Tag Archives: type: fiction

Blog Tour Book Review: Comes the Night by Norah Wilson and Heather Doherty

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Today I am one of the stops on the blog tour for COMES THE NIGHT by Norah Wilson and Heather Doherty. The tour is hosted by ATOMR Book Blog Tours and you can view the rest of the stops here.

comes the nightInfo:
Title: Comes the Night
Authors: Norah Wilson and Heather Doherty
Release Date: December 9, 2012
Publisher: Something Shiny Press
Source: Authors for blog tour
Series? Casters Series #1
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal
Page Count: 330
Rating: [3/5 stars]

Summary:

How far would you go to escape your own personal teenage hell? Would you run away, break away from everything you know—even your own body?

Alex Robbins, Brooke Saunders and Maryanne Hemlock could not be more different, yet they all have something in common — deep and soul-searing pain. They are also all students at Streep Academy, a boarding school just one step away from juvie, where they’ve come to complete high school. The three have been relegated to Harvell House, the residence reserved for the hardest cases, the so-called Rejects from Reject Row. In the forbidden attic of the old Victorian house-turned-residence, the girls discover the diary of Connie Harvell, a young woman who was confined and abused there some 50 years ago. In the end, Connie’s attic prison couldn’t hold her—not completely. She found a way out. At least a dark part of her did. And after reading her diary, the girls discover they can escape at will too. A terrifying, thrilling flight from their bodies and their troubles.

But God help them, their pain isn’t all they leave behind when they join with the night. And God help anyone who’s wronged them… (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
COMES THE NIGHT is the story of three living girls, Alex, Maryanne, and Brooke, and one dead girl, Connie. The four are connected when Alex finds Connie’s old diary in the attic of their school dormitory. Shocked by the tales of abuse with the diary’s pages, the girls learn about Connie’s method of coping, and eventually they try out her method, too.

Alex, Maryanne, and Brooke attend Streep Academy, best described as a boarding school for troubled and out of control teens. They live in Harvell House, aka the house of the worst of the worst. As it turns out, Harvell was also Connie’s prison — she was locked in the attic by her stepfather.

COMES THE NIGHT is definitely a dark book for mature teens. There are some things that may be triggers for readers, such as rape, incest, and child neglect. The book starts with Alex waking up after being raped, and her struggles to remember what happened that night are a big part of the story, even though she keeps it a secret. Maryanne and Brooke have their own issues they’re working through; I’ll let you discover them on your own.

Connie’s method of coping turns out to be a type of astral projection, something she and the other girls call “casting.” It leads to the three girls haunting the town, almost as if they are living ghosts. I was really curious about casting, and would have liked to learn more about it. Why it’s possible, how Connie discovered it, etc. I do understand the girls didn’t have those answers, so hopefully more shows up in the next book. COMES THE NIGHT is the first in a trilogy, the Casters Series.

I enjoyed reading COMES THE NIGHT, although the book didn’t grab me. It was well-written, with an intriguing hook — the casting — and also, I liked that the authors weren’t afraid to harm their characters. There was a part where I wasn’t sure if one of the main characters would wake up from a serious injury — I like having worry moments like that. But I figured out most of the story early on; there was perhaps a bit much foreshadowing. The way the girls acted while out casting bugged me sometimes — they were kind of juvenile and petty — but I also am sure that’s how lots of teens would act with such a power in their hands.

The main stories within COMES THE NIGHT are wrapped up by the end of the book, and I am curious to see where the authors will take the characters in the next book.

Giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

*giveaway is tour-wide

The authors:
NORAH WILSON is a Kindle best-selling author of romantic suspense and paranormal romance. She lives in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada, with her husband, two adult children, dog Chloe, and kitty, Ruckus.

HEATHER DOHERTY fell in love with writing while taking creative writing courses with Athabasca University. Motivated by her university success, and a life-long dream of becoming a novelist, she later enrolled in the Humber School for Writers under the mentorship of David Adams Richards. Her first literary novel was published in 2006. While still writing dark literary (as well as not-so-dark children’s lit), she is beyond thrilled to be writing paranormal/horror with Norah. Heather lives in Fredericton, New Brunswick with her family. (No pets, but I swear Norah’s dog, Chloe, calls me Aunt Heather).

Together, Heather and Norah write dark, edgy, frightening young adult paranormal/horror.

Website
Twitter

– leeanna

Book Review: The Waiting Tree by Lindsay Moynihan

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the waiting treeInfo:
Title: The Waiting Tree
Author: Lindsay Moynihan
Release Date: May 14, 2013
Publisher: Amazon Children’s Publishing
Source: Amazon Vine
Series? No
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, LGBT
Page Count: 218 (paperback ARC)
Rating: [4/5 stars]

Summary:

Eighteen-year-old Simon Peters wants to stand up for the truth about who he is. His love for Stephen is unwavering, but does he have the courage to defend it when his entire church community, including his eldest brother has ostracized him? Trapped in a cashier’s job he hates, struggling to maintain peace with his brothers after their parents have died, and determined to look after his mute brother, Simon puts everyone else’s needs before his own. It takes a courageous act of self-sacrifice on Jude’s part to change both of their lives forever. Jude, who knew that when the fig tree in their yard began to bloom, it was his time to finally be heard and to set Simon free. (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
When I read the summary for THE WAITING TREE, I thought the book would be about Simon’s difficulty in being gay in a community where Being Gay Is Not Acceptable. In part, that’s some of the story, but Simon also has a lot of other problems. THE WAITING TREE is his journey of self-discovery.

Simon and his three brothers were orphaned after their parents died in a car accident. Simon didn’t even get to finish high school. Instead, to help out financially, he had to get a job at a place that’s very reminiscent of a certain big blue retailer. Simon works nights because during the day he watches his twin brother, Jude. Jude has never spoken a word in his life and can’t take care of himself. On top of everything else, Simon lives in an economically dead and conservative town, so there aren’t a lot of options. And the very worst part? His boyfriend, Stephen, was sent to a “de-gay” center after Stephen’s dad found the two having sex.

THE WAITING TREE is not a cheerful book. It is realistic and gritty, but also hopeful. I think a lot of teens will empathize with all the burdens Simon has. Times are tough for teens and young adults (and everyone else), and I think readers will understand what Simon is going through. They might even feel like they’re going through the same sort of thing themselves — overwhelmed by everything, and just getting through day by day.

And that’s exactly what Simon’s doing — living day by day. His main concern is Jude. Second is his love for Stephen. As I read THE WAITING TREE, I was both sad and hopeful, and I enjoyed seeing Simon eventually realize he couldn’t just sit back and shuffle through life, that he had to take steps if he wanted to change things.

I would have liked to see what happened when Simon went to get Stephen. The ending was my least favorite part because it was open ended; I’m the type of reader who likes closure. But otherwise, I enjoyed the book, and I don’t think I put it down while reading. It’s not a very long book (the ARC is 218 pages) so it’s easy to finish it in one or two sessions.

Simon and Jude stole my heart, and when Jude made a very painful decision, I actually said, “No, don’t do it!” As for what that decision was, you’ll have to read THE WAITING TREE to find out, which I recommend you do. Although it’s a Young Adult book, I think adults would enjoy it too. As I said, it’s not a cheerful book — there’s a lot of bad stuff going on I didn’t mention — but I think the message behind the book is a good one.

Socialize with the author:
Lindsay Moynihan:
Website
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– leeanna

Blog Tour Book Review: Twisted Summer by Lucy V. Morgan (and giveaway!)

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Today I am one of the stops on the blog tour for TWISTED SUMMER by Lucy V. Morgan. The tour is hosted by Itching For Books and you can visit the rest of the stops here.

twisted summerInfo:
Title: Twisted Summer
Author: Lucy V. Morgan
Release Date: April, 2013
Publisher: Self-Published
Source: Author for blog tour
Series? No
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Page Count: 169
Rating: [3/5 stars]

Summary:

A dark New Adult romance

You have to understand that we never meant for it to happen. We knew it was stupid. We knew it was wrong.

Eighteen-year-old Danni Warren has big plans for her last summer before college: a cool job, a concert she wouldn’t miss for the world, and spending time with her beautiful girlfriend, Esme. But after one hell of an argument, Danni’s mother packs her off to stay with her estranged step-uncle, Gabe, in his lodge on the English coast. So begins a weekend of the worst punishment imaginable: no phone signal.

With his sun kissed good looks and sarcastic manner, twenty-nine-year-old Gabe Asher isn’t anything like Danni expected. She wants to hate him—he’s her punishment for standing up to her mother—but between surfing lessons and beach hikes, Gabe and Danni grow close. Maybe too close.

Now Danni’s questioning everything: old family secrets, her future, her strained relationship with Esme. One sun stained afternoon, Gabe and Danni go too far. And then everything else falls apart… (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
TWISTED SUMMER is a fast, fun, wild ride, much like the relationship of the two characters within its pages. It’s a new adult contemporary focusing on the “taboo” attraction and relationship between Danni, eighteen, and Gabe, twenty-nine. As if the age difference wasn’t enough, Gabe is sort of Danni’s uncle (he’s her mother’s step-brother, so they aren’t actually related by blood).

They meet when Danni’s mother, tired of her attitude and cheekiness, sends her to Gabe’s beach shack as a punishment. An out lesbian, Danni’s pissed she’ll miss going to a concert with her girlfriend Esme. But her bad attitude starts to change when she notices that Gabe is, well, hot. And he seems to like her, too.

TWISTED SUMMER is just that — the story of one very twisted summer love affair. Danni and Gabe know their attraction can’t move beyond the weekend, but of course, they end up wanting much more from each other than a fling. For Danni, there’s the added complication of her girlfriend, and figuring out how to let Esme down gently. Hint: it’s a lot harder than she thought it would be.

What I liked most about TWISTED SUMMER was the realism of being young and confused. I think it’s important for teens and young adults to realize that their first love is most likely not going to be their soulmate, and that sometimes, you really have no idea what you want. Did Danni and Gabe do some stupid things? Did they rush into the sack a little too fast? Maybe. But you know, that’s real life, and it happens sometimes.

The ending was maybe a bit too neat, but you know what? I liked that Danni and Gabe got their happily ever after. TWISTED SUMMER isn’t a perfect book, but it did engage me the whole time I was reading, even though contemporary isn’t a favorite genre of mine. I do recommend it for mature readers, as there are quite a few adult scenes, both of the boy on girl and girl on girl variety.

Giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

*giveaway is tour-wide

About the author:
Lucy writes sharp contemporary fiction, usually with a liberal splatter of filth. She is a Lyrical Press author and a screenwriter.

Her upcoming new adult novel, TWISTED SUMMER, is a gutsy take on forbidden love starring an even gutsier heroine.

Her contemporary series, encompassing CHAIRMAN OF THE WHORED and THE WHORED’S PRAYER, features slick London lawyers with a penchant for sensual violence. It’s definitely on the darker side. BEAUTIFUL MESS, her current release, is a snarky, sexy friends-to-lovers romp.

Lucy is currently working on new novels, and is developing a paranormal television series with producers (think The Vampire Diaries meets The 4400).

She is still trying to kick her dirty Pepsi habit.
Website

– leeanna

Blog Tour Book Review: Deer in Headlights by Staci Hart (and giveaways!)

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Today I am the stop on the blog tour for DEER IN HEADLIGHTS by Staci Hart. The tour is hosted by Parajunkee Blog Tours.

deer in headlightsInfo:
Title: Deer in Headlights
Author: Staci Hart
Release Date: February 13, 2013
Publisher: Promise Socks Publishing
Source: Author/blog tour
Series? Good Gods #1
Genre: Adult, Romance, Paranormal, Mythology
Page Count: 166
Rating: [3/5 stars]

Summary:

What do the Greek gods do when they’re bored? Because they’re always bored, so humans are the perfect players in their games.

Aphrodite owns love; she hasn’t lost a competition on her turf in over three millennia. Apollo is on a mission to win. He’s counting on it to finally get the one woman he’s never been able to have. The two gods will choose their human players, and if Aphrodite can’t get them together before the clock runs out, Apollo will get his way. And Aphrodite couldn’t have that.

Lex and Dean are perfect for each other, they just don’t know it yet. Dean is a perpetual bachelor, and a brooding, beautiful rock star. Lex is always with a man, but she’ll never fully give herself up. Aphrodite has her work cut out for her, but if she can’t make it work, no one can.

The gods have their own drama. Apollo killed Aprhodite’s mortal love – they’ve got beef that’s been dragging on for thousands of years. Ares, the douchebag, is forever trying to pick a fight, and trying to get Aphrodite into bed. And Persephone, Aphrodite’s best friend, is the one person who Aphrodite shares everything with.

Follow the gods as they fight, laugh, cry, lose love, gain power, and make a mess with humans. (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
If you’re immortal, what do you do when you’re bored? That’s the question DEER IN HEADLIGHTS attempts to answer, showing the modern day lives of the Greek gods.

The first in a series, this book is really two stories in one. The first is the competition between Aphrodite and Apollo, the latest in thousands of years of such challenges. Each has a mortal hero — Aphrodite’s goal is to get the two humans to fall in love in two weeks, and Apollo’s is to keep them apart. Aphrodite and Apollo have a long, long history, and neither wants the other to win.

