Guest Review: After the Woods by Kim Savage

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

After the Woods by Kim Savage
Published by Farrar Straus and Giroux on February 23, 2016
Pages: 304
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
three-stars

Would you risk your life to save your best friend?

Julia did. When a paroled predator attacked Liv in the woods, Julia fought back and got caught. Liv ran, leaving Julia in the woods for a terrifying 48 hours that she remembers only in flashbacks. One year later, Liv seems bent on self-destruction, starving herself, doing drugs, and hooking up with a violent new boyfriend. A dead girl turns up in those same woods, and Julia’s memories resurface alongside clues unearthed by an ambitious reporter that link the girl to Julia’s abductor. As the devastating truth becomes clear, Julia realizes that after the woods was just the beginning.

A message from Meredith: Hey everyone! Today, I have Leah here with a guest review for After the Woods by Kim Savage

You can find Leah on Bumblebee Book Blog and on Twitter!

Without further adieu, here’s Leahs’s review! Enjoy!

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Julia and her best friend Liv love to go trail running as part of their cross country training. They always go together to run through the woods on a trail that two teenage girls really have no business running on alone. Everyone’s worst fear is confirmed one day when the girls are on one of their normal runs and Liv (who is much faster and always runs ahead of Julia) gets attacked by a man with a knife. Faced with the decision of fight or flight, Julia knows she can’t leave her best friend behind to fend for herself. Liv is able to get away after Julia tries to fight off the attacker. Liv leaves Julia and the man while she runs to get help. That is the last anyone sees of Julia for two days until she is able to once again best her attacker and get away.

Now a year later, Julia is still dealing with the aftermath. Everything changed once she was found in the woods. She is now a local celebrity because of her valor. The media loves her story and have used it for a platform to try and build a case on why the police were incompetent enough to let a man with parole violations slip under the radar enough that he was able to attack two teenager girls. Along with this, Julia also has to deal with how her attack has affected her personal life. Things with Liv are never the same since that night. Liv has taken to dealing with her problems with reckless behavior and rebellion. Julia thinks that she is on a downward spiral and she doesn’t know what to do to help. Julia’s mom has also forced her to see multiple therapists in an attempt to make her deal with the attack. No one understands that Julia needs to know the facts of the case and why it happened to her in order for her to ever be able to move on. As she is researching the case, she begins to find out information that will change things forever.

The thing that I really enjoyed about this book that I didn’t anticipate was the focus on the emotional and psychological toll of being abducted (or not abducted in one case) had on the MC. After being out of the woods for a year, Julia still doesn’t handle things the way everyone around her thinks she should. She is a scientist to her core and researching statics and gathering information is the only way she can process what happened to her. As much as her therapists want her to put her feelings neatly into a box of what they think she should be feeling, Julia just isn’t that way. The thought of playing with dolls to act out what happened to her makes her roll her eyes out of her head. I think this is a great perspective for the writer to show since not everyone deals with their problems the same. Sure, talking to a therapist will help some, but some people need to know the WHY in order to heal. I really enjoyed that no matter what dark secret Julia uncovered, she still thirsted for more knowledge. Her emotional strength was a refreshing trait to read about.

There were a few problems that I had with the story. At times, things jumped around a lot. Stuff would be mentioned, but never fully explained in the end. The obsession with writing GIRLs, the “black thing” in her belly, etc. I also really wish that Julia and Kellan’s relationship would have been featured more or just not mentioned at all. It is so spotty that it feels like Kellan was put into the story as a filler. At times I completely forgot that he was even a character because of how little he was mentioned.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. I would recommend it to anyone that is a fan of YA thrillers that focus on dark subject matter like The Darkest Corners by Kara Thomas.

Review: Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco (Blog Tour)

Sep16

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco (Blog Tour)

Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco
Series: Stalking Jack the Ripper #1
Published by Jimmy Patterson on September 20, 2016
Pages: 336
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
five-stars

Seventeen-year-old Audrey Rose Wadsworth was born a lord's daughter, with a life of wealth and privilege stretched out before her. But between the social teas and silk dress fittings, she leads a forbidden secret life.

Against her stern father's wishes and society's expectations, Audrey often slips away to her uncle's laboratory to study the gruesome practice of forensic medicine. When her work on a string of savagely killed corpses drags Audrey into the investigation of a serial murderer, her search for answers brings her close to her own sheltered world.

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Amazon | B&N

Hey everyone! Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco (September 20, 2016 – Jimmy Patterson) This book was an incredibly twisted, epic read, so I’m really excited to be a part of this blog tour! I hope you enjoy my review!

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I’m morbidly fascinated with Jack the Ripper – both fictional and non-fictional. So when I first heard about this book, I KNEW I had to read it! And it was soooo good! It’s definitely in my Top Five Favorite Books for 2016! It was dark and fascinating, the writing was incredible and the characters were epic!

Audrey Rose is, without a doubt, one of my favorite female characters in a long time! She’s so bold and fierce – sharp like a whip and hilarious – and so determined to break the rules of society and carve her own path.

