Unraveling
Series: Unraveling #1
Author: Elizabeth Norris
Genre: Young Adult
Source: Amazon Vine
ISBN: 9780062103734

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)

Two days before the start of her junior year, seventeen-year-old Janelle Tenner is hit by a pickup truck and killed–as in blinding light, scenes of her life flashing before her, and then nothing. Except the next thing she knows, she’s opening her eyes to find Ben Michaels, a loner from her high school whom Janelle has never talked to, leaning over her. And even though it isn’t possible, she knows–with every fiber of her being–that Ben has somehow brought her back to life.

But her revival, and Ben’s possible role in it, is only the first of the puzzles that Janelle must solve. While snooping in her FBI agent father’s files for clues about her accident, she uncovers a clock that seems to be counting down to something–but to what? And when someone close to Janelle is killed, she can no longer deny what’s right in front of her: Everything that’s happened–the accident, the murder, the countdown clock, Ben’s sudden appearance in her life–points to the end of life as she knows it. And as the clock ticks down, she realizes that if she wants to put a stop to the end of the world, she’s going to need to uncover Ben’s secrets–and keep from falling in love with him in the process.

From debut author Elizabeth Norris comes this shattering novel of one girl’s fight to save herself, her world, and the boy she never saw coming.

MY THOUGHTS

Wow.  Yep, that about sums up my experience in reading Unraveling.  With action that starts from the first chapter, the reader is in for a wild ride of excitement, suspense and love at first page.  I didn’t know what to expect from this book, but I am so glad that I gave it a chance!

I was first intrigued by the cover of this book.  Then I read the summary and thought that this one might be a little different then the normal and decided to order it for review.  What I found inside the covers was so much more than expected.  I loved the characters and the secondary ones were just as great.  The plot was different but well worked.  The romance was amazing and kept my interest.  The only flaw that I really had about this book was that there is so much happening in one book.  I figured that if it is going to be a series, the author should have spread it out more in the other books.  Even with everything that does happen in the book, I still didn’t feel too overwhelmed by it all.  I know most readers are wanting everything in the first book — and sometimes this frustrates a reader to no end — I fell that this book was one that needed it expanded to the next book instead of crammed into the 400+ pages of Unraveling.

On a final note, if you haven’t read this book yet, you are seriously missing out on a new read to add to your favorites collection.  Bring on the next one Ms. Norris because I am in love with your writing!

MY RATING

Outstanding book that will stay on my bookshelf for rereading!
*I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*

Dark Companion
Author: Marta Acosta
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal
Source: Amazon Vine
ISBN: 9780765329646

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)

Orphaned at the age of six, Jane Williams has grown up in a series of foster homes, learning to survive in the shadows of life. Through hard work and determination, she manages to win a scholarship to the exclusive Birch Grove Academy. There, for the first time, Jane finds herself accepted by a group of friends. She even starts tutoring the headmistress’s gorgeous son, Lucien. Things seem too good to be true.

They are.

The more she learns about Birch Grove’s recent past, the more Jane comes to suspect that there is something sinister going on. Why did the wife of a popular teacher kill herself? What happened to the former scholarship student, whose place Jane took? Why does Lucien’s brother, Jack, seem to dislike her so much?

As Jane begins to piece together the answers to the puzzle, she must find out why she was brought to Birch Grove—and what she would risk to stay there…

MY THOUGHTS

I love the Casa Dracula series by author Marta Acosta so I was thrilled to step into young adult realm created by her.  With Dark Companion, we are given the treat of the authors writing with a young adult theme.

Jane grew up in foster homes after and accident.  She receives a scholarship to to Birch Grove Academy and finds herself making friends.  Just when she thinks are starting to turn around for her, things start to happen to make her rethink everything.  The author brings the triangle that most books have with Jacob/Jack and Lucien/Lucky.  When you read the book you will understand the double names for Jacob and Lucien.

Without giving too much more away, I will say that this book is darker and has more of an edge to it than her adult series.  It was slow moving for me to read as well.  It seemed like the plot wanted to take off, but the author wanted to drag it out for the reader.  There were times I just wanted to skip scenes just to get going, but I didn’t and ended up happy that I didn’t.

If you are a fan of Marta Acosta, then this one will be a auto-buy for you.  It has her writing style that you love just from a younger and darker edge to it.  The cover itself should clue you in to the different feel this book has from her adult series.  This was okay book for me and I am glad I gave it a chance.  I just hope if the author writes another one that the plot — that was pretty cool — moves along faster for the reader.

MY RATING

Okay book, but it left me wanting more!
*I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*

A Hunger Like No Other
Series: Immortals After Dark #2
Author: Kresley Cole
Source: Personal Purchase
Genre: Paranormal Romance
ISBN: 9781416509875

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)

A mythic warrior who’ll stop at nothing to possess her . . .

After enduring years of torture from the vampire horde, Lachlain MacRieve, leader of the Lykae Clan, is enraged to find the predestined mate he’s waited millennia for is a vampire. Or partly one. This Emmaline is a small, ethereal half Valkyrie/half vampire, who somehow begins to soothe the fury burning within him.

A vampire captured by her wildest fantasy . . .

Sheltered Emmaline Troy finally sets out to uncover the truth about her deceased parents — until a powerful Lykae claims her as his mate and forces her back to his ancestral Scottish castle. There, her fear of the Lykae — and their notorious dark desires — ebbs as he begins a slow, wicked seduction to sate her own dark cravings. 

