REVIEW: Soulless by Robert J. Crane

Title: Soulless
Author: Robert J. Crane
Series: The Girl in the Box #3
Other Reviews: Alone (#1), Untouched (#2)
Pages: 152
Publisher: Self-Published
Date Published: August 23, 2012
Format: eBook
Source: Received from Author for Honest Review

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After six months of intense training with the Directorate, Sienna Nealon finds herself on her first assignment - tracking a dangerous meta across the upper midwest. With Scott Byerly and Kat Forrest at her side, she'll face new enemies and receive help from unlikely allies as she stumbles across the truth behind the shadowy organization known only as Omega.

*May Contain Minor Spoilers for Books #1 & #2 in this series!*

Soulless picks up about 6 months after the end of Untouched.  Sienna is now in the Directorate training program, along with Scott and Kat.  Of course, she's up against a brand new enemy in Soulless, but she's beginning to understand that it all leads back to the mysterious Omega.  She doesn't know why, but Omega wants her.

Soulless is definitely the best book in this series so far.  Sienna, Scott and Kat are being treated more like allies of the Directorate and are sent on missions.  This book is packed with the action and adventure that we've come to expect in this series, and Crane does an amazing job with the fight scenes once again.  I'm always amazed at the beatings Sienna can take and still keep fighting.  In Soulless she is placed in some very difficult situations, and she must make some extremely difficult decisions.  If there's one thing Sienna's good at it's making bad decisions.  We are once again led to question the loyalties of so many people, and we get to meet a few new people.

Soulless is an excellent addition to The Girl in the Box series.  The series has quickly become an addiction for me, and I love that Crane is quickly feeding my habit! 

ARC REVIEW: Rapunzel Untangled by Cindy C. Bennett

Title: Rapunzel Untangled
Author: Cindy C. Bennett
Pages: 304
Publisher: Cedar Fort, Inc.
Expected Publishing Date: February 12, 2013
Format: eBook
Source: Received from Publisher via NetGalley

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Rapunzel is not your average teenager.

For one thing, she has a serious illness that keeps her inside the mysterious Gothel Mansion. And for another, her hair is 15 feet long. Not to mention that she’s also the key to ultimately saving the world from certain destruction. But then she meets a boy named Fane, who changes all she has ever known, and she decides to risk everything familiar to find out who she really is.

Filled with romance, adventure, and mystery, Rapunzel Untangled is one story you won’t want to put down. Discover the true meaning of love and friendship in this modern twist to the classic fairytale.
 

I absolutely adore fairytale retellings, so I jumped at the chance to read and review Rapunzel Untangled.  Writing a retelling has to be a very difficult thing for any writer.  How do you take a story that's been told for years and give it your own unique twist?  It's all been done before!  Well, Cindy Bennett has done an amazing job of giving us a unique and imaginative story while keeping to the basics of the classic fairytale.  This is probably the darkest Rapunzel story I've heard.  Most all have the same basic plot:  Rapunzel is kidnapped as an infant by the witch Gothel and grows up in a tower, trapped there for years.  Sometimes Rapunzel lives as a prisoner, sometimes as a daughter of Gothel.  This story is no different, but that is where the similarities end.  Rapunzel Untangled is modern and fun, but gives us a twist filled with darkness and horror.

Rapunzel is nearly 18 years old, and she has lived in her rooms in the tower of Gothel Mansion all of her life.  She has a serious illness that makes it impossible for her to go outside without getting sick.  Her mother, Gothel, is the only other person she has ever had contact with.  She does all of her schoolwork online, and when she accidentally finds this wondrous site called Facebook she realizes she can use it to connect with other people her own age.  This is how she meets Fane.  At first they only correspond online, but Rapunzel eventually agrees to meet him.  He climbs her tower and the two become close friends.  When Fane convinces Rapunzel to sneak out of her rooms one night, they find stairways that lead nowhere and doors that open up to cement walls.  There's also a creepy room covered with black scorch marks and decorated with 6's.  Soon Rapunzel starts questioning everything she's been told.  Things don't add up.  The more Rapunzel learns the more questions she has, and the answers aren't at all what she wants to hear.

I enjoyed the uniqueness of Rapunzel Untangled.  It was unexpected and refreshing to read a story that's so classic, yet it's turned into something so much more modern and fun.  Rapunzel transforms throughout the book from the quiet girl that obeys every order to a strong woman willing to risk everything just to live a real life.  What we see of Fane is great.  He's funny, and he's completely loyal to Rapunzel.  I'd like to have seen more of his personality.  This would have been a great book to have alternating points of view.  His mind had to have been blown by the circumstances surrounding Rapunzel, but we don't really see that.  I also found the ending bit incomplete.  It would have been nice to see more about Rapunzel's real family.  Without a doubt, Rapunzel Untangled was a great read, and a great fairytale retelling.

 

 

REVIEW: Untouched (The Girl in the Box #2) by Robert J. Crane

Title: Untouched
Author: Robert J. Crane
Series: The Girl in the Box (#2)
My Other Series Reviews: Alone (#1)
Pages: 206
Publisher: Self-Published
Date Published: April 21, 2012
Format: eBook
Source: Received from Author for Honest Review

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Still haunted by her last encounter with Wolfe and searching for her mother, Sienna Nealon must put aside her personal struggles when a new threat emerges – Aleksandr Gavrikov, a metahuman so powerful, he could destroy entire cities – and he's focused on bringing the Directorate to its knees.

My Thoughts:
*May contain minor spoilers for Alone (#1)*

Untouched is the second book in The Girl in the Box series.  I am a huge fan of this author, and every Girl in the Box story just makes me love him more.  Once again the story is told from Sienna's point of view.  I love Sienna!  She is such a smart-ass, and I love her attitude.  I also enjoy getting to see inside her head.  She's so tough on the outside and refuses to show any weakness.  But inside her head you see her worries and insecurities.  She still hasn't decided who she can trust or who has ulterior motives.  Honestly, I'm still not sure who she can trust!  There are still a lot of unanswered questions and I just know we are going to see some major twists and turns in this series.

In Untouched, Sienna is working on adjusting to her new meta powers.  She has discovered that she is a succubus, a meta that has the ability to suck the life out of someone with only a touch.  Unfortunately, there are some negative side effects.  I don't want to spoil anything for you, but I'll just say that suddenly things have gotten very complicated for Sienna.  We also get to meet lots of new characters in Untouched, including the M-Squad, super powerful metas that work for the Directorate.  We are also introduced to Dr. Zollers, a psychiatrist for the Agency.  I love that he manages to get Sienna to open up about her past.  He seems totally genuine in his acceptance of her, and it seems to help her fit in in her new world.  I think maybe she could learn to trust him.

In Untouched, Sienna is still looking for her mom, meanwhile she's being pursued by a whole new set of dangers.  This time she's playing with fire.  Crane has filled Untouched with action packed fighting scenes, drama and adventure.  We're getting bits and pieces of the big story while filling in the blanks with one disaster after another.  There is also a little romance added to the mix, which brings a bit of quiet to the major action and drama.  I'm not sure where this is going, but I'm looking forward to finding out.

I am thoroughly enjoying this series.  Crane has an amazing storytelling ability, and this series can only get better from here.

ARC REVIEW: Hopeless by Colleen Hoover

 

 

Title: Hopeless

Author: Colleen Hoover
Pages: 391
Publisher: Self-Published
Date Published: December 19, 2012
Format: eBook
Source: Received from Author for Honest Review

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Sometimes discovering the truth can leave you more hopeless than believing the lies…

That’s what seventeen-year-old Sky realizes after she meets Dean Holder. A guy with a reputation that rivals her own and an uncanny ability to invoke feelings in her she’s never had before. He terrifies her and captivates her all in the span of just one encounter, and something about the way he makes her feel sparks buried memories from a past that she wishes could just stay buried.

Sky struggles to keep him at a distance knowing he’s nothing but trouble, but Holder insists on learning everything about her. After finally caving to his unwavering pursuit, Sky soon finds that Holder isn’t at all who he’s been claiming to be. When the secrets he’s been keeping are finally revealed, every single facet of Sky’s life will change forever.

My Thoughts:

 

There is absolutely no way that I will be able to write a review that will do justice to how Hopeless truly made me feel.  I've read dozens of reviews that talked about how they read Hopeless in one sitting, never putting the book down.  It was totally the opposite for me.  The more I read, the more I had to pause.  Not because I didn't want to continue, but because my emotions were going crazy.  Even when I wasn't reading, Hopeless is all I thought about.  It consumed me and left me gasping for air.  It made heart skip a beat, only to send it pounding erratically later.  Emotionally, I simply couldn't keep up.  All of my emotions are still a jumbled up mess.  I wanted to laugh and I wanted to cry.  I needed to scream in fury and frustration, and I needed a hug.  A real hug, the kind where all of your pent up feelings burst free, and you wonder how you can even continue to stand upright. I loved every single word of Hopeless, and I hated every single word. There is nothing about Hopeless that I would change, yet I want to change everything. I know this makes no sense, and until you read Hopeless for yourself you really won't understand. I loved this book completely, but I have never had a fictional story break me so utterly. 

“It's amazing what the sound of a voice you've been longing to hear can do to your heart. He spoke five words just now, but in the time it took him to speak those five words, my heart was shredded and minced, then placed back inside my chest with the expectation that it should somehow know how to beat again.”

Sky is one of the most amazing characters I've ever met. She is so fragile, and she doesn't even realize it. From the outside looking in you see a sheltered, but normal teen.  She has a somewhat normal family life with her adopted mother, Karen, and her best friend, Six, lives next door.  While she puts up the front of a semblance of normalcy, she admits to having no feelings at all when it comes the boys she's had in her life.  But, all of that changes when she meets Holder.  He is the first guy that has ever given her that sense of butterflies, to make her heart skip a beat.  She finds herself swooning over a guy for the first time, yet there is also something about him that terrifies her.

 

“I can already tell he isn't the kind of guy a girl gets a simple crush on. He's the kind of guy you fall hard for, and the thought of that terrifies me.”

Dean Holder has his own demons. He has a bad boy reputation, but no one knows the real Holder. When he meets Sky he's drawn to her. Everything about Holder screams savior, yet he needs saving himself. Together, Sky and Holder open a floodgate of heart-breaking emotions, and they have no choice but to cling to each other and see it all through to the end. 

“You have to let it go. You can hold on to the hate and the love and even the bitterness, but you have to go of the blame. The blame is what's tearing you down, babe."

The dynamics of the relationship between Sky and Holder are mesmerizing. I love that even in the most messed up of situations Holder can manage to make Sky laugh. The connection between the two of them is so intense. I love the way Holder brings out such raw feelings in Sky. He manages to peel back the protective shell that Sky has around herself. He makes her feel.  

“We won’t go any further than this, I promise. But please don’t ask me to stop where we already are. I need to watch you and I need to hear you because the fact that I know you’re actually feeling this right now is so fucking amazing. You feel incredible and this feels incredible and please. Just… please.”

“And once again in my new world full of heartache and lies, this hopeless boy somehow finds a way to make me smile.”

Hopeless is dark. It's raw and heart-breaking, and it will leave you sobbing.  Just when you think you can't handle any more truth, things get uglier. When you think you have it all figured out...you don't.  But, it's also an amazingly beautiful story about friendship, love and truth and uncovering all of your scars so that you can learn to heal.  When you think it's all about to fall apart, the pieces begin to come together.  I fell completely in love with this book, even while it was breaking my heart into a million pieces.  Hopeless is a story that will forever be etched in my heart. 

 

 

 

   

REVIEW: Alone by Robert J. Crane

Title: Alone
Author: Robert J. Crane
Series: The Girl in the Box
Pages: 182
Publisher: Self-Published
Date Published: April 16, 2012
Source: Received from Author for Honest Review

Sienna Nealon was a 17 year-old girl who had been held prisoner in her own house by her mother for twelve years. Then one day her mother vanished, and Sienna woke up to find two strange men in her home. On the run, unsure of who to turn to and discovering she possesses mysterious powers, Sienna finds herself pursued by a shadowy agency known as the Directorate and hunted by a vicious, bloodthirsty psychopath named Wolfe, each of which is determined to capture her for their own purposes.

