Secrets Blog Tour Part 1

About the Author: By day, Dawn is a typical mom running around after her children, catering to her husband’s needs, acting as a taxi driver, and gourmet chef living in Odessa, Texas, with her husband, and three children. Then by night she falls into a world filled with shirtless werewolves, lethal vampires, and dangerous adventures. Her short stories have been published in SevenDeadly Sins and 13 Tales of Paranormal 

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     ************************My Review ****************************

Date Published: July 29, 2012

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Number of Pages: 319

Publisher: DarkDragon Publishing Co.

Format: E-book and Paperback

First Thoughts:

This book really shocked me, I don’t know what I was expecting when I went into reading this book but I know it wasn’t what I read. Just in the beginning a major scene takes place that dramatically alters Leah’s path. The beginning really showed you how this book was going to be. I was impressed with the amount of time and effort that went into creating this book. You can see all the complex and unique elements that the author has thrown into to create a fun and enjoyable read. This book did have some adult scenes so I would caution anyone in that area. But overall I found this book enjoyable and fast to read.

Plot:

So like I mentioned earlier this book started off with quite an unforgettable scene and it really sets the pace for the rest of the book. This book is constantly going forward and unraveling all the secrets that have been kept from the main character Leah. I really enjoyed that this book took some surprising twists; it really allowed the reader to really enjoy the book and not know all the possible outcomes. And even when you knew what was going to happen it was still as intense and nail biting and sometimes there were more than one possible outcome and you were just waiting to see what it was going to be. But as far as the actual story itself it was unique in itself, there were elements were used to as readers but there’s also the introduction of new elements and boundaries and the fun part is figuring out what those are. And I don’t want to give away much of the details on what this is about but know there are supernatural/paranormal elements in this book, so it’s not exactly reality based. But I think this is a story of strength and love; without those two things this character would have never made it far in this book. This book really showed the reader that nothing is never as it seems and anything can happen in a blink of an eye. I really enjoyed all the conflict and resolutions that took place throughout this book. This wasn’t really your typical plot but it was a plot nonetheless and it was executed well. There was plenty of rising and falling actions and there was that typical BIG climax but it just seemed a little different than the traditional plot. And the ending was very well concluded for this book. There’s still lingering thoughts and questions but those are obviously for the next book to come. So overall I did enjoy the plot of this book.

Romance:

Yes there was romance but this book wasn’t all about that…it had so much more going on that the romance just seemed to be another added conflict. Typically I shy away from romance but in this case it was enjoyable and almost comical at times. And the other romances were fun to read and weren’t really annoying at all. So yes there’s romance but it didn’t subtract anything from this story at all.

Characters:

Loved, loved, loved the characters in this book. I think there was any character you could ever find under the rainbow in this book. You had characters that were comical, sweet, strong, protective, etc.…they all came together to create a story worth reading. And Leah was a well created character though I had a bit of trouble connecting with her in the beginning but once the story got really going and I could get a feel of her I was able to finally connect and really understand her better. A lot of these characters were well created and personalized, you could literally tell them apart by their dialogue which was really cool. So overall I think this was one aspect that really made me enjoy the book so much.

Transformation of the Character:

There was the beginning of a transformation and I say beginning only because I can just tell there’s so much more that’s going to happen and the characters is bound to change with it…but Leah did do quite an amount of transforming in this book alone but with all that happened there’s no way she wouldn’t. But I can still see room where she’s going to transform and surprise us all. So overall this didn’t really affect my opinion of the book.

Description:

The description was really good at times, especially the scenes where the action took place. But there were some moments that seemed less detailed and more of just describing what is happening and nothing else. But there were a lot of scenes not like that, the best scenes were when she really put the emotion into the elements in the scene; using symbolism in the objects and scenery to describe the inner thoughts and emotions of what was going on in that scene. The best description is the description that allows you FEEL what is happening rather than just experiencing through thin pages. And like I mentioned earlier the dialogue was really good with staying true to the character and there wasn’t too much or too little. So overall this was a good aspect to the book.

Style:

This was written in one POV and in first person which allowed the reader to better understand Leah and to see what was happening right in the moment. I really liked that the way the author styled this book; it allowed the reader to get a bit broader perspective within one POV and first person which you normally don’t see in books. And as for the authors writing, it was just as easy and fun to read, I didn’t have a problem with it at all. So overall this was good aspect to the book.