An all-consuming desire . . .

Yet when an ancient evil from her past resurfaces, will their desire deepen into a love that can bring a proud warrior to his knees and turn a gentle beauty into the fighter she was born to be? 

MY THOUGHTS

I know I am behind in the Immortals After Dark Series.  It seems everyone has read this series but me.  I questioned people if I should read this and they were surprised I hadn’t read it already.  They did recommend in starting with this book — which is suppose to be the second book — since it fits the timeline better.  So I signed up for the reading challenge and started reading about the world created by Kresley Cole.

I am having a little trouble writing this review though.  I loved the characters of this book.  Lachlain was amazing in his beastly and wild way.  He knew what he wanted and he took it — literally.  While I didn’t like some of the things he did to achieve his end goal of claiming his mate,  I felt it brought out his personality and true nature.  Emma was a timid and weak half vampire that was hurt when a fly died.  I couldn’t believe we were going to have to read about such a weak character paired with an amazing lead like Lachlain.  When she finally started coming out of her shell though, it became amazing.

I think the main problem I have with this book is the complicated world.  There are many species and terms that I haven’t been able to figure out yet.  I still don’t understand the big battle that is suppose to happen every few hundred years and the full ramifications that come with it.  I did find to be curious about some of the secondary characters though.  I looked around a little on the authors website and found that most of the secondary characters will have their own book.

While I am not a huge fan as most, I think this series is one that you grow to love as the author brings us a new book.  Hopefully I can share in the excitement as I read along to the other books in the series.

MY RATING

Okay book, but it left me wanting more!

The Taken
Series: Celestial Blues #1
Author: Vicki Pettersson
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Source: Amazon Vine
Genre: PR/UF
ISBN: 9780062064646

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)

Griffin Shaw used to be a PI, but that was back when gumshoes hoofed the streets . . . and he was still alive. Fifty years later, he’s an angel, but that doesn’t make him a saint. One small mistake has altered fate, and now he’s been dumped back onto the mortal mudflat to collect another soul–Katherine “Kit” Craig, a journalist whose latest investigation is about to get her clipped.

Bucking heavenly orders, Grif refuses to let the sable-haired siren come to harm. Besides, protecting her offers a chance to solve the mystery of his own unsolved murder–and dole out some overdue payback for the death of his beloved wife, Evie.

Joining forces, Kit and Grif’s search for answers leads beyond the blinding lights of the Strip into the dark heart of an evil conspiracy. But a ruthless killer determined to destroy them isn’t Grif’s biggest threat. His growing attraction to Kit could cost them both their lives, along with the answer to the haunting question of his long afterlife . . .

MY THOUGHTS

The Taken is the first book in the Celestial Blues series by author Vicki Pettersson.  I have seen this book classified as many things.  It has been noted as an Urban Fantasy, a Paranormal Romance, a Steampunk, and even a regular Fantasy.  Seeing it thrown into so many categories left me feeling confused.  I wasn’t sure it if was going to be a book that I would enjoy or come to loathe.

Starting out with the first couple of chapters, I settled in for a enjoyable read.  I thought to myself that this wouldn’t be too bad if the first few chapters have kept me interested and in all honesty pretty good.  The writing was well done and the book was being set up nicely.  Then it just sort of fell off the map and my interest waned.  What I thought would be interesting — Kit being a different sort of heroine than normal — turned out to be blah and nothing to be too excited about.  At times I even found her boring.  Griffin is suppose to be a smart PI but I found him lacking in sense and promise.

I can see what the author was trying to do with this story in the ways of the characters. She was trying to bring a fresh face to the urban fantasy world, but I found it to be just on the surface.  The characters were bland and fell in the usual trap of just acting out the scenes with no excitement for the reader.  While it wasn’t a bad book,  it lacked the intrigue and suspense that I was expecting.

MY RATING

If the library doesn’t have it, don’t worry about reading it!

*I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*

The Bar Code Tattoo
Series: Bar Code #1
Author: Suzanne Weyn
Publisher: Scholastic
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult
ISBN: 9780545470544

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)

Individuality vs. conformity. Identity vs. access. Freedom vs. control. The bar code tattoo.

The bar code tattoo. Everybody’s getting it. It will make your life easier, they say. It will hook you in. It will become your identity.

But what if you say no? What if you don’t want to become a code? For Kayla, this one choice changes everything. She becomes an outcast in her high school. Dangerous things start happening to her family. There’s no option but to run . . . for her life.

Individuality vs. conformity.
Identity vs. access.
Freedom vs. control.

The bar code tattoo.

MY THOUGHTS

After reading the summary on the back of this book, I was intrigued.  It seemed to me like it could be a cool new read in the Young Adult genre.

In the future, everyone is getting the new Bar Code Tattoo.  Every bit of information in your life is recorded in that tattoo.  Some believe this to be a good thing, while others are not on board with it.  With the hints of deception and suspense, I was excited to start this series.  Unfortunately, it wasn’t what I was expecting.  The plot and story wasn’t bad, but I think it is a better series for the younger adults then the older ones.  Adults who like to read young adult books might find this book just a little too “young adult” and not enjoy it as much.

There were some high points in the book though that kept me interested enough to finish the read.  I liked finding out the secrets and such through Kayla’s eyes.  The author did write at a great pace and has a unique writing style.  Again, it just felt as if it was too young for mature readers.

MY RATING

Okay book, but it left me wanting more!