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

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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

Review: Spartan Frost by Jennifer Estep

Title: Spartan Frost (Click title for Synopsis)
Source/Format: Purchased/ itunes digital edition
Age Range: YA
Publisher/Publication Date: Kensington Publishing Corporation, June 25, 2013






My Thoughts:

     I’m glad that Jennifer Estep decided to do a Novella from Logan Quinn’s point of view, because I always wondered what was going on in his head.  Spartan Frost really showed how Logan was struggling with what happened at the end of Crimson Frost.  Out of everything he seemed to be struggling with his guilt over what happened to Gwen, the most.  The only thing about Spartan Frost is that it was more about Logan and not necessarily how he felt about Gwen.  Sure, we get small pieces of his emotions, as well as some insight into the things he liked about her, but otherwise it was focused primarily on him and his father.  Spartan Frost was a nice bridge to fill the gap between Crimson Frost and the upcoming release, Midnight Frost.  I’m not sure what’s going to happen next, but what I do know is that there will be plenty Reapers of Chaos showing up all over the place.

Review: Of Triton by Anna Banks

Title:Of Triton (Click title for Synopsis)
Source/Format: Won, Bound ARC
Age Range: YA
Publisher/Publication Date: Feiwel & Firends, May 8, 2013




My Thoughts:
    
     What should I even say?  I had really high expectations for Of Triton going into it, but sadly I just didn’t like it that much.  I’ve read books involving mermaids before, and I like the whole idea well enough.  But with Of Triton I just had a hard time getting into the story.  I didn't end up caring for the smaller details.  As a whole, Of Triton was an ok read but I wouldn’t exactly read it again.  The characters...sigh.  Emma was pliable and just seemed to float with whatever boat was present at the time.  She had a few instances of short-lived rebellion, which made me like her a little more than I originally did.  Galen, yeah, I didn't like him very much either. Then there was Emma’s mother, Nalia and Grom, Galen’s older brother.  I just felt like their situation was settled way too quickly, which left me wondering why it was even there in the first place.  Then there were the major plot issues.  It was just kind of lacking, plus the conflicts seemed almost superficial.  I would have liked to see a little more resistance from the characters.  Maybe if I’d read Of Poseidon before diving into Of Triton, I would have understood the structure of the world a little more, but I didn’t.  Hey I’m being honest, someone else may like this one, but I guess I’m not included in that category.

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Review: Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

Title: Leviathan (Click title for Synopsis)
Illustrations by: Keith Thompson
Source/Format: Purchased, Paperback
Age Range: YA
Publisher/Publication Date: Simon Pulse, October 6, 2009



My Thoughts:


    Oh, I just feel the need to get this out first: I just love the Leviathan Trilogy by Scott Westerfeld!  It’s a wonderful mix of history and some very imaginative technology that combined living creatures with machines.  For someone like me who likes history, this is absolutely one of my favorite series.  Leviathan has it all action, an intriguing storyline, and a superbly built world.  Scott did an outstanding job crafting the Clanker the Darwinist societies, making the differences present from the beginning, and highlighting the tension between them.  Oh, and not to forget the beautiful illustration’s done by Keith Thompson, which captures the Clanker machines and Darwinist Beasties perfectly.

     In Leviathan we are introduced to Deryn Sharp who happens to be posing as a boy—Dylan Sharp—to gain entry into the Service/Military.  Due to a series of nail-biting events, Deryn as Dylan ends up aboard “the great hydrogen breather” Leviathan, as one of the middies.  And then there’s Alec, a prince on the run after the untimely death of his parents.  Poor Alec had a hard time with things, and I felt bad for him for how he found out about the whole thing.  There were a slew of highly interesting secondary characters as well, with Dr. Barlow being one of them.  As a boffin, which is a Darwinist fabricator, was one character that really held my interest throughout the book.  She was very secretive with what she was up to.

     There was never a point in the plot that was slow—there was a lot going on.  Once the war got rolling, everything just kind of unfolded from there.  Once Alec and Deryn finally met, well, their combined interactions just made the plot all that much better.  The science behind Leviathan was just marvelous!  The whole concept of the Beasties, and that having a living ecosystem to sustain the hydrogen breathers, just had me from page one.  Having started the trilogy right in the middle of it with Behemoth, I found that I really did miss all of the details and important events that happened in Leviathan.  Now, I just want to reread the entire trilogy from start to finish again. 

