Obsession Untamed by Pamela Palmer

Following the difficult events the feral warriors had to deal with in the first novel, Desire Untamed, the boys are now looking for their missing, treacherous brother and the soul-threatening evil clone of Tighe. The latter is the star of this novel and he is dangerously attracted by a human his clone failed to kill. For some mysterious reasons, she 'stole' from him the visions that would allow him to catch the evil being, and obviously he can't let that happen. The problem is, she is an FBI agent, and she somehow resists his mind-controlling skills.

I did enjoy this novel and it's a good installment in this series, but I have to confess I liked the first novel better. Maybe it's the 'second-in-a-series-curse' but I felt more involved and more passionate about the first featured couple.

Tighe is an interesting guy with a shady and troubled past, but he came off as somewhat brooding in this novel and when I met him in the first novel he seemed kind of an easy-going guy. Maybe it's post-battle trauma, or even soul-splitted symptoms, but I didn't feel as sympathetic toward him as I thought I would when I first met him. Delaney on the other hand was easy enough to like and I loved that even though her body reacts to Tighe like crazy, she manages to distance herself from that and keep as much of a clear head as possible in the situation. Her hesitations to trust him made their evolving relationship that much more believable.

Steady-paced and satisfying, the plot did deliver even though this is all a big hide-and-seek game. The ferals have to lie in wait and hope to catch the clone when he makes a mistake, but the author managed to keep things interesting anyway. This installment is really filled with violence and murder and thankfully Palmer spared us the most gruesome details, most of the time. I'm alright with a good murder, but no need for too detailed, gory images in my mind.

Palmer managed to surprise me with some unexpected turn of events and I liked that I was kept on my toes. The conclusion proved to be rather original and even though I was trying to figure out possible outcomes, this particular ending never came to my mind. And who doesn't like a good surprise? Also worth mentioning, the "black dagger brotherhood' vibes I mentioned in my review of the first book weren't as strong in this novel, cementing its status as entirely different and original series in my mind.

Paranormal romance lovers will be serve with this gang of alpha males fighting to protect the world from demons. And if you love shifters, you'll be that much more pleased :) You should definitely give this series a try, and with the last novel already published, you won't have to wait between releases.

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Posted by Tynga at 01:23

 Adult, Avon Books, Feral Warriors, Harper Collins, Pamela Palmer, Paranormal Romance, Publisher, Review, Shifters  3 People left their mark

All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill

I hereby declare All Our Yesterdays my favorite-book-that-came-out-in-2013-that-I-was-too-lazy-to-get-to-until-2014! I have no idea why it took me so long to read this one, since it was downright full of awesome. I am pretty critical of time travel books - it's quite an undertaking, and you better be up to the challenge of answering questions about paradoxes and possible futures if you're going to attempt it. And let me tell you, Cristin Terrill pulled this off as flawlessly and with as much flair as I've ever read. The time travel parts were absolutely fascinating.

All Our Yesterdays follows Em and Finn in the present day, as well as in their past timelines until the two ultimately collide. Em finds a note she has written to herself from the future - she has traveled to the past multiple times to try to stop the time machine from being built and destroying the world. Everything she has tried to make it stop has been a disaster, and there's only one option left that she hasn't tried yet. An option she's not sure she can execute.  I can't even count the number of times my heart was just about racing out of my chest while reading. The struggles that Em and Finn have to face as they try to prevent something terrible happening are engrossing, and you'll be tempted to stay up all night to finish in one sitting.

These characters are my new best friends. Or I totally wish that they were. After reading this book, they felt as real to me as any of my others. They jump of the page in complex, exciting ways. I miss them already. I loved how Terrill told the story from both Em and Marina's point of view - highlighting just how much circumstances change you.

I've never read a book that I felt more well-plotted and mind-bending than I found All Our Yesterdays. If you're in the market for an exciting, incredible, surprising read - definitely pick this one up as soon as you can!

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Posted by Tynga at 01:00

 All Our Yesterdays, Cristin Terrill, Disney Hyperion, Purchased, Review, Science Fiction, time travel, young adult  3 People left their mark

The Girl In The Steel Corset by Kady Cross

I've heard so much about The Girl In The Steel Corset and for the most part, my friends had pretty mixed reactions to this book. I honestly didn't think I would enjoy this book and I expected to abandon it early on. Don't expect The Girl In The Steel Corset to be extremely serious, this is an extremely light-hearted, fun novel. This book was just what I needed to read and I am very excited to continue this series!

Finley Jayne has a dark "Mr. Hyde"-esque side to her and she is a danger to all those around her. When Griffin King hears about Finley Jayne, he figures out that she is special and he urges her to join his little rag-tag band of friends. Griffin and his friends are investigating a series of crimes committed by a mastermind called "The Machinist" and he needs Finley's help if he wants to stop The Machinist.

Finley Jayne isn't your average YA protagonist, she's far more tortured and conflicted than most main characters. She literally has dark side to her that makes her do horrible things and yet readers won't ever hold that against her. Instead readers will fall in love with the compassionate, bad-ass and strong-willed Finley who's not afraid to fight for her friends. I absolutely loved Finley and all of the other magnetic characters.

The romance in The Girl In The Steel Corset is simple and sweet. There's so much chemistry between Finley and Griffin, but I just hope that their romance doesn't overshadow their friendship. There's definitely a love triangle in this book, but surprisingly I was fine with it. I am definitely intrigued by Jack Dandy's relationship with Finley and I'm curious to see where Cross takes their relationship next. Dandy may be a criminal, but there's something so alluring about him. I really want to know more about Dandy and how he became the despicable man he is today.

I haven't read too many steampunk novels, but The Girl In The Steel Corset is one of the superior steampunk novels that I've read. I loved all of the zany and quirky inventions that fill this book and I loved reading about the uses of each of these wonderful creations. Though these inventions aren't always so relevant to the plot, they were extremely engaging to read about and the science nerd in me really appreciated all of the countless inventions.

One of my few complaints regarding The Girl In The Steel Corset is the plot and it's lack of momentum. I really enjoyed The Girl In The Steel Corset, but I feel as if there was so much character development and setting of the scene that the plot got neglected. Very few substantial plot events occur throughout the novel and even though, this book is extremely enjoyable I felt as if barely anything was accomplished. I really hoped that the next book is more action-packed and is more eventful.

The Girl In The Steel Corset is a bit ridiculous at times, but I had so much fun reading this novel. I'm extremely excited to read the following book in this series and I hope that the next book explores more of Jack Dandy's past. This book helped me get out of my reading slump and I would definitely recommend this book! Kady Cross is definitely a promising author and I have a feeling that her Steampunk Chronicles is going to become one of my favorite series.

