ARC Review: Blurred by Tara Fuller

Title: Blurred (Click title for Synopsis)
Source/Format: Publisher, E-ARC
Age Range: YA
Publisher/Publication Date: Entangled Teen, July 2, 2013




My Thoughts:

    Oh Cash, oh Anaya…why?  Why, Tara Fuller, why?  This book pulled at my emotions like it was a piece of string being chased by a cat.  For me, Blurred was an emotional rollercoaster that had me wanting to get to the end as fast as possible.  It was the kind of book that made me root for the character’s happiness at the end, no matter what it was.  It shouldn’t be hard to guess that I absolutely loved this book! 

    I did not read the book prior to this one and I went into the story not knowing who the characters were, what their story was, or how things got to be the way they were.  What I did get from the start, Cash was struggling with the aftermath of the fire.  He was angry; he was hurt both emotionally and physically.  Throughout the book, the lies that were surrounding him began to unravel.  I just felt so bad for Cash as the story progressed that I wished something good would happen to him.  Anaya was also tortured; she longed to get back to those she loved.  Her loyalties were tested as she struggled to do what was right versus what would benefit her.  Though their troubles differed, Cash and Anaya still struggled throughout the book with their emotions, and everything else.  Emma, well, she was hurting and I could tell she cared about Cash and wanted to help him.  Finn was supportive in the whole situation, and I liked the way that he was there for Emma.

    The plot, oh my god, why?  Why did Cash have to suffer so much?  Why?  You know the saying, right?  How life’s not fair, well, this just tops the cake with a pretty cherry on top.  The plot was so unfair to the characters that I seriously questioned if there was going to be a good ending.  And then the end snuck up on me way too quickly, and then it was over.  Despite everything, I felt like the ending was just right for this book and wrapped everything up nicely.  I just have one more question.  So, um, yeah, is there another book and when’s it coming out?

 
This E-ARC was provided by the publisher, Entangled Teen, in exchange for an honest review, thank you!

Cover Reveal: Origin by Jennifer L. Armentrout

First off, a thank you to Entangled Publishing for letting us take part in the Origin by Jennifer L. Armentrout cover reveal!  Ah, the cover in question, based off of what what the synopsis has to say about the book, I think the cover fits perfectly.

 

 

Arrows, because they were beginning to collect dust...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The cover

The Synopsis

Daemon will do anything to get Katy back.

After the successful but disastrous raid on Mount Weather, he’s facing the impossible. Katy is gone. Taken. Everything becomes about finding her. Taking out anyone who stands in his way? Done. Burning down the whole world to save her? Gladly. Exposing his alien race to the world? With pleasure.

All Katy can do is survive.

Surrounded by enemies, the only way she can come out of this is to adapt. After all, there are sides of Daedalus that don’t seem entirely crazy, but the group’s goals are frightening and the truths they speak even more disturbing. Who are the real bad guys? Daedalus? Mankind? Or the Luxen?

Together, they can face anything.

But the most dangerous foe has been there all along, and when the truths are exposed and the lies come crumbling down, which side will Daemon and Katy be standing on? And will they even be together? 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

# 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer Armentrout lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell, Loki.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen.

She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

Links for ORIGIN

Goodreads Amazon Barnes & Noble

 Jennifer’s pages

Twitter Facebook Website
 

Blog Tour: This is War by Lisa and Laura Roecker

Welcome to our tour stop on the the This is W.A.R. blog tour!  Below is a little about the book, and if you reach the bottom of the post you'll find links to a cool promotion.

Title: This is W.A.R. by Lisa and Laura Roecker
Source/Format: Edelweiss, E-ARC
Age Range: YA
Publisher/Publication Date: Soho Teen, July 2, 2013

 

The Synopsis

This is not a story of forgiveness...

The mystery of their best friend's murder drives four girls to destroy the Gregory family. Everyone at Hawthorne Lake Country Club saw Willa Ames-Rowan climb into a boat with James Gregory, the Club’s heir apparent. And everyone at Hawthorne Lake Country Club watched him return. Alone. They all know he killed her. But none of them will say a word. The Gregory family is very, very good at making problems go away. Enter the W.A.R.—the war to avenge Willa Ames-Rowan. Four girls. Four very different motives for justice and revenge, and only one rule: destroy the Gregory family at any cost. 

 

My Thoughts:

 

     This is W.A.R. is yet another fast-paced novel by Lisa and Laura Roecker shrouded in mystery and suspense.  There were things I did and didn’t like about This is W.A.R..  On one hand, they presented us with another addictive mystery full of lies, dirty money, and a truth just begging to get to the surface.  On another hand, there were some bits and pieces of the story that I felt could have just been left out.  

     Following Rose, Lina, Madge, and Sloane along through This is W.A.R. was like a rollercoaster with no clear end in sight.  Fueled by hatred, the girls went after who they thought was responsible for their friends death.  I liked watching their stories unfold from each of their POV’s, as they struggled with their feelings about Willa’s death, while taking into account the wishes of others.  But there was always one clear goal in mind: Revenge.  It led to them making a few choice decisions that had me cringing.  Then there were the Gregorys, the guys with all the money in the world that one person could possibly want and who knew how to use it to their advantage.  The Gregory family was as dirty as they come, and I liked the way Lisa and Laura Roecker portrayed them.  To say the least, they were well-written antagonists.

     The plot, the secrets, all of it was shocking, especially some of the characters involved in certain revelations.  As things were revealed I slowly put the pieces of that fateful night together.  My only complaint is that some of the smaller details bothered me.  Some of the suggestive situations sprinkled throughout the book were just too much for me, and in the end those elements hampered my overall enjoyment of This is W.A.R..

An e-arc was provided by Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review, thank you!

 

 

Now for the information on the promotion.  If you pre-order the book you could earn yourself one of the keys featured in the book, but it's limited in quantity.  Click HERE for more information.

 

 

Lisa and Laura Roecker are sisters-turned-writing partners with a passion for good books, pop culture, and Bravo programming. Not necessarily in that order. A prepubescent obsession with Lois Duncan and their mother's insistence that they read Men Are Just Desserts inspired This is WAR. The sisters live in Cleveland, Ohio, in separate residences. Their husbands wouldn't agree to a duplex. Cyberstalking is always encouraged at lisa-laura.blogspot.com and @landlroecker on Twitter.

 

Links

Twitter This is War Book

Review: The Hero's Guide to Storming the Castle by Christopher Healy

Title:The Hero's Guide to Storming the Castle (Click title for Synopsis)
Source/Format: Won, Hardback
Age Range: Middle Grade
Publisher/Publication Date: Walden Pond Press, April 30, 2013



My Thoughts:


     So many times, the classic fairy tales have been remixed into all sorts of wonderful tales, but not like this.  The Hero’s Guide to Storming the Castle is on a whole other level—it’s hilarious, entertaining, and everything else in-between.  Healy did a fantastic job of taking the tales we know and love, and giving them a fresh take that anyone is bound to enjoy.  Personally, I loved this book, from the characters, to the setting, and even to the plot.  And I haven’t even read the first book yet, but I plan to since I want to know how the whole series started.

     In the Hero’s Guide to Storming the Castle, the Prince Charmings—Liam, Duncan, Fredric, and Gustav—are yet again enveloped in a plot that quickly spirals out of control.  After having their reputation’s destroyed, they'd spent the months prior to the start of the story in hiding.  I’m not familiar with the characters, which were all different in personality and skill set, but they were well-written and I found their antics entertaining.  Briar Rose was just crazy.  Healy did a superb job of developing Briar Rose’s character, and inevitably illustrated all of the traits that made her spoiled-rotten. 

     The plot was really interesting with aspects that I found highly entertaining, as well as hilarious.  Almost from the first chapter, the princes are thrust into yet another dangerous, high-stakes adventure.  Throughout, there was a lot of character development and lessons learned, but I can’t say anything about it because that would be too big of a spoiler.  The end, oh the end, it left me wanting the next one already!  From the way it was written, I honestly don’t know what’s going to happen next.  In a nutshell, this book was awesome, and I definitely recommend to everyone!

 

Now, check out the trailer below...

Relic by Renee Collins Giveaway

Title:Relic (Click title for Synopsis)
Age Range: YA
Publisher/Publication Date: Entangled Teen, August 27, 2013

 

So Entangled Publishing is running a giveaway for Relic by Renee Collins!  There's a print copy up for grabs (US only) and an ecopy of for international readers.  Feel free to enter if you want... 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway