Review: Killer Instinct by S.E. Green

Killer Instinct by S.E. Green
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: May 6, 2014
Purchase: Amazon / BN

She’s not evil, but she has certain... urges.

Lane is a typical teenager. Loving family. Good grades. Afterschool job at the local animal hospital. Martial arts enthusiast. But her secret obsession is studying serial killers. She understands them, knows what makes them tick.

Why?

Because she might be one herself.

Lane channels her dark impulses by hunting criminals—delivering justice when the law fails. The vigilantism stops shy of murder. But with each visceral rush the line of self-control blurs.
And then a young preschool teacher goes missing. Only to return... in parts.
When Lane excitedly gets involved in the hunt for “the Decapitator,” the vicious serial murderer that has come to her hometown, she gets dangerously caught up in a web of lies about her birth dad and her own dark past. And once the Decapitator contacts Lane directly, Lane knows she is no longer invisible or safe. Now she needs to use her unique talents to find the true killer’s identity before she—or someone she loves—becomes the next victim...

My Thoughts:
Warning this is not for the faint of heart or the squeamish.  Luckily for me I am neither of those things because if I was I would have missed on one kick ass book that did what no other book I have ever read has been able to do.  Totally and completely shock me!  I thought (and yes I even texted my blog roomie so it would be documented) I knew who the villain was for sure!  OMG was I wrong and I don't mean in an "oh hmm well I guess the clues where there"  I mean in an "HOLY ^#^(^@(^$(^@(#&(@&(#^  Did that just happen??!!!!"  Yep never saw it coming.  S.E Green you are a mad genius!!

The story starts off with a bang!  That first line was amazing and I don't know of any other book that has had that strong of a first sentence.  Lane is not your typical high school student.  She is very smart and doesn't have a lot of friends, but what makes her different is her killer instincts.  Her mom is an FBI agent that has first hand experience in serial killers and maybe that's where Lane's obsession comes from, but really it doesn't matter all that matters is that she wants to kill and has just picked out her target.  Now to get the timing, scene, and preparations done.  Are you hooked yet??!!

From the get go you know this book will be gritty and it doesn't disappoint.  There was blood, suspense, crazy family drama, and yes there is even a weird and awkward encounter with a boy.  Lane is very distant from people and you can see this throughout the book.  She doesn't do emotional or drama and I think that helped mold the story.  If Lane were the typical girl and driven by her emotions things would have turned out to be a lot different.  I liked that she looked at things differently and this is the one time where I thought a 17 year old could handle what was being thrown at her without the help of her parents.  Were all her decisions good..no, but whose are?  There were a few scenes that threw me, like the boy encounter in the library but I guess it just showed how Lane was trying to change. 

I can't say enough how much I loved this story.  I have been on the prowl for something to shock me and oh my did this ever.  I can't wait for all my book buddies to devour this so we can look back through and find clues that we missed.  I am dying to know if anyone else will be as shocked as I am.

*Thank you Simon Pulse for the amazing review copy!*

5 Snowflakes

Teaser Tuesday, #64 Avalon by Mindee Arnett

Welcome to Teaser Tuesdays! Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: Grab your current read Open to a random page Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
My Teaser Tuesday is for the following...

AVALON by Mindee Arnett
Publisher: Balzer & Bray
Publication Date: January 21, 2014

A ragtag group of teenage mercenaries who crew the spaceship Avalon stumble upon a conspiracy that could threaten the entire galaxy in this fascinating and fast-paced sci-fi adventure from author Mindee Arnett.

Of the various star systems that make up the Confederation, most lie thousands of light-years from First Earth-and out here, no one is free. The agencies that govern the Confederation are as corrupt as the crime bosses who patrol it, and power is held by anyone with enough greed and ruthlessness to claim it. That power is derived from one thing: metatech, the devices that allow people to travel great distances faster than the speed of light.

Jeth Seagrave and his crew of teenage mercenaries have survived in this world by stealing unsecured metatech, and they're damn good at it. Jeth doesn't care about the politics or the law; all he cares about is earning enough money to buy back his parents' ship, Avalon, from his crime-boss employer and getting himself and his sister, Lizzie, the heck out of Dodge. But when Jeth finds himself in possession of information that both the crime bosses and the government are willing to kill for, he is going to have to ask himself how far he'll go to get the freedom he's wanted for so long.

Avalon is the perfect fit for teens new to sci-fi as well as seasoned sci-fi readers looking for more books in the YA space-and a great match for fans of Joss Whedon's cult hit show Firefly.

*Teasers are from an Advanced Readers Copy. Quotes are subject to change in the final copy*

Teasers from pages: 120

"Pretty, feisty, and strong. That was a whole lot to like. 

Don't be stupid, the voice of reason broke in. You don't need that kind of distraction."

"He focused all his energy on Avalon, the only girl he really wanted or needed."

LEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Teaser Tuesdays post, or share your ‘teasers’ in a comment here if you don’t have a blog Thanks! 

Review: The Hunt- Project Paper Doll by Stacey Kade

The Hunt by Stacey Kade
Publisher- Disney Hyperion
Released- April 22nd 2014
Pre-Order- Amazon / B & N

Ariane Tucker has finally escaped GTX, the research facility that created her. While on the run, Zane Bradshaw is the only person she can trust. He knows who-and what-she is and still wants to be part of her life.
But accepting Zane's help means putting him in danger.Dr. Jacobs, head of GTX, is not the only one hunting for Ariane. Two rival corporations have their sights set on taking down their competition. Permanently. To protect Zane and herself, Ariane needs allies. She needs the other hybrids. The hybrids who are way more alien and a lot less human. Can Ariane win them over before they turn on her? Or will she be forced to choose sides, to decide who lives and who dies?

My Thoughts:
Ariane and Zane successfully escaped the GTX lab in on piece, but the danger is far from over. They thought Dr. Jacob was the problem, but soon discover that there are other companies who are also hunting her down. On a mad attempt to find someone to trust, and to keep her and Zane safe, Ari has to try to convince the other hybrids to work together and refuse to cooperate so there won’t be any trials. Only the other hybrids are anything but human and every moment she allows Zane to be with her, puts his life in danger.

After reading the first book, The Rules, I knew that I would fall in love with these books, and I was right. The Hunt is the second installment in the Project Paper Doll series and even better then the first one. This novel is very sharp and very smart. The plot is filled with all the technical sci-fi details that had my head spinning in the best way possible but it was still laced with one sweet romance.

I really loved how Kade handled this plot. It was always moving, twisting and turning in new unexpected ways. I loved the unpredictability of it all, the suspense, the thrills and the excitement of danger within every turn. Ari and Zane felt like they were trying to fight something so much bigger then they could possibly handle with very little help to do it, and yet, they still tried, no matter the consequences.

Ariane is such a heartbreaking creature. She knows she’s a half human/ half alien hybrid, designed in specific skills and although she may be powerful, she doesn't have anyone to turn to except for Zane. She’s torn between wanting to keep him with her and leave so he won’t be in danger. Torn between what she is and what he makes her want to be. Human.

Zane is everything you could ask for in a friend and love interest. He’s sweet, funny, kind, protective and loyal. He doesn't care that Ariane is some freak science experiment or that she’s something other then totally human, he wants to take care of her and keep her safe, even if it means getting himself killed in the process.

The romance is very light, but it’s still really quite adorable. I loved those awkward moments between them when it’s still so uncertain giving the impending danger they’re surrounded in, but their playfully stubbornness and dancing emotions were really something to hold on to. They have great chemistry that made me smile, swoon and laugh.

All in all, this was a really great book. The writing is strong, the flow and pace was perfect, the plot has a heart stopping, nail biting edge that screams with excitement and these characters will keep you on your toes and begging for more. That ending really just about killed me, so be warned, evil-cliffy is just mean, but what a helluva way to grab readers with that gasping conclusion. I can’t wait to get my hands on the next installment! A solid escape.

Find the author:

Goodreads / Website                               4 Snowflakes  

Reivew: The Killing Woods by Lucy Christopher

The Killing Woods by Lucy Christoper
Publisher: Chicken House
Release Date: January 7, 2014
Purchase: Amazon / BN

Emily’s dad is accused of murdering a teenage girl. Emily is sure he is innocent, but what happened that night in the woods behind their house where she used to play as a child? Determined to find out, she seeks out Damon Hillary, the enigmatic boyfriend of the murdered girl. He also knows these woods. Maybe they could help each other. But he’s got secrets of his own about games that are played in the dark.

A new psychological thriller from the award-winning and bestselling author of STOLEN and FLYAWAY.

My thoughts:
This was my first Lucy Christopher book and I can tell you it definitely won't be my last. 

When I pick something up to read I need it to grab me right from the start.  I have noticed lately that I have zero patients when it comes to my books these days and if something doesn't jump at me then I put it down rather quickly.  I know this isn't good but at the moment that's how I am choosing what I read.  Well The Killing Woods not only grabbed me, but it held on throughout the entire book.

This book had everything I love in a murder mystery.  We have a confession from a person who is not mentally stable, a main character who feels deep down her dad didn't do it, another main character who can't remember the night of the killing but knows he was the last to see the victim alive, and a side character with a camera that just might show too much.  Oh and a creepy bunker with pictures that well I'll let you read to find out exactly what they do.  This by no means will give anything away, but it shows a great foundation in my opinion. 

Mysteries have to have a great balance and the author did a great job at keeping me interested but letting the story reveal itself.  I honestly had the killer pegged from pretty early on, but it didn't bother me.  I loved seeing the story unravel and the big reveal at the end actually shocked me even though I knew who did it. 

I enjoyed reading both POVs from Damon and Emily.  They both had a unique voice that brought a lot to the story.  I wasn't really fond of the romance between the two though. I would have preferred for them to stay just friends if a relationship were to develop.  It felt a little weird for feelings to be involved considering how messed up the story was.  I don't think it was believeable. Now their friendship yes I can see happening.  They were both victims of that night and they needed each other to fill in the gaps of that night.  I really loved the dual POV and I don't think the story would have worked if we would have only seen one side.

They whys of it all was just crazy and it kinda felt like an after school special at the end.  I totally buy the whys but I wish it wouldn't have felt like I was being talked to about an important issue.  Does this specific topic need to be addressed with teens..yes, but I just wasn't prepared for it at the end of this story.  I will say it added a strong twist to the story though. I expected something much different so this was a great twist to things I didn't see coming.

All in all a great book that I really enjoyed even with certain hang ups on my end.  I will definitely read Stolen by this author.  I hear it is phenomenal and a must read!

3.5 snowflakes

 

Review: The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E. Smith

The Geography of You and Me 
by Jennifer E. Smith
Publisher- Poppy
Released- April 15th 2014
Purchase- Amazon / B & N

Lucy and Owen meet somewhere between the tenth and eleventh floors of a New York City apartment building, on an elevator rendered useless by a citywide blackout. After they're rescued, they spend a single night together, wandering the darkened streets and marveling at the rare appearance of stars above Manhattan. But once the power is restored, so is reality. Lucy soon moves to Edinburgh with her parents, while Owen heads out west with his father.Lucy and Owen's relationship plays out across the globe as they stay in touch through postcards, occasional e-mails, and -- finally -- a reunion in the city where they first met.A carefully charted map of a long-distance relationship, Jennifer E. Smith's new novel shows that the center of the world isn't necessarily a place. It can be a person, too.

My Thoughts: 
My favorite thing about reading one of Jennifer E. Smith's books is there is usually some kind of greater force that brings her characters together. Call it love at first sight, soul mates or destiny, one way or another two souls will meet and their lives will irrevocably be changed forever. I was really excited to read The Geography of You and Me, since it followed along the same lines as destiny, but this time around we get a different side to fate. We all know that fate can be both your friend and enemy, and for Lucy and Owen, it seemed that fate meant for them to meet in a stuck elevator while the world around them turned black and proceeded to have that one magical day where you connect with someone who, at that moment, is just as lost and alone as you. But fate decided to take a different road for both Owen and Lucy and their one night turned into a beautiful memory, one they'll never be able to forget or let go.

I remember that citywide blackout that reached from Canada to New York back in 2003. It was August and unbearably hot and I missed my air conditioner more then the lights for the next three days. I'm only guessing this is where Smith got her inspiration for this book, so I thought it was pretty cool to be back in that moment with Owen and Lucy, turning a chaotic situation and giving it the opportunity for fate to step in and make it something better. For the most part, I really enjoyed this book. I love the idea of meeting someone and having an instant spark. Living in the moment, laughing and having fun with someone you barely knew, but wouldn't change any of it for the world. It's a grand romantic notion that is realistically believable and irresistibly sweet, but I'm not sure it was always convincingly portrayed by the actual characters. The feeling of deep emotions and longing was always present throughout the novel, but at the same time it felt like you really have to want that connection to really believe in it.  

Owen and Lucy met on a stuck elevator on a city wide blackout. The experience instantly bonded them together and somewhere between their walk through the dark NY streets and the rooftop morning, they left a lasting impression with one another that unknowingly tied them together. But in a twisty fate, these two unlikely friends both end up moving away but are determined to keep in touch by postcards and e-mails and eventually met up in-between the years. This is the part where I wish we had more time with the characters together. Individually, Owen and Lucy are good people. I respected the way Owen wanted to take care of his grief stricken father and how he wanted to keep his mothers memory alive and I liked that Lucy finally was able to get her parents attention and that she gets her opportunity to travel instead of just living it through sent postcards...but together, Owen and Lucy seemed to try to maintain some form of a  long distance friendship more then a relationship but lacked the bigger moments to want to go to that extreme. I'm a hopeless romantic and a complete sap for these kind of books so I get how strongly someone can make a dent in your heart big enough to take with you as you move along through life. Always keeping the thought alive and close but to far away to really touch. Postcards, e-mails and one visit were nice gestures but it needed something more. I felt like something was missing, something epic where you can look at these two people, feel that undeniable connection and hope against hope that they will find a way to be together, and yet, this ended up feeling underwhelming and forced.

With that said, for me, this may not have been Smith's strongest escape, but I still ended up enjoying this for what it is, a lovely story about the what-could-have-happened and the hope of one days. Jennifer E. Smith is a wonderful writer who tackles destiny like no other and I look forward to seeing what she comes up with next. A decent read.

Find the author:
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