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Posted by Tynga at 01:00

 Harlequin, Harlequin Teen, Kady Cross, Paranormal Romance, Review, Romance, steampunk, Steampunk romance, The Steampunk Chronicles, young adult  3 People left their mark

"When I'm not writing" with Anne Leonard

This week we are lucky enough to host miss Anne Leonard, author of Moth and Spark and discover what she likes to do in her free time! Please welcome her warmly :)

Everyone knows what authors do when they’re writing, right? They stare at screen or paper, periodically move their fingers, curse at the phone, snack, get on Twitter, pet their cats, snack, stare at screen or paper . . . For this post, I’m giving you a glimpse at the Secret Life of Writers – what do I do when I’m not writing?

Much of what I do is kind of obvious. I spend a lot of time reading and thinking about writing. I pick my kid up at school and make dinner if it’s my night. I talk to my husband and take walks. Sometimes we go to a movie or a museum. I rarely watch TV (we have neither cable nor reception, so the only TV I see is via Netflix), I’m not athletic, I don’t make a study of obscure languages or collect rocks.

But when I’m not being a writer or a family member or leading my ordinary life, I travel with my camera. I’ve taken photographs for at least as long as I’ve been a writer, probably longer. My father, his brother, and their father all did photography, and my very first camera was a Brownie that I got when I was 7 or 8, handed down from one of them. I still have some of the pictures I took with that camera – a few of them are nicely composed, but from the vantage of a short person, so they look quite odd to adult eyes. I’ve gone through various cameras since, including a few point-and-shoots for things like parties where I didn’t care much about the actual quality of the photo, and now use a Canon EOS. (For photo geeks: I have two – an older Rebels Xsi and a somewhat newer 60D.)

Since I graduated from law school, I’ve gone off for a few days every year for a private retreat, wherein I went out and took pictures during the day and then wrote in the late afternoons and evenings. I’ve gone to Santa Fe, New Mexico; Joshua Tree National Park; Yosemite Valley and the Eastern Sierra; and Annapolis, Maryland. The year prior to that we took a family trip to northern Baja California. This is the first year I haven’t planned an expedition, because of all the business associated with the book release.

I take very few pictures of people. I like landscapes, buildings, and up-close shots of plants and insects. I pay attention to textures and to the play of shadows and light. I play around on Photoshop, but most of the pleasure I get is from the actual act of taking the picture. Photography has been criticized for causing people to worry so much about the picture that they forget about the experience the photo is recording, and I can understand how that’s true at times, but for me the act of framing the picture is an act of seeing what I would not otherwise see. I note the lines, the shapes, the colors. I watch the light.

This all plays out in my writing, of course. I use precise details in my descriptions, and this comes from having trained my eye to see the small things: the pollen on the bee’s back, the raindrops in a cobweb, the smear of rust on an old lock. My scenes often have descriptions of the light: the way it falls, the color, the sharpness and brightness, and so on. I can imagine things with photographic detail because I look at the world that way.

It also plays out in specifics at times; the final scenes in the mountains in Moth and Spark were written directly after the Yosemite trip, when I saw the granite, volcano remnants, and cliffs of the Sierra Nevada. Looking at those mountains and photographing them not only helped me describe the details of the mountains scenes but also gave my mind an imaginative jolt that it needed for the last stretch.

In some ways, writing fiction is like taking a picture – there’s all this stuff in my head jostling for attention, and I have to focus on some of it to the exclusion of other things. It has to be framed properly. Rewriting a scene can be like zooming in or out. When I’m done with a draft, there are a lot of superfluous or too-similar shots that need to be excised before being presented to an audience. Writing and taking pictures are by no means identical creative acts, but for me they engage usefully with each other. So in that sense, even when I’m not writing, I am.

Sierra Nevada mountains with Tenaya Lake in foreground, view from Olmsted Point, California.

 Ruined buildings at Bodie State Historic Park, California.

Storm clouds approaching Mono Lake, California.

Frost on a railing.

Mt. Shasta as seen from rest area on I-5, California.

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How inspiring! Thanks so much for visiting us, Anne!

For more Anne, check out her website or follow her on Facebook or Twitter!

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Here's the scoop on Moth & Spark:

A prince with a quest. A commoner with mysterious powers. And dragons that demand to be freed—at any cost.

Prince Corin has been chosen to free the dragons from their bondage to the Empire, but dragons aren’t big on directions. They have given him some of their power, but none of their knowledge. No one, not the dragons nor their riders, is even sure what keeps the dragons in the Empire’s control.

Tam, sensible daughter of a well-respected doctor, had no idea before she arrived in the capital that she is a Seer, gifted with visions. When the two run into each other (quite literally) in the library, sparks fly and Corin impulsively asks Tam to dinner. But it’s not all happily ever after. Never mind that the prince isn’t allowed to marry a commoner: war is coming to Caithen.

Torn between Corin’s quest to free the dragons and his duty to his country, the lovers must both figure out how to master their powers in order to save Caithen. With a little help from a village of secret wizards and a rogue dragonrider, they just might pull it off.

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

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Penguin is giving away a copy of Moth and Spark!

 Follow the Rafflecopter instructions to enter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

US only, no P.O. boxes.

Ends March 11th, 2014.

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Do you guys have suggestions for who you’d like to see featured on the blog? If so, you can make your suggestions on this page. No guarantees that your favourite authors will be able to participate but we’ll try!

Authors, would you like to visit  us? Please email us at jenn (at) tyngasreviews (dot) com and we’ll set it up!

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Posted by Tynga at 01:01

 Anne Leonard, Feature, When I'm not writing  1 Person left their mark

Killer Frost by Jennifer Estep

KILLER FROST was a bittersweet read for me. It's the sixth and final story in the Mythos Academy series and while it is a suitably epic conclusion to the series, I'm sad to see the end of our time with Gwen, Logan, Daphne, Nickamedes, Metis, Vic, and the rest of the characters. And even though I'm not ready to let go of this world and its stories, I have to give credit where it's due: Jennifer Estep has delivered an extremely satisfying final book that is true to the spirit of the series. What more could we want?

Everything in the series has been building to this moment: Gwen facing Loki and her destiny to kill him. She doesn't really know how, things don't look good, and the Reapers have escalated matters by making the fight even more personal than before. The odds are definitely not in Gwen's favour but she still stands by her mission and her friends, even though the situation has become quite ominous. And this is one of the best things about Gwen: she has a lot of inner strength and it has carried her through all of her previous tough spots. The question for KILLER FROST is: How will she fare in this final battle? There's definitely a resolution to the battle between the Reapers and the Protectorate but I'm not going to say which way the story goes without ruining it for you.

There's also resolution for emotional storyline. Gwen and Logan have been rocky and we get to see them try to work through their issues. Again, no spoilers but I will say that their problems are thoroughly explored and that there's a nice degree of realism to their interactions. Everything is raw and on the table, just the way I like it.

