Title: Anomaly ( Schrodinger's Consortium #1 ) Author: Tonya Kuper Publisher: Entangled Teen Publication Date: November 25th , 2014 Genre: Sci-Fi, YA, Romance, Dystopian Format: eARC My Rating: 5/5 stars ( A-) Blurb: Reality is only an illusion. Except for those who can control it… Worst. Birthday. Ever. My first boyfriend dumped me—happy birthday, Josie!—my dad is who knows where, I have some weird virus that makes me want to hurl, and now my ex is licking another girl’s tonsils. Oh, and I’m officially the same age as my brother was when he died. Yeah, today is about as fun-filled as the swamps of Dagobah. But then weird things start happening… Like I make something materialize just by thinking about it. When hottily-hot badass Reid Wentworth shows up on a motorcycle, everything changes. Like, everything. Who I am. My family. What really happened to my brother. Existence. I am Oculi, and I have the ability to change reality with my thoughts. Now Reid, in all his hotness, is charged with guiding and protecting me as I begin learning how to bend reality. And he’s the only thing standing between me and the secret organization that wants me dead… My Review: I received and e ARC of Anomaly from Entangled Teen via NetGalley and YA Bound Blog in exchange with an honest review. Anomaly is a book that captures your attention just like that; when you are only a few pages in! Not only is the plot absolutely original, but also the character development is incredible . I found Josie always confused with the way she feels towards her mother. At first it was a bit confusing to read, but as the story went on, Josie became a bit stronger and started to have a bit more rigid believes. The way the author,Tonya, made physics rules an explanation of the characters' powers , which is making things appear and disappear by just thinking it , is just absolutely mind blowing. Although the setting is just a typical city, but the author's description of secret rooms and the way things appear and disappear is amazing. And now we come to the Romance part; I absolutely shipped Josie and Reid !! And the best thing is that the story was told from both of their P.O.V. So I was able to get a glimpse of what each one of them is thinking! With a story packed with humor,action, love, and trust, Anomaly is a book that I was not able to put down. Especially when each chapter left you hanging, not giving a complete closure to what happen. I loved Anomaly and I personally can't wait to read the second book in the series. I give this book 5/5 stars and an A- according to my own rating scale. Buy Links: Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Kobo Books│The Book Depository│iBooks If you have read and enjoyed Anomaly, then why not help it become a tv show/movie on iflist.com http://iflist.com/stories/anomaly#
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Title: Catch Me When I Fall ( Dreamcatcher #1) Author: Vicki Leigh Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press Publication Date: October 23, 2014 Format: e ARC Genre: YA, Paranormal, Fantasy My rating: 3/5 stars ( C+) Blurb: Recruited at his death to be a Protector of the Night, seventeen-year-old Daniel Graham has spent two-hundred years fighting Nightmares and guarding humans from the clawed, red-eyed creatures that feed off people’s fears. Each night, he risks his eternal life, having given up his chance at an afterlife when he chose to become a Protector. That doesn’t stop a burnt-out Daniel from risking daring maneuvers during each battle. He’s become one of the best, but he wants nothing more than to stop. Then he’s given an assignment to watch over sixteen-year-old Kayla Bartlett, a clinically depressed patient in a psychiatric ward. Nightmares love a human with a tortured past. Yet, when they take a deep interest in her, appearing in unprecedented numbers, the job becomes more dangerous than any Daniel’s ever experienced. My Review: I received an e ARC copy of Catch me When I fall from Curiosity Quills Press via NetGalley in exchange with an honest Review . This book is a perfect read for The Mortal Instruments fans. You will be blown away with the world building and the fighting scenes. The concept of there are people who weave dreams and fight away nightmares got me all hooked up on the story. There were times were I got a bit confused. How could Kayla, who have gone through certain devastating events in the past have these frequent bursts of bravery and trust? I started the book with great interest, fell a bit uncertain if I am going to like or not, then ended up liking it again. Overall, I really recommend this to all of Cassandra Clare readers; you will love it. I personally can't wait for book 2 in this amazing series. I give it 3/5 stars and a C+ according to my own rating scale. Title: Footprints Author: Duncan Wills Publisher: Troubador Publishing Ltd Publication Date: August 29, 2014 Genre: Middle