Short Story Review: Ethan by P.T. Michelle

Ethan by P.T. Michelle
Series: Brightest Kind of Darkness #0.5
Publisher: Self-Published
First published: January 11th, 2013
Source: Received from author
Format: eBook (Kindle)
Pages: n/a

Goodreads Summary:

Ethan Harris never thought monsters and darkness would consume his daily thoughts, but every night the same visions repeat in his dreams. He’s careful to project a semblance of normalcy, keeping the suffocating darkness locked inside. As much as he wishes he could focus on girls, sports, and cars like other seventeen-year-olds; nothing distracts him from his own demons or shines through.

Until Nara Collins crosses his path. The blonde fascinates and intrigues him, giving him a measure of peace he’s never felt before.

When Ethan discovers there’s more to Nara than she allows others to see, that she might have a unique secret of her own, suddenly his world comes into focus.

Review(s): Brightest Kind of Darkness (#1) | Lucid (#2)

My Rating: 4.5 / 5

What I thought about it:

I've been in love with this series ever since I read Brightest Kind of Darkness, so of course I had to read this prequel novella as well. It's told from Ethan's point of view and starts off even before he and Nara have met, which gives us an idea about what his life used to be like. Instead of just filling the time until the release of the third installment, it adds more dimension to the story, especially after we didn't get to see Ethan a lot in Lucid.

There has never been a doubt that Ethan is a great character, but witnessing certain moments from his point of view just makes me love him even more. His life is anything but easy, but he still seems to care more for others than for himself. Witnessing his interactions with animals is both heart breaking and beautiful.

Of course my favorite part is when he sees Nara for the first time and develops feelings for her. Those two are such a wonderful couple and I'm already crossing my fingers for them to get their happy ending. All in all, Ethan is a wonderful prequel for a series that will always be one of my favorites. If you haven't read Brightest Kind of Darkness yet, I'd recommend you to pick up a copy of these books immediately.

Buy this novella:

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble

Have you read this series? What do you think about it?
Carina

Review + Giveaway: Lucid by P.T. Michelle (Blog Tour Stop)

Lucid by P.T. Michelle
Series: Brightest Kind of Darkness #2
Publisher: Self-Published
First published: July 9th, 2012
Source: Received from author
Format: eBook

Goodreads Summary:

Once Nara combines her prophetic ability with Ethan’s power to outsmart Fate at his own deadly cat-and-mouse game, she’s more determined than ever to help Ethan learn the meaning behind the raven sword tattoo that suddenly appeared on his back after their confrontation with Fate.

During her quest to uncover the tattoo’s secrets, Nara enlists the help of some new friends and discovers her own surprising connection to Ethan.

While Nara digs deeper into the mystery, her desire for answers leads her down a dangerous path full of powerful and ruthless enemies. Swept into an age-old battle, Nara quickly learns that keeping one’s enemies close can be a necessary evil, making an intangible enemy she can control far more preferable to the human enemies she can’t.

This review might include spoilers for Brightest Kind of Darkness.

Previous review(s): Brightest Kind of Darkness

My Rating: 4.0 / 5

First thoughts:

Following The Brightest Kind of Darkness which had turned out to be one of my favorite reads last year, Lucid was full of mysteries that need to be solved and suspense that makes it hard to put it down. While I'm not entirely happy with how the love story continued, I thoroughly enjoyed this second installment and can't wait to read the third book.

More detailed:

I really wish I had had more time to savour Lucid while reading it, but sadly university didn't give me enough time to read it as fast as possible. Nonetheless I was happy whenever I had a couple of minutes to get back into Nara and Ethan's world and find out more about the mysterious and somewhat creepy conditins they have to deal with.

As I already mentioned above, the only thing I wasn't too fond of is the development of the love story. While a love triangle is implied only very lightly, I was looking forward to more Ethan / Nara time than I eventually got. Nonetheless I can see and understand why this development might be better than what I had wished for in the long run.

But other than that the storyline of Lucid is insanely exciting and will make the wait for the third installment almost unbearable. I won't go into detail about the things that are happening to Nara, but I was shocked by the way the story progresses more than once. While I guessed certain things - or rather certain characters' motives - fairly soon, I was surprised by many other things.

All in all, Lucid is a wonderful sequel in a series that is definitely one of my favorites. I really wish I could have read it during a time with less work to do, because I'm sure that I would have enjoyed it even more that way. But if you are looking for a very unique and captivating Young Adult series, make sure to add this one to your to-read list. You won't be disappointed!

 This review is part of BKoD's blog tour,

hosted by Dani from Refracted Light.

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Review: Defy the Stars by Stephanie Parent

Defy the Stars by Stephanie Parent
Publisher: Self-Published
First published: August 1st, 2012
Source: Received from author
Format: eBook
Pages: 325

Goodreads Summary:

Julia Cape: A dedicated classical piano student just trying to get through her last semester of high school while waiting to hear from music conservatories.

Reed MacAllister: A slacker more likely to be found by the stoners’ tree than in class.

Julia and Reed might have graduated high school without ever speaking to each other…until, during a class discussion of Romeo and Juliet, Julia scoffs at the play’s theme of love at first sight, and Reed responds by arguing that feelings don’t always have to make sense. Julia tries to shake off Reed’s comment and forget about this boy who hangs with the stoner crowd—and who happens to have breathtaking blue eyes—but fate seems to bring the two together again and again. After they share an impulsive, passionate kiss, neither one can deny the chemistry between them. Yet as Julia gets closer to Reed, she also finds herself drawn into his dark world of drugs and violence. Then a horrific tragedy forces Julia’s and Reed’s families even farther apart…and Julia must decide whether she’s willing to give up everything for love.

Defy the Stars is written in an edgy free-verse style that will appeal to fans of Ellen Hopkins and Lisa Schroeder; however, the writing is accessible enough to speak to non-verse fans as well. The novel’s combination of steamy romance and raw emotion will appeal to fans of Gayle Forman, Simone Elkeles, Jennifer Echols, and Tammara Webber. With a story, language and form that both pay homage to and subvert Shakespeare’s play, Defy the Stars is much more than just another Romeo and Juliet story.

