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Disclaimer: I given both books to read by the author in exchange for an honest review and opinion!
Heart Waves (Heart Waves #1)
by Danielle Sibarium
Paperback
251 pages
Published June 1st 2012 by KFR Communications
Overview:
Jenna Kingsley has a gift. She knows things. With a simple touch she can pick up personal information from jewelry or objects. While at a neighbor’s party, a voice mesmerizes her. Jenna is momentarily frozen as a ring is placed in her hand. White electricity surges through her and a dire prediction is made. “It’s like Romeo and Juliet. You’re going to break my heart.”
From the moment they meet Jenna is enchanted and entranced with Reece Walton. She’s thrilled to learn he’s spending the summer two houses away from hers. Every moment they spend together is magical. But she can’t get the prediction out of her mind. As the summer draws to a close and secrets are revealed, can Jenna get past the fear of being left with a broken heart to live in the moment with Reece or will her fear of being hurt fulfill the prophecy?
My Review:
I loved the cover of this book! It catches your eye nicely and the title is lovely as well. If you love cool covers, then you gotta get this book.
Meanwhile the story was great. The pace and writing was an easy and superb read! If you like quick reads, then you should get this book. The relationship of Jenna and Reece takes you on a ride. I liked how Reece and Jenna met at a party and from there many things happen. The story was all based on how their relationship is set up which I loved. To see it grow a bit by bit as it was neat to see.
Reece is an adorable guy and protective of Jenna as well which I liked but I also did think at times he was a bit too overprotective. Why was her overprotective? Was he hiding something? The relationship between Jenna and Reece was sweet to me.
Through the book, the supernatural element isn't so much involved which bummed me out a tiny bit. It mostly focused on relationship and trust.
The story is light, easy and stays with you very well. It will charm you and make you smile along with hoping for all the best. It's a sweet story but I think it does let your mind ask questions at times too! It's a great book for all ages to read. It took me about a day and half to read it!
I look forward to the sequel!! I so cannot wait. Go get your copy today and be swept away by HEART WAVES.
Cover: A
Story: B
Breaking Waves (Heart Waves #2)
Author: Danielle Sibarium
Paperback
Published: January 10, 2013
KFR Communications
Overview:
From the moment they met, Jenna knew Reece would break her heart, but she never dreamed it would happen like this. Jenna is left shattered and broken. When life becomes too painful to deal with and she feels completely alone, there’s only one person to help her pick up the pieces and move on. The one person she doesn’t want to turn to. The one person she promised to stay away from. Tyler.
Can Jenna put aside everything she knows about him and let Tyler help heal her broken heart?
My Take:
The sequel to Heart Waves is amazing! I loved this story a great deal. It picks up where the first book was. Jenna is still trying to deal with the fact that Reece is gone. She does not want to deal with anything. Reece was her Romeo and it was gone and her heart was hurting. I felt the pain and emotions from Jenna which made me wish she could get over it.
Jenna ends up connecting with Tyler who helps her. He understands pain and loneliness very well. He himself has been in that situation and was a friend to Reece as he misses him too. There's more to him than meets the eye which I loved. Tyler seems like the bad boy type which is interesting. Tyler takes a while to crack open to Jenna which I loved how she learns more about him.
The romance between the two seems to sprout a bit which I liked more than when Jenna was with Reece for some reason. Maybe it was because that they were both dealing with grief and loneliness. Emotions run high but the two of them sparked each other with honesty in a way.
There were questions in my mind of what exactly happened with Reece and how does Tyler fit in? Was it that big of a crime to put Jenna in danger? Why did Reece want Tyler to stay away? All these questions were swarming in my head from book one and into this book. It made me wonder if there's a book three in the works or not? I hope so because I so want to know the answers to my questions!
The author did a fantastic job with this story. If you like adventure, friendship, and love, then this book should be on your shelf. Also the cover is stunning by the way as the colors pop out at you. So pretty!
Cover: A
Story: A
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Disclaimer: I bought this book to read to give it an honest opinion!
Five Flavors of Dumb
Author: Antony John
Pages:338
Paperback
November 11, 2010
Publisher: Dial
Overview
The Challenge: Piper has one month to get the rock band Dumb a paying gig.
The Deal: If she does it, Piper will become the band's manager and get her share of the profits.
The Catch: How can Piper possibly manage one egomaniacal pretty boy, one talentless piece of eye candy, one crush, one silent rocker, and one angry girl? And how can she do it when she's deaf?
Piper can't hear Dumb's music, but with growing self-confidence, a budding romance, and a new understanding of the decision her family made to buy a cochlear implant for her deaf baby sister, she discovers her own inner rock star and what it truly means to be a flavor of Dumb.
My Take
The book was great. It was fun, honest, and had some clever moments in the story that made me squeal! I could feel Piper's emotions from when she was dealing with the band and with her family. I could identify with Piper on some of the things she goes through when I was in high school. She is such a tough cookie who takes on such a challenge considering she's deaf. I liked that about her. Piper works hard and finds herself speaking up more than she has before. She also makes friends with some of the band members.
This story also covers music and how can a high school band make it to getting known. I loved how the band has its up and downs in various events. It seemed to me it was all about self discovery for each character in this book which I loved. Each character realizes something and brings the whole story together.
I loved how certain types of music is mentioned in the book and that Piper's dad joins in on the music scene just a bit. It gives you an idea how teens relate to music. I loved how Piper learns a bit of the music scene as well. Music had its way in this book for so many people. It made some relate to each other and some did not.
There is a bit of love interest with Piper and another character called Ed which was cute. That all it seemed to me was cute. I liked how Ed finally tells Piper that he's crushing on her big time. It takes guts to tell someone that! It was a cute romance.
If you are looking for something to read then this book is for you! Give it a shot.
Cover: A
Story: B
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Recalled (Death Escorts #1)
by Cambria Hebert
Expected publication: February 15th 2013
Overview
Love or Death? A simple question really. The choice seems obvious. But. What if you never knew love, what if your life was spent just trying to survive? What if you knew your fate before you were fully grown?
And then you died.
And you were given another chance. A better chance.
This new life depended upon one thing: your job. And so you agreed. You thought it would be simple. You thought it would be cut and dry.
It never is.
And now you are left holding the fate of someone else in the palm of your hand and you have to make the ultimate choice.
Love or Death?
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Disclaimer: I bought this book to read to give it an honest opinion!
After Hello
Author: Lisa Mangum
Hardcover
Pages: 272
September 4, 2012
Shadow Mountain
Overview:
What if the first day of your relationship was the only day you had?
Seventeen-year-old Sara is a seeker. She’s always on the lookout for the perfect moment to capture with her ever-present, point-and-shoot camera, especially on her first trip to New York City.
Sam is a finder. He has a knack for finding what other people can’t—a first-edition book or the last two tickets to a sold-out Broadway show. In New York, there is always something interesting to find.
When Sam and Sara’s paths cross, neither one of them is prepared for what they will find out about each other—and about themselves when they form an unlikely partnership in search of a seemingly elusive work of art. They have one day to find the impossible. Fate brought their talents together, but what happens when time runs out? Will love be able to overcome fate?
My Take:
The cover caught my eye of this little gem and immediately grabbed it! I read the cover bit and figured this book was for me. I was right! How I liked this story. It was unique and fresh.
The story takes place in New York which made me feel like I was on an adventure with Sam and Sara. The time frame was 24 hours which seemed longer to me. Sara loves the camera and uses it to capture those unique moments. So when she's in NY she couldn't pass the thought of not using her camera and manages to snap shot Sam who came out of a cafe. Something about him captured her attention.
Sam notice her noticing him. Sara follows him as then they engage in a conversation which led to one thing and another of learning a bit about each other. Their conversation connection was quite unique and fun. Of course in their conversation, they talk of things that are dear to them. Some of the things they mention is a tough thing for them to chat about but in a way I think it helps them to talk to someone about these topics rather than keeping it all bottled up.
Somehow Sam gets Sara involved with his and brother's work as it turns into a mission looking for something unique. Sam helps her. Does she succeed in her mission or not? Do sparks go flying between Sam and Sara while they chat? I think there's a great friendship there and that it could spin into something more. Read the book to find out. I think the chemistry between the two is great.
The story is written from both: Sam and Sara's perspective. I love how the chapters tell you who the perspective is. It's a nice change of pace.
Cover Rating: A
Story Rating: B
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Disclaimer: I bought this book to read to give it an honest opinion!
The Dark Unwinding
Sharon Cameron
Pages: 318
Published: September 1, 2012
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Hardcover
Overview:
When Katharine Tulman's inheritance is called into question by the rumor that her eccentric uncle is squandering away the family fortune, she is sent to his estate to have him committed to an asylum. But instead of a lunatic, Katharine discovers a genius inventor with his own set of rules, who employs a village of nine hundred people rescued from the workhouses of London.
Katharine is now torn between protecting her own inheritance and preserving the peculiar community she grows to care for deeply. And her choices are made even more complicated by a handsome apprentice, a secretive student, and fears for her own sanity.
