[Blog Tour: Excerpt + Giveaway] Love's Forbidden Flower by Diane Rinella

 

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Title: Love's Forbidden Flower

Author: Diane Rinella
Release Date: November 28, 2012
Published by: Midnight to Six

Goodreads

The heart cares not what society forbids.

Lily nurtures a secret love for a flawless man—the one who is her soul mate. Donovan is gorgeous, charismatic, and delights in all of Lily’s talents and quirks. Their innate knowledge of each other is almost telepathic. Together they interlock like fine threads creating luxurious silk.

But society dictates this picture-perfect adoration is the ghastliest of all possibilities.

As Lily embarks on a quest for the romance the heavens intended, her suitor turns reluctant. Desperate to uncover why Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hiding decayed from a tender-hearted gentleman into a ferociously self-serving, cocky bastard, Lily is prepared for battle when it comes to the salvation of her soul mate. However, Donovan traps Lily in a mental game of chess, leaving her to question his sanity. When Lily’s revelations about Donovan’s destructive alter ego lead to an inconceivable truth, can she help Donovan survive fate’s cruel joke?

EXCERPT

Feeling every bit of my being becoming weak, my mouth forces out the subject closest to my heart. He's roller coastering; meaning if I stay strong there is a chance of getting to his core. I'm learning him all over again. “Then why are you pulling me so close only to shove me back so hard? I don’t understand why you're becoming so cruel. It is like you—”

“Lil, look. You and I, we can’t happen. Nothing has happened. Nothing can. It's time you faced that.”

He stops me from interjecting. He’s about to shatter my heart, again. “No, Lil. You have to listen.” Swallowing his pride, his emotions mutate before me. With both of my hands in one of his, he caresses my hair with his other. “You need to find a guy who you can really love and who will care for you. Don’t give your love to just anyone. Make sure he’s worthy.” He leans in and seems to absorb my fragrance as he delicately kisses my cheek, allowing his lips to linger before forcing himself to pull away.

My lips pinch together to mute my true emotions. I'm hurt. I'm angry. Worst of all, I'm swooning, but I can't let him see that. My agitation requires acceleration so his will remain low. “What, like that bimbo is worthy?”

“Really, Lily. It’s not what you think, and it’s not what I want, but it has to be this way.”

He couldn’t possibly have meant the words that are now stamped into my mind. He's my shelter, my sanctuary. How could the power of our emotions possibly evade him? I exaggerate the size of the lump in my throat so I can ride his sea-saw. “No. No, it doesn’t. You know it doesn’t.”

“Yes, Lily. It does.” Placing his forehead to mine his tears sting as they trail down my face, merging with my own. The fragments of two hearts that have been shattered into millions of pieces lay on the floor before us.

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[Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway] The Kings of Charleston by Kat H. Clayton

 

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Title: The Kings of Charleston (The Kings of Charleston #1)

Author: Kat H. Clayton
Release Date: July 10, 2012

Goodreads

Casper Whitley is forced to move to Charleston, South Carolina where she’ll be the new kid her senior year of high school. Casper’s upset about the move until she meets the Roman family’s gorgeous son, Cal, but there’s a problem. A mystery surrounds him which can be summed up in one word…Kythera. Never heard of it? Neither has Casper until she finds the word tattooed on cars, paintings and all her new friends.

After Casper’s life is threatened, someone is forced to tell the truth about her parents, the Romans and Kythera’s motives for her being in Charleston. Once the truth is revealed, she must decide whether to protect her family and Kythera’s secrets or walk away from everything she has ever known.

THOUGHTS:

It's been quite a while since I've read something so laced with suspense yet doesn't fall under the genres of paranormal or dystopia. I wasn't exactly sure what to expect when I picked up this book, but suffice to say I was more than impressed and overwhelmed by what I read. The mystery element thoroughly enriched the novel, and helped set it apart from other YA reads - quite frankly, I don't think I'll be forgetting this novel any time soon. I finished it in one sitting, and the reason is simple, really - the first few pages had me hooked right from the beginning, and Clayton's writing is just tremendous!

