Release & Review - Risen by Cole Gibsen

Image and blurb from Goodreads

Title: Risen

Author: Cole Gibsen

Release Date: March 27th, 2018

Age Category/ Genre: Young Adult Paranormal

Publisher: Entangled Teen

Fans of Vampire Diaries and Twilight will be thirsting for this latest vampire addiction…

My aunt has been kidnapped by vampires, and it’s up to me to save her. Only…I had no idea vampires existed. None. Nada. I’m more of a reader than a fighter, and even though I’d been wishing to escape my boring existence in the middle of nowhere, I’d give anything to have it back now if it meant my aunt was safe. 

Then there’s the vampire Sebastian, who seems slightly nicer than most of the bloodsuckers I’ve run into so far. Yes, he’s the hottest being I’ve ever come across, but there’s no way I can trust him. He swears he’s helping me get answers, but there’s more to his story. Now I’m a key pawn in a raging vampire war, and I need to pick the right ally.

But my chances of surviving this war are slim at best, when the side I choose might be the one that wants me dead the most.

Goodreads

Buy Links: Amazon

2.5 “Teen Vampires” stars

ARC via NetGalley.

Thank you, Entangled Teen.

I'm still waiting for that new vampire book series that will leave me as obsessed about these mythical creatures as the first three seasons of The Vampire Diaries or the first time I read Twilight did.

Then I saw Risen on NetGalley and it used those two titles as comps: "Fans of Vampire Diaries and Twilight will be thirsting for this latest vampire addiction…"

Of course that led me to searching Youtube for Stelena videos.

That led to major hangover after.

Anyway, Risen delivered on some of its promises, but it unfortunately didn't create a vampire addiction. The main character didn't have an interesting enough personality to hold my attention, the romance was too insta-lovey, and Sebastian wasn't the badass vamp guy who made me fall madly in love with him. I also had problems with the dialogue and how stilted it felt at times.

Even though Risen didn't turn out to be as exciting as I was hoping, I'm someone who has been waiting for YA paranormal to come back for a long time and I'm not ready to give up. So bring on the next vamp book!

*If you liked this review (or not), if you read the book (or not), come say hello and leave your comments bellow.

Release & Review - Boomerang Boyfriend (Boyfriend Chronicles #3) by Chris Cannon

Image and blurb from Goodreads

Title: Boomerang Boyfriend
(Boyfriend Chronicles #3)
Author: Chris Cannon
Release Date: September 11th, 2017

Age Category/ Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Entangled Teen (Crush)

Working with her best friend’s brother at Betty’s Burgers, free-spirited Delia starts to see Jack in a new light. Not only has Jack-the-Jerk turned into a hottie, he’s even acting like a niceguy, who rescues dogs and knows how she likes her coffee. But if Jack is into her, then why is he keeping her a secret? Of course, if her best friend doesn’t approve, Delia could lose the only family she’s ever known.

Seeing Delia in her retro waitress uniform throws Jack’s world out of whack. She’s always been just another pain in the butt little sister...not a datable female. But she’s rockin’ the Pie Princess tiara, and even her hot-pink striped hair is sexy. What’s that about? He needs to get his head on straight, because artsy, funky Delia and her nonconformist ways don’t fit in his safe and ordered world.

Disclaimer: This Entangled Teen Crush book contains kisses that make the world fall away and snarky humor that may cause you to LOL in public places.

Goodreads

Buy Links: Amazon


2.5 “Almost Book Boyfriend” Stars

ARC via NetGalley

Thank you, Entangled Teen (Crush)

I try not to get mad at books, but I have to say I’m pretty mad at this one, because I was so close to finding a new book boyfriend and he practically got ripped out of my hands last minute.

Like I mentioned in my last review of an Entangled Teen (Crush) title, I can often count on them to bring me sweet and cute YA romance stories. This started out like that. Boomerang Boyfriend attracted my attention with the “falling in love with my best friend’s older brother” trope, and kept it when I first met Jack.

Jack-the-Jerk, like the MC Delia called him, wasn’t a jerk at all (not until the 85% mark, at least). Sure he had the brooding teen thing going on, but I love that, so I didn’t mind. But most of all, Jack was a dog person. A true dog person. His actions and thoughts when around Rocky, his best friend’s dog, was just too adorable. Right from the beginning I saw Jack was a boy after my heart.

I squatted down and rubbed Rocky’s ears. “I bet you were framed, huh, buddy?” He leaned into the ear rub and sighed. “I bet it was the cat, wasn’t it?” He sighed again like he was agreeing with me.

Then came the whole story with his grandfather and his father, and the way he thought he was losing his mother, too, and I was ready to hug him because my heart hurt for him.

Up until the 85% mark, I was in love with Jack. So in love with him that I found it easy to ignore how unlikable Delia, the other main character was. I was in it for Jack and nothing mattered. But, then…the jealousy/pettiness plot kicked in and Jack lost major points with me. Worst of all, it felt so out of character. He hadn’t come across as the kind of guy that would throw a hissy fit over something so small as Delia refusing to share a secret that wasn’t even hers with him. I honestly thought the whole thing felt contrived and ruined his character, which was a shame.

I still like Jack, but it’s disappointing to go from love to like here because of something so silly.

As for Delia, I can’t say I felt as bad for my change of heart. I thought she was an interesting character in the beginning, because she had the “I don’t care what other people thing” attitude and she even made it sound genuine. But then she turned into a little monster early on, and she completely lost me.

I went from annoyed to mad with Delia pretty fast. She came across as selfish and immature when she poorly dealt with the situation with Aiden. The guy was sharing a huge secret with her, and explained why it was a secret, and instead of being a friend, she was only worried about herself. Besides, it wasn’t as if she had been so in love with him that his rejection really hurt her. It was just a crush. So get over it already, girl! Maybe I could’ve forgiven her if she had shown Aiden a little more support as the story progressed, but in all honesty she only got worst.

In fact, I was way more into Jack’s chapters and his interactions with his best friend and the dogs (plural, because he adopted one for himself) than anything about his relationship with Delia. It simply didn’t work for me, because I had no sympathy for Delia at all.

I truly enjoyed all of Jack’s scenes with Trevor, Rocky and Buddy (the puppy), and I wish the book had been about those two best friends and their amazing dogs being adorable together. Someone write me this book:

If it had been, and if Jack hadn’t been ruined at the end, I wouldn’t rated this book higher (even though the writing was too simplistic for my taste) and added Jack to my book boyfriend list. 

*If you liked this review (or not), if you read the book (or not), come say hello and leave your comments bellow.

Release & Review - Lucky in Love by Kasie West

Image and blurb from Goodreads

Title: Lucky in Love
Author: Kasie West
Release Date: July 25th, 2017

Age Category/ Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Scholastic

Can’t buy me love…

Maddie’s not impulsive. She’s all about hard work and planning ahead. But one night, on a whim, she buys a lottery ticket. And then, to her astonishment—

She wins!

In a flash, Maddie’s life is unrecognizable. No more stressing about college scholarships. Suddenly, she’s talking about renting a yacht. And being in the spotlight at school is fun…until rumors start flying, and random people ask her for loans. Now Maddie isn’t sure who she can trust.

Except for Seth Nguyen, her funny, charming coworker at the local zoo. Seth doesn’t seem aware of Maddie’s big news. And, for some reason, she doesn’t want to tell him. But what will happen if he learns her secret? 

Goodreads

Buy Links: Amazon

2.5 “Lottery and little romance” Stars

Well, I never thought I’d say this, but Kasie West wrote a book that doesn’t work for me.

I’m sad. Really sad, because I was so excited when I heard one of my favorite authors would publish 2 books this year. I got my hands on By Your Side as soon as possible, and I was equally anxious about Lucky in Love. While Kasie’s first 2017 book wasn’t as amazing as her previous title, it still held my attention. The second one, though…. Oh, well. I guess you can’t always win.

I guess my biggest issue with the book was Maddie and the lack of feels. Maddie simply didn’t make me feel anything. I wasn’t moved by her family and money problems. I wasn’t overly excited about her lottery win. I didn’t even feel sorry for her because of the new problems that came with having that much money. If anything, I was a little annoyed that she was spending money without any kind of guidance. She clearly didn’t know what she was doing and her parents didn’t seem to mind, either, which was even more annoying.

The cutest parts of the story—and I do expect a lot of cute parts when it cames to KW’s books—were her scenes with Seth. But then we got so little of those, that I didn’t even get the chance to really feel their chemistry. I’m super disappointed that KW wrote a Asian love interest, but didn’t include it in enough scenes to make him shine. For the little we got of Seth, I could tell he had the potential to be an interesting character, but that potential didn’t come through because of the lack of focus on the romance subplot.

I mean, it’s okay to have a non-romance-focused story, even though I’ve come to expect the opposite from KW, but the lottery win and Maddie’s relationship with her friends and family weren’t interesting enough to keep me intrigued despite the lack of romance.

I wish I could say I love another Kasie West book, but this time it simply didn’t work for me.

*If you liked this review (or not), if you read the book (or not), come say hello and leave your comments bellow.

Release & Review - Roar (Stormheart #1) by Cora Carmack

Image and blurb from Goodreads

Title: Roar
(Stormheart #1)
Author: Cora Carmack

Release Date: June 13th, 2017

Age Category/ Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Publisher: Tor Teen

In a land ruled and shaped by violent magical storms, power lies with those who control them.

Aurora Pavan comes from one of the oldest Stormling families in existence. Long ago, the ungifted pledged fealty and service to her family in exchange for safe haven, and a kingdom was carved out from the wildlands and sustained by magic capable of repelling the world’s deadliest foes. As the sole heir of Pavan, Aurora’s been groomed to be the perfect queen. She’s intelligent and brave and honorable. But she’s yet to show any trace of the magic she’ll need to protect her people.

To keep her secret and save her crown, Aurora’s mother arranges for her to marry a dark and brooding Stormling prince from another kingdom. At first, the prince seems like the perfect solution to all her problems. He’ll guarantee her spot as the next queen and be the champion her people need to remain safe. But the more secrets Aurora uncovers about him, the more a future with him frightens her. When she dons a disguise and sneaks out of the palace one night to spy on him, she stumbles upon a black market dealing in the very thing she lacks—storm magic. And the people selling it? They’re not Stormlings. They’re storm hunters.

Legend says that her ancestors first gained their magic by facing a storm and stealing part of its essence. And when a handsome young storm hunter reveals he was born without magic, but possesses it now, Aurora realizes there’s a third option for her future besides ruin or marriage. 

She might not have magic now, but she can steal it if she’s brave enough. 

Challenge a tempest. Survive it. And you become its master.

Goodreads

Buy Links: Amazon

2.5 “Storms and Love Triangles” Stars

I was so, so ready to love this book. Ever since I saw that cover and read the blurb, I'd been anxiously awaiting its release. I mean, just look at that stunning cover and tell me it doesn't make you want to read it.

But the story didn't hold my attention, and I blame it on two aspects: Roar and the love triangle.

Let me just make it clear: I don't usually have a problem with love triangles. I mean, as a professional shipper, I'll always have a problem with a love triangle when the main character picks the wrong guy (or girl), but that doesn't mean I won't give the book a fair shot just because it features a love triangle. The thing with Roar was that it failed to make that aspect interesting.

I'll confess that Cassius pretty much stole my attention from the start, leaving little room for Locke. And Locke didn't do anything to change that fact. He simply didn't stand out enough. Cassius, on the other hand, had the whole anti-hero thing going for him, and I can hardly resist that aspect. The problem with that was that Cassius didn't get half as much screen (or is it book?) time as I wish he had. Once Roar met Locke and ran away from the castle, we'd only get a few chapters with Cassius, and they weren't nearly enough for me.

Sure the story isn't about him, so I shouldn't be too upset about it. It wouldn't have been such a problem if I had liked the main character, Roar/Rora/Aurora. Problem was, I actually didn't.

Roar was okay at first. I could understand her dilemma: marry someone she believed was manipulating her in order to keep her secret, or throw caution out the window and go looking for the kind of power that would allow her to stand up for herself. As a fan of strong female heroines, I pick option two every time. But I need the heroine to be careful about how she goes about picking that option. If she does it at the cost of someone else's life, freedom or happiness, then I probably won't like her much for it.

And Roar made that mistake.

In order to run away with the hunters and go after the storm magic she wasn't born with, Roar asked for Nova's help. Nova, unlike Roar, is a much more interesting character, but that's beyond the point here. The thing is, Roar had spent the past few years staying away from everyone, including Nova, who used to be her friend when they were kids. And now that she's in trouble and is desperate to find a solution to her problem, she turns to Nova, who's also a ser her servant, and asks for the kind of help that can put the girl's life in trouble. Since Nova has such a good heart, she agrees, but that doesn't mean I can overlook the fact that Roar doesn't even seem to register the danger she's putting her "friend" into. She just acts like a spoiled rich girl and goes get what she wants, leaving her friend to deal with the mess she's leaving behind. And poor Nova obviously pays the price for her loyalty. That really annoyed me.

I honestly can't stand selfish main characters, and everything Roar did in this book portrayed her as a selfish character to me.

Because of that, I ended up rushing through scenes with Roar and Locke, desperate to find out what was happening back at the castle, where the only two characters that intrigued me were staying.

Having said all that, I have to point out that I liked the world building. I thought the whole storm magic thing was unique. Too bad it wasn't enough to hold my interest.

*If you liked this review (or not), if you read the book (or not), come say hello and leave your comments bellow.

Release & Review - Quiet Love (Chapters of Love #2) by Helena Rac

Image and blurb from Goodreads

Title: Quiet Love
(Chapters of Love #2)
Author: Helena Rac

Release Date: April 27th, 2017

Age Category/ Genre: Contemporary Romance

Daniel has been best friends with Rose since they were born. He’s been in love with her for years. The only problem? She has no idea, and he’s not about to tell her and ruin their friendship. The solution? Leave Chicago to travel the world, pursue his dream of becoming a photojournalist, and try to forget the red lips that he could kiss for hours. If only she’d let him…

Rose knows true love is out there somewhere; she just has to try hard enough to find it. That’s become more complicated, though, since her best friend Daniel has moved in with her after being away for two years. Somehow thoughts of him keep getting in the way, making her morning showers a little too hot for comfort. If only he’d see…

In Helena Rac’s second novel, best friends become roommates and discover through sloppy towel tucks, stargazing adventures, and a very sexy photo shoot that sometimes love can be found in the most unlikely place: right in front of you.

Goodreads

Buy Links: Amazon

2.5 “Best Friends falling in love” Stars

ARC via NetGalley.

Thank you!!!

This book didn't do it for me, which is so, so sad.

I thought the premise was really cute--best friends turning into lovers, with the little extra factor of one of them already being in love with his BFF for a long time.

These two aspects should've made this a win, but that wasn't what happened. Unfortunately, I knew I'd have a hard time getting into this story from page one. The writing just wasn't there for me.

I simply couldn't feel connected with the story at all, because I thought it lacked voice. It wasn't that I didn't like Daniel or Rose, but more that I didn't feel like I got to really know them. There was plenty of backstory (so much that it felt info dumpy), but the way the story was delivered didn't make me feel connected.

I also thought the pacing was too slow. There were a bunch of scenes I felt uncessary to the end goal: getting those two together, making Rose notice Daniel the way he'd noticed her years ago. I just kept waiting for things to move much faster than they did.

Having said all of that, I'm in the minority when it comes to this book, so maybe check out other reviews before making a decision. 

*If you liked this review (or not), if you read the book (or not), come say hello and leave your comments bellow.

Review - Proof of Lies (Anastasia Phoenix #1) by Diana Rodriguez Wallach

Image and blurb from Goodreads

Title: Proof of Lies
(Anastasia Phoenix #1)

Author: Diana Rodriguez Wallach

Release Date: March 7th, 2017

Age Category/ Genre: Young Adult Mystery

Publisher: Entangled Teen

Some secrets are best kept hidden… 

Anastasia Phoenix has always been the odd girl out, whether moving from city to international city with her scientist parents or being the black belt who speaks four languages.

And most definitely as the orphan whose sister is missing, presumed dead.

She’s the only one who believes Keira is still alive, and when new evidence surfaces, Anastasia sets out to follow the trail—and lands in the middle of a massive conspiracy. Now she isn’t sure who she can trust. At her side is Marcus, the bad boy with a sexy accent who’s as secretive as she is. He may have followed her to Rome to help, but something about him seems too good to be true.

Nothing is as it appears, and when everything she’s ever known is revealed to be a lie, Anastasia has to believe in one impossibility.

She will find her sister.

Goodreads

Buy Links: Amazon

2.5 “Spies, Murder and Mysteries” Stars

ARC via NetGalley.

Thank you, Entangled Teen.

Well, this didn't go as I was expecting.

Sure, a mystery book is supposed to NOT go as the reader expects and all, but it's also supposed to keep the reader entertained and wanting to read more from start to finish, right? That was my main problem with this book: it just didn't hook me.

I started Proof of Lies weeks ago and I kept putting it aside and getting distracted with other books, because I simply couldn't connect with the story enough. I'm not saying the story isn't good--I'm just saying it didn't win me over.

The main character is Anastacia, a teenager tired of moving around because of her scientist parents. She's finally convinced they'll stay in the States for good when her parents announce they need to move again because of another mysterious job. Of course she doesn't take it well, and I sympathize with her drama, but Anastacia soon regrets her outburst because her parents end up dying in a car accident before she can apologize for saying she hated them. Ouch. Poor girl.

Fast foward, Anastacia and her older sister are kind of miserable, but trying to adapt. Until her sister is presumed dead. The morning after a party where Anastacia meets her sister's boyfriend, a guy she dislikes instantly, Anastacia walks into her sister's bedroom to find nothing but a lot of blood. Despite Anastacia's protests, the police are quick to rule it as a homicide.

Depression hits hard and Anastacia basically stops living for a while. She doesn't get out of bed for weeks (months, if I'm not mistaken) and she's pretty much done with this stupid life that keeps killing everyone she loves.

While I get that plot choice, I have to say it distanced me from the story. I don't want to come across as heartless, but having Anastacia spend that much time just doing nothing but lying in bed didn't really help keep me interested in the story and what was coming next. 

I understand her pain and desperation after losing her entire family, but I wanted her to come back to life and fight for her sister and her own survival earlier. She eventually does that and things move faster from then on, but at that point I was already struggling with the story.

Another thing I struggled with was Anastacia's relationship with the love interest, Marcus. He's a Spanish guy whose parents are also involved in the same corporation Anastacia's parents used to work for, and he becomes Anastacia's sidekick as they start following clues in their search for her missing sister. I liked him and what he brought to the story. I just didn't really like them together. Unfortunately, I didn't feel the connection. And if I'm not shipping the main couple at some level, then I'm definitely struggling with the book. I'm sorry, but that's how my romance-obsessed mind works.

On the plus side, I liked the spy-world the author created, and I also liked the writing. It was simple, but good. If the story had progressed faster and the romance had been written in a more intense way, I would've probably loved it. Unfortunately, it took me too long to get into the story.

*If you liked this review (or not), if you read the book (or not), come say hello and leave your comments bellow.

Release & Review - Blood Rose Rebellion (Blood Rose Rebellion #1) by Rosalyn Eves

Image and blurb from Goodreads

Title: Blood Rose Rebellion
(Blood Rose Rebellion #1)

Author: Rosalyn Eves

Release Date: March 28th, 2017

Age Category/ Genre: Young Adult Historical Fantasy

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers 

The thrilling first book in a YA fantasy trilogy for fans of Red Queen. In a world where social prestige derives from a trifecta of blood, money, and magic, one girl has the ability to break the spell that holds the social order in place.

Sixteen-year-old Anna Arden is barred from society by a defect of blood. Though her family is part of the Luminate, powerful users of magic, she is Barren, unable to perform the simplest spells. Anna would do anything to belong. But her fate takes another course when, after inadvertently breaking her sister’s debutante spell—an important chance for a highborn young woman to show her prowess with magic—Anna finds herself exiled to her family’s once powerful but now crumbling native Hungary.

Her life might well be over.

In Hungary, Anna discovers that nothing is quite as it seems. Not the people around her, from her aloof cousin Noémi to the fierce and handsome Romani Gábor. Not the society she’s known all her life, for discontent with the Luminate is sweeping the land. And not her lack of magic. Isolated from the only world she cares about, Anna still can’t seem to stop herself from breaking spells.

As rebellion spreads across the region, Anna’s unique ability becomes the catalyst everyone is seeking. In the company of nobles, revolutionaries, and Romanies, Anna must choose: deny her unique power and cling to the life she’s always wanted, or embrace her ability and change that world forever. 

Goodreads

Buy Links: Amazon

2.5 “Cool Magical System” Stars

ARC via NetGalley

Thank you, Knopf Books for Young Readers!

This seems to be the week I got my hands on my most anticipated books of the first half of 2017. I just finished Caraval and have The Hate U Give and Frost Blood waiting on my Kindle. Like those books, Blood Rose Rebellion has been featured in more than one of my books-to-read-in-2017 lists. Unfortunately, I didn’t like it half as much as I thought I would.

To be completely honest, I didn’t expect to this ARC at all, but well… I did, and it only made the opportunity to read this even more thrilling. The premise and the setting were intriguing and I was ready to love this.

Blood Rose Rebellion just didn’t do it for me.

Let me start this by highlighting what made this story unique, and what makes me believe other people will have a completely different (and more positive) experience with this.

This is a story set in 19th century Europe (the beginning in England, but most of it in Hungary) and it has a cool mix of historical and fantasy. The main character, Anna, lives in a society with a super cool magical system that will sound a little familiar to fans of Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard, but manages to be more unique.

The Luminate society controls all magic and only allows those from their bloodline to cast spells. They spread the lie that only the Luminate have the ability to cast spells, but that’s something they created with the help of a binding ritual that puts them in control of magic. Those who know about the lie and think everyone should be allowed to access it are obviously unhappy with the situation and looking to start a revolution.

The author does a good job mixing these magical elements with the history of that time, and we get a lot of references to important historical figures and events taking place around that time. For me, that made the world she created even more unique.

Another positive is that we get to see more than just England. Though the story starts there, Anna is soon sent away to Hungary with her grandmother, allowing us a glimpse at another culture. I say we need more fantasy set/inspired in different countries and cultures, so I’m giving this author extra points for trying. I say trying because I’m not sure she represented Hungary the best way she could. In fact, judging from this review from a Hungarian reader, it could’ve gone a lot better.

As far as writing goes, I thought this author showed a lot of potential. The writing was good, the language, although a little stiff, was easy to read and the descriptions were vivid enough to paint a beautiful picture of the setting.

I also appreciated how she took the time to explain the main elements involving the world she created, and especially the magical system, in the beginning. Some might find it a little info-dumpy, but I prefer that over scratching my head through tons of pages until I can finally figure out how things are supposed to work in that world. The author created a complicated system, so it was only fair for her to explain it when she did.

So, those were all positive elements I saw in the story. Things that I’m sure will make other readers have a better experience with this, especially if we’re talking about readers who enjoy world building above all.

That’s not my case, though. Even in fantasy, I always tend to gravitate towards characters and their journeys. Characters are what make and break stories for me, and the main character in this book didn’t hook me at all.

Anna made it really hard for me to connect with her from the beginning. She often came across as judgmental and spoiled, and it took her too long to grow. Her actions while she was still back home in England didn’t put her in a good light. What she did the night of her sister’s debut didn’t come across as accidental as it needed to in order to make her look anything other than jealous. She knew the risks and she ignored her sister and her mother’s pleas. She didn’t feel real remorse for the trouble she created, but instead chose to shift the blame. The fact that her mother and her sister were mean to her didn’t excuse her behavior, in my opinion.

Anna’s reaction to meeting people in Hungary for the first time wasn’t the nicest, either. She was nasty to her cousin when she arrived at the house, calling her “dusty, disheveled creature” (I mean, really? Really?), then she make assumptions about the Romani people she met before she even spoke to them. Not even her Romani love interest seemed good enough when she met him.

Speaking of which, the romance didn’t hold my attention, either. Throughout the book there were four (more?) love interests and none of them made me feel much. Sure if I had to pick I’d go with Gábor, but he wasn’t all that developed, either.

With no connection to the main character and the love interested, the story quickly lost its appeal. It also didn’t help that the plot moved so slow. I mean, really, really slow.

So, despite the interesting world and magical system created, the unique setting and the good mix of historical and fantasy, Blood Rose Rebellion couldn’t hold my interest. Had it given me a likable main character or a strong romance to root for, the reading experience could’ve gone a completely different way.

 

*If you liked this review (or not), if you read the book (or not), come say hello and leave your comments bellow.