The second story in DEER IN HEADLIGHTS is the story of the gods’ humans. Lex, Dita’s human, is a girl afraid to get truly attached to any man, and Dean, Apollo’s champion, is the epitome of bad boy. Seriously. Dean’s the lead singer of a band, believes in one night stands, and is a magnet for chicks.

I was originally drawn to DEER IN HEADLIGHTS because of the cover, which is quite different from what you usually see, but the stories and characters inside kept me reading. The narrative bounces back and forth between the gods and the humans, and between the gods’ past and present lives. Sometimes I had to reread a page or two to figure out what was going on, but on the whole, the author did a good job of keeping all the different plotlines easy to follow. I always like to see new twists on Greek mythology.

I wanted to root for both Aphrodite and Apollo. They both have excellent reasons for wanting to win, which you learn from the flashbacks. Their part of the book was the most interesting to me, and I would have liked to see more of them and the other gods in modern day. The romance between Dean and Lex was okay, but I just had more interest in the Greek gods.

DEER IN HEADLIGHTS is definitely not a book for younger readers. There are some explicit scenes, all of which were nicely descriptive without going overboard or being too flowery. One little thing that bugged me about the book was the use of nicknames — almost every character has one. There’s Dita for Aphrodite, Perry for Persephone, Heff for Hephaestus. The writing was pretty easy to read, with the exception of dialogue that sometimes felt over the top.

The two stories in DEER IN HEADLIGHTS are both resolved at the end, yet there’s an opening for the next book in the series, Good Gods. It sounds like the next book will feature Persephone and Ares, presumably with a competition between them. I’m curious to see what else the author has in mind.

Giveaways:

Tour Wide Giveaway:
US ONLY
5 signed copies of Deer in Headlights
2 $25 Amazon Gift cards

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Socialize with the author:
Staci Hart:
Website
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Twitter

– leeanna

Book Review: School Spirits by Rachel Hawkins

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school spiritsInfo:
Title: School Spirits
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Release Date: May 14, 2013
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Source: NetGalley/Disney-Hyperion
Series? School Spirits #1
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance
Page Count: 304
Rating: [3/5 stars]

Summary:

Fifteen-year-old Izzy Brannick was trained to fight monsters. For centuries, her family has hunted magical creatures. But when Izzy’s older sister vanishes without a trace while on a job, Izzy’s mom decides they need to take a break.

Izzy and her mom move to a new town, but they soon discover it’s not as normal as it appears. A series of hauntings has been plaguing the local high school, and Izzy is determined to prove her worth and investigate. But assuming the guise of an average teenager is easier said than done. For a tough girl who’s always been on her own, it’s strange to suddenly make friends and maybe even have a crush.

Can Izzy trust her new friends to help find the secret behind the hauntings before more people get hurt? (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
SCHOOL SPIRITS is a spin off of the Hex Hall series by Rachel Hawkins. I was totally surprised by how much I liked Hex Hall, so when I found out about SCHOOL SPIRITS, I had to read it.

SCHOOL SPIRITS stars Isolde “Izzy” Brannick, of the Brannick clan of fighter women. Instead of fighting against the Prodigium Council, Izzy and her mother are now working for it. They’re also searching for Izzy’s sister Finley, who disappeared during a mission.

After a fight with a vampire goes wrong, Izzy’s mother finds her an easier mission: infiltrating a high school to investigate the ghost haunting it. But Izzy’s not so taken with the idea — she’s never been to school, or around kids her own age. So how do you learn about high school if it’s completely foreign? You watch DVDs of high school dramas with the warlock your family trapped in a mirror hundreds of years ago. Said warlock, Torin, is the closest thing to a friend Izzy’s ever had. I hope more of his story comes out in future books, because I really want to find out how he got trapped in the mirror, and what secrets he’s hiding.

When Izzy starts school, she falls in with a group of geeks who have a ghost hunting club. Sure that they’re the ones responsible for the ghost haunting the school, Izzy gets close to them as part of the job. But when she realizes she actually cares about them — and has real friends for the first time ever, she’s torn between duty and friendship.

SCHOOL SPIRITS is a good book, full of great characters and witty writing. I like that Izzy was scared about high school even though she’s a butt-kicking monster slayer. I also liked that Izzy hung out with the “uncool” kids. Yeah, her friendships with Romy and Dex started out as part of the job, but once she saw that they cared about her (and were cool in their own way), she started to question her mother’s teachings that Brannicks don’t have unnecessary interactions with humans.

The relationship between Izzy and Dex was adorable. Izzy has no clue on dating, and that was another aspect I liked. She kept comparing their interactions to moments from the high school drama she and Torin watched, and I think that’s a good reminder for teens that real life isn’t like what you see on TV.

However, SCHOOL SPIRITS didn’t have quite the same magic that the Hex Hall series did. There was just something missing, something I can’t quite put my finger on. Although I did enjoy reading, I was just … underwhelmed. The climax was a bit weak, the ending a bit too neat. After all the buildup about the violent ghost, I expected more oomph in the final showdown.

I probably would have enjoyed it more if I hadn’t thought of it as a spin off of Hex Hall, even though it is. SCHOOL SPIRITS is basically a ghost story; other than a vampire the beginning, there aren’t really any other supernatural creatures.

It’s a good book, and I’ll continue Izzy’s story, but I just wasn’t grabbed by Izzy like I was by Sophie in Hex Hall. I’m sorry for all the comparisons, but was inevitable, since the books are related.

Socialize with the author:
Rachel Hawkins:
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– leeanna

Book Review: Pretty Girl-13 by Liz Coley

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pretty girl-13Info:
Title: Pretty Girl-13
Author: Liz Coley
Release Date: March 19, 2013
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Source: Amazon Vine
Series? No
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Psychological, Mystery
Page Count: 352
Rating: [5/5 stars]

Summary:

Reminiscent of the Elizabeth Smart case, Pretty Girl-13 is a disturbing and powerful psychological mystery about a girl who must piece together the story of her kidnapping and captivity.

Angie Chapman was thirteen years old when she ventured into the woods alone on a Girl Scouts camping trip. Now she’s returned home…only to find that it’s three years later and she’s sixteen-or at least that’s what everyone tells her.

What happened to the past three years of her life?

Angie doesn’t know.

But there are people who do — people who could tell Angie every detail of her forgotten time, if only they weren’t locked inside her mind. With a tremendous amount of courage, Angie embarks on a journey to discover the fragments of her personality, otherwise known as her “alters.” As she unearths more and more about her past, she discovers a terrifying secret and must decide: When you remember things you wish you could forget, do you destroy the parts of yourself that are responsible?

Liz Coley’s alarming and fascinating psychological mystery is a disturbing – and ultimately empowering page-turner about accepting our whole selves, and the healing power of courage, hope, and love. (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
PRETTY GIRL-13 is a book that flew under my radar. I don’t usually read contemporary fiction, because I like something supernatural or magical to spice up a world. But once I read the first few pages of the book, I couldn’t finish it fast enough. I devoured PRETTY GIRL-13 in one sitting, blocking out everything around me and getting annoyed every time I needed to take a break.

The book starts with Angie returning home from a camping trip. Or so she thinks. When she greets her parents, she’s shocked by their reaction. They claim she has been missing for the last three years, and that she’s now 16. But the last thing Angie remembers is her Girl Scouts camping trip; she thinks she is 13.

From there, PRETTY GIRL-13 takes off. I usually try not to spoil the plot when I review a book, but in this case, I REALLY don’t want to say anything more. I went into the book blind, which I think is the best way to read it. If you’re debating reading this book, try to avoid spoiling yourself.

I can say that this is a dark psychological mystery. The author goes into some dark topics that you usually don’t see in a young adult novel. Angie’s story is chilling, terrifying, and emotional. At the same time, it’s inspirational and hopeful, because Angie is not a victim. She is a survivor. And let me tell you, she survives a lot.

Looking back, there are some aspects I could critique, but I’m not going there. I was fully immersed in the book while reading. When I finished, I felt empty, because there weren’t any more pages to turn. I read upwards of 100 books a year, and very few leave me with a physical reaction. I already know PRETTY GIRL-13 is going to be one of my favorite books of 2013, and it’s only April.

It is a fast read, so if you’re in doubt, give it a try. And while I read it in the space of a few hours, it’s a book that has stayed with me in the two weeks it’s taken me to write this review. Oh, lastly I do have to say that the prologue threw me for a loop, since it’s written in second-person POV, but almost all of the book in third-person. You’ll see why the prologue is different when you learn Angie’s story.