I didn't really put too much into my expectations of Alone.  Sci-Fi/Fantasy isn't usually my go-to genre.  It was recommended to me by my good (real life!) friend, Amy, over at Read to My Heart's Content.  She emailed me just gushing over this amazing self-published author she found and how great his books were.  While we have very similar tastes in books and authors, Amy's much more into Sci-Fi/Fantasy than I am, but I agreed to give them a try.  If there's one thing Amy's good at, it's making me explore outside of my comfort genres, and I'm nearly always thankful for her recommendations.  Alone is the perfect example of such a book.    

  

Sienna Nealon is 17 years old, and she's basically been a prisoner in her own home for years.  Her mother is extremely strict with her:  she never lets her leave, makes her wear long sleeves and gloves at all times and makes her train to fight for hours every day.  When her mother doesn't come home one night Sienna knows that something is terribly wrong.  When strangers break into her home with the intention of kidnapping her for a strange organization called the Directorate, Sienna wonders if it has anything to do with her mother's disappearance.  She has lots of unanswered questions, and the answers she does get only confuse her more.  But, with a a savage beast, Wolfe, hunting her, she knows she needs help from somewhere, even if she can't fully trust them.

 

Sienna is a great, well written character.  She's amazingly tough!  Her mother's taught her to fight, and she's good at it, beating the crap out of anyone that gets in her way.  I love heroines like this.  She's placed into an extremely difficult situation, and she has no idea who she can trust.  Everyone seems to have ulterior motives.  My favorite thing about Sienna is her snarky nature.  Some of her comebacks had me seriously cracking up.  I'm impressed that Crane was able to give such a perfectly snotty teenage personality to Sienna.   

 

The story is written from Sienna's point-of-view, so she's the only character I have a real feel for so far.  We also have a mysterious man, Reed, who keeps turning up at the strangest times.  I don't know yet who he is or what his intentions are, but I find myself drawn to him.  I want to know how he always seems to stay one step ahead and how he knows who Sienna is.  He's not very forthcoming on the answers to these, or any, questions!  We also have Zack, who works for the Directorate.  He's taken a special interest in Sienna, but I'm not sure yet if I trust him.  Wolfe is another character that is extremely well written.  Honestly, he scares the Hell out of me.  He's not just a wolf-man out to get the girl.  He's a psychopath Hell bent on torturing her just for the fun of it.  He longs to hear her scream.  He single handedly wipes out entire squads of agents, and kills people just to hurt Sienna.  He's scary...very realistically so.

 

Alone is a dark story with an interesting twist.  While comedic quips are tossed about, at it's core Alone is mostly terrifying.  Sienna has had a horribly twisted childhood, which is enough to give anyone nightmares.  But the real nightmare is still out there waiting to get his claws into her.  Sienna is placed into many brutal situations, and at times I found it hard to read.  Wolfe is one seriously scary guy.  Alone is mysterious, thrilling and ultimately a great read for any fan of a good exciting adventure.  This is a great beginning to what will certainly be an amazing series!

 

 

REVIEW & GUEST POST: Sprite by Leigh Michael

Title: Sprite
Author:  Leigh Michael
Series:  Annabelle's Story (Part One)
Pages:  161
 

Series summary:

Annabelle Walsh thought she had it all. She was the star of her swim team, had a loving family, a great boyfriend, and to top it off, she’d be starting at UCLA in the fall. One day, she’d be referred to as Dr. Annabelle Walsh.

She was living every girl’s dream – until her life was turned upside down. All starting with finding out that she's not just a human, but also a water spirit. Half-human, half-sprite to be exact. Although not just any sprite, Annabelle is prophesied to be the only one who can save both the sprites and mankind.

With a mix of current events, anecdotes from Greek mythology, tidbits of folklore, and Leigh’s own imagination, we join Annabelle in her journey to restore order beneath the sea. Each step of the way her mind, body, and soul are pushed to the limit begging the question, how much can one half-human, half-sprite take?

Sprite was such a unique story!  As a mythology lover I really enjoyed Leigh Michael's take on Hades, Zeus and Poseidon.  When Annabelle is kidnapped by a strange man and dragged into the sea she has no idea that she's about to be introduced to a whole new world.  Not only does she realize she can breathe under water, but she's also a descendant of Triton.  How cool is that?!  I really liked Annabelle's character.  While she was a bit irritating in the beginning, when she realizes she has a job to do she puts on her big girl panties and gets to work.  I also like the twists and turns of the story.  No one really is as they seem.  While at times a bit predictable, the action and adventure kept the pages turning.  Sprite was an enjoyable read, and I hope Kin (Part Two) keeps me just as intrigued. 

Sprite (Annabelle’s Story Part One) can be purchased at:

Amazon
Barnes& Noble

Smashwords

Kin (Annabelle’s Story Part Two)can be purchased at:

Amazon
Barnes & Noble

Smashwords

 

Leigh’s Indie ABCs

(Part one of a guest post by Leigh Michael)

When I released Sprite (Annabelle’s Story Part One) in April, I knew very little about the writing industry. Over the past 6 months, I’ve acted as a sponge for information. It’s been an amazing, gut-checking, rewarding, and humbling experience. Along the way, I’ve picked up a few tricks of the trade that I’d love to share with you all. Below is part one in what I’ve learned thus far in self-publishing my first series, Annabelle’s Story. Part two will be posted on Little Library Muse on October 17. Part three will be posted on Girls on YA Books on October 26.

Author website — Having one of these is important. It allows readers an easy way to learn about an author, their books, and where to buy ‘em. Check out my site at www.LeighMichaelBooks.com.

Beta readers — When I released the first part of Annabelle’s Story, I was too afraid to let others read my work. I just wanted to bite the bullet and publish. Not the best idea. Since then I’ve come to rely on beta readers to help me polish my work.

Carissa Katz — This young lady is an amazing designer. Actually, I already knew that. I just wanted to emphasize it. Carissa put together my covers for Annabelle’s Story and I couldn’t be happier. Check out her other work here.

Digital, not print — In “Self-publishing a book: 25 things you need to know” it says that print should be a secondary focus to ebooks. I’d have to agree. My digital versions sell a lot more than print editions. Still, I think having a paperback version for giveaways is important.

Editing — I’d like to go on the record to say that it’s so frustrating and difficult to remove every single typo/error from a manuscript. For both Sprite & Kin, I hired a professional proofreader to complete two rounds of reviews. Afterwards, I found additional errors. However, I think it’s crucial to take this step and hire another set of eyes.

Facebook fan pages — Seems like a no-brainer to create an author page on Facebook. In my initial research on how to market myself, this was one of the first things I’ve learned. Alas, I’ve created Facebook.com/LeighMichaelBooks. Like me!

Goodreads — I must admit that I’d never heard of Goodreads before writing Annabelle’s Story but it’s great. It’s where I find my next book to read. Check out my page on Goodreads to see what I’ve been reading.

Hashtags — There are so many of these on Twitter (and more are introduced every day). To start, I found 44 essential twitter hashtags that every author should know. I also love reading Sara Megibow’s #10queriesIn10tweets every Thursday.

Thank you for reading part one of my A through Z of industry learnings. Be sure to check out part two on Little Library Muse on October 17 and part three on Girls on YA Books on October 26.

So what’s next for me? I’ve thrown myself into a new series. This one is a historical fiction that I’m pretty thrilled about. I haven’t decided yet if I’ll pursue the traditional route or follow the same indie path. Who knows, there could be a “Leigh’s Bestseller ABCs” post one day. One can only hope!

Also, don’t forget to stop by Leigh Michael Books on October 31^st for a special Trick or Treat surprise!

 

 

Author Bio:
Leigh Michael is an author of YA fiction. She's worked within the advertising world for nearly a decade before writing her debut series, Annabelle's Story. Leigh lives in Washington, DC with her husband and goldendoodle. Please learn more about Leigh and her works atwww.LeighMichaelBooks.com.

Contact info:

 

Website

Twitter
Facebook
Email
Amazon
Smashwords
Goodreads

 

 

ARC REVIEW: Confessions of an Angry Girl by Louise Rozett

Title:  Confessions of an Angry Girl
Author:  Louise Rozett
Series:  Confessions (#1)
Pages:  304
Publisher:  Harlequin Teen
Expected Publishing Date:  August 28, 2012
Format:  eBook
Source:  Received from Publisher via NetGalley
Add to Goodreads
Pre-Order:  Amazon or B&N

_______________________________

Rose Zarelli, self-proclaimed word geek and angry girl, has some CONFESSIONS to make...

#1: I'm livid all the time. Why? My dad died. My mom barely talks. My brother abandoned us. I think I'm allowed to be irate, don't you?

#2: I make people furious regularly. Want an example? I kissed Jamie Forta, a badass guy who "might" be dating a cheerleader. She is now enraged and out for blood. Mine.

#3: High school might as well be Mars. My best friend has been replaced by an alien, and I see red all the time. (Mars is red and "seeing red" means being angry-get it?)

Here are some other vocab words that describe my life: Inadequate. Insufferable. Intolerable.

(Don't know what they mean? Look them up yourself.) (Sorry. That was rude.)

_______________________________

Fave Quote:

"Clearly Tracy has been studying Gossip Girl, absorbing lessons in how to treat your friends like crap."

_______________________________

I thought the blurb for Confessions of an Angry Girl sounded really good, but I was worried that I wouldn't enjoy it because our main character, Rose, is so young.  I worried needlessly though.  I still thought it was really good!  Rose has just started her freshman year of high school after "the worse summer of my life", and she's having a hard time fitting in.  As if high school isn't bad enough she's also dealing with the fact that her father died over the summer while he was working as a contractor in Iraq.  Then she meets Jamie Forta.  She's totally confused by the fact that he seems interested in her, but he's supposedly dating a cheerleader, Regina.  Oh, and Regina is crazy!  Like stay-away-from-my-man-or-I-will-cut-you crazy!

I really enjoyed this quick and easy read.  Rose is an easy character to love.  While you feel sympathy for her and the situation she has been put into, you also want to see her move on.  She's sad, she's angry, she misses her dad and watching her brother move on hurts.  She can't seem to relate to her friends anymore.  I'm not sure what to think of Jamie.  While I like him, he also tends to come off as weak.  It's obvious that he likes Rose, but he lets a lot of things get in his way...namely, Regina.  Speaking of which, she is one scary b****!  I love a good rivalry, and Regina is perfect!  She's beautiful, a cheerleader and she has her claws dug deeply in Jamie.  I would NOT want her angry with me.  Rose finds this out the hard way.  Confessions of an Angry Girl was an extremely enjoyable read, and I'm looking forward to the next book, Confessions of an Almost Girlfriend.

REVIEW: Point of Retreat by Colleen Hoover

Title: Point of Retreat
Author:  Colleen Hoover
Series:  Slammed (#2)
Pages:  320
Publisher:  Atria Books
Date Published:  August 10, 2012
Format:  eBook
Source:  Bought
Add it to Goodreads
Buy It:  Amazon or B&N

In the second book in the Slammed series by New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover, Layken and Will's relationship has endured through hardships, heartache, and a cruel twist of fate, further solidifying the fact that they belong together. But the two lovers could not have expected that the things that brought them together may ultimately be the things that tear them apart. Their connection is on the brink of being destroyed forever and it will take an extraordinary amount of willpower to keep their love afloat.

Layken is left questioning the very foundation on which her relationship with Will was built. Will is left questioning how he can prove his love for a girl who can't seem to stop "carving pumpkins." Upon finding the answers that may bring peace back into their relationship, the couple comes across an even greater challenge—one that could change not only their lives but the lives of everyone who depend on them.