I enjoyed reading about our MC, Casper. It took me a while before I warmed to her character though - I know that she isn't comfortable with her lifestyle, but all the complaints about wearing expensive dresses and having her pictures taken all the time got a bit annoying, to say the least. Thankfully, this impression of mine didn't last. After reading more about Casper, it was hard not to notice how lonely she was in reality, and how she wasn't comfortable with throwing her wealth around. Moreover, her love for horses made it difficult to not like her, and I couldn't help but feel sorry for her when she was uprooted from the life she has always know at the blink of an eye.

The mystery of Kythera makes itself known pretty early in the novel. It made the novel thoroughly engrossing, and it is the reason why I couldn't read this particular novel quick enough. Kythera is everywhere  in the town of Charleston, and Casper is bombarded by it - the name is on her friends' cars, on paintings, and even tattooed on her friends' bodies. Not only that, this very word also managed to inspire terror from the other people who live in Charleston, and Casper somehow finds herself in the middle of the mystery of Kythera - just what is it, and what does it have to do with Casper and her family?

While the mystery of Kythera had me on the edge of my seat and tearing through the pages of The Kings of Charleston  like a madwoman, I wasn't that thrilled with the romance aspect of this novel. It came out of nowhere - Casper sets foot on the town of the Charleston for the very first time, and next thing we know, the neighbors' son, Cal, is spewing out all these lines how Casper is so beautiful and all that. Truth be told, the romance felt out of place, and as much as I tried to like Cal's character, I couldn't. He's too smooth, too slick, and basically an enigma. Not to mention, he's something of a liar as well. Lastly, he says he loves Casper, but I can't fathom how he came to that feeling in the first place.

From the middle of the novel, the action picks up, and it doesn't relent until the very end. Casper is thrown into hazardous situations one after the other, and it soon becomes clear that Kythera isn't your average organization. All in all, this is one heck of an exciting read, and I definitely recommend it!

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[Blog Tour: Review] I Am Alive by Cameron Jace (I Am Alive #1)

 

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Title: I Am Alive (I Am Alive #1)

Author: Cameron Jace
Release Date: December 1, 2012 (Edited Version)

Goodreads / Amazon

Sixteen-year-old Decca Tenderstone feels captivated when she meets Leo, who is arrogant, silent, beautiful, and shoots almost every one he meets.

the usual boring girl meets badboy story... hmm... with a twist ...

They live in a dystopian future in Los Angeles where every sixteen-year-old is ranked on a scale from one to ten to determine their future. Outranks, who are considered a danger to society, are forced to attend the Monster Show, a brutal sacrificing ritual that is broadcasted worldwide on live TV, where rebellious teens are labelled Bad Kidz or Monsters and get to fight for their lives in deadly games.

To prove that you're still alive you have to scream I Am Alive every six hours. Lower your voice, and you're dead.

Decca doesn't need Leo's company. She has secrets of her own. While they both can't stand each other, she will find out why she doesn't fit into any rank.

Nothing will stand in her way as she has to make choices concerning love, life, staying alive, growing up, and finding out who she really is.

THOUGHTS:

This book isn't exactly short, but it was a quick read for me. I finished it in one sitting, and the reason is simple, really - I found myself engrossed in the story early on. (I almost didn't want to give this book a shot because of the very unflattering cover, but I'm glad I did. Never judge a book by its cover, right? And besides, I think there' a newer - and infinitely much better - cover floating around!) The general plot, the characters, and the storylines were intriguing, to say the least, and my interest was also highly piqued by the dystopian world that served as a backdrop to this novel. And to be fair, the first chapter really surprised me too! (I was warned that I ought to prepare for a shock, but I honestly didn't expect what happened!

I'm sure that a lot of people will compare this novel to either Battle Royale or The Hunger Games trilogy, but as the author himself points out, the entire 'trying to escape death while the whole world watches' is a concept we see in literature time and time again. (And didn't Roman prisoners fight to their death for the amusement of the general public ages ago?) Moreover, to tell the truth, other than the original premise, I see no similarity between The Hunger Games and I Am Alive. This is just a little something to take note of, because I'm sure there would be readers who would be immediately jumping to conclusions on how this particular novel is a copycat or the like.

Decca, the main character, is not difficult to like. While I wish we could have explored her thoughts and feelings more, I still reckon that I understood her character enough. I fully understood why she chose to make some decisions that seem rash and and a bit reckless; and I couldn't blame her for leaving no stone unturned in her quest for answers. I admired her loyalty to her family; her friendship - which was definitely out of a place in her wold - with someone ranked higher than her; and I admire her sheer tenacity and her strong will. Decca is an excellent character to read about.