Thomas cracked me up! I adored his personality and his cheekiness. He’s so full of himself and he’s completely cocky but he makes me snicker! He was also a shameless flirt and it made me like him even more! His chemistry with Audrey Rose was electric and intense. I loved when she called Thomas a fiend – it just fit him so well!

Nathaniel is hilarious – the words ‘quippy’ and ‘cheeky’ pretty much cover his personality! But he’s also kind for supporting his sister. On the flip-side, I never fully trusted Blackburn and I despised Audrey Rose’s father. I’d love to discuss these characters, as well as a few others, in greater detail but alas, spoilers! So I won’t. But I wish I could! … Go read the book so we can discuss this stuff!!!!

The ending was INSANE and a complete mind-f*ck! I seriously… I don’t even know. I finished reading this a whole month ago and I still can’t process my thoughts and feels from the ending of this book, at all. I’m still in shock and still going, “…Seriously..? But… How…? Wait… seriously…?” I mean, at some point, I started having strange theories and wondering, but they seemed so ludicrous, I brushed them aside. And then… NOPE! I WAS RIGHT!!! If I could do an emoji from my computer right now, it would be the one with its mouth open in shock and hands on its face.

Kerri’s writing was on point! It flowed and it made me feel as though I was actually living the story (as opposed to simply reading it). Also, I couldn’t help but wonder about all the crazy things Kerri must have had to google for this book, haha!

Overall, if you couldn’t tell from my gushing, fangirl review, I loved this book so very much! The plot was intense and intriguing; Kerri is an amazing writer; and the characters were beloved and well-developed. I HIGHLY recommend this book for those fascinated by Jack the Ripper and those who love a good mystery and/or thriller!

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Favorite Quotes:

“Roses have both petals and thorns. You needn’t believe something weak because it appears delicate.” (This is, quiet possibly, my favorite quote ever).

“I promise. I’ll be as silent as the dead.” … “The dead speak to those who listen. Be quieter than even them.”

“I had no idea my innards were composed of cotton and kittens, while yours were filled with steel and steam-driven parts.”

“Just because I was a girl interested in a man’s job didn’t mean I needed to give up being girly.”

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And now for the giveaway! Thanks to the publisher and tour host, we have 3 Finished Copies of STALKING JACK THE RIPPER (US Only). To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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About the Author:

Kerri Maniscalco grew up in a semi-haunted house outside NYC where her fascination with gothic settings began. In her spare time she reads everything she can get her hands on, cooks all kinds of food with her family and friends, and drinks entirely too much tea while discussing life’s finer points with her cats. Stalking Jack the Ripper is her debut novel. It incorporates her love of forensic science and unsolved history, and is the first in a new series of gothic thrillers.

Website | Twitter | Instagram

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Tour Schedule:
Week 1:
9/12: No BS Book Reviews – Review
9/13: A Perfection Called Books – Guest Post
9/14: The Heart of a Book Blogger – Review
9/15: My Friends Are Fiction – Q&A
9/16: Pandora’s Books – Review

Week 2:
9/19: Polished Page-Turners – Review
9/20: The Irish Banana Review – Top 10
9/21: Chapter By Chapter – Guest Post
9/22: What Sarah Read – Mood Board
9/23: That Artsy Reader Girl – Review

Review: Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake (Blog Tour)

Sep15

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake (Blog Tour)

Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake
Series: Three Dark Crowns #1
Published by HarperTeen on September 20, 2016
Pages: 416
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
five-stars

Fans of acclaimed author Kendare Blake’s Anna Dressed in Blood will devour her latest novel, a dark and inventive fantasy about three sisters who must fight to the death to become queen.

In every generation on the island of Fennbirn, a set of triplets is born: three queens, all equal heirs to the crown and each possessor of a coveted magic. Mirabella is a fierce elemental, able to spark hungry flames or vicious storms at the snap of her fingers. Katharine is a poisoner, one who can ingest the deadliest poisons without so much as a stomachache. Arsinoe, a naturalist, is said to have the ability to bloom the reddest rose and control the fiercest of lions.

But becoming the Queen Crowned isn’t solely a matter of royal birth. Each sister has to fight for it. And it’s not just a game of win or lose...it’s life or death. The night the sisters turn sixteen, the battle begins.

The last queen standing gets the crown.

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Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

Hey everyone! Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake (September 20, 2016 – HarperTeen) This book was an incredibly twisted, epic read that got me out of my months-long reading slump, so I’m really excited to be a part of this blog tour! I hope you enjoy my review!

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I ABSOLUTELY EFFING LOVED THIS BOOK!!!!!

It’s the best book I’ve read in a LONG time and it, more than anything else, has truly gotten me out of my reading slump. It was deliciously dark, intriguing and wonderful in every aspect and every way – the writing, the plot and the characters.

Katharine was my favorite of the three queens. She was said to be the smallest and ‘weakest’ of the three, but she was still fierce and strong-willed. There was something about her that made me want to root for her. For being small and weak, she’s definitely the most vicious of the three! And then the way her story ended… HOLY HELL!!!!! I can’t. My heart was in my throat!!! And then the final outcome? !!!!!!!!!!!!! I can’t wait to see what happens in book two!!!

Mirabella was a great, likable character. The elemental gift was the most intriguing to learn about, though the poisoner gift came at a close second. It was also intriguing the way she cared the most – though I can’t go into details without spoilers! I felt SO bad for her at the end, though! I’m curious to see how what happened changes her personality/attitude/etc in book two.

Arsinoe, on the other hand, was my least favorite character. I’m not sure exactly why, but I just wasn’t interested in learning more about her or her gift. Though I must say, that ending has me truly intrigued! I’m interested to see where it takes her in book two and what it means for another character, who I suspect will also be effected by this revelation…

There was one good thing about Arsinoe’s chapters, though: they brought with them Jules and Camden and I LOVED THEM – They should get their own book! Although my heart was in my throat for them near the end… I also really loved Elizabeth – poor Elizabeth!! She didn’t deserve what happened to her. On the flip-side, I DESPISED Genevieve – she was such a bully! – and Rho, who was a horrible, nasty person.

Overall, this book was seriously dark and twisted and epic in so many ways! The writing and world-building were so incredible, I don’t think I can put it into words. This is my first Kendare Blake book, despite owning several others by her, and I’m already obsessed with her skills. Definitely a new favorite author! I need to read more of her books ASAP!

If you’re looking for an epic, intense book to read, this is the one you should pick up! And if you’re already a fan of Kendare, this may end up being your favorite book she’s ever written (which is weird for me to say, since I haven’t read her others to know. But I’m 98% sure I’m right…)! So yes, I HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend you read this ASAP, either way!!!

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And now for the giveaway! Thanks to the publisher and tour host, we have 3 finished copies of THREE DARK CROWNS (US Only). To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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About the Author:

Kendare Blake is the author of several novels and short stories, most of which you can find information about via the links above. Her work is sort of dark, always violent, and features passages describing food from when she writes while hungry. She was born in July (for those of you doing book reports) in Seoul, South Korea, but doesn’t speak a lick of Korean, as she was packed off at a very early age to her adoptive parents in the United States. That might be just an excuse, though, as she is pretty bad at learning foreign languages. She enjoys the work of Milan Kundera, Caitlin R Kiernan, Bret Easton Ellis, Richard Linklater, and the late, great Michael Jackson, I mean, come on, he gave us Thriller.

She lives and writes in Kent, Washington, with her husband, their two cat sons (Tybalt and Tyrion Cattister) and their red Doberman dog son, Obi Dog Kenobi.

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Review: The Architect of Song by A.G. Howard

Sep11

I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: The Architect of Song by A.G. Howard

The Architect of Song by A.G. Howard
Series: Haunted Hearts Legacy #1
Published by Golden Orb Press on August 15, 2016
Pages: 425
Format: Paperback
Source: the author
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
four-stars

A lady imprisoned by deafness, an architect imprisoned by his past, and a ghost imprisoned within the petals of a flower - intertwine in this love story that transcends life and death.

For most of her life, nineteen-year-old Juliet Emerline has subsisted – isolated by deafness – making hats in the solitude of her home. Now, she’s at risk to lose her sanctuary to Lord Nicolas Thornton, a twenty-seven-year-old mysterious and eccentric architect with designs on her humble estate. When she secretly witnesses him raging beside a grave, Juliet investigates, finding the name “Hawk” on the headstone and an unusual flower at the base. The moment Juliet touches the petals, a young English nobleman appears in ghostly form, singing a song only her deaf ears can hear. The ghost remembers nothing of his identity or death, other than the one name that haunts his afterlife: Thornton.

To avenge her ghostly companion and save her estate, Juliet pushes aside her fear of society and travels to Lord Thornton’s secluded holiday resort, posing as a hat maker in one of his boutiques. There, she finds herself questioning who to trust: the architect of flesh and bones who can relate to her through romantic gestures, heartfelt notes, and sensual touches … or the specter who serenades her with beautiful songs and ardent words, touching her mind and soul like no other man ever can. As sinister truths behind Lord Thornton’s interest in her estate and his tie to Hawk come to light, Juliet is lured into a web of secrets. But it’s too late for escape, and the tragic love taking seed in her heart will alter her silent world forever.

International and NYT bestselling author, A.G. Howard, brings her darkly magical and visual/visceral storytelling to Victorian England. The Architect of Song is the first installment in her lush and romantic Haunted Hearts Legacy series, a four book gothic saga following the generations of one family as - haunted by both literal and figurative ghosts - they search for self-acceptance, love, and happiness.

New Adult: Recommended for ages 16+.

As a HUGE fan of A.G. Howard’s Splintered (YA) series, I had high expectations for this book. And I LOVED it! I loved the writing, the characters, the intrigue – basically, everything!

Anita’s writing has always been gorgeous – vivid and descriptive. Her way with words is such that I can picture everything as though I’m there, living out the story right alongside the characters. I didn’t think it was possible for her writing to get better, but it has! There was a maturity to the writing and the plot, even beyond the fact that this was a New Adult book.

The characters were incredible beyond words. Juliet is strong and determined. She doesn’t let her deafness hold her back, nor does she let it be used as an excuse when she does falter. She pushes herself to be the best she can be and she fights for those she loves. Hawk was hilarious and cheeky. He definitely reminded me of Morpheus from the Splintered series and he definitely ranks up there in Book Boyfriend material because of it.

On the other hand, Lord Thornton was… hard to read at times. Sometimes I liked him, other times I was very suspicious of his motives. I didn’t fully trust him for a long time, if ever. I wish I could say more about both Lord Thornton and Hawk because I truly loved them both and was satisfied with how their stories ended. But there was a big twist/revelation at the end that blew my mind and if I say much more, I’ll hit spoiler territory!

Juliet’s uncle was so kind and fatherly. He reminded me of someone but I couldn’t figure out who. I’m still trying to figure it out! Though I kept picturing him as Lord Craven from The Secret Garden.

Like I mentioned before, the twists and revelations near the end were mind-blowing! I figured it out roughly two pages before the big reveal, but I was still blown away by everything involved with the revelation, including the potential consequences. I can’t be any more specific without spoilers, but trust me… MIND. BLOWING.

The ending was INCREDIBLY SATISFYING. It actually left me confused at first, because I knew this was a series but the ending was done so neatly, with all the loose ends tied up, I couldn’t imagine a second book being necessary – and then I read the synopsis for book two and it all made sense! Now I’m completely intrigued and excited to read the second book!

My only complaint is that the back and fourth of Juliet’s feelings for Lord Thornton (“Should I trust him? Actually, I do.. Wait, no, he just did something suspicious, so I don’t…But, wait, now he did something nice, I totally trust him again… Or not”) was a bit drawn out and became a little frustrating after awhile. And the book could have been a tad shorter and still incredible and satisfying.

Overall, this book was beyond incredible. A.G Howard is a gorgeous writer. Her writing and world-building sucks you in and refuses to let you go. Her characters feel like real people and you can’t help but become entangled in their well-being – whether for better or worse. I DEFINITELY recommend this book if you’re a fan of A.G. Howard or if you’re looking for an epic, intriguing New Adult book to read!

Guest Review: The Body in the Woods by April Henry

Sep1

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Guest Review: The Body in the Woods by April Henry

The Body in the Woods by April Henry
Series: Point Last Seen #1
Published by Henry Holt and Co. on June 17, 2014
Pages: 263
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
three-half-stars

In this new series told from multiple perspectives, teen members of a search and rescue team discover a dead body in the woods.

Alexis, Nick, and Ruby have very different backgrounds: Alexis has spent her life covering for her mom’s mental illness, Nick’s bravado hides his fear of not being good enough, and Ruby just wants to pursue her eccentric interests in a world that doesn’t understand her. When the three teens join Portland County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue, they are teamed up to search for a autistic man lost in the woods. What they find instead is a dead body. In a friendship that will be forged in danger, fear, and courage, the three team up to find the girl’s killer—before he can strike one of their own.

This first book in April Henry’s Point Last Seen YA mystery series is full of riveting suspense, putting readers in the middle of harrowing rescues and crime scene investigations.

A message from Meredith: Hey everyone! Today, I have Kaitlyn Johnson here with a guest review for The Body in the Woods by April Henry.

You can find Kaitlyn on The Odyssey and on Twitter!

Without further adieu, here’s Kaitlyn’s review! Enjoy!

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The Body in the Woods has one thing going for it: it does make you feel invested in learning the truth. You want to keep reading; if for nothing more than to make sure the characters don’t come to bad ends, it keeps you going. Though it was extremely hard to figure out exactly who had the role of Main Character (SPOILER: All 3 technically are, which felt just a tad annoying at the end), Henry at least allows the reader to care about each one in their own capacity.

Where the book stumbled in execution was actually delivering on the suspense aspect of a YA thriller. Henry attempted to convey this by dropping random chapters here and there from the killer’s POV, but that just led to more distaste since the book is already segmented into random chapters by the three high schoolers. Those “culprit” chapters gave more away than really adding to the story itself. The identity of the killer was also hinted at far too early, yet again mishandling what could have been an intense, suspenseful thriller.

I did enjoy the fact the author did not get lost in the “life” of a high school character. Too often, word counts are heightened meaninglessly by suffocating scenes of the high schooler wandering around through their weekly classes. Henry found a great way to stick to the action of this book rather than get bogged down with unnecessary scenes. High school wasn’t the heart of the story, so she didn’t try to make it that.

Unfortunately, I rate this book at a 3.5 out of 5 rather than a 4, mainly due to the lack of true suspense and the abundance of errors within the text which I am praying were fixed in the finalized version. I enjoyed the read; it was ok. Nothing spectacular or memorable, but I could get through the pages and not hate it. However, especially since I am a HUGE stickler for correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation in published works, I really hope this ARC does not reflect the quality of the final copies. Also, I didn’t know where the setting was for the longest time. Yes, Portland. Does Henry understand there are two Portland locations? I assumed Oregon when I read the author’s bio (surprise, Henry lives in Oregon), but only knew for sure in the story itself when the Oregonian newspaper is mentioned on page 107.

All in all, it was an ok read, but not one that impacted me or that I’ll ever want to attempt again.

Review: Twist My Charm: Love Potion #11 by Toni Gallagher

Aug28

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: Twist My Charm: Love Potion #11 by Toni Gallagher

Twist My Charm: Love Potion #11 by Toni Gallagher
Series: Twist My Charm #2
Published by Random House on May 24, 2016
Pages: 272
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
three-stars

Middle school crushes are WAY more complicated when you have a love potion.

Everyone knows love potions don’t really work. But Cleo got one as a gift. And it would be crazy not to at least try it . . . right? The plan is simple: make Cleo’s ex–best friend Samantha and her (secret) crush Larry fall in love. If it works, Sam will be so happy, she’ll want to be Cleo’s friend again! But when Sam gets suspicious, only Larry drinks the love potion. And now suddenly Larry is in love with . . . Cleo?

And then it gets worse. Cleo’s dad drank the other glass of punch, and suddenly he’s in love with Samantha’s mom. Which would have been really cool when Cleo and Sam were still friends . . . but now that they’re frenemies? Disaster! Is there a potion to make everything go back to normal?

Fans of Sarah Mlynowski, Lauren Myracle, and Wendy Mass will love this fresh contemporary story with just a touch of magic.

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, Twist My Charm: The Popularity Spell. So, of course, I jumped at the chance to read the second book. Sadly, it didn’t strike me the way the first one did. The plot wasn’t as interesting, the characters fell a little flat and I found myself struggling to get through it once I hit the half-way mark.

I’ll start with some positives: I loved the friendships in this book. For the most part, they’re sweet and innocent friendships, the kind we all remember having and wish we still had. They’re not without their issues, but really, are there any friendships that are perfect? (Answer: Nope).

I also loved the subtle life lessons that were taught and learned in this book – stuff about making mistakes, trying to fix them and asking for help when it’s needed (also, knowing when to ask for help). Finally, miscommunication and the consequences of it.

Overall, I really liked Cleo and Madison – both as individual characters and as friends. My heart broke for them and the miscommunications they suffered throughout the book, but I was satisfied with the way things ended.

On the flip side, I was very frustrated with Cleo’s interactions with Sam, given what Sam did to her in book one. But I guess in some ways, it does makes sense… I remember being in elementary school and fighting with someone, then making up with them – or even pretending nothing ever happened. Maybe I’m just looking at this from the eyes of someone who’s outside the age range and who has been burned by friends one too many times. I don’t know, but that’s how I felt while reading, so…

I really liked Cleo’s dad and Terri together and I’m VERY satisfied with the direction their story went in. I’d really love a third book, just so I can find out what happens next for them.

Now for the negatives: I didn’t enjoy the plot of this book nearly as much as I enjoyed the plot of the first book. I’m honestly not sure why. It just didn’t pull me in and it dragged a little bit. I’d still really love a book three to see where things will go and how things will end for all the characters.

So… Short review is short. But… I just don’t really have much to say about this one. I enjoyed it well enough but I wanted MORE. And I don’t know exactly what the MORE entails but.. I just wanted more. The characters weren’t as dynamic and I would have liked a more satisfying ending. But the whole “treasure chest” thing has me intrigued – so we DO need a book three!

Overall, this was a quick, fun read. I wanted MORE from it, but it was still enjoyable and I’m really crossing my fingers for book three! I recommend this to those who loved book one!

Review: Resthaven by Erik Therme

Aug19

I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Resthaven by Erik Therme
Published by Thecker Books on April 12, 2016
Pages: 220
Format: eBook
Source: the author
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
three-stars

The last thing Kaylee wants to do is participate in a childish scavenger hunt--especially inside the abandoned retirement home on the edge oftown. When she finds a bruised, deaf boy hiding inside one of the rooms, she vows to lead him to safety . . . only to discover the front doorsare now padlocked, and her friends are nowhere to be found. Kaylee isabout to learn that not everything that goes 'bump in the night' isimaginary, and sometimes there are worse things to fear than ghosts.

**Please Note: I marked this book as being from the publisher (and included the FTC Disclosure) despite buying the book because, initially, the author DID reach out with a review request.**

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I finished this book over a month ago and I’m just now reviewing it because… Well.. I’m still not sure how I feel about it. I was approached by the author to review it and it sounded SO GOOD, I went ahead and just bought a copy on Amazon. In the book’s defense, I’m very particular about mystery/thriller/supernatural books. I’ve been dying for a “creep me the f*ck out” book and I haven’t succeeded in finding a book that actually creeps me the f*ck out yet – But I’m also not easily scared, so…

So, I had SUPER high expectations for this book. But… First of all, it has NO chapters and – if I recall – no page breaks. This was pretty frustrating. I’m the kind of person who HATES stopping in the middle of a chapter, but this didn’t HAVE chapters, so it was hard to find places to break. The writing was also a bit bland in the beginning, though this improved as the book progressed. There also wasn’t much of a feeling of suspense. I never had those heart-pounding, edge-of-your-seat moments.

I couldn’t stand ANY of the characters in this book. These girls were very cliche and very immature. They’re all supposed to be around 15, but they were acting like they were 11 or 12 – so that’s exactly how I pictured them. But maybe that’s just because it’s been a long time since I was 15 and have forgotten how 15-year-olds act…? I don’t know, but they were all so MEAN and NASTY to each other. It felt contrived, done only in a way to easily explain them separating from each other in this creepy place. It could have been done in a better way. Not ALL girls are catty bitches to each other.

This book was also pretty predictable. I had the ending figured out before I was even half-way through. That – coupled with the lack of suspense and no chapters/page breaks – made it VERY hard to get through this book. It was especially hard to read the second half – it was a bit of a let-down and I feel like I still have SO many questions. Also, it was a fairly short book but it still felt WAY too long.

So why did I give this 3-stars, despite all the complaints above? Well, I’m worried my desire for a “creep me the f*ck out” book has me being extra harsh with books labeled as such. Overall, it was still an intriguing book and, even when it slowed down, I never felt the desire to DNF. And it still had some intriguing moments.

Would I recommend it? Maybe. If you’re easily scared, it definitely might creep you out a bit! Or if you love mild thrillers. But if you’re looking for something that will keep you awake at night, you won’t find that here.

Guest Review: Summer of Supernovas by Darcy Woods

Aug18

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Guest Review: Summer of Supernovas by Darcy Woods

Summer of Supernovas by Darcy Woods
Published by Crown Books for Young Readers on May 10, 2016
Pages: 352
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
five-stars

Fans of Jennifer E. Smith and Jenny Han will fall in love with this heartfelt and humor-laced debut following one girl’s race to find the guy of her cosmic dreams.

When zodiac-obsessed teen Wilamena Carlisle discovers a planetary alignment that won’t repeat for a decade, she’s forced to tackle her greatest astrological fear: The Fifth House—relationships and love.

But when Wil falls for a sensitive guitar player hailing from the wrong side of the astrology chart, she must decide whether a cosmically doomed love is worth rejecting her dead mother’s legacy and the very system she’s faithfully followed through a lifetime of unfailing belief.

A message from Meredith: Hey everyone! Today, I have Sarah Emery from Tune In To Books here with a guest review for Summer of Supernovas by Darcy Woods. Sarah couldn’t stop telling me how AMAZING this book is!!!

You can visit Sarah on her awesome blog and on Twitter!

Without further adieu, here’s Sarah’s review! Enjoy!

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When I found out that Meredith was looking for a home for her copy of SUMMER OF SUPERNOVAS, I leapt on my chance. I’ve developed a great instinct for picking out books I’m sure to love, and I knew I had to read this book.

Despite my TBR bookshelf (the real one in my house) of about seventy books, this one rocketed to the top immediately. I tried to read slowly and appreciate this book, but I tore through it, desperate to get through it and unravel all the little mysteries.

Wilamena (Wil to most people) is obsessed with astrology, thanks to her deceased mom’s obsession with it. She lives her life by the stars and their meanings, and hides all of this from her Grams, whom she lives with. When she decides that she has to take action and find love or risk another decade being single, she takes action with help from her friend, Irina.

Now, I could go on from there, but I live in fear of spoiling a single detail for anyone. I’ll just say that this is packed with voice, rife with fabulous romantic tension (here’s the obligatory triangle warning if you’re opposed to such things), and packed full of fun, interesting characters, as well as boys who play musical instruments and sing. Between voice-y Will, boys who play musical instruments, and the great romantic tension, I fell for this book FAST. If you like fluffy contemporary YA and don’t hate triangles, you need to give this book a try!

Now, on my blog I like to post a music video that fits with the book. My choice for this one was pretty easy. Check it out here!

Review: Supergirl at Super Hero High by Lisa Yee (Blog Tour)

Jul25

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: Supergirl at Super Hero High by Lisa Yee (Blog Tour)

Supergirl at Super Hero High by Lisa Yee
Series: DC Super Hero Girls #2
Published by Random House Books for Young Readers on July 5, 2016
Pages: 240
Format: Hardcover
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
four-stars

Get your cape on with the DC Super Hero Girls™—the unprecedented new Super Hero universe especially for girls! Readers of all ages can fly high with the all-new adventures of Wonder Woman™, Supergirl™, Batgirl™, and some of the world’s most iconic female super heroes as high schoolers!

Supergirl is the new girl in school—and she just also happens to be the most powerful teenager in the galaxy!

After losing her home planet of Krypton and everyone she knows, Supergirl has made a new home on Earth, but she’s isn’t so sure that Super Hero High School is the right place for her. Wonder Woman, other new friends, and a kindly librarian make her feel welcome, but breached inter-dimensional portals, invading alien armies, and bad dreams shake her confidence. It’s not easy being a super hero and a high school student all at once!

Award-winning author Lisa Yee brings mystery, thrills, and laughs to this groundbreaking series that follows DC Comics’ most iconic female Super Heroes and Super-Villains. Move over Batman™ and Superman™—the DC Super Hero Girls are ready to save the day and have fun doing it!

Hey everyone! Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Supergirl at Super Hero High by Lisa Yee (July 5, 2016 – Random House Books for Young Readers) This book was an incredibly fun read, so I’m really excited to be a part of this blog tour! I hope you enjoy my review!

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I loved this book!! It was such a fun, entertaining read. I really enjoyed the first book, Wonder Woman at Super Hero High, but I REALLY enjoyed Supergirl at Super Hero High. Everything about it – the writing, the characters, the plot – was epic!

I really liked Supergirl as a main character. I loved how klutzy and kind she was. These things made her feel very real and relatable. I loved learning her backstory, especially since I know a lot about Superman (and a little bit about Supergirl) from watching Smallville!

I don’t know if it’s just because we saw her through Supergirl’s dotting eyes, but Wonder Woman REALLY came into her own from book one to book two. She was stronger and more confident than she was in book one. Supergirl really envied and admired Wonder Woman and Wonder Woman could do no wrong in Supergirl’s eyes. But I also feel that Wonder Woman has grown and matured a LOT.

I said this in my review of Wonder Woman at Super Hero High, but I’ll say it again: If we don’t get a Harley Quinn story, I’ll riot! Also, if we don’t get a Poison Ivy story, I’ll riot!! I know from watching Batman & Robin that Poison Ivy becomes a villain and I know from seeing the Suicide Squad commercials that Harley Quinn becomes a villain; however, I seriously adore them! At least in this book series, as their teenage selves, I adore them! And I really, really want to get inside their heads and learn more about them.

There was a great quote in this book: “Unlike [Supergirl], they all seemed to fit right in and had everything figured out.” The context is that Supergirl was feeling down on herself and she was feeling envious of her classmates for “having it all together.” But I think the keyword here is “seemed.” From the outside looking in, Supergirl only saw one side of her classmates. She can’t know what they’re thinking or what their fears/vulnerabilities are. Everyone has them, even if we can’t always see them. I think this is a major lesson in this series – and an important one. People can look completely put together on the outside but be totally not put together on the inside. We can’t judge a person based on the face they show society because that face is only part of the story.

The revelations in this book were crazy and the action scenes were completely intense! I also think Lisa Yee’s writing was vastly improved in this book – and that’s not to say her writing was bad in the first book! Not at all. It was really enjoyable, but it was even better in this book. It was like Yee was more adventurous with her writing this time around and there was more “showing” versus “telling.”

The next book (which isn’t out until January – SOB!!!) is going to be Batgirl’s story and I’m REALLY excited! I LOVED getting to know Barbara Gordon in this book and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for her in her book. Plus, we’re almost guaranteed a decent amount of Supergirl, too (because of their friendship), which is awesome!

Overall, I really loved this book! As I mentioned in my Wonder Woman review, as someone who didn’t devour the DC comics, I was definitely a little bit behind on who everyone was and what some of the references were – though it was easier to remember everyone the second time around. But I knew enough and understood enough, so it was still incredibly enjoyable!

This is a short, fast read that I highly recommend to anyone who loves the DC comics, as well as to anyone who wants to get into the comics, but who wants a quick and easy introduction to the characters first!

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About the Author:

Lisa Yee’s debut novel, Millicent Min, Girl Genius, won the prestigious Sid Fleischman Humor Award. With over two million books in print, her other novels for young people include Stanford Wong Flunks Big-Time, So Totally Emily Ebers, Absolutely Maybe, and a series about a 4th grader, Bobby vs. Girls (Accidentally) and Bobby the Brave (Sometimes).

Lisa is also the author of American Girl’s Kanani books and Good Luck, Ivy, and this year’s Lea Clark novels. Her novel, Warp Speed, is about a Star Trek geek who gets beat up everyday at school. A Thurber House Children’s Writer-in-Residence, Lisa’s books have been named a NPR Best Summer Read, Sports Illustrated Kids Hot Summer Read, and USA Today Critics’ Top Pick.

The Kidney Hypothetical – Or How To Ruin Your Life In Seven Days is Lisa’s latest novel for teens. Lisa’s 2016 books include the DC Super Hero Girls middle grade novel series and the American Girl, 2016 Girl of the Year books.

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Review: And I Darken by Kiersten White

Jul6

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

And I Darken by Kiersten White
Series: The Conquerors Saga #1
Published by Delacorte Press on June 28th 2016
Pages: 484
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
four-stars

No one expects a princess to be brutal. And Lada Dragwlya likes it that way. Ever since she and her gentle younger brother, Radu, were wrenched from their homeland of Wallachia and abandoned by their father to be raised in the Ottoman courts, Lada has known that being ruthless is the key to survival. She and Radu are doomed to act as pawns in a vicious game, an unseen sword hovering over their every move. For the lineage that makes them special also makes them targets.

Lada despises the Ottomans and bides her time, planning her vengeance for the day when she can return to Wallachia and claim her birthright. Radu longs only for a place where he feels safe. And when they meet Mehmed, the defiant and lonely son of the sultan, Radu feels that he’s made a true friend—and Lada wonders if she’s finally found someone worthy of her passion.

But Mehmed is heir to the very empire that Lada has sworn to fight against—and that Radu now considers home. Together, Lada, Radu, and Mehmed form a toxic triangle that strains the bonds of love and loyalty to the breaking point.

I’ve been SO excited for this book ever since I first heard about it. A YA historical? YES, PLEASE! A “what if?” YA Historical? EVEN BETTER! But a YA “what if?” historical about Vlad the Impaler.. As a girl?!?! GIMME GIMME!!!!!!!!!!! And this book did NOT disappoint. I enjoyed it SO MUCH and I can’t wait for book two!

In a Q&A Kiersten did for her launch party at Mysterious Galaxy Books (and which was transcribed in Stacee’s recap on her blog, Adventures of a Book Junkie), Kiersten discussed the insane amount of research she did for this book – and it definitely shows! This book takes you back in time and makes you feel as though you’re living in the Ottoman Empire in the 1400’s-1500’s. It was so atmospheric, the story so richly detailed.. I fell into this world with ease.

The characters were intriguing and complex. It’s hard to say whether I liked them or not, but I don’t think the author’s goal was for the characters to be likable. It was more about understanding them and their actions and decisions. As Kiersten said in her Q&A for Mysterious Galaxy Books, “If you get to the end of the series and you’re wondering why you like [Lada], I’ve done my job.” This statement is SO TRUE – not just for Lada, for all the characters. But especially our main three: Lada, Radu and Mehmed.

To be blunt, Lada was bratty, scary, nasty, mean and stubborn.. She BITES people. But through all that, she’s fierce, feisty and determined. She refuses to let the fact that she’s a woman stop her from doing – and getting – what she wants.

Poor Radu started off as the runt of the litter – ignored, picked on and beaten up. But he changes SO MUCH, it’s not even funny. He goes from being a scared, crying, sheltered little boy to… This man. This strong, clever, cunning man with a heart of glass who covets what he can’t have. His boyishness still comes through at times. But otherwise, from beginning to end, he becomes a completely different person. His most interesting quality? The diplomatic way in which he talks himself into and out of various situations. He inserts himself into people’s lives and conversations in such a smooth way, they don’t even realize what he’s doing until it’s too late.

The unshakeable bond between Radu and Lada is proof that home is not a place, but that it is where your family is – and that family is what you make it. They might not have always shown it in words or gestures but they loved each other – and it was very endearing.

There were a LOT of other characters that I could talk about, but then we’d be here forever! So instead, I’m going to offer shout-out’s (whether for good reasons or not-so-good reasons) to: Bogdan, Nicolae, Nazira, Kumal, Lazar, Ilyas and Salih. I’m sure there are other characters I could shout-out, but these are the main ones I was either truly intrigued by or truly despised (give or take a few I left out).

Again, it’s hard to say whether or not I liked these characters, but I definitely liked their interactions with one another, as well as their various relationships. I especially loved the way Radu’s relationships – and everything that goes along with that – were handled.

I read a lot of mixed reviews about this book (before I read it) and I think I know why: This is unlike anything Kiersten has ever written. It’s pure historical fiction. That means it’s a little slow to get through because there’s SO much world-building involved. And I admit, it had a slow start and was a bit too long. But otherwise, it’s intriguing and absolutely a coming of age story – finding one’s place in the world, etc. And Kiersten did SUCH a great job with it.

Overall, if you couldn’t tell from my review, I LOVED this book SO MUCH and I CAN’T wait for book two – which you can get a sneak-peak of here! I HIGHLY recommend this for fans of historical and “what if?” historical. If you’ve read Kiersten’s previous books, prepare yourself for something COMPLETELY different than you’ve ever read from her before!

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Guest Review: After the Woods by Kim Savage

Review: Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco (Blog Tour)

Review: Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake (Blog Tour)

Review: The Architect of Song by A.G. Howard

Guest Review: The Body in the Woods by April Henry

Review: Twist My Charm: Love Potion #11 by Toni Gallagher

Review: Resthaven by Erik Therme

Guest Review: Summer of Supernovas by Darcy Woods

Review: Supergirl at Super Hero High by Lisa Yee (Blog Tour)

Review: And I Darken by Kiersten White