Hidden Wings by Cameo Renae

Hidden Wings by Cameo Renae

E-Book Cost $2.99

Rating 4/5

Review

My first thoughts after putting this book down is that I can't wait to read the next book in this series.

The story starts right in the middle of commotion; Emma is being taking into the hospital on a stretcher and has no idea what led up to her being there. Once she wakes up she finds out that she was in a tragic car accident with her parents and that she is the only survivor. Having no family left she is assigned a social worker who informs her that she does in fact have a living relative that she has never heard of who will take custody of her.

From there she gets thrown into a world that seems to be full of danger but no one will tell her what exactly is going on; only that she needs to be protected. Emma immediately forms an attraction to Kade as just his presence makes her body tingle.

Emma is a very strong likable character instead of being the typical annoying damsel in distress right from the start her attitude is very "how can I help". And then there is Kade; whats not to like about him. He is hot, caring, protective and makes her feel safe.

I can't wait to read the next book in the series, Broken Wings. The only thing I really had a problem with was I would have liked to see a little more of the romance. I think I pretty much think that in most YA books as I have been spoiled with New Adult series lately.

Overall a really good YA Sci-Fi and I look forward to more from this author.

Fractured Souls (Shattered Promises #2) by Jessica Sorensen

Fractured Souls (Shattered Promises #2) By Jessica Sorensen

Rating 4/5

E-Book Cost $2.99

Review
Well I have to say I feel like I am eating my words from the first book. Where there is still a ton of species in this book I felt like the story was really coming together. Any now I am conflicted because I really didn't like Alex in the first book and now I kind of love him but I still really like Laylen! This will be interesting to find out where she goes with this; if at all.

Heads up this one ends on a pretty big cliffhanger! I can't believe how it was left; I need to know what happens next!

Anyway this book really picked up right where the last one ended which I really l liked. Gemma wakes up wondering what is going on because when the first book ended she thought that she was dying so she is a bit shocked to figure out that she is still alive.

Gemma is starting to come into her own in the book; she is starting to understand the circumstances of her existence and is starting to question the people around her. She is realizing that she needs to take control as the people she can trust are starting to dwindle.

In this book we start to understand what really brought her and her friends together! Can't wait to find out more!!


News

Next book, Broken Visions, is set to release sometime in 2014. Release date is soon to be announced on the authors good reads page.

Delirium Series by Lauren Oliver

Delirium Series by Lauren Oliver

E-Book Cost Approx $17 

Rating 4.5/5

Review

So I started this book after seeing on Darren's instagram that he was filming for the movie. I didn't really know what to expect but I ended up really liking this series. It was a new concept with great character development. 

The story starts with really showing how society works in the story. The whole premise of the story is that love is a disease that must be removed once each teen turns 18 in order to prevent them from becoming infected. The society makes sure that prior to the procedure schools are segregated into male and female groups to limit exposure to "love". Children are taught very early on to shy away from any behavior of affection even with from their own family. 

When the book starts Lena is very much a good girl trying to fit in with society. She is worried about where she will be placed based on her exam (placement exams determine your husband, job, how many children you will have and many other important aspects of your life)

During her interview portion of her exam (which isn't exactly going well) the building is broken into by the resistance group interrupting all testing. And now this is where the story gets really interesting because we meet Alex!! Who I fell in love with almost immediately. 

Although I will say there is another love interest I don't want to give anything away! I would really recommend reading this series as the characters were likable and really grew throughout the story. The story also had a new concept to it which is always nice as sometimes I feel like I keep reading the same story over and over again. 

News

As some of you may know this series has been picked up by 20th Century Fox for a TV Movie to be released sometime in 2014. Two of the main characters will be played by Emma Roberts and Darren Kagasoff (Ricky from secret life!). Movie information from IMDB. 

Shattered Promises by Jessica Sorensen

Shattered Promises by Jessica Sorensen

Rating: 3/5

Review
This is the second Sci-Fi series I read from Jessica Sorensen and while I will say I enjoyed the other series I have to say that I think she does better with with New Adult/YA alone.

The story was okay; it seemed to me like a cluster of every Sc-Fi creature I have ever read. The book ends and I have to say I am still not entirely sure what is going on or the connection between Gemma and Alex.

I liked that first third of the story; I enjoyed how Gemma started as someone who could not feel emotions and is somehow awakened to all the emotions she missed out on growing up. For her many of her experiences are like going through them the first time.

Getting to know Alex was also enjoyable once he started to be somewhat nice to her. But when they meet he is so angry and mean that I feel like it is absurd that she would per sue any kind of relationship with him.  Even once I learned more about him that kind of explained his behavior I really didn't like him all that much; I pretty much was rooting for any guy she came across in the story that wasn't him.

By the end the story did seem to pick up a little and without giving anything away i was starting to be swayed in the Alex direction.

I am hoping in the next book, Fractured Souls, I like him more but we shall see.

Celestra Series by Addison Moore

Celestra Series by Addison Moore

Book Order:

Ethereal

Tremble

Burn

Wicked

Vex

Expel

Toxic Part 1

Toxic Part 2

Elysian

Rating 4/5

Review

I would first like to start off by saying this has been one of my favorite series. The Celestra series had everything us Sci-Fi YA lovers expect; a love square? (hmm not sure what we should call the dilemma that Skyla faces with Logan, Gage and Marshall), angels, betrayal, lies, villains and of course the story of a first love.

What makes this story much different is that it actually had me flip-flopping who I was rooting for. Usually when I read about a love triangle I quickly pick who I think the main character should pick and stick with it. This series however, I would find myself thinking Logan is perfect for her and then all of the sudden I would be 100% team Gage then somehow be pro Logan again! This happened so frequently in the series I felt like I was right there with Skyla trying to make an impossible decision. I will admit though I did eventually pick a favorite and by the end of the series was dying to know if she picked him.

One of the most endearing aspects of the story for me was how strong the main character was. Instead of doing the usual damsel in distress Skyla was strong and independent; she wouldn't wait for someone to tell her how to fix a problem or expect someone to fix it for her, she would just jump right in. I think sometimes in order to make the love interest likable authors end up making the girl pretty annoying by making them scared and whiney so that the male can swoop in and save the day; this is not the case in this series.

So as much as I loved the series I have to say by the end I wanted answers. I was starting to get a little sick of the dilemma; thinking 'alright, well she has got to like one more than the other.' That being said once the last book came out I was thinking 'finally, I'm going to get some answers,' (I was ready to finish this series I have been reading for a few years) just to end the final book without many conclusions. I know this series has done really well and I applaud the author for making a great series however I think it is time for an entirely new concept; she wrote a mini spin off series then is now starting a new series for Skyla in the new adult genre. I just feel like the idea is getting tired and would really like to see something fresh from a great author.

So that leaves the question of whether I will read the new series when it comes out or not. Truth is...I have no idea, on one hand I still want that ending that I just can't seem to get (the end of the last book felt like a cop out to me) and on the other hand I am starting to just not care.

I've also had friends and family members wholly enjoy this series. Overall, I would recommend this series as I have thoroughly enjoyed it over the years since it's started.

Series Cost 

I estimated the cost through Kindle prices and found the price for the whole series to be about $32 which I would say is a great price for 9 books!! The first book is free so if you're on the fence as to purchasing the series there is no cost to you. Although I must admit if you read the first book the likelihood of not getting hooked is slim-to-none!

Wake

Wake by Amanda Hocking

Rating: 3/5

Book Description
Gorgeous. Fearless. Dangerous. They're the kind of girls you envy; the kind of girls you want to hate. Strangers in town for the summer, Penn, Lexi and Thea have caught everyone's attention—but it’s Gemma who’s attracted theirs.  She’s the one they’ve chosen to be part of their group.

