*REVIEW* DESIRE by Kailin Gow

A Dystopian world where every one's future is planned out for them at age 18...whether it is what a person desires or not. Kama is about to turn 18 and she thinks her Life s Plan will turn out like her boyfriend's and friend's as they desired. But when she glimpse a young man who can communicate with her with his thoughts and knows her name...a young man with burning blue eyes and raven hair, who is dressed like no other in her world, she is left to question her Life's Plan and her destiny. Knowing the truth can destroy everyone...

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  Where do I start with this one...  I must say I have NEVER felt this conflicted about writing a review on one of Kailin Gow's books like I do with this one.  If you know me you know my deep love for her books and the passion and feeling that she pours into her books. This one was a completely riveting read that had me hooked from the first chapter but there were things that just got to me too.

  Kama is my biggest conflict in this book.  I loved her but she made me so down right angry at times I just wanted to scream.  Her life's plan means everything to her just like every other person in Arcadia.  Turning 18 and finding out what you are to do for the rest of your life is how things are run and no one ever questions it because that is what bring peace to this small state. However the fact that she seems to all but fall apart when her life's plan isn't what she wants drives me nuts.  She does some what redeem herself by trying to find answers and fight the decision.  In the process she learns that she has not one but two destiny's to choose from and making it could destroy everything she knows or save it.

  Liam is Kama's past and hopeful future.  He is also an all around awesome guy that can't see his life without her and honestly doesn't want to even consider life without her.  This guy seriously for once has me hooked on the good boy.  I know crazy right?!  However her was passionate, caring and didn't back down.  He fights for Kama and isn't swayed by others thoughts and opinions of her.  Even when it seems like the odds are against it and he should turn his back this boy just keeps on going!  He is one book good boy that I can honestly say that I hope can get the girl because man he deserves it!

  I would be lying to you if I said that I didn't find Torrent alluring.  He is totally drool over tall, dark and handsome kind of guy.  You know the one that your parents tell you to be careful of.  I could see the attraction to him I just couldn't feel it myself.  He was always holding something back from her and always seems like he has something to hide.  Personally I think I was thrown when he spoke to Kama in her mind and the first thing out of her mouth wasn't "WTF?"  I mean maybe minus the language but still she didn't even question it to start.

  There is a love triangle and this one actually kind of rubbed me the wrong way.  I am normally very VERY understanding about choosing between two awesome guys but this one kind of rubbed at me.  I really enjoyed all things Kama except how quickly and easily she changed boys! I mean she was all about whoever was right in front of her.  I don't expect her to choose off the hop but some amount of loyalty would be nice.
 I will be starting book two very very soon and have high hopes that my irritation will be cleared up a little.  The way this one ended made me feel like it might.  I know that the triangle wont just go away but I hope it becomes easier.


  The clarity of Gow's world building really shines in this book.  There was not a moment that I didn't see where I was.  The description of the field was amazing and I wanted to be there with Kama.  With such a clean and polished society it was easy to forget that the world outside of Arcadia is battered, broken and war torn.  The people are all compliant to say the least but that is really what it takes to be a part of what people see as a safe and stable world.


  This is the kind of book that I would recommend to people that are lovers of dystopian books but more importantly are lovers of love triangles.  I am eager to start the next book and see where everyone goes and who continues to fight.  Beyond that I can only say that I enjoyed this one but it isn't my favorite Gow book but I hope that the series will turn out to be one of my favorites!

{COVER REVEAL} Uncontrollable by S.R. Johannes

Today I am super excited to be a part of the Uncontrollable by S.R. Johannes 

COVER REVEAL!! If you are anything like me you have been waiting for this

moment from the second you read the first words from Untraceable. 

So without any further interruptions here it is:

As Grace recovers from tragedy, her science class is chosen by Agent Sweeney at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to help with research on the new "Red Wolf Reintroduction Program". 

While she’s excited about helping with the conservation of the endangered wolves, Grace knows this means being outdoors in the worst winter recorded, in a place she no longer feels comfortable. It also means working closely with Wyn (her ex) and his annoying girlfriend (Skyler), a girl whose idea of getting close to nature is growing silk plants. 

After a couple wolves show up dead, Grace almost quits. When a fellow project team member goes missing, Grace continues the assignment under a renewed suspicion that someone might be sabotaging the conservation program. She quietly begins to hunt for clues. 

Little does she know, she is being hunted too. 

And possibly by more than one person.


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Add it to your GOODREADS 

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PRAISES FOR UNTRACEABLE

"Grace is a spunky, independent, nature girl who doesn't need a boy to save her. With wilderness survival, a juicy love triangle, and more twists and turns than a roller coaster, this fast-paced novel had me holding my breath until the very last page—and still begging for more!" -Kimberly Derting, author of the The Body Finder series (Harper Teen) and The Pledge series (S&S)

"This thrilling story is a dramatic entanglement of mystery, deception and teen romance. The action flows like a brisk mountain stream interspersed with rapids, holding suspense to last page." 

- Kirkus Reviews

"Johannes has done a marvelous job of creating a suspense-filled mystery with surprises that keep you guessing all the way to the end. Untraceable is a thoroughly engrossing and riveting page-turner."

-IndieReader

Bio

S.R. Johannes is the author of award-winning and Amazon bestselling Untraceable (a teen wilderness thriller) and new tween paranormal, On The Bright Side. She has also published short novelettes as well as a teen romance anthology with 16 other authors titled, In His Eyes.  Uncontrollable, the sequel to Untraceable, is scheduled for September 2012.

S.R. Johannes is a winner of the 2012 IndieReader Discovery Awards (Young Adult) and was also recently nominated for as Georgia Author of the Year (Young Adult).

After earning an MBA and working in corporate America, S.R. Johannes traded in her expensive suits, high heels, and corporate lingo for a family, flip-flops, and her love of writing.  She lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her dog, British-accented husband, and the huge imaginations of their little prince and princess, which she hopes- someday- will change the world.  

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Note:  There will be a Cover Contest running on S.R. Johannes blog

starting Monday and running through July!! So don't miss it.

Blog link so you don't miss out: http://www.srjohannes.com/

*REVIEW* The Dark Divine by Bree Despain

Grace Divine, daughter of the local pastor, always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared--the night she found her brother Jude collapsed on the porch, covered in his own blood--but she has no idea what a truly monstrous secret that night held.

The memories her family has tried to bury resurface when Daniel returns, three years later, and enrolls in Grace and Jude's high school. Despite promising Jude she'll stay away, Grace cannot deny her attraction to Daniel's shocking artistic abilities, his way of getting her to look at the world from new angles, and the strange, hungry glint in his eyes.

The closer Grace gets to Daniel, the more she jeopardizes her life, as her actions stir resentment in Jude and drive him to embrace the ancient evil Daniel unleashed that horrific night. Grace must discover the truth behind the boy's dark secret...and the cure that can save the ones she loves. But she may have to lay down the ultimate sacrifice to do it--her soul.

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  I think my hope and expectations were set just a little high with this one.  Going into the book I didn't really know what to expect but I expected it to be a bit more.  The bold words had me thinking that this was going to be intense right from the start and I guess that is a lot to expect from hitting the bold button.  Once I decided to be a little more realistic and managed to get into the book I did enjoy it.  

  The best part was actually the characters.


   I loved Grace.  She always wanted to do the right thing and I am used to the MC just doing it but she always had this inner debate.  It wasn't always easy for her to do what she thought was right and sometimes she didn't do what was right but what she felt should be done.  I would be lying if I didn't admit at times that I would like to smack her for giving in but she normally quickly fixed this issue and continued on her way.  She really for the most part lives up to her name of Grace Divine.  


  Daniel was such a torn and broken character for the most part.  It's not that he doesn't want to do the right thing so much as he doesn't think he is capable of doing the right thing.  His affection for Grace shines through loud and clear yet he tries to make it so that she wont care for him.  His rough background and sketchy living arrangements scream bad boy but I always felt there was something a little more pure and  caring than what was around him.


  Grace's family was another awesome set of characters.  Her dad the pastor probably being my favorite book pastor EVER.  He practices faith the way it should be as far as I am concerned.  He lives believing people should actively practice forgiveness and grace.  However he never becomes preachy or pushy about his beliefs but he does stand firm to them.   Her brother cares so strongly about her that at times he seems overbearing but they are a closely knit family.


