Monday, October 21, 2013

Char by Mercy Amare Review

Grammarly

I use Grammarly's free online grammar checker because using bad grammar is like wearing your skirt tucked inside your underwear.

Review


Date Published: October 11, 2013

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Number of Pages: 228

Publisher: Self-Published

First Thoughts:

I absolutely fell in love with this book. It took me a little bit to be sucked into the story but once I was hooked, I was a goner. The story was so sweet and delicious that I found myself flying through the pages. I liked the idea of the story and the romance involved. I really enjoyed the ups and downs Char had to go through, it made the story that much more interesting. This was definitely a story I very much enjoyed reading.

Goodreads Summary:

I’m Charlotte York, but you can call me Char.

My life is perfect. Except for the fact that my older sister is posing naked for Playboy. And my mom wants me to be just like her. Oh, and I caught my boyfriend cheating on me. But other than that, it’s definitely perfect... Until the paparazzi publishes a picture of me smoking weed.

Now I am being forced to move to NYC with my dad. Too bad I hate New York.

At least there is Tristan Becker. He makes NY better. But he won’t date me because he thinks my best friend is in love with me. Which is absolutely not true... Or at least I don't think it is.

As you can see my life is just... perfect.

Plot:

This was a story of self-discovery and teenage drama. I liked that we got to see Char go through all of the obstacles that you would find in a normal high school. There was also the added drama of having two sisters being in the acting and modeling business. The sisters really added a new layer to the story. It added in more drama that made the story more enjoyable to read. As far as the pace of the book, I thought it was kind of fast, I wasn’t lying when I said I flew through the pages. So overall, the plot was interesting and kept my attention/

Romance:

I loved the romance in this book, it was so sweet and amazing to read. I really enjoyed the suspense and heartache we felt alongside Char. Their relationship was so real and true, they had their obstacles but they were able to meet them with their head held high. I thought the two of them were such a perfect fit; their personalities were compatible. So overall, I really enjoyed this aspect of the story.

Characters:

I enjoyed the characters in this story, they all had their own personality and were such deep and lovable characters. Char was a little difficult for me to connect with in the beginning but as I got to know her, that connection slowly formed. Char’s mom really was beautifully crafted. The author was able to capture this woman in a way that made the relationship between the two more real and true. As for the other characters they each had their own role to play and I didn’t see an unnecessary characters.

Transformation of the Character:

This has got to be one of the most beautiful transformations I’ve seen in a while. Char started out as this totally neutral person. She surfed and hung out with her best friend and there wasn’t much more to tell of her. But as the story progresses she becomes this whole new person, someone who is vibrant and so determined. I enjoyed seeing her transform and really enjoyed reading it. The transformation was gradual to so it made it more believable/

Description:

I enjoyed the description in this book; the emotions were well portrayed in this story. The feeling of being in love; being absolutely content was fun to read. I could definitely feel the happiness and heartache Char went through. As for the scenery and landscapes I think the author did a good job on describing each new place, I was really able to picture each new scene. Like the penthouse and the Hampton’s mansions were both very vivid. Therefore, in the end the description really added a nice texture to the story.

Style:

This was written in one POV and in first person. I thought the idea of only being in Char’s POV was good, this story was really about her and the person she became. So having it in just her POV allowed the reader to really see her side of the story and no mix thoughts. Being in first person allowed the reader to better connect with the character and understand her line of thinking. As for the writing itself I found it just as enjoyable as her other books. There’s just something about the way she writes that just sucks me in. So in the end the style was really good and made a good fit to the story.

Quote of the book:

“This is my little piece of perfect paradise and I can’t wait to see what happens next.”

Last Thoughts:

I would recommend this to a more mature audience. Some foul language and instances that are not suited for younger readers. However, I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more writing by this author. I thought the ending was sweet and to the point but I’m still wondering if there’s more to tell from Char. I felt like it was rushed a little but it was good in the end. Overall, I enjoyed this book.

My Rating:




Friday, October 18, 2013

Pawn by Aimee Carter Review

Date to be Published: November 26, 2013

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Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Number of Pages: 346

First Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this unique story. The idea of being marked is a little scary to me, I don’t think I would want my whole life determined by one test given by the government. Just think of all the pressure you’d have….nope not for me. But the book was really good to the point that it discussed identity issues and what it’s like to be another person. This book was fun to read and I had no trouble finishing it. It was one of those books you just didn’t want to put down.

Goodreads Summary:

YOU CAN BE A VII. IF YOU GIVE UP EVERYTHING.