Grade, fantasy Format: e ARC My Rating: 3/5 stars ( C+) Blurb: It’s the 1950’s. Sammy is a quiet loner who has recently suffered personal tragedy. At the bottom of a wardrobe he finds a dusty old book which his dad brought back from the war. Unbeknown to him it is an ancient magical book possessing massive powers. Also unknown to him evil people in far off lands are searching for the book. My Review: I received Footprints from Troubador Publishing LTD via Netgalley in exchange with an honest review . This was magical middle grade read, where we observe Sammy's story with encountering a old magical book . The book seems to hold onto all kind of secrets and knowledge about the world and in the wrong hands, the consequences might be lethal. Sammy's life literally changes once he finds this old book, which is really interesting to read. However, 80% of the entire story was absolutely predictable for me, so I was not that affected by the story. I still think it a pretty fine Middle grade read; something young children might really enjoy reading. I give Footprints 3/5 stars and a C+ according to my own review scale! Title: Undertow (Undertow #1) Author: K.r. Conway Publisher: Patchwork Press Publication Date: October 1, 2013 Genre: Paranormal,Supernatural,YA Format: e ARC MY Rating: 5/5 stars (A) BLURB: Eila Walker knows luck is not a friend, so she is downright shocked to inherit a million-dollar Cape Cod home. And yeah, her new town isn't perfect: the cheerleaders are heinous clones, the local undertow can kill ya, and her Great Grams was supposedly fried by lightning in the harbor square. Still, Eila is hopeful her luckless days are in the past . . . until history decides to repeat itself. My Review: I received Undertow from Patchwork Press via netgalley in exchange with an honest review. Just when I thought that there could not be anymore original and interesting Supernatural YA Novels, K.R. Conway seemed to prove me wrong with UnderTow, a great start of a mind blowing series. First thing First, I googled the meaning of UNDERTOW which is : A Strong Current After finishing the book, I think that the title pretty much describes the series very well because , what does the strong current do? chaos, disasters,loss, then eventually becoming stronger and perhaps recovery. The Prologue is very captivating, you only need to read a few pages to get hooked. Although after the prologue the intensity slowed down a bit, I was not able to stop reading due to the anticipation of wanting to know what happens next and falling in love with all of the characters I could almost relate to all of the main characters. There were a lot of, OMG this is exactly how I feel moments ! "Better to be a locked Vault than an open book I guess" _ Ana The Book is packed with adventure,danger, along with the elements of sacrifice,love,friendship, and betrayal. Yet, I ended it needing more, hence the main issue has not been resolved yet. This is definitely going to be added to my favorite series list , and I can't wait to read the next one. I give this book 5/5 stars and an A according to my own rating scale ! Title: Puppet Author: Pauline C. Harris Publisher: Patchwork Press Publication Date: October 24, 2014 Format: eARC My Rating: 4/5 stars ( B) Blurb: Penelope lives in a world of advanced technology but many claim society has yet to catch up. Marionettes have advanced in the form of robots; lifelike creations remote controlled to perform super human tasks. When Penelope makes a deal with Jed, a marionette-obsessed scientist, she doesn’t fully realize what she’s getting herself into. In order for Jed to take her away from the orphanage she lives in, she must first agree to undergo his experiments and tests, ultimately creating something no one ever dreamed possible; the first living marionette. My Review: I received an e ARC copy of puppet from Patchwork press via Netgalley in exchange with an honest review. Puppet is a retelling of the classic Pinocchio. The author finds such an exquisite and unique plot filled with advanced technology & action and weavers it perfectly with many Pinocchio aspects. It took me a bit to see the Pinocchio resemblance,but once i saw it, there was no going back. It is magnificent ! I loved how the author kept going back and forth between the life she gave away, and was what she signed up for really worth it. The Self discovery journey is mind blowing,especially when everyone seems to control you , except for you. I think the romance element was a bit rushed. There were literally no signs to show that those two certain characters both had feelings for each other. Also, there was that one description that was repeated way more than it needed to convey the message. However, this was definitely an enjoyable read, a perfect retelling, and a great self discovery story. I gave Puppet 4/5 stars and a B according to my own rating scale. Title: Tin Lily Author: Joann