______________________________

Fave Quote:

“I brush her hair out of her eyes and run my finger along the edge of her face. "I love you, Lake."
"Say it again," she says.
I kiss her forehead and repeat what I said. "I love you, Lake."
"One more time."
"I." I kiss her lips. "And love." I kiss them again. "And you."
"I love you, too.” 
______________________________

Click HERE to read my review of Slammed and an interview with Colleen Hoover!

Once again I'm tasked with writing a review for a book that left me speechless.  I feel like nothing I have to say could possibly do justice to this amazing book.  Just like Slammed, Point of Retreat snagged me from the first page, and it never let me go.  While Slammed is told from Lake's point of view, with Point of Retreat we get to see into Will's soul. Hearing the story from his point of view was great.  I butterflying loved it!!  For those of you who will read the next line and STOP READING like I ask, all I can say is go now and read Slammed!  You will not regret it!  Then, come back and read this review if you want.  But, if you're like me you'll know you MUST read Point of Retreat no matter what!

**If you have NOT read Slammed PLEASE DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER! While there are no spoilers for Point of Retreat below there will be spoilers for Slammed!**

  
Point of Retreat starts off right where Slammed leaves us.  Will has custody of Caulder and Lake has custody of Kel.  Both Will and Lake are in college.  Of course, Eddie and Gavin are still their best friends, and they are great supporting characters once again!  Will and Lake have settled into a sort of routine, and things are working for them.  Things are good.  But, when Will starts class his last semester he's surprised to see his ex-girlfriend, Vaughn, in his class.  When she starts to question his relationship with Lake things spiral out of control.  Lake begins to wonder if maybe the only reason they're together is because they're both raising their brothers.  Maybe they're together for the wrong reasons. 

I'm not sure what else I can say about this book that I haven't already said!  I totally adore each and every character in this book.  Will is amazing.  I love how romantic he is.  I love the poetry he writes.  I love how dedicated he is to the people he cares for.  He's raising his little brother, which means he's had to work extra hard and give up his own youth.  Not very many guys would be able to pull off the accomplishments he has.  Lake is much more mature in Point of Retreat.  She didn't have much choice but to grow up.  Even though she was given the opportunity to have the college life most kids her age would want she chose to grow up fast and take on the parent role with her brother.  Eddie and Gavin have a lot going on with them in this book, and I love both of their characters.  The devotion to each other is so romantic, and I love how they stick by Will and Lake.  Kel and Caulder are just as hilarious in Point of Retreat...maybe more so!  They love to get under their teacher's skin.  They have a new friend, Kiersten, and she is my favorite character!  I love her quirky little mind!!  Point of Retreat doesn't have as much poetry in it, but the poetry is does have is amazing and extremely emotional.  The slams again play a big part in the lives of the characters.  Colleen Hoover has wormed her way into my heart, and I cannot wait to see what the future holds for her!  If this series is anything to judge by we'll be seeing a lot of amazing things! 

5 Stars * * * * *

________________________________

Be sure to enter the giveaway for an autographed copy of Slammed AND Point of Retreat!!  Since it took me a little longer than planned to get this review up I've extended the giveaway for another week.

*Open Internationally!*

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REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Slammed by Colleen Hoover

Title:  Slammed
Author:  Colleen Hoover
Series:  Slammed (#1)
Pages:  314
Publisher:  Atria Books
Format: eBook
Source:  Bought
Buy It:  Amazon or B&N

Following the unexpected death of her father, eighteen-year-old Layken is forced to be the rock for both her mother and her younger brother. Outwardly, she appears resilient and tenacious, but inwardly, she’s losing hope.

One young man brings change to all of this. After moving across the country, Layken meets her attractive twenty-one-year-old neighbor, who has an intriguing passion for slams. Within days of their introduction, Will and Layken form an intense emotional connection, leaving Layken with a renewed sense of hope.

Not long after a heart-stopping first date, they are slammed to the core when a shocking revelation forces their new relationship to a sudden halt. Daily interactions become impossibly painful as they struggle to find a balance between the feelings that pull them together and the forces that tear them apart.

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Fave Quote:

"God, Layken.  How do you do it?" she says.  She blows her nose and grabs another tissue out of the box.  "How do I do what?"  I sniff as I continue to wipe the tears from my eyes.  "How do you not fall in love with him?"  The tears begin flowing just as quickly as they had ceased.  I grab yet another tissue.  "I don't not fall in love with him.  I don't not fall in love with him a lot!"

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This book and the sequel, Point of Retreat, are officially my favorite books of the year!  I made the mistake of starting Slammed late one evening.  Before I knew it, it was 4:00 a.m. and I was finished!  I was absolutely hooked from the very first page, and after a few hours of sleep I immediately started Point of Retreat.  I literally consumed both books in under 24 hours!

Slammed begins with Layken (Lake) and her mother and brother moving from Texas to Ypsilanti, Michigan.  It's been six months since her father died, and her mother decides that it's time for a change.  Layken is less than thrilled with the idea, but when she meets her neighbor, Will, she begins to think that maybe things are starting to look up.  After going on an amazing date Will is all she can think about.  But it's not long until they learn that being together will be impossible.  Unfortunately for them both staying away from each other is also impossible, and the heart wants what the heart wants. 

Colleen Hoover's writing is absolutely amazing!  There are so many twists and turns in Slammed, and I don't want to give away anything!  The emotions are just rolling through the pages.  One minute I would be laughing out loud, and on the very next page I would be crying.  Then, just when you think you have it all figured out...you don't.  A lot of times the instant attraction romances feel too forced and too rushed, but with Lake and Will everything feels real.  The connection between them is tangible, but the circumstances keeping them apart isn't something that they can just ignore.  The chemistry between them is magnetic. You can almost feel the pull towards each other.  It's like they're on opposite ends of a rubber band.  The harder they try to stay away from each other the stronger the pull is.  But, Slammed is about more than just a forbidden romance.  There are many family issues going on with both Will and Lake.  They have both been through so much heartbreak, and they can't help but lean on each other.  I also love the poetry in this book!  I've never been much of a fan of poetry, but the slams blew me away.  It has to be so amazing to get up on stage like that and let your emotions completely take over.  I loved that it played such a huge part in who Will and Lake are, and it goes a long way towards healing some of the scars.  I also have to say this woman can write some dialog!  Jokes, arguments, drama, steamy make out scenes...the dialog is all wonderful!  The supporting characters are also great.  Eddie is Lake's best friend, and her character is so quirky and fun.  She's the kind of person I could see myself being friends with.  Lake and Will both have younger brothers, Kel and Caulder, and they become instant best friends.  These two kids manage to keep the laughs going all the time, even when nothing else seems to be going right.  Slammed is an amazing story with great characters.  Even though I had a total book hangover after reading it I can't wait to do it again.

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Interview & Giveaway!!

Colleen Hoover

Website/Blog

Goodreads

Facebook

Do you have a favorite book, one that you go back to over and over?

Oh, goodness.  You know, I don't really read books more than once.  I'm the same way with movies.  Once I watch it, I don't want to see it again.  It just never gets better than the first time.  Especially if the surprise element is great. 

Did you always know that you wanted to write?

I've always loved writing.  I remember when I was four, my older sister came home with a story she wrote.  She read it to me (she was in second grade) and I was SO jealous that she could read and write.  I remember almost crying because I was so ready to go to school and learn how to write.  It's the earliest memory I have of actually developing a love for it. 

Who or what was your inspiration to write?

Like the previous question, I just always remember having that desire.

Do you have a favorite place to read?  To write?

We just recently moved into a new house and I have an office.  There's a huge, comfy chair that I usually curl up in with my diet pepsi and write.  I need complete silence when I write, so the music gets turned off. 

Bookmarks or dog ears?

Bookmarks

Dust jacket on or off?

Off.  I hate them.  That's the first thing to go when I purchase a book.

Paper books or ebooks?

Ebooks.  I love, love, love my kindle. 

What book would you like to see made into a movie?

Umm...does it count if I say SLAMMED? lol.  Because that would be awesome!

Favorite comfort food?

Chocolate.  Any kind as long as it doesn't have raspberry flavoring.  I hate raspberry.

What are your pet peeves?

In regards to writing, I hate sequels that re-introduce everything from the previous books.  I don't know why that bothers me so much, but it's why I didn't do it in Point of Retreat.  Not a whole lot gets on my nerves, though.  I'm really good at tuning things out, especially children.  ;)

What is the first book you remember reading as a child?

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein.  I love all of his books so much.  Where The Sidewalk Ends is one of my faves. 

What are you reading right now?

Right now, I'm reading final pass edits of SLAMMED and POINT OF RETREAT.  They are being submitted to Simon & Schuster and I'm stoked that I never, ever have to read them again.  I've read both of these books probably no less than 200 times each.  I can't wait until this switchover is finished so I can jump back into a few good books.  I've been getting a ton of recommendations on my blog, but I'm also scared to start reading again because I really need to write. 

How much time do you spend every day reading?  Writing?

Lately, zero.  I've been so busy with everything else that comes along with this, stuff I had no idea about.  When I wrote Slammed and Point of Retreat, I spent a good 12 hours a day writing.   I hope to get back into that mode, but it's so hard pulling myself away from the computer. 

Out of all the characters you have written so far, who was the hardest to write and who was easier? Do you have a favorite?

I think Will is my favorite, of course.  :)  I loved writing all of them, though.  I really enjoyed Kel, Caulder and Kiersten's characters and think they would make a great book someday in the future. 

If you could be a superhero what super power would you want to have?

Is time travel considered a super power?  lol.  I'd love to time travel. 

If you could take a week vacation with any book character, who would you chose and why?

Ahem.  Christian Grey, maybe?  Because he's a billionaire, so the vacation would be amazing.  And not to mention...fun. 

You recently announced some amazing news on your blog!  (Congrats by the way!!)  Can you give us a hint as to what we can expect from you in the near future?

Simon & Schuster bought the rights to both books, but we haven't really discussed future projects together yet.  I'm waiting until these two get pushed out first, then I'll see what they think of the two I'm working on now.  So as of right now, no dates or projects to announce.  I'm still working on Will's Story and hope to get that out someday.  I'm also working on a book titled Fall Together that I'm really excited about.  There are constantly so many ideas going around in my head that I sometimes have to force myself to stop thinking about it.  I like to focus on one book at a time. 

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Big Thanks to Colleen for doing this interview!!  She is also giving away a signed paperback copy of both Slammed AND Point of Retreat (which I will be posting my review for soon) so be sure to enter the giveaway below!!  I'm jealous...I need a signed copy too!

*Giveaway is open Internationally!!* 

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AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck

Title:  Tiger's Curse
Author:  Colleen Houck
Narrator:  Annika Boras, Sanjiv Jahveri
Series:  Tiger Saga (#1)
Length:  15 hours, 45 minutes
Publisher:  Sterling Publishing
Date Published:  January 11, 2011
Format:  Audio
Source:  Bought
Buy It:  Amazon or B&N or Audible

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Passion. Fate. Loyalty. 

Would you risk it all to change your destiny?

The last thing Kelsey Hayes thought she’d be doing this summer was trying to break a 300-year-old Indian curse. With a mysterious white tiger named Ren. Halfway around the world. But that’s exactly what happened. Face-to-face with dark forces, spellbinding magic, and mystical worlds where nothing is what it seems, Kelsey risks everything to piece together an ancient prophecy that could break the curse forever.

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Fave Quote:

“I don't want you to see only a tiger when you look at me. I want you to see me. The man.”

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This was a re-read for me, and I think I enjoyed it even more this time around!  This series is one of my absolute favorites, and when I was given the opportunity to read the ARC of Tiger's Destiny (my review)  I knew I was going to have to go back and revisit the entire series.  I'm so glad I did.