Because this is the final chapter in this story, I won't say much more about the plot but I will say that KILLER FROST is a doozy of a story filled with emotional turmoil and incredible action sequences. And it's the emotional stuff that really got to me, in ways I didn't expect. I don't usually get so attached to characters in young adult novels but I was full of the feels in the later parts of KILLER FROST. Definitely not a book to read in public ;)

KILLER FROST is a solid book and a fantastic conclusion to the Mythos Academy series. There's definitely payoff for readers who have been with Gwen since FIRST FROST and I'm sure that you'll be glued to the pages of Gwen's final (for now) adventure.

Read an excerpt (scroll down)

 

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Posted by Tynga at 02:00

 Gods, Jennifer Estep, Kensington, KTeen, Mythos Academy, Netgalley, Review, Urban Fantasy, young adult  2 People left their mark

The Care and Feeding of Stray Vampires by Molly Harper

It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of Molly Harper’s writing style. The humor and sarcasm is right on par with mine and her characters are so easy to like. THE CARE AND FEEDING OF STRAY VAMPIRES is no exception to that, even if I have been reading this series out of order. While there was nothing extra special about this book compared to Harper’s other ones, I really enjoyed reading this one is particular. Probably because her characters felt authentic and the interactions between them were so amusing.

In my opinion, Iris and Cal are a great addition to the cast of Half-Moon Hollow, the little Kentucky town were many of Harper’s books are based. For such a small town, it has a tendency to attract a lot of supernatural events. In this case, Cal is drawn to the town because of the uncharacteristically harsh vampire killing happening all over the country. Apparently some vampires are being poisoned by drinking bad batches of synthetic blood, which is making them go more or less crazy and kill whoever’s near them. And Half-Moon Hollow is the place to investigate because it’s the location of the first dramatic kill. Cal is hired to investigate what’s going on and he unwittingly becomes a target for poisoning himself. He ends up getting really sick and passing out on his kitchen floor after drinking blood from a town welcoming basket. Iris, the main character of the story, literally stumbles upon him as she’s dropping off a client contract for Cal to sign. As a “personal errand girl” for vampires and vampire needs, she usually does a lot of things for her clients but cleaning them up and caring for them (especially feeding them straight from the source) is not in her job description.

It goes against Iris’s southern upbringing to simply leave this vampire out in the sun and when he asks her to help him by lodging him in her house, she can’t refuse. The huge amount of money he offers kind of seals the deal… Laying low in her house and hiding from the vampire community while he recuperates is his goal but as he gets better, the investigation into the killings and his poisoning becomes a priority. When you have a very good looking vampire and a young woman living together, you can expect sparks to fly, especially when you’re reading a paranormal romance. Cal and Iris have a lot of chemistry and although their relationship is an odd one, it’s really fun to read the scenes with their hilarious banter. The sex scenes are just an added bonus.

Personally, I think what makes this book different from the author’s other books is the relationship between Iris and her younger sister Gigi. Orphaned as a teen, Gigi had to turn to her older sister for guidance and parenting. While their relationship isn’t a typical one, I think even if Iris plays the role of single parent, they’re sisters first and their relationship is one that anybody would wish to have with a sibling.

Southern charm, hilarious moments, and great characters are what I’ve come to expect from Molly Harper and she really delivers with this book. If you’re in the mood for a good laugh and a straight forward story, this is one to pick up. One of my guilty pleasures is a good chick-lit book and Harper has a knack for adding paranormal elements to chick-lit stories. As the first of a spin-off series, this is definitely a book you can dive into if you haven’t read any of Harper’s other books.

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Posted by Tynga at 01:55

 Adult, Half Moon Hollow, Library, Molly Harper, Paranormal Romance, Pocket, Poison, Review, Simon amp; Schuster, Simon Schuster, vampires  1 Person left their mark

Stacking The Shelves [96]

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

If you want to find out more about Stacking The Shelves, please visit the official launch page!

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*little update: I did not give birth yet, still waiting on the big day!

For review:

Hunt the Darkness by Alexandra Ivy
Once Bitten, Twice Burned by Cynthia Eden

Bought:

Up From The Grave by Jeaniene Frost

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Before you go, I'd like to know what you think of the image slider on Tynga's Reviews please! It's a single question quick survey ^^

[inlinkz_linkup id=373541]

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Posted by Tynga at 00:34

 Stacking The Shelves  15 People left their mark

Archer's Sin by Amy Raby

I had the immense honor to be a beta reader for this novella, a strike of luck really because I stumbled upon Amy's requests for early readers, and let me tell you, I didn't have any negative feedback to give her! I really enjoyed this novella and it fits right into the spirit of this amazing series.

The events of this story take place about 5 years after the events of Assassin's Gambit (Spy's Honor, the second book in the series is actually a prequel, in case you didn't know), and while you could technically read this novella first, I'm afraid you might be a little lost and not completely grasp to importance of some events.

We meet Nalica and Justien, two giant archers from the country side, competing in a festival for a high position of guard of the city. It's a very coveted price in a world where mercenary for hire isn't as popular as it used to be and I truly loved that this novella featured archery almost exclusively. I followed each step of the tournament from the edge of my seat, and the conclusion simply baffled me!

I really appreciated the growing complicity between our heroes, and while they were quick to business, as I guess it was the custom back then, I really think they fit well together. They faced some moral issues and they didn't always agree so it made for interesting exchanges.

I'd also like to mention that despite the series being published by Signet, this novella is self-published, and Amy designed this cover herself. I think she did a pretty fine job!

If I had a small downside to mention, and it's no big deal really, it's that I don't really get the title. Archer, yes of course, but sin? Neither heroes committed a sin I can think of, but really, it's just a detail!

This novella is for sale for less than a dollar and it's worth every penny. You should definitely give it a shot, especially if you liked Assassin's Gambit.

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Posted by Tynga at 00:16

 Amy Raby, Archery, Author, Hearts and Thrones, High Fantasy, Review, Self Published  3 People left their mark

Fracture Me by Tahereh Mafi

Tahereh Mafi's first novella, DESTROY ME, wowed me beyond belief. Getting into Warner's mind was absolutely stupendous and that novella is singlehandedly responsible for making me love him. Naturally, I was nothing short of excited for Mafi's second novella. However, I'm sad to say that despite the fact that the novella was satisfactory, it did not wow me at all.

This was pretty much a re-telling of one of the last scenes in book two, UNRAVEL ME, told in Adam's perspective. Naturally, if you read book two, you know what happens so this does provide a very interesting comparison to what some characters believe happens and what actually happened. This certainly explains the mindset of most of the Omega Point members that we are going to encounter at the beginning of book three, which does just enough to saturate my hunger while I wait for book three.

However, with all that in mind, I have to say that I did not enjoy being in Adam's mind at all. While Warner's mind is very twisted because of his desperation to please his father and his intense fascination with Juliette, Adam's mind is very condescending. Sure, he admits he loves Juliette countless times, but I just don't feel it. I did not connect with his emotions or his feelings the way that I have Mafi's others characters. It makes me question where the connection I made with Adam in book one went. Now, it seems he's only condescending towards Juliette, the girl he loves. He treats his ten year old brother like more of an adult and literally compares Juliette to a child at one point.