  April and Pete made me want to pull my hair out most of the time but they did play their parts.  April is SUPPOSED to be Grace's best friend...  Although I am not sure how a best friend can be even considered a friend when they spend more time worried about your brother.  Yup, you heard me.  She crushed on him which was fine but then it was like she forgot Grace existed the second Jude paid any attention to her.  Pete for appearance sake seemed sweet but I just could never get over feeling like he had a hidden agenda!


  I think what really got me down with the book was the pace and the story itself.  It was plain.  I am not hard to please when it comes to writing style but this one was just over simplistic for me.  Outside of the well defined characters there wasn't really anything for me.  No world building or out there twists, just a basic line that continued on straight and steady.  I give it credit for being consistent and not jumping everywhere but I disliked the complete predictability of it all.  Being honest there was a bit of a jump at the end (I did somewhat expect it) and that gave me hope for the next book.


  I will continue on with this series because of how many awesome things I have heard about it and its promise.  There is a lot of potential to take the already developed characters and build an awesome world around them while spicing things up a little with where the story turned.  I don't expect things to change completely but I would like to see a little more excitement and a few extra twists in.  This is a promising series and I still have high hopes that I will end up loving it! 
  

   

"Because I'm a Slacker" - Giveaway

This is simply because I'm a slacker.....

And because I <3 ALL of you! 

Sorry for not being around lately, I have been SWAMPED with life, but I do have a couple of great reviews coming up!

Onto the giveaway :)

Here's what's up for grabs:

Just FEED the Copter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*REVIEW* Mermaid by Carolyn Turgeon

Princess Margrethe has been hidden away while her kingdom is at war. One gloomy, windswept morning, as she stands in a convent garden overlooking the icy sea, she witnesses a miracle: a glittering mermaid emerging from the waves, a nearly drowned man in her arms. By the time Margrethe reaches the shore, the mermaid has disappeared into the sea. As Margrethe nurses the handsome stranger back to health, she learns that not only is he a prince, he is also the son of her father's greatest rival. Sure that the mermaid brought this man to her for a reason, Margrethe devises a plan to bring peace to her kingdom.

Meanwhile, the mermaid princess Lenia longs to return to the human man she carried to safety. She is willing to trade her home, her voice, and even her health for legs and the chance to win his heart...

A surprising take on the classic tale, Mermaid is the story of two women with everything to lose. It will make you think twice about the fairy tale you heard as a child, keeping you in suspense until the very last page.

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  This is probably one of my twists on a fairy tale retelling.  The story was told from 2 points of view. Lenia the beautiful mermaid princess and Margrethe, the princess of the north.  Both believe that they have fallen in love and are willing to sacrifice everything to get the prince to love them back.  Ultimately you know one will end up broken hearted and as I read dread filled me that either one of these girls would loose everything.  It was a beautiful retelling in all of its dark and sad ways.

  Lenia has always dreamed of life above.  It was all she could do to wait until her 18th birthday to visit above.  On that day her entire life changes.  She sees death and how fragile human life really is and meets the man that changes it all.  Instead of shying away she only becomes more determined to be a part of the world above.  Her love grows and determination to be above and with him seems worth every sacrifice that she will have to make.  I love her for this, for every bit of her beauty she has ten times the strength.  What she chooses and the consequences that she must deal with are amazing and horrifying all at once.

  Margrethe is the princess of the north.  She is well loved by her father and has lived a very sheltered and protected life.  When a hansom stranger is left for her to save she finds herself with a lot more than she bargained for.   What I loved about Margrethe was the same thing that drove me nuts.  She is so darn stubborn.  When she decides she must be with the Prince and he WILL love her that is how it is.  When she finds that the Prince loves another she decides that she still must be with him love or not. 

  There really wasn't much of the prince in this story rather than the girls talking about him.  He is the heir to the throne in the south and some what of a charmer.  Upon him first meeting Lenia and the bit of interaction they had to start I grew irritated at him.  However given the type of time period that this is written in I get it.  He is true to royal behaviour and to a point I respect that.  He wants to follow his heart but does his needs out weigh that of his kingdom.  When faced with that choice it's not like he takes the decision lightly.  It's hard to like him but his role in the book in undeniable. 