While I did find this novel an easy read, the pacing was a bit off at times for me. It was as if things were moving too fast, and events that should have been explored further were largely ignored. Generally, I like novels that are paced quickly, but sometimes reading I Am Alive gave me something like a whiplash. The quick pacing skipped out on some essential character development (with regards to Leo, the guy Decca suddenly finds at her side, most especially), and I feel like the novel could have been much better if the pacing was toned down a bit.

Also, the love story angle felt like a bit of a stretch to me. For me, I don't think the romance brought anything to the story. Moreover, I really don't think the relationship - or love, or whatever - between Decca and Leo was even developed properly, and I couldn't help but wish that it could have just been left out of the novel. Hopefully we get to see more character development in the next book in the series. Also, I did have some difficulty understanding some of the reasons why this world came to be in the first place.

All in all, while I did have some misgivings with it, I still consider I Am Alive a strong beginning to a series, and I can't wait to find out what happens next! I enjoyed the pop culture references, as well as Decca's sassiness when it comes to mouthing off with Leo. Leo's quite fun to read about when's he's exasperated too!

Rating: 3.5 Stars

[Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway] Phoebe Pope and the Year of Four by Nya Jade

 

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Title: Phoebe Pope and the Year of Four (Shapers #1)

Author: Nya Jade
Release Date: October 30, 2012

Published by: Dreamwell Publishing

Goodreads / Amazon

The students of Green Lane Academy roam their halls unaware that below their manicured campus exists a prestigious school of an entirely different kind . . .

Sixteen-year-old Phoebe Pope has enrolled at the Campus Below: a spy academy for shape-shifters hidden deep beneath the grounds of a boarding school whose humans unknowingly protect it. There, thanks to a carefully planned schedule, she leads a double life: spy trainee Below and normal teenager Above.

As if two course loads, concealing a secret power she alone wields, and coping with her father’s recent death weren’t enough, Phoebe finds herself developing major feelings for actor and teen heartthrob Colten Chase, who attends the Campus Above and appears to be majoring in winning Phoebe’s heart. But when officials learn that Phoebe may be at the center of a startling prophecy, she becomes the target of shape-shifting assassins who will stop at nothing to suppress the truth.

Now Phoebe’s lessons about Shaper’s enemies and spycraft take on great importance as a menace stalks the campus, with Phoebe as its target. Meanwhile, what began as an unlikely relationship with Colten, quickly morphs into heartache when she suspects that something sinister lurks beneath this movie star’s glitter and fame. Suddenly, Phoebe’s caught in a mesh of lies, betrayals, and danger where she doesn’t know who to trust, and needs to rely on herself—and her secret power—to get to the truth and to stay alive.

THOUGHTS:

Arguably the most enjoyable YA Paranormal read I've delved into for quite a while, Phoebe Pope and the Year of Four is a novel that I'm sure that most people will have no trouble liking. Author Nya Jade did a tremendous job in world-building - I was thoroughly immersed in the word she created, and I found myself desperate for more information. I won't lie though - the first few pages did throw me off a little bit. A lot of details were just all over the place, and at first I couldn't make myself understand what was what, but once I got the hang off things, I just soaked everything all in. Jade also managed to walk the fine line between showing and telling, and the just enriched her storytelling even the more so.

I love the premise - there exist two schools, the Above and Below in one place, where one caters to purely humans while the other caters to Shapers, or shapeshifters, and the Shapeshifters must attend both. The Shapers have a mission, a career path to undertake once they graduate, and that's to kill Vigos which are evil shapeshifters that are considered as abominations. I enjoyed the interactions between the Shapers and humans; as well as those between the Shapers themselves. I had no problem connecting with the characters, most especially the MC, Phoebe, as well. I loved learning about the world of Vigos and Shapers with Phoebe and her classmates, and I can't wait to learn more about it.

I enjoyed reading through Phoebe doing her best to live two lives, and they're not easy at that. In her 'Above' life, Phoebe found herself the apple of Colten's, a movie star, eye, and Phoebe is understandably overwhelmed. She's not exactly used to having boys give her the time of day, and here was a bonafide celebrity just showering her with attention. Meanwhile, in Phoebe's 'Below' life, she finds herself the center of a prophecy that endangers her life. Add these all to Phoebe's other problems - Phoebe wields a power that she must keep secret per her father's wishes, and Phoebe hasn't exactly recovered from her father's death at the hands of Vigos either. Yet despite all these, I admire Phoebe's sheer determination and how strong-willed she is to do her best in everything she does.

Initially, I was wary of the development of Phoebe and Colten's relationship. I was half-expecting something like insta-love, but I'm happy to note that we readers don't get anything like that. While an integral part of the story, the budding romance between the two isn't the primary focus of this series, and that's something that I'm actually a huge fan of. I also like how Colten never took advantage of Phoebe's naivety.

Simply put, I loved this novel, and I can't wait to read its succeeding sequels. I'm not going to lie though, I found some of the dialogues and the way certain paragraphs were phased a little iffy, but that's something that I can look past. Anyway, Phoebe is a character that I loved reading about, and I enjoyed being a part of her journey. Moreover, Jade did a bang-up job with the plot and storyline - I actually didn't predict the twists, and that's saying something, because I have a knack for guessing the twists beforehand...

Rating: 4.5 Stars

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[Blog Tour: Review] Pieces by Michelle Davidson Argyle

 

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Title: Pieces

Author: Michelle Davidson Argyle
Release Date: February 14, 2013

Published by: Rhemalda Publishing

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Staying in love can mean running away...

Two years after watching her kidnappers go to prison, Naomi Jensen is still in love with one of them. Jesse will be released in a few years, and Naomi knows college is the perfect distraction while she waits. But when her new friend Finn makes her question what is right and what is wrong, she begins to wonder if Jesse is the one for her...until she discovers he's out on parole. Naomi must sort through her confusion to figure out where love and freedom truly lie - in Finn, who has no connections to her past, or Jesse, who has just asked her to run away with him.

THOUGHTS:

I know that Pieces is marketed as a companion novel that can work as a stand-alone, but I would recommend that you guys read Breakaway first to read through Naomi's kidnapping - why it happened; what happened to Naomi while in captivity; and how Naomi was finally able to free herself from her captors. Breakaway is a very emotional read, and a startling look into the eyes of someone who is experiencing Stockholm's Syndrome, and it left me thinking non-stop. Set two years after Breakaway, Pieces reintroduces us to Naomi and how she is currently doing.

Reading the first few chapters of the book actually left me heartbroken. Naomi is still obviously very deeply scarred from what happened to her, and she's still in pieces. She is not happy, and she is merely mechanically going through the motions of life. She has no passion for her studies; she has no friends; and her relationship with her mother is still pretty much non-existent. Naomi is as unsure of herself as she once was while in the hands of her kidnappers, and this absolutely broke my heart. Reading about this Naomi made me incredibly sad - while I didn't expect Naomi to be 100% better after what happened to her, I really didn't think she would be THIS removed from life.

There is however one guy who is starting to worm her way into Naomi's life. Finn, a guy who works at a coffee shop Naomi frequents, starts to become a friend. She is able to talk to him about absolutely everything, and yes, that includes Jesse and her past. Finn doesn't judge Naomi, and he becomes the person who Naomi so desperately needs - someone who cares for her unconditionally. I was glad to see Naomi actually living her life, and all this was made possible because of Finn.

Naomi, despite clearly caring for Finn as well, still feels that she is betraying Jesse every time she is with Finn. When Naomi learns that Jesse is out on parole, all the progress Naomi made with Finn disappeared at the blink of an eye. Everything that Naomi felt for Jesse never went away, and now that there was a chance that she can be with Jesse again, her love for him was amplified. Their love comes at a price though - Naomi cannot have the best of two worlds. If she chooses to be with Jesse, she has to leave the rest of her life behind - her family, her studies, and Finn.

Throughout the course of the novel, I never found myself hating Jesse. I never doubted the love that he felt for Naomi - he truly cared for her well-being; and he simply wanted to be with the person whom he loved. However, despite of his true love for Naomi, things will never be simple for them. Their past will forever hang over them like a dark cloud, and that's something that Jesse and Naomi must ponder - is their love truly worth it?

