Review: The Power of Six

Author: Pittacus Lore

Pages: 406

Publisher: HarperCollins

Source: Library 

Previous books in the series: I Am Number Four

Synopsis: I've seen him on the news. Followed the stories about what happened in Ohio. John Smith, out there, on the run. To the world, he's a mystery. But to me . . . he's one of us.

Nine of us came here, but sometimes I wonder if time has changed us—if we all still believe in our mission. How can I know? There are six of us left. We're hiding, blending in, avoiding contact with one another . . . but our Legacies are developing, and soon we'll be equipped to fight. Is John Number Four, and is his appearance the sign I've been waiting for? And what about Number Five and Six? Could one of them be the raven-haired girl with the stormy eyes from my dreams? The girl with powers that are beyond anything I could ever imagine? The girl who may be strong enough to bring the six of us together?

They caught Number One in Malaysia.

Number Two in England.

And Number Three in Kenya.

They tried to catch Number Four in Ohio—and failed.

I am Number Seven. One of six still alive.

And I'm ready to fight.

Buy the Book (Amazon/)

I'm very undecided when it comes to the Lorien Legacies series. The nonstop action is awesome but overall I'm not satisfied.

It may be the characters. I don't think I truly like any of the characters who's perspectives we're in. I love the side characters but the people that tell the story feel inadequate. John and his "feelings" for Sarah made me roll my eyes a lot. I was bored with Marina's perspective too. Something about her constantly bugged me. Maybe the fact that she never had a friend her age outside of the Lorien stuff. I hate to sound obnoxious but she acted like everyone else was out to get her. I don't believe for a second that all the girls in the convent were mean. There were also many decisions and inconsistencies that didn't really make sense.

The side characters stole the show. I loved reading about Six. She's badass and reasonable with a hard past but she deals with it. She's mature and also human. Something about her has always made me like her. I wish I could have read the story from her perspective. Marina's life didn't really interest me until a revelation that had me dying for more. I won't spoil it for you. You'll just have to read the book to find out what happened. ;)

I did mention I wasn't really interested at some parts. That's maybe because of the split perspectives. Usually I adore them. I love to know how people think. The problem was the story would end on a cliffhanger in one character's perspective and then I'd be all "OMG what happens next?" but then I'd have to read about the other character doing something mysterious before I got back to the original perspective and by that time by interest waned. Action scenes being cut with slower scenes in between sounds nice but the truth is you get to a point where you feel like the story would go much faster and be much more exciting if it wasn't so cut up. That was kind of my issue.

The premise as always had me hooked. What's in the Chests? Will Lorien triumph against the Mogs? When will we meet more of the Garde? This series has so much epic potential. It's just being drawn out so much. There's so much suspense and I expect so much action that sometimes I feel like I'm not getting it. I think the last volume will be incredible as I expect every book to have more and more action as the series progresses. Till then I'll stick around and eagerly await each new title.

While I did have my issues with The Power of Six, ultimately I liked it. I want more from this series but only because I think this series could be huge and I'll always be excited for more. I'm giving it 3.5 stars,

*** & 1/2 *

Review: Leaving Paradise

Author: Simone Elkeles

Pages: 303

Publisher: Flux

Source: Library

Challenge: Ultimate Reviewer's Challenge

Synopsis: Nothing has been the same since Caleb Becker left a party drunk, got behind the wheel, and hit Maggie Armstrong. Even after months of painful physical therapy, Maggie walks with a limp. Her social life is nil and a scholarship to study abroad—her chance to escape everyone and their pitying stares—has been canceled.

After a year in juvenile jail, Caleb’s free . . . if freedom means endless nagging from a transition coach and the prying eyes of the entire town. Coming home should feel good, but his family and ex-girlfriend seem like strangers.

Caleb and Maggie are outsiders, pigeon-holed as "criminal" and "freak." Then the truth emerges about what really happened the night of the accident and, once again, everything changes. It’s a bleak and tortuous journey for Caleb and Maggie, yet they end up finding comfort and strength from a surprising source: each other.

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Simone Elkeles is a genius! I have so much love for her Perfect Chemistry series so when I saw Leaving Paradise at the library I had to pick it up and read it. I'm glad I did because Simone's stories alway appeal to me.