Swanson Publisher: Cranky Owl Books Publication Date: July 6th 2014 Genre: YA, Psychological,Thriller Format: eARC My Rating : 2/5 stars ( D+) Blurb: Just because you survive doesn’t mean you’re alive. One moment fifteen-year-old Lily Berkenshire is sitting in her bedroom, favorite song blaring through her earbuds, history book open on her lap. The next, her alcoholic father is shooting and killing her mother. Then he’s pointing the gun at Lily and pulling the trigger. Click. He’s out of bullets. My Review: A story packed with emotions , psychological events, and lots of fine description that; however, was not able to influence me or touch me deep inside. I think that author is really good with describing and painting a beautiful portrait of events. However, our main character, Lily was supposed to be hollow in the beginning, just like a tin. She is a person who has no room for fear or love, so how can such a person notice and embrace such descriptions. The thing that I really liked in this book was lily's cat, Binka. The way the author gave her human traits was interesting and surprisingly true. Cats actually do that in reality . I think the concept of this story is really good, but for some reason I was not able to connect with it. I think it was a bit bland for such a topic and I was definitely expecting it to affect me deeply. There was a bit of humor every here now and then, which helped me get through the book. I really loved this quote though : "If we forget, we might do the same thing. If we remember, we can work hard to be something different." _Lily I liked how the book recommend other book titles, I love it when authors do that. I give this book 2/5 stars and a D+ according to my own rating scale. Title: Tortured Souls ( The Orion Circle #1) Author: Kimber Leigh Wheaton Publisher: Sea Dragon Press Publication Date: July 1 2014 Genre: YA, Supernatural,Suspense,Paranormal Edition: eARC My Rating: 4/5 stars ( B+) Blurb: Sometimes Rest in Peace isn't an option... Kacie Ramsey sees ghosts—and it's ruining her life. Her mother left, her father blames her, and no matter how hard she tries, she can't keep the ghosts away. Now a new power has emerged. Nightly visions of grisly murders and a relentless predator draw her to the brink of insanity. My Review: I received an eARC copy from Sea Dragon Press via NetGalley in exchange with my honest review. A stunning Paranormal story that is perfect for The Ghost Whisper and The Medium lovers! I could totally understand now how fitting is this cover with what happens in the story. This is a great fast read packed up with great paranormal events . A great choice if someone is going through a reading slump . There is always something worth anticipating for in the next chapter. I kind of felt that sometimes things where fast paced a bit , well actually. two things where fast paced. Mild Spoiler Alert!!! 1) The love story 2) When her father finally listens to what Kacie says and actually tries to believe. Why not before? I also had the impact that Kacie was too dependent at times, it was a bit annoying, but the story is great so those where kind of easy to disregard. I love the other characters, especially Carl ! Why is everyone so mean to him ?? :D Each character brings in a different shade of awesomeness to add to the story. I can't wait to see how the series go on, literally waiting to grab book 2 whenever is out! I give this book 4/5 stars and a B according to my own scale Blurb:
Make him pay, Bayley. Make him pay. It’s as if the wooden chest is luring me, urging me to open it – daring me almost. Open me up. Look inside. Come on, just for a second; it won’t hurt. Celina O’Malley was sixteen years old when she disappeared. Now, almost forty years later, Bayley is sleeping in Celina’s room, wearing her clothes, hearing her voice. What does Celina want? And who will suffer because of it? A ghost story. A love story. A story of revenge. My Review: I received this book from Switch Press via NetGalley in exchange with my honest review. Portraits of Celina is an intriguing story with elements of Mystery and Supernatural events that will keep you guessing what actually happened. The dialogue between Oliver and Bayley is hilarious . I had a ridiculous grin glued to my face while reading them. Although I kind of correctly guessed the mystery, it was still interesting knowing exactly how it happened. Besides, I had at least 3 more guesses, which shows how the author skillfully diverts your thoughts throughout the book. A great read with the theme of everything is not what it seems, which includes burying your burdens, secrets, lies and much more. I really enjoyed reading Portraits of Celina and I am interested in checking out more of Sue Whiting's Novels. I gave this book 4/5 stars and a B according to my own rating scale. Title: Maddy Kettle ( The Adventure of the ThimbleWitch ) Author: Eric Orchard Publisher: Diamond Book Distributors Publication Date: September 3oth 2014 Genre: Children's Fiction,Graphic Novel,Fantasy Edition: eARC My Rating: 4/5 ( B+) Blurb: Eleven-year-old Maddy loved working in her parents' bookstore... especially when joined by her pet flying toad Ralph. But that was before the mysterious Thimblewitch turned her mom & dad into kangaroo rats! Now Maddy's on the adventure of a lifetime. To save her parents, she'll need to sneak past an army of spider-goblins, scarecrow warriors, and much more... Fortunately, an assortment of new friends await, including the cloud cartographers Harry and Silvio, a bear and raccoon who explore the world in their moon-balloon. They'll help her along the way, but in the end, the fate of everyone will depend on Maddy's courage, compassion, and creativity. Full of surprises and stunning artwork, Maddy Kettle is a truly magical debut for Spectrum-Award-winning cartoonist Eric Orchard. Climb aboard and let your imagination soar. My Review: I received an eARC of this Graphic Novel from Diamond Book Distributors via NetGalley in exchange for an honest Review. This Graphic Novel is going to take you on a journey of awesomeness with its fascinating fictional characters and creative settings. The illustrations are beyond beautiful and this was really useful in graphic novels because sometimes looking at the picture alone gives lots of extra information that wasn't told . The plot grabs the readers attention and takes him/her on an exquisite journey filled with magic and friendship. There were few moments were I got a feeling that something was missing in form of text. But it could only be nothing. It might just be that the character was so Naive during that scene. I really enjoyed the first book from the Maddy Kettle series , and i would absolutely read the next installations. This is a brilliant read for children. I highly recommend it. I gave this book 4/5 stars and a B+ according to my own rating scale. Author: Selene Castrovilla Title: MELT Publisher: Last Syllable Books Publication Date: Nov 6th, 2014 Genre: YA, Contemporary,Abuse,Realistic Fiction Edition: eARC My Rating: 5/5 stars ( A) Blurb: MELT is a brutal love story, set against the backdrop of The Wizard of Oz. Sixteen year old “good girl” Dorothy just blew into the small town of Highland Park – where the social headquarters is Munchkinland (Dunkin’ Donuts.) There, she meets Joey – a “bad boy” who tells no one about the catastrophic domestic violence he witnesses at home. Can these two lovers survive peer pressure, Joey’s reputation, and his alcoholism? And then there’s his family's secret – about to be unleashed. Told in dual first person, Joey's words are scattered on the page - reflecting his broken state. Dorothy is the voice of reason - until something so shattering happens that she, too, may lose her grip. Can their love endure, or will it melt away? MELT is based on true events. It is both a chilling tale of abuse, and a timeless romance. It will hit you like a punch in the face, and also seep through the cracks in your soul My Review: I received Melt from Last Syllable Books via NetGalley in exchange with an honest review. No, this isn't a plot twist of The Wizard of Oz, but the author finds a way to revive some sub meanings in her story. Does that even make sense ??? Melt is a tale that will give you knots and butterflies in your stomach, yes both at once ! You are going to MELT on these pages. This is such a captivating read from the start. I got so involved with the characters that I was afraid to leave them, afraid that I might miss out on something big if I stop reading. The abusive scenes and acts are truly brutal and anyone who has gone through similar things would strongly relate to it. I loved Doll, I mean Dorthy :) I liked how she doesn't care about what people say, how she gives people a chance to switch into their better side .She sees the good in those who were forced to undergo metamorphosis to withstand this harsh life. It was very interesting for the characters to share their point of views in the same chapter. That way you get a good sense on what each character feels at that specific moment. I did not like they way it was written at first, then I got used to it, then, I guess I understood why it was written in that way. I believe it was written in a way that the reader would catch what the character is saying or thinking in the same rate as the characters says or thinks it. And I ended up liking it. Since I dive into stories without reading the entire blurb, I was surprised at the end when the author said that it was based on a true story. I was mind blown by that fact. It also gave me that feeling of , although there is lots of evil in this world, there is also good! I am looking forward to read more of Selene's work. I am giving MELT 5/5 stars and an A according to my rating scale |
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