Review: The Peculiars by Maureen Doyle McQuerry

The Peculiars by Maureen Doyle McQuerry

Hardcover, 354 pgs.

Published May 1st, 2012 by Amulet Books

Source: Purchased

Description from Goodreads:

This dark and thrilling adventure, with an unforgettable heroine, will captivate fans of steampunk, fantasy, and romance. On her 18th birthday, Lena Mattacascar decides to search for her father, who disappeared into the northern wilderness of Scree when Lena was young. Scree is inhabited by Peculiars, people whose unusual characteristics make them unacceptable to modern society. Lena wonders if her father is the source of her own extraordinary characteristics and if she, too, is Peculiar. On the train she meets a young librarian, Jimson Quiggley, who is traveling to a town on the edge of Scree to work in the home and library of the inventor Mr. Beasley. The train is stopped by men being chased by the handsome young marshal Thomas Saltre. When Saltre learns who Lena’s father is, he convinces her to spy on Mr. Beasley and the strange folk who disappear into his home, Zephyr House. A daring escape in an aerocopter leads Lena into the wilds of Scree to confront her deepest fears.

Maureen McQuerry has created a unique and stand-out world.  While at first it had the feel of fantasy it quickly became more historical fiction with fantasy elements.  As the world is not exactly clear where it is, mentions of Europe and other 'real' places led me to believe it is someplace in America.  There was also mentions of real historical figures but they were only mentions and didn't play any role in the story other than having made a gun or came up with an invention, etc.  

The book clearly has a steampunk look to it and while it has steampunk elements it is most certainly 'light' on the steampunk.  There is an inventor but there was not much description of his inventions, they just 'were'.  They did some traveling in aerocopter (flying machine) and some other things, but nothing real major.  I was happy with what was there, but if you're expecting a crazy steampunk ride you may be disappointed.  On the other hand, if you've held off on reading this because you don't enjoy steampunk then please don't let that hold you back.  The steampunk is a very minor aspect in the story.

I really enjoyed the world created and the aspect of the Peculiars.  It was so different but yet so easy to relate to because there has always been those persecuted.  This reminded me a little of the Native Americans because they were basically rounded up and put to work or just put in their own areas (the reservations now).  While they were definitely different from the Peculiars, there was just enough there to make me think of that.  And how wrong it is to persecute others because they are different and/or have different beliefs.  

This book would have been an outstanding read for me if it wasn't for the main character.  I had a few issues with her and her decisions.  She makes some pretty stupid choices and I could have maybe understood it better if the reasoning had been backed up just a little more.  I needed to be more convinced about why she would do what she did.  I was able to look past this aspect because so much of the rest of the story was fantastic.  I also really liked the other characters.  Jimson was a character that I couldn't help but like.  He was a boy that craved knowledge and adventure.  And I would have maybe liked him a bit more fleshed out, but I still liked him quite a lot.  Mr. Beasley was a fascinating character as well and was one I could imagine so well.  Kind of the crazy genius/doctor/inventor sort with weird drawn on eyebrows but was so kind and understanding of everything.  Now my most favorite character of all was the cat, Mrs. Mumbles.  I don't want to say too much, but this is a cat with character!  Any cat lover will fall head over hills for her!

This was a fun historical fantasy with a touch of steampunk and a dash of adventure thrown in.  I definitely suggest you give this one a try!

Disclosure:  I purchased this book myself.  All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.

Review: Dreamless by Josephine Angelini

Dreamless (Starcrossed #2) by Josephine Angelini

Hardcover, 487 pgs.

Expected Publication: May 29th, 2012 by HarperTeen

Source: For Review

Description from Goodreads:

Can true love be forgotten?

As the only Scion who can descend into the Underworld, Helen Hamilton has been given a nearly impossible task. By night she wanders through Hades, trying to stop the endless cycle of revenge that has cursed her family. By day she struggles to overcome the fatigue that is rapidly eroding her sanity. Without Lucas by her side, Helen is not sure she has the strength to go on.

Just as Helen is pushed to her breaking point, a mysterious new Scion comes to her rescue. Funny and brave, Orion shields her from the dangers of the Underworld. But time is running out—a ruthless foe plots against them, and the Furies’ cry for blood is growing louder.

As the ancient Greek world collides with the mortal one, Helen’s sheltered life on Nantucket descends into chaos. But the hardest task of all will be forgetting Lucas Delos.

Josephine Angelini’s compelling saga becomes ever more intricate and spellbinding as an unforgettable love triangle emerges and the eternal cycle of revenge intensifies. Eagerly awaited, this sequel to the internationally bestselling STARCROSSED delivers a gritty, action-packed love story that exceeds expectation.

Dreamless is the follow up to Starcrossed which was a book I really enjoyed.  When Dreamless came in the mail I was really excited to read it but was a little intimidated by the size.  There are so many books to read that I am impatient and just want to fly through each one.  However I shouldn't have worried as Dreamless was an effortless read that I flew through in no time.

Josephine Angelini has created a story that stands apart from other mythology novels.  I don't know mythology, but I do read a lot of YA mythology books and for me it felt different.  What I liked is that I would think one thing and was completely wrong.  Regarding the mythology aspects of things.  So maybe things aren't accurate (I really have no idea) but she's made a pretty creative story line that I really enjoy.

The book has a love triangle but I liked it despite that.  I thought it worked okay for the story.  It wasn't my favorite aspect, but it certainly didn't ruin the story.  Part of that is the reasoning for it.  Helen has to descend night after into the Underworld all alone and go through horrendous things every single night without anyone by her side.  She's broken and frustrated and has no idea what to do.  Then along comes Orion who stands by her side and helps her through each step as they discover what she can do and they work through everything together.  I think that their connection is inevitable since he's basically her savior.  But no worries, we still see a little of Lucas and know her feelings regarding him.  I don't know how things will go in the next book but I was happy to see Helen discover so much about herself as well as the history of the Scions.  She's growing as a character and has so much strength in her to always push to do the right thing.

If you haven't read Starcrossed yet I highly suggest you do so.  This is a series that is worth giving a try!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book for review purposes, all opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.

Middle Grade Reviews: The Thief Lord & The Magicians Elephant

The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke

Description on Goodreads:

Prosper and Bo are orphans on the run from their cruel aunt and uncle. The brothers decide to hide out in Venice, where they meet a mysterious character who calls himself the "Thief Lord." Brilliant and charismatic, the Thief Lord leads a ring of street children who dabble in petty crimes. Prosper and Bo relish being part of this colorful new family. But the Thief Lord has secrets of his own. And soon the boys are thrust into circumstances that will lead them, and readers, to a fantastic, spellbinding conclusion.

This was one I read aloud to my kids at bedtime.  A two to three chapters and night and several weeks long, we finally finished.  And while it's definitely not the best Cornelia Funke book I've read there were parts I really enjoyed.

This book started out really slow for me.  It seemed like it didn't really take off until halfway through.  So I struggled a bit.  And then I just felt a little let down, like it just didn't have enough 'oomph' for me.  The characters were okay and everything worked out fine and I liked the idea of it all, I just wanted a bit more.

This was a hard one to read aloud because of all the Italian.  I mean, just the places in the book are Italian places and I have no idea how to pronounce those things out loud.  Apparently it's much easier in my head.  I also felt like I tripped over words a lot so the flow wasn't as smooth.  Now I maybe wouldn't point it out so much but the next book I read showed me this even more.

Overall it was a decent read.  I enjoyed it, I just didn't love it.  I think this is one I would have enjoyed more if I'd read it to myself, rather than spreading it out so long and reading it aloud to my kids.

The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo

Description from Goodreads:

In a highly awaited new novel, Kate DiCamillo conjures a haunting fable about trusting the unexpected — and making the extraordinary come true.

What if? Why not? Could it be?

When a fortuneteller's tent appears in the market square of the city of Baltese, orphan Peter Augustus Duchene knows the questions that he needs to ask: Does his sister still live? And if so, how can he find her? The fortuneteller's mysterious answer (an elephant! An elephant will lead him there!) sets off a chain of events so remarkable, so impossible, that you will hardly dare to believe it’s true. With atmospheric illustrations by fine artist Yoko Tanaka, here is a dreamlike and captivating tale that could only be narrated by Newbery Medalist Kate DiCamillo. In this timeless fable, she evokes the largest of themes — hope and belonging, desire and compassion — with the lightness of a magician’s touch.

Now this, this is the ideal read aloud book.  I felt like the words flowed off my tongue like honey.  I could have read all night because the beauty of every single word took my breath away.  There has never, ever been a book that I enjoyed reading out loud as much as this one.  It was simply beautiful.

I read this book in only a matter of days to my kids each night at bed time.  Once I started reading I loathed the idea of setting it down and waiting an entire day to pick it up.  I didn't want it to ever end.  

Now I've spoke about the beauty in the words and such but what about the actual story?  Well, to be honest I'm not sure I would have liked it as much if I hadn't been reading it out loud.  The story is definitely one that feels more juvenile, better for the younger readers.  But the writing is something we can all appreciate.  Now don't get me wrong, I did enjoy the story, I think it was just it was 'young' for my tastes.  But this was one that my kids really enjoyed so I think it was quite appropriate for their ages.  

I will most definitely find more by this author.  As a matter of fact we already have The Tale of Despereaux which I plan to read real soon.  I very highly recommend you pick this one up!

Reviews: The Changelings by Elle Casey & Entangled by Nikki Jefford

The Changelings (War of the Fae #1) by Elle Casey

Ebook, 275 pgs.

Source: Author

Description from Goodreads:

Jayne Sparks, a potty-mouthed, rebellious seventeen-year-old and her best friend, shy and bookish Tony Green, have a pretty typical high school existence, until several seemingly unrelated incidents converge, causing a cascade of events that change their lives forever. Jayne and Tony, together with a group of runaway teens, are hijacked and sent into a forest, where nothing and no one are as they seem. Who will emerge triumphant? And what will they be when they do? 

I have to apologize to the author.  I got this for review a couple months ago and I read it right away but it was right at the time when I decided I was going to cut back on reviewing and I guess I just never got it posted.  Luckily I did a review on goodreads, so I'll just copy that here.

This was a very creative storyline with lots of intense moments as well as plenty of funny ones. While some elements could be compared to The Hunger Games or The Maze Runner it is definitely a story all its own and really has very few similarities.

The writing was different for me. Not bad really, but something that had to grow on me. I would say it was 'rough around the edges' but I don't necessarily mean with editing. Yeah, I caught editing errors as well but they weren't so numerous they really bothered me. It was just different and rather difficult to explain.

I liked Jayne as a character but sometimes I felt like she was a bit much. She has this outspoken way and crazy attitude and I liked that, for the most part. I do think at times things just didn't quite feel authentic to me, you know- like things were just a bit TOO extreme in her actions or inner voice. I also hated that she had such a potty mouth. I'm not fond of so much cursing. If the f-word wasn't her favorite word I maybe wouldn't have minded, but she said it A LOT.

Now all these negative things made me like the book less, but I still liked it quite a lot. Once I warmed up to the writing I really enjoyed the story. I'm definitely curious enough that I will continue the series, I really need to find out what happens!

 Disclosure: I received this book for review purposes, all opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.

Entangled (Spellbound #1) by Nikki Jefford

ebook, 303 pgs.

Source: Author

Twin witches Graylee and Charlene Perez agree on one rule: No dating warlocks.

Not so easy when a certain rogue warlock is convinced he and Graylee belong together and will use anything, including magic, to try and impress Gray. When Charlene’s boyfriend dumps her, she threatens to kill either herself or the girl who stole Blake. Somehow, Gray ends up dead.

A Resurrection Spell Gone Wrong:

Two months after dying, Gray wakes up in Charlene’s body. As a witch, can anyone blame her mother for attempting to bring her daughter back to life? Only now Gray’s stuck sharing her sister’s body 50/50 in twenty-four hour shifts.

The race is on for Gray to find a way back inside her own body before Charlene purges her from existence. Raj McKenna is rumored to meddle in the black arts, not to mention he’s after Gray’s invisibility spell and worse – her heart. But Raj might be the only one powerful enough to save Gray from fading away forever.

This was another one that just came at a bad time.  But once again I luckily did a brief review on goodreads so I'll just copy that here.

 This book ended up being really good! I really liked the storyline and the characters. The first bit of the story felt a bit disjointed but it wasn't long until it seemed to smooth out. While its not perfect the errors or things that maybe weren't so great really didn't bother me too much.
Definitely looking forward to the next one!
Has some cursing and sexual content (not described but talk of it) so would recommend to more mature readers.

Sorry, that was very brief, but to be honest it's been a couple months now and I can't say that I can really add much to that review.  I remember being pleasantly surprised with how much I liked the book and that it had some really great twists and most definitely the evilest sister EVER!  It was definitely one that got my blood boiling at time for the stupidity and cruelty of others and my frustrations with the stuff that Gray had to go through.  

Disclosure: I received this book for review purposes, all opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.

 

Review: Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock

Hemlock (Hemlock #1) by Kathleen Peacock

Hardcover, 400 pgs.

Published May 8th, 2012 by Katherine Tegan Books

Source: Amazon Vine

Mackenzie and Amy were best friends. Until Amy was brutally murdered.

Since then, Mac’s life has been turned upside down. She is being haunted by Amy in her dreams, and an extremist group called the Trackers has come to Mac’s hometown of Hemlock to hunt down Amy’s killer: A white werewolf.

Lupine syndrome—also known as the werewolf virus—is on the rise across the country. Many of the infected try to hide their symptoms, but bloodlust is not easy to control.

Wanting desperately to put an end to her nightmares, Mac decides to investigate Amy’s murder herself. She discovers secrets lurking in the shadows of Hemlock, secrets about Amy’s boyfriend, Jason, her good pal Kyle, and especially her late best friend. Mac is thrown into a maelstrom of violence and betrayal that puts her life at risk.

Kathleen Peacock’s thrilling novel is the first in the Hemlock trilogy, a spellbinding urban fantasy series filled with provocative questions about prejudice, trust, lies, and love.

Anyone who knows me well knows that werewolf books aren't really my favorite.  But I do have some I've really enjoyed and when I saw some early reviews on Hemlock I knew it was one I had to try.  And I am so glad I did!  This is definitely going on my favorite werewolf books list, no doubt about it!

One thing I loved was that we were kept guessing.  I thought the mystery was fantastic and not knowing who was good and who was bad was great.  I loved how things were not always what they seemed and even when you thought someone was good we were convinced that maybe they weren't good.  As things were gradually revealed we could come up with other ideas only to be knocked down by other revelations. 

I loved the characters!  Mac wasn't an annoying girl that made stupid decisions.  She made some choices that weren't so smart, but she did them with passion and not with stupidity.  She didn't want to lose more of her friends and she'd do anything to make sure they didn't get hurt, even if it meant putting herself in danger.  I never felt annoyed with Mac and loved how she had so much love for her friends and people in her life.  The romance in this book worked well because there wasn't any instant love.  And while there was potential for a love triangle it hasn't really quite become one.  I feel pretty okay with it though and kind of think it works with this book.  Hopefully I feel the same way in the next book about that though.

I honestly could really rave and rave about this book.  It's hard for me to try to pick out something that I didn't like.  I think that the whole story line worked really well and it all felt completely unique to me.  In the description it says "filled with provocative questions about prejudice, trust, lies, and love" and I think that's a perfect description right there.  


This was a beautiful story that had me at page one.  And while it has plenty left for us to anticipate, it didn't have a cliffhanger.  I very highly recommend you pick this one up!  

Disclosure:  I received this book for review purposes.  All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.

Mini Reviews: Insurgent & Pandemonium

Insurgent (Divergent #2) by Veronica Roth

In this case a mini review definitely doesn't mean I liked the book less.  I just feel like it's not one that really needs any more reviews and there's just not that much to say.

I was a little afraid to read this because the hype and promotions leading up just had me burnt out on it before I even got the book.  But I knew it was going to be great, it was just getting past that fear and actually picking it up.  Fortunately I was pulled in right away and didn't have any problem getting through the book.  Although it's a fat one I read it in a little over a day.

I've heard others say that the characters got to them a little because they are a bit angsty.  And I think I agree that they were and it was a little annoying but I 'got it'.  You know?  It fit okay for me.  AND they grew and found themselves, stronger selves, from all they went through.
I really enjoyed this book and give it the full five stars.

Pandemonium (Delirium #2) by Lauren Oliver

Okay, so I was a little afraid of Insurgent, but that was nothing next to the fear I had for Pandemonium.  This book has been out for months and I've still been terrified to pick it up.  I'm pretty sure that I almost picked it up every single day, but the fear of what was going to happen was really getting to me.  Anyone who read Delirium knows how it ended.  Well, there is no other book in the world that had an ending that affected me so strongly!  Seriously, it's haunted me ever since.

So I finally sat down with this book and no surprise, I was sucked right in.  I really loved the alternate chapters.  The 'now' and the 'then'.  The 'then' being when she first came into the wilds and the 'now' being when she's in the city.  This technique worked well and it was like reading two stories.  And each chapter would end in an intense spot and then you have to read another chapter which was just as intense to get to the other chapters... okay, I'm just confused now.  But it was crazy, just know that.

This was a very different read from the first one but I enjoyed it nearly as much.  And everyone told me, it's a cliffhanger, but it's nothing like the cliffhanger in Delirium.  Just wait... you'll see.  So, I was afraid.  Fortunately I started getting an idea of what was going to happen but when it did and I was right I still felt just as shocked!  I don't know why, I felt it coming!  But it was still a surprise.  It was crazy, and intense and totally had me thinking for days.  Heck, I'm still thinking about it!

This mini review has turned out to be not quite so mini.  But this book definitely inspired some crazy thinking and intense feelings, so at least I got to share with you guys!

Disclosure:  Both books were purchased and all opinions expressed were my own, I was not paid or influenced in any way.

Review: The Girl in the Clockwork Collar by Kady Cross

The Girl in the Clockwork Collar (Steampunk Chronicles #2) by Kady Cross

Hardcover, 416 pgs.

Published May 22nd, 2012 by Harlequin TEEN

Source: NetGalley/ Harlequin

In New York City, 1897, life has never been more thrilling - or dangerous.

Sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne and her "straynge band of mysfits" have journeyed from London to America to rescue their friend Jasper, hauled off by bounty hunters. But Jasper is in the clutches of a devious former friend demanding a trade-the dangerous device Jasper stole from him...for the life of the girl Jasper loves.

One false move from Jasper and the strange clockwork collar around Mei's neck tightens. And tightens.

I remember I really enjoyed the first book in the series, The Girl in the Steel Corset, but I didn't feel a complete connection to the story or characters.  It was still awesome, but it was missing something.  This book delivered those missing parts.  I loved the characters and felt like they've really grown into something wonderful.  Finley is totally kick butt and isn't really afraid of anything.  She has a strong sense of right and wrong.  

The story completely delivered for me.  I never felt like I was missing anything or wanted more of anything.  It was the perfect amount of everything!  I loved the twists and turns and unexpected things that happened.  While things were sometimes hinted at that had me wondering things I still felt surprised, or a sense of 'hah!, I KNEW it!' when it was revealed. 

The steampunk aspects in this book were pretty easy to comprehend.  I don't really remember ever feeling confused about how stuff works, it all was pretty straightforward.  There was one bit of that part of the book dealing with Griffin and his ability and stuff that wasn't tied up by the end.  I'm not sure if that means there's going to be more or not, but I hope so!   But the ending of the book felt tied up.  No major cliffhangers at all.  That one aspect of the story was just a side issue but may be the link for the future book if there is one.  (I'm not finding any info from my digging so if you know please let me know!)

I highly recommend this series if you enjoy Steampunk, Historical Fiction and Paranormal.  It's great for teens and adults alike!

Disclosure:  I received an e-arc of this book for review purposes.  All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way. 

Review: Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Shadow and Bone (Grisha #1) by Leigh Bardugo

Young Adult Fantasy

Hardcover, 368 pgs.

Expected Publication of June 5th, 2012 by Henry Holt & Co.

Source: Borrowed ARC from the awesome Angela at Reading Angel

Alina Starkov doesn’t expect much from life. Orphaned by the Border Wars, all she’s ever been able to rely on is her best friend and fellow refugee, Mal. And lately not even that seems certain. Drafted into the army of their war-torn homeland, they’ve been sent on a dangerous mission into the Fold, a swath of darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh.

When their convoy is attacked, all seems lost until Alina reveals a dormant power that not even she knew existed. She is torn from everything she knows and whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling. He believes that she is the answer the people have been waiting for: the Sun Summoner. Only her power can destroy the Fold.

Overwhelmed by luxury, envied as the Darkling’s favorite, Alina struggles to keep her wits about her without Mal by her side. But nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her mastery of her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha—and the secrets of her heart.

I loved, loved, loved this book!  Oh, you want a real review?  That's not enough to convince you?  Okay, I suppose...

My first update on goodreads was when I was at page 200.  All I really had to say was "Holy canoli! This book is SO freaking good! It's gonna be hard to put it down to go to bed. I love a romance where you feel the vibe between two people but it's a slow build. I seriously hope this is a romance that happens cause the teasing is killing me! (in a good way!)" and then 50 pages later "Oh my, didn't see that coming! Major twist!"and then there were no more updates because I was so completely absorbed in the story I didn't want to set it aside for anything.  Not even to rave on twitter (yeah, it was that good!). 

When I started reading the book there weren't reviews out there.  I wasn't exactly sure if this was a dystopian type of book or a fantasy.  And it is most definitely fantasy!  Totally and completely epic fantasy!  And I love me some fantasy.  One thing I love about reading fantasy is it almost always feels unique.  It's a new world and new rules.  You never ever know what to expect.  And this book totally lived up to that.  There were lots of twists that caught me completely off guard.  I never knew where things might go and I loved that.  I loved being surprised time and time again. 

Alina was a great character.  I loved that she was bold and strong even when she was weak and small.  That might not make a lot of sense, but Alina starts out as nothing and becomes very much a something.  She really truly finds her strength.   And she's bold about her beliefs and I loved she was able to speak up when she knew others were wrong even before she found that strength inside her.

I'm afraid to talk about the other characters much because there are so many twists in them.  I don't want to give away who is bad and who is good because the author did such a brilliant job of tricking us or making us think that maybe one isn't as important as we thought but then he was.  She made it so you never really know who is good.  And I loved that surprise and want that for you.  I'll just say that I really felt like she did a great job in fleshing out her characters just right.

The pace of this book was steady for me.  I had a very hard time putting it down and read most of it in one evening and had to force myself to put it down before the final conflict.  I still managed to have insane dreams though...  I loved that nothing really droned on in this book and I found it easy to follow.  No complicated themes or political stuff.  It was pretty simple as far as fantasy goes but yet I never felt was really lacking either. 

Although the book seems to have a darker theme, especially in that description, it's not really as dark as it sounds.  And I felt like it was pretty clean.  I honestly cannot recommend this book any more highly.  It started out with a bang and never let up.  I'll be waiting very impatiently for the next book!

5/5 stars!

Review: Of Poseidon by Anna Banks

Of Poseidon by Anna Banks

Hardcover, 324 pgs.

Expected Publication: May 22nd 2012 by Feiwel & Friends

Source: Amazon Vine for review

Galen is the prince of the Syrena, sent to land to find a girl he’s heard can communicate with fish. Emma is on vacation at the beach. When she runs into Galen—literally, ouch!—both teens sense a connection. But it will take several encounters, including a deadly one with a shark, for Galen to be convinced of Emma’s gifts. Now, if he can only convince Emma that she holds the key to his kingdom . . .

Told from both Emma and Galen’s points of view, here is a fish-out-of-water story that sparkles with intrigue, humor, and waves of romance.

I read a few rave reviews about this book that convinced me I should give it a try so when I had the opportunity to review it I jumped all over the chance.  I hadn't yet found a mermaid book that I was sold on and I've mostly definitely been unsure about reading this because it has mermaids in it.  But I have officially found a mermaid story I like!  This is the first one that gave me enough background and world building regarding the mermaids (called Syrena in this book) that I fully felt a connection to it all.  Now most of the book takes place on land, but we got enough background and 'saw' enough in the water for me to 'feel' it.  And I really loved what the author came up with.

Emma was a character that kind of had me all over the place.  She had this temper which was at times hilarious, other times annoying and sometimes downright frustrating.  I liked her though... I don't think she stands out too much because that kind of character has become quite popular in YA, but yet she stood out enough that I think I'll definitely remember her.  And Galen was definitely a memorable character.  Since he's Syrena he's spent his life in the water and is only just learning about human ways.  So he doesn't understand all sayings or things that humans do and it's pretty funny.  I thought he had a great quirky personality and was definitely charming.  I do have to say that the romance threw me a bit in the beginning.  I didn't like how things went.  How they started, I mean.  It didn't make sense to me.  I know that's vague, but I can't say more without spoilers.  But as it went on and things started coming together I liked it.  

I ended up enjoying this book quite a bit.  It wasn't perfect and it had a few things I didn't love, but my overall feel was that the author built a really cool world with the Syrena and I love the 'gift' that Emma has.  Galen and his personality were great as well.  It was definitely a read worth my time and I'm quite eager for the next one as that ending was killer! 

4/5 stars

Disclosure:  This book was provided for review purposes.  I was not paid or influenced in any way and all opinions expressed are my own.

Review: Pretty Amy by Lisa Burstein

Pretty Amy by Lisa Burstein

304 pgs.

Published May 15th, 2012 by Entangled Publishing

Source: Publisher

Amy is fine living in the shadows of beautiful Lila and uber-cool Cassie, because at least she’s somewhat beautiful and uber-cool by association. But when their dates stand them up for prom, and the girls take matters into their own hands—earning them a night in jail outfitted in satin, stilettos, and Spanx—Amy discovers even a prom spent in handcuffs might be better than the humiliating “rehabilitation techniques” now filling up her summer. Worse, with Lila and Cassie parentally banned, Amy feels like she has nothing—like she is nothing.

Navigating unlikely alliances with her new coworker, two very different boys, and possibly even her parents, Amy struggles to decide if it’s worth being a best friend when it makes you a public enemy. Bringing readers along on an often hilarious and heartwarming journey, Amy finds that maybe getting a life only happens once you think your life is over.

Amy is one of those teenagers that so many can relate to in some way or another.  She struggled to fit in and find 'her people' only to find herself in big trouble as well as discovering they perhaps weren't the 'her people' after all.   Did you struggle to find your place in high school?  I know I did.  I wasn't really so much like Amy, but yet I found myself connecting with her on many different levels and kind of getting where she was coming from.  

Amy gives out this feeling like she's numb.  She had to deal with getting in big trouble and can no longer see or talk to her friends.  Her control freak mother is all over her case, she has to get a job, she has to volunteer, and she has to see a shrink.  Things have most definitely changed for her and now she has to worry about getting sent to jail as well.  She doesn't know what to think, what to feel so she walks around in this state of numbness with her anger coming through at times.  I didn't feel this overwhelming love for Amy because she gives off this cold vibe.  She's angry and hurt and she's just not sure what she feels or wants to feel or what she's going to do about it.  So no, I didn't love her.  But as I read I grew to understand her and as she grew as a character and found some of her true self inside her and began to come out of her shell of numbness and anger I did start to love her.  But she wasn't the easiest person to actually really like.  This was one I had to really focus on putting myself in my 17 year old shoes.  To remember back to when I was a teenager and how I felt.  How angry I felt and alone and totally misunderstood.  And once I did that, I felt a more true connection to the story and to Amy.

This book wasn't full of action and romance.  It was about feelings and emotions and family and friends.  It was about finding yourself and not being what you think others want you to be, or what you think you need to be.  This book is about finding your way.

I definitely recommend this book to fans of contemporary YA.  There's some themes and language I would recommend for more mature readers.  Just remember the main character is a senior (well, she graduates in this book) so that gives you an idea of content.

I give this 4/5 stars.

Disclosure:  I received this book for review purposes.  All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.

Review: In Honor by Jessi Kirby {A Truly Amazing Story!}

In Honor by Jessi Kirby

Hardcover, 240 pgs.

Published May 8th, 2012 by Simon & Schuster

Source: Borrowed

Description from Goodreads

A devastating loss leads to an unexpected road trip in this novel from the author of Moonglass, whose voice Sarah Dessen says “is fresh and wise, all at once.”

Hours after her brother’s military funeral, Honor opens the last letter Finn ever sent. In her grief, she interprets his note as a final request and spontaneously decides to go to California to fulfill it.

Honor gets as far as the driveway before running into Rusty, Finn’s best friend since third grade and his polar opposite. She hasn’t seen Rusty in ages, but it’s obvious he is as arrogant and stubborn as ever—not to mention drop-dead gorgeous. Despite Honor’s better judgment, the two set off together on a voyage from Texas to California. Along the way, they find small and sometimes surprising ways to ease their shared loss and honor Finn’s memory—but when shocking truths are revealed at the end of the road, will either of them be able to cope with the consequences?

There are few no words I would ever find to adequately describe the beauty of this book.  This book was everything I could ever want.  More than I could ever dream of.  This book was so gorgeous that it made me cry just because of the perfectness.  The writing was beyond beautiful, the characters were so real that I felt like they were people I really knew.  And while they were amazing they also had their faults which made them even more real.  

This is a book that would be easy for me to just gush and gush and gush about.  I don't even know what to say other than I really hope you read this book.  It made me cry, it made laugh, it made me feel all those things you want to feel and experience from a truly amazing book.  I honestly cannot recommend this book highly enough, whether you're a teenager or an adult it is a must read.  And if you don't read contemporary, well, this is the one to start with.  GO FREAKING READ IT!

5/5 stars!  There's no way I could rate this one less!

Disclosure:  I read an advanced reading copy of this book.  I borrowed this book from a friend and was not paid or influenced in any way.  All opinions expressed are my own.

This book qualifies for the 2012 YA Contemporary Reading Challenge.

Review: From What I Remember by Stacy Kramer and Valerie Thomas

From What I Remember by Stacy Kramer and Valerie Thomas

Hardcover, 462 pgs.

Published May 15th, 2012 by Hyperion

Source: NetGalley/Publisher

KYLIE: Tijuana WHAT? I should be putting the finishing touches on my valedictorian speech. Graduation is TODAY, and is this a wedding band on my finger.

MAX: It all started with Kylie's laptop and a truck full of stolen electronics Okay, it was kind of hot, the way she broke us out like some chick in an action movie. But now we're stranded in TIjuana. WIth less than twenty-four hours before graduation. Awesome.

WILL: Saving Kylie Flores from herself is kind of a full-time occupation. Luckily, I, Will Bixby, was born for the job. And when I found out she was stuck in Mexico with dreamy Max Langston, sure, I agreed to bring thier passports across the border--but there's no reason to rush back home right away. This party is just getting started.

LILY: I just walked in on my boyfriend, Max Langston, canoodling with Kylie Flores, freak of the century. Still, I can't completely hold it against him. He NEEDS me. It's even clearer now. And I'm not giving him up without a fight.

 You ever read a book and as you're reading it you're thinking 'OMG, this is a screenplay!  It was MADE for the big screen!?'  Well, I don't think that often but this book, this book IS a movie in book form.  It seriously was so visual for me it was like I was reading a movie.  And I'm not a big movie person... so if this doesn't become a movie I'll be surprised. (And please note that both authors DO actually write screenplays, so maybe I shouldn't be so surprised.)

This book was absolutely terrific!  I was really digging the characters and they felt unique to me.  And the story was definitely unlike anything I've read before.  I felt like everything really did POP and stand out.  I loved the whole idea of the story and how it all worked.  I liked that the authors brought it all to a real conclusion and didn't leave much open for us.  That part especially felt movie-like.  However, I can see that others won't like that aspect of it and will say they wish it had ended a couple chapters earlier.  I love me a good conclusion though, I don't like having to guess.  

Kylie and Max really go on a journey in this book and I loved watching their progression.  The book takes place over a period of two days (for the most part) but it worked.  Kylie was the studious nerd and Max was the rich guy that wasn't very nice.  But as they were forced to spend time together in the epic adventure (is it an adventure if you don't choose to be there?) they start to bring out the best in each other and find there's much more to the other.   And we can't leave out the flamboyantly gay bff Will as he was a pretty awesome character that just brought a bit of life to everything.  And he wasn't just a convenient character for plot development, he had his own stuff going on which I really liked.  It made him important to the story without him taking over.  I wouldn't mind a story all about him actually...  Oh, and Kylie's little brother Jake who has aspergers.  He had a few little parts from his POV and I thought that added another layer of awesome because how often do we see that?  And it helped us really get an idea of what it's like as well as what Kylie and her family have to go through.

This book is a bit long and I read the e-arc so I wasn't for sure if parts might be cut out, but looking at the page number it looks like it's going to be pretty long for the final edition.  I didn't really mind this too much though, it seemed to work for this one cause it never really got boring for me.  

I very highly recommend this to more mature YA readers as well as adults look for a good YA contemporary.  There was just a little bit of bad language and some sexual insinuation but the content wasn't too bad.  

4.5/5 stars!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book for review purposes.  All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.

This book qualifies for the YA Contemporary Challenge 2012.  For more info click the button.

Cornerstone Blog Tour Stops Here! @MistyProvencher

Many of you saw my review for the fabulous Cornerstone by Misty Provencher several weeks back.  This was one book I did lots of raving about and hope that many more will give this book a chance.  

The Cornerstone Blog Tour takes place from May 1st-31st.  There are going to be lots of reviews, guest posts,  interviews and giveaways.  I hope that you'll stop through the different stops to see what's going on!

The awesome and amazing 

(the following is copied and pasted from Misty's blog cause I'm WAY too lazy to type it up myself)

GRAND PRIZE

The CORNERSTONE OF ALL GRAND PRIZES includes:

A signed copy of Cornerstone with a scattering of author's notes in the margins, a Southwest Sky Jewelry Cornerstone necklace, and some author-created, one-of-a-kind bookmark swag.
A critique by publishing intern, Brent Taylor. The former gymnast and die-hard Kelly Cutrone <3er, has been an intern at a literary agency for a little over a year. He's slightly naughty, although you shouldn't hold that against him because . . . (this is where you hear a loud and thunderous pounding of drums) HE IS GOING TO CRITIQUE YOUR ENTIRE FULL MANUSCRIPT.
You'll also nab an incredible, Addo-inspired, cookie scarf from my favorite knit-creations shop: CausticWear. If you haven't checked out CausticWear, you should. Lauren is the owner and she does the regular hats and scarves and mittens, but she can do pretty much ANYTHING from clothing and slippers to hair wear and jewelry and she is open to doing custom orders! (She even told me she could crochet a cookie jar- seriously!) If you have something in mind, just ask her!
In order to win these wonderful gifts, I'll be collecting comments left during the blog tour stops. 500 cookie-jar-points to commenters! If you're tweeting the tour - include me in your tweet and you'll earn another 1,000 field-petal points! If you recommend Cornerstone to a friend and I hear about it, you'll rack up 3,000 points and a Veritas prayer! Of course, that's all rubbish...I'm not going to be keeping track of points at all...but the more I see you participating, the more often your name gets chucked in the drawing hat for our fabulous, GRANDLY HUGE prize!


The ABSOLUTELY ENORMOUS GRAND PRIZE drawing will be held May 31st, the last day of the tour, but there will be giveaways going on through out the tour too. Here is our itinerary:



May 1 and 2
Twitter kick-off with a Book Drawing! Tweet me up with the #IWANTCORNERSTONE hashtag and on the 2nd, I'll draw one name to receive their choice of either a paperback or ebook copy of Cornerstone! I'm grateful for RTs, but be sure that your tweet is original, so it appears in the #IWANTCORNERSTONE hashtag list. That's where I'll be drawing names!

Candace's Book Blog ~ Review (that's here!)


May 3

Kat Ellis Writes ~ Book Review

Globug Needs A Book ~ Dream Cast post, Review & Paperback Giveaway

May 4
The Flyleaf Review ~ Interview and Swag Bag Giveaway

May 7
Pages of Forbidden Love ~ Book Review

May 8
The Unread Reader ~ Review

May 9
The Unread Reader ~ My Book Boyfriend

Twimom 101 Book Blog ~ Review and
Top 10 list


May 10
Juliana L. Brandt ~ Critter Chat (w/ my
amazingly awesome crit partner!)


May 11
Supernatural Snark ~ Guest Post ~ Why does
the Addo prefer cookies w/ no nuts &
and other insider info about Cornerstone.

May 12
PERSONAL APPEARANCE:
READING & BOOK SIGNING
The Mother's Day Fashion Fair in Hartland,
Michigan, at the Dunham Hill Golf Course,
from 11- 5 pm. Benefiting survivors of brain
injury and severe head traumas.
Stop in and say hello! I'd love to meet you!

May 14
Kindle Fever ~ Guest Post & Swag Bag Giveaway~ How
to write a book with maximum use of office
supplies.

May 15
Writer's Wanderings ~ Book Trailer and More


May 16
Literary Rambles ~ Interview & Book Giveaway

Buried in Books ~ Review

May 17
The Reading Housewives of Indiana ~
Interview and Ebook Giveaway

May 18
Bunny's Review ~ Guest Post and Review ~
What's there to love about self publishing?

May 19
Lover of Paranormal ~ Review & Character
Interview

May 21
Book Nerds Across America ~
Interview/Keystone Insider Info

May 22
Julie Rieman Duck ~ Interview and Review

May 23
Coffee Table Reviews ~ Something Super Cool

Captivated Reading ~ Review

May 24
Rainy Day Ramblings ~ Review and
Cornerstone T-Shirt Giveaway

May 25
Book Passion for Life ~ Guest Post, The
Cornerstone Playlist

May 29
Books in the Spotlight ~ Character Interview
with Garrett Reese

May 30
Brent Taylor ~ Interview and Review

May 31
GRAND PRIZE DRAWING HERE!

Now, for those who haven't seen my review, here it is!

 

Cornerstone by Misty Provencher
Young Adult
ebook or Paperback, 228 pgs.
Published Nov. 2011 by Misty Provencher

Nalena Maxwell has been branded ‘The Waste’ at her new school, due to her mom's obsessive paper hoarding. Nalena desperately wants something to change in her life, but when she receives a sign (and it's the wrong dang one) inviting her into a mysterious, ancient community, too much changes. What she knew of her family, what she thought of her life and what she believed about her future, is no longer applicable. Seventeen years worth of family skeletons come crashing into Nalena's life and it is the boy...the one that smiles at her like he wants to hear everything she'll ever say...that already knows her powerful secrets. But it is only Nalena that can choose between protecting the life that is already crumbling beneath her feet and the one that might sacrifice everything she could ever have.

My goal has been to try to read more self published books this year but it's not always easy because I've tried to read quite a few that were horrible (mostly terrible editing) and I've read a lot that were good, but not quite amazing.  I haven't read that many that totally blew my mind and this one did that.  Totally and completely.  Cornerstone had me riveted from page one as we are introduced to Nalena and her mother and her mothers paper hoarding.  I immediately found this fascinating and I felt this was a clue to the future of the book.  Especially when I learned that what her mother writes all over these papers is peoples names and something about them.  To Nalena these are characters that her mother has come up with for stories that she never writes.  And her mother keeps these stacks of papers everywhere, even in the oven (unplugged of course).  And she does this writing compulsively all day long.  She doesn't work, she doesn't do anything but write.  While this could be a compulsive disorder I immediately knew there was more to it.

The story sucked me and held me the entire way through but don't expect to get answers right away.  I suppose I grew frustrated because I needed to know more so badly but it wasn't really a bad thing either.  I enjoyed the journey of getting to know Nalena and her mother as well as Garrett and his large and very quirky family.  Clues are everywhere as you continue through the story and piecing them together was slow going but yet a fantastic ride.  And the answers when they came were fantastic because this was a very unique take on something paranormal-like without really feeling paranormal.  I don't know what else to call it though... But there's not a vampire, zombie or a werewolf in sight.

I thought that the romance might be insta-love but it wasn't!  It was instant attraction but Nalena has a bit of a low self esteem and really doesn't believe that Garrett could ever like her.  Garrett is different from other boys though and doesn't care one wit about what people think of him.  He takes Nalena under his wing and while it appears that they are 'together' to the general population of the school, they aren't quite... not really.  I loved all interaction with these two because the vibe between them is strong and Garrett just has this personality that you can't help but be drawn to.   He's so hard to explain but he was so easy to 'get' as I was reading.  He's not a bad boy, but he's not a 'goodie two shoes' either.   One thing I can say is that he's so dreamy... He actually kind of reminds me a bit of Cricket in Lola and the Boy Next Door.  Just personality wise as he didn't dress like him.

Oh, and I have to mention, editing in this one was perfect!  If there were mistakes of any sort I didn't happen to notice them (which doesn't mean they weren't there, but they must have not been very obvious).  This is also a clean read.  There's kissing but that's about it.  I don't recall any cursing.

I highly recommend this to YA readers as well as adult readers who are eager for something a bit different.  Something paranormal-like but yet not really paranormal. 

I must also note that I see this book has all high ratings.  Right now I'm not seeing one review with less then 4 stars.  As a reviewer I prefer to see a variety of ratings as it concerns me that maybe all the reviewers are family or friends of the author.  I honestly have to give this one 5 stars because I loved it so much.  Yes, it's not a completely perfect book, but because it captured me so completely and had me entranced the entire time I just can't give it less.  But I purchased this book and had no prior contact with the author.  It wasn't until I read it that I start corresponding with her just because I loved it so much and wanted to tell her so.  My review is in no way biased, this is my complete honest opinion of the book and my guess is that the high ratings are because of the awesome'ness of the book.  So you better get on reading it cause you're missing out!

5/5 stars!

 

 

Leave a comment so you can rack up points toward the awesome grand prize!  

And be sure to tweet with the #IWANTCORNERSTONE hashtag to be entered to win a copy today! 

Review: Silence by Michelle Sagara

Silence by Michelle Sagara (With West at the end if you're looking on goodreads)

Hardcover, 256 pgs.

Published May 1st, 2012 by DAW

Source: Publisher

“It began in the graveyard. Ever since her boyfriend Nathan died in a tragic accident Emma had been coming to the graveyard at night. During the day she went through the motions at her prep school, in class, with her friends, but that’s all it was. But tonight was different. Tonight Emma and her dog were not alone in the cemetery. There were two others there—Eric, who had just started at her school, and an ancient woman who looked as though she were made of rags. And when they saw Emma there, the old woman reached out to her with a grip as chilling as death….”

This is one of those reviews that's difficult to do because I feel such intense conflicting feelings. When I started reading my first thought was that the writing was beautiful. It wasn't fluffy or full or big words or anything, but just the way she said things was beautiful. But at the same time I found myself feeling lost when there were more active scenes with lots going on. At times I felt so lost I kind of wanted to skim.

I really enjoyed the characters in the book. Emma has a bit of a no-nonsense attitude but not as much as her friend Amy. She did have a strong personality and strong convictions. When she made a decision no one was going to convince her otherwise. But she wasn't stupid and she'd do what she could to ensure her safety when doing some of these things she was so determined to do.

I really loved that one of Emma's friends was autistic. While this wasn't a focus in the story, it was there. And we saw how much she cared about him. We saw the things he struggled with but we also saw his strengths. I'm not sure I've ever seen an autistic character in YA and I think it's important to have little things like that so people understand them better. This, in my opinion, was one of the strongest things this book had going for it.

I loved the plot and setting and story line but it just didn't flow well for me and that definitely made me enjoy it a lot less. If that flow had been better this would have been an amazing book for me. I'm curious whether others have issues with the same thing or if it's just me.

Overall I think I would recommend the book if it sounds like something you'd enjoy. I don't feel like it's something we've seen a lot of before, it felt unique enough to me to be 'not just another paranormal read'.

3.5 stars

Disclosure:  I received a finished copy of the book from the publisher for review purposes.  All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.