"One Small Thing" by Erin Watt Review

Date to be Published: June 26, 2018

Author: Erin Watt

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Number of Pages: 304

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

I voluntarily read and reviewed "One Small Thing" by Erin Watt. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

First Thoughts:

Can I say just how beautiful this cover is? I love it! From the now two books I've read from this author, "When It's Real" and now "One Small Thing" I love both covers. And best of all I love both books. They both tackle issues that are deep both physically and mentally; "One Small Thing" more than "When It's Real." This book had me both crying and cursing from one page to the next. I just loved so much about it, so let's continue...

Goodreads Summary:

Beth's life hasn't been the same since her sister died. Her parents try to lock her down, believing they can keep her safe by monitoring her every move. When Beth sneaks out to a party one night and meets the new guy in town, Chase, she's thrilled to make a secret friend. It seems a small thing, just for her.

Only Beth doesn't know how big her secret really is...

Fresh out of juvie and determined to start his life over, Chase has demons to face and much to atone for, including his part in the night Beth's sister died. Beth, who has more reason than anyone to despise him, is willing to give him a second chance. A forbidden romance is the last thing either of them planned for senior year, but the more time they spend together, the deeper their feelings get. 

Now Beth has a choice to make---follow the rules, or risk tearing everything apart...again.

Plot:

This  book had a lot of ups and downs in the emotions department. From the very beginning it started out strong, it only wavered in a few areas. But the pulling of the emotions was a bit exhausting but so worth it for the end result. This book did deal with a some-what difficult topic.This book even dealt with bullying, it was heard and devastating to read. To think people can be that harsh and ragged. Definitely hard to read at times. Also the issue with Beth and her sisters' death...definitely complicated. But it was so empowering to watch Beth develop over the course of the book and even her parents.  I've never had to deal with parents like Beth's because my mother had always trusted me to be safe and take care of myself. But Beth was such a strong character that yes, I could understand why her parents were so protective, but to go through the extremes they did was unbelievable. Death of any family is hard but a sister or sibling must have been devastating. So throughout the book, Beth is dealing with coming to terms with dealing with her problems without her sister and letting her go. Being happy once more, and in the arms of perhaps her sister's killer. But there is definitely a big twist near the end, one that changes your view of a major situation. So be on the lookout!

Romance:

The romance was the major meat of this book. It focused on Beth's and Chase's relationship. It was definitely a forbidden romance from Beth's parents. Considering Chase was held responsible for her sisters' death it was understandable. But Beth had such a tender heart when it came to Chase, that I instantly rooted for their relationship. But at times it was broken and hard to read so be prepared for that....

Characters: 

Beth like I mentioned above was a great character. She had her flaws but was easy to connect with but a bit immature at times.But I still enjoyed following her along her journey. Chase was harder to like from the beginning but after I got to know him and understand him I was able to connect with him. The other characters like Beth's parents added more texture to the book. Her parents were very hard to like but I guess that added to the story. Added more problems and sub-plots. I don't know but the only characters I truly enjoyed getting to know were Beth and Chase.

Transformation of the Character:

Beth did some transforming in the book. She transformed from someone who was vulnerable and a bit weak to someone willing to stand up for herself. I loved seeing her develop throughout the story; it was uplifting. Some other characters developed and transformed throughout the story as well but I don't think I should mention them in case they spoil the story for you.

Description:

I loved the description in this book; especially when it came to describing the characters emotions. It was like being inside Beth's head and experiencing every one of her emotions. Also the other characters were well described also. The scenery was also well described too. I remember the swing in the backyard, it was both a symbol and a link so it was  important to describe it. The world was realistically described and so was the situations. In this type of book you need to be realistic, makes the book more enjoyable and fun to read. 

Style:

This was written in first person and one POV. Being in first person allowed the reader to better connect with Beth. I was really able to experience the emotions in this book well. Even though it was exhausting, the emotion roller-coaster made this book. Also just being in Beth's point of view allowed the reader to better focus on Beth. To really get the feelings behind the book. The author's writing was excellent. I really enjoyed Ms.Watt's writing in the first book I read by her so I had just as high expectations as that book. She did not disappoint. It was captivating and intriguing all at the same time. 

Quote of the Book:

"I'm tired of being patient. I'm tired of doing things other people think I should be doing. There's nothing wrong with the concept of us.

I won't let us be wrong."

Last Thoughts:

I really enjoyed the language and beauty of this book. Ms.Watt has a way with words that brings emotions to the surface and makes the reader want to jump off the cliff right with Beth. Loved the writing so much that I really can't wait to see what else this author has in store for her fans. I recommend this book to romance readers and to anyone who loves a good story with deep thought. So go out there and pre-order, trust me this book is worth your money.

My Rating:

4 Blooms!

Shadow State Review

Date to be Published: July 3, 2018

Author: Elyse Brayden

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Number of Pages: 288

Publisher: Imprint

I voluntarily read and reviewed "Shadow State." All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

First Thoughts:

The ending sucked, just an fyi. But up until the ending, the book was really good. I enjoyed the plot (mostly), I enjoyed the concept and the writing. The story had me hooked till the very end. Why oh why must the ending conclude that way?! Never read anything by this author so had no idea what to expect but I was pleasantly surprised with the attention to detail and the information that was provided to make this world possible...so with that said, let's continue...

Goodreads Summary:

What Brynn Caldwell can't remember might get her killed.

Brynn is a promising science student recovering from a bad relationship that sent her spiraling into a depression. But as she puts the pieces of her life back together, a few don't fit. 

Brynn is uncovering memories of being abducted and possibly brainwashed. It's all connected to a drug that might be an ultimate weapon: a tool to control people's memories. Now, to stop a possible terrorist attack, Brynn has to find out what she's been forced to forget---and what side she's really on.

Plot:

Like I mentioned above the plot was pretty good, very fast and had some mystery. The problem I had was some of the plot was predictable and the ending was frustrating and lacked a good conclusion. I don't want to give anything away but I felt the ending left a lot of questions unanswered and the reader yearning for a better outcome. Also, the plot had a lot of information that would need to be researched and I think the author did a good job on that. Though I'm not sure if it was accurate but it seemed real all the same.It was creative in some ways too, like the science behind the mystery drug that's talked about throughout the whole book. This is a short book compared to some books nowadays, so it makes it a fast read, can be read in one or two sittings. So if you're looking for a quick read this is the book for you. I wish some of the parts weren't predictable; would've made the book more interesting to read. But maybe to some this story would come as a total surprise so I wouldn't knock it for that one aspect alone.

Romance:

There was romance in this book but not one I particularly care for. It seemed odd and forced so I was not a fan. I think this book would've been better without the romance but in the end I knew why it was needed, it did add to the plot. Without the romance things in this book would not have been possible. But I didn't like it, so if you're a romance reader this is not a book for you.

Characters:

Brynn was an okay character. She was fun to get to know and understand. Her memories were tampered with so it was hard to get to know her that well. But the parts where she was lucid she had a lot of deep emotions and thoughts. Some of the decisions she made I would have done differently but that's what makes her unique and real. She had her own thought processes and personality. Her mother was stiff and cold and I would hate to have her as my own mother. Dex was really the main mystery in this book. He was just as mysterious as the drug itself. I couldn't always get a good grasp on him so I didn't always know what to expect from him. All the other characters were good and were needed to add to the story-line so they were worth it. But like I mentioned earlier I wish I could've gotten a better grasp on Brynn (main protagonist). But maybe she was meant to appear that way; maybe that was the authors's intention all along. 

Transformation of the Character:

This is a tricky part of the book to tackle. Yes in a way the Brynn did transform but some areas she didn't. It was the whole memories being contaminated that made this a tricky area to discuss. And I cant' really discuss much more without giving the story away so you'll just have to read it yourself. 

Description:

This was one area of the book that I really enjoyed. The description of Brynn's world and her thoughts and feelings really added some mystery to the story. Though the beginning chapter I think had too much description. I think it could've been cut down some and still get the point across. But as the story progressed it did get better. Brynn's emotions and thoughts were well described and allowed the reader to get more attached to her when she was expressing them. The description of the scenery and world was good also. We got to really picture what was happening and see the foreshadowing in some places.

Style:

This was written in one POV and in third person. Being written in only Brynn's point of view only allowed the reader to see the world in one perspective. It left most of what was going on a mystery (well to some readers). I will admit there were some surprises and twists I didn't guess or see coming. So yes it's not completely predictable. Being written in third person allowed the reader to be a little detached from Brynn and see a little more of the world just not as much as if it were in more than one point of view. The author's writing was excellent, I would totally read more by this author, just in hopes the ending to her next book would be more fulfilling and satisfying. 

Quote of the Book:

Can't do a direct quotation because this book isn't out yet and the publisher asked the reader to not to put any quotation from the book. But just know the writing is excellent and fun to read.

Last Thoughts:

Though I didn't always enjoy all parts of this book; it was excellent writing. It enticed the readers and allowed them to explore a world not of their own. Don't know if I would recommend anyone to read this because of the ending; but I would recommend keeping an eye on this author. Read whatever else she writes; perhaps the ending will be much better. But if you're looking for good writing this book has that. I leave it up to you as a reader to make the decision to read this. Best of luck to you, fellow reader! Let me know what you think!!

Rating:

3 Blooms!

Kiss of the Royal Review

Date to be Published: July 3, 2018

Author: Lindsey Duga

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Number of Pages: 400

Publisher: Entangled Teen 

I Voluntarily read and reviewed "Kiss of the Royal". All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

First Thoughts: 

I was interested in reading this book because of the premise. A kick-ass heroine? Count me in. I went into this book thinking it was possibly book one of a series but I later discovered it wasn't. That this book is a stand-alone. And while I was half-way through I learned this and thought it couldn't possibly conclude by the end of this book. There was a lot going on and I really thought it was going to be another "Throne of Glass" series. But I was wrong, most of the problems were concluded and I was quite suprised.

Goodreads Summary:

In the war against the Forces of Darkness, the Royals are losing. Princess Ivy is determined to end this centuries-long conflict once and for all, so her new battle partner must succeed where others failed. Prince Zach's unparalleled skill with a sword, enhanced by Ivy's magic Kiss, should make them an unstoppable pair-but try convincing Zach of that.

Prince Zach has spent his life preparing for battle, but he would rather be branded a heretic than use his lips as nothing more than a way to transfer magic. A kiss is a symbol of love, and love is the most powerful weapon they have--but try convincing Ivy of that.

With fate of their world on the line, the battlefield has become a testing ground, and only one of them can be right. Falling for each other wasn't part of hte plan--but but try convinci9ng their hearts of that. 

Plot:

This book is filled with lots of action and suspense. The interesting part about this book is the kiss of the royal. It's supposed to enhance their bodies; make them almost impossible to destroy but it doesn't always work. Some Royals kisses are stronger than others. Like Ivy's because she's a direct descendant of the ancestor who had the first Kiss. Though throughout the story so many things were questioned and things kept getting flipped, what you believed at first wasn't necessarily the truth to begin with. I liked that about this book, it really added another depth to the story that made it worth continuing to read. And Royals is anyone who has blood of a king or queen and has the power of the kiss. Princes and princesses is what they're called and they can be pure royal, half royal or even quarter royal. The purer the blood the stronger the kiss. Anyways it was nice seeing characters introduced throughout the book and to see how they were introduced to the story-line.

Romance:

So this is the part of the story that is tricky at first because the Royals grew up to believe love wasn't real so the feelings they ever should feel towards another person is lust. But some characters were born thinking the opposite so we have a clash of characters. There is romance for sure and this whole book really is based off the fact of love so there has to be some romance. But the main product of romance isn't introduced until later on in the book. But I did like the end result. 