First off, let me tell you about the characters. We have Caleb (I love him!) and Maggie (awesome and strong) who are our would-be couple. In Simone's books there's always a twist as to why the couple can't be together. This time it's because Caleb drove drunk from a party and hit Maggie. He didn't check if she was okay, he just left her there. Maggie was sent to the hospital and resulted in numerous surgeries for her leg and a limp while Caleb had to serve his time at a juvie jail.When I first met Caleb, he garnered very hot and cold reactions from me. I'd like him, but then he'd do something and I'd feel iffy about. Later on in the book though I loved him. He won my respect and trust, plus he was so sexy and protective of Maggie Poor Maggie hasn't had an easy time. The accident left her scared to move on and a loner. She lost her spirit. I really connected with Maggie. Since there were alternating perspectives, I got to see all of Maggie. She's not unlike myself and I enjoyed reading about her reactions

 There were other mentionable characters (like Grandma) whom I also liked. I have to mention that there were many characters who were cliché. Normally I hate that but sometimes it works. That doesn't mean I don't want to know more about the characters' motivations and stuff. If that's something that bothers you, you may have a problem with this book.

Another thing I need to mention was the plot and pacing. After being introduced to the concept the plot slowed down. There was a ton of build up and when I look at that 100 in between pages, I don't remember much. At that point there wasn't anything really drawing me in until Caleb and Maggie finally got together and a plot point was revealed. That point right there made so much sense but I never even considered it. I literally reread the page 3-4 times. I love twists being thrown at readers that way. Keeps the story interesting, you know?

All in all, I liked this story. I still adore Perfect Chemistry more but this is a great choice for a contemporary romantic read. I was sucked in, which is my regular reaction with Simone's books but I wasn't totally enamored. I'm really curious to see what happens next. If you're a fan of Simone Elkeles, check Leaving Paradise out! 3.5 stars,

 *** & 1/2  *

Review: Where the Truth Lies

Author: Jessica Warman
Pages: 308
Publisher: Walker Children's
Source: Library
Challenge: Ultimate Reviewer's Challenge

Synopsis: On the surface, Emily Meckler leads the perfect life. She has three best friends, two loving parents, and the ideal setup at the Connecticut prep school where her father is the headmaster. But Emily also suffers from devastating nightmares about fire and water, and nobody knows why. Then the enigmatic Del Sugar enters her life, and Emily is immediately swept away—but her passionate relationship with Del is just the first of many things that aren't quite what they seem in Emily's life. As the lies she's been told start to unravel, Emily must set out to discover the truth regarding her nightmare; on a journey that will lead her to question everything she thought she knew about love, family, and her own idyllic past.

This companion novel to Warman's critically acclaimed Breathless proves that sometimes the biggest lies are told to the people you love the most.

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I really liked Where the Truth Lies. I didn't honestly expect much, but I was surprised by how this book made me feel. Content, not happy, but accepting towards life. In the end I'm glad to have read it.

Emily lives the perfect life- on the outside. She's sweet, has great friends, rich, and has a loving family. Except for her terrifyingly vivid nightmares there's nothing wrong with her. Then she meets the new bad boy Del and her life unravels.

I love that this book defied my expectations. Some of the characters were really well done. They had insecurities, lives and problems outside of the story. I was surprised at how real they felt. Emily herself was like that. She was insecure about her talents and still trying to figure out who she was.

All the characters were lost and trying to find their way. I enjoyed reading about the backstories and simple day-to-day interactions.

The plot isn't really fast-paced. A lot of the conflicts are within Emily herself. I still found that I was interested in the story. The way everything was written was like life. Not happy or sad, just the way it is. The truth was found in the end and I thought that it was a satisfying ending. I liked that Emily matured and grew from when the book started.

Overall, this is a strange book to review. What happens could happen to anyone really. I liked it. 3.5 stars,

*** & 1/2 *

Review: Legacy

Author: Cayla Kluver
Pages: 496
Publisher: Harlequin
Source: Library
Challenge: Ultimate Reviewer's Challenge

Synopsis: In her seventeenth year, Princess Alera of Hytanica faces one duty: to marry the man who will be king. But her father's choice of suitor fills her with despair.

When the palace guard captures and intruder— a boy her age with steel-blue eyes, hailing from her kingdom's greatest enemy— Alera is alarmed… and intrigued. But she could not have guessed that their clandestine meetings would unveil the dark legacy shadowing both their lands.

In this mystical world of court conspiracies and blood magic, loyalties will be tested. Courage won't be enough. And as the battle begins for everything Alera holds dear, love may be the downfall of a kingdom.

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Reading Legacy was like opening up a portal into another world full of kingdoms and injustice.

Something about this book didn't feel real at all. There was so much detail but I had so many questions. Like what the heck does Alera do on a day-to-day basis? This seems dumb but I never saw her mention a friend of hers beside London who was her bodyguard. Do princesses just walk around gardens to calm their mind and read books all day with the occasional party thrown in? This part of the story really bugged me. Many times a chapter skipped ahead to another month and I was really curious what happens when Alera isn't doing something relevant to the plot.

The plot, the plot, the plot... *sigh* 500 pages. And this "magic" and war we were promised isn't seen until after, what, 300, 350 pages? So, so much was unnecessary. Or if you wanted to keep that huge page number, a bit more drama would have been fun. There were many moments where nothing happened but there was so much potential. At times I could NOT stop reading. Even if there wasn't any action, strangely I still was very into the book. I was hooked anyway.

Much of the story was Alera musing, whining, moping, whatever you want to call it about the fact that as crown princess, she couldn't rule the kingdom on her own and therefore had to marry a suitable husband. Or at least get Father's definition of suitable which could be summed up into one word: Steldor. There wasn't very much action though. Alera can't do much as a woman in that kind of society. The ending was expected but at the same time, very interesting.

Many people complained about the writing... I will say that I didn't pay much attention to descriptions. There were many of them which I just ignored. (You'd be surprised how often that happens.) I prefer content over wrappings. I'm not an amazing writer nor am I particularly literary. At the beginning of the book I didn't like the writing at all. There were way too many commas, long sentences, and unnecessary descriptions. Later on I got used to it and continued on.

From the tone of my review, it may seem like I didn't like this book. That's far from the truth- I did! I acknowledge its errors but I enjoyed the book anyway. Something about Legacy was so alluring for me. I can't put my finger on it yet though. For example, I should hate Steldor. But I don't. I never know what he'll do. I'm curious about his manipulations and love when Alera tried to best him. I love reading about him, as a character he's a pompous jerk but he's a mystery and I can't help but want to read about him. Stuff like this made Legacy an enjoyable read.

There's so much set up in Legacy that I truly have no idea where it will go. Hopefully the author has a fulfilling destination seeing as I may really begin to like this series as a guilty pleasure. 3.5 stars,

*** & 1/2 *

Review: Ingenue

Author: Jillian Larkin 

Pages: 351

Publisher: Random House

Source: Library

Challenge: Ultimate Reviewer's Challenge

Synopsis: Power . . . love . . . scandal . . .

There’s never enough to go around.

In the city that never sleeps, Lorraine Dyer is wide awake. Ever since she exposed Clara Knowles for the tramp she was—and lost her closest confidante in the process—Lorraine has spent every second scheming to make her selfish, lovesick ex–best friend pay for what she did. No one crosses Lorraine. Not even Gloria. 

True love conquers everything—or so Gloria Carmody crazily believed. She and Jerome Johnson can barely scrape together cash for their rent, let alone have a moment to whisper sweet nothings in the dark. And if they thought escaping Chicago meant they’d get away with murder . . . they were dead wrong.

Clara was sure that once handsome, charming Marcus Eastman discovered her shameful secret, he’d drop her like a bad habit. Instead, he swept her off her feet and whisked her away to New York. Being with Marcus is a breath of fresh air—and a chance for Clara to leave her wild flapper ways firmly in the past. Except the dazzling parties and bright lights won’t stop whispering her name. . . . 

INGENUE is the second novel in the sexy, dangerous, and ridiculously romantic Flappers series set in the Roaring Twenties . . . where revenge is a dish best served cold.

Buy the Book (Amazon/ The Book Depository)

Ingenue is one of those books who's cover fits it perfectly. There's glamour but there's a bit of the gritty and the dark. It's about fearless people and fun. The cover designers hit a bullseye when it comes to Jillian Larkin's Flappers series.

The atmosphere in Ingenue is amazing. The second I opened the book I was immersed in the pages. The speakeasies, New York, clubs, 1924, were explained so well. I had so much fun reading about the new fashions and all the crazy adventures these people had. This was a part I definitely liked of the story.

Ingenue starts about six months after Vixen and all the shizz that went down in Chicago before Jerome and Gloria left. After killing Tony the mobster Jerome and Gloria are in hiding and kind of slumming it. They're trying to find employment and have resorted to thievery. I really liked their relationship and what happens to them. Gloria has always had this naive girl feel to me and I'm so glad that while she complains, she also is firm in her resolve to stay with Jerome. Their love is adorable and I totally root for them.

The other characters interested me less. Wait, did I say interest? I meant annoyed me more. Sure, they were interesting but I have a thing against Clara. She's in an incredible relationship and I really hope she doesn't mess it up. Although I do think I can grow to like her character someday. Lorraine on the other hand is a petty, foul, awful person whom I'm not sure I could ever like. She's way too selfish and mean-spirited. I think there is a soft side to her but it rarely ever sees the light of day. Her storyline was important to the overall story but I just didn't like her. Vera? GO GIRL! All I'm sayin'.

Plot pacing-wise, Ingenue fell in the middle. We have alternating perspective so most of the book is just putting things into place for the climax. There were some twists but none of them really shocked me or had me really excited or passionate. I guessed one of the biggest ones which isn't very fun. The plot and characters are what I have problems with. Something about them doesn't feel right. You wait for something huge to happen but the climax didn't excite me too much. The characters make decisions that I didn't understand.

Overall, Ingenue is a nice read but not really a must read. I think it's a good continuation and I'm curious to see what happens next in Diva. 3.5 stars,

*** & 1/2 *

Review: Lost Voices

Author: Sarah Porter
Pages: 291
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Source: Library
Challenge: Ultimate Reviewer's Challenge
Synopsis: Fourteen-year-old Luce has had a tough life, but she reaches the depths of despair when she is assaulted and left on the cliffs outside of a grim, gray Alaskan fishing village. She expects to die when she tumbles into the icy waves below, but instead undergoes an astonishing transformation and becomes a mermaid. A tribe of mermaids finds Luce and welcomes her in—all of them, like her, lost girls who surrendered their humanity in the darkest moments of their lives. Luce is thrilled with her new life until she discovers the catch: the mermaids feel an uncontrollable desire to drown seafarers, using their enchanted voices to lure ships into the rocks. Luce possesses an extraordinary singing talent, which makes her important to the tribe—she may even have a shot at becoming their queen. However her struggle to retain her humanity puts her at odds with her new friends. Will Luce be pressured into committing mass murder? The first book in a trilogy, Lost Voices is a captivating and wildly original tale about finding a voice, the healing power of friendship, and the strength it takes to forgive.


Buy the Book (Amazon/The Book Depository)

Lost Voices was an unforgettable story of lost, hurt girls. It was unlike any other YA novel I've read this year.

What happens to the poor girls that are broken and have no where to go? They become mermaids that take revenge on humanity by drowning ships. Their beautiful voices lure people to their deaths.

Luce is one of these girls. After her uncle crossed the line she becomes a mermaid with an incredibly powerful voice. Luce is different though. She doesn't feel good about killing humans, even if it would be easier if she did. I really liked Luce. She was relatable and true. She has such compassion and does what's right. Luce, while a bit timid at the moment, is the kind of character I have no doubt will become incredibly strong and wise when she reaches her full potential.

Honestly, I'm not sure what else to say in my review. I want to convey the feeling of struggling morally like Luce did. The plot wasn't exactly fast paced, it was more subtle than that. It sort of lulled you into peace before major events happened making you question the future. The world was addictive full of darkness, anger, loss, but with small, tiny glimmers of hope and redemption. I was thinking a lot about morality while reading Lost Voices.

There were also no romantic interest, which I thought was nice. I love romance, but I noticed when I kept looking for possible matches for Luce while reading Lost Voices that romance wasn't always needed in YA. There may be romance in the future, but it was refreshing to read a book in which friendship prevailed.

I've seen many reviews where readers were put off by the content. It's very dark, dangerous, and a bit twisted. What I liked was that there wasn't an obvious tone of hope. The world has so much darkness and every story doesn't have a happy ending. Lost Voices isn't a very happy book. There is suffering and again, awful stuff happens. If you can deal with that, and the fact that the mermaids aren't Disney-like, I think you'll like this book.

The part I didn't really enjoy can be summed up to one word: Anais. I hate her, I hate reading about her, I hate how the other mermaids act around her. I'd be happy for her to die (since she's in a book, I'm not that hateful toward real people). She's an empty character and I