I loved how Argyle ended this novel, and ultimately, how she closed a chapter of Naomi's life. Truth be told, I was a little wistful at how everything ended, but I can't deny that there is no other plausible ending. Most authors aren't brave enough to tackle topics as sensitive as Stockholm's Syndrome, a kidnapping, and their aftermath, and I truly commend Argyle for writing this pair of novels.

Rating: 4 Stars

[Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway] Recalled by Cambria Hebert (Death Escorts #1)

 

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Title: Recalled (Death Escorts #1)

Author: Cambria Hebert
Release Date: February 15, 2013
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository

Love or Death? A simple question really. The choice seems obvious. But. What if you never knew love, what if your life was spent just trying to survive? What if you knew your fate before you were fully grown?

And then you died.

And you were given another chance. A better chance.

This new life depended upon one thing: your job. And so you agreed. You thought it would be simple. You thought it would be cut and dry.

It never is.

And now you are left holding the fate of someone else in the palm of your hand and you have to make the ultimate choice.

Love or Death?

THOUGHTS:

I don't think I've read many novels about grim reapers and death escorts (though I know that there must be plenty out there) and that's why I gave this novel a shot. Moreover, I'm positive that this is the first novel about death escorts that falls under the general umbrella of New Adult, and being the fan of NA that I am, I just had to read it! The premise in itself is intriguing, and I honest to goodness loved how the blurb was worded - there was no mention of the characters whatsoever, and everything was as if hypothetical in nature. I was actually questioning myself after reading the blurb - would I make the same decision the main character did? I don't think I stopped mulling thoughts around while reading this novel.

The MC, known to us as Dex, didn't have an easy life. He has resorted to a life of crime in order to provide for himself, and one fateful night, everything ends in the blink of an eye. After robbing a waitress named Piper, he proceeds to push her out of the way of an out-of-control bus, and this action results to an almost instantaneous death. Dex then wakes up in front of a guy who offers him a job as a death escort - simply put, he kills pinpointed targets - in exchange for all the money and luxury he could ever want. Dex agrees, and his first target is laid out in front of him - Piper, the very waitress whose life he saved.

Off the bat, I liked Dex. The first few chapters made it rather difficult not to like him and not to sympathize with him, even though he pretty much admitted that he was no-good scumbag. My heart pretty much broke for him - I can't even begin to imagine what it would have been like to live the way he did, and I really can't blame him for choosing to become a death escort and dabbling at a life wherein he was positively reeling with material possessions. His POV showed just how much he wanted a normal life - a life wherein he needn't steal to actually live, but that chance slipped from his fingers at his untimely death - and he was given a chance at that, so he took it. Furthermore, I loved the way Hembert portrayed Dex and his indecisiveness of whether or not he should take Piper's life - I truly felt Dex's confusion, unwarranted despair and hopelessness throughout the novel.

I understand Dex and Piper's obvious fascination and attraction with each other given their first meeting, but I couldn't help but feel that the romance between them didn't enrich the novel in a huge manner. I don't think their supposed love was fleshed out enough, and I never thought that what they felt for each other was believable and real. Nevertheless, I did understand why it was so important for this romance to be an integral part of the novel, as made obvious during the climax and the ending.

I didn't expect the way this novel ended in any way. To say that I was surprised is an understatement - truly! Hebert did a bang-up job in writing about the moments wherein Dex was finally sure of what he wanted to do, as well as this novel's final few pages. (I don't want to elaborate and risk spoiling you guys!) The ending was beautiful, and it made me both want to cry and smile.

I initially thought that Recalled would have a sequel, but I just found out that it's a stand-alone. The other books in the series, while still about Death Escorts, would not focus on Dex and Piper, and I'm actually a bit sad at that. I usually let out a silent cheer when I find out that a certain book is a stand-alone, but that isn't really the case this time. I found myself really connecting with Dex's character, and I can't help but wish that I can read more about him. (Cambria, if you're reading this... Throw this girl a bone? Ha!) I'll definitely make sure to read the other books about this series though!

Rating: 4 Stars

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[Book Blitz + Giveaway] The Boys of Summer by C.J. Duggan

Here's a novel I'm sure that summer romances aficionados will enjoy - I've been eyeing this one myself!

