Going Too Far

Reviewer: Kristen 
Author: Jennifer Echols
Pages: 245
Format: Paperback
My Rating: 7 out of 10


Summary: HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO?

All Meg has ever wanted is to get away. Away from high school. Away from her backwater town. Away from her parents who seem determined to keep her imprisoned in their dead-end lives. But one crazy evening involving a dare and forbidden railroad tracks, she goes way too far...and almost doesn't make it back.

John made a choice to stay. To enforce the rules. To serve and protect. He has nothing but contempt for what he sees as childish rebellion, and he wants to teach Meg a lesson she won't soon forget. But Meg pushes him to the limit by questioning everything he learned at the police academy. And when he pushes back, demanding to know why she won't be tied down, they will drive each other to the edge -- and over....

My Thoughts: This book came  highly recommended on Goodreads, and I'll admit to you, as long as something has a rating of 4> I won't hesitate to pick it up. I'm glad I did. I really enjoyed this novel. It was easy to follow, it was a breath of somewhat fresh air. I'm quite sick of the bad boy getting the sweet, innocent girl. I'm glad that Jennifer Echols put a twist in it, and made Meg the hard ass. I also really enjoyed that both Meg and John came with their own baggage. Too often, I find, only one character has the baggage and someone always has to save said character. Both John and Meg have deep emotional scars, and they finally begin to open up to each other. I really, really, really didn't like Meg at first. Okay, I liked her sarcasm and her wit. I didn't like how she "conducted" her life, so to speak. You find out why she's the way she is, and suddenly you just go "Ahhhhhh! It all makes sense now!" John After is similar. You begin to understand why he's the way he is and why he feels so emotionally tied to their quiet little town (that Meg hates!) and the bridge that brought them together. I've heard lots of wonderful things about all of Jennifer Echols books, and it suffices to say that I've ordered a bunch more. (Thanks Book Depository, without you I'd probably have to beg on the streets for my book money.) I'd be lying if I said that this was exactly what I expected when I got the book. I was a little bit disappointed, but I think that was just because of what I thought the book was. Don't you hate when that happens? When what you thought the book was going to be interferes with what it really is. At any rate, this really was a good, really quick read. I encourage you to give it a shot! 

Final Thoughts: Good read. Quick, funny, a bit dark, hopeful. 

The Ripple in Space-Time

Reviewer: Kristen
Author: S F Chapman
Pages: 260
Format: Paperback (ARC)
My Rating: 7½ out of 10

Summary (Thanks Goodreads): When the huge lunar Ultra Energy Laboratory is destroyed by a mysterious blast, Inspector Ryo Trop of the Free City Inquisitor's Office is called in to sort out who is responsible for the disaster.

Early reports imply that rogue moon miners are to blame but Ryo quickly discovers that a far more complex and sinister scheme is afoot.

With the help of a promising young Liaison Agent and a faltering Grad student, Ryo searches for clues and culprits in the corrupt and moldering feudal fiefdoms of the Warlords that dominate human affairs in 2445.

Ryo’s longtime friend, Biology Professor turned spy Malcolm Evans, suggests that the wave of space piracy that has recently vexed the Solar System could be connected to the obliteration of the lunar lab.

But why would reckless and marauding space raiders have an interest in a research facility

**We received a copy of this novel for a fair and unbiased review**

My Thoughts: I haven't read any science fiction novels that I truly enjoyed lately. I'm happy to say that The Ripple in Space-Time has ended that little streak I had goin' on. The novel was about a scientist who was abducted and a team was assembled to to rescue them. When Tribute Books emailed me about this book, I'm not going to lie, I was excited. I loved how S. F Chapman laid out this book. I don't really know why, but the way the chapters were broken up added a lot to the book. I also thought that the way the book was written added so much to the story which is an obvious kudos to the author, again. In stories like this, you need to be able to picture everything because everything is so different when a story takes place this far into the future. For the most part, I could picture everything that S.F Chapman was describing, and I could visualize where he was trying to take the reader. I really don't know what to say other than I just enjoyed this story. A lot. Don't get me wrong, it was a lot different than the bluster of cute romantic novels I've been reading lately, and let me tell you that it was a breath of fresh air. My only critique of this would be that it starts out great, and it ends great, but the middle could sometimes be a little eh. It was worth it though, and I really enjoyed this read! I feel like this review was all over the place, I've just literally finished it. I definitely recommend any sci-fi lover to pick this book up, it won't disappoint! P.S can I just say that I love when the title suddenly makes all the sense in the world?