Socialize with the author:
Liz Coley:
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– leeanna

Book Review: Portrait of a Crossroads by Kelly Rand

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portrait of a crossroadsInfo:
Title: Portrait of a Crossroads
Author: Kelly Rand
Release Date: May 20, 2013
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Source: NetGalley/Riptide Publishing
Series? No
Genre: Adult, LGBT
Page Count: 40
Rating: [3/5 stars]

Summary:

Since finding her father’s body at the bottom of the basement stairs, Annette’s been drifting through her days, watching cars pass down the rural Ontario crossroads beside her house. Her brothers have no great ambitions, but Annette remembers a time when she did. She just can’t remember what they are.

Then she meets her neighbour, Sadie, a tattooed, world-weary, newly single portrait artist. Something about Sadie awakens something in Annette—the essence she captures in her subjects, perhaps, or the way the old familiar crossroads seem so fresh and promising from the view out Sadie’s window.

Annette begins to help Sadie, cleaning brushes and filing invoices between long lazy afternoons of conversations and shared silences. Soon, though, Annette wants more from her enigmatic neighbor, and their slowly heating friendship melts into passionate nights. Somewhere along the way, Annette discovers that her lover has illuminated for her, as with the people Sadie paints, not just her essence but her own endless worlds of possibilities. (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
PORTRAIT OF A CROSSROADS is a glimpse into the life of eighteen-year-old Annette. Living in a fog after the suicide of her father, Annette isn’t sure what to do with her life, or how to move forward. She’s basically sleepwalking through life, going through the motions.

But when she takes notice of the painter living next door, and starts to help Sadie, Annette slowly comes back to life. Sadie is gay, and the more time they spend together, the more Annette wonders what it would be like to be with her.

PORTRAIT OF A CROSSROADS is short, only 40 pages. It does what it needs to do in those pages: exploring Annette’s return to life. I would have liked more of Annette’s thoughts instead of so much description — the author describes almost everything, from the sound of trucks to decor to corn fields. Because the story is about Annette discovering herself and possibilities, I wanted to see more of that. But the basic messages are there: It’s okay to be attracted to women. It’s okay to not know what you’re doing. It’s okay to explore.

There’s a quote from Sadie that I really liked, when asked about her sexuality: “It’s not like I really decided. It’s just what evolved inside of me. And it’s not really as simple for me as one gender over the other. I don’t think it is for anyone. It’s about people, you know? Who you feel attracted to. It’s about that person you want to be around all the time, who you can’t stand to be away from (p. 24).”

This is definitely an adult story! There’s one explicit love scene (happily without flowery euphemisms), and references to sex between Annette and her ex-boyfriend. I appreciated that the author made those references realistic. Hint: he wasn’t good. Sadie was.

Lastly, the cover matches the story, which is always a plus for me. PORTRAIT OF A CROSSROADS is a good story, I just wish it wasn’t so short.

Socialize with the author:
Kelly Rand:
Website
Twitter

– leeanna

Blog Tour Book Review: The Last Academy by Anne Applegate (and giveaway!)

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Today I am one of the stops on the blog tour for THE LAST ACADEMY by Anne Applegate. The tour is hosted by Itching For Books and you can check out the rest of the stops here.

the last academyInfo:
Title: The Last Academy
Author: Anne Applegate
Release Date: April 30, 2013
Publisher: Point
Source: Point/NetGalley
Series? No
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Mystery
Page Count: 320
Rating: [3/5 stars]

Summary:

What is this prep school preparing them for?

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

My Review:
THE LAST ACADEMY is a book that is very difficult to describe without spoiling its gigantic twist. The summary somehow gave me the idea that it would be about a paranormal boarding school, which is why I originally wanted to read it. It is — sort of — but first there’s a lot of contemporary-style story going on.

After a huge, embarrassing fight with her best friend, Camden is happy she’s heading off to boarding school instead of going to high school with everyone else. Although she’s fourteen, Camden’s voice read to me like that of an older character … except where boys were concerned. After getting to Lethe (quirky name for a school, right?), Camden gets the hots for upperclassman Mark Elliot. It wasn’t quite insta-love, but it reminded me a lot of a first crush.

At first, THE LAST ACADEMY is about life at normal high school. Camden doesn’t get along with her mean roommate, but she does find a few friends, including Jessie, Nora, and Brynn. But when Jessie mysteriously disappears in the middle of the night, Camden starts to realize something’s wrong. The staff claim Jessie decided to go home, but Brynn says Jessie left with a guy. Add in Barnaby Charon, a guy who gives Camden the creeps, and you’ve got the beginning of a big mystery.