Title: The Boys of Summer
Author: C.J. Duggan
Release Date: December 17, 2012
Goodreads
Purchase: Amazon (ebook) / Amazon (paperback) / Barnes & Noble / iTunes

It seemed only natural to nickname them the ‘Onslow Boys’. Every time they swaggered in the front door of the Onslow Hotel after a hard week’s work, their laughter was loud and genuine as they settled onto their bar stools. I peeked through the restaurant partition, a flimsy divider between my world and theirs. I couldn’t help but smile whenever I saw them, saw him ... Toby Morrison.

Quiet seventeen-year-old Tess doesn’t relish the thought of a summertime job. She wants nothing more than to forget the past haunts of high school and have fun with her best friends before the dreaded Year Twelve begins.
To Tess, summer is when everything happens: riding bikes down to the lake, watching the fireworks at the Onslow Show and water bomb fights at the sweltering Sunday markets.

How did she let her friends talk her into working?

After first-shift disasters, rude, wealthy tourists and a taunting ex-boyfriend, Tess is convinced nothing good can come of working her summer away. However, Tess finds unlikely allies in a group of locals dubbed ‘The Onslow Boys’, who are old enough to drive cars, drink beer and not worry about curfews. Tess’s summer of working expands her world with a series of first times with new friends, forbidden love and heartbreaking chaos.

All with the one boy she has never been able to forget.

It will be a summer she will always remember.

EXCERPT:

“Don’t you dare.” I grabbed his arm, pulling him backwards. His eyes darted to where
my hand rested on him. I didn’t move my hand, I couldn’t physically bring myself to break
the contact; all of a sudden there were no smiles, no jokes, just him and me and our space on
the couch. I could only hear the music and be aware of the heat of his skin and the rapid rise
and fall of my chest in this moment.
The only thing that snapped me out of my daze was Toby’s words which seemed low
and raspy.
“Is Adam your boyfriend?” His gaze flicked over my face as he waited for my answer.
My mouth gaped open; I couldn’t hide the fact I was dumbfounded by the question.
I blinked quickly and took my hand from his arm. I struggled to construct a legible
sentence.
“Oh – um, no, we’re just friends, it’s not like that.”
His stony expression didn’t falter, didn’t reveal any kind of emotion. He was so hard to
read, and I wanted to read him so badly. He gave a small nod and handed me the CD cover.
“Better go and make sure these guys aren’t cheating.” And without another word, he got up
and headed towards the pool table.

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[Blog Tour: Review] Wings of Tavea (The Solus Trilogy #2) by Devri Walls

 

Title: Wings of Tavea (The Solus Trilogy #2)
Author: Devri Walls
Release Date: December 11, 2012
Published by: Stonehouse Ink

Kiora is rapidly learning that evil and lies come in shades of black and white and swirling greys, but nothing could have prepared her for the shock of leaving Meros.

Kiora and her protector Emane step through the pass into a world they never knew existed but were always meant to save, only to find it far worse than they could have ever imagined. Good has been forced into hiding for its own survival, while the rest of the land bows to the Shadow, a force that pushes any remaining thoughts of Dralazar from Kiora’s mind. This land is full of new creatures, each more dangerous than the last. Her visions have taken on a deadly twist, and magic, or what comes of it, was never so real. And then there is Alcander: a Tavean, their guide, and an entirely different kind of trouble.

THOUGHTS:

When reading fantasy-themed sequels, I usually have a rather difficult time reimmersing myself to the different worlds. Upon reading the first few pages, I often find myself bombarded with heaps of information that I have already learned some months ago but have forgotten and as a result, reading fantasy sequels becomes a chore and not really a task that I enjoy doing. Info-dumping simply isn't enjoyable, no matter which way you look at it. Honestly, I cannot even begin to count the number of fantasy series that I have ended up giving up on, and I truly felt worried that The Solus Trilogy would be another of those series. Thank God I couldn't be more wrong!

Devri Walls is one heck of a gifted writer. Wings of Tavea picks up where Wings of Arian left off, and I'm happy to note that already-learned information wasn't thrown around haphazardly in the initial chapters. Though this might be the case, I found it rather astounding that Walls somehow still managed to refresh my memory of all the things I have forgotten about her world through subtly thought-prodding passages spread throughout many pages here and there. I loved that she managed to completely reimmerse me in her world through select words, and that overloading of information was completely unnecessary.I don't know about you guys, but this for me is what makes a writer phenomenal, and Walls is truly that.  Her writing flowed smoothly; the plot is fast-paced, and I found that I couldn't stop myself from reading more about this magical world.

I'd also like to once again commend Walls on how she portrayed all her characters, but most especially Kiora. She somehow managed to toe the line between Kiora being overly emotional and overly strong, and in the process created a character that is both unique and relateable. I also love how Walls ceaselessly stresses that the fact that Kiora feels pain is what contributes to her immense power, yet she also gives this character enough time to accept that it simply isn't possible for her not kill while on her mission. Moreover, character growth is aplenty for all the main characters - Kiora, Emante, Drustan, and the newly-introduced Alcander go through their fair share of self-realizations. We also get to know more about Drustan's past, and just what made him turn against Dralazar.

The hints of a love triangle between Kiora, Emante, and Alcander is introduced to readers as well. Nothing about this triangle felt forced - it was rather well-written in the sense that we get to see how Kiora is with both men, and it really cannot be denied that she has unparalleled connections with both. I have no idea how Walls will resolve this part of the story, but I truly cannot wait to find of what else is in store for these three in the final book of the series. I'd also like to stress out that while the romantic subplots are integral parts of the general story, Walls made sure that not too much of the novel was devoted to them. Too much romance can be overkill, after all!

All in all, the Solus Series can be enjoyed by both adults and non-adults; and by avid and non-avid readers of the fantasy genre. I truly did not expect that I would fall in love with this world and these characters, but I did, and I'm eagerly anticipating the release of the final book!

Rating: 4 Stars

[Blog Tour: Review] Veer by Alyssa Rose Ivy

 

Title: Veer
Author: Alyssa Rose Ivy
Release Date: November 9, 2012

Only when you let go can you learn to live.

Between the death of her mother and pushing through law school without her best friend, it's been a tough year for Becca. Needing a break from Boston, she moves to a tiny coastal North Carolina town for a relaxing summer. After bumping heads repeatedly with a local cop, she realizes her summer will be anything but quiet.

Three years after a career ending injury ruins his chance to play Major League Baseball, Gavin has a distrust of northerners and lately girls in general. He wants nothing to do with a girl who is only in town for the summer.

When the two give in to their impossible attraction, they realize that they may just have found the key to freeing themselves from the ghosts of their pasts.

THOUGHTS:

Veer, the second book in the Clayton Falls series, tells the story of Gavin (the cop who fell in love with Molly in the first book) and Becca (Molly's friend from law school) this time around. While it really isn't necessary to read Derailed, the previous book in the series, I would recommend that you read just so you have some background on the town and all the characters. Set a year after the happenings of Derailed, Veer not only allows us to get to know more about Gavin and Becca, we also get to check up on the main characters we have come to love from the previous book.

What I loved most about this book is how realistic it was - the plot is concise and straight to the point with no room for irrelevant scenes in the novel. It isn't overwrought with overdone drama and nothing ias exaggerated - as a matter of fact, I'm pretty sure that there are a lot people out there who would be able to relate to both Gavin and Becca and as well as their story. I also love that Veer spotlighted enough attention on the main characters - there are novels wherein the secondary characters tend to hijack the plot but that simply isn't the case for Veer - this truly is Gavin and Becca's story through and through.

Just like Molly a year ago, Becca escapes to Clayton Falls after she discovers that her life is falling apart. Becca is a character that readers will have no problem relating to - there comes a time in every person's life when he or she feels lost, after all. Alternatively, I never quite liked Gavin from the first book. I found it weird that he just fell hard for Molly for no reason whatsoever, but I'm happy to say that I came to like his character this time around. Ivy explored enough of his past to explain just why he acts the way he does, and I also enjoyed that we were privy to his thoughts and feelings through his POV. 

However, I did feel like Gavin's character was a bit inconsistent at times though. As I previously mentioned, Gavin fell in love with Molly, but Veer paints him as someone who is very wary of girls. I intially deduced this certain wariness due to Molly's rejection of Gavin's love, but suddenly, we find out that the reason why he was so wary of girls - which of course ultimately includes Becca - is because of how an ex-girlfriend (a Northerner) treated him three years ago, years before he moved to Clayton Falls. This part really cofused me. If Gavin does indeed have a grudge against girls because of his ex, then why on earth did he fall in love with Molly so easily a year ago? Despite the whole 'Northerner' issue (Gavin's ex was a Northerner, same as Becca, hence his aloofness towards Becca), this whole plotline just didn't make sense and have that much substance for me.