Quote of the Book:

“My world was perfect when I woke up. I lay comfortably in a big fluffy bed, surrounded by soft, silk sheets…The sun was shining. Everything was as it should be. Then, I moved.”

Goodreads Summary:

It is said that the truth will set you free, but for Leah it kills.

Leah always knew she was different. From her extreme light sensitivity, to her ability to read people by their auric scent, she kept these differences secret.

Not even Mia, Leah's mother, knew the fullness of her daughter's differences, but she held even greater secrets to Leah's past - the truth about her father and Leah's conception.

With the escape of an old foe, Mia is too late to reveal to her daughter the thrush before Judith can exact her revenge in a wash of blood and death.

Thrown into a world unheard of, Leah discovers that she is not alone in keeping her secrets. That there are people from her parent's past who would die to protect her. If only she knew why.

Raine, placed as her protector, hides deadly secrets of his own. Drawn to each other, Leah and Raine must uncover the truth before one or both are killed.

Last Thoughts:

I would recommend this to supernatural and YA readers. Though this does have some adult scenes they aren’t honestly that bad and there aren’t many of them. This really was quite a fun and enjoyable book and I can’t wait to read the next book in this series because I know this world has so much more to offer to its readers. And as for the author I’m glad I read her book, never read anything by her and was quite impressed were her line of thinking. Anyways I simply enjoyed this world and all it’s beautiful characters and scenes.

My Rating:

Blog Tour Set Up By Illuminated Tours:

"Stolen" by Lucy Christopher Review

Date Published: May 4, 2009

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Number of Pages: 299

Publisher: Chicken House Ltd.

First Thoughts:

I’ve been meaning to read this book for a couple of years now but I just never got around to until now and I wish I had of read this book sooner! This book really surprised me in the amount of depth and detail that went into this book. The emotions and thoughts I had with this book were so different than I had anticipated and I really enjoyed the way the whole story was built and completed. And I was a little unsure on how I was going to like a book written solely as one long letter but I think it really was the best way to tell this story. Wish there were more books like this out there!

Plot:

I really enjoyed the set-up of this book’s world. The way the author chose to pace the book and the certain conflict added really built up the impact this book had on the reader. I found that though not a lot of action took place in this book the story of what was happening to Gemma was enough to keep my attention. Most of us have never been kidnapped, much less to another country and to be able to really experience that and to see what was going through the characters mind at every moment was just as intense as a fight scene. And the line of events that took place really followed the traditional plotline and didn’t disappoint me at all. The ending was just right; I didn’t have any lingering questions or disappointment…I mean how the author chose to end this book both impressed me and satisfied me. As for the surprise aspect to the book, I really didn’t see anything coming; all the little events that took place within this plot were a surprise to me and allowed me to really enjoy this book…it really allowed me to get that experience of the character. As for any sub-plots there were a few but they mainly consisted of the two main characters, we got to know them both very well and intimately. The pace of this book was pretty quick, it really depends on the reader and what they would find stimulating, but overall it was a quick read for me. So I enjoyed this aspect of the book and loved how this story played out.

Romance:

There wasn’t really any romance in this book, there was a hint of it but really I don’t think it was really there. But I kind of liked that there wasn’t any, it can get old after a while, reading about the characters finding love and then having to suffer through the conflicts and consequences, which then become a part of the plot…yeah I liked that this story left this aspect out, made it more enjoyable for the reader.

Characters:

Absolutely loved the characters, I thought the author did a fantastic job on building each character and creating a whole person; someone with personality, a life, and conflicts. I really liked the clashing of Gemma and her captor, they seemed to react in just the right way to create a bond that was really fun to read about and experience right alongside Gemma. And as for the more minor characters they were good but none of them came close to impacting me than Gemma and Ty (her captor). And as far as connecting with the character it was easy and fun. So overall the characters definitely made this book worth reading, without them this book just wouldn’t be the same.

Transformation of the Character:

There were definitely transformations in this book, there was no way there couldn’t be. Anyone who went through what Gemma did would have to change in some way and if she didn’t this book just would have fallen flat. Now I don’t really want to go into a lot of detail about how she transformed but just now she changed gradually throughout this book and became a new Gemma. And as for Ty he changed a little but I’ll just leave it at that. So overall this was a good aspect for the book.

Description:

The description was fantastic in this book! I mean the attention to the landscape and the emotions of the character were amazing. I never had a problem with picturing any of the scenes, the author made sure to draw from the location of where they were at and also from the situation itself. There was definitely some symbolism for how the character was feeling at the moment…really awesome to see. I will never forget a few of the scenes in this book where the description was just so great and pure…it really opened up my eyes to what was happening and to the landscape. As for the amount of description there was too much in my opinion, other readers may think so but in the end I thought it was needed to really paint the picture of what is happening and how the characters are feeling. As for the dialogue, there wasn’t a lot of it but the amount that it did have was just perfect for this story and each one seemed true to their character. So overall I really enjoyed this aspect of the book.

Style:

This was written in one POV and in first person which allowed the reader to become more intimate with Gemma. But in this book it was a little different because it was writing the letter to Ty and so there was a lot of “You” doing this and that…it was really both addressing another character but also the reader, really hard to do but this author was able to pull it off. And as for the author’s writing I thought it was easy and fun to read, I really didn’t have a problem with it; it seemed mature and properly edited. So overall this was a good aspect also to the book.

Quote of the Book:

“You saw me before I saw you. You had that look in your eyes, as if you wanted something. Wanted it for a long time.”

Goodreads Summary:

It happened like this. I was stolen from an airport. Taken from everything I knew, everything I was used to. Taken to sand and heat, dirt and danger. And he expected me to love him. This is my story. A letter from nowhere.

Told in a letter to her captor by 16-year-old Gemma, Stolen explores the influence that a really wild and remote space can have on the inner development of a young woman.

Gemma, a British city-living teenager, is kidnapped while on holiday with her parents. Her kidnapper, Ty, takes her to the wild land of outback Australia. To Gemma’s city-eyes, the landscape is harsh and unforgiving and there are no other signs of human life for hundreds of kilometres in every direction. Here, there is no escape. Gemma must learn to deal with her predicament, or die trying to fight it.

Ty, a young man, has other ideas for her. His childhood experience of living in outback Australia has forever changed the way he sees things. But he too has been living in the city; Gemma’s city. Unlike Gemma, however, he has had enough. In outback Australia he sees an opportunity for a new kind of life; a life more connected to the earth. He has been watching and learning about Gemma for many years; when he kidnaps her, his plan finally begins to take shape.

But Ty is not a stereotypical kidnapper and, over time, Gemma comes to see Ty in a new light, a light in which he is something more sensitive. The mysteries of Ty, and the mystery of her new life, start to take hold. She begins to feel something for her kidnapper when he wakes screaming in the night. Over the time spent with her captor, Gemma’s appreciation of him develops …but is this real love, or Stockholm Syndrome?

Last Thoughts:

I would recommend this to YA readers and to any teen, it really is a book that can open up your eyes to a situation like this one. I really enjoyed this book and glad that I finally read it. And seeing how this author put a book like this together makes me excited to check out the other books she’s written! So overall I enjoyed this book and look forward to future books just like this one.

My Rating:

"Pushing the Limits" by Katie McGarry Review

Date To-be Published: July 31, 2012

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Number of Pages: 384

Publisher: Harlequin

First Thoughts:

I had heard a lot of great things about this book, so I thought I’d go and see what all of the hype was about. And I’m glad I did because I really did enjoy this book; it was a fast read, it had great character development and it had no paranormal/supernatural elements whatsoever! Now don’t get me wrong I do love me some paranormals but its good to take a break from them now and again…to read books that you can really relate to and take major things from them. Though this book had a few moments that I didn’t quite enjoy the overall impact and view of the story is great and I would totally recommend this to young teens.

Plot:

So it deals with some real life situations and therefore can be an emotional read for some readers. I for one had a few moments in a few scenes when the characters hearts were really exposed. And the deep-lining issues in this book deal with repressed memories, foster-care, abuse, drugs…I mean I could go on and on but essentially this book has a lot to offer to its readers. And it also deals with coming to terms of who you are and what your made of…I really like the meaning behind this book and would definitely encourage those of you can really need that connection; to really experience pain and loss. As for how the book was time-lined; I found it to have everything it needed to be considered complete. By the end of the book all loose ends were tied and the ending was satisfying in the way that you’re not left wondering…you can actually picture the rest without the story actually being written. And I actually enjoyed this book being stand-alone you don’t get many books like that nowadays, this story was just completed in one storytelling and it got a powerful message across, what more could a reader want? But of course there were a few scenes that kind of just took away from the book, I was both disappointed on the route that it took the story and how it made me view that character…I don’t know it just seemed like the two stories (Echo’s and Noah’s) seemed to get overwhelming at times…but it was an overall fun plot. And as for the pace it was really fast, there weren’t a lot of moments that slowed you down, there was always something happening. So overall I did enjoy this aspect of the book.

Romance:

Sigh, yes there was romance and it was at times frustrating and at times juvenile. But at others the romance was really realistic and cute and fun to read…I guess I really had mixed feelings with this aspect, yes it added an interesting twist to the story but in the end it’s what the romance brings to the story itself that matters. So though it was at times really fun to read it did have it’s downfall. I guess I’ll leave it up to you on whether this added or subtracted from the book.

Characters:

I really enjoyed the characters though Echo was a bit annoying at times, some of the decisions she made were just right out dumb and kind of threw me off. I had this picture already painted of her and then she would do something to make me question it. But Noah and Beth and the others really brought texture to this book, they brought clasing personalities and conflict; I loved it. And there were some pretty comical moments in this book, definitely brought some much needed comic relief. And as for the minor characters they did their job and that’s about it…they were good for the book but that was about it; nothing too exciting. So overall this was a good aspect to the story.

Transformation of the Character:

So I loved Echo’s transformation, you could really see it bloom and change from the very first page to the end; I loved it. Most transformations aren’t that easily noticeable (Part of the problem being the transformation being spread throughout a series) but in this book it was very easy to see and it was beautiful. I guess that’s one of the great things about this book, you’re getting to see something transform from one form to another. But as far as the other characters, Noah had a small transformation and some of the other characters did too, so this really added a lot to the book.

Description:

So this book was really good when it came to the description through emotions. We really got to see “pure” description when it came to getting inside the head and hearts of the characters. To actually be able to connect and relate to these characters was amazing and most of it was done through description itself. And as for the description of the actual scenery it was good at times and better at others; kind of mixed. But the description of the scenery wasn’t always what was important in the scene; it was how the character was feeling that was. But there were a few scenes like especially the basement description that really added texture to the book and really allowed the reader to connect to the world and what is happening at that moment. And as for the dialogue it really did add character to the book, you could tell what character was talking just by the words they spoke. So overall this was a good aspect to the story.

Style:

This was written in two POV’s and in first person which allowed the book to be both open and intimate at the same time. We got to see the two stories of Echo and Noah come to life and better explained. You could really get a feel of how the character was feeling and what they were thinking. And as for the author’s writing, it was fun and very easy to read, I really didn’t find any problems with it, it didn’t seem immature or dysfunctional in any way. So overall the style was a great asset to this book.

Quote of the Book:

“A strange uneasiness clawed at my heart and everything within me twisted and dropped. A single word tore at my heart…betrayal.”

Goodreads Summary:

"I won't tell anyone, Echo. I promise." Noah tucked a curl behind my ear. It had been so long since someone touched me like he did. Why did it have to be Noah Hutchins? His dark brown eyes shifted to my covered arms. "You didn't do that-did you? It was done to you?" No one ever asked that question. They stared. They whispered. They laughed. But they never asked.

So wrong for each other...and yet so right.

No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal. But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.

Last Thoughts:

I would recommend this to YA readers and anyone who is willing to read a book that has rough edges but a smooth center. There were a few mature scenes in this book but given the situation and issues they almost go hand in hand but I thought I’d just warn future readers of these scenes. But overall I enjoyed reading this book and exploring this new author, I hope to read more books by her and explore her writing even more.

My Rating:

This Weeks Book Haul

Hey guys!

Thought I’d update you and let you see some of the books I picked up this week!

"I won't tell anyone, Echo. I promise." Noah tucked a curl behind my ear. It had been so long since someone touched me like he did. Why did it have to be Noah Hutchins? His dark brown eyes shifted to my covered arms. "You didn't do that-did you? It was done to you?" No one ever asked that question. They stared. They whispered. They laughed. But they never asked.