For Kitty Doe, it seems like an easy choice. She can either spend her life as a III in misery, looked down upon by the higher ranks and forced to leave the people she loves, or she can become a VII and join the most powerful family in the country.

If she says yes, Kitty will be Masked—surgically transformed into Lila Hart, the Prime Minister's niece, who died under mysterious circumstances. As a member of the Hart family, she will be famous. She will be adored. And for the first time, she will matter.

There's only one catch. She must also stop the rebellion that Lila secretly fostered, the same one that got her killed …and one Kitty believes in. Faced with threats, conspiracies and a life that's not her own, she must decide which path to choose—and learn how to become more than a pawn in a twisted game she's only beginning to understand.

Plot:

This dealt with becoming someone else, about an identity being erased. I really liked the idea of how everyone was separated due to their talents. Though if you ask me a test can’t always show someone’s true talent. I thought the idea of being masked and becoming this person who is highly admired was pretty cool. The idea was there and executed. This wasn’t just about becoming one of the most admired girl but about becoming someone you once hated and having to deal with the consequences. This was a story about discovering what you’re capable of and just how far you’re willing to go to save not only your life but the life on one you love. There were a couple of hard to read scenes, I’m glad the author chose not to go into too much detail with those particular scenes but they were there none the less. The pace of the book was fast, the pages really flew by.

Romance:

I really enjoyed the romance in this book. The sweet tender love she had for Benjy was cute and lovable. The romance was a little different in this book due to her being masked. The person she became was engaged to another man and therefore she now has two love interests in her life but her heart only belongs to one. So overall, I enjoyed the romance in this story and liked that it was a bit different.

Characters:

I enjoyed the characters in this book, Kitty was a little hard to connect with in the beginning but after a while her character grew on me. I have to say Knox or Benjy have to be my favorite characters, they just had so much depth and special quality to them that the others didn’t. All the characters had their own role to play and I didn’t see any unnecessary characters in the story.

Transformation of the Character:

This one’s a little difficult to explain. Yes Kitty technically transformed, she was masked after all but I don’t think Kitty herself really transformed all that much. She changed a little bit throughout the story but she didn’t necessarily change all that much. Since this is book one in this series I think there’s plenty of time for Kitty to transform, you want it more believable and to do that you make the transformation gradually.

Description:

I thought the author did a great job at describing the scenery. I had no trouble picturing each scene and the world she was trying to create. The description of Kitty’s emotions were really good. You could really feel the fear and happiness she felt. The pain and sorrow of having to become someone else; to leave behind your old identity…it was all well described. As for the mood of the book the author did a good job of creating an atmosphere that fit with the description of the book. Each scene was beautifully described.

Style:

This was written in one POV and in first person. I think that this was exactly what the book needed. Just having Kitty’s POV was enough to give the reader enough leverage on what was happening in the story. And also it left the reader blind to certain aspects to the story that left the reader surprised. As for being written in first person that allowed the reader to get a one on one account of what Kitty was thinking and allowing a better connection to Kitty. We were able to relate to her more. As for the author’s writing it’s just as good as it was in the Goddess Test series. I fell in love with the simple yet elegant style of writing and couldn’t stop reading till the end.

Quote of the book:

“The moment I stepped out of the Stronghold, any part of me that was still Kitty Doe would cease to exist, and I would be Lila until the day they didn’t need me anymore. And when that happened, all I would be was dead.”

Last Thoughts:

I would recommend this to YA readers and to any fans of Aimee Carter’s writing. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to continuing Kitty’s story. There’s so much left to be explored of this book and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for us. So overall I did enjoy this book and thought it was unique and creative.

My Rating:


Friday, October 11, 2013

Just Released!!

Title:  Char

Author:  Mercy Amare

Genre:  NA Romance

BLURB:

I’m Charlotte York, but you can call me Char.

My life is perfect. Except for the fact that my older sister is posing naked for Playboy. And my mom wants me to be just like her. Oh, and I caught my boyfriend cheating on me. But other than that, it’s definitely perfect… Until the paparazzi publishes a picture of me smoking weed.

Now I am being forced to move to NYC with my dad. Too bad I hate New York.

At least there is Tristan Becker. He makes NY better. But he won’t date me because he thinks my best friend is in love with me. Which is absolutely not true… Or at least I don’t think it is.

As you can see my life is just… perfect.

Char is NOW AVAILABLE!

Buy links: Amazon / Amazon UK    (coming soon to B&N and Kobo!)

Find the author online: