and clues about his present situation. Amowitz really gave her readers this time to understand Jeremy on a deeper level and to  feel the magnitude of the tragedy that he has unfolded.

I never thought I'd say this, but I'm really starting to love whodunit mysteries. The rush I get at the end always makes my reading experience more fulfilling and Amowitz's book is quite the mystery. The entire story-line feels like it's teetering on a live wire and the slightest touch will set it off, so I'm not to sure what I could say about the plot without revealing something that your not suppose to know till you've read the book. So, with that said, all I'm gonna say about this is, pay attention, let these characters take you into their story and keep in mind that not everything is at it seems. I had a lot of fun trying to figure out what Susannah was trying to get at with her messages but at the same time it was rather creepy to see what she was going to do next. By the time I finished this book I was really shocked to discover how deep all the secrets ran and how many lives it touched and ruined. 

This has a very interesting cast of characters and as much as I liked them I questioned a lot of who I could really trust.

~Jeremy is a very lost, confused and emotionally raw character and your heart will pound for and with him throughout this entire novel. Given his mothers own alcoholic issues, Jeremy is on the same road to self-destruction. It was hard to focus on the blur of his reality, of what was real and what was hallucinations, but it made going through this journey with him more tangible somehow. Like he had to fight his own inner demons to solve what Susannah wanted him to discover the entire time. My heart truly goes out to him.

~Marisa was a nice addition to the story as well. I think it gave Jeremy that ray of hope. She represents a new beginning, a fresh start and sanity after all the insane.

~As for Susannah, we only know her through Jeremy's memories and the clues she leaves, but she is still very much a present force in this novel. She's a very intense and shattered character. I thought the way she stringed along all the pieces to the puzzle was quite cunning but cruel. Ryan is a character I though I figured all out form the beginning, but he proves that in this book, nothing is what it seems. 

All in all, I really enjoyed Breaking Glass. The writing is absorbing and fantastic, the characters will have your head spinning and your heart breaking and the story-line has an incredible blend of mystery, thriller with a touch of supernatural to give it that extra edge with a spark of romance that will make you smile. A really great read,  I'm looking forward to reading more from this amazing talent.

Find the author:
Goodreads / Website

                                                                   4 Snowflakes 

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Review: Truly, Madly, Deadly by Hannah Jayne

Truly, Madly, Deadly by Hannah Jayne

Publisher-Sorcebooks Fire

Release- July 16th 2013

Pre-Order-Amazon/ B & N/ Chapters

Sawyer Dodd has it all. She's a star track athlete, choir soloist, and A-student. And her boyfriend is the handsome all-star Kevin Anderson. But behind the medals, prom pictures, and perfect smiles, Sawyer finds herself trapped in a controlling, abusive relationship with Kevin. When he dies in a drunk-driving accident, Sawyer is secretly relieved. She's free. Until she opens her locker and finds a mysterious letter signed by "an admirer" and printed with two simple words: "You're welcome."

My Thoughts:

I don't usually like to read abusive-type books, but for some reason this one sounded really interesting. Turns out that I was right. Truly, Madly, Deadly is a dark and disturbing story about the depths in which a person would go to prove how much they care, but in the form of completely twisted. We begin our story with Sawyer Dodd at her boyfriend, Kevin Anderson's funeral, but Sawyer doesn't know how to feel. Sad that her boyfriend died in a car accident or relieved since he can no longer hurt her. Trying to move on from the lost, Sawyer goes back to school, but when she opens her locker there's a note inside that simply says; Your Welcome. 

Wow, I'm not even sure what to say about this one. I've read my share of whodunit mysteries, but I have to say that this one seemed to really focus on making the main character go through an endless amount of emotional turmoil. Sawyer's life is so out of control that I'm amazed that she's even sane enough to walk straight. It felt like everything was happening to this poor girl all at once and as the story moves on the mystery begins to build-up even more as people are getting hurt that are involved with Sawyer in one way or another. 

Hannah Jayne's writing is very strong. I love the way she moves this story along, giving us more then enough material and suspects to keep us guessing and on our toes throughout the entire book. At times some of the events did feel a little overwhelming since it was one thing after the other, after the other with really no breathing room in between, but I think it was intentional since the character was meant to feel the magnitude of the stalkers warped affections. I also think Jayne did a remarkable job getting into the mind of our obsessed-admirer. This person was truly unhinged, creepy and completely mad, doing things all in the name of love.

While reading, most of these characters seemed to earn a glaring suspicious eye from me almost right away. With a large enough cast of characters it was hard to guess who was behind all these strange events. 

I really enjoyed our main protag, Sawyer. I liked her voice. It was raw, real and heartfelt and I couldn't help feel invested with her from minute one. My heart really did go out to her but I was also a little frustrated with her at times and wish she would have told someone what was going on before it was to late. Chloe is a dedicated friend and made a huge impact in Sawyer's life. There is a very little romance in this one but what we did get was very sweet. Cooper is a good people and I'm glad that he was there for Sawyer when she needed someone. We did get a few flash-back memories with Kevin, but I wish we got a few more since I didn't feel completely connected to him and therefore couldn't sympathize with Sawyer the way I wanted to regarding him, but then again, the string of ill intentions paired with all the events that unfolded more then made up for that. 

All in all, I really enjoyed this book. Great writing and characters and the story-line has an incredible mix of thriller, mystery and even has a spark of romance. The ending and the stalker revelation had me completely shocked. I never saw that one coming and thought it was a brilliant move by Jayne. This is an author to look out for peeps. Well done!

Find the author:
Goodreads / Website

                                                                    4 Snowflakes

Blog Tour: Review & Giveaway- The Last Academy by Anne Applegate

Today WinterHaven Books has the wonderful opportunity to review, The Last Academy by Anne Applegate. Special thanks to Itching for Books  for hosting this blog tour as well as allowing us to participate. 

The Last Academy by Anne Applegate

Publisher-Point

Release-April 30th 2013

Purchase- Amazon / B & N / Chapters

Camden Fisher arrives at boarding school haunted by a falling-out with her best friend back home. But the manicured grounds of Lethe Academy are like nothing Cam has ever known. There are gorgeous, preppy boys wielding tennis rackets, and circles of girls with secrets to spare. Only . . . something is not quite right. One of Cam's new friends mysteriously disappears, but the teachers don't seem too concerned. Cam wakes up to strangers in her room, who then melt into the night. She is suddenly plagued by odd memories, and senses there might be something dark and terrible brewing. But what? The answer will leave Cam--and readers--stunned and breathless, in this thrilling debut novel.

My Thoughts:
Camden Fisher was at a last-hurrah party at her best friend Lia's house before they set off to high school, but Camden and Lia had a falling out and five days later Camden was leaving Minneapolis to go to a boarding school in California called Lethe Academy. 

Despite a frightful and creepy encounter on the plane with a unusual man, Camden's new school looked beautiful, sunny and inviting. Everyone smiling, playing Frisbee surrounded by tennis courts and swimming pools. Camden thought that she may fit in here after all. 

But soon enough strange events started to unfold around her. One of her friends is missing, dark shadows are in her room and the creepy guy from the plane is even at her school and yet no one seems to do anything about it. Camden doesn't know what to think or even do. Just what kind of place is Lethe Academy?

Wow, okay, I'm not even sure where to begin. The Last Academy wasn't exactly what I had in mind and apart of me kinda can't help but be disappointed since it was one of my most anticipated, but then another part of me is so taken over with that ending I'm not even sure what to think. 

The story line, the writing and it's characters seem to all blend together during this reading experience. 

I'm not even sure how to describe this, my only comparison would be like being in the middle of one of those crazy horror/thriller type movies and I'm watching this girl at a new school and at first everyone she meets seems to be okay, friendly, normal, with the occasional mean girl or guy here and there. But then slowly the story line and it's characters seem to get strange, withdrawn, spooky and dealing with their own personal...issues. 

As we get in further into the story it starts to jump from strange to down right bizarre with random events starting to take shape around Camden with no really rhyme or reason to it.  

...Now at this point I'm not sure if this book is even for me. I'm confused, I'm frustrated and apart of me kinda wants to just walk away, but I'm oddly compelled to figure out what's going on, with absolutely zero clues as to what it could be. 

So anyways, I'm a little more then half way in and still in the middle of strange and crazy land and then we get to the point where the big reveal happens. Everything starts to click in place like a slap in the face and I'm left sitting there, stunned and utterly floored, asking if all that just really happened?!? I don't think I could have possible ever have guessed that particular twist. It was actually remarkably well done, even brilliant, if I go back and think about everything before that moment, actually changing how I feel about it overall. It made the process of trying to figure out what the hell was going on worth the frustration and exasperation. And while this may not be a favorite and may not even be for everyone, I have to give kudos to Anne Applegate  for writing such a gusty debut, sparking genuine madness, curiosity and in the end, heartfelt emotion. I'm really glad that I had the chance to experience this peculiar little story and would have to agree completely with that blurb. The Last Academy really will leave readers shocked and breathless once it's all said and done. I'm looking forward to seeing what Applegate has in store for us next!

3.5 Snowflakes

About the author 

Goodreads /Website  / Twitter                     

Anne Applegate was born in Chico, California. Most of her childhood was spent moving across America with her family, nomad style.When Anne was fourteen, her parents sent her to boarding school so she could spend four years in a single educational system. As it turned out, her family then promptly settled into a small mid-western town and lived there for the next sixteen years. Anne still hasn’t figured out if this means something.After graduation, she went on to Tufts University in Medford, MA, where she had a wicked good time. Eventually, she wound up back on the west coast, where she married a fantastic Californian guy. Together, they have three children.For the last twelve years, Anne has lived in San Luis Obispo County. This is by far the longest time she has stayed in any one place her whole life. She immensely enjoys living where 1) the sun always shines and 2) she isn’t the weirdest person in town.

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