In the end, this novella served to frustrate me more than anything else. While it makes me curious for book three, it made me lose faith in a character that I initially didn't mind. Again, it made me curious for aspects of book three, so I suppose it served its purpose. But, if anything, it solidified my placement on Team Warner.

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Posted by Tynga at 01:00

 Borrowed, dystopia, Dystopian, Harper Collins, Paranormal, Review, Science Fiction, Shatter Me, Taherah Mafi, Tahereh Mafi, young adult  Leave your mark

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

Wicked Lovely is one of the most popular paranormal books for Young Adults and it has a huge fanbase. Wicked Lovely has received quite mixed reviews and it seems that many readers either love it or hate it. In the right hands, Wicked Lovely will be the perfect book with it's love triangle, irritating main character, and Twilight-esque romance. I wasn't impressed with this book at all and I can't imagine myself reading any more of Marr's books.

Wicked Lovely isn't a terrible book, it's just felt  incredibly cheesy and dull. This is a book that is only romance and the novel's meager plot is driven by the Seth-Keenan-Aislinn  love triangle. I'm fine with a slow moving plot, but I had absolutely no interest in any of the Winter Court's or The Summer Court's affairs. Why should I care if Keenan finds his true love? I wanted Marr to engross me in the cruel. deceptive world of the fairies, but I can't enjoy a book where I don't enjoy the characters or the romance.

Aisilinn  is one of the most bland main characters and I couldn't sympathize with her at all. Aislinn's actions frequently annoyed me and I didn't understand her love for Keenan at all. Keenan acted like such a jerk and yet Aislinn was absolutely enamored with him in certain sections of the book. I wasn't a huge fan of Seth either, but anyone was better than Keenan in my mind.

Marr clearly did a ton of research with Wicked Lovely and it is evident throughout the entire book. If I wasn't so annoyed with the unappealing romance, I definitely think I would've enjoyed the fairies aspects. I wanted to enjoy the fairy political affairs, but I just couldn't make myself care.

Wicked Lovely was a bit of an ordeal for me to read and I was extremely bored throughout. I wasn't a fan of Marr's writing style and the romance she wrote was extremely unappealing and it was extremely irritating. This definitely wasn't the book for me and I wish I had enjoyed it more!

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Posted by Tynga at 01:00

 Fairies, Fantasy, HarperCollins, HarperTeen, Library, Melissa Marr, Paranormal, Paranormal Romance, Review, Wicked Lovely, young adult  8 People left their mark

Taken by Benedict Jacka

TAKEN is the third book in Benedict Jacka's amazing series about Alex Verus, a mage with a gift for divination and a willingness to kick a bad guy in the crotch to save a life. He may not be able to throw down with the biggest and baddest in terms of sheer strength but he's still the one I'd bet on in a fight since he's cunning, practical, and ruthless when necessary, even though he's a good guy through and through. How can you not love a hero like that?

In TAKEN, Alex is recruited to investigate missing Light apprentices. They've disappeared without a single clue and so Talisid calls on Alex to look into the matter, after his men have no luck finding the perpetrator(s). From the outset, you know it's going to be a doozy of a case; Jacka excels at writing mysteries and TAKEN is quite strong on this front. Alex has a complex and dangerous mission and the outcome is not something you can predict but makes complete sense. The journey to the answer is filled with twists, turns, and scary encounters with powerful bad guys and you'll love every minute of it. TAKEN is loaded with suspenseful moments and thrilling action sequences, including  a fantastic car chase that's so well described I could picture every step in my mind.

There is also some nice development in terms of Luna's apprenticeship. She's not a typical apprentice since she's an adept -- basically a one-trick pony -- thanks to her curse. But Luna's curse is so weird that it makes sense on some levels. And I found it gratifying to watch her start to come into her own, her confidence growing and her control over her curse improving significantly. Luna is such a unique character and I'm quite curious to see what will become of her as the series progresses, especially since sucks seems to be steering clear of a romance between Alex and Luna, at least while they have this official relationship. 

Alex Verus has often been compared with Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden, which was what initially caught my eye. And while there are some similarities, be assured that Alex Verus is his own man and he lives in a most interesting world. Jacka has done a marvellous job of creating a dangerously magical London, filled with politics, wonder, and death. If you're looking for a series with a reluctant hero surrounded by a great supporting cast, you should definitely be reading the Alex Verus books.

Read an excerpt

 

 

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Posted by Tynga at 02:00

 Ace, Adult, Alex Verus, Benedict Jacka, mage, Penguin, Purchased, Review, Urban Fantasy  Leave your mark

Cress by Marissa Meyer

Marissa Meyer has had me hooked since the beginning of this series. The third book of The Lunar Chronicles, CRESS, is no exception. Although it's not my favourite of the three, it still has the same feel, the same comedy, and the same insane drama as the others.

Based on the Rapunzel fairy tale, like the other two books, it's only inspired from the fairy tale and not a true retelling. I don't think I've ever read or heard the whole Rapunzel story but from what I know, what's really been retained from the fairy tale is the long hair and the tower. However, because this is science fiction novel, instead of a tower, the damsel in distress, Cress, is locked up in a satellite in space. Her captor is the Lunar government that thrives by preying on the weak, which includes untalented members of its society, like Cress. By untalented, I mean unable to control people with her mind and unable to glamour her appearance. Lunars see themselves as a superior race of humans and they frown upon having untalented shells in their society. I really liked Cress's addition to the story because we really get to learn more about the Lunars and their culture, and we more or less begin to learn Lunar Queen Levana's ultimate evil plan of world domination.

I'm really glad the main characters of the two other books play a major part in this novel. One thing that I'm not crazy about with some series is that you fall in love with a character, and then you barely see him or her again in the rest of the series. That is not the case with this novel since Cinder and Scarlet play pivotal roles in Cress's story. What's also great is that the author isn't too keen on happily ever afters and leaves us with crazy cliffhanger all round. Not only with the stories themselves, but also with the romance. As the end of the series grows closer, it seems like things are beginning to wrap up, but it's great fun to see how the romantic relationships are evolving with each book, even if it is from a distance.

Speaking of romance, Cress and Thorne seem like an unlikely pair and theoretically shouldn't fit together, but for some reason, his sarcastic personality and her eccentric personality work together. It's also fun so see the womanizing, worldly Thorne fall for the naive Cress. I'm really glad that Prince Kai has a bigger role in this third instalment. It seemed like book 2 didn't feature him all that much, especially as Cinder's love interest so it's nice that their story is being revived.

Overall, I really enjoyed CRESS but with one exception. It felt like the story lagged around the middle of the novel, like everything was going too slow. It's probably because all the characters were separated from each other after an unfortunate incident, but it felt like it took so long for them to get back together again. Maybe that's the price you pay for having such a large cast but I would never sacrifice this cast for a faster pace book.