I’ll admit, I almost gave up by the first half of THE LAST ACADEMY. I wasn’t really getting into the happenings at Lethe, and was confused by the actions of some of the supporting characters. But then, then came the gigantic twist, and everything clicked into place. Suddenly all the things that didn’t make sense were clear, and I had an entirely new appreciation for the book.

There are a liberal amount of hints and foreshadowing pointing to the big twist, but even so, I didn’t predict how it would all come together. So in the end, I liked the way THE LAST ACADEMY turned out. The idea behind it was pretty creative, and though I would have liked more from the book overall, it was a good read.

Giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

*giveaway is tour-wide

About the author:
Anne Applegate was born in Chico, California. Most of her childhood was spent moving across America with her family, nomad style.

When Anne was fourteen, her parents sent her to boarding school so she could spend four years in a single educational system. As it turned out, her family then promptly settled into a small mid-western town and lived there for the next sixteen years. Anne still hasn’t figured out if this means something.

After graduation, she went on to Tufts University in Medford, MA, where she had a wicked good time. Eventually, she wound up back on the west coast, where she married a fantastic Californian guy. Together, they have three children.

For the last twelve years, Anne has lived in San Luis Obispo County. This is by far the longest time she has stayed in any one place her whole life. She immensely enjoys living where 1) the sun always shines and 2) she isn’t the weirdest person in town.

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– leeanna

Blog Tour Book Review: The Forgotten Ones by Laura Howard (and giveaway!)

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Today I am one of the stops on the blog tour for THE FORGOTTEN ONES by Laura Howard. The tour is hosted by Itching For Books and you can check out the rest of the stops here.

the forgotten onesInfo:
Title: The Forgotten Ones
Author: Laura Howard
Release Date: April 30, 2012
Publisher: Self-Published
Source: Author for blog tour
Series? Danaan Trilogy #1
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Fantasy
Page Count: 177
Rating: [3/5 stars]

Summary:

Allison O’Malley’s plan is to go to grad school so she can get a good job and take care of her schizophrenic mother. She has carefully closed herself off from everything else, including a relationship with Ethan, who she’s been in love with for as long as she can remember.

What is definitely not part of the plan is the return of her long-lost father, who claims he can bring Allison’s mother back from the dark place her mind has gone. Allison doesn’t trust her father, so why would she believe his stories about a long forgotten Irish people, the Tuatha de Danaan? But truths have a way of revealing themselves. Secrets will eventually surface. And Allison must learn to set aside her plan and work with her father if there is even a small chance it could restore her mother’s sanity. (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
THE FORGOTTEN ONES is an interesting blend of contemporary and fantasy. Main character Allison is twenty-one, which places the book in the new adult age range, but it reads sort of like a young adult book, so I’d recommend for fans of either or both. She has some experiences of young adult characters, like dancing around a guy she likes, but also experiences of adults, with her desire to take care of her mother on her own.

I liked Allison. She’s responsible and smart, and doesn’t let a cute guy sway her from her intended goals. Allison’s mother has schizophrenia, and she blames herself for her mother’s disorder, because it developed after she was born. Her mother’s parents have always taken care of Allison and her mother, but now that she’s an adult, Allison feels it’s time for her to step up.

The first half of THE FORGOTTEN ONES is contemporary. There’s a hint of the fantasy world to come, because Allison has strange dreams, but otherwise, she lives a pretty normal life. It’s only when her long lost father shows up that she learns the truth about him: he’s a Danaan, an Irish fairy. Allison rightfully resents her father for leaving her mother pregnant and alone, so she’s not happy that he claims he’s the only one that can fix her mom.

When Allison enters Tír na n’Óg, aka Irish fairy stomping grounds, the fantasy part of THE FORGOTTEN ONES comes alive. I liked that the author turned to Irish mythology for inspiration. Allison quickly gets stuck in the middle of Danaan politics in an attempt to rescue her mother. She doesn’t know who she can trust, because Danaan are verrrry tricky. But she has an ally in Aodhan, a human who gradually turned Danaan after spending hundreds of years in Tír na n’Óg. I found Aodhan an interesting character because he’s a good example of what happens to humans when they spend too much time in Tír na n’Óg.

Allison does have a love interest, Ethan. She’s known Ethan since they were kids, and although they shared a pretty passionate kiss a few years ago, she doesn’t want to get anywhere near a relationship with him. As I said above, Allison doesn’t want to be detracted by a guy because supporting herself and her mother is more important to her. Inevitably, though, they head towards a relationship. Ethan’s a nice guy, but I wasn’t convinced of their attraction to each other.

THE FORGOTTEN ONES is a good start to a new series. It is a short read at only 177 pages. I would have liked to see a longer book because I think the story and characters could have been expanded upon. I had trouble keeping track of all the different Danaan because they were introduced in quick succession. I also thought the ending was somewhat abrupt. However, the author did intrigue me enough for me to want to find out what happens next to Allison.

Giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

*giveaway is tour-wide.

About the author:
Laura Howard lives in New Hampshire with her husband and four children. Her obsession with books began at the age of 6 when she got her first library card. Nancy Drew, Sweet Valley High and other girly novels were routinely devoured in single sittings. Books took a backseat to diapers when she had her first child. It wasn’t until the release of a little novel called Twilight, 8 years later, that she rediscovered her love of fiction. Soon after, her own characters began to make themselves known. The Forgotten Ones is her first published novel.

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– leeanna

Book Review: The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa

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the eternity cureInfo:
Title: The Eternity Cure
Author: Julie Kagawa
Release Date: April 30, 2013
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Source: NetGalley/Harlequin Teen
Series? Blood of Eden #2
Series Reviews:
Blood of Eden #1: The Immortal Rules
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Dystopian
Page Count: 446
Rating: [3/5 stars]

Summary:

Allison Sekemoto has vowed to rescue her creator, Kanin, who is being held hostage and tortured by the psychotic vampire Sarren. The call of blood leads her back to the beginning—New Covington and the Fringe, and a vampire prince who wants her dead yet may become her wary ally.

Even as Allie faces shocking revelations and heartbreak like she’s never known, a new strain of the Red Lung virus that decimated humanity is rising to threaten human and vampire alike. (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
After reading THE IMMORTAL RULES twice in less than a year, and loving the experience each time, I couldn’t wait to get my paws on THE ETERNITY CURE. I couldn’t wait to find out what was next in Allie’s story, and also to find out more about the vampire world Julie Kagawa created.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t blown away by THE ETERNITY CURE. Though it is a worthy sequel, for me, it had middle book syndrome. The first 150 – 200 pages took me a long time to read, because there just wasn’t a lot going on. After that, the book did pick up, with lots of action and some interesting developments. I did predict several of the plot twists, but I’m not going to name them because I don’t want to spoil anyone. All I can say is: REALLY Salazar?

The best part of the first half or so is Jackal, Allie’s blood-brother. Allie spends a lot of the book bemoaning her vampiric nature. At first I thought she had accepted that she’s a vampire and humans are now lower on the food chain, but no, she thinks about it. A lot. I can understand some soul searching, especially after she spent her first lifetime in misery because she didn’t want to become a slave to the vampires. But there comes a point when too much angst is too much.

That’s why I liked Jackal. Compared to Allie, he’s a breath of fresh air. He’s a vampire through and through, and has no apologies or hesitation about killing or hurting humans to get what he needs. I got sick of Allie judging him for being a vampire. Message to Allie: vampires EAT people. Vampires NEED blood to survive.

The main story in THE ETERNITY CURE is the search for Kanin. The sire of Allie and Jackal, Kanin was kidnapped by the extremely psychotic vampire Sarren. Mix together every crazy serial killer and you’ll get an idea of Sarren’s personality. While searching, Allie and Jackal sort of bond, and I had more than a few laughs at Jackal’s dark, sarcastic sense of humor. In THE IMMORTAL RULES, Allie was my favorite character, but Jackal stole the show for me in book two.

At almost 450 pages, THE ETERNITY CURE is quite long for a young adult book. Length doesn’t bother me, and I like sinking my teeth (fangs?) into a long book, but I think it could have been slimmed down and lost some of the slow, slow beginning. There were also quite a few instances of being reminded of the same thing over and over again, which could have been cut down. For example, I lost count of how many times Allie told the reader she would be cold, if only winter weather still bothered her.

But when Allie and Jackal return to New Covington in pursuit of Kanin and information on the Red Lung virus, the book does pick up. The last half is why I’m giving it a good rating, and why I want to find out what will happen in the third book of the series.

Zeke makes a return, too. I wasn’t convinced of their relationship in THE IMMORTAL RULES, and I wasn’t here, either. I just wanted … more. I had a hard time believing Zeke would go against a lifetime of indoctrination to hate vampires by falling in love with Allie.

The ending of THE ETERNITY CURE was great. In the last half, there’s tons of action, double-crossing, and violence. Although I was underwhelmed by the first half and by several other things, the ending of the book redeemed the series for me.

Socialize with the author:
Julie Kagawa:
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– leeanna