  In the end my heart broke with the girls.  I mean tears in my eyes wish I could run and  stop it all from happening.  This is a heartbreaking and at the same time beautiful tale of two girls that just want to follow their hearts.  Carolyn Turgeon's writing was smooth and mesmerizing right from the start and I couldn't help but feel the start of heartbreak then.  There are so many ways I wish this book had ended and many more that I wanted it to end.  However when it came down to it, it ended in heartbreak and tears the way it should have.  This book is proof that happily ever after is not always easy and just because you risk it all doesn't mean you get what you want.

{Waiting on Wednesday} TRANSCEND by Christine Fonseca

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spineand spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I am DYING to get my hands on:

All seventeen-year-old composer Ien Montgomery desires is an escape from his family's rigid expectations for his life; someone to inspire his music. When he meets a beautiful violin-prodigy, Kiera McDougal, his life music takes on new life. With her, he imagines a future outside of his parents’ control. That is, until a horrible accident tears them apart. 

Sent to die in a sanatorium, Ien’s obsession for Kiera grows unbearable. Tortured by thoughts he can’t escape and the truth of his monstrous disfigurement, he flees, desperate to exact revenge on the people that ruined his life – his parents. But, vengeance is empty. Betrayed by those closest to him, Ien discovers that the price for his happiness may be his sanity.

Set amidst the landscape of New York's Gilded Age, and inspired by Phantom of the Opera, TRANSCEND exposes the fine line between love and madness.

Expected Release Date: September 18, 2012

Published by: Compass Press

Why am I waiting on this?!

1.  Well I LOVE Christine's work and honestly I get more excited with each book that she releases!

2.   LOOK at the cover!!

3.  I have always loved The Phantom of the Opera and this sounds like such a promising twist on it!

4.  I really can't get over all of the emotion and heart break I feel coming already!

Well that is what I am waiting on this week, what are you waiting on?!

Make sure you link me up to your !! I love adding new and awesome books

to my need list :) 

*REVIEW* PARANORMALCY by Kiersten White

Weird as it is working for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, Evie’s always thought of herself as normal. Sure, her best friend is a mermaid, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she's falling for a shape-shifter, and she's the only person who can see through paranormals' glamours, but still. Normal.

Only now paranormals are dying, and Evie's dreams are filled with haunting voices and mysterious prophecies. She soon realizes that there may be a link between her abilities and the sudden rash of deaths. Not only that, but she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.

So much for normal.

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  This book belongs on a shelf called "Why the heck did I not read this sooner?!"  I had heard from a close girlfriend that this book was awesome.  Then a super awesome blogger friend asked me why I hadn't read it.  Now I know why they couldn't understand why I hadn't picked this book up yet.  It is truly awesome and super original.  There is not much that I didn't love about this book.

  Evie has lived her life believing what the people around her have told her.  She believed that she was just a normal girl with an abnormal talent.  She was however not normal.  Being only 16 and working for  International Paranormal Containment Agency (IPCA) with the ability to see through every type of paranormal glamour makes her special.  She is kick ass when it comes to her job and will make you smile frequently with her love for "tasey."   She does however wish for more or less I should say.  She wants to be a normal teen that goes to a normal school and does normal things.  

  For love we have Lend.  He is super amazing.  I instantly fell in love with him.  Oh ya you heard me I had a case of insta love.  Lend is totally unique and when he walks onto the pages he is nothing short of completely intriguing.  Even though he is tased and locked up he doesn't really seem to get angry but he doesn't become an open book either.  He becomes Evie's link to normal and someone to lean on.  


  There is a certain mysterious element to the story and it will keep you guessing throughout the book.   I kind of had it figured out for the most part but questioned it a couple of times.  It's one of those things where you think you know but you aren't sure.  The thing that got me was how obvious it all was when  I realized but how it was written in there so well that you don't pick it out right away.


  This is a book I would recommend to EVERYONE!  It has mystery, action and romance.  I can't wait to pick up Supernaturally and find out how everything continues!!    If you are like me and have this on your shelf but haven't picked it up yet (I have now obviously lol) I would highly suggest that you do so.  It's a book that needs to be picked up.