Characters:

Ivy is a pretty cool character to get to know. She has a fragile side but throughout the book she keeps it hidden. But she's so strong both physically and emotionally. She tries her best to keep her act together throughout the book. It isn't until the last half of the book, is where she can't keep it in any longer. She has to let her true self out. Zach is a pretty kick-ass character too. He has a softer side too but he chooses to show it whenever. He has nothing to hide. Brom, Ivy's page is a pretty cool character, he's so sweet and likable. I immediately took a liking to him. The other characters that were introduced were cool too and added to the story.

Transformation of the Character: 

Ivy for sure did a lot of transforming in this story. She starts off one way and ends of being someone totally different. But she is still strong, just in another way. Zach like I mentioned above, didn't necessarily change much but he was still a good character in the book. The other characters did some transforming but I'll leave that up to you as a reader to figure out which ones!

Description:

The description in the book was well thought out and well explained. I liked the description of the scenery, it was like I was there and could imagine it perfectly. One scene in particular that I remember vividly is where they came in contact with the Sable dragon egg. It was described in a way that had me shivering, lol. Also the way the emotions were described was good too because it really allowed us to feel what the characters were feeling. It was like feeling a particular emotion for the first time because in this one case Ivy felt something she had never felt before. It was awesome and inspiring. 

Style:

This is written in first person and only in one POV. Using first person in this story allowed us to get inside Ivy's head; it was quite spectacular. I liked that I was able to get inside Ivy's head so easily. It really gave me the perspective of someone whose never felt love. To never identified familiar love. Also to be written in only Ivy's point of view allowed the reader to only experience this world in her point of view. I think if we could have been in one or two more point of views it would've allowed the reader to really see the world. It was such a complex world I think it would've done more good than harm. I liked the author's writing style too. I've never read anything by this author, so her writing was new to me. It was well written and easy to read. I definitely liked the way the author wrote this world and was able to conclude a complex plot in one book; bravo to you Ms.Duga!!

Quote of the Book:

"The raging storm inside me died down to a gentle breeze. Slowly, I nodded. Zach smiled and moved his hands to my hair tied in a tight bun. "Now," he murmured. With a quick tug, he removed the ribbon, and my hair tumbled down around my shoulders. "Let's have some fun.""

Last Thoughts:

I really enjoyed the fantasy of this book. It was complex and amazing to see unfold. Though there were times I guessed what was going to happen, it was still fun to read. Definitely recommend this to fantasy readers and anyone who likes a good kick-ass heroine. So go out there and pre-order it if you think this is the story for you!

My Rating:

4 Blooms!

Whisper Review

Date Published: May 1, 2018

Author: Lynette Noni

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Number of Pages: 320

Publisher: KCP Loft

I Voluntarily read and reviewed Whisper. All Thoughts and opinions are my own.

First Thoughts:

I didn't know much about this book going into it. I haven't read this author before and I certainly didn't know what to expect. But man was I in for a surprise. I loved this book so much! Though it had the tendencies to be just like any other book but it was so good that I was able to overlook that. I fell in love with the story and for the first quarter I had no idea what was going on, I just wanted to keep reading till I found answers to my questions. There was so much I loved about this book, so let's get started.

Goodreads Summary: 

For two years, six months, fourteen days, eleven hours and sixteen minutes, Subject Six-Eight-Four---'Jane Doe'---has been locked away and experimented on, without uttering a single word.

As Jane's resolve begins to crack under the influence of her new -- and unexpectedly kind --evaluator, she uncovers the truth about Lengard's mysterious 'program', discovering that her own secret is at the heart of a sinister plot...and one wrong move, one wrong word, could change the world. 

Plot:

This is filled with lots of questions and little answers coming right after. This book slowly revealed it's secrets but when it did it was mind blowing. The best part of this book is the way the story was revealed. If the author had chose to reveal who the main protagonist was it wouldn't have been as fun to read. Half the fun is the anticipation. And this book has plenty of that! Also loved how it dealt with issue of inhumane experiments. It really let's the reader get a better grasp on the main character. We're really able to bond with the characters and understand that what is going on is not right. But we're also able to see others who go along with it, so you really get two sides. I liked the paranormal part of this book, it's different in a way that it's not really the same as usual paranormal powers. Though it's the same on how the powers play out. The main character hardly had any trouble mastering different parts of her powers and I wish I could've seen more of a struggle. But other than that the plot was fast and I really couldn't put down this book and when I did, all I did was think about it. I'm still thinking about this book and it's been days since I've finished it. 

Romance:

I wouldn't say there was really any true romance in here; though there was a hint of it. I'm sure as the series progresses there will be some. But it was a nice reprieve to get away from a story just focused on the romance. So kudos to you Noni!

Characters:

The main character is referred to, to many names. One of them being Chip which I loved. But most of the book she is referred to as Jane, six-eight-four, or JD. The reader didn't even know her name till almost the end, so I will not be giving you her real name. so you as a reader, you can discover it yourself. But Jane was such a fragile and controlled in a sense character that it was so easy to get attached to. She was such a awesome main character and I loved getting to know her. Wade was a good character even when he made his mistakes. The other characters were good too like Cami. I instantly loved Cami, kinda wish she was my best friend. But the author did an excellent job describing the characters, that you either got to really like them, or really hate them. There is definitely some characters I wish to see die a very slow death, lol. 

Transformation of the Character:

Jane did some transforming in this book but I think as the series progresses she will bloom even more and I can't wait to see it. By the end she was still a little fragile and in the unknowing but she was much better off than when she first started. Wade and Cami stayed about the same. So really this wasn't an area in the book that made a huge impact on what I thought of the book.

Description:

Loved how the author described the emotions of the characters and the situations. I was really able to grasp what was going on and how the characters were reacting to the problems and situations around them. I also liked that this book took place in Australia. Seeing as I'm from the USA I don't get to read a lot of books based in Australia, so it was a breath of fresh air. Seeing the zoo described was so fun! And of course where Jane was taken to was described to the tee in a way that I was able to get a lay of the land. The way the author described stress and pain the characters were put through really gave me a grasp on the situation and how serious it was. So kudos to you Ms.Noni!

Style:

This was written in first person and is only in one POV. Being written in first person really allowed the reader to better understand Jane. We didn't know much about her to begin with so we needed all we could get to better understand the makings of Jane. So first person allowed that. Being written in only Jane's point of view allowed the reader to only get her perspective, to better keep the story mysterious; the answers out of reach. I think Ms.Noni made the right choice doing that, the anticipation is the best part of the book, who really likes to know all the answers in the first 50 pages?! Hmmm? Not me. The mystery kept me on the edge of my seat, kept me reading late into the night. I hardly got any sleep with this book! The author's writing itself was easy and fun to read. I had no problems with it, it even had a style with the words. How certain words that were meant to be taken seriously were drooped down, letter by letter. You have to see it for yourself to see what I mean. But this writing was intriguing and awesome.

Quote of the Book:

"My name is not "Jane Doe." But  that is who I've become. And that is who I'll remain. It's the safest this way. For everyone."

Last Thoughts:

I'm was so sad to see this book end but at least this is only book one. At least there will be one more book to read (hopefully more!!) I hope, nothing is set in stone but this book ended in questions. I would recommend this to any mystery and paranormal reader. This will be right up your alley! This book is already out so go out there and buy it! I dare you!

My rating:

5 Blooms! Fully bloomed!

Alpha (Infinity Division #3) Review

Date to be Published: July 3,2018

Author: Jus Accardo

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Number of Pages: 304

Publisher: Entangled: Teen

I Voluntarily read and reviewed the ARC(Advanced Reader Copy) of Alpha. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

First Thoughts:

I didn't know what I was getting myself into when I first started this book. No I didn't read the first two books in this series but the premise of this book was too good to pass up. I thought heck, let's see if I could get into this book without reading the first two books. I mean the two main characters were different than the previous two books, what would the harm be? Where there was some confusion in the beginning on how things worked in the world, by the end I had a good grasp on the world. But I would totally recommend that you read the first two books first because the characters from those make an appearance in this book. I think I would've gotten more out of this book if I had read the first two.

Goodreads Summary:

Sera is the obsession of a killer chasing a ghost.

G is a soldier with too much blood on his hands.

Dylan lost the only person he ever loved--and will stop at nothing to get her back. 

In a whirlwind chase that takes them back to where it all started, Sera, G, and Dylan will have to confront their demons--both physical and mental--and each other, in order to win their freedom.

Plot:

This book was focused on trying to take down Cora Anderson, at least one version of her. Because in this world there are several versions of the same person just in different dimensions of earth. It was sometimes hard to differentiate the different versions of the same person but most of the time the person was different from the other versions, so it made it easier to tell who was who. But this one version of Cora made up the main antagonist in the book. The whole time they're trying to take her down and there's obstacles in-between to keep the book flowing. I was surprised how fast this book was able to be read. The pages just flew past and before I knew it, I was to the Epilogue. And at the end there was an epilogue for the past two books characters, though I didn't take much for them because I didn't read the books. I know it would've made the world to the people who have. I loved the climax in this book, it had me on the edge of my seat and I couldn't wait till the downfall so I could catch my breath.

Romance:

This book was focused a lot on the romance. Dylan wanted Sera and G wanted Sera. Dylan only wanted Sera because she was another version of the girl he lost, Ava. And G wanted Sera because they bonded when they were held captive as experiments. They never got to see each other while held captive but they had the sound of each others voices to keep them company( how romantic!). I really liked the romance between G and Sera and I believe they were well suited for each other. The other couples in the book were good too but they were more prominent in their own story I'm sure.

Characters:

So G is another version of Dylan and Sera is another version of Ava. I really connected with Sera, she was someone I could understand. She had this undying love that no matter what, she was going to stick up for it. She wasn't going to let anything get in her way. Though she wasn't as strong of a character as I would've liked, she was still strong in her own way. G on the other-hand had a lot of weak moments. He was fighting an inner demon and so he was harder to see as particularly strong. Though he did have his strong moments. Dylan I hated even in the end. He let his grief get to him too much and was a jerk most of the book. Cade was pretty cool. He was more of a background character in this book but he was still fun to read.

Transformation of the Character:

Sera didn't do a lot of transforming in this book, which was disappointing. She seemed to me to be the same person throughout. Though G did do some transforming, he was a weak character throughout the book but by the end he finally settled on who he wanted to become. Dylan though was a jerk most of the book by the end he changed some too but he was still the same Dylan deep inside.

Description:

I liked how the author described the different dimensions of Earth. Some versions were vastly different while some were eerily similar. One dimension arrested you for any kind of violence and the punishment was almost always death. The author even described the types of clothes that were common in each dimension which was so cool that she would even consider that little detail. The author also did a great job on describing the characters emotions. Like I could really connect to G's emotions. He was holding back so much in the book, that I just wanted the release for him. 

Style:

This was written in first person and in mainly two POV's(point of views). I think choosing to write in first person allowed the reader to better connect with both Sera and G. It allowed us to get inside their mind and understand their thought process and what they saw. Writing in the main two POV's allowed us to switch back and forth between the two main characters; Sera and G. We were able to see the world better; to get a better understanding the factors that were playing into the plot. At the end though, we got to get in a few more character POV's. It allowed for the series to wrap up and allow the author to say goodbye to their characters. I'm really glad the author did this because it really allowed the emotional departure from the world for the reader. Also, there were scenes throughout the book that took you back to when G and Sera were locked up as captives. This really was essential to the plot, we were able to better understand why things were playing out the way they were. Since this was the first time I read anything by the author it was my first time experiencing the authors' writing. I enjoyed her writing, it really was easy and fun to read. The dialogue was also good.

Quote of the Book:

"The muscles in my face were stiff, having not bent that way in God knew how long, but so help me, this would be the first of many."

Last Thoughts:

I'm still debating on whether to go back and read the first two because I was so satisfied with this book that I don't know if I need anymore experience with this world. So much happened that it really left me exhausted by the end. But I really enjoyed this book and look forward to any further series by this author. And yes this time I will read the first book first. But if you're not interested in the premises of the first two books this book can be read alone but I really recommend you read the first two first. I think you'll get more from this series if you do. 

Rating:

4 Blooms!