young adult | Lost in a Good Book

Cover Reveal: Cross Me Off Your List (#2) by Nikki Godwin

29 Sep 2014 Leave a comment

by Amy in Cover Reveal Tags: contemporary, cover reveal, nikki godwin, saturn series, young adult

Today is the cover reveal for Cross me of Your List (Saturn series #2) by Nikki Godwin. This cover reveal is organized by Lola’s Blog Tours.

Cross Me of Your List (Saturn series #2)
By Nikki Godwin
Genre: Contemporary
Age category: Young Adult

Blurb:
Spring break in Los Angeles with her BFFs has been Marisol’s driving force to get through senior year. But when a falling out dents her plans, Marisol tucks the broken friendship into her back pocket with her cell phone and spring break bucket list.

Surf city Crescent Cove isn’t exactly LA, but once she meets a tattooed brunette named Noah in the hotel elevator, Marisol really doesn’t mind crossing off the items on her list without her friends – especially after Noah offers to help. Unaware that Noah fits the criteria for item #3 (meet a celebrity), Marisol is instantly thrown into the world of paparazzi, wild nights, and a spring break she’ll never forget.

While her friends are making memories in LA, Marisol is making tabloid headlines. But after slipping a Spaceships Around Saturn secret to the media, Marisol has to fight hard to survive her fifteen minutes of fame and get back on Noah’s good side before he crosses her off of his list for good.

You can find Cross me of Your List on Goodreads

About the Author:
Nikki Godwin is a YA/NA/LGBT author. She can’t live without Mountain Dew, black eyeliner, and music by Hawthorne Heights. When not writing, she internet-stalks her favorite bands and keeps tabs on surf competitions. She adores pro surfer John John Florence and has made it her life goal to meet David Desrosiers of Simple Plan.

All Your Bits and Pieces Needs
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The Donor (Part Three) by Nikki Rae

29 Sep 2014 Leave a comment

by Amy in 5 Stars, The Donor, Young Adult Tags: ebook, five stars, new adult, nikkie rae, novella, The Donor, young adult

Published: 30th September 2014
Publisher: Self published
Format: ebook
Genre: Young Adult/New Adult
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ – 5 Stars

[Disclaimer: This is a serial novella that will be told in parts about the length of a short story (20-30 pages)]

Casey may have not known what was in store for her when she met Jonah Black on MyTrueMatch.com, but now that she’s with him, life has become even more unexpected. She’s discovered someone else in the picture and now she cannot figure out how she fits into the puzzle.

Convinced that he doesn’t need her, Casey is torn between giving up and doing whatever it takes to help her family. But Jonah, it turns out, needs her more than she knows.

Time is something neither of them have.
Can they hold each other together as the clock runs out?

Note: I was given a copy of this book to review

This is the final instalment in Nikki Rae’s The Donor novella and it is an excellent conclusion to a great story. The characters really drive this novella and we see them shine once more with Casey’s relationship with Jonah as well as with her family. Even through three short instalments a clear understanding of who these characters are is established. Rae uses her words well and with care and everything has a purpose.

The story follows on from the surprise in part two and it takes the relationship between Casey and Jonah somewhere new and unexpected. There are many surprising revelations but Rae maintains the calm and emotional connection between her characters and uses this to bring more sensitivity and sentiment into the story rather than over the top hype.

When we are first introduced to Casey we are unsure of what her intentions with Jonah are, and with each part we have seen their connection grow, as well as understand more of what their relationship involves. With the conclusion of this novella it is clear there is so much more to learn and it seems Casey is not the only one hiding secrets. Rae manages to change what you thought you knew about Jonah and Casey and transforms this little story into something even better than it was before.

Rae gets you so involved with Jonah and Casey that when the ending comes you are not expecting it. It isn’t that there is anything grand or outrageous in terms of action, but how Rae portrays these characters, each with their own vulnerabilities and insecurities, is great to read. Each part of this story has been a slow emergence of their thoughts and feelings, a gradual intimacy that doesn’t need over the top excitement or extravagances. The two of them together, still so unsure of one another, but still with a strong connection, brings out the best in The Donor and you realise just who these characters are and what they mean to one another and the purpose they bring to each other’s lives.