So wrong for each other...and yet so right.

No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal. But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible. Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.

Told in a letter to her captor by 16-year-old Gemma, Stolen explores the influence that a really wild and remote space can have on the inner development of a young woman.

Gemma, a British city-living teenager, is kidnapped while on holiday with her parents. Her kidnapper, Ty, takes her to the wild land of outback Australia. To Gemma’s city-eyes, the landscape is harsh and unforgiving and there are no other signs of human life for hundreds of kilometres in every direction. Here, there is no escape. Gemma must learn to deal with her predicament, or die trying to fight it.

Ty, a young man, has other ideas for her. His childhood experience of living in outback Australia has forever changed the way he sees things. But he too has been living in the city; Gemma’s city. Unlike Gemma, however, he has had enough. In outback Australia he sees an opportunity for a new kind of life; a life more connected to the earth. He has been watching and learning about Gemma for many years; when he kidnaps her, his plan finally begins to take shape.

But Ty is not a stereotypical kidnapper and, over time, Gemma comes to see Ty in a new light, a light in which he is something more sensitive. The mysteries of Ty, and the mystery of her new life, start to take hold. She begins to feel something for her kidnapper when he wakes screaming in the night. Over the time spent with her captor, Gemma’s appreciation of him develops …but is this real love, or Stockholm Syndrome?

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grows dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages—not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.

When one of the strangers—beautiful, haunted Akiva—fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

Sixteen-year-old Neva has been trapped since birth. She was born and raised under the Protectosphere, in an isolated nation ruled by fear, lies, and xenophobia. A shield "protects" them from the outside world, but also locks the citizens inside. But there's nothing left on the outside, ever since the world collapsed from violent warfare. Or so the government says...

Neva and her best friend Sanna believe the government is lying and stage a "dark party" to recruit members for their underground rebellion. But as Neva begins to uncover the truth, she realizes she must question everything she's ever known, including the people she loves the most.

"You can't touch me," I whisper.

I'm lying, is what I don't tell him.

He can touch me, is what I'll never tell him.

But things happen when people touch me.

Strange things.

Bad things.

No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal, but The Reestablishment has plans for her. Plans to use her as a weapon.

But Juliette has plans of her own.

After a lifetime without freedom, she's finally discovering a strength to fight back for the very first time—and to find a future with the one boy she thought she'd lost forever.

Kind of like this week’s book haul…now which one to start first?! Any suggestions?

"Rapture" by Lauren Kate Review

Date Published: June 12, 2012

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Number of Pages: 432

Publisher: Delacorte Books for YA

First Thoughts:

I wasn’t too excited to read this book, Fallen is by far my favorite out of this series…but it was like the further I got into the series the more it seemed to just get annoying or drag on. So picking up this book did take time and effort on my part but in the end I’m glad I finally gave it a chance and finished this series. This book had plenty of suspense, action and softer moments. My overall thoughts on the execution of the ending to this series is good, though I wished things could have maybe gone in different direction I can see the author’s POV. So overall I enjoyed this book but am sure glad this series is finally over!

Plot:

There was plenty going on in this book; almost all 432 pages took place in a 9 days’ time…so you can see the amount of detail and situations that it took to fill those pages.  And the ideas really fit along with this worlds boundaries and theme, so I didn’t feel the author took any big risks or side-tracked this book, she just continued the story where Passion (the previous book) took off. It was actually nice to be able to see the continuation from the previous book to this one, I felt like I wasn’t left out of the loop. But it did take me some time to get back into this world; to reconnect with the characters and ideas. The beginning wasn’t dull really but more of a gradual introduction back into the situation and getting the reader reacquainted with the world. As for the overall plotline it was really well used and I felt that all of the elements were there and used properly. And as for the pace it was actually high action, there were those moments in-between where you got a breather and were able to take in the new information but mainly it was all about beating the clock and trying to essentially save the world (cheesy I know, lol) And the ending was good, like I said it didn’t quite satisfy me; I don’t want to give anything away but I’m sure you’ll see what I mean when you read it. The epialogue was really cute and good though, I’m glad the author decided to put that in, really wrapped up the series and let the readers know that it was the end. So overall the plot was good but lacked in certain areas personally.

Romance:

Well if you’ve read the previous 3 books you know that this is all about love so if you don’t want another one of those books then don’t read this series. Love is all this series is about; trying to fight for the one you love…though I usually have a problem in this aspect but given the series and the involvement of angels it made it worth reading, though sometimes I wish I hadn’t. But in the end the romance was just as sweet and gooey so I don’t think it’ll disappoint you in this aspect.

Characters:

Still the same witty and serious characters we’ve grown to love. I loved seeing the gang back; I missed them! They just work so well together and they make the reading that more enjoyable. Luce was the same as always, there didn’t seemed to be much change in her at all…But I found the added new characters to the story were timed just right and added both some comic relief and some added joy. I really enjoyed some of the new characters; some of them really stood out. So overall there weren’t many unnecessary characters and I found this aspect quite enjoyable.

Transformation of the Character:

I don’t think there were really any transformations per-se in this book, I think all of the main characters have done all of their growing up for now and in this book we really got to know them better and understand their new found strengths and weaknesses. So overall this wasn’t an important aspect in this book and therefore neither added nor took away anything from this book.

Description:

There was a lot of small details in this book; I’m the kind of reader that enjoys detail though, I like to get a really good image of the scene so that I can really take in everything in the book’s world. So just know there are a lot of tiny details and to some would be considered too much. But the way that some of the scenes were described reminded me why I enjoyed this series so much. The way the author is able to take a simple set-up and turn it into something bigger/brighter is amazing. I’ll never get the image of the mountain scene out of my mind; great attention to detail. But as far as the emotional description there was some but they weren’t strong to me, I felt sad but it didn’t bring tears to my eyes and I know it’s because of how the scene was worded. But other than that it was really good. And the dialogue seemed true to the character and seemed the right amount.

Style:

This was written in a way that gradually introduced the information to the reader, the author made sure that the reader could grasp what was happening and why. And as for the author’s writing itself it was just as beautiful and fun to read. I like the way this author writes, it’s beautiful and so different at times…it’s like she meshes her writing for each book but is still able to give the reader the feel of the other books…it’s hard to describe. But overall I enjoyed the style and don’t think I would even make any changes to it to better the book.

Quote of the Book:

“Mortality is the most romantic story ever told. Just one chance to do everything you should. Then, magically, you move on.”

Goodreads Summary:

The sky is dark with wings . . . .

Like sand in an hourglass, time is running out for Luce and Daniel. To stop Lucifer from erasing the past they must find the place where the angels fell to earth. Dark forces are after them, and Daniel doesn’t know if he can do this—live only to lose Luce again and again.

Yet together they will face an epic battle that will end with lifeless bodies . . . and angel dust. Great sacrifices are made. Hearts are destroyed. And suddenly Luce knows what must happen.

For she was meant to be with someone other than Daniel. The curse they’ve borne has always and only been about her—and the love she cast aside. The choice she makes now will be the only one that truly matters.

In the fight for Luce, who will win?

Last Thoughts:

I would recommend this to fans of the series and romantic readers. This is definitely a beautiful angel story and a story about love. Though I felt that it was dragged out a book too much I was still happy with the overall turn-out of the book. I would be willing to read more by this author just by her writing alone, so I look forward to exploring the other books she’s written and plans to write (let’s just hope this time it isn’t all about Love, lol).

My Rating:

"Lost And Found" by Talia Jager Review

Date Published: October 16, 2011

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Number of Pages: 216

Publisher: Self-Published

First Thoughts:

I’ve already read a couple of books by this author; she has become my go to author when it comes to books about realistic and hard-core topics. She has a way of taking a serious almost scary situation and turning it into a book fun to read and learn from. And this book was no exception, I enjoyed the writing and I really enjoyed the connection I had with the main character. This book does dig up some serious issues and I therefore would caution the younger teens to pick up this book; it’s up to you if you’re ready to read about drug addiction, teen pregnancy and a mixture of deep heart throbbing emotions. But in all, this book brought me to a better understanding of some of these issues and leaving me a good feeling by the end.

Plot:

This book was filled with many hard issues but it was told in a way that made it enjoyable to the reader. There was the story of a young girl who suffered so much and she seek just a little bit of light and you get to experience that when you read alongside her; you FEEL all the joy or tragedies of this young girl as her life progresses. There was a really good story to go along with these issues and I think that’s what made me enjoy this book that much more. There were reasons behind reasons, there was a real life there; I felt like it could have actually been a true story as sad as it is. But these issues happen every day and I think this book really makes you see that. It doesn’t really allow you to be blind to these issues anymore…it kind of makes me want to volunteer somewhere; I want to help teens who suffer like Kory. And as far as any sub-plots there were a few and they really tied in well with the main plot; they had their own stories but they fit so well that they seemed more like puzzle pieces that connect with the other parts of the story. And I don’t think they distracted me from the main plot either. As far as the pace I found it to be really quick…but it did have its slower moments to allow the reader a break. As for the ending I liked it but I wish it would have been expanded some. I was yearning just a little bit more of these characters, I wanted to see a little more into the future but it was good all the same. Overall the plot was really good and well-thought out.

Romance:

There was a little romance but it wasn’t overwhelming at any point and really it wasn’t the main focus of the book either. The romance was kind of more of a sub-plot than anything but it did add a nice part to the story. Where most romance in YA is a little much for me I didn’t find this to be annoying or too much. It kind of was sweet in a way and realistic. So overall I enjoyed this aspect of the book.

Characters:

I really enjoyed meeting and getting to know Kory. I felt she was a really easy character to connect with and sympathize with and even when she made some really dumb decisions or choices I was still able to FEEL for her where in a normal situation I would have no sympathy for that person; strange isn’t it? Kory was really a person I could see out in reality which is a great quality I look for in a book. And as for some of the more minor characters, I really enjoyed them, they added great texture to the world and some comic relief when it was needed. And quite honestly there are a few characters in this book that I would love to be associated in my life; their personalities and qualities really are something I would look for in a person. So overall I enjoyed the characters in this book.

Transformation of the Character:

There was a beautiful transformation in this book and though I think it’s only the beginning of how much she is going to change the amount I saw take place in this book was beautiful and fun to read. I don’t want to really say much because it would essentially ruin the book for you but know that this was a fun part to read about and it really made the read that more enjoyable.

Description:

The description was good especially when it came to the emotions in the story. This alone was really what made connecting to Kory that much easier to do. But as far as description of scenery and scenes it was good but nothing special. Some of the scenes were well described but others were lacking a certain element to really grasp me to the location or scene. But like I mentioned earlier the emotional part of this book was through almost pure description, this author really did well on describing the emotions of Kory and allowing the reader to get into her mind and see the world through her eyes. And being able to get inside the main characters head is really a good factor when it comes to better understanding the character and story. As for the dialogue it was good and just the right amount. So overall this was a good aspect but lacked a few essential elements.

Style:

This was written in one POV and in first person which really allowed the reader a more open view of the characters world. I was able to connect to the main character easier and better understand her story; this book was about her after all. As far as the author’s writing I thought this book was one of the better from the books I’ve read by her. It didn’t seemed rushed or choppy, it was just the author’s style alone. So, this was a good aspect to the book.

Quote of the Book:

“She was right. I was the kid from the wrong side of the tracks. The one moms warned their kids about. I was abused and addicted to drugs. I had pink hair and wore way too much make-up…somehow Sara had seen through that.”

Goodreads Summary:

Korinne was born addicted to drugs, and life has been headed downhill ever since. After her abusive mom is arrested, Korinne is given a second chance when she’s placed in foster care. There she meets the girl who becomes her best friend and the boy she falls in love with.

When her mother is released from jail, she demands that Korinne be returned to her care. Korinne runs away only to end up living on the streets. After suffering an overdose, she awakes in the hospital…and finds out she’s pregnant.

16-year-old Korinne must pick up the pieces and heal so she can provide a better life for her baby—and for herself.

Last Thoughts:

I would recommend this to older YA readers and to anyone who enjoys realistic type books. I really enjoyed this book because I felt like I took important lessons from it; I felt more knowledgeable by the end of the book. I cried, smiled, and felt anything in-between throughout this book but in the end all that I felt had been worth it. I will continue to read books by this author and can’t wait to see what else she has in store for her eager readrs.

My Rating: