ARC Review: Until You Find Me by Amber Hart

Title: Until You Find Me: A Novel
Author: Amber Hart
Release Date: 11th November 2014
Publisher: Random House Flirt
Find on: Goodreads

Quick Review: Amber Hart pushes contemporary romance to its wildest limits in this heart-pounding novel, the story of a girl who travels to Africa to protect the legacy of one man . . . and stays for the love of another.

Raven Moore, a twenty-year-old college student from Michigan, feels out of place in the beautiful, treacherous jungles of Cameroon, staying in the habitat where her father gave his life to help protect endangered gorillas. He left home years ago; now Raven refuses to return home until she unravels the truth about his last days.

Raven certainly doesn’t count on crossing paths with a handsome young hunter—especially one as charismatic and intense as Jospin Tondjii. Instantly, she’s hooked. But Jospin is hiding a dark truth: He is the heir to a powerful poaching empire, part of a ruthless black market that is responsible for the dwindling gorilla population.

Their fathers may have been enemies, but Raven and Jospin forge a bond that goes beyond blood, a relationship that is tested as Raven draws closer to the source of her father’s death. Can she and Jospin bear the weight of the secrets of the wild—and the secrets of their pasts? Or will the rain forest destroy them both?

Detailed Review: <<I had the privilege of reading an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review>>

Amber Hart has done it again. And this is only the second book she's written so far. 

Talent. It all comes down to talent. There are many authors who steal people's attention using fantasy worlds or some swoony romance, or even some important historical event-like Markus Zusak's The Book Thief.

This particular author doesn't just do that; she also brings people's attention to a global issue. 

Hart decided to push her writing abilities to breaking point. And that's what makes her different from any author I've read so far.

In Until You Find Me, the author decides to use dramatic irony (Shakespeare loved using this!). We will find out things about Jospin and Raven, things that both wouldn't know about the other. That actually made the suspense more palpable as you read along.

She also decided to add one more element-which I'm sure if Shakespeare was alive, would award her an award for: star-crossed lovers.

This novel may well be the Cameroonian version of Romeo and Juliet.

I personally am an animal lover, so I was quite pleased when I found out that there was also some spotlight for gorillas and how they were being hunted to extinction.

To emphasise this issue, Amber Hart decided to put Raven through an almost-death experience with a gorilla, thus planting a hate for them in the main character. 

And then. Magic. With Hart's writing and a gorilla, Raven's opinion of the gorillas was changed to something positive.

This novel isn't just some swoony romance (but it's one of the good parts); it explores the connection between man and animal. And the capability of animals to change the thoughts of men.

I harboured some hate for Jospin because he was a poacher- a person who hunted gorillas for money.

But then I knew he couldn't be blamed because he simply had no choice. He had been born into it.

What I loved the most was Raven's spirit. She didn't give up after her accident, but instead she grew stronger. That's heroine material for you right there. 

I felt that Raven's father played a big part in the 

She also finds out the truth of her father's death is not as it seems; there's something more sinister in the workings.

And the truth might actually pull both Raven and Jospin apart.

The plot, needless to say, had just the right amount of tension and action AND romance to keep it going.

And then, came the great finale- also known as- The Grand Twist.

All you need to know is there was heartbreak and betrayal involved.

Brief Review: This isn't just any NA contemporary romance. It's unique in its setting in the African jungle- where danger lurks everywhere in the form of animals and men, the subject of interest- how often do you read about gorillas- and even the diverse characters. Until You Find Me is a story of star-crossed lovers in a dangerous place; this novel has considerably raised my expectations for all NA contemporary romances- and it may have been what Amber Hart intended to do.

Final Rating: 5/5 'Totally Amazing!'

QUOTE: 

Since the book is mainly about animals and nature, here's a quote about it,

Until one has loved an animal a part of one's soul remains unawakened---Anatole France

Your Reviewer:

ARC Review: Of Scars and Stardust by Andrea Hannah

Title: Of Scars and Stardust
Author: Andrea Hannah
Release Date: 8th October 2014
Publisher: Flux
Find on: Goodreads

Quick Review: After her little sister mysteriously vanishes, seventeen-year-old Claire Graham has a choice to make: stay snug in her little corner of Manhattan with her dropout boyfriend, or go back to Ohio to face the hometown tragedy she's been dying to leave behind. 

But the memories of that night still haunt her in the city, and as hard as she tries to forget what her psychiatrist calls her "delusions," Claire can't seem to escape the wolf's eyes or the blood-speckled snow. Delusion or reality, Claire knows she has to hold true to the most important promise she's ever made: to keep Ella safe. She must return to her sleepy hometown in order to find Ella and keep her hallucinations at bay before they strike again. But time is quickly running out, and as Ella's trail grows fainter, the wolves are becoming startlingly real.

Now Claire must deal with her attraction to Grant, the soft-spoken boy from her past that may hold the secret to solving her sister's disappearance, while following the clues that Ella left for only her to find. Through a series of cryptic diary entries, Claire must unlock the keys to Ella's past—and her own—in order to stop another tragedy in the making, while realizing that not all things that are lost are meant to be found.

Review: Falling Steady by Kaitlyn Felt

A

Title: Falling Steady (Chasing Heartbeats #2)
Author: Kaitlyn Felt
Release Date: 9th December 2013
Publisher: CreateSpace
Find on: Goodreads

Quick Review: One dead. Four alive. One book. Thousands of lies…

After finding a mysterious black book containing letters written to her deceased brother Tommy by a nineteenth century prodigy by the name of Sophia Grant, Fiona Kent and her friends find themselves entwined in an adventure that seems beyond life itself. After chasing the mysterious Sophia Grant’s family tree back to New York City, Fiona, Kyle, Logan, and Taylor are finally ready to figure out how Sophia was connected to Tommy and end the mystery once and for all. However, when a key person winds up dead and another one goes missing, the kids realize that they, too, may not get out of New York alive. Torn between following their hearts or the logic of their minds, Fiona and her friends struggle to figure out if the knowledge Sophia Grant holds is worth their very last breaths. Should they risk their lives by continuing to search for the answers behind the black book or should they save themselves and run away from everything as fast as they can?

Detailed Review: <<I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review>>

This book is the sequel to the first book, Chasing Heartbeats and is told from both Kyle and Fiona's points of view. It starts at the point when Fiona and her friends and brother decides to leave for New York to find out Sophia Grant's connection to her brother. They are now in New York and the trip is harder than they thought, with the sudden appearance of a possible stepmother and love interest. And when things get dangerous, do they only understand the risks of their mission, which may even tear both Kyle and Fiona's friendship apart.

I whisked through this book in the shortest time possible. I don't think I've read this fast since Divergent. One, because it was quite short. Two, because it was quite good. It's definitely ideal if you're looking for a fast read. The writing was quite smooth, but again, like the first book, needed a little more revision to help erase any spelling mistakes. This did affect my opinion slightly, because I am a perfectionist and hate any mistakes, whether spelling or grammatical. Looking forward, I hope to see a more polished result in the next book. 

Another thing that put me off was the insta-love between two of the characters ( I won't tell you who). I was surprised by how I reacted to this particular one, because I'm fine with them as long as they blend in well with the story. If you read my recent review for Never Say Goodbye by Beth Cooper, you'd know that I actually liked the insta-love there, but definitely not this one. It was way tooooooo short to even classify it as romance. And it seemed to not belong in the story at all. I would have preferred that the characters just remained friends instead of jumping straight into romance. I was slightly disappointed by Felt's lack of awareness of the story. It's like she suddenly decided that she wanted a love triangle and suddenly added a character just to make that happen. 

These two things were what pulled my rating down by one and a half.

Having got through the bad parts, overall I found this book quite enjoyable. The character development was actually excellent, with the exception of only one character, who was involved in the insta-love plot. He seemed out of place, like the romance he was in.

One character which I thought was very well written was Briella, she definitely gave me the 'wicked witch' vibe in her first appearance. She has that curiosity and determination which witches would possess. She reminds me of the Wicked Witch in the Wizard of Oz! She made a brilliant antagonist. 

Now I must bring your attention to the most important part of that a book could ever have besides characters, the writing. Usually when I read a book I always ask myself, 'Do I feel connected to the characters? Do I feel what they feel?'. The answer for this book was one big YES. I could feel Kyle's anger and desperation most of the time. I could feel Fiona's uncertainty of her actions. I could understand Logan's pain. I could even smell Briella's underlying wickedness and cunning. 

The last ingredient would of course be the twists. Really, they're all set out evenly in the book, ready to jump at you when you turn the page. But the ones in the beginning and middle are minor compared to the enormous one at the end.

And when I say this is a mystery novel, I mean it. It's a mystery novel through and through. It's omnipresent throughout the book.

Brief Review: Kaitlyn Felt brought out the mystery in Falling Steady with her characters, twists and clear writing. If only she could have developed the love triangle a little more and be more careful in her grammars and spelling, this book would have definitely garnered a five star rating from me. Overall, this book would be a great read for mystery lovers, but not for those where insta-love is not their cup of tea.

Final Rating: 3.5/5 'Quite liked but could have been better'

Your Reviewer:

ARC Review: The Death of Ink by MM John

Title: The Death of Ink

Auhor: MM John

Release Date: 4th January 2014

Publisher: 

Find on: Goodreads

Quick Review: Fifteen-year-old Paige Langley’s life has always revolved around good grades and escaping her less than ideal home life…but once she meets Devon Connors, her life drastically changes.

Although, they share an instant attraction, Devon’s concealing a dark past. And an even darker secret…there’s a dead girl haunting him nightly.

Resolute to win the school’s writing contest, Paige will do just about anything to achieve her goals. So after she finds a binder containing information on a past murder and the illegal activities of the students, she believes the stories are fictional and the perfect way to win the contest.

But the owner of the manuscript, Devon Connors, has other plans. To keep Paige from exposing his secrets, Devon befriends her and even offers to help her write a winning story for the contest.

The chemistry between Paige and Devon is undeniable, but Paige doesn’t know if she can trust him. The deeper she digs into the dark underbelly of their high school, the more she realizes that some secrets are better left buried.

Detailed Review: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

So you want an honest review? Let's see... This book was a force of nature. And I found out one thing the author was very good at: hypnotism with words. At least, that's what I think. I was hooked to the book like a lung cancer patient hooked to an oxygen tank. It was a phenomenon. In my opinion, this book held a different vibe compared to other supernatural books. This book gives the 'read at your own risk' vibe. Others would typically give the 'come and read me, there's lots of ghosts and whatnot' vibe. 

The characters certainly did their part well in The Death of Ink. The main characters, Paige and Devon don't have promising family lives, but their school lives don't reflect that. Paige is a high school senior at only 15 and Devon is the star receiving back in the football team. A binder of short stories and a writing competition brings them closer together. And the short stories, unbelievable as they seem, are certainly not fiction. Paige is a normal girl who wants to be noticed. Devon doesn't want attention. 

Devon was a very unusual character. I've never met anyone like him in my life. He's...special. Words can't describe how I feel about Devon, but he certainly has a dark side that I haven't had the chance to know more about.

And who's the 'dead girl' haunting him? Even I don't know. I wasn't given much of a glimpse into what his relationship with the girl, but I know something. 

The story is both confusing and not confusing. I don't know how to explain it. I feel like the story has a double meaning that I can't even begin to fathom, but the strange thing is I feel connected to the story. 

And this all leads to the topic of John's writing style. It's definitely unique. It seems simple enough when you read it, but there seems to be some power in the words she writes which attracts readers. I don't know how he does it, but she sure knows how to seduce you with words.

Brief Review: MM John affects me in a way which other authors haven't. She blends the supernatural with reality with such skill that it's hard to tell whether you are in the real or supernatural world. Her characters are intriguing and special and each demonstrate their own sense of character and purpose, even the minor ones. Her style of writing is unlike any I've encountered before. It's undoubtedly the best thing to look for in a new author when the competition between YA books is so strong. I'm definitely looking forward to reading her next book!

Final Rating: 5/5 'Totally Amazing!'

QUOTE: To Devon and his secrets, 

If you reveal your secrets to the wind, you should not blame the wind for revealing them to the trees.---Khalil Gibran

Your Reviewer: 

Blog Tour: Quantum Entanglement by Liesel K. Hill (Review+Guest Post)

Hi everyone! This is the last stop for the Quantum Entanglement blog tour and today I'm going to present you with a review of the book together with a guest post from the author, Liesel K. Hill.

Title: Quantum Entanglement
Author: Liesel K. Hill
Release Date: 17th September 2013
Publisher: CreateSpace
Find on: Goodreads

Quick Review: Five months after traveling to a post-apocalyptic future where collectives reign supreme and individuals have been hunted to the verge of extinction, Maggie Harper was returned to her own time until the threat to her life could be neutralized. She thought Marcus and the others would return for her within a few weeks, and now she’s beginning to worry. 

When travelers from the future finally show up to collect her, it’s not who she expected. With the return of her memories, she wants more than ever to see Marcus again, but a snake-like woman whose abilities are a perfect match for Maggie’s, an injured Traveler, and decades of civil unrest to wade through all stand in the way of their reunion.

Meanwhile, Marcus and Karl traipse through the countryside, trying to neutralize Colin, who’s promised to brutalize and murder Maggie if he can get his hands on her. When a collective woman is left for dead, Marcus heals her, hoping she’ll be the key to killing Colin and bringing Maggie back. But she may prove as much a hindrance as a help.

The team struggles to get their bearings, but things happen faster than they know. The collectives are coalescing, power is shifting, and the one called B is putting sinister plans into action. If the team can’t reunite and get a handle on the situation, their freedom and individuality—perhaps their very identity—will be ripped away before they can catch their breath.

Detailed Review: This was such an explosive book. Really, I'm not joking here. To me, what stood out most in the book were the characters. Here, you get to know the characters even more in depth than in Persistence of Vision.

The new characters didn't disappoint either. One of them is Justine, an assassin who's sent to annihilate Maggie, who fulfills the role of the Executioner and has now gotten most of her memories back. Justine was everything from wicked to scary and sadistic, everything you'd expect of an assassin, except picture it 1000 times more brutal. Yup, that's Justine.

The other new character was a woman who. like David had just come out of the collective, but she was a very tough nut to crack, this one. She was all defiance. Karl and Marcus certainly found it hard to break her but they did manage to give her a name. I won't tell you what it is.

I liked the story in this book as well and thought it to be very well-developed because it shows a clear picture of how the different groups: collectives and individuals came into place as Maggie Travelled through time. Also, there were literally so much going on in the book. There were three stories from different perspectives to contend with so you will NEVER find this boring. But if you do find it boring you to sleep, you're missing something. Because Liesel K. Hill is a very very very talented writer. How many times have I said that?

THE ENDING: Leaves so many questions that can only be answered in the next book...

NOOOOO I NEED THE NEXT BOOK SO BAD!!!

P.S. The cover sure is creepy... Imagine the girl staring at you in your sleep. And that's Justine.

And don't forget to read the guest post after the review!!!

Brief Review: Liesel has nailed everything down that is needed to make an unbelievably and irresistibly good dystopian book. This book was the prime definition of perfection and a good book that shouldn't be ignored!

Final Rating: 5/5 'Totally Amazing!'

QUOTE: 

To all collectives in the world (it's already happening!):

Society exists only as a mental concept; in the real world there are only individuals.---Oscar Wilde

Your Reviewer:

Guest Post by Liesel K. Hill

Why Bother With the Craziness of Writing?

Hello Fabulous Readers! Today is the final day of my Quantum Entanglement blog tour. Though it wasn’t quite as epic as the tour I did for book 1, in many ways it was more stressful. I’ve had more going on, more things to worry about, more work to do, and more tasks to juggle.

Do you ever wonder why we writers bother? Writing is hard work. It’s a hassle. There are many aspects of it that are long, tedious, and less-than-enjoyable. And yet more people than ever before are uploading their work to publication sites, hoping the world will latch onto their words.

One truth that most people don’t know, and aspiring authors don’t really want to hear, is that writing the book is only half the battle, and the smaller half at that. Promoting, selling, blogging,  and networking are actually harder and take more time. They can result in headaches--often a result of the authors banging our own heads against the wall--and take time away from doing what we really love: writing.

So why do it? Why subject ourselves to the arduous hell of writing, publication, and promotion?

There are so many answers to that question, and they vary from author to author, but in my opinion, they all boil down to the same thing: we don’t have much choice.

There are many professions in which the people who follow them are answering a call they can’t ignore. They’re passionate about their work and, despite the headaches, wouldn’t do anything else. Writing is no different.

“We write by the light of every story we have read.”--Richard Peck

“You have to write the book that wants to be written.”--Madeleine L’Engle

“I write to find out what I didn’t know I knew.”--Robert Frost

“I write because there is a voice inside me that will not be still.”--Sylvia Plath

“A writer can do nothing for men more necessary, satisfying, than just simply to reveal to them the infinite possibility of their own souls.”--Walt Witman

“It is impossible to discourage real writers, they don’t give a damn what you say, they’re going to write.”--Unknown

“I must write. My pen is heavy. Oh lighten the load, for I must write.”--Unknown

“You will recognize your own path when you come upon it, because you will suddenly have all the energy and imagination you will ever need.”--Unknown

I identify with all of these. Once I fully conceive a story, once it’s fully formed and I start to feel like the characters are good friends, I know I’ll have to write it sooner or later. It’ll just keep me up at night until I do. It’s a call, a compulsion, a necessity for sanity. A passion. A way of life. Oh, and by the way, it’s dang fun.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my blog tour and book 2 of my Interchron series. I plan to keep putting fingers to keyboard for a long, long time.

Ideas for your next BOOK HAUL

The Art of Letting Go by Anna Bloom

  Our Rating:  *  *  *  *


Genre: New-Adult, Contemporary

Filed under: Book-Boyfriends, Lazy day reads, humorous

Average rating on GoodReads: 4.83 out of 5.00

Summary:


One year. One woman. One Diary. One question: can you ever stop history from repeating itself and if you could what would you do to stop it?
When Lilah McCannon realises at the age of twenty-five that history is going to repeat itself and she is going to become her mother—bored, drunk and wearing a twinset—there is only one thing to do: take drastic action.
Turning her back on her old life, Lilah’s plan is to enrol at university, get a degree and prove she is a grown-up.
As plans go, it is a good one. There are rules to follow: no alcohol, no cigarettes, no boys and no going home. But when Lilah meets the lead singer of a local band and finds herself unexpectedly falling in love, she realises her rules are not going to be the only things hard to keep.
With the academic year slipping by too quickly, Lilah faces a barrage of new challenges: will she ever make it up the Library stairs without having a heart attack? Can she handle a day on campus without drinking vodka? Will she ever manage to read a history book without falling asleep? And most importantly, can she become the grown-up that she desperately wants to be.
With her head and her heart pulling her in different directions can Lilah learn the hardest lesson that her first year of university has to teach her: The Art of Letting Go?

Available on Amazon here for £1.93

If you've already got it or even finished it, TWEET ABOUT IT TODAY & let everyone know using the #hashtag #FridayReads

ALSO

ATTENTION ALL BOOK FANS - THERE'S STILL TIME TO PARTICIPATE IN THE UNI FILES - THE ART OF LETTING GO READ ALONG.

So if you're interested in signing up, tweet or email either of us, (ANNA OR CAIT.)  First blog discussions start on the 1ST OF OCTOBER.



A Different Blue by Amy Harmon

Our Rating: TBC / not quite finished with this one, 3 provisional stars so far!


Genre: NA/YA, contemporary, romance,

Filed under/Lists with this book: Student-Teacher/ Best Books Published in 2013, NYTIMES BESTSELLER

Average Rating on GoodReads: 4.32 out of 5



Summary:

Blue Echohawk doesn't know who she is. She doesn't know her real name or when she was born. Abandoned at two and raised by a drifter, she didn't attend school until she was ten years old. At nineteen, when most kids her age are attending college or moving on with life, she is just a senior in high school. With no mother, no father, no faith, and no future, Blue Echohawk is a difficult student, to say the least. Tough, hard and overtly sexy, she is the complete opposite of the young British teacher who decides he is up for the challenge, and takes the troublemaker under his wing.

This is the story of a nobody who becomes somebody. It is the story of an unlikely friendship, where hope fosters healing and redemption becomes love. But falling in love can be hard when you don't know who you are. Falling in love with someone who knows exactly who they are and exactly why they can't love you back might be impossible.

Amazon UK Paperback: £9.27 / Kindle: £3.16
Amazon US Paperback: $12.08/ Kindle: $5.06

If you've already got it or even finished it, TWEET ABOUT IT TODAY & let everyone know using the #hashtag #FridayReads

The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty (Penguin Books)

Our Rating: TBC / Provisional 3 stars

Genre: Mystery, Cultural, Book Club, Contemporary,

Average Rating on GoodReads: 4.06 out of 5


Summary:

My Darling Cecilia
If you're reading this, then I've died . . .

Imagine your husband wrote you a letter, to be opened after his death. Imagine, too, that the letter contains his deepest, darkest secret - something so terrible it would destroy not just the life you built together, but the lives of others too. Imagine, then, that you stumble across that letter while your husband is still very much alive . . .

Cecilia Fitzpatrick achieved it all - she's an incredibly successful business woman, a pillar of her small community and a devoted wife and mother. Her life is as orderly and spotless as her home. But that letter is about to change everything, and not just for her: Rachel and Tess barely know Cecilia - or each other - but they too are about to feel the earth-shattering repercussions of her husband's devastating secret.

From the author of the critically acclaimed What Alice Forgot comes a breakout new novel about the secrets husbands and wives keep from each other.

Amazon UK/ Paperback: £3.75 / Kindle: £3.99
Amazon US / Paperback: $7.12/ Hardcover: $15.57


Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

Our Rating: TBC - 3.5 Provisional Stars!

Genre: Paranormal Romance, YA, Fantasy,

Average Rating on GoodReads:  3.70 out of 5

Filed under: Books that should be made into a movie, NYTIMES  Bestseller

Summary:


Rule #3: Don't stare at invisible faeries.
Aislinn has always seen faeries. Powerful and dangerous, they walk hidden in the mortal world. Aislinn fears their cruelty - especially if they learn of her Sight - and wishes she were as blind to their presence as other teens.

Rule #2: Don't speak to invisible faeries.
Now faeries are stalking her. One of them, Keenan, who is equal parts terrifying and alluring, is trying to talk to her, asking questions Aislinn is afraid to answer.

Rule #1: Don't ever attract their attention.
But it's too late. Keenan is the Summer King, who has sought his queen for nine centuries. Without her, summer itself will perish. He is determined that Aislinn will become the Summer Queen at any cost — regardless of her plans or desires.

Suddenly none of the rules that have kept Aislinn safe are working anymore, and everything is on the line: her freedom; her best friend, Seth; her life; everything.

Faery intrigue, mortal love, and the clash of ancient rules and modern expectations swirl together in Melissa Marr's stunning twenty-first-century faery tale.


Amazon UK/ Paperback: £4.99/ Kindle: £1.99/ Audiobook: £13.55
Amazon US/ Hardcover: $12.98 / Paperback: £7.38 / Audiobook CD: $29.99


#FridayReads/WeekendReads, you know the drill!


That's all for now, folks. Happy reading!
 If you found this inspiring, give us a tweet  about your next Book haul!

Review: Dance in Shadow and Whisper by Sarah Godfrey and Victoria DeRubeis

Title: Dance in Shadow and Whisper

Author Sarah Godfrey and Victoria DeRubeis

Release Date: 19th June 2013 

Find on: Goodreads

Quick Review: Kali unexpectedly discovers on her first day of human high school that she’s forbidden to eat or partake of the toilet during class time, the assigned history and species books look best on the shelves of popular fiction, and the boy she’s watching over is definitely a reincarnated war lord.

The highest powers of Kali’s people and the highest powers of Yuuhi’s people, irreconcilable enemies, designated them to find proof that Jason is, in fact, the reincarnated Ares.

All Yuuhi sees in Jason is the typical scrawny, socially inept emo kid dressed in conflicting shades of black. But Kali sees that Jason’s shadow is bigger than he is, and if the powers of Yuuhi’s people find out, Jason won’t be human much longer.

The desire to protect him from an unexpected visitor brings out her most dangerous sides. Something’s changing in her, something she can’t control, and she’s not afraid of Jason mutating into a creature of the shadows more than she’s afraid she’s becoming something even worse.

And the highest powers will be watching her.

Detailed Review: This book was the BEST fantasy book I've ever read surrounding demons and vampires. Really it was. It just managed to suck me right into the vortex of a story and not let me go. For starters, the story is very original and intriguing. The authors' style of writing leaves you questioning on every page and you know you'll have to read on to get the answers. I also liked how the authors only chose to involve demons and vampires and not werewolves and faeries. I'm starting to get tired of all those. But Dance in Shadow and Whisper was really a wake-up call for me.

Not only was the story mesmerizing, the characters set off a pretty high standard too. They fit right into the story and were clearly and elaborately thought out. I also like the multiple POVs in this book because sometimes it gets a bit tiring just seeing from one person's perspective. Also besides the central theme of war and retribution in the book, there was this word echoing the whole time in my head, the really obvious theme in this book.

FAMILY.

I could see how Kali and her brothers and fathers stayed closed together and never let go of each other. This was clearly what makes it so different from other books I've read. I've never read about such strong family bonds. This somehow affected the story more than I thought it would. It affected the ending too, no question about that.

The twist in the story which I think worthy of mentioning is that there is also another reincarnation of another war lord besides Ares. And what is most shocking is that the person you suspected the least is the reincarnation.

Now that ending is what kills me the most. It was really really painful for me to find that there was no continuation to the story that had me like a fish dangling on a hook. 

WHICH MEANS I NEED THE SECOND BOOK. The second book must come out soon. I'm dying of anticipation and apprehension here. 

Note: If the story and the review is not already a tip-off, the cover should do it. It's beautiful.

Brief Review: This book was unexpected in many ways. First the content was just a punch in the gut, and the characters were a stab to my body then the ending was a bullet to my head. This makes the book perfectly addictive and compelling to read. AND I WANT MORE KALI!

Final Rating: 5/5 'Totally Amazing!'

QUOTE: 

The best quote to describe the theme of family in this book:

Family means no one gets left behind or forgotten.---David Ogden Stiers

Your Reviewer:

Review: Indelible by Dawn Metcalf

Title: Indelible
Author: Dawn Metcalf
Release Date: 30th July 2013
Publisher: Harlequin TEEN
Find on: Goodreads

Quick Review: Some things are permanent.

Indelible.

And they cannot be changed back.

Joy Malone learns this the night she sees a stranger with all-black eyes across a crowded room—right before the mystery boy tries to cut out her eye. Instead, the wound accidentally marks her as property of Indelible Ink, and this dangerous mistake thrusts Joy into an incomprehensible world—a world of monsters at the window, glowing girls on the doorstep, and a life that will never be the same.

Now, Joy must pretend to be Ink’s chosen one—his helper, his love, his something for the foreseeable future...and failure to be convincing means a painful death for them both. Swept into a world of monsters, illusion, immortal honor and revenge, Joy discovers that sometimes, there are no mistakes.

Somewhere between reality and myth lies…

THE TWIXT

Detailed Review: Three words describe how I felt after reading Indelible: awed, amazed, astounded. This book really took me by surprise because it was something new for me and it was fresh air. I enjoyed this book immensely. The story was perfect, with twists that make your heart pound. Let's just say, the author really quicken things up when it starts to get dull, and I appreciate this ability in authors. This means it will never bore the readers.

I also loved the romance because she clearly created one which was both surreal and impossible. She completely abandons the idea of 'forbidden love' and instead create more boundaries and stakes to an extent where it becomes 'impossible'. This book was a really new experience to me and really exposed me to the author's imagination.

The characters were really elaborately thought out, I couldn't find anything odd with them or anything that sticks out, they just fit in so well with the story and went with the flow without inhibiting it. Joy was an impressive character, she was as the author wrote: 'She was a wildflower with bite' and I agree. And also the pair of Scribes were really interesting and intriguing and have got really odd but mesmerising names: Indelible Ink and Invisible Inq. I liked Inq's encouragement and her ability to always be so happy. What I liked most about Ink was his curiosity about humans because this was what got him closer to Joy and created a spark of romance.

I think Joy really didn't regret being Ink's lehman in the end. I wouldn't also. 

Brief Review: I was outright blown away by this book, by the romance, the story, the characters. Armed with twists at the most unexpected of times, get ready for a fun ride together with the characters. 

Final Rating: 5/5 'Totally Amazing!'

QUOTE:

 I am going to use a quote from the book, which perfectly describes Joy,

'She was a wildflower with bite.'

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Review: Modern Suburbia by Chris Merlo

Title: Modern Suburbia
Author: Chris Merlo
Publisher: ~
Release Date: March 17th 2013
Find on: Amazon, Goodreads

Quick Review: Teal County. The populace would say it's a prime community of modern sophistication and wealth, filled with every form of entertaining consumption one could desire. Expenses were not spared in producing this lavish and clean looking suburb, along with creating an effective and expanded judicial and policing system and a wide and over reaching corporate industry. 

But not everyone finds Teal County to be so fantastic. A young man by the name of Nathan Grant, who has a bitter love-hate relationship with the County he was raised in, is heading back after a long absence in hopes of finishing one last job, part of which includes transporting a very valuable item. The crudeness of the County officials had ironically been both the inspiration for his plans, and now was an abrupt interruption to them, as his freedom in the County is cut short just as soon as he arrives. From there, the story's woven tapestries begins to unravel, and we find foes of Nathan with a set of their own agendas in mind, as well as friends willing to help. With the aid of his friends, Emily, a highly attractive party going drug user, and Aiden, a capable well to do computer genius, among others, Nathan must prevail through the hurdles made by County authorities that stand in his way as he tries to complete a task for Martin Benson, a sleazy corporate high roller. Little does Benson know, Nathan has a few alternative plans of his own for Benson, and little does Nathan know, he might be getting into more hot water than he bargained for. After it is revealed Benson has ties with Falco Dietrich, a German terrorist, along with a handful of his cohorts, and it would also seem the highly effective FBI team of Agent's Simms and Harris has secretly had an eye on Benson for quite some time, several culminating moments of action and deceptions determine the fates of these characters. All while in the midst of negotiating through the complexities of the modern suburb of Teal County.

But even when cornered, Nathan proves his wide knowledge of the town he grew up in can give him a tricky advantage, and that he may have more than one motive for why he chose to target Benson in his plans.

Brief Review: << arc received from the author himself >>

Hmmm... Read this and tried to figure out what to say... why? Because well, I tried but the book didn't suit my tastes. It was kinda confusing but I totally vote the author's mysterious writing skill though it kinda got me lost in the plot so let's just say that I didn't really... like it? 

I know I'm being mean but if you guys, the readers want an honest review for me... this book was so-so. Not great and not bad... it's in the 'safe' zone. But I wish the story was more comical or 'fun' to urge me to read forward. 

It's a pretty long description above but I don't think it suits some reader's 'taste' where our blog is aimed at Young Adult (YA) readers. 

But never fear, the book has it's good and bad qualities. It's good points: 

• The characters were described detailed and fine
• the author's writing skill is well and mysterious which definitely shoots through it's 'mysterious aura' 

I recommend this book to an adult audience or an age where you don't find this book... Slow? That's my opinion and please don't take this personally cause even I, found this book kinda slow. 

I think this book can be improved... I think if the author, Merlo had actually made it more heart-pounding, more crazy (exciting) and showed more of his writing skill - he would have killed it! But I believe that his writing has potential, maybe some places to polish up. All he needs to do is capture his readers in the web of mystery he has already created. 

But it's totally up to the readers, if you want to take the chance "GO FOR IT!" or if you don't think you should, it's still up to you! 

Cause I think readers with the thirst of mystery, you should try it out... but if you still don't feel so? 

it's up to you, 

the reader

...

*Really sorry for the short review but I couldn't find much to say...*

Quick Review: I found this book slow and it's not really go-lucky for people who read for the excitement but I think this book has a lot of potential and I really wished the author, Chris Merlo used more exaggeration and develop a more 'fun' skill of writing. 

My Rating: 3/5   "It's OK... but not for me."

Reviewer: 

Review: The Dreamwalker by Constance Williams and Lillian Bishop

Title: The Dreamwalker
Authors: Constance Williams and Lillian Bishop
Release Date: 17th May 2013
Publisher: --
Find on: Goodreads


Quick Review: Everyone loves a good mystery – and Sam Gardener is certainly one of those. Abruptly pulled from school years before, nobody has seen or heard from him since – until now. Returning to high school for his senior year, he is not the same friendly boy his classmates remember, and the rumors are flying. None, however, come close to the truth. The bearer of a strange and frightening supernatural ability, Sam strives to regain control of his life.

Along with some unlikely new friends with secrets of their own, Sam learns that his own mystery is only the tip of the iceberg in the quaint town of Witch Lake. With their help, he must learn the strength of his own gift, and lose the fear that comes with it. With their help, he can stand against the gathering darkness. Together, they can face the truth of Witch Lake, but alone? They will be lost beneath the surface, drowning in depths none could foresee.

Detailed Review: First off, I thought this book was quite original and not too cliche like other books. But maybe what it lacked was a bit more pace. Overall though, the book fetched a quite high rating. 

Sam Gardener has an ability he never wanted and thinks of it as a curse. When he returns to high school, he is changed. He is a loner and doesn't make the effort to make friends. Instead, he stays cut off from the real world. His only friends are the ghost of a long-dead witch and a werewolf. In order to uncover the mystery that is unfolding between two of his teachers, he explores his ability and ultimately finds him in dangerous situations. 

Beware, the ending has a twist in it. And I really am curious to know how the two authors managed to pull off such an interesting story. It is truly well-written and well-planned but just needs a bit more excitement to really get the adrenaline pumping and heart racing. Overall, this is a good start for both authors. I would really love to see what they have in store for their next book!

Brief Review: I really thought this book was well-written and the story was really interesting and fascinating as well. If the authors could just make the story more exciting with more twists, I would be more than happy to give it a high rating. This is a must-read for fantasy, paranormal and mystery lovers!

Final Rating: 4.5/5 'Really Liked It!'

QUOTE: 

To Sam, who really feared his talents  and powers,

Always do what you are afraid to do---Ralph Waldo Emerson

Your Reviewer: 

Review: Chasing Heartbeats by Kaitlyn Felt

Title: Chasing Heartbeats
Author: Kaitlyn Felt
Release Date: 8th July 2013
Publisher: CreateSpace
Find on: Goodreads

Quick Review: Growing up in the invisible and sparsely populated village of Livingston, Michigan, Fiona Kent used to despise her life. Every single summer had always turned out to be the same: along with babysitting her younger brothers, Logan and Tommy, the days always turned out to be long, extremely hot, and utterly boring. Just as Fiona was beginning to drown in the tiny sea that she called her world, though, lymphatic lymphoma whisked Tommy away, shoving her parents into a sheer panic and leaving Logan to lose himself in a deep depression. Shocked by her little brother’s quick and unexpected passing, Fiona suddenly feels grateful for the tall walls that separate her and her little town from the rest of the world and embraces what little innocence and naivety she has left… 

Three years pass and only one photograph of Tommy can be found in Fiona Kent’s house. Though their small-minded neighbors had eventually stopped gossiping about her brother’s death, Fiona was well aware that the rest of her family had made little progress. Logan was still caught up in the dark, deathly winds of his depression and her parents acted as if Tommy had never been born at all. All of that changes, though, when Fiona discovers a black, blank-covered book in the dark, unexplored realms of her basement. Searching through the book’s yellow-tinged pages, Fiona discovers jaw-dropping letters written to Tommy by an ancient, nineteenth century prodigy known by the name of Sophia Grant. Determined to prove Sophia’s wild and accusatory predictions about her precious, deceased brother wrong, Fiona snaps Logan out of his depression, brings the mysterious book to the attention of her two best friends, and begins the unforgettable journey of a lifetime.


Detailed Review: ARC received by author

My first impression of the book was that it was going to be a sad story about life and how unfair it was. But then I was thrown off track with the existence of the nameless black book that described  Tommy's life so perfectly. The language used in the black book, in contrast with the author's narrative skills, was beautiful and convincing. It truly convinced me that another person had written about Tommy's life. 

One thing though that dissatisfied me were some of the errors in the book but I can understand because it's an ARC and there would be more edits before the book is published. But the errors did break the flow of the book and slightly affected my enjoyment level. 

The author's take on romance was quite good and showed the desires and hopes of both Kyle and Fiona and how the black book had altered their lives and their relationship.

Felt has managed to describe the impact of an object on people's lives with perfection. This book was one of the few contemporaries I'd read so far and I envy how the author can mix in different genres so easily and without breaking a sweat- but you'll never know maybe she really did sweat over it. -wink-

I'm sure you've noticed the lack of spoilers, but I've made a vow to never spoil a book for anyone ever again unless I'm asked to. Life's a mystery. Discover it yourself. Same goes with books.

Brief Review: Original and emotional: this is possibly the best things to look for in a book. Heart-breaking, refreshing and thought-provoking, the book was a great read. The author is brave to consider weaving both the elements of contemporary and fantasy and mystery together but she really did a great job. I'm impressed.

Final Rating: 4.5/5 'Really Liked It'

QUOTE:

To Logan, who couldn't accept his twin brother's death, here's some advice.

In three words I can sum up everything I can I've learned about life; it goes on------Robert Frost

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