The ending is ideal. I found a “Wait, what?” escape from my mouth when I realised it didn’t keep going and stops where it does but after I recovered I realised it was the best ending to have, satisfactory but without having to play out everything in detail. Rae’s stories seem to do that, you get so invested into her stories that when the ending comes it is hard to believe they’re over. But they are given the best kind of endings for the story and Rae gives you the pleasure of furthering the story in your mind while not leaving you unhappy or without a solution or answers. Once again The Donor follows suit as Rae manages to conclude this novella with style and in a way that gives you answers but also doesn’t need to wrap everything up perfectly. A great conclusion to a wonderful novella.

Fractured Innocence (IFICS #2) by Julia Crane

24 Sep 2014 Leave a comment

by Amy in 5 Stars, General, IFICS, Science Fiction, Young Adult Tags: five stars, IFICS, julia crane, science fiction, young adult

Published: 6th February 2014
Publisher: Valknut Press
Pages: 194
Format: ebook
Genre: Young Adult/Science Fiction
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ – 5 Stars

*Warning 17+ due to sexual gritty topic and language.

Kaitlyn and Erik are sent on a mission to track down Vance Dasvoik, a ruthless monster. His latest thrill—abducting and selling young women.

Vance’s current victim: Aaliyah, a seventeen-year-old who never imagined walking her brother home from school one evening would change her life forever.

The mission quickly turns personal for Kaitlyn when she finds Aaliyah beaten, her mind and soul fractured from abuse of the worst kind. Kaitlyn knows firsthand what it’s like to be haunted by the past and resolves to bring justice to the elusive Dasvoik.

Note: I was provided a copy of this book for review.

In the previous book we were introduced to Kaitlyn and her abilities as well as her life at the compound. With this second book, the story takes a different direction as we see Kaitlyn in action, doing exactly what she has been designed to do and using her super soldier abilities to hunt down human trafficker Vance Dasvoik.

The story takes place mainly off the compound which was great because it allowed you to see how other people see Kaitlyn, not just those who know what she is. This also demonstrated how far Kaitlyn has come in trying to integrate with society and how she copes in the real world.

Like before we get multiple points of view from Kaitlyn and Lucus, but there is also the perspective of Aaliyah, a young girl who has been kidnapped by Davoik. Aaliyah’s perspective balances out the others nicely and it shows readers the other side: what is happening to the victims, and who and why Dasvoik is the target of the operation.

There is some recapping but it very minimal and Crane does well to keep it natural and within the story. It is also spread throughout so it does not impact on the flow by getting it over in one go, nor does it leave you confused about what has happened beforehand by ignoring it completely. By having a space between the last book and this one Crane manages to blend the recap in with the explanation about what has happened in that time as well as the developments and improvements Kaitlyn has made.

Kaitlyn is different, she no longer has to hide her true self and she is more open about what confuses her and what she is capable of. She still has a lot to learn and because of the logical part of her she does not always know why she needs to learn certain things, but she complies any way, eager to fit in.

As for Aaliyah, Crane is tactful but honest and description with her ordeal and situation. There are strong sexual and violent moments but Crane handles it well, bringing us into Aaliyah’s experience and her mind. The story captures the trauma and terrifying events, bringing out the emotional response not just the descriptive. As terrible as it is, Crane does a brilliant job in the gradual and realistic progression of Aaliyah and what she goes through, we see her struggle, cope, and reason with what she goes through. It makes for great reading, if at times a bit hard to read. You feel so sorry for her, but admire her strength and you hope that she is strong enough to recover.

The Aaliyah storyline and perspective is shocking, but it brings reality and conflict into the story, bringing it into the real world and away from the science experiment feel from the first book. This is a great sequel because you see Kaitlyn in action doing what she has been designed to do and the mission is it makes an already great story a gripping and intense one.

Purchase Fatal Abduction via the following

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Twisted Reflections (#2) by Shay West

16 Sep 2014 Leave a comment

by Amy in 3 Stars, Adventures of Alexis Davenport, Science Fiction, Young Adult Tags: adventures of alexis davenport, historical, science fiction, shay west, three stars, young adult

Published: 24th July 2014
Publisher: Booktrope Editions
Pages: 190
Format: ebook
Genre: Young Adult/Historical/Science Fiction
★ ★ ★ – 3 Stars

Alexis Davenport is learning to come to grips with her ability to travel through time, but she still hasn’t been able to stop the evil Drifter and his Master from trying to alter the past.

When she travels back to ancient Egypt, Alex gets a most unexpected surprise; she meets someone who can help her figure out how to use her powers, another Traveler like herself.

But can Alex learn how to control her gift before Drifter finds a way to stop her from meddling in his Master’s plans?

Note: I was provided a copy of this book for review

Twisted Reflections is the second book in the Adventures of Alexis Davenport series and one that offers up a bit more information in the mystery that is Alexis Davenport and why she may have been chosen to stop someone messing with history. Alexis meets another traveller like herself during one of her trips who tries to help guide her on what her role may be. Their chance meeting gives Alexis an opportunity to gain more insight into her gift and realise just how important her mission is.

The novel covers a longer amount of time, but does jump forward most of it, skipping a lot of the school year. There is less importance placed on the Catelyn/Beau drama of the first book, and while there seemed to be a tense build up to the new school year West chooses to skip most of it instead, choosing to focus more on the summer holidays and Alexis’ relationship with her mother and friends.

Once again I felt that the time travelling aspect was a better read than the other parts in terms of story, style, and character, and though while some of the parts that faulted last time are improved, other issues develop and some are just redirected. Alexis again comes across as petulant and whiny, and she is certainly petty and jealous, but I’m starting to see that’s just who she is. But considering how much better she is when she is travelling it’s hard to see her as the same personality, though admittedly sometimes it slips through.

The writing and narrative is not perfect but the story is interesting and keeps you reading. The characters have out of the blue emotional outbursts and occasionally seem unreasonable and peculiar with no real explanation or warning but this does not really take away from enjoying the other parts of the story. The real intrigue comes from the time travelling parts where West writes curious and fascinating versions of historical moments and points in time. You forget any issue you had with the other parts and become involved with the period of time and the story it involves. The concept West has created is engaging and intriguing, with enough mystery and variability to keep you guessing and eager to find out, but not slow enough that it becomes predictable.

The ending is also once again very well done. It manages to bring the story to a new level and natural progression that adds a twist and a surprise to the reader while also offering more information and making you eager for the next book.

Purchase Twsited Reflections via the following

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

iTunes

Release Day Blitz: Shimmer by Elena Dillon

28 Aug 2014 Leave a comment

by Amy in General, Giveaway Tags: elena dillon, release day blitz, romantic suspense, young adult

Shimmer (Breathe #2) by Elena
Dillon

RELEASE DAY BLITZ

YA Romantic Suspense

Book 2 in the Breathe Series:

Chandler Raines and her “dad” are on the run. Never staying in one place forvery long. It’s just not safe. When they arrive in Lafayette, Louisiana, Chandler quickly realizes this is the place she wants to call home. Friends, a cute boy, and competitive cheerleading have her taking dangerous risks to have the life she always wanted. Risks she promised she wouldn’t take.

When her lies catch up to her, a decision has to be made. Stay or run? Will the evil that’s chased them for the last four years catch up to them? When Chandler’s past comes screeching into the present she’ll have to sacrifice everything to keep what she loves safe.

But will it be enough?

Buy it on

iBookstore

Amazon

Smashwords

Barnes and Noble

Shimmer 2

~*~About the Author~*~

Elena lives and writes in a suburb North of Los Angeles. She has never lived anywhere besides California which is probably a good thing since she hates being cold and is terrified to drive in the snow. She loves being a wife and a mother to her three kids and three dogs, although really the bulldog is the fourth child who has never matured beyond the toddler stage.

A self-proclaimed nerd, she has been writing since she was a child. She has only recently, however, come out of the closet about this to her family and friends. They now understand better, but not completely, why she talks
about characters in stories as if they are real people.

Elena has decided to give away a $25 Amazon Gift Card for the release so check out the Rafflecopter giveaway!