Final Thoughts: Good read. Definitely would consider re-reading. Perfect for anyone who loves sci-fi and/ or crime! 

Thoughtless

Reviewer: Kristen
Author: S.C Stephens
Pages: 520
Format: Paperback
My Rating: 8½ out of 10

Summary (thanks GR): For almost two years now, Kiera's boyfriend, Denny, has been everything she's ever wanted: loving, tender and endlessly devoted to her. When they head off to a new city to start their lives together, Denny at his dream job and Kiera at a top-notch university, everything seems perfect. Then an unforeseen obligation forces the happy couple apart.

Feeling lonely, confused, and in need of comfort, Kiera turns to an unexpected source—a local rock star named Kellan Kyle. At first, he's purely a friend that she can lean on, but as her loneliness grows, so does their relationship. And then one night everything changes...and none of them will ever be the same


My Thoughts: I've really been into the whole romance thing lately. Not Fifty Shades of romance, mind you, but the good old fashioned love triangle. If that's what you're looking for, then this is for you. Yes there is some sex, but it's nothing that made me blush, so again, not something Fifty Shades would be proud of. I instantly fell in love with Denny, which was hard because you know that with these kind of novels, chances are their gonna fall for the other lover. Well, don't you fret none, I loved Kellan just as much. I probably loved him more. I loved that he wasn't perfect, and I loved that he accepted how he was. I loved that he was so involved in his music, and that he felt real. He didn't seem like the perfect kind of guy that protagonists always go for. He was messy, he was stupid, he was caring, he was hilarious, he was warm, he was cold, he was close, he was distant. He was everything that you want in a guy. Well, maybe not everything. He was a little promiscuous. And by a little, I mean a lot. For good reason, that I promise you will find out as you near the end. I loved the dynamic that the three of them had, and I really enjoyed the band part of the story. I am a sucker for a boy with a good voice and who knows how to play the guitar, but then again, who isn't? Kiera is another story - she royally pissed me off majority of the time. Sometimes I felt bad for her, sometimes I hated her so much that I wanted neither Kellan nor Denny to end up with her. I really liked Jenny and Evan. They weren't mentioned as much as I would have liked, but I hope that with the next one (which I have ordered, by the way) we get to learn more about the secondary characters. Anna too, who was Kiera's sister. This book was a tad long for the typical romance, but it didn't feel long, ya know what I mean? I just kept turning the pages, and I didn't want to leave their world. Sue me, but I'm excited that this is a trilogy. When I fall in love with characters, I want to spend as much time as I possibly can with them. Which is probably why I have a pull towards trilogies, as Kelsey can attest too. Alright, enough of my rambling. I really enjoyed this, and S.C Stephens wrote this beautifully. Great characters and a well written novel?! Whose alley wouldn't this be up!?

Final Thoughts: I definitely recommend this if you're on that romance kick that I've been on. If you like Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire then definitely, without a doubt, check out Thoughtless!

Twenty Boy Summer

Reviewer: Kristen 
Author: Sarah Ockler 
Pages: 290
Format: Paperback
My Rating: 6 out of 10

Summary (via GR): "Don’t worry, Anna. I’ll tell her, okay? Just let me think about the best way to do it."
"Okay."
"Promise me? Promise you won’t say anything?"
"Don’t worry.” I laughed. “It’s our secret, right?"

According to Anna’s best friend, Frankie, twenty days in Zanzibar Bay is the perfect opportunity to have a summer fling, and if they meet one boy every day, there’s a pretty good chance Anna will find her first summer romance. Anna lightheartedly agrees to the game, but there’s something she hasn’t told Frankie–she’s already had her romance, and it was with Frankie’s older brother, Matt, just before his tragic death one year ago.

TWENTY BOY SUMMER explores what it truly means to love someone, what it means to grieve, and ultimately, how to make the most of every beautiful moment life has to offer

My Thoughts: Such a cool premise and plot! This books cover totally drew me in - I mean, can we take a minute to appreciate that cover?! Plus, it relates back to the story in a really cool and meaningful way. I love it when that happens, I absolutely hate it when the cover bares no relevance to the story inside - even if it's just me that can't find the relevance. People judge books by the covers, people! Make sure it's something interesting. End rant. Sorry bout that. This cover is really great though, am I right? Back to the actual story. It was good. It was okay. It wasn't great.  I kept checking how many pages I had left till the end. From when I started this book last week, I started and finished to other novels instead of getting to the end of this one. With me, that's usually pretty telling. I don't tend to enjoy jumbling worlds. Though, when I did jump back into Twenty Boy Summer, I knew exactly what was happening without it being thrown in my face repeatedly. Sarah Ockler does a good job at keeping the reader up to pace. I can't even tell you what I didn't like about this book. It's a bunch of little things really. I didn't like that Anna was so obsessive with the promise she made to Matt. I also thought the beginning of the book kind of dragged, while the end kind of speed by things I would have liked to know more about. I really liked the little quirks each character had. Frankie, for example, constantly used the wrong word when she was trying to sound intelligent, and it left Anna always correcting her. Little things like that make the characters feel real. It was good, not great, but it was good. 

Final Thoughts: Quick, easy read. It's alright, especially if you're looking for a bit of romance and a bit of self discovery. 

Origin

Reviewer: Kelsey
Author: Jessica Khoury
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 394
Rating: 8 out of 10

Summary (Goodreads is my favourite!): Pia has grown up in a secret laboratory hidden deep in the Amazon rain forest. She was raised by a team of scientists who have created her to be the start of a new immortal race. But on the night of her seventeenth birthday, Pia discovers a hole in the electric fence that surrounds her sterile home--and sneaks outside the compound for the first time in her life.

Free in the jungle, Pia meets Eio, a boy from a nearby village. Together, they embark on a race against time to discover the truth about Pia's origin--a truth with deadly consequences that will change their lives forever.

Origin is a beautifully told, shocking new way to look at an age-old desire: to live forever, no matter the cost.

What I Think: I really enjoyed this novel. I think that it is a very original idea. I felt that Pia was both a good use of my new Latin skills (It always helps to know what a name mean, authors really do think about that kind of thing) and a great character. I thought that she was strong and brave. Sure, at the beginning she was kind of closed-minded and uncaring but when I look back at it, of course she was like that! She had no concept of what the real world, or any part of the world for that matter, was like. I'm happy that she learned. I love characters that are curious and have drive. 

Another plus was that the author didn't just go with the 'immortality is okay' thing and run with it. I'm glad she threw in something to think about. She does it subtly too so you don't have to worry, the thinking involved doesn't hurt your head.

As I was reading, I kept thinking that this one part was super sad and stood out too much. I couldn't figure out what the significance was and it bothered me. When I did figure it out though, it hit my like a brick wall and my epiphany came a few pages too early. It wasn't a bad thing, it made me feel better.

Finally, I really want to know what ended up happening with the ants!

In Conclusion: I loved this novel. I would definitely consider reading it again and again. It was a pretty easy read so it didn't take me very long at all. It's a bit of a stretch on science and a little sad in a few part (I almost cried in class) but if you can get past these two things then you're golden and should check this book out.

Flawed

Reviewer: Kristen
Author: Kate Avelynn
Pages: 321
Format: Paperback
My Rating: 10 out of 10

*** Trigger warning: this book does not deal with light issues. It's a dark novel that is absolutely heartbreaking and deals with issues far beyond most peoples understanding. In my opinion, Kate Avelynn does every issue discussed justice. ***

Summary (Thanks GR): Sarah O’Brien is alive because of the pact she and her brother made twelve years ago — James will protect her from their violent father if she promises to never leave him. For years, she’s watched James destroy his life to save hers. If all he asks for in return is her affection, she’ll give it freely.

Until, with a tiny kiss and a broken mind, he asks for more than she can give.

Sam Donavon has been James’ best friend — and the boy Sarah’s had a crush on — for as long as she can remember. As their forbidden relationship deepens, Sarah knows she’s in trouble. Quiet, serious Sam has decided he’s going to save her. Neither of them realizes James is far more unstable than her father ever was, or that he’s not about to let Sarah forget her half of the pact . . 

My Thoughts: This is not a book that should be taken lightly, and Kate Avelynn makes sure that it's damn near impossible to. I dove into this expecting some different topics than my usual bluster of cute romantic love stories. I expected some incest, I expected the abuse, I was not expecting to fall in love with this novel. This is by no means a light read. It's heavy, and heart-wrenching, and made me want to toss the book across the room, hug Sarah, kick her father's ass, and punch James in the face. It made me fall in love with Sam for the same reasons that Sarah had. But don't let a cute boy be the reason you dive into this novel. It presents so many things, so many huge topics that I have personally never dealt with before, and after reading it, it's clear that Kate Avelynn is a powerful writer. This book took hold of my heart and squeezed, and I literally had to walk away a few times to collect myself. This book is powerful, gritty, and most importantly it's real. It shows the reader a real struggle, and real pain and the real power of love. It is by no means a story of hope. It is raw, it's emotional, it was an spectacular read. It's one of those books that will consume my every thought for a long time, and I'm not quite sure how I'm going to get it off my mind. Flawed was without a flaw, and if it's something you can handle on an emotional level, do not let it pass you by. I just finished it, maybe three minutes ago, and I'm not sure I'm going to go on with my life. Okay, so I may be exaggerating a little bit, but this story is just that powerful. 

Final Thoughts: I can only hope to be this effective of a writer. 

The Reckoning (Taker #2)

Reviewer: Kelsey
Author: Alma Katsu
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 352
Rating: 6 out of 10

Summary (via Goodreads): Lanore McIlvrae is the kind of woman who will do anything for love. Including imprisoning the man who loves her behind a wall of brick and stone.

She had no choice but to entomb Adair, her nemesis, to save Jonathan, the boy she grew up with in a remote Maine town in the early 1800s and the man she thought she would be with forever. But Adair had other plans for her. He used his mysterious, otherworldly powers to give her eternal life, but Lanore learned too late that there was a price for this gift: to spend eternity with him. And though he is handsome and charming, behind Adair’s seductive faÇade is the stuff of nightmares. He is a monster in the flesh, and he wants Lanore to love him for all of time.

Now, two hundred years after imprisoning Adair, Lanore is trying to atone for her sins. She has given away the treasures she’s collected over her many lifetimes in order to purge her past and clear the way for a future with her new lover, Luke Findley. But, while viewing these items at an exhibit at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, Lanore suddenly is aware that the thing she’s been dreading for two hundred years has caught up to her: Adair has escaped from his prison. He’s free— and he will come looking for her. And she has no idea how she will save herself.

My Thoughts: If you took Beauty and the Beast, Romeo and Juliette, and a slightly watered-down version of 50 Shades of Grey and put them together you would get this book. Looking at those titles, you can see where the problem might come in. I feel the need to say that this book was bizarre, just as the first novel in this series was. I can't say that it was my favourite though. Alma Katsu is an incredible writer and has a brilliant mind but Lanore's mind is a bit of a scary place to be. I didn't appreciate that she cut herself down to think that she might actually care for Adair. That's just plain not good for women everywhere. I personally do not like thinking about how screwed up some people might be.

This said, I am glad that she saw the characters through. I can't say that their decisions surprised me. They were true to how they were. Each one fought for what was right, or at least what they thought was right. Every character had a growing moment too. I don't agree with readers that hate when characters change; people change and grow so why wouldn't characters in stories?

I'm not pleased with the ending. It was too sudden. I was expecting some grand ending or some huge event that would lead into the next novel but I was left disappointed. There was no lead up. There was no subtle change over time that led to the conclusion of this story. The reader doesn't even get a glimpse into the mind of Adair. There is absolutely no explanation to what he chose to do in the end. It just bothers me. I hold onto the hope that the next novel will explain his decisions. Two books in, I hope I won't be disappointed. 

Final Thoughts: I enjoyed the writing itself but the end really upset me. For such a long story, I expected more. I pray that the final book will be better and leave me content. If you read the first in the series, it won't hurt to read this one but I liked the first one about a thousand times more than this one. Take from that what you wish...