CRESS is without a doubt a great addition to the series. Political intrigue, great character interactions, heart warming romance, and fun comedic relief is what Marissa Meyer is becoming famous for. Inspiring great stories from fairy tales and placing them in science fiction doesn't hurt either but I think her writing style is unique because combining all those characteristics together make her a great storyteller. Like CINDER and SCARLET, CRESS has set my expectations very high for the next book and I'm really looking forward to meeting Winter. We briefly met her but we don't know much about her yet. We do know that she's a princess, and some Lunars believe she's the legitimate ruler of Luna, so we definitely have another great novel coming up.

If you haven't read this series yet, I highly suggest that you do. If there's one series I've reviewed on this blog that I would totally recommend, it's this one, and since it all starts with CINDER, that's the one you need to read first.

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Posted by Tynga at 01:58

 androids, cyborgs, fairytale retelling, Feiwel amp; Friends, Macmillan, Marissa Meyer, plague, Purchased, Review, Science Fiction, Science-Fiction, The Lunar Chronicles, young adult  6 People left their mark

Stacking The Shelves [95]

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

If you want to find out more about Stacking The Shelves, please visit the official launch page!

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For Review:

Kiss Of Deception by Mary E. Pearson

Deep Blue by Jennifer Donnelly

Half Bad by Sally Green - eARC

From The Library:

The Girl In The Steel Corset by Kady Cross

Purchased:

Scarlet  by Marissa Meyer - My blog, Scott Reads It is featured in this paperback!

What did you receive this week?

[inlinkz_linkup id=371463]

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Posted by Tynga at 01:00

 Stacking The Shelves  25 People left their mark

Night Owls by Lauren M. Roy

The life of seven unlikely people will change forever the day Father Value, Jackal (aka Creeps) hunter, dies on a mission. He died to protect a mystical book and his partner, Elly, will risk her life - and the one of many others- trying to keep it out of Creeps' hands. Will she succeed or will his death be in vain?

I dove into Night Owls hoping for a good old urban fantasy, and while the genre is accurate, I'm afraid to say I wasn't impressed. This review will be very hard for me to write because I usually mention the things I liked and things I disliked about the book, but in this case, I didn't like nor dislike the novel, it kind of left me unaffected. While this isn't a bad novel, I just didn't feel passionate, or even involved in any of the proceedings. I didn't even care who lived or died, which is sad.

I think one of the main reason I didn't feel connected is the lack of a clear main characters. Reading the synopsis now I realize Valerie and Elly were suppose to be the main characters, but it was far from clear. Valerie (a vampire), Chaz (her human Renfield), Elly (Creeps Hunter) & Cavale (former Creeps Hunter) share, it seemed to me, equal parts of the main spotlight. On top of this, Justin (human) and Sunny & Lia (succubi) bring up the rear with secondary roles. All of these characters sharing the scene, fighting for our attention, just made it hard for me to connect with any of them in particular and it didn't help with my lack of caring. Not only are they many, none of them are particularly amazing.

The plot was correct if not particularly engrossing. We followed a rather linear line of action, without many surprises, but the fighting scenes were well delivered. Unfortunately, the solution to their problem was so simple in the end, it was simply ridiculous. Miss Roy should've thought harder to find something complex enough to justify the trouble they all went through.

I think the best aspect of this novel was the lore because it featured a type of characters I hadn't encountered before: Jackals/Creeps. They are some kind of cannibal (because they eat human flesh) shape shifters who smell like rotten flesh. They have abilities and weaknesses similar to your traditional vampires (sunlight, silver, etc), but they kind of look like wolves when turning and some of them have special skills.

All that being said, I did finish reading this novel without dragging my feet too much, so it wasn't a bad novel, it just didn't stir any passion from me whatsoever, so I didn't like it either.  As far as I know, this was Lauren's first book and I think she has potential, so even though I won't keep reading this series, I won't disregard anything she writes in the future either. I would suggest you read an excerpt (I couldn't find one for you sorry!) before you decide the buy the book, and see if you think you might like it.

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Posted by Tynga at 00:34

 Ace, Adult, Edelweiss, Lauren M Roy, Lauren M. Roy, Night Owls, Penguin, Review, Shifters, Urban Fantasy, Vampire  9 People left their mark

Unhinged (Splintered #2) by A.G. Howard

I can't even explain to you all the ways in which I loved the first book in this series, Splintered. It was dark and twisted and absolutely fascinating. Every plot twist and event all came together to end with a huge mind-blowing awesome-ness that I was completely in love with. I was bummed to learn it was a stand-alone novel, but also at peace because A.G. Howard did such a fabulous job wrapping it all up.

But then a sequel was announced, since all of us grabby Splintered fans were begging for more. And I was both overjoyed and a little hesitant. What would it be about when Splintered was already amazingly wound up?

Unhinged had the same sense of darkness and skeletal visions of Wonderland that I love. In Unhinged, Red is back, and wants revenge on Alyssa, but Morpheus is determined she claim her rightful place on the throne and get rid of Red once and for all. It was really amazing to get to catch up with Jeb and Alyssa, and even though his character was as muddy and confusing as ever, I also liked getting to hear from Morpheus again. (Team Jeb!) I tore through the book, and hoped that the epic battle that early hints seemed to be pointing towards would be as detailed and perfectly plotted as what I was used to - but, it just fell a little flat for me. I love the characters, I love the world, I love the relationships between them and the way that Alyssa is so torn between the two sides of who she is; and yet, Unhinged lacked some of the brilliant tie-ins and mind-bends that really made Splintered stand above all others for me in 2012.

Don't get me wrong, it was a great read. It was exciting and interesting, and the creatures that A.G. Howard comes up with in this Wonderland will give you some totally-worth-it nightmares for days. But it was missing the wow-factor that really put Splintered on a pedestal for me. The way that Unhinged ended hinted at another book for the series, and that really excites me. I think now that the story has been taken down another track, with future books and story lines starting to be structured from it, we've still got a lot more amazing stuff heading our way from this series. It just had to get through a few growing pains in Unhinged.

 



 

 

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Posted by Tynga at 01:00

 A. G. Howard, A.G. Howard, Amulet, Fantasy, Gifted, Review, Splintered, young adult  2 People left their mark

Doll Bones by Holly Black

Doll Bones promises to deliver a creepy tale about a group of children who go on a journey to return a bone china doll to it's rightful home. Add in the fact that Doll Bones was 2014 Newbery Honor Book and is written by Holly Black, acclaimed author of The Curseworker Series. I thought that I would love Doll Bones for sure, but I was extremely disappointed by it and I felt that Doll Bones is a classic case of wasted potential. Doll Bones really should be a creepy book, but it decides to focus on more the fragile friendships of Zach, Alice, and Poppy than discussing The Queen (the bone china doll that Poppy's enamored with). If Holly Black had decided to concentrate on The Queen more, I have no doubt that I would've enjoyed this book far more.