Story:
In Tiger's Curse Kelsey Hayes has just graduated from high school and she's gotten a temp job working at a circus for the summer before she goes off to college. When she meets the white tiger, Dhiren, who she lovingly nicknames Ren, she's immediately dawn to him. She finds herself spending all of her free time outside the tiger's cage, talking and reading books and poetry to him. She becomes saddened when she thinks about how lonely he must be pent up in a cage for most of his life, and she wishes he could be free. Little does she know the series of events she sets into motion with that wish. The next day a rich man from India, Mr. Kadam, comes to the circus and buys the beautiful white tiger that she's come to think of as "her tiger". He tells her that Ren will be taken to a preserve and released. When Mr. Kadam asks her to accompany Ren to India it doesn't take much persuasion for her to agree.  Along the way Mr. Kadam tells Kelsey the story of two Indian princes, brothers Dhiren and Kishan, who were betrayed by an evil man named Lokesh, and cursed to live their lives as tigers. Kelsey enjoys the story, but it isn't until Ren escapes from his cage, drags her into the jungle and turns into a gorgeous Indian man, that she realizes the story is true. Ren tells her that he is the man from the story and that he only gets 24 minutes a day as a man. And, he needs her help to break the curse. Of course, Kelsey agrees to do whatever it takes to help him, even help him track down Kishan, the brother he hasn't seen in 300 years. 

I love absolutely everything about this book.  First of all I have to comment on the cover!  It is absolutely amazing!!  Everything from the white tiger to the blue hue is full of significance.  It's beautiful!  On to the story... Colleen Houck has an amazing ability to describe every single element of  a story in great detail, but it never feels drawn out or overdone.  It's apparent that she did a ton of research when she created the worlds in which our characters travel.  Her story telling is superb!  All of the characters have very distinct and colorful personalities and are so richly written.  I love the Indian culture, mythology and mystery surrounding the curse.  There are so many little details that I didn't pick up the first time I read Tiger's Curse, and re-reading it made me see so many things differently.  Our villain, Lokesh, is one of the most evil villains I've ever been introduced to.  Not only is he the reason for the curse, but it's immediately clear that he has other plans, too.  He is a bad, bad man, and his dialogue gives me chills!  Mr. Kadam is one of my favorite characters.  He is like a grandfather to Kelsey, and his honor and devotion to the tigers is amazing.  He puts everything he has into helping them break the curse.  Kelsey comes to depend on him in so many ways.  The romance in this book has the ability to make you crazy!  Sometimes it's in a good way...sometimes it's not.  I love the chemistry between Ren and Kelsey!  Ren is the ultimate sweetheart, and he is a romantic at heart.  Kelsey, bless her stupid heart, she can't imagine that someone as wonderful as Ren would actually love her.  There were several times when I wanted to shake her and yell, "Wake up stupid girl!"  Kelsey is an easy character to love, though.  Her self sacrifice alone makes her worthy of my appreciation.  And let's not forget Kishan!  My first reaction to Kishan was very negative.  His back story leaves a lot to be desired.  But when you really get to know him you realize he has tortured himself for over 300 years because of his guilt.  He is very outgoing and flirtatious by nature, and he's easy to fall for.  Yes, a set of swoon-worthy brothers!!  Can't ask for more than that!   This is an absolutely wonderful series, and if you haven't already tried them I highly suggest you do!

Narration:
Annika Boras is our major narrator for this audiobook, and she does a great job!  Not only does she do Kelsey with her American accent, she also does our Indian men and women and also even a side character that is Chinese!  Each and every character has their own unique voice and they are all done extremely well.  She also puts a lot of emotion into her reading.  This is a great audiobook!

5 * * * * *

REVIEW: Rape Girl by Alina Klein

Title:  Rape Girl
Author:  Alina Klein
Pages:  126
Publisher:  Myrick Marketing & Media, LLC
Publishing Date:  June 5, 2012
Format:  eBook
Source:  Received from publisher via NetGalley
Buy It:  Amazon or B&N

Valerie always wanted to be the smart girl. The pretty girl. The popular girl.  But not the rape girl.

That’s who she is now. Rape Girl. Because everyone seems to think they know the truth about what happened with Adam that day, and they don’t think Valerie’s telling it.

Before, she had a best friend, a crush, and a close-knit family. After, she has a court case, a support group, and a house full of strangers.

The real truth is, nothing will ever be the same.

Rape Girl is the compelling story of a survivor who does the right thing and suffers for it. It is also the story of a young woman’s struggle to find the strength to fight back.

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Valerie wants what all high school girls want.  She wants to be popular, she wants to fit in and she wants to date that cute guy.  When Valerie's mother goes out of town she and her best friend, Mimi, decide to throw a party.  Things spiral out of control pretty fast and both girl end up extremely drunk.  The last thing Valerie expects when she's nursing her hangover the next morning is to wake up to her crush, Adam, undressing her.  When she reports him everyone, even Mimi, thinks she's lying. 

I really wanted to like this book, but I just couldn't seem to connect with Valerie.  I felt like I should be angry for her and I should feel sorry for her, but there wasn't enough back story for me to really relate to the situation.  The book was more about her social demise than it was the emotional turmoil she had to deal with after the rape.  And since we don't really know her before the rape it's hard to think of her as anything other than "rape girl".  Her mother's breakdown actually felt a little more real to me.  She feels guilty that she wasn't there to protect her daughter, and there is nothing she can do to protect her from the gossip.  I found myself sympathizing with her, maybe because I'm a mother.  Just when the book started to feel like it was picking up I was left with an ending that had a lot to be desired.  While I didn't dislike it, Rape Girl wasn't as good as I had hoped.

2 Stars * *

REVIEW: Son of Rage and Love by Thomas Raymond

Title:  Son of Rage and Love
Author:  Thomas Raymond
Publisher:  Self-Published
Date Published:  May 21, 2012
Format:  Paperback
Source:  Provided by author for honest review
Buy It:  Amazon or B&N

12 Year-old Daniel used to run, jump, and climb on everything in sight. He played, laughed, made all kinds of noise, took things apart, and built new stuff from the pieces. Unfortunately for him, such acts of nonconformity can make inconvenient ripples on the smooth surface of wealthy suburban bliss. Years ago, Daniel was judged to have ADHD, and soon, "Pills fixed all that. They quiet most of my imagination, and the video swallows up whatever’s left."

Nowadays, Daniel just wants a little adventure, a bit of unscripted life to clear up the fog of his mundane existence. Every aspect of his life is under strict control of a narcissistic Grandmother, and the minions she hires to run the house. Disillusioned with the "remoras" who worship his mother's money and fame, and certain his older sister is becoming one of them, Daniel has all but given up hope. "I've learned not to fuss . . . A fuss is a big mistake. . . . At least I am smart enough to just take the pill and wait for the fog to roll in." But years of heavy medication coupled with long escapes into video games have turned his world to grey, blurring his perception of reality versus fantasy.

When Daniel's mother adopts a 13 year-old, free-spirited orphan, the two boys become immediate friends and allies. The absolute authority of Grandmother is finally challenged. The ensuing struggle at once gives Daniel hope, but also threatens his sanity.

The Son of Rage and Love is the intense, at times disturbing story of one boy's quest to reclaim his own mind. In a place and time where the appearance of the perfect life is more important than freedom itself, where strong will and disruptive ideas are quickly medicated into quiet indifference, Daniel and his new brother try against the odds to sever the puppet strings for good.

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I wasn't really sure what to expect when I agreed to read and review Son of Rage and Love, but the concept was intriguing.  A story told from the point of view of a 12 year old boy, Daniel, who is the son of a famous singer named Maya.  He and his sister are being raised by their over-bearing, control freak grandmother.  She expects everything to be exactly as she wants it, especially the children.  Both Daniel and his sister have been diagnosed with ADHD and are medicated daily.  They get up and have breakfast at exactly 8:30 where they are given their pink pills and "wait for the fog to roll in."  Daniel hates pretty much everything about his life until his mother adopts a wild and spirited 13 year old Haitian orphan named Jean-Maurice.  The boys immediately become friends, and Daniel envies his new brother.  He remembers a time when he was that happy. 

I really enjoyed Son of Rage and Love.  I like the way Daniel describes things such as the fog that envelopes him after he's taken his medication.  He also talks about his grandmother as if she's a machine.  When she gets upset he sees her transforming.  He talks about his famous mother's entourage following her around like remoras would a shark.  Daniel has a very vivid imagination, but on the medication he can't seem to tell real from imaginary.  His outlook on things is refreshing even if it is disturbing at times.  I loved Jean-Maurice and his quirky personality.  His presence changes everyone in the family, especially Daniel.  He bonds with Daniel immediately and together the two take on the evil mechanical grandmother.  Daniel matures a lot over the course of the book.  In the beginning he just does exactly what is expected of him, but he eventually decides that he'd like to think for himself.  Sometimes when he would be lost in thought it felt like he was much older than his 12 years, but at other times he came across as being immature.  This was a unique addition to the YA genre, and not something I would typically choose, but I'm really glad Thomas Raymond asked me to review it. 

3 Stars * * *   

ARC REVIEW: Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Title: Pushing the Limits
Author:  Katie McGarry
Pages:  384
Series:  Bared to You (Companion Novel)
Publisher:  Harlequin Teen
Date Published:  July 31, 2012
Format:  eBook
Source:  Received from publisher via NetGalley
Buy It:  Amazon or B&N

"I won't tell anyone, Echo. I promise." Noah tucked a curl behind my ear. It had been so long since someone touched me like he did. Why did it have to be Noah Hutchins? His dark brown eyes shifted to my covered arms. "You didn't do that-did you? It was done to you?" No one ever asked that question. They stared. They whispered. They laughed. But they never asked.

So wrong for each other...and yet so right.

No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal. But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.

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Fave Quote:

"The worst type of crying wasn't the kind everyone could see -- the wailing on street corners, the tearing at clothes.  No, the worst kind happened when your sould wept and no matter what you did, there was no way to comfort it.  A section withered and became a scar on the part of your soul that survived.  For people like me and Echo, our souls contained more scar tissue than life."

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Pushing the Limits is definitely going at the top of my favorite reads of the year!  This book was gritty and dark and absolutely amazing.  It's told in alternating points of view, which I tend to enjoy.  I like that I got to know who Echo and Noah really are.  

Both Echo and Noah have been through terrible ordeals in their pasts.  First Echo's brother is killed overseas, and then something happens that leaves her covered in scars and other than the fact that her mom had something to do with it, she can't remember what caused them.  Her father is overbearing and a control freak and she hates her stepmother.  Noah's parents died in a house fire and since then he's been passed from one foster family to another.  He's a dark bad boy that's always getting high and using girls.  All Noah cares about is turning eighteen so that he can get his younger brothers out of the foster system.  When their counselor/therapist, Mrs. Collins, asks Echo to tutor Noah they become an unlikely pair in a mutual attempt to steal information from their case files.  Echo wants to know what happened to her the night she got her scars, and Noah wants to know where his brothers are.

This is an emotionally raw story.  There is so much pain shared between these two, and even with the supporting characters.  Both Echo and Noah are strong characters even though they've been through so much turmoil in their lives.  Even when they break down it's a part of the healing they need to go through to move on with their lives.  The romance in Pushing the Limits is very genuine.  This is no love-at-first-sight-fall-madly-and-deeply kind of romance.  The attraction between Noah and Echo is sweet, but it's better because it's more than physical.  It's also about the way they support and care for each other when they reach the bottom.  It's tough, it's emotional and it's real.  I absolutely adored Mrs. Collins.  She is a great supporting character that gives the story a level of comedy while also moving the main characters forward in healing.  It's immediately obvious that she really cares about Echo and Noah in a way neither of them have ever had with other therapists.  I love that each and every character has major growth throughout the story.  None of them are without flaws and emotional scars, but they are all working to push themselves to be someone better.  Pushing the Limits was a beautifully written, dark and emotional read, and I loved every minute of it.

4 Stars * * * *