As the mysteries of the estate begin to unravel, it is clear that not only is her uncle's world at stake, but also the state of England as Katharine knows it.
My Take:
I spied this book in the store as the cover caught my attention. The stunning blue dress was just too good to pass up. Once I had the book in my hands, I read what the story was about and figured to give the book a chance.
Basically Katharine is sent off to get her Uncle committed to the asylum by her greedy Aunt so that the family fortune could be released to her aunt. o off Katarine goes on an adventure in the matters of her uncle. What she finds is that her uncle state is a not crazy, but a genius inventor. It seems that her uncle is great with numbers and somehow could be seen as crazy back then compared today where he might have a disability.
Katharine learns that her Uncle employs quite a few people and begins to feel the burden of what to do. To protect her inheritance or this strange place? What will she decide?
Her uncle's apprentice Lane Moreau requests for a 30 day delay. Katharine accepts the request and she hoped she could pull it off but realizes her Aunt may try to sneak her claws in earlier. She did the best she could.
Of course there is a bit of love going around in this book between Lane Moreau and Ben Alridge and Katharine..so who will win? What will happen? As you find the answers towards the end of the book, it made me relieved!
All the characters in this book were strong and had their own uniqueness. They all played a part of the story. Some were quiet, some were quirky, some were protective and even catches your attention from beginning to end. If you like young adult historical, then this book is for you. The one thing that jumped out at me in the book is the spinning. What is that? You have to read the book to find out.
The ending of the book left me feeling that there could be a sequel. I hope so because this book had my attention and made me wonder what was going to happen. How the story went took me by a complete surprise! Nice little gem to read.
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Cover Rating: A
Story Rating: B
Disclaimer: I bought this book to read to give it an honest opinion!
Between the Lines
Author: Jodi Picoult & Samantha van Leer
Hardcover
Pages: 358
Published: June 26, 2012
Simon Pulse
Overview:
Delilah is a bit of a loner who prefers spending her time in the school library with her head in a book—one book in particular. Between the Lines may be a fairy tale, but it feels real. Prince Oliver is brave, adventurous, and loving. He really speaks to Delilah.
And then one day Oliver actually speaks to her. Turns out, Oliver is more than a one-dimensional storybook prince. He’s a restless teen who feels trapped by his literary existence and hates that his entire life is predetermined. He’s sure there’s more for him out there in the real world, and Delilah might just be his key to freedom.
Delilah and Oliver work together to attempt to get Oliver out of his book, a challenging task that forces them to examine their perceptions of fate, the world, and their places in it. And as their attraction to each other grows along the way, a romance blossoms that is anything but a fairy tale.
My Review:
I grabbed this book as the title caught my attention. I read the the tidbit about what the book was and decided to give it a go. Well when I started it was okay but when I got further into the story, it seemed slow and a bit confusing from the different point of views that were going on. Each chapter or sub chapter would be from the charter's point of view (mostly Delilah's or Oliver's). You would have to concentrate a bit on the story to keep up with it.
Fairy tale story with a modern twist. Of course this story has a prince, love, friends, creatures..the usual aspects that fairy tales consist of. Then there's the heartbreaking part of losing someone. The modern twist is at the end of the book which I thought was pretty amazing!
The fun thing about this book was the sketches. I loved seeing the sketches with the story in this book. You could actually get a feel for what was going on better.
The two characters that are mentioned in this book mostly is Oliver and Delilah. Delilah is a gal who is a loner and loves to read. She wants to get lost in a story and not deal with real life. What teenager wants to get lost in a different world at times? Oliver is a character in the book who wants not to be in a book anymore. He is curious of what is outside of this story and book. He wants to be free. Freedom is something everyone treasures and dares to be explored! Delilah identifies with Oliver and see him as a friend. They both are likable characters. Who could not like them? I thought they were a good match for each other.
So one day Oliver ends up trying to talk to Delilah and she hears him! Their worlds collide as they chat to one another. Can you imagine a book talking to you one day? This was pretty neat. They both like each other and yet the mission was to figure out how to get Oliver out of the book! I liked how they come up with hypothesis and then test them out! Some go well and some do not. Each one is an adventure. At times both Oliver and Delilah get frustrated in dealing with figuring things out along with reality that hits them in their own worlds but they still try to figure out a way. Will they succeed in getting Oliver out of the book?
As I mentioned up above, it was kind of confusing for me a bit on what was going on and seemed a bit slow. It was an okay story. To those who like fairy tales, I'd give it a shot if you are into that genre! I'm glad I read it just to try something different and new.
Cover Rating: B
Story Rating: C
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Disclaimer: I given this book by the author read in an exchange for an honest opinion and review!
Flamethroat: Fire Mage Book 2
Author: Kate Bloomfield
Publisher: Amazon
Published Date: July 28, 2012
Edition: Kindle Ebook
Pages: 300
Overview:
Avalon Redding has returned to Mortlock to find her home destroyed, and her family missing. They have been taken by 'The Realm' for harboring an illegal human, Avalon's sister.
Desperate to find her family, Avalon travels across the country to the Headquarters of the Realm, with Healer Jack Greenwood, and animal companion Hawthorne.
Their friendship is tested when Jack is reunited with his estranged father, and falls under a strange beauty's spell.
Will Jack abandon Avalon during her quest?
And is Hawthorne really one-of-a-kind?
My Take: The sequel! I have been waiting for this! As I read the first book a while back, it captured my attention of the adventures that Avalon goes on. The story left me wanting to know more about what happens to Avalon. Behold..Flamethroat has arrived.
As the journey continues, Avalon heads home with Jack and Hawthorne to see her parents as she finds her home destroyed. Worry, sadness and anger fuels inside of Avalon seeing her home and family gone. She wondered what to do next. Eventually she and Jack are determined to start a mission to find her family and save her sister. Another venture begins for them.
While on their journey to the Realm, Jack and Avalon run into many more energetic situations and obstacles. There is always one thing after that keeps Jack and Avalon on their toes. Some will leave you gasping and some will leave you screaming no!
The one question I had while reading this sequel was whether or not Jack and Avalon will remain as friends or become something more in the romantic department? I love how Jack and Avalon interaction is amazing. They would not leave one another unless it was something serious. Their relationship does get tested when another beauty comes into the picture. Does Jack fall for the beauty or does he remain with Avalon? You need to read this book to find out.
Of course there are some heart breaking moments in this book! One of them is when Jack meets up with his father. Emotions poured out of Jack towards his father. At first Jack was not sure to give his father a second chance but Avalon tells Jack he should just listen and gave a hint that family is important. Jack slowly takes her advice. Eventually Jack and his father reconcile.
Another part is when Avalon meets up with her parents as it was awesome that she found them but then there's the whole adventure of getting her sister back. The action in this process was amazing as her father was still protective of Avalon even though she knows how to take care of herself. I loved how her family, Jack, herself, Hawthorne and a few others band together to fight to get their loved ones back even though there was 50/50 chance that their loved ones would not be normal again. It had me on the edge of my seat to see what was going to happen! Were they going to get their loved ones back? Was Avalon sister going to be normal or not? Who was doing this to humans?
I was also glad to see Raevyn making an appearance in this book. She's a wonderful friend to Jack and Avalon! She is such a great character.
This book had me reading on and on which was fantastic. I could not put it down. When I did put it down, I was thinking about this story and what would happen to Jack and Avalon in their journey. There were at times in the story that I was surprised and happy with the way things went down. The book left me wanting more. So go get this book today on Amazon. Be sure to read the first book first! You won't regret this adventurous fun filled journey with Avalon!
By the way, I personally think the cover is stunning just like the first book was!
Rating:
Story: A
Cover: A
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Disclaimer: I bought this book to read to give it an honest opinion!
Whisper by Alyson Noel
Publisher: Square Fish
Publication Date: 4/24/2012
Pages: 240
Overview
This time, Riley might really have bitten off more than she’s ready for. After practically begging the Council for a more challenging Soul Catch, she is assigned an actual Roman gladiator—Theocoles, the Pillar of Doom. How is Riley, a skinny twelve-year-old, supposed to get through to him? Then she meets the beautiful Messalina, who convinces her that her only chance is to become part of this world. To accomplish this, Messalina helps Riley through a dramatic, mystical makeover, transforming her into the beautiful and mature teen she’s always wanted to be. Finally, Riley can experience her first boyfriend and her first kiss. With a dream this enchanting, will she ever want to leave?
My Take
I love the Riley Bloom series. Each book that I've read about Riley Bloom are adventures filled with various stories of her being a Soul Catcher and adjusting to it. This book was sweet and well paced! Riley learns to deal with Theocoles as it ties in with Messalina. A few themes sprouted out of the adventure that Riley goes on such as forgiveness, romance/crushes and a bit of history (after all it does relate to Roman times).
Even though these series are geared towards 9-12 year olds. I enjoyed them. This is a great way for tweens to read! The writing is smooth as silk. Reading about Riley always makes a smile upon my lips to see how she is doing and what she learns. All the covers are so stunning and the colors that are placed on them..wow!
So pick up the series today. Be sure to check out the links below.
(Short Review)
Cover Rating: A
Story Rating: A
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