Post Reading: Thicker Than Water - Kelly Fiore

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Thicker Than Water

Author: Kelly Fiore

Published: 5 January 2016  by Harper Teen

Source: ARC from Publisher

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Cecelia Price killed her brother. At least, that’s what the police and the district attorney are saying. And although Cecelia is now locked up and forced into treatment, she knows the real story is much more complicated.

Cyrus wasn’t always the drug-addled monster he’d become. He was a successful athlete, but when an injury forced him off the soccer field and onto pain medication, his life became a blur of anger, addiction, and violence. All CeCe could do was stand by and watch, until one day she found a solution.

THE REVIEW

> 15 MILLION - The number of people in the US ALONE who abuse prescription drugs.

50% - The percentage of young adults who believe that prescription drugs are much safer than illegal street drugs.

54.2% - The percentage of prescription drug users who get them free from a friend/relative.

Horrifying. 

As appalling as these stats are, they are also very real.

There's no denying that drug abuse is a prevalent issue among young adults so it is downright shocking to find out that very few YA books address drug and substance abuse. 

November Must-Reads: Super Heroes + Murder

Title: Vicious (Vicious #1)

Author: V.E. Schwab  

Publisher: Titan Books

Published: January 10th 2014

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MY THOUGHTS:

What distinguishes a hero from a villain? Is it their actions and its effect on society, their past or is it their intentions?  Does doing the right thing for the wrong reasons make you hero? 

One cannot dispute the fact that Schwab is a master storyteller. Her writing style is sheer brilliancy and compels you to turn page after page. I was addicted from page one and couldn't help but be pulled into this insanely twisted tale of ambition, power, betrayal, friendship, heroism and villainy. 

I Call Myself A Feminist

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: I Call Myself A Feminist: The View from Twenty-Five Women Under Thirty
Editors: Victoria Pepe, Rachel Holmes, Amy Annette, Martha Mosse & Alice Stride
Published: November 5th 2015 by Virago
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Is feminism still a dirty word? We asked twenty-five of the brightest, funniest, bravest young women what being a feminist in 2015 means to them.

THE REVIEW

“A male acquaintance of mine, with whom I have never had a dalliance, said to me, ‘You know what? If you lost a couple of stone…’ I said, ‘The rest of this better be a fucking equation.’ ‘If you lost a couple of stone, we could probably go out.’ I said, ‘Only if the couple of stone I lost was me fucking head.”

—Sarah Millican 

For better or for worse, feminism is undoubtedly one of the buzzwords of the decade. 2015 alone has brought on a torrent of feminist literature. 

This is amazing. Yet.

Yet, up to now it has not been exactly easy to find a voice that I identified with. Until now. 

Post Reading: The Moment of Letting Go - J.A. Redmerski

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: The Moment of Letting Go 
Author: J.A. Redmerski 
Published: August 11th 2015 by Piatkus
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You can follow the rules or you can follow your heart...

Sienna Murphy never does anything without a plan. And so far her plans have been working. Right after college, she got a prestigious job and gained the stability she'd always craved - until work takes her to the sun-drenched shores of Oahu and places her in the path of sexy surfer Luke Everett. For the first time, she lets her heart take control. Drawn to his carefree charm, she makes a spontaneous and very un-Sienna-like decision to drop everything and stay in Hawaii for two more weeks.

Luke lives fast and wild. When he meets Sienna, he's convinced that some no-strings-attached fun is just what she needs. As their nights quickly turn from playful to passionate, Luke can't deny the deep connection he feels. But there's a reason Luke doesn't do long-term. He can't promise Sienna forever, when the enormity of his past has shown him just how fragile the future can be . . .

THE REVIEW

I hated it. I loved it. 

August Must-Reads: Fanfiction and Retellings

Title: The Wrath and the Dawn (The Wrath and the Dawn #1)

Author: Renee Ahdieh 
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Release Date: May 12th 2015 

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MY THOUGHTS:

My love affair with YA has been going on for over two years. But it was starting to lose its appeal.
Thankfully, Renee Ahdieh's The Wrath and The Dawn came along and revived my love for YA literature.

How does one even begin to articulate the kind of feeling a book like this evokes? But I'll try.

Post Reading: The Happy Ever Afterlife of Rosie Potter (RIP) - Kate Winter

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: The Happy Ever Afterlife of Rosie Potter (RIP)
Author: Kate Winter
Published:  May 21st 2015 by Sphere 
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Falling in love is never simple. Especially when you're dead.

When Rosie Potter wakes up one morning with what she assumes is the world's worst hangover, the last thing she expects is to discover that she's actually dead. With a frustrating case of amnesia, suspicious circumstances surrounding her untimely demise, and stuck wearing her ugliest flannel PJs, Rosie must figure out not only what happened last night, but why on earth she's still here.

Slowly the mystery unravels, but there are many other secrets buried in the quiet Irish village of Ballycarragh, and nobody is as innocent as they first appear. Aided by the unlikeliest of allies in her investigation, Rosie discovers that life after death isn't all it's cracked up to be, particularly when you might just be falling in love . . .

In this hilarious, life-affirming and romantic journey through Rosie Potter's afterlife, she shares the ghostly tale of how she lived, she died, and she loved (in that order).

THE REVIEW

When Rosie Potter wakes up one morning to a trashed bedroom and zero recollection of the previous night, she knows something has gone terribly wrong. She assumes the odd feeling is just the world's weirdest hangover.

Turns out not only is she wrong but she's also dead. 

Post Reading: Clash of Iron - Angus Watson

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Clash of Iron 
Author: Angus Watson
Series: Iron Age #2
Published: April 14th 2015 by Orbit
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LEADERS ARE FORGED IN THE FIRES OF WAR

Iron Age warriors Dug and Lowa captured Maidun castle and freed its slaves. But now they must defend it.

A Roman invasion is coming from Gaul, but rather than uniting to defend their home, the British tribes go to battle with each other -- and see Maidun as an easy target.

Meanwhile, Lowa's spies infiltrate Gaul, discovering the Romans have recruited British druids. And Maidunite Ragnall finds his loyalties torn when he meets Rome's charismatic general, Julius Caesar.

War is coming. Who will pay its price?

THE REVIEW

Stating that Britain in the Iron Ages was not quite the best place to be would be a gross understatement. The threat of the fast growing Roman empire and the brutally legendary Caesar was imminent and worried even the greatest of warriors.

Post Reading: Hero - Samantha Young

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Hero
Author: Samantha Young
Published: March 5th 2015 by Piatkus
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Alexa Holland’s father was her hero—until her shocking discovery that she and her mother weren’t his only family. Ever since, Alexa has worked to turn her life in a different direction and forge her own identity outside of his terrible secrets,. But when she meets a man who’s as damaged by her father’s mistakes as she is, Alexa must help him.

Caine Carraway wants nothing to do with Alexa’s efforts at redemption, but it’s not so easy to push her away. Determined to make her hate him, he brings her to the edge of her patience and waits for her to walk away. But his actions only draw them together and, despite the odds, they begin an intense and explosive affair.

Only Caine knows he can never be the white knight that Alexa has always longed for. And when they’re on the precipice of danger, he finds he’ll do anything to protect either one of them from being hurt again…  

THE REVIEW

The general consensus among the readers of Samantha Young's On Dublin Street series seems to be highly positive. I haven't had the opportunity to find out what the winning formula of this Goodreads Choice Award winning author is so I was pretty excited for Hero.

Post Reading: Obsession in Death - J.D. Robb

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Obsession in Death 

Author: J.D. Robb

Series: In Death #40 

Published: Jan 12th 2015 by Piatkus

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A crisp winter morning in New York. In a luxury apartment, the body of a woman lies stretched out on a huge bed. On the wall above, the killer has left a message in bold black ink: FOR LIEUTENANT EVE DALLAS, WITH GREAT ADMIRATION AND UNDERSTANDING. 

Eve Dallas is used to unwanted attention. Famous for her high-profile cases and her marriage to billionaire businessman Roarke, she has learned to deal with intense public scrutiny and media gossip. But now Eve has become the object of a singular and deadly obsession. She has an 'admirer', who just can't stop thinking about her. Who is convinced they have a special bond. Who is planning to kill for her - again and again...

With time against her, Eve is forced to play a delicate - and dangerous - psychological dance. Because the killer is desperate for something Eve can never provide - approval. And once that becomes clear, Eve knows her own life will be at risk - along with those she cares about the most.

THE REVIEW

David Baldacci thought Obssesion in Death was a 'gut-searing emotional drama'. Stephen King seems to be a die hard Eve Dallas fan because he thinks Dallas is '....tough as nails and still sexy as hell'.

I wouldn't be lying if I said that Obsession in Death is one of the best murder mysteries that I've read in a long time.

Post Reading: Messenger of Fear - Michael Grant

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Messenger of Fear
Author: Michael Grant 

Series: Messenger of Fear #1 
Published: Sept 23 2014 by Katherine Tegen Books 
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I remembered my name – Mara. But, standing in that ghostly place, faced with the solemn young man in the black coat with silver skulls for buttons, I could recall nothing else about myself.

And then the games began.

The Messenger sees the darkness in young hearts, and the damage it inflicts upon the world. If they go unpunished, he offers the wicked a game. Win, and they can go free. Lose, and they will live out their greatest fear. 

But what does any of this have to do with Mara? She is about to find out . . .

5 REASONS WHY MESSENGER OF FEAR WAS NOT FOR ME

#01 - Great concept not so great execution.

Post Reading: Breaking Nova - Jessica Sorenson

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Breaking Nova 
Author: Jessica Sorensen 
Series: Nova #1 
Published: October 9th 2014 by Sphere
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Nova Reed used to have dreams of becoming a famous drummer, of marrying her true love. But all of that was taken away in an instant. Now she's getting by as best she can, though sometimes that means doing things the old Nova would never do. Things that are slowly eating away at her spirit. Every day blends into the next, until she meets Quinton Carter.

Quinton once got a second chance at life, but he doesn't want it. The tattoos on his chest are a constant reminder of what he's done, what he's lost. He's sworn to never allow happiness into his life, but then beautiful, sweet Nova makes him smile. He knows he's too damaged to get close to her, yet she's the only one who can make him feel alive again. Quinton will have to decide: does he deserve to start over? Or should he pay for his past forever?

THE REVIEW

Passionate. Intense. All Consuming. 

Breaking Nova is as breathtakingly beautiful as the dedication that Jessica Sorensen has penned for her readers.

“For anyone who's ever felt lost and struggled to find their way back.” 

Post Reading: Get Even - Gretchen McNeil

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Get Even 
Author: Gretchen McNeil 
Series: Don't Get Mad 
Published: September 16th 2014 by Balzer & Bray
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The Breakfast Club meets Pretty Little Liars in Gretchen McNeil’s witty and suspenseful novel about four disparate girls who join forces to take revenge on high school bullies and create dangerous enemies for themselves in the process. 

Bree, Olivia, Kitty, and Margot have nothing in common—at least that’s what they’d like the students and administrators of their elite private school to think. The girls have different goals, different friends, and different lives, but they share one very big secret: They’re all members of Don’t Get Mad, a secret society that anonymously takes revenge on the school’s bullies, mean girls, and tyrannical teachers.

When their latest target ends up dead with a blood-soaked “DGM” card in his hands, the girls realize that they’re not as anonymous as they thought—and that someone now wants revenge on them. Soon the clues are piling up, the police are closing in . . . and everyone has something to lose. 

THE REVIEW

Mediocre. 

Irish Magic, Love and Horses

Author: Nora Roberts
Publisher: Piatkus
Release Date: October 2nd 2014
Series: The Cousins O'Dwyer Trilogy #1
Source: Publisher
Synopsis:

With indifferent parents, Iona Sheehan grew up craving devotion and acceptance. From her maternal grandmother, she learned where to find both: a land of lush forests, dazzling lakes, and centuries-old legends.

Ireland.

County Mayo, to be exact. Where her ancestors’ blood and magic have flowed through generations—and where her destiny awaits.

Iona arrives in Ireland with nothing but her Nan’s directions, an unfailingly optimistic attitude, and an innate talent with horses. Not far from the luxurious castle where she is spending a week, she finds her cousins, Branna and Connor O’Dwyer. And since family is family, they invite her into their home and their lives.

When Iona lands a job at the local stables, she meets the owner, Boyle McGrath. Cowboy, pirate, wild tribal horseman, he’s three of her biggest fantasy weaknesses all in one big, bold package.

Iona realizes that here she can make a home for herself—and live her life as she wants, even if that means falling head over heels for Boyle. But nothing is as it seems. An ancient evil has wound its way around Iona’s family tree and must be defeated. Family and friends will fight with each other and for each other to keep the promise of hope—and love—alive…

Review: Dark Witch - Nora Roberts

Nora Roberts is an author who's books I've read and loved over the years. She is one of those authors I associate with high school along with James Patterson, Danielle Steel, Jeffery Archer, John Grisham and Agatha Christie. Ah, good times.

Dark Witch is set in Ireland and I instantly fell in love with the beautiful setting. Roberts painted a spell binding picture and her writing bought this lush countryside to life. Iona, the protagonist relocates from America to Ireland to reconnect with her ancestors. She finally feels at home but everything is not as simple as it seems. Iona learns that the evil sorcerer who pursued her ancestor the dark witch, Sorcha is back. And this time the evil Cabhan has his sights set on Iona. Iona's destiny is interwined with her that of her cousins, Branna and Connor. The Cousins O'Dwyer Trilogy follows the journey of these three cousins as they band together to fight this great evil.

The Victorian Era - Beauty and the Beast Style

Author: Kristen Callihan
Publisher: Piatkus
Series: Darkest London #1
Release Date: 29 September 2014
Source: Publisher
Synopsis:

Once the flames are ignited . . . 

Miranda Ellis is a woman tormented. Plagued since birth by a strange and powerful gift, she has spent her entire life struggling to control her exceptional abilities. Yet one innocent but irreversible mistake has left her family's fortune decimated and forced her to wed London's most nefarious nobleman.

They will burn for eternity . . .

Lord Benjamin Archer is no ordinary man. Doomed to hide his disfigured face behind masks, Archer knows it's selfish to take Miranda as his bride. Yet he can't help being drawn to the flame-haired beauty whose touch sparks a passion he hasn't felt in a lifetime. When Archer is accused of a series of gruesome murders, he gives in to the beastly nature he has fought so hard to hide from the world. But the curse that haunts him cannot be denied. Now, to save his soul, Miranda will enter a world of dark magic and darker intrigue. For only she can see the man hiding behind the mask.

Review: Firelight - Kristen Callihan

I did not know what hit me. But there is no doubt that Callihan has bowled me over with this Beauty and Beast-esque tale. It's been a while since I have come across a paranormal romance that is well, incredible.

Warriors, Druids and the Iron Age

Author: Angus Watson

Publisher: Orbit

Release Date: September 9th 2014 

Source: Publisher

Synopsis:

Bloodthirsty druids and battle-hardened Iron Age warriors collide in the biggest epic fantasy debut release of 2014.

LEGENDS AREN'T BORN. THEY'RE FORGED.

Dug Sealskinner is a down-on-his-luck mercenary travelling south to join up with King Zadar's army. But he keeps rescuing the wrong people. 

First, Spring, a child he finds scavenging on the battlefield, and then Lowa, one of Zadar's most fearsome warriors, who's vowed revenge on the king for her sister's execution. 

Now Dug's on the wrong side of that thousands-strong army he hoped to join ­- and worse, Zadar has bloodthirsty druid magic on his side. All Dug has is his war hammer, one rescued child and one unpredictable, highly-trained warrior with a lust for revenge that's going to get them all killed . . .

It's a glorious day to die.

Review: Age of Iron - Angus Watson

Shockingly, I've come across very few books that are set in Britain during the Iron Age. Watson's Age of Iron paved the way for my debut into this sub-genre and I can safely say that it was a delightful experience.

What little is known about this time period is mostly learnt from the POV of Julius Casear. Watson makes a bold move by creating an epic story that is based on the could-have-beens of this era. And the touch of fantasy? Brilliant.

One of the novel's strongest points is the characters. The story begins with Dug, part seasoned warrior and part world weary mercenary who is hoping for a comfortable life in Zadar's army. Lowa, a female archer in Zadar's army is a force to be reckoned with. And then we have Spring, a mysterious, young girl who is on the run-she was an intriguing characters who was wise beyond her years.

She Shoots, She Scores?

Author: Kasie West
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: July 1st 2014
Source: Publisher
Synopsis:

She's a tomboy. He's the boy next door…

Charlie Reynolds can outrun, outscore, and outwit every boy she knows. But when it comes to being a girl, Charlie doesn't know the first thing about anything. So when she starts working at a chichi boutique to pay off a speeding ticket, she finds herself in a strange new world. To cope with the stress of her new reality, Charlie takes to spending nights chatting with her neighbor Braden through the fence between their yards. As she grows to depend on their nightly Fence Chats, she realizes she's got a bigger problem than speeding tickets-she's falling for Braden. She knows what it means to go for the win, but if spilling her secret means losing him for good, the stakes just got too high.

Fun, original, and endearing, On the Fence is a romantic comedy about finding yourself and finding love where you least expect.

Review: On the Fence - Kasie West 

Kasie West's books has always been a sure win for me. Her dystopian debut, Pivot Point captivated me with it's time travel angle. When she followed it up with The Distance Between Us, another smashing success West became one of my auto-buy authors.

When it was revealed that she was releasing another contemporary this year Kasie West cult (including moi) went like Hallelujah. Tomboy falling in love with boy next door?? GIMME. The pre-release reviews were promising so I was definitely hyped up for the book.

I thought that I could count on West for a contemporary novel that would make the reader swoon, giggle and re-think. In short, I expected a mind blowing, coming of age read that I could would add value to the genre. And yes, majority of the readers thought that the novel succeeded in this aspect. Unfortunately, I'm with the minority saying nuh uh.

Revered Twins, Thunder Hawks and Treachery

Author: Kelley Armstrong 

Series: Age of Legends #1

Publisher: HarperCollins

Release Date: 8 April 2014

Source: Publisher

Synopsis:

In the Forest of the Dead, where the empire’s worst criminals are exiled, twin sisters Moria and Ashyn are charged with a dangerous task. For they are the Keeper and the Seeker, and each year they must quiet the enraged souls of the damned.

Only this year, the souls will not be quieted.

Ambushed and separated by an ancient evil, the sisters’ journey to find each other sends them far from the only home they’ve ever known. Accompanied by a stubborn imperial guard and a dashing condemned thief, the girls cross a once-empty wasteland, now filled with reawakened monsters of legend, as they travel to warn the emperor. But a terrible secret awaits them at court—one that will alter the balance of their world forever

Review: The Sea of Shadows - Kelley Armstrong

Kelley Armstrong is an author whose books I read and loved so I was definitely excited for The Sea of Shadows. But when the pre-release reviews started coming in I have to admit that I was a little apprehensive. But once I started this YA fantasy novel there was no doubt that Armstrong still has "it". 

The elements of suspense, mythology, action and romance make The Sea of Shadows one hell of a page turner. The novel opens in the village of Edgewood, home to Ashyn and Moira. The twin sisters play the role of the Seeker and Keeper who protect the village from the Forest of the Dead. The sisters and their animal companions are revered because of the role they play in protecting Edgewood.

Review: Faking Normal - Courtney C. Stevens

Author: Courtney C. Stevens 

Publisher: HarperTeen

Published Date: February 25th 2014 

Source: ARC Courtesy of The Publisher

Synopsis:

Alexi Littrell hasn't told anyone what happened to her over the summer. Ashamed and embarrassed, she hides in her closet and compulsively scratches the back of her neck, trying to make the outside hurt more than the inside does.

When Bodee Lennox, the quiet and awkward boy next door, comes to live with the Littrells, Alexi discovers an unlikely friend in "the Kool-Aid Kid," who has secrets of his own. As they lean on each other for support, Alexi gives him the strength to deal with his past, and Bodee helps her find the courage to finally face the truth.

A searing, poignant book, Faking Normal is the extraordinary debut novel from an exciting new author-Courtney C. Stevens.

My Thoughts

Every once in a while we come across a book that is mind-blowing-good and you love it so much that you can’t stop thinking about and can’t even talk about it for fear of incoherent rambling. 

Well, Faking Normal was this kinda book.

Review: The Murder Complex - Lindsay Cummings

Author: Lindsay Cummings
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Series: The Murder Complex #1
Published Date: June 10th 2014
Source: Publisher
Synopsis:

An action-packed, blood-soaked, futuristic debut thriller set in a world where the murder rate is higher than the birthrate. For fans of Moira Young’s Dust Lands series, La Femme Nikita, and the movie Hanna.

Meadow Woodson, a fifteen-year-old girl who has been trained by her father to fight, to kill, and to survive in any situation, lives with her family on a houseboat in Florida. The state is controlled by The Murder Complex, an organization that tracks the population with precision.

The plot starts to thicken when Meadow meets Zephyr James, who is—although he doesn’t know it—one of the MC’s programmed assassins. Is their meeting a coincidence? Destiny? Or part of a terrifying strategy? And will Zephyr keep Meadow from discovering the haunting truth about her family?

Action-packed, blood-soaked, and chilling, this is a dark and compelling debut novel by Lindsay Cummings

My Thoughts

“Action-packed, blood-soaked, and chilling, this is a dark and compelling debut novel by Lindsay Cummings.”

Action-packed? Maybe. Blood-soaked? Yes. Chilling? Nah. Compelling? Hahaha.

Mini-Reviews: Titanic in Space and Gargoyles in Paris

Title: The Beautiful and the Cursed (Dispossessed #1)
Author: Page Morgan
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Release Date: May 14th 2013

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MY THOUGHTS:

The Beautiful and the Cursed was a reminder of why I adore YA books. Gargoyles in 1890's Paris ? Sign me up, dude!  

Ingrid along with her mother and sister, Gabby are forced to move to Paris from London after an accident. 

The sisters move into an abandoned abbey which Ingrid's mother plans to turn into an art gallery only to find that their brother, Grayson is missing when they arrive. 

Morgan's writing paints a vivid picture of Paris and I couldn't help but fall in love with the city over and over again. 

The story is narrated in multiple POVs and is woven together seamlessly to create an imaginative and unique story.

Don't let the girl on the cover fool you because the Waverly sisters are definitely not damsels in distress. The Waverly siblings, the swoon-worthy love interests and the supporting characters were well written and multidimensional and I found myself being very interested in each and every one of their stories. But I have to admit that it was Ingrid's and Luc's scenes that I was eagerly anticipating!