Don't be fooled by the creepy premise and cover, Doll Bones is a coming-of-age tale about middle-schoolers who are facing growing pains. A good chunk of this book focuses on the relationships that the kids have with their guardians and how it affects their daily lives. If I wasn't expecting such a creepy tale, I definitely would've loved to read about the child-parent relationships.

Holly Black really does an excellent job of creating such life-like, realistic characters. I personally wasn't a fan of the characters because I found their squabbling and drama to be extremely irritating. I also couldn't fathom going on a legitimate quest, I really do think that if I was a lot younger I would've enjoyed this book more. I have experienced middle school drama first-hand and so, I don't really want to read about it.

The plot of Doll Bones was extremely dull, much to my surprise and I had to force myself to continue reading at multiple points. I truly just didn't care about these characters at all or their quest in the slightest bit. I didn't enjoy the direction the plot took and by the time the ending rolled around, I was so happy it was over. Doll Bones isn't a bad book perse, it's just the not type of book for me.

I listened to the audiobook of Doll Bones and the narrator, Nick Poedhl wasn't perfect, but he did keep me interested for the most part. Poedhl did a pretty good job of doing all of the voices and his narration was pretty spot on.I think listening to the Doll Bones audiobook is a great option and it kept me more interested than I would've been if I'd been reading it in print.

Doll Bones was extremely disappointing due to it's very juvenile feel and lack of creepiness. I expected so much more from Holly Black and frankly, I was bored throughout most of the audiobook due to the mediocre, tedious plot-line. Doll Bones is a very hit or miss read, but I hope others enjoy it more than I did!

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Posted by Tynga at 01:00

 audiobook, Fantasy amp; Magic, Holly Black, middle grade, Mystery, Paranormal, Review, Simon and Schuster, young adult  1 Person left their mark

Daring You to Read... Jaran by Kate Elliott (author edition!)

It's been a while since we've done a Daring You To Read post and we've decided to bring it back with a bang! We will now host guest authors who will dar you to read THEIR favorite book! How awesome is that? I am super happy to welcome Maria V Snyder, author of the Study, Glass & Healer series. She's one of my favorite author and I hope you will welcome her warmly!

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Published in 2002, this novel is one part science fiction, one part epic fantasy, and one part romance. It’s one of my all time favorite books.

Tess Soerensen is accidently stranded on a planet that is off limits to her race and other alien races since the indigenous people are unaware of their existence. In this book humans are not in charge and have been conquered by the Chapalli. While on the planet, Tess discovers that Chapalli are on the surface illegally. The aliens paid a band of nomads to uncover ancient ruins which may contain vital information. In order to get home, Tess has to reach the city of Jeds where there is a way to get off world, but she also wants to find out what’s so important about the ruins.

Tess meets Ilya, the leader of the nomadic tribe the Chapalli have hired. She joins up with the excursion and discovers the tribe is a rich mixture of characters and traditions. I loved how the relationship developed between Tess and Ilya. He doesn’t know she’s from another planet and she is unfamiliar with his customs.

This book has political intrigue, deceptions, and a few swoon worthy moments. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

 

In the future, Earth is just one of the planets ruled by the vast Chapalii empire. The volatility of these alien overlords is something with which Tess Soerensen is all too familiar. Her brother, Charles, rebelled against them at one time and was rewarded by being elevated into their interstellar system—yet there is reason to believe they murdered his and Tess’s parents.

Struggling to find her place in the world and still mending a broken heart, Tess sneaks aboard a shuttle bound for Rhui, one of her brother’s planets. On the ground, she joins up with the native jaran people, becoming immersed in their nomadic society and customs while also attempting to get to the bottom of a smuggling scheme she encountered on her journey there. As she grows ever closer to the charismatic jaran ruler, Ilya—who is inflamed by an urgent mission of his own—Tess must choose between her feelings for him and her loyalty to her brother.

Jaran is the first volume of the Novels of the Jaran, which continues with An Earthly Crown, His Conquering Sword,and The Law of Becoming.

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

 

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Thanks so much for visiting us, Maria!

For more Maria, check out her Website/Blog/Facebook/Goodreads!

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Here's the scoop on Taste of Darkness, Maria's latest release:

She’s fought death and won. But how can she fight her fears?

Avry knows hardship and trouble. She fought the plague and survived. She took on King Tohon and defeated him. But now her heart-mate, Kerrick, is missing, and Avry fears he’s gone forever.

But there’s a more immediate threat. The Skeleton King plots to claim the Fifteen Realms for his own. With armies in disarray and the dead not staying down, Avry’s healing powers are needed now more than ever.Torn between love and loyalty, Avry must choose her path carefully. For the future of her world depends on her decision.

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble

My review

And here's where it all began:

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Daring You To Read is a feature here on Tynga’s Reviews where our favorite authors dare you to read some of THEIR favorite older releases (at least 6 months old). All the books/series  featured are adored titles and we think you should give them a shot! We think it’s a super awesome way to discover that special book who might have slipped off your radar!
You’ve already read the book? Let’s us know what you thought!
You are accepting the dare? We’d love to know!
Have a dare of your own? Leave a comment ^^

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Posted by Tynga at 00:38

 Daring You to Read, Feature, Guest Post, Maria V Snyder  1 Person left their mark

Phantom Shadows by Dianne Duvall

Gosh, I love this series. Each instalment is more exciting and PHANTOM SHADOWS, the third book, is a thrilling mix of romance, action, and intrigue. I was really looking forward to it because I've found Bastien to be such an intriguing character in the two previous books. After all, Bastien is an immortal who thought he was a vampire because Seth didn't find him in time, resulting in a serious identity crisis. But he's fighting the proverbial good fight now, with allies who don't really want him, with a few rare exceptions, like Ami, Seth, David, and Dr. Lipton. His special gift is empathy, which gives him some extra layers, and he really shines in PHANTOM SHADOWS. Getting to know him in this novel was a lot of fun, and it answered the questions that have been floating around my mind since DARKNESS DAWNS.

Melanie is an excellent match for Bastien. She's so compassionate and on his side from the start, since she sees the bonds he has with the vampires she's trying to save. She's shown up in previous novels and I've always liked her but we never got to know her in great detail. As you'll see if you pick up PHANTOM SHADOWS, Melanie is more than a match for Bastien on an intellectual and romantic level. They have great chemistry together and I enjoyed seeing them slowly reveal themselves to each other (and I'm not talking about dropping trou). Duvall creates great couples in each novels and Bastien and Melanie are definitely a strong pair.

The whole idea of saving vampires from their inevitable insanity is a really cool one. Vampirism as a disease is something we've seen in other books but this is a bit different: the more vampires indulge, the more they lose themselves. Melanie is trying to help vampires retain their humanity the way that immortals do, with mixed results. It's one of the most interesting subplots in the novel, and the series as a whole.

There's also a lot of strong development in the military subplot -- where the bad mercenary/ex-government/ex-military types are trying to get their hands on an immortal. These are the same guys who tortured Ami so it's nice to see Duvall delve deeper into this storyline and the potential implications of the immortals' exposure.  To avoid spoilers, I won't comment on this too much but I will say that this is my other favourite subplot in the Immortal Guardians series.

Duvall is a very talented writer who has crafted an intriguing world and characters. I get excited every time I see a new book on the shelves. I'd definitely recommend this series to anyone looking for great paranormal romance.

 Read an excerpt

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Posted by Tynga at 02:00

 Adult, Dianne Duvall, Immortal Guardians, Kensington, Paranormal Romance, Publisher, Review, Vampire, Zebra  2 People left their mark

Avalon by Mindee Arnett

I'm a huge fan of the TV series Firefly created by Joss Whedon so when I heard AVALON was being compared to it, I had to see what it was all about. In fact, it does have some similarities and I can see why fans of the famous TV show would enjoy this science fiction book. I think fans of the genre in general will enjoy this one since it has everything a good science fiction book needs: a spaceship with strong memories, an eclectic crew with questionable morals, and space, lots of space.

I'm the first to admit that the cover isn't the most attractive one out there but I love the fact that it's not your typical teen cover with a pretty girl in a pretty dress, or something like that. With the main character being a guy, I guess they really couldn't go that route... Despite it's simplicity, it's fresh, designed for a maximum audience and it leaves a lot to the imagination.

As for the story, I really like the idea of teenage mercenaries. Who would suspect teens of being so great at theft, right? Despite their line of work, the crew of Avalon are actually a pretty good gang. The main character and captain, Jeth Seagrave would do anything (or almost anything) to buy back his late parents' ship, Avalon, which his uncle lost in a gambling debt. He has been working as a mercenary with that specific goal in mind and his latest mission might just make his dream come true. For Jeth, Avalon represent freedom, the ability for him to do what he wants, but most of all, it's the last link he has to his parents who were executed by the ITA, a governing agency who control more or less everything  related to space travel. The rest of his crew is a pretty good bunch, including his sister Lizzie, who adds charm and sweetness to the group.

As the Avalon crew sets out on their latest mission, everyone is skeptical because of the destination. The Belgrave Quadrant is a region of space that everyone avoids because of the weird things rumored to have happened while flying in that region. Sort of like the Bermuda Triangle. Tech goes wonky, equipment malfunctions, and the most bizarre things happen. The crew of Avalon can attest to that last one as mysterious things start to happen on their ship as they try to finish their mission, towing a "missing" ship that is supposed to contain something worth a lot. What they find on the ship instead of a rumored weapon is three survivors who seem to have secrets and a mission of their own. Secrets, conspiracies and danger follows Avalon around and things get so weird at one point, all the crew wants is to get out of there alive!

While not exactly like the TV show, fans of Firefly will love the feel of this book. Whedonites rejoice! While it does have a mainly teenage cast and can be found in the Teen section, I strongly believe it will please anybody from any age group who loves the science-fiction genre. I really hope more books in this series will be published. For the time being, we will have to satisfy ourselves with the prequel, PROXY.

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Posted by Tynga at 02:00

 Avalon, Balzer amp; Bray, Harper Collins, Mindee Arnett, Purchased, Review, Science Fiction, Science-Fiction, Space, spaceship, young adult  2 People left their mark

Stacking The Shelves [94]

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

If you want to find out more about Stacking The Shelves, please visit the official launch page!

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*overly enthusiastic wave* Helen here for announcement time! I'm kinda back! For those who hadn't noticed (It's okay, I forgive you) I had to step back from Team Tynga's for a few months while I sorted out some family stuff. But things are looking up and I've finally got more time to read and review again, so I'm making a part-time comeback. You'll see me posting reviews periodically on Thursdays as I'm able. I'm so excited to be back and get a chance to talk books with all of you lovelies again :)

Trying to ease back into the book bingeing world, I only got 2 books over the past month or so. These are my two newbies on the shelf:

Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris (Goodreads link)

I've started this one already and man - FREAKING AWESOME STUFF HAPPENING.

The Outside by Laura Bickle (Goodreads link)

I love-love-loved The Hallowed Ones, so I can't wait to get started on this sequel!!

That's it for me this week! What did you guys add to your shelves? :)

[inlinkz_linkup id=369169]

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Posted by Tynga at 23:00

 Meme, Stacking The Shelves  28 People left their mark

Assassin's Gambit by Amy Raby

I've admitted it long ago, I'm a huge fan of high fantasy, and Assassin's Gambit definitely met my high expectations! Castles, assassins and romance, is there seriously something not to like? Not only is the set up amazing, Amy's writing is also smart and smooth! The closest comparison I can come up with is Sarah J Mass' Throne of Glass series because of the whole 'assassin undercover in the castle'  situation, but the Heart and Thrones series is addressed to an adult audience and their heroines have completely different perceptive and objectives.

I absolutely loved the world Amy Raby created but I have to confess, at first, I kind of wished she included a glossary. The particular terminology wasn't the easiest to grasp at first, but I quickly got used to it. We were blessed with great forms of magic, originally channeled via soulstones. Magic users simply can't use their powers if they are separated from them, which I thought was a pretty original twist. Warmages and Wardbreakers were the two forms of magic we learnt the most about because that's what the main two characters are, but we also encountered Warders and Healers and I'd like to know more about them. Also, I find myself wondering if there are other forms of magic we have yet heard of. I truly enjoyed how the author introduced us to the different type of magics.

The geographical and political world were also a stellar point of this novel. Lucien is the emperor of Kjall, a country that invaded as many territory as possible in the recent future. Under the rule of Lucien's predecessors, Riorca, once an independent country, has been enslaved. Vitala, our star assassin, is a Riorca native working for The Circle, a rebel organization aiming to free Riorca.  There is also Mosari an oversea country Lucien's father also tried, but failed, to claim. The political intrigue simply kept me glued to the pages and I honestly couldn't wait to witness how everything would unfold.

Another aspect keeping me engrossed was the romantic developments between Lucien and Vitala. The two of them are very unlikely lovers, with her job being about killing him and all, but they slowly sneak into each other's hearts. I loved that it wasn't an easy relationship though and it was necessary to be believable. Their relationship started in distrust and it's a feeling that's hard to let go. Raby perfectly portrayed their struggles to trust each other, but also the faith they need to have as allies if they want to reach their objectives. I felt like they were perfectly balanced.

The storyline was perfectly paced to keep a believable timetable for medieval times, but also kept a good rhythm to keep the reader engaged. I never felt bored, or in need of more action. I thought everything was simply perfect. The different plot twists also managed to surprise me more often than not and it's another aspect I loved. The conclusion was particularly surprising and I never would've guessed how the conflict would finally resolve itself. Of course, not everything is settled and I can't wait to see what will happen for our heroes in the future!

Assassin's Gambit was a real treat for me and I have to urge you to get your hands on a copy. I already ordered book two and three (not released yet) and I can wait to sink my teeth into them! High fantasy at its best, I am convinced you will be satisfied!

Read an excerpt

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Posted by Tynga at 00:48

 Adult, Amy Raby, Hearts and Thrones, High Fantasy, Magic, Penguin, Purchased, Review, Romance, Signet  2 People left their mark

Pushed by Corrine Jackson Blog Tour: Review & Giveaway

PUSHED takes place right where book one left off and let me tell you, I was so happy to be back in Remy's world. And while I enjoyed book one, this is a solid sequel that I highly encourage readers to pick up as soon as possible. Jackson is simply incapable of disappointing anyone. With that in mind, this is going to be a rather short review. It's hard to criticize something you don't have anything negative to say about unless you want to go into unnecessary word vomit. Let's not scar such a great author with that!

Remy is still on the hunt to find more information about becoming a healer. She's unique because she has the blood of both a Healer and a Protector inside of her, so she is constantly looking for answers in regards to her capabilities. She is determined to do anything to learn, including going to San Francisco, much against Asher's wishes, to find her grandfather that her mother said would always be there for her. But when is anyone ever able to hold Remy back? Of course her determination gets her to her final destination and Asher's love for her forces him to follow and all sorts of chaos immediately ensue. Seriously, though, we're talking about Remy. You can't hold her back and the chaos in her life is simply an inevitability.

In book one, I really enjoyed the progression of Remy and Asher's relationship, but I have to say that I didn't enjoy the romance in this book at all. Unfortunately, a love triangle has bloomed and it is no secret that love triangles are my poison. While the new love interest certainly adds some new dynamics to the story and has a completely different attitude that freshens things up, I can't say I enjoyed it all that much. I feel as if love triangles where both love interests are in the same family are really there more for induced drama and arguments to keep the plot going instead of anything else. I wish Jackson included a different kind of love interest since this is the route she chose to go.

However, with all of that in mind, I think this book was still a really enjoyable read and fans of Jackson and this series have to continue on to book two! No questions asked, this is a command by yours truly. The plot was fast-paced, the writing was great, and the story really engrossed you. I don't know about any of you, but I've got all of her books in my library back home and I'm diving in once the semester is over. She's that good.

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Corrine Jackson was kind enough to share an excerpt of PUSHED with us. Check it out!

            “Asher, lower your guard.”

            “No, you’re right. That was a reckless idea. I don’t know what the hell I was thinking.”

            “You weren’t thinking. You were feeling,” I said, moving closer to him. Trust me. Lower your guard, I repeated in my thoughts. And close your eyes.

            He did as I asked.

            “Promise me you’ll stand still,” I whispered.

            He nodded after a slight hesitation. His heartbeat spiked when I laid a palm on his chest. His skin radiated heat, and I wanted to curl into it, but I took a deep breath. One of us had to be in control, so I raised my mental walls, knowing that when I felt this much, Asher could see through them. I opened my mind and let my imagination go, as I closed my eyes, too.

            I pictured myself touching him the way I wished I could without fear of repercussions. I pushed the coat off of his shoulders, letting it fall to the ground. My jacket and his T-shirt followed, leaving miles of skin and muscle for me to explore. I inhaled the scent of the woods mixed with that of Asher. In my mind, I placed one of his hands on my shoulder, bare except for the thin strap of a tank top. Then, mimicking what he’d done to me earlier, I trailed my fingers down his forearm, into the crook of his elbow, up his arm, and very lightly down his side.

            Asher’s real-life chest moved under my hand, as he sucked in a deep breath and I smiled. And then the mental version of me grazed her lips across Asher’s cheek to his mouth, sharing a breath with him. The kiss the imaginary me laid on him could have burned down the forest.

            “Remy,” Asher said.

            He sounded tortured, and I let the images fade from my mind, worried he hadn’t liked what I’d pictured. Back in the reality of the forest, we opened our eyes. My hand still rested against the thump, thump, thump of his heart.

            “You’re not the only one who’s frustrated,” I said.

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In the spirit of Valentine's Day, Jackson shared some Valentine's cards for readers to send to their loved ones! I may or may not have used all of these already!

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Giveaway!

 

Corrine Jackson was kind enough to host a giveaway for everyone! Enter below if you are 13 years or older to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don't forget to check out the remaining tour stops here!

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Posted by Tynga at 01:04

 Corrine Jackson, Fantasy, giveaway, Guest Post, Kensington, KTeen, Publisher, Review, Sense Thieves, young adult  40 People left their mark

The Program by Suzanne Young

One of the most frightening things about The Program is that it's entirely plausible. Most sci-fi novels are extremely far-fetched and require readers to suspend disbelief, but The Program is so very real. Suicide is an extremely serious issue and it's become so wide-spread that it's not too far of a stretch to believe that the government would institute something like The Program.

I started The Program poolside and I only expected to read a few chapters and then go for a swim. I became so caught up in The Program that I finished it in one sitting and was nearly bawling by the end. Suzanne Young has written one of the most clever books I've read in ages and it's incredibly fast-paced.

There is a huge emphasis on realism and Sloane and James are extremely real, complicated characters that I absolutely loved reading about. Young sets up their characters in such a way that readers are easily able to connect with them and understand their motives. I really loved James's snarky attitude and his dialogue was extremely witty and intelligently written. I absolutely loved Sloane and James's relationship and how it drove the novel forward and added so much emotion and depth to the novel. The Program's pages seem to crackle with emotion and passion, making it an absolute must-read.

There is so much to love about The Program and the ending was so unexpected. I was so emotionally moved by the novel's conclusion and I immediately yearned for the sequel, The Treatment. Readers will want to read more of The Program's terrifying world and will be desperate for more. I truly hope that this series ends on a strong note and if The Program is any indication, The Treatment is going to be amazing.

The Program by Suzanne Young is an incredibly touching look at the way suicide affects our loved ones. This isn't your average sci-fi novel as The Program is much more emotional and delivers more of a heart-wrenching story than books like Divergent or Delirium do. The Program is one of my favorite sci-fi novels and I am so impressed with Young's novel.

                 

 

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Posted by Tynga at 01:00

 dystopia, Dystopian, Library, Review, Romance, Simon amp; Schuster, Simon Pulse, Suzanne Young, The Program, young adult  1 Person left their mark

Maternity photo shoot :)

As most of you are aware, I am expecting another little girl in the coming month and this time around I decided to have a maternity/family photo shoot since I don't plan on having anymore babies lol.

The shoot happened last week, and I thought you might like to see some pictures :)

Please note that they were shot by a professional photographer but they were edited by me. It will take another 2-3 weeks before I get the final versions edited by the photographer herself ^^

(click to view bigger version)

       

Click to view the last one. It's not of poor taste but I'm only wearing a bra/jeans so not suitable for all eyes :P

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Posted by Tynga at 08:11

 Personal  20 People left their mark