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Review: Forbidden by Syrie James and Ryan M. James

Title: Forbidden
Author: Syrie James and Ryan M. James
Pages: 410 pages paperback, 416 ebook
Rating: ★★★★

I went into Forbidden with low expectations. It was one of those books that sounded like it could be amazing, and so I went into it expecting a book that didn’t meet expectations. That sounds a little twisted, I know, but I figured if a book sounded this good, then it probably wasn’t going to be. So to say I was pleasantly surprised by Forbidden is putting it simply.

Claire is a normal 17 year old girl who starts to get strange visions of past and future events, as well as mysterious messages from someone she doesn’t know. Just as all this starts to happen, Alec shows up. While Alec isn’t the cause of these new, strange occurrences, he doesn’t have an explanation. As Claire and Alec begin their romance, they soon discover whatever they feel is forbidden.

The story itself doesn’t sound completely unique. Boy meets girl. Angels are involved. Boy can’t date girl. However, Syrie and Ryan manage to make a unique story out of an ordinary plot. There are enough twists and turns to keep things interesting. Plus, the spin on angels is a little bit different and it really works to set the novel apart.

Claire is a teenager and she acts like a teenager, albeit a mature one. She does the typical teen thing, although she thankfully doesn’t fall into the love triangle trap. She has amazing friends and, here’s the shocker, she actually works to keep them in her life after things start to change. For some reason, in a lot of Young Adult paranormal novels, the friends from the beginning are slowly cut out of the picture and that always bugs me. Erica and Brian don’t let Claire push them aside, and Claire makes sure to include them as she tries to figure everything out.

I wish we got a little bit more of Alec characterization. He’s a fantastic guy and does have his swoon worthy moments, but he’s not different. There’s nothing that really sets his apart from other Young Adult male leads. He’s written well and he’s a sweet guy, but I feel like I say that about every guy. I could have gone for something a little different.

There were a few other moments when the novel just seemed to get choppy all of a sudden and there were a couple times when phrases or sentences just felt weird or out of place, and those are the only things holding me back from falling completely in love with the story.

As it looks right now, Forbidden is a single novel, even though the authors have more to write. I really hope this changes and there will be more Claire and Alec to read in the future. I want to know what happens to these two.

If Forbidden sounds like your kind of book, you can purchase it here:
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IndieBound

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Review: Nobody But Us by Kristin Halbrook

Title: Nobody But Us
Author: Kristin Halbrook
Pages: 272 pages paperback
Rating: ★★★★

Nobody But Us is not Bonnie and Clyde meets If I Stay. It’s not. If I were to rate it only based on those comparisons, it’d be 1.5 stars. Yes, there’s a bit of a Bonnie and Clyde feel, in that it’s a couple on the run, but Will and Zoe are more than that.

Zoe runs away from home with Will. She’s only 15, he’s 18. Their dream is to just run away from their pasts and their problems, and to start life fresh. They do have a bit of a plan, so they aren’t completely clueless, but they’re living on their dream. Then reality crashes on them and they are each forced to make big decisions about their future together.

Zoe seems a bit mature for her age at times, and then at other times it’s easy to tell she’s only 15. I believe she believes she is in love, even if I’m not sure what she actually feels is love. Will offers her kindness and a way out, when everyone else in the town turns their backs and ignores the truth. I think Zoe falls in love with that, with the white knight, but it can be hard to tell as you read the novel.

Will breaks my heart. He could have been so much more, but he’s given up on a system that gave up on him. He believes he is the only person he can trust and rely on all the time, but he wants to be better for Zoe. He wants to be the kind of guy he thinks she deserves, even if he goes about it the wrong way. Every decision he makes for the two of them breaks my heart just a little bit more.

I can see where people might have issues with the destructiveness of their relationship, and to be fair, it isn’t a healthy relationship, not by a long shot. Will has temper issues and needs to learn how to control his violent urges. Zoe needs to be able to stand up for herself more and not rely on someone else to prove her worth. However, not once did I get the feeling this book was supposed to be a sweet romance.

It was a book about how a destructive relationship destroys. It turns the good into bad and it makes happy endings hard to come by. Maybe that’s just how I viewed the novel. I just felt as though the point wasn’t to write a relationship that has typical teen issues, it was to write a relationship that was self-destructive not only to the relationship as a whole, but to the two individuals.

Nobody But Us was a rough, gritty novel that pulls are your heart and makes you hope, all the while, you know things can’t end well. It’s not like If I Stay meets Bonnie and Clyde, but it is a good book. Definitely worth a read.

If Nobody But Us sounds like your kind of read, you can purchase it here:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
IndieBound

Thank you to HarperTeen and Edelweiss for an advanced copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton

Title: Angelfire
Author: Courtney Allison Moulton
Series: Angelfire series
Rating: ★★★

I liked Angelfire. I wasn’t wowed by it, but it also wasn’t even close to being dull or hard to read.

Heaven versus Hell books run the risk of either being too preachy or way too different from “the originals” and losing readers either way. Angelfire was able to straddle the line well, sticking to Ellie’s discovery of her true self and finding a way to defeat the bad guys. The angels and Fallen angels play a big part, but there isn’t a focus on going to Hell or getting into Heaven.

Ellie is the typical teen. She wants to graduate, get into college, and spend as much time as possible with her friends while doing that. She starts having nightmares that feel entirely too real, and then on her 17th birthday, the nightmares become her life. Enter Will.

Will is Ellie’s guardian. He has been watching over her and basically being her partner in crime for the past 500 years. It’s easy to see right from the beginning how Will feels about Ellie. He may not know Ellie, the body, but he knows the soul well. All he wants to do is make sure she stays safe and alive.

The action is intense and I liked that. If an author can write a scene in a book well enough that I can picture the entire thing in my head, I consider it well-written. Every scene was like that. It played out in my head with every word I read.

Angelfire is a good book. It’s not the most spectacular Angel and Fallen Angel story out there, but it’s pretty good. I’m definitely invested enough to want to read the rest of Ellie and Will’s story, but I don’t need it at this exact moment. I will certainly be reading more, but I might wait until the last book comes out, just so I don’t have much waiting time between.

If Angelfire sounds like your kind of book, you can purchase it here:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
IndieBound

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Review: Don’t Turn Around by Michelle Gagnon

Title: Don’t Turn Around
Author: Michelle Gagnon
Series: PERSEPHoNE series
Rating: ★★★★

Don’t Turn Around sounded like a promising book. It had a different plot, interesting sounding characters and I felt it had the potential to be great. For the most part, it was. The only thing I can fault is not being able to fully connect with the characters, however I’m going to hope that since this is the first in a series, there will more to the next two books.

Noa is a foster kid runaway. She lives off the grid and has found ways of taking care of herself. She’s a genius when it comes to hacking and she’s got a pretty severe attachment to her computer. She wakes up one day on a cold table, an IV in her arm, and a scar down her chest. Right away, we are thrown into the middle of the action.

Don’t Turn Around really packs in the action. Peter and Noa are constantly on the move, running and hiding from the people that cut Noa open. There are very few safe places they can go and they aren’t sure who they can trust. Gagnon writes the action very well. It’s clear enough to picture in your head, but it’s not too simple. It really plays out like an action movie.

I’m glad there wasn’t a full-blown romance in this book. It would have felt a little rushed and possibly a little forced, I think. Instead, there’s a foundation built. There’s clearly something there, but it’s not a love story yet. I like that there’s the potential, but that the focus was kept on the mystery aspect of the plot.

Overall, Don’t Turn Around is a strong start to a promising series. I wish there had been a little more character building, but the base is there and I feel like Gagnon could really do something great with this series. I can’t wait to see what comes next.

If Don’t Turn Around sounds like your kind of book, you can purchase it here:
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Audible
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Review: Hooked by Liz Fichera

Title: Hooked
Author: Liz Fichera
Series: Hooked series
Rating: ★★★★

I was pretty excited to read this book. It had an interesting twist on the usual high school love story and I couldn’t wait to see just how Fichera had the story unfold.

The book opens right away with Fred joining the team. For Fred, this golf team means the opportunity to do what she loves and possibly got a college scholarship. A college scholarship would mean the chance to do something more than waitressing with her life.

At first, Ryan is annoyed that his best friend Seth’s golf team spot is given to Fred, no tryout needed. He doesn’t see it as fair and doesn’t see how she could be good enough to compete with the boys. After their first tournament, his opinion starts to change, even though Seth is still set on making her life miserable. It doesn’t help when Ryan starts to have more than friendly feelings towards her. Not only does Seth see this as a betrayal, but Ryan’s maybe girlfriend, Gwyneth, isn’t too fond of his feelings either. Pretty soon, Seth and Gwyneth start to bully and antagonize Fred in retaliation.