I did enjoy reading about Becca and Gavin's relationship. Nothing felt forced - the it's pretty obvious to me that the two are meant for each other, and I love how they slowly but surely made things work out for the two of them. All in all, Veer is an easy read and I can't wait for the next installment in this series. The alternating POVs was a nice touch, and I really got to know both main characters because of it.

Rating: 3.5 Stars

[Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway] Normalish by Margaret Lesh

Title: Normalish
Author: Margaret Lesh
Release Date: October 5, 2012
Publisher: Musa Publishing Euterpe Young Adult Imprint
Goodreads  / Amazon / Musa Publishing

Fifteen-year-old Stacy questions the strange world of high school, love, her role in a harsh universe, and life, in Normalish.

People tell you high school's so great and wonderful, but they're lying. It's mostly horrible and full of disappointment. It sucks. Your best friend abandons you. The jerk you're in love with pretends to be into you, and then the big dump. The boy you've really clicked with as a friend decides to go all crushy over you, so you break his heart just like yours was -- smashed into little pieces. Your sister goes mental, and you get involved with a guy who’s even crazier than she is (who you know is a very bad idea, but you do it anyway). Math only adds another stink of failure to the whole thing.

High school blows. Just ask freshman Stacy. She’d want you to know.

THOUGHTS:

Judging from the blurb, Normalish seems like your average contemporary read about a girl thrust into the halls of high school for the very first time. Throughout her freshman year, Stacy has to deal with losing her best friend because said best friend is now too popular to be associated with her; she gains a new best friend only to find out that said best friend is nursing a crush on her; she realizes that the boy she has been in love with since seventh grade is a jerk of epic proportions; and her sister has been acting really weird - weirder than usual. See what I mean? However, by subtly yet deftly exploring serious issues usually reserved for YA titles with older MCs, Normalish is nothing short of extraordinary, and believe me, by the end of this book, you be left to ponder about what 'normal' truly means.

I don't usually read YA titles with young MCs, but I have to admit, I took an easy liking to Stacy. She was smart, witty, sarcastic and had no troubles whatsoever expressing her feelings. Moreover, since Normalish was written in a way that had the readers in Stacy's mind 24/7, I have no qualms in saying that it would be rather difficult not to like Stacy since we get everything from the inside - we get everything from the deep recesses of her mind no-holds-barred. I also loved how Mesh had Stacy dealing with the more common problems of a high school freshman (boy, friends, and school troubles) while at the same time exposing her to more serious issues such as death and mental illnesses. By seeing Stacy at both her most mature and her most naive, I definitely got to know and related to her character better.

It's also worth pointing out that Stacy's voice doesn't change throughout the course of the novel. Despite going through hellish experiences - some of which girls her age, and heck, even older girls don't ever encounter in their lives - Lesh managed to keep Stacy's voice constant at fourteen/fifteen-years-old (she celebrates her birthday within the novel). Doing so kept the story very realistic, and allowed it to flow without any problems. Lesh's writing is simply phenomenal - from the very first page, she had me truly believing that I was reading the thoughts of a girl named Stacy, and not words printed on paper by an author.

As I have previously mentioned, Normalish tackles serious issues and takes a darker turn at the last half of the book. We are exposed to people with mental illnesses as Stacy's sister Becca is institutionalized, and it is at this time that we meet a particular character that would leave his mark on Stacy's life. I was pleasantly surprised at how well Lesh had Stacy dealing with such serious issues - none of them were glamorized and looked down upon; instead, readers get to experience just how greatly they impact the lives of those who go through them, as well as the lives of those who have friends and family members going through them.

Normalish surprised me. I expected a light read that would have me good-naturedly rolling my eyes at the young MC's naivety, but instead, it left me thoughtful and fully appreciative of people who have no trouble letting their feelings and emotions be known. It also left me pondering the true meaning of 'normal', and just why so many people are so desperate to adhere to what society decrees as 'normal'. This was a very enlightening read, and I truly enjoyed my part in Stacy's freshman year.

Rating: 4 Stars

And now... for the giveaway! 

The winner will get One 25$ Amazon GiftCard, an ebook copy of Normalish, and Normalish bookmarks (Open INT). Also, make sure to check out the other tour stops HERE!

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