I'd recommend this for an older audience (16+).

My Rating: 4.0 / 5

First thoughts:

A bittersweet love story everybody knows, a modern setting and a writing style that will make you crave more verse novels - that's Defy the Stars. It incorporates the good-girl-bad-boy-element which, in combination with Romeo & Juliet's tragic fate, ensures enough passion and heart-break for its readers to keep the story interesting.

Then I can't stand at all and I'm
sliding down,
             down,
                  down. (Kindle Location 2299)*

More detailed:

As someone who absolutely loves verse novels I jumped at the opportunity to read and review Defy the Stars. Up front I have to say that this is probably perfect for everyone who wants to "try" a verse novel since Stephanie Parent's storytelling is very easy to follow and can be read almost like a "regular" novel.

I know the glass is old,
softening, flattering, but still, I hardly recognize
that girl... Is it me? (Kindle Location 450)*

It's been a while since I've read Romeo & Juliet, but it was easy nonetheless to detect the elements of Shakespeare's love story which were beautifully incorporated into Defy the Stars. Needless to say, you can expect lots of passion, angst, and heart-break which always made me keep turning the pages, afraid that Julia and Reed will have to suffer the same tragic fate as the classical lovers.

What I also enjoyed were the music elements that were weaved into the story. As an aspiring pianist, we get to witness Julia practicing certain pieces of classical music and even for someone like me, who has really no idea about playing an instrument, it was great to see how she could get lost in the music she creates.

I want to change these
notes, but I am no composer. I can
     only play the song another has chosen for
     me. (Kindle Location 56)*

Considering certain elements like drug use, I'd definitely recommend Defy the Stars for an older audience. While I know that it's important that such topics are presented in YA as well, I'm not really sure whether I like the extent of it in this story, which is why I have "only" rated this with four stars. Other than that I really liked Defy the Stars and hope to read more by Stephanie Parent in the future.

Buy this book:

Amazon US | Amazon UK

Have you read Defy the Stars? If yes, what did you think about it?
If no, do you plan to read it?

I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Carina

* All quotes are taken from an eBook of Defy the Stars by Stephanie Parent.

Review: Rock and a Hard Place by Angie Stanton

Rock and a Hard Place by Angie Stanton
Series: The Jamieson Collection #1
Publisher: Self-Published
First published: April 15th, 2011
Source: Received from author
Format: eBook
Pages: 228

Goodreads Summary:

One day while watching the Interstate exit for her dad’s long awaited return, Libby’s life is rocked when Peter Jamieson steps off his tour bus and into her life. After a couple chance meetings with Peter, Libby breaks away from her rule abiding behavior and her life changes course.

Peter longs for normalcy away from the screaming fans who know nothing about the real him. He is amazed to discover Libby has never heard of him or his band. Soon their friendship turns to love. While Peter battles his family's growing interference so he can spend time with Libby, she struggles with her eccentric aunt who turns more bizarre each day.

Their lives are torn apart when Peter's family intrudes and Libby disappears. Peter’s desperate search for her comes up empty. Can they find their way back to each other while the world plots against them?

My Rating: 4.0 / 5

First thoughts:

Why on earth did I wait so long to read this? Bittersweet, heart-breaking and hopeful at the same time, Rock and a Hard Place is a love story that will appeal to everyone who is looking for a contemporary YA novel that shows how important true love and the belief in yourself is. 

Late in the night Libby drifted off with the glorious sound of Peter's voice lulling her to sleep. There were no bad dreams that night. (Kindle Location 709)*

More detailed:

I'm definitely not reading enough contemporary YA novels, so I'm glad to add Rock and a Hard Place to my list of read books, especially because its beautiful style of writing warmed my heart even when things weren't looking so good for its main characters. 

Libby's life is anything but easy ever since a tragic accident turned her life upside down. But when she meets Peter, whose life is full of glamour and beautiful music, it seems to change for the better. Even though, at times, I felt as if their feelings for each other were developing very, almost too, fast and intensely, I enjoyed witnessing their interactions.

"We barely know each other, and, well..." Mischief lit her face and he wondered what she was up to. "We've never even kissed." (Kindle Location 770)*

Especially fans of novels that incorporate music and its beauty into the story will enjoy Rock and a Hard Place. As a part of a band which is a huge success, Peter has to deal with both, the beautiful task of writing songs and the pressure of living up to everyone else's expectations. Especially the latter creates lots of hurdles for him and Libby and make sure that a reader's heart will be broken more than once.

Peter loved this part of the night. After a long afternoon of rehearsal, sound checks, and final warm ups, it was time for the payoff. This was nirvana. (Kindle Location 627)*

All in all, I'm very happy that I finally got around to reading A Rock and a Hard Place. While certain parts broke my heart, others put it back together again and made me smile. It's a story in which a boy and a girl from completely different worlds complete each other and never give up even though there's put more than one obstacle in their way. Beautiful.

Buy this book:

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Have you read A Rock and a Hard Place? What did you think about it?

Do you plan to read it?

I'd love to hear your thoughts, so feel free to leave a comment below.

Carina

* All quotes are taken from a Kindle copy of A Rock and a Hard Place by Angie Stanton.

Review: Fairy Metal Thunder by J.L. Bryan

Fairy Metal Thunder by J.L. Bryan
Series: Songs of Magic #1
Publisher: Self-Published
First published: September 16th, 2011
Source: Received from author
Format: eBook
Pages: 196

Goodreads Summary:

A rock & roll fairy tale.

Jason plays guitar in a teenage garage band called the Assorted Zebras, but they have no fans, no gigs, and they're going nowhere. Even worse, Jason has a crush on their lead singer, but she doesn't seem interested in him at all.

Then Jason steals instruments from the fairy world. Soon the band is enchanting crowds, and Jason is a step closer to the girl of his dreams, but the new gear is brimming with dangerous and destructive magic they can't control.

Their shortcut to success has cost a troupe of innocent fairies their livelihood and turned Jason and his band into enemies of the powerful Queen Mab, who sends supernatural bounty hunters to track them down, including one of the most dangerous horned creatures in Faerie...a small unicorn named Buttercake.

My Rating: 3.5 / 5

First thoughts:

With a very imaginative fairy lore, lots of humour and a small but sweet love story, Fairy Metal Thunder was a very fast and easy read for me and ensured that I'll be picking up its sequels as soon as possible. If you're looking for a Young Adult novel that is suitable for a younger audience and want to delve into a world of magic, be sure to add this one to your to-read list. 

More detailed:

Before I started reading Fairy Metal Thunder, I didn't really know what to expect except that some of my favorite bloggers absolutely love J.L. Bryan's books. Therefore I had fairly high expectations for his fairy novel and was quite happy when I realized that most of them were actually met. 

What I didn't know but maybe should or could have guessed is that it is definitely more suitable for a younger audience or for readers who prefer Young Adult books that lean more towards the Middle Grade genre. For me, though, that's the main reason I "only" rated this with three-and-a-half stars, since I usually prefer more grown up YA stories.

But to be honest, that's the only negative thing I have to say about Fairy Metal Thunder and it's also a very subjective aspect. Besides that I really enjoyed the first novel in the Songs of Magic series because it sucked me into the world of four teenagers who get to experience fame because of very beautiful fae magic. 

J.L. Bryan has not only created a stunning and fascinating fairy world but incorporated these paranormal elements very nicely into the "real world" our main character Jason grew up in. The love story is not the novel's focus, but will definitely warm your heart and make you wonder what these two will have to face in the future.

All in all, I really liked Fairy Metal Thunder and even though I usually prefer to read more mature YA novels, I'm looking forward to find out what the Assorted Zebras will experience in the next novels. And I also can't wait to see more of the intriguing fairy world which might turn out to be one of the most imaginative out there.

Buy Fairy Metal Thunder:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords

Have you read Fairy Metal Thunder? What did you think about it?

Do you plan to read it?

I'd love to hear your thoughts, so feel free to leave a comment below.

Carina

Review + Giveaway: Frost by Kate Avery Ellison (Blog Tour Stop)

Frost by Kate Avery Ellison
Series: Frost #1
Publisher: Self-Published
First published: April 3rd, 2012
Source: Received from author
Format: eBook
Pages: 194

Goodreads Summary:

In the icy, monster-plagued world of the Frost, one wrong move and a person could end up dead—and Lia Weaver knows this better than anyone. After monsters kill her parents, she must keep the family farm running despite the freezing cold and threat of monster attacks or risk losing her siblings to reassignment by the village Elders. With dangers on all sides and failure just one wrong step away, she can’t afford to let her emotions lead her astray. So when her sister finds a fugitive bleeding to death in the forest—a young stranger named Gabe—Lia surprises herself and does the unthinkable.

She saves his life.

Giving shelter to the fugitive could get her in trouble. The Elders have always described the advanced society of people beyond the Frost, the “Farthers,” as ruthless and cruel. But Lia is startled to find that Gabe is empathetic and intelligent…and handsome. She might even be falling in love with him.

But time is running out. The monsters from the forest circle the farm at night. The village leader is starting to ask questions. Farther soldiers are searching for Gabe. Lia must locate a secret organization called the Thorns to help Gabe escape to safety, but every move she makes puts her in more danger.

Is compassion—and love—worth the risk?

My Rating: 4.0 / 5

First thoughts:

In a world of ice, monsters and fear, Lia has to find a balance between the things that are expected from her and what she actually wants to be like. Being confronted with harsh decisions, she starts to find out more about her family and the village she is living in, which turns Frost into a very easy and incredibly fast read.

More detailed:

It's quite hard to define the world Frost is set in. Dystopian? Post-apocalyptic? Fantasy? While I'm more inclined to see this as a fantasy novel, I don't really care too much about putting this into any category, because it works very well even without one. This is one of these stories that I went into without too many expectations, but ended up being positively surprised.

Kate Avery Ellison has created a very beautiful albeit scary world that pulled me in and makes me curious to find out more about it. Frost's main character Lia is a very likable girl who copes with her surrounding surprisingly well, but never seems to be unbelievably kick-ass; she's rather your typical girl next door who just grew up in a different kind of world.

What I sadly didn't really like about Frost was that it's fairly rushed. With only 194 pages it's a very fast read, which in return makes it hard for relationships to develop believably and for me to build any real connections with the characters.

Nonetheless I enjoyed Frost because of Kate Avery Ellison's quite addicting style of writing and the scary elements that almost made me regret reading this right before getting to bed. The ending is bittersweet and makes me hope for an equally lovely sequel that I hope to be able to devour as soon as possible.

 This review is part of Frost's blog tour,

hosted by AToMR Book Blog Tours.

Giveaway

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Review + Giveaway: Lonely Souls by Karice Bolton (Blog Tour Stop)

Lonely Souls by Karice Bolton
Series: The Witch Avenue Series #1
Publisher: Self-Published
First published: June 29th, 2012
Source: Received from author
Format: eBook
Pages: 290

Goodreads Summary:

It’s two weeks before Triss turns 18, and her world is about to change into the most magical one imaginable as she readies herself to enter The Witch Avenue Order... that is until her mother’s disappearance. Instead of celebrating her transformation, she finds herself spreading rose petals into her mother’s empty grave.

When Logan, her best friend from junior high, moves back to town for college, he vows to help her find the answers she so desperately seeks surrounding her mother’s disappearance. As they begin uncovering clues, it becomes apparent that the life of white magic they both grew up loving is not what the majority practices, and their lives are in danger.

With a haunting feeling that her mother may still be alive, she begins to hear a call to the wilderness. Triss realizes that in order to find the answers she needs, she must learn the ways of her ancestors and become the hunter, not the hunted before it’s too late, and she becomes part of the lonely souls.

My Rating: 3.5 / 5

First thoughts:

With intriguing magical elements, Lonely Souls turned out to be a fast and easily captivating read about a young girl whose life changes within a few moments. Even though I didn't really fall in love with the characters, I liked witnessing their stories and am looking forward to accompany them on their journey in the second book of this series.

More detailed:

As someone who enjoys novels about witches but has not read nearly enough, I was looking forward to reading Lonely Souls a lot and I wasn't disappointed. Karice Bolton has created a magical world full of betrayal and fear, but with heart-warming love and romance as well. 

After Triss' mother disappeares, her life is turned upside down - not only by her worries, but also by a certain cute guy who tries to tear down the walls she has built around her heart. Triss is a strong female main character without being too harsh and unemotional, but not whiny either. I felt sorry for her during more than one occasion, but she always manages to pick herself up and continues to fight.

The plot moves forward quite constantly and never stagnates, giving us new things to think about in almost every chapter. I really liked getting to know new aspects of the magical world Triss grew up in and some people she thought she knew so well. The love story is present all the time as well, but without distracting from the main plot too much - sweet, heart-breaking and a little bit addicting.

Nonetheless I don't feel like rating Lonely Souls higher than 3.5 stars. Sadly this is one of these cases where I don't even have an explanation for my rating - I just lacked a certain connection to Triss and her world that would have made me fall in love with this story completely.

But all in all, I definitely want to recommend Lonely Souls because I enjoyed it and kept turning its pages fast until the very end. I'm also already looking forward to the second installment in this series and hope to find out more about the mysteries Triss is confronted with. If you're looking for a new magical world to delve into, put Lonely Souls on your to-read list.

 This review is part of Lonely Souls' blog tour,

hosted by AToMR Book Blog Tours.

Giveaway

The blog tour co-ordinators and Karice Bolton also have a really awesome international giveaway for you.

1st prize)
*paperback copy of Lonely Souls
* $15 Amazon Card

2nd prize)
*paperback copy of Lonely Souls
* $10 Amazon Card

Grand Prize (Int)
* Arrowhead Necklace (see picture on the right)
* $50 Amazon card
* paperback of Lonely Souls

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Review: Perilous Light by Alyssa Rose Ivy (Blog Tour Stop)

Perilous Light by Alyssa Rose Ivy
Series: Afterglow Trilogy #2
Publisher: Self-Published
First published: March 29th, 2012
Source: Received from author
Format: eBook
Pages: 230

Goodreads Summary:

Would you sacrifice everything for a world you barely knew?

A year has passed since Charlotte and Kevin first stepped through the gate into Energo and neither has been able to settle back into their normal lives. Charlotte tries to distract herself from thoughts of Calvin with the antics of James and her growing friendship with Liam. Kevin can’t seem to shake his feelings for Samantha as he adjusts to his new identity as a college basketball player.

When they unexpectedly return to Energo, both Charlotte and Kevin must face their fears and become the leaders they were always meant to be.

My review for: Beckoning Light (book 1)

My Rating: 3.0 / 5

First thoughts:

Finishing Perilous Light within a day, it turned out to be a fast and easy read for me - just like its prequel. While some conflicts were solved too casually for me and the love story still isn't exactly what I was hoping for, I enjoyed finding out more about Charlotte and the world she and her friends are pushed in.

More detailed:

Being set a year after the ending of the first book, Perilous Light starts off on a light note and introduces us to the things the characters have experienced since then. After not having been to Energo for the whole time, they tried to lead a life as normal as possible, but not forgetting what still awaits them in case of their return.

What I loved most about Perilous Light was the more elaborate world-building that I had actually hoped for after finishing Beckoning Light. Alyssa Rose Ivy created a place with many new things to discover and I loved finding out about the different places and people in this world.

At the same time though, I'm still not completely happy with the love-aspect of the story. While Kevin's love story is believable and cute to witness, I still had problems feeling the pull between Calvin and Charlotte. I'm not sure though whether it is because of the magical part of their love or because I'm completely in love with Liam and wished Charlotte were too.

Again, I would recommend this for a younger audience because of its characters' slight naivety and how certain problems were solved a bit too easily for my taste. Nonetheless it was an addicting read for me and I didn't find it easy to put it down - especially towards the end. If you're looking for a new world to delve into, you definitely should give the Afterglow series a chance.

 This review is part of the Afterglow trilogy's blog tour,

hosted by AToMR Book Blog Tours.

Remember to check out my review for the first book of the series, Beckoning Light,
and enter the giveaway underneath that post to win an eBook of it.

Have you read this series? What did you think about it?

Do you plan to read it?

Carina

Review: Clockwise by Elle Strauss (Blog Tour Stop incl. Giveaway)

Clockwise by Elle Strauss
Series: Clockwise #1
Publisher: Self-Published
First published: November 21st, 2011
Source: Received from author
Format: eBook
Pages: 290

Goodreads Summary:

Casey Donovan has issues: hair, height and uncontrollable trips to the 19th century! And now this --she’s accidentally taken Nate Mackenzie, the cutest boy in the school, back in time. Awkward.

Protocol pressures her to tell their 1860 hosts that he is her brother and when Casey finds she has a handsome, wealthy (and unwanted) suitor, something changes in Nate. Are those romantic sparks or is it just “brotherly” protectiveness?

When they return to the present, things go back to the way they were before: Casey parked on the bottom of the rung of the social ladder and Nate perched high on the very the top. Except this time her heart is broken. Plus, her best friend is mad, her parents are split up, and her younger brother gets escorted home by the police. The only thing that could make life worse is if, by some strange twist of fate, she took Nate back to the past again.

Which of course, she does.

My Rating: 3.0 / 5

First thoughts:

Cute and refreshing, Clockwise will be the perfect read for everyone who is looking for a time travel novel to pull them into a different world where everything seems possible. Especially fans of Middle Grade literature will enjoy this novel and cross their fingers for Casey's adventures to turn out alright.  

More detailed:

I started reading Clockwise without really knowing what to expect and was positively surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Actually I should start this review by explaining, why my rating isn't higher, because I definitely really liked this novel. But as I already stated above, it has more of a Middle Grade feel to it, which made it a tiny bit hard for me to identify with the situations and expectations of the characters.

Other than that, I really liked Clockwise and Casey is a really refreshing character. Not being able to control her time travelling into the 19th century tends to take a toll on her, but accidentally taking Nate, her crush, back in time, is a recipe for disaster. But nontheless she manages to fight for herself and everything she believes in and breaks through every obstacle in a very heart-warming and amusing way.

Nate, Casey's love interest, becomes more likable with every chapter I read and I couldn't help myself but cross my fingers for their happy ending. Clockwise has a wide range of supporting characters and everyone of them contributes something different, and important, to the story. Some things surprised me thoroughly, some made me laugh, some made me angry - and all of them kept me turning this book's pages.

But, like I said above, I would recommend this either for a younger audience or people who are able to completely appreciate Middle Grade literature. As someone who prefers to read Young Adult literature suitable for an "older" audience, I felt more like a witness than someone emotionally invested in this story. 

At the same time though, I'm really glad that I didn't know that Clockwise might turn out to be for a younger audience, because otherwise I might not even have picked it up. But I definitely don't regret reading it - I enjoyed it and loved Elle Strauss' entertaining writing. Her plot has wonderful twists and turns and surprised me more than once.

This review is part of Clockwise's blog tour,

hosted by AToMR Book Blog Tours.

And because Elle and her writing group are so incredibly generous, every tour stop during this tour will offer you an awesome book for giveaway - so don't forget to check out the other tour stops here. At this stop you can win an eBook of The Secret of Spruce Knoll by Heather McCorkle - it sounds like a fantastic novel and if you want to read more about it: the lovely Giselle from Xpresso Reads has reviewed it here.

Goodreads Summary:
Following the tragic death of her parents, Eren Donovan moves to Spruce Knoll to live with an aunt she’s never met. Little does Eren know the entire town of Spruce Knoll is filled with “channelers”—a magical group of people who immigrated to the small Colorado town when they were driven out of their own lands.

Channelers are tied to the fate of the world. As the world slowly dies, so do they—and they alone have the power to stop the destruction of Earth. Soon, Eren learns she not only lives among them, but she is one. When she meets local boy Aiden, his charm convinces her that being a channeler may not be all bad though.

As Eren and Aiden’s relationship develops, so too does a mystery in Spruce Knoll. The town holds many secrets—and many dangers. It soon becomes apparent that the untimely death of Eren’s parents was no accident and that her life might be in danger too. Only time will tell if Eren can embrace her unwanted power and protect the only family she has left.

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Review: The Mayfair Moon by J.A. Redmerski

The Mayfair Moon by J.A. Redmerski
Series: The Darkwoods Trilogy #1
Publisher: Self-Published
First published: February 6th, 2012
Source: Received from author
Format: .mobi (Kindle)
Pages: 352

Goodreads Summary:
After a nightmarish encounter with a werewolf, seventeen-year-old Adria Dawson loses her sister, but gains the love of a mysterious young man and his legendary family.

Strange and tragic things begin to happen in the small town of Hallowell, Maine: residents come down with an unexplainable ‘illness’ and some disappear. In the midst of everything, Isaac Mayfair is adamant about keeping Adria safe, even from her sister whom he has warned her to stay away from.

As unspeakable secrets unfold all around Adria, impossible choices become hers to bear. Ultimately, no matter what path she takes, her life and the lives of those she loves will be in peril. As she learns about the werewolf world she also learns why her place in it will change the destinies of many.

This is more suitable for older teens (16+).

My Rating: 4.5 / 5

First thoughts:

I'm currently developing a slight werewolf-addiction and The Mayfair Moon did not help me change that. On the contrary, it managed to make my addiction worse and made me fall in love with its paranormal aspects, its characters and their stories. It was impossible to put down and the ending makes me hope that the sequel will be out as soon as possible - I need to know more!

More detailed:

It took about one and a half chapters to get used to The Mayfair Moon's main character's narration and then I only put it down when it was absolutely necessary. It starts off right before danger and confusion come into Adria's life and gives us a glimpse into her world before being dragged into a paranormal adventure.

Adria is a very interesting character. She makes some decisions she regrets later, but she's still quite relatable despite the unusal situation she's in. Her crush on Isaac develops very fast, but she's still trying to be rational and doesn't forget herself in the process. She has also found great friends and especially Harry and Zia will make you want to be a part of this world.

It's difficult to say whether The Mayfair Moon is fast- or slow-paced. While it never gets boring and weird things, which will keep you interested, happen constantly, some questions take a long while to be answered. But that's exactly the reason why this novel is so hard to put down - you want answers and while waiting for them, new things will happen that will make you want to know even more.

All in all, I absolutely loved The Mayfair Moon and can recommend this to everyone who loves werewolves and suspenseful stories. There cannot be found a love triangle so far, but that doesn't make me stop wanting one. This and The Mayfair Moon's ending will make the wait for the second book in the Darkwoods trilogy almost unbearable for me.

This review is part of The Mayfair Moon's blog tour, 

hosted by AToMR Book Blog Tours.

Have you read The Mayfair Moon? What did you think about it?

Do you plan to read it?

Carina

Review: My Enchanted Life by Laura Eno

My Enchanted Life by Laura Eno
Publisher: Self-Published
First published: December 5th, 2011
Source: Received from author
Format: .mobi (Kindle)
Pages: 256

Goodreads Summary:
An American teen finds herself thrust into a world she never knew existed in England's magical community of Wode Gate. While dealing with gnomes, a cranky dragon, murder and mayhem, Emma tries to cope with her unwanted duties as Sentinel and fights to get back home again.
She finds that things aren't always what they seem, people aren't who they pretend to be, and someone wants her dead. The king of the underworld wants her too, but he may be the least of her problems as Emma struggles to control her powers—while losing her heart to a demon.

My Rating: 3.0 / 5

First thoughts:

I wasn't really sure what to expect of My Enchanted Life, but it turned out to be an enjoyable read. It's very fast-paced, at points maybe even a bit rushed, and I finished it without even realizing that I had read a complete novel. I really hope that this wasn't the last we've seen of Emma, because I'd still love some questions to be answered and to find out more about certain characters and the world they're living in.

More detailed:

Emma, My Enchanted Life's main character, is a very likeable girl who is thrust into a magical world that overwhelms her in the beginning but soon becomes an important part of her life. To me, she sometimes seemed to be slightly naive, but then she would do or say something that surprised me. While I love reading about complex characters, Emma was not very easy to figure out and I had some problems being able to relate to her and understand her (re)actions.

In My Enchanted Life we encounter many different characters, some of which were lovely surprises, others were a bit one-dimensional. Nonetheless they were the most important part of this story for me and constantly made sure to move on the plot and keep reading My Enchanted Life interesting. I'm definitely hoping for a sequel, just to see how some of them (especially Matthew and Randolph) will develop.

The world in My Enchanted Life is very imaginative and full of surprises as well. Faerie stories often get their beauty from the many different creatures and dimensions they include and Laura Eno's novel is no exception. I might have preferred the world-building to be a bit slower and more detailed, but especially the Underworld and its inhabitants captivated me.

All in all, I enjoyed reading My Enchanted Life and really hope that Emma's story is not over already. Sometimes it might have been a bit rushed and I might have wanted a few parts of the story to be more elaborated, but I really liked it nonetheless. Laura Eno created a wonderful world with intriguing characters and exciting events, and if you're looking for a light-hearted but suspenseful faerie novel, this one could be right for you.

Laura Eno online:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Have you read My Enchanted Life? What did you think about it?

Do you plan to read it?
Carina

Review: Titan Magic by Jodi Lamm

Titan Magic by Jodi Lamm
Publisher: Self-Published
First published: September 30th, 2011
Source: Received from author
Format: .mobi (Kindle)

Goodreads Summary:
Mute, heartless, and tormented by auditory hallucinations, Madeleine Lavoie never questions why her family has hidden her from the world. But the night her brother casts her out, she learns the mysterious voice she thought existed only in her mind is no delusion, and no matter how hard she tries, she can never disobey it.

Now Madeleine must find her own voice in a cacophony of powerful tyrants, monsters, and gods. If she fails, she will forfeit her life and the lives of everyone who loves her. But if she succeeds, she may finally gain the ability to love someone in return.

My Rating: 3.5 / 5

First thoughts:

If you're looking for a truly unique YA novel, stop searching and pick up Titan Magic. Its fairytale-like world surprised and fascinated me. I really hope that this wasn't the last we've seen of Madeleine and her adventures. While it took a while for me to get into the story, I soon started to really enjoy it and hoped to find out more about this special world.

More detailed:

When I started it, I didn't really know what to expect from Titan Magic but I was surprised by it nonetheless. The things Madeleine finds out about herself sometimes confused me, but I also grew quite fond of her and always hoped that everything would become better for her. She is a very strong character, but still reacts reasonably to some discoveries and situations at the same time.

At first I found it difficult to get into the story as it took a while to be able to really identify with Maddy. At the same time I wasn't too familiar with the mythology used in Titan Magic and needed some time to get comfortable with it. But once I got used to it, I started to really enjoy this novel and could appreciate the unique premise.

The other characters we encounter are very diverse. None of them are similar to each other and every single one is important for the storyline. While I love Will and Jas, I never really could warm up to Marcus or Eli - but I wouldn't want to miss any of them, because each of them contributes very significant things to the story.

I'm really looking forward to find out more about Madeleine's story, because - even though some parts of the ending were really enjoyable - I was left hanging a little bit and I'm curious to see what will happen now. It almost feels as though Titan Magic was only an introduction and that the "real story" will begin now with that ending.

All in all, I really liked Titan Magic, especially for it unusual premise and the diversity of characters. Like I said above, you should definitely pick up a copy of this, when you're looking for something completely different than any usual YA novel.

Find Jodi online:

Goodreads | Website | Twitter
First chapter of Titan Magic

Have you read Titan Magic? What did you think about it?

Do you plan to read it?

Carina

Review: The Deepest Cut by J.A. Templeton

The Deepest Cut by J.A. Templeton
Series: MacKinnon Curse #1
Publisher: Self-Published
First published: June 27th, 2011
Source: Received from author
Format: eBook for Kindle
Pages: 304

Goodreads Summary:

Sixteen-year-old Riley Williams has been able to see ghosts since the car crash that took her mother’s life and shattered her family. Guilt-ridden over the belief that she’s somehow responsible for her mom’s death, Riley is desperate to see her mother’s elusive spirit to gain her forgiveness.

When her father moves the family to Scotland so they can all start over, Riley believes her life couldn’t get worse––that is until the ghost of nineteen-year-old Ian MacKinnon catches her purposely cutting herself. An uneasy truce quickly turns into friendship, and soon Riley’s falling hard for Ian.

Riley believes her gift could help Ian end the curse that has kept him tied to the land for centuries, but that would mean letting him go forever and she’s not sure she is strong enough to do that. As if her life wasn’t complicated enough, the spirit of the woman who killed Ian returns and she’ll stop at nothing to keep Riley from helping Ian find eternal peace.

My Rating: 4.0 / 5

First thoughts:

After having read other bloggers' reviews I expected this to be a suspenseful and creepy read and I definitely wasn't disappointed. With an intriguing setting and a ghost that makes me want to hide beneath my bed covers, J.A. Templeton managed to create an addicting novel which I can definitely recommend for lovers of paranormal Young Adult stories.

More detailed:

The Deepest Cut tells Riley Williams' story who moves with her father and her brother to a small town in Scotland to get over the accident who has taken her mother's life and given her the ability to see ghosts. One of them is Ian MacKinnon, a good-looking boy who is cursed to be bound to the place where he died and who might just be able to steal Riley's heart.

Riley is a very intriguing and three-dimensional character. Her mother's death and the way she is constantly blaming herself for this turn her into a sad, but not whiny, young girl. She has to deal with a lot of different feelings and I loved witnessing her journey from being hopeless to starting to feel happy and content in Scotland.

Meeting Ian and helping him to find a way to lift his curse helped her to move on. While I would have loved to find out more about Ian and found him to be a somewhat one-dimensional character, I loved how his presence changed Riley's life. Their feelings for each other moved a bit too fast for my taste though, but nonetheless I enjoyed reading about them.

Luckily Laria, the woman who killed Ian and is now a ghost as well, doesn't enjoy seeing them together, so she tries to make their relationship and their attempts at freeing Ian a lot more difficult. She is definitely not a nice ghost and increases this novel's creepiness factor a lot. No matter how much I wanted to hate her, the scenes in which she appears are awesome.

I absolutely loved the ending of The Deepest Cut. It was sad but hopeful and beautiful at the same time and the cliffhanger of the last paragraph makes me want to pick up the second novel of this series as soon as it's released. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel and think you should pick up a copy of this if you enjoy creepy ghost stories with a heart-warming love story.

Books in this series:

1. The Deepest Cut
2. The Haunted (Jan 2012)

Have you read The Deepest Cut? What did you think about it?

Do you plan to read it?

Carina

Review: Everblossom by Larissa Hinton

Everblossom: A Short Story and Poetry Anthology
by Larissa Hinton
Publisher: Self-Published
First published: August 12th, 2011
Source: Received from author
Format: e-book (Kindle)
Pages: n/a

Goodreads Summary:

An anthology that will quench your thirst for more than the ordinary.

Everblossom is a journey through poems and short stories that may seem ordinary on the surface but dig a little deeper and the world not only shifts. It changes.

From the author who brought you Iwishacana/ Acanawishi, she now brings you a dash of everything from dark fantasy to the paranormal to even romance. So prepare yourself to delve into the three stages of the flower from bud to blossom then back to seed, you'll go through them all with a whole new perspective on what it all truly means.

My Rating: 3.0 / 5

First thoughts:

This anthology is different. At some points it's a little bit macabre and makes you wince, at some points it's sad and then again it makes you smile. I'm not entirely sure what I expected from this, but I was definitely surprised. If you're looking for a short book to distract you from heavier reads, you should pick this up.

More detailed:

Everblossom is a quite short anthology and therefore a very fast and easy read. It's a mixture of short stories and poems, which is the reason why I was immediately intrigued by this. In my opinion, anthologies are great books to pull yourself together after a heartbreaking read and prepare yourself for the next longer novel. And Everblossom definitely made this possible.

When I started reading this, I was especially looking forward to the poetry since it's been a long while since I've read a few poems. But in the end I turned out to like the short stories a lot better. My favorite short story is Changes whose characters and their secrets immediately intrigued me. I would love to read more about them!

What I was missing is a real connection between the individual parts. Every short story and poem by itself is intriguing, but the transitions from one story/poem to another weren't very smooth. I'm not sure though whether it's because of the very short length of the individual works or whether a different order would have done the trick.

Like I've mentioned above, this anthology can be a little bit creepy and macabre at certain points, which Larissa Hinton already points out in her introduction. I really enjoyed these parts, but I would recommend this for an older audience. All in all, Everblossom is an intriguing and easy read which I definitely enjoyed.

Books by Larissa Hinton:

Everblossom
Iwishacana/Acanawishi

Have you read Everblossom? What did you think about it?

Do you plan to read it?

Carina

Review: Volition by Shawn Kirsten Maravel

Volition by Shawn Kirsten Maravel
Series: Volition #1
Publisher: Self-Published
First published: February 26th, 2011
Source: Received from author
Format: .pdf
Pages: 324

Goodreads Summary:
Charlotte Rush would be the first to admit that her life is no rollercoaster ride. Her days are laced with ordinary and at times boring monotony. But with a heart that finds itself frequently broken she's happy to say that she's content.

When her friends convince her to spend the night out at a club to let loose and maybe even find a guy, she finally admits that her life might be missing something.

No sooner does she let go of her inhibitions does she find herself waking up in a dark hotel room in the presence of Joel, a man who carries mystery in his eyes and familiarity in his smile. Against reason Charlotte decides to trust him based solely on one thing. Somehow, she is sure that she knows him.

In a race against time to find answers and to solve the crime committed against her Charlotte finds herself falling for him. However, with nothing but mystery surrounding him she can't even be sure that he's the hero at all. While knowing all of the right things to say he still manages to tell her nothing. As a battle is waged over the innocence of her cryptic stranger, Charlotte discovers that much greater danger awaits her. And the mysteries behind who and what Joel is will lead Charlotte to discover that heaven and earth are not so far apart.

My Rating: 4.0 / 5

First thoughts:
I was positively surprised by Volition and I'm definitely looking forward to start its sequel soon, especially since the ending broke my heart a little bit. Its exciting plot and Shawn's beautiful style of writing turned this into a fast and easy read and made me wish to find out more about Charlotte and Joel soon.

More detailed:
Volition turned out to be a complete surprise for me. Even though I had read reviews about it a while ago, I somehow believed it to be a contemporary story. You can imagine my surprise, when I detected the first hints for a paranormal story and my happiness when these paranormal hints turned out to be true.

Charlotte is a quite intriguing character. One night changes her life completely and forces her to question herself and her decisions. I loved witnessing the story from her point of view, although at some points I grew a little bit tired of her mood swings: it seemed as though she couldn't really make up her mind what to feel/think. But at the same time she has a pleasant voice and this makes following her story very easy.

Joel, Charlotte's saviour, is the big mystery of Volition. Despite various hints being thrown in the reader's direction, it takes about 80% of the novel until we definitely find out more about his secret. At that point it was no longer a surprise and I wished that it had been unveiled earlier. But he's definitely a very crush-worthy male fictional character, especially since it's nice to have a "nice guy" to swoon over. There are many things I'd like to know about him and I'm looking forward to see his relationship to Charlotte develop.

Shawn Kirsten Maravel's writing style is absolutely gorgeous and I fell in love with it even before I started to crush on Joel. It's beautiful and detailed, but it doesn't overwhelm you with unnecessary information. All in all, I really enjoyed Volition and can definitely recommend this for others who are looking for a beautifully written, paranormal novel which doesn't rely on the bad-boy-cliché.

Note: I would recommend this novel for an older audience (16+) since the topic of rape is mentioned at some points.

Next novel in the series:

2. Severance

Have you read Volition? What did you think about it?

Do you plan to read it?

Carina

Review: Cicada by Belle Whittington

Cicada by Belle Whittington
Publisher: Self-Published
First published: July 14th, 2011
Source: Received from author
Pages: 235

Goodreads Summary:
Summertime had always been carefree and fun for Blair Reynolds and her friends--until they came upon something that was not human. As the group of friends band together in a fight for their lives, Blair's true love becomes something more than human...something unnatural. And their existence relies on their ability to keep a secret.

My Rating: 3.0 / 5

First thoughts:

Please let me point out how much I love this cover and how the novel reflects the mystery that we're already presented in this picture. For me it's a unique story, unlike anything I've read before and I definitely need to find out more about the story Belle Whittington has created. If you're looking for something else than your usual paranormal novels, pick up Cicada.

More detailed:

When I first started Cicada, I didn't expect it to be a story about aliens. I was surprised and completely unsure whether I would like this - after all, I haven't read any alien stories before and didn't know what to expect. But Belle Whittington's beautiful style of writing made me want to continue reading and I've definitely not regretted continuing this.

One evening in summer, Blair and her friends discover something that is both intriguing and scary at the same time. This discovery is followed by many questions, some of which have not been answered yet and make me want to have the second book already. Their world is turned upside down and I can only imagine what I would feel like if I were in their situation.

I have to admit that the first half of the book was a little bit slow, but I think this might be a subjective feeling since I was missing a few more romantic elements. Not everyone needs too much romance in their story, so it might be completely different for you. But I also have to say that the pace picked up during the second half and made it almost impossible to put down Cicada.

The characters we encounter are all very likeable and each of them has their own character traits. It's lovely to watch them interact with each other and to find out what they're thinking and dreaming about. All of them developed during the novel and I'm looking forward to see what Belle Whittington has planned for them in the future.

All in all, I'm very happy to have read Cicada. It has not only broadened my horizon since it's the first alien book I've ever read, but I'm also sure that I won't forget this story easily and will keep it with me until I can finally find out how it continues. It's a fast read and if you're looking for something different to read, you should definitely give this a chance.

---

Have you read Cicada? What did you think about it?

Do you plan to read it?

Carina

Review: Between the Land and the Sea by Derrolyn Anderson

Between the Land and the Sea by Derrolyn Anderson
Publisher: Self-Published
First published: March 19th, 2011
Source: Received from author
Pages: 261

Goodreads Summary:
Something extraordinary is lurking in the deep ocean waters off the coast of Aptos, California. Just a few weeks after moving to the beach town, sixteen year-old Marina has nearly drowned twice, enchanted the hottest guy in high school, and discovered a supernatural creature. If she can manage to survive her increasingly dangerous encounters with unpredictable mermaids, she might just be able to unlock the mystery of her past and learn how to appease the mysterious forces that seem to want something from her... and maybe even find true love along the way.

My Rating: 4.0 / 5

First thoughts:

This is a story which you'll want to read within a few hours and it's so wonderfully written that it's possible to achieve this. Since I had a lot of other things to do, I needed a little bit more than a day, but whenever I had time to read, I would pick this up and try to be a part of Marina's wonderful world again. Such a lovely novel!

More detailed:

Between the Land and the Sea is a story about a young girl who is thrown into the world of high school and crushes, while having to deal with the realization that she might have a close link to the paranormal world she is slowly discovering. It's beautifully written and I loved seeing Marina grow comfortable in Aptos, making friends and slowly finding out more about her heritage.

Marina is a very likeable character. Between the Land and the Sea is told by a first person narrator from her point of view and it's easy to relate to her feelings and to see the world from her perspective. I love how much she cares for the people who are close to her and how she has no problem to stick up for them. She's a very good friend, daughter and niece and overall a lovely main character.

All the other characters are really great, too. Ethan, Marina's love interest, is very down-to-earth and cares about other people just as much as Marina does. They're a good couple and I'm really looking forward to see how their relationship will develop in the future novels.

The other characters that we get to know better are great as well. I'm mostly thinking of Cruz, Marina's cousin, Megan, Cruz' best friend, and Abby, Marina's aunt. They all share Marina and Ethan's good character traits. But I have to admit that I would have preferred to see some flaws. They're so perfect - it's like they never make mistakes and I hope to see some more character development in the sequels.

But besides this, I really liked this novel. I haven't read many mermaid stories yet and I'm completely intrigued by the world Derrolyn Anderson has presented us so far. Hopefully Marina will find out more about the mermaids in the sequels since I'm definitely looking forward to see more of their world. All in all, Between the Land and the Sea is a wonderful novel that you should give a chance, if only to witness this beautiful style of writing.

Following novels of the series:

2. The Moon and the Tide
3. The Fate of the Muse

Have you read Between the Land and the Sea? What did you think about it?

Do you plan to read it?

Carina