 

Now, check out Leviathan's book trailer below:

Cover Reveal & Giveaway: The Sound of Letting Go by Stasia Ward Kehoe

    Thank you to Penguin/Viking for allowing us to reveal the cover of Stasia Ward Kehoe's The Sound of Letting Go!  Personally, I love the cover.  It's simple, but in a perfect kind of way that I think suits the book.  Make sure you visit the bottom of the post for the giveaway!

 

 

 

 

Arrows, because I feel like making you work to get to the cover...

and giveaway...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hah, you're almost there...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

And now the cover 

 

Title: The Sound of Letting Go

Author: Stasia Ward Kehoe

Publisher/ Expected Publication Date: Penguin Group/Viking, February 1, 2014

 

Synopsis

     For sixteen years, Daisy has been good.  A good daughter, helping out with her autistic younger brother uncomplainingly.  A good friend, even when her best friend makes her feel like a third wheel. When her parents announce they’re sending her brother to an institution—without consulting her—Daisy’s furious, and decides the best way to be a good sister is to start being bad.  She quits jazz band and orchestra, slacks in school, and falls for bad-boy Dave. 

 

     But one person won’t let Daisy forget who she used to be: Irish exchange student and brilliant musician Cal.  Does she want the bad boy or the prodigy?  Should she side with her parents or protect her brother?  How do you know when to hold on and when—and how—to let go?

 

The all important links

For more information on Stasia Ward Kehoe

Stasia on twitter On Facebook At Goodreads At her blog

And now for the giveaway!

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Movie Review: After Earth Directed by M. Night Shyamalan

Title: After Earth
Director:  M. Night Shyamalan
Writers: Gary Whitta (Screenplay), M. Night Shyamalan(Screenplay), & Will Smith (Story)
Release Date: May 31, 2013
Rated: PG-13 Sci-fi action violence and some disturbing images (For additional rating information for After Earth visit the Internet Movie Data Base)

Thanks to 100.7 Jack FM, I attended an advanced screening of After Earth on May 29, 2013.

My Thoughts

I know that I am a little late with posting my thoughts about After Earth. Let me start by saying that After Earth had a great message about the relationship of a father and son. It was entertaining, but it didn’t have that wow factor. Yet, I felt that the movie captured what it takes for a service member to reintegrate into the family and the difficulties in the relationships between some parents and their children as a result of extended separations.

After Earth is the story of Cypher Raige (Will Smith), a Commander General, who comes home and is distant with Kitai Raige (Jaden Smith), his son. The family had experienced a great loss in the past and there were some unresolved issues related to  the death of Kitai’s sister. The father requires Kitai to say “yes sir” each time he addresses him, and it is apparent that their relationship is strained. Cypher takes his son on a mission with him so they can bond and that’s when their adventure begins. One problem I had was that some of the events seemed out of place. In particular, I found it odd that it was so easy for Kitai to locate his father after the accident. The accident was a turning point in their relationship. Cypher had to depend on his son, and they began to develop mutual respect. Yeah, the movie was slow and the acting fell flat at times, but once I could see the direction of this film, I started to enjoy it. After Earth—a father and son who work on rebuilding their relationship through adversity and are dependent on each other for survival…How can you go wrong with that?

I recommend After Earth to those who like films with a strong message and a touch of action and adventure. FYI-Be aware that there are some disturbing images.

Check out the official site for the summary and additional information.
 

Rating

After Earth Trailer

Review: Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor

Title:Days of Blood & Starlight (Click title for Synopsis)
Source/Format: Purchased, Hardback
Age Range: YA
Publisher/Publication Date: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, November 6, 2012



My Thoughts:

     I honestly didn’t know what to expect going into Days of Blood and Starlight, but I sure as heck wasn’t disappointed.  Laini once again did a fanciful job on capturing the world Karou lives in.  The writing was just amazing, descriptive, and really kept the story going. 
 

     Days of Blood and Starlight, was a true sequel, which continues Karou’s story.  As always the characters were fantastic and their reactions to things were realistic.  This book was set up way different than Daughter of Smoke and Bone.  Zuzana was just awesome, and she kept right on looking for Karou, which just showed how much of a friend she was to her.  I’m glad that Zuzana found some happiness in Days of Blood and Starlight.  Then there was Karou and Akiva.  Both were facing major changes in their lives, and I’m glad that they were able to work through some of them.  Still, I was rooting for Karou and Akiva—and their complicated relationship—from the start.

     The plot moved at a fast past, and with each chapter I found out something new. It was a truly amazing story, and I definitely recommend this one to anyone.  Now I just have to wait for the next one to come out.

 

Early Movie Review: Now You See Me

Title: Now You See Me

Director: Louis Letterrier

Producer: Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman, Bobby Cohen

Written by: Boaz Yakin, Edward Ricourt

Rating: PG-13

Release Date: May 31, 2013

For more information about the movie visit the official site here

My Thoughts:

     My first thoughts about Now You See Me were:  What?  How?  Where the heck did that come from?  Oh, ok, I did not see that coming.  After the end of Now You See Me, I was left reeling from it, and feeling like the movie was one giant illusion meant to trick the audience into believing they’re seeing something they’re not—well, at the very least, that’s how I felt.  It really made me think about the plot as it progressed as new details emerged.  Now You See Me is the kind of movie I’d eventually buy when it comes out on DVD/Blu-Ray, just to see if there were any small details I missed the first time I’d seen it.

      The plot follows “The Four Horsemen,” a team of talented illusionist, who go up against an elite team of FBI agents, in a series of thrilling heists.  Jack Wilder, Henley Reeves, Merritt McKinney, and J. Daniel Atlas start off as separate performers, unable to work with one another.  Through a course of mysterious events, the four end up working as a team.  The Horsemen were really the world’s greatest illusionist in this movie, as time after time, they always managed to stay one step ahead of the agents who were closing in on them. 

     Now You See Me was truly different from the other movies coming out this year.  I mean, come on.  How many times are you going to get a movie about illusionist pulling off heists?  I was so sure it was someone else, but it wasn’t.  I can’t say much more without spoiling the plot, but the secrets, oh the secrets will leave you questioning what you saw throughout the movie.  The greatest trick of Now You See Me was the movie itself, and the hidden details within it.  The only issue I really had with the movie was that there was some inappropriate suggestive content at seemingly random parts of the movie, and instances of crude humor that could have just been left out.  Otherwise, it was a pretty good movie.

 

Thank you to Summit Entertainment for the advanced screening tickets!  Another thank you to Z90.3 for the awesome Now You See Me hat!

 

Check out the trailer below:

Review: Double Vision by F. T. Bradley



Title: Double Vision
(Click on the title link for synopsis)
Author:  F.T. Bradley
Publisher/Publication Date: 
HarperCollins Children's, October 16, 2012
Source/Format:  Borrowed from Library,
Hardback

Double Vision, Double agent, Double Fun and Excitement! That explains the debut novel Double Vision by F. T. Bradley in a nutshell. The cover appeared exciting enough and the synopsis drew me in, but I approached this book with reservations since I was unfamiliar with Bradley’s work.  Now, I suggest removing the caution tape and approaching the book full speed ahead. You will not be disappointed because this middle-grade spy novel provides non-stop action and adventure.

Lincoln (Linc) Baker is a mischievous twelve-year-old prone to causing trouble, and one wrong decision lands him and his family in a world of trouble.  With a lawsuit pending against his family, and not enough funds to cover it, Linc decides to take up an offer from a shadowy government agency called Pandora. F.T. Bradley did a phenomenal job on Double Vision as she transformed a mischievous kid who used the context of the world for knowledge into a not so skilled but effective spy.  Linc’s mission was to find the “evil Mona Lisa.”  It leads Linc on a whirlwind adventure in Paris, full of action, humor, cool gadgets, spies, betrayals, and a plot that had me guessing till the end.  Along the way Linc made a few interesting friends such as a cab driver with crazy driving skills that had me nervous for Linc, and then a girl from a bakery, a strong female character, who has mad-skills with a stick.  What’s not to like about that?

I would definitely recommend Double Vision by F.T. Bradley.  Ok, ok, ok, let’s just say that it was the perfect spy themed novel that needs to be adapted into a movie!  End of discussion.                                    – Review  written by Andrea M.  & Breana M.

 Browse Inside

 

Watch as F. T. Bradley Discusses Double Vision

Cover Reveal: Darker Days (The Darker Agency #1) by Jus Accardo

     As always, thanks to Entangled Publishing for letting us do yet another cover reveal for them!  I have to say, the cover is unique, and I like the pop of colors in the background.  So without further ado, scroll down to see the cover of Darker Days by Jus Accardo. I hope you enjoy the cover and excerpt!

 

 

 

What? You thought it was going to be that easy? Keep scrolling!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don't worry, you're getting warmer, because you're almost there... 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The cover 

 

Title: Darker Days (The Darker Agency #1)

Author: Jus Accardo

Publisher/Expected Publication Date:  Entangled Teen, August 2013

 

Synopsis

     Jessie Darker goes to high school during the day, but at night she helps with the family investigation business. Cheating husbands and stolen inheritances? They’re your girls—but their specialty is a bit darker. Zombie in your garage? Pesky Poltergeist living in your pool? They’ll have the problem solved in a magical minute. For a nominal fee, of course...

     When gorgeous new client, Lukas Scott, saunters into the office requesting their help to find a stolen box, it sounds like a simple case—until the truth comes out. The box is full of Sin.

     Seven deadly ones, in fact.

     They’ve got five days to recapture the Sins before they're recalled by the box, taking seven hijacked human bodies with them. Easy peasy—except for one thing...

     There’s a spell that will allow the Sins to remain free, causing chaos forever. When the key ingredient threatens the life of someone she knows, Jessie must make the ultimate choice between love and family—or lose everything. 

Excerpt

     “So not your biggest fan at the moment,” I said, closing the office door behind me. The runofffrom my jeans had soaked my sneakers pretty good. With each step, I gave a slight squishing noise accompanied by an annoying squeak against the old tile floor.

      From across the room, Mom stared. “What happened to you?”

      “It attacked me.” Tossing my bag on the couch, I sank into her chair and made sure to grind my butt into the cushion. Got it nice and wet. I was all about sharing the love—and right now, the love was soggy.

     She laughed, waving a folder in my direction. “Surely you’re overreacting. It was one little zombie. They don’t attack people.”

     “I’m serious, Ma. It tried to drown me. And the client assaulted me with ugly footwear. As far as punishments go, I’d say we’re probably square. I’ve learned my lesson.”

     “You’re serious?” Amused expression now replaced by concern, she crossed the room and leaned over her desk to get a better look at me.

      “As a coronary.” Once I was sure the chair had sponged up all it could, I stood and huffed past her. Pulling at my favorite T-shirt—the word Fate inside a blood red heart, is a four letter word on the back—I said, “Child welfare would not be happy to hear you tried to feed your only child to a walking corpse…”

     “But why would it attack? Did you provoke it?” Folding her arms, she frowned. “Insult it, perhaps?”

      I winked at her. “Provoke it? Sure. I went and wiggled my ass in front of it yelling lunch just to see what’d happen.” I’d called it Stinky, but that didn’t count as an insult. Something couldn’t be considered an insult if it was true, right?

     Right eyebrow twitching, she fought against a smile. “But you’re okay, right? No bites, broken bones, head injuries, possessions…?”

     I smiled and did a little twirl. “All in one piece and still me.”

     Mom had a checklist she went through at the end of each job. I was known for taking almost as much damage as I inflicted.

     “Oh, and you’re probably going to get a call from the client. I sorta smashed her fence in the process.”

      Mom groaned. “I told you to be more careful.”

     “It’s not like I tried to break anything.”

     “Something tells me you didn’t try hard enough not to break anything, either.”

     “In my defense, it wasn’t a simple trap and slap…”

     “We can’t afford this.” She reached down and pulled a white envelope out from under a stack of papers. “This is the bill for that Mercedes you smashed.”

     “Oh! So not my fault. How was I supposed to know that Spring Heel was gonna land on the car? If it makes you feel any better, I think he was aiming for my head…”

     “If you keep this up, we won’t even be able to afford the rent.”

     She was right, of course, and it made me feel horrible. “I’m sorry. I guess I’m a wrecking ball wrapped in blue jeans. Take my cut of this job and put it toward the repairs. Keep my paycheck for the next month, too.” A good start, but it didn’t feel like enough. Sure, it would cover the damages—I hoped—but I felt guilty about upsetting her. The bills that were piling up kept her awake at night. This was only going to make things worse. We got a fair amount of business, but the overhead in our line of work was sky high.

     As much as I hated the idea, I knew what would cheer her up. “I’ll even throw in pet possessions for the next month.”



 

 Find Darker Days

Goodreads

 

About Jus AccAardo

 

 

JUS ACCARDO spent her childhood reading and learning to cook. Determined to follow in her grandfather’s footsteps as a chef, she applied and was accepted to the Culinary Institute of America. At the last minute, she realized her path lay with fiction, not food, and passed on the spot to pursue writing. Jus is the bestselling author the popular Denazen series from Entangled publishing and is currently working on the first book in a new adult series due out summer 2013. A native New Yorker, she lives in the middle of nowhere with her husband, three dogs, and sometimes guard bear, Oswald.

 

Find Jus Accardo

Website Blog Twitter Facebook

Cover Reveal & Excerpt: The Rising King by Shea Berkley

    First off, thank you to Entangled for letting us reveal the cover of The Rising King by Shea Berkly!  There's also an excerpt, so make sure you go through the entire post.  So you know the drill, scroll down for the cover!

 

 

 

Synopsis

     The summer before Dylan Kennedy’s senior year in high school is turning out to be anything but boring. Ridiculously hot girlfriend? Check. Killing evil Dark Souls who suddenly have aspirations of taking over the magical realm of Teag because its protective spell is gone? Check.

     Not even Teag’s King, Dylan’s father, Baun, can stop them. People are dying, and a dark magic that his girlfriend, Kera, received from Baun is growing stronger. Dylan wants to believe Kera is suppressing the darkness that’s in her, but every day he sees that control slip just a little more.

      Baun sends Dylan to find a powerful magic that stop the Dark Souls, a magic so strong that Baun hid it so no one else could use it. When Dylan doesn’t expect to find along with it, are consequences that could end the lives of those closest to him.

 

And now for the except:

     I ease my hand into Kera’s and lace our fingers together, bringing her deep violet eyes onto me. They sweep over my face, and the edges of her full lips curve upward as if she’s fighting a smile. She sets aside the book and leans close bringing the scent of summer with her. “You scared me to death.”

    I love it when she worries about me. When it comes to my life, someone caring enough to worry is sort of a new thing. “You do that all the time to me.” I tug her hand and bring her closer so I can snag a quick kiss.

     Kera pushes away, but I don’t let go. The look she throws me is serious. “I’m not kidding, Dylan. You have to be more wary, especially when it comes to creatures like the millispits.”

     “I didn’t die.” It’s a reminder that’s kind of obvious.

     “Because I saved you.”

     “What’s that make? Two for me and one for you?”

     She leans back, testing the limits of our reach. “Are you keeping score?”

     “No…” I hate getting caught like that, and slowly pull her back toward me, “…it just sounds like I am, but I’m not.”

     I pull her right off her chair and onto the bed and on top of me. I bury my face in her hair and breathe deeply. No one smells as good as Kera. “Was anyone else hurt?” I ask even as I place little kisses along her jaw.

     She stretches her neck back for me. “Leo received a splinter.”

     “Ummm,” I say, enjoying the feel of her skin against my lips. “Will he live?”

     “To see Lucinda hover over him after we got back, you would not think so. She very clearly said we were not allowed to take him anywhere without her.”

     I twist and flip her onto her back until I’m hovering over her. As seriously as I can, I say, “Lucinda’s crazy. You know that, right?”

      “I am aware of a few odd peculiarities that make up her personality.” She brushes my hair back and twirls a piece over my ear. “With that said, she does seem to honestly care for Leo.”

      “Like an owner does a pet. But for how long?” I ask, more to myself than to her.

      “As long as it pleases her to do so, I imagine.”

      I’m not in the mood to dwell on Lucinda and what her agenda might be. All I want is to hold Kera. I nibble just below her ear and she giggles. I love the sound of her laughter. I stop and place my forehead to hers. “And how long will you care for me?”

      “My heart would be crushed if I were to never see you again. I would die a thousand deaths every day.”

      Are those actual tears in her eyes? “My heart is crushed every time I see you and I can’t kiss you.” I’ve never said a sappier statement, or a truer one.

      She places a sweet kiss on my lips. “That rarely happens.”

      I kiss her back, and say against her lips, “Because you crave my kisses.”

      She laughs and pushes free. Rolling to her feet, she says with a smile, “Because I like to kiss.”

     “Me,” I say, popping up on my elbows. “You like to kiss me.”

     Her smile widens.

      I snatch her hand. She’s adopted wearing a wide, tight leather bracelet on her right wrist. It’s etched and embossed with a swirling pattern that is so Kera, I can’t remember when she didn’t wear it. We do a quick, playful game of tug of war before I yank her back. “Tell me you love me.”

     She winds her arms around my neck and smothers my face with tiny kisses. “I love you madly.”

 

Find Shea Berkley

 

Website  Goodreads
 

The Marked Son (Keepers of Life #1) 

Goodreads Amazon Barnes and Noble The Book Depository

The Fallen Prince (Keepers of Life #2) 

Goodreads Amazon Barnes and Noble The Book Depository

 

Early Movie Review: Fast and Furious 6

Title: Fast and Furious 6

Director: Justin Lin

Producer: Neal H. Moritz, Vin Diesel, Clayton Townsend

Written by: Chris Morgan

Release Date: May 24, 2013

For more information about the movie, visit the official site here.

My Thoughts:

 
    Wow, oh holy action-packed, tank stealing, crap!  Fast and the Furious fans rejoice!  We’ve got another fast-paced installment into the series.  Out of all of the movies in the Fast and the Furious series I have to admit that I liked this one the most.  It had me gasping in shock the entire time, as secrets were uncovered, lies were undone, and the truth finally came to light.  The characters were as awesome as always, and I felt like the plot was more apparent than in the other films.  I was not disappointed by the way it turned out.  If you think that’s all, then you’ve got another thing coming.  Fast and Furious 6 was as funny as it was action-packed, with hilarious moments sneaking up out of nowhere.  In fact, Fast and Furious 6 is one movie that I’d like to go see again. 

     The old Crew from the previous movies—Dominic Toretto, Brian O’Conner, Roman Pearce, Tej Parker, Han Seoul-Oh, and Gisele Yashar—are back at it again.  Having seemingly moved on with their lives, and given up their old lifestyles for a quieter existence, I was looking forward to seeing what jumpstarted the conflict.  After being contacted by a Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) agent, they once again lapse back into their old ways.    This time, the task presented from the beginning of the movie, is one that hits-home pretty hard.  Letty Ortiz, a former member of their Crew, who was thought to be dead, is seemingly working with the antagonists of the film. 

     When I first saw the trailer, I was like how the heck is she still alive?  Let me tell you, the truth behind the whole thing will leave you breathless.  Tough decisions were made, as the Crew goes up against one of their toughest adversaries ever.  Owen Shaw was just nuts, the guy was too smart for his own good, but it made seeing the movie all that much better.  As always there were the cars—although I miss the Nissan Skyline—the street races, the cool stunts, and the heartfelt mission at the core of the movie.  I really felt like Fast and Furious 6 bridged the gap between the other movies in the series, as well as answering many questions that I had after then end of Tokyo Drift.  It shouldn’t be hard to guess that I cannot wait till number 7 comes out.  Although, I don’t recommend sitting in the nose-bleed section of the movie theater.  You need a higher-up seat to fully enjoy the movie.

"I second this review!"—Andrea M.



Thank you to Universal Pictures for the Advanced Screening Passes!

Check out the trailer for Fast and Furious 6 below:

Early Movie Review: Epic

Title: Epic

Director: Chris Wedge

Producer: Lori Forte, Jerry Davis

Writers: Tom J. Astle, Matt Ember
Release Date: May 24, 2013

For more information about the movie, visit the official site here.

My Thoughts:

     Epic was a cute, family friendly movie, with a few good points to it. Going into it, I knew that it wasn’t really my kind of movie, but I do have to admit that I liked it better than I thought I would. Epic, to be honest was more of a middle-grade level movie, with hints of action, and a dash of romance. Although the pacing was a little slow, and I found myself wishing that some of the void had been filled with something else besides talking. As for the plot itself, it was interesting enough. Epic presented the idea of there being a world alongside ours, hidden in plain sight, but so tiny that it wasn’t very noticeable, as well as the prospect of this world moving faster than ours. Basically, this other world was one that protected the forest from destruction. While not the most original scenario ever, there was the twist with the Leafmen, who are the warriors who fight to protect the forest. It was more of a movie about the balance between good and evil, as one side strives to destroy the other and seize complete control. The fights were interesting enough, but I would have liked a little more background information. The characters were ok, especially Mary Katherine, or as she likes to be called, M.K.. She is a teenage struggling to live with her father after the untimely death of her mother. It leads to her being swept up amidst the struggle between good and evil. Professor Bomba, M.K.’s father, was silly at best, but I liked how much he grew during the movie. There were a few light and humorous moments thrown into the mix, and the ending was satisfying enough. If you're looking for a lighthearted, animated film, then Epic would be the movie for you.

I was invited as a guest to an Advanced Screening of Epic.

Check out the trailer below:

Review: Star Trek Into Darkness Directed by J.J. Abrams

Title:  Star Trek Into Darkness

Director:  J.J. Abrams

Written by: Alex Kurtzman, Robert Orci, and Damon Lindelof
Based on Star Trek created by Gene Rodenberry
Rated PG-13

Release Date:  May 17, 2013
For More Information visit the Official Site

I received advance screening tickets for Star Trek Into Darkness from the San Diego Union-Tribune. Thank You. Let me start by saying that I’m not attempting to summarize the movie, because there would be simply too many spoilers. These are merely my thoughts about Star Trek Into Darkness directed by JJ Abrams.

A heart-wrenching sacrifice was used in an attack against the Federation. The catastrophic event was arranged by none other than Harrison AKA Kahn. There was corruption within the organization. Consequently, the USS Enterprise was tasked with stopping Khan and averting a full-fledged war.

My first thoughts were that the cast of characters presented didn’t measure up to the original cast that I grew to love. Yeah, the same characters were there but something was just different. It was a modern day twist to a classic movie, which is sure to demand the attention of a new generation of movie goers/Trekkie fans. The action at the beginning of the movie was attention grabbing as Spock's life was in jeopardy and Captain James Kirk makes a rash decision regarding whether he should adhere to protocol or take actions based on the needs/safety of just one man. I just couldn’t picture anyone but the original actor, Leonard Nemoy, playing Spock. Then it happened--the plot started rolling, Spock was in danger, the USS Enterprise was revealed to the indigenous people,  corruption was among them, friendships were strengthened, and Kirk begins to adapt to his role as Captain. That’s when I realized that the movie had the perfect ingredients for success. Chris Pine (Captain Kirk) and Zachary Quinto (Spock) were exceptional in their roles. Bones and Scotty added a nice touch of humor to the plot. And I must say that Dr. Leonard McCoy AKA “Bones” was my absolute favorite character, because he was the crews dedicated doctor that would go to the extreme to complete a crew member’s examination.

Overall, Star Trek was more than the story of the USS Enterprise’s mission to protect the Federation and search for new civilizations. It portrays the crew as they learn to work together under the command of Captain Kirk. The growth of the crew was evident, as we are provided with details pertaining to their strengths and weaknesses. We learn why Spock appears to be emotionless and witness Captain Kirk’s development into a true leader.  In short, albeit, the modern day Star Trek had a different feel than the original version, it’s a new era for Star Trek fans, and it’s a movie that’s sure to be loved for generations to come.

 

Review: Torn by Erica O'Rourke

Title: Torn (Click on title for Synopsis)
Source/ Format: Won, Paperback
Age Range: YA
Publisher/Publication Date: Kensington, June 28, 2011




My Thoughts:

    I have to admit that I’ve put off reading Torn for a long time, but recently I moved it up on my list of things to read.  Although short, Torn presented me with a mystery that sucked me in—it had me wanting to know more about the characters.  O’Rourke did a fantastic job on the plot.

    From the first pages, the mystery became apparent with the murder of Mo’s best friend, an attack that almost left her dead as well.  It was heartbreaking seeing her struggle to regain her life, only to have it derailed again.  At some points I just felt so bad for her, not only was she still dealing with her friend’s death, she also learned some facts about herself and her family.  Then there was Luc.  From the beginning his motives were unclear to me, and I was left with a lot of questions.  Verity seemed like a good friend, but you can never tell things just from the exterior, after all, she did have her own set of secrets.

    With Torn, you never knew who was who until it was finally revealed.  The way it was written I honestly thought things were going to be predictable, but I was wrong about that.  There were some things I had an issue with, like the ages of both love interests, which kind of bugged me throughout the book, but the plot and writing style is what kept it going for me.  The ending left a lot of things open and I do want to see where the sequel takes things. I'm giving this book a 3.5.