The romance between Ryan and Fred has a slow build. At first, Ryan came barely stand to look at her. After their first tournament, he starts to respect her and that builds into a tentative friendship. From there, a sweet little love starts to grow. It’s a sweet romance and it just makes you smile and feel good.

The one thing I wish was different about this book is Fred’s reaction to the bullying. I wanted her to stand up for herself just a little bit more. She didn’t have to be confrontational, but there were some moments when I wish she would have said or done something more.

Overall, Hooked is a great book and it’s definitely one I’d recommend. The golfing twist keeps it fresh, but the love keeps you happy.

If Hooked sounds like your kind of book, you can purchase it here:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
IndieBound

Thank you to HarlequinTeen and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.

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Year End Review

2012 is ending and it’s time to take a look back. After doing the 52 Book Challenge in 2011, I had finally figured out what I wanted to do for a living. I started working on getting my degree this year and can’t wait until I finally get there. It will be a good feeling.

I read 80 books last year. I wanted to try for 100 this year.

I read 125.

Books have always been my way of escaping my real life. Having the ability to read a few words and be transported to somewhere else is why I love reading. I get fully engrossed and the real world fades away. It’s the best feeling in the world.

I wrote a book this year. It’s about the summer trips my grandparents used to take my sister, my cousin, and me on. It’s only for me and my family, but still…I wrote a book. Reading all these books throughout my life has given me a love of words and I finally feel comfortable enough to try my hand at writing the book I want to read.

So in 2013, my goals are to keep doing well in my classes, read 100 books again, and to write my own book. Those are pretty lofty goals, but I’m up for the challenge.

Thank you all for reading my reviews and I hope you all have a fantastic new year.

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Review: Easy by Tammara Webber

Title: Easy
Author: Tammara Webber
Rating: ★★★★

I am definitely glad I didn’t let my lack of enthusiasm for the last book of Webber’s I read get in the way of me reading Easy. It is, obviously, a very different type of book, but Webber does an amazing job of handling a tough situation and she does it in a way that feels incredibly real.

Jacqueline followed her boyfriend to college instead of pursuing her own dreams for after high school. Everything seems fine until partway through her sophomore year, he dumps her. She still goes with her best friend/roommate to a frat party, but when she is attempting to leave, she is sexually assaulted.

This book is about her coming to terms with what happened, finding a way to empower herself to not be afraid, and a little romance.

To me, the most important part of this book was the parts that dealt with the aftermath of the assault. One thing constantly repeated in the book was “it’s not your fault.” It should be a simple concept to understand, but Webber demonstrates perfectly how society tries to make excuses and look at everything else except the truth. It’s unfortunate and needs to stop.

The other part of the book was the romance. It was sweet and unforced. I figured out the twist almost immediately, but that didn’t take away from my enjoyment. Lucas is a wonderful, sweet nerd who works his hardest to overcome his past. I wasn’t exactly head over heels for him, but he was still wonderful.

Erin, the best friend, is one of the best written friends I’ve read in a novel. She is supportive and always there for Jacqueline. She even signs up for and attends self-defense classes with Jacqueline. She’s the best friend everyone needs.

Easy deals with an extremely tough topic, but in a sensitive and realistic way. It doesn’t shy away from what needs to be said. There’s even a little love in there to make hearts smile. If you don’t mind the tough subject matter, this is definitely worth a read.

If Easy sounds like your kind of book, you can purchase it here:
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Audible
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IndieBound

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Review: The Edge of Never by J.A. Redmerski

Title: The Edge of Never
Author: J.A. Redmerski
Series: The Edge of Never series
Rating: ★★★★★

I love books that make me cry because of how good they are. Books that really reach in, grab your heart, and twist it every time they can. The Edge of Never is one of those books.

Camryn is stuck in her life. She had dreams and plans, but things fell apart. Instead of getting away from people’s expectations and traveling the world with her boyfriend, she works at a department store, hasn’t gone to college, and has to be practically forced by her best friend to even try and put herself out there. So when she’s finally reached the end of her rope, she buys a bus ticket to anywhere, just to leave.

It’s on her bus ride across the country where she meets Andrew. He’s using the bus ride to prolong the trip to Wyoming to see his dying father. From the beginning, it’s easy to tell this trip isn’t going to be what either of them thought it would be.

Cam’s depression is something that I can understand. She’s at a point in life where she just wants to feel something. Anger, sadness, happiness…she doesn’t care which, she just wants to feel. Being with Andrew makes her feel again, both the good and the bad things.

I’m glad they didn’t have that “insta-love” because that wouldn’t have felt real. Both Andrew and Cam needed to work through things before they could get to place where a relationship is something that wouldn’t be destructive. The easy-going feeling of their first interactions really sets up the rest of their relationship. For them, laughter is what helps heal their wounds.

For as happy as the novel made me feel, there was always a storm cloud waiting in the background. I was waiting for it to hit because I knew it would be the heart-twisting moment. And boy, did it hit hard.

The Edge of Never is a book that you can’t put down. Your heart will be in your throat the entire time. It makes you think about life, love, and finding a way to live your life for the moment instead of focusing on what has happened in the past or what is coming in the future. It’s definitely one of my favorite books of the year.

If The Edge of Never sounds like your kind of book, you can purchase it here:
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Audible
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Review: Blood Sisters: The Women Behind the Wars of the Roses by Sarah Gristwood

Title: Blood Sisters: The Women Behind the Wars of the Roses
Author: Sarah Gristwood
Rating: ★★★★

I’ve only recently become interested in the time of the Cousin’s War, and mainly because of Philippa Gregory’s latest novel series. So when I came across this book dealing with the women of the time, I knew I wanted to give it a read.

Not a lot can be known for certain about the women discussed in this book. The records are spotty and not always reliable to begin with, but women weren’t usually considered important enough to have much written about them. It truly is a shame, because it seems as though these women played a huge part in getting England through this crazy time.

Each of the women has an interesting story, but some played a greater part than others. Margaret Beaufort worked nearly her entire life to get to her final position of mother of a king. Elizabeth Woodville came up from a low position to become queen. Her daughter saw how easily fortunes could change, but still made it through it all to become one half of the marriage that united a country divided.

Sometimes, books such as this one can become a little boring and textbook-like. There were parts of the book I glazed over, mostly because the material being discussed wasn’t all too interesting, like how much money was spent on what things, but overall the book kept me interested enough that I really took my time to read this. I wanted to gain a bit of knowledge from this book that I wouldn’t have otherwise found.

If you’re interested in the history of the Cousin’s War and want to learn more about it, this is definitely a good book to pick up.

If Blood Sisters sounds like your kind of book, you can purchase it here:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
IndieBound

Thank you to Basic Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: Possess by Gretchen McNeil

Title: Possess
Author: Gretchen McNeil
Rating: ★★★★

The first few chapters of Possess did not draw me in. They felt a little rough around the edges and I was worried this was going to be another book that got high praise from others and left me baffled.

Once the book got introductions and explanations over and could settle into the actual story, it got better. So much better.

I was expecting a book that relied heavily on religion to make a point. For the first few chapters, it seemed like that would be the direction the book took. Thankfully, the religion aspects of the novel were secondary. The story focused more on Bridget as she came to terms with her father’s death, her seemingly new power, and a possible love interest.

Bridget has the power to banish demons. She only recently discovered this power and it’s giving her a lot of self-doubt. She wasn’t looking for anything like this. She hasn’t really come to terms with the death of her father, plus she’s just like any normal teenage girl trying to find her way through the maze that is the high school years. She was a little immature at times, but that fit her character. I was happy she wasn’t some perfectly put together fifteen year old; she was a fifteen year old that had to grow up a little too fast, but she was still 15.

Matt was sweet. He isn’t my favorite Young Adult love interest, but he was nice enough and made me smile. He works hard to get Bridget to see him as more than the annoying son of a cop and I’m glad he got through to her. I can see him being her strength when she needs it.

The story wrapped up nicely, but left it open for more. It’s clear Possess is its own story, and I’m thankful for that. I’m also thankful the ending was left open for more.

Possess is a book that surprised me. It got off to a slightly shaky start, but as soon as the action and mystery kicked in, it became a page-turner.

If Possess sounds like your kind of book, you can purchase it here:
Amazon
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IndieBound