Gemma seems to have it all—she’s carefree, pretty, and falling in love with Alex, the boy next door.  He’s always been just a friend, but this summer they’ve taken their relationship to the next level, and now there’s no going back.  Then one night, Gemma’s ordinary life changes forever.  She’s taking a late night swim under the stars when she finds Penn, Lexi and Thea partying on the cove.  They invite her to join them, and the next morning she wakes up on the beach feeling groggy and sick, knowing something is different.

Suddenly Gemma is stronger, faster, and more beautiful than ever. But her new powers come with a terrifying price.  And as she uncovers the truth, she’s is forced to choose between staying with those she loves—or entering a new world brimming with dark hungers and unimaginable secrets.

Review
Let me start off by saying that I really wanted to love this book, Amanda Hocking is one of my favorite authors based on the Trylle and My Blood Approves Series. I put off reading this for a long time as the review were less that stellar. 

I hate to say it but this book was just not on the same level as her other books. It was a cute story but it lacked depth; by the time the story ended I could not say I cared much about any of the characters.The story was a nice twist on what you would think of as a mermaid and really goes into the darker side. The three girls that Gemma comes into contact with force her into a life she didn't even know existed. This new life is filled with horrors that Gemma does not approve of and does not want to be a part of. Unfortunately for her if she does not accept her new life style and runs she will die via the curse that bonds the four of them together. 

I will admit that I was curious to see where this story was going as I hardly ever start a series and not finish it. I just felt that the price for the next books were a bit high for what I knew was not going to live up to this authors usual level of writing.


On that note I still love this author and highly recommend reading her first two series My Blood Approves and Ascend (A Trylle Novel)

A Long, Long Sleep

A Long, Long Sleep By Anna Sheehan

Rating: 4.5/5

Book Description

Rosalinda Fitzroy has been asleep for sixty-two years when she is woken by a kiss. Locked away in the chemically induced slumber of a stasis tube in a forgotten subbasement, sixteen-year-old Rose slept straight through the Dark Times that killed millions and utterly changed the world she knew. Now, her parents and her first love are long gone, and Rose— hailed upon her awakening as the long-lost heir to an interplanetary empire— is thrust alone into a future in which she is viewed as either a freak or a threat. Desperate to put the past behind her and adapt to her new world, Rose finds herself drawn to the boy who kissed her awake, hoping that he can help her to start fresh. But when a deadly danger jeopardizes her fragile new existence, Rose must face the ghosts of her past with open eyes— or be left without any future at all.

Review

This book hooked me from the very first page, right from the start you know that this is going to be a unique story. 

Rose is such a strong female lead, the way she was brought up to hide all perfections though is somewhat heartbreaking. She wakes up in a world she knows nothing about after bring in stasis for 62 years all  the people she loved are gone and no one seems to really explain the events the took place while she was in stasis. 

As you learn more about her past you start to understand why she has very limited self-confidence and acts child-like. You quickly learn that this was not her first round of stasis and that her parents often resolved to using stasis as a method of parenting and control. 

As there is a romance element to the story it is not the main focus.The main love story was focused in her past. Xavier was born after her (5 years younger) who she often thought of as a brother, her frequent trips to stasis however leveled out their ages and they eventually made the transition from brother-like to friend to boyfriend. 

Overall this story was about a not so young teenage girl finding herself through both her past and the present.  The book did lead to a further story line...SPOILER...

Highlight below to read.

She finds out she had two older siblings that may possibly be stuck in stasis when her parents decided they no longer could control them like they did with her. Rose hints at finding them both in the future. 

I thought the book was written very well and kept me interested throughout. I did however feel like the ending although complete left me wanting more as she was just starting to become the person she was supposed to be. I would have liked to see where her story goes. I would  recommend this book especially if you are starting to feel like every YA book is the same. 

It looks like the author is planning a sequel, no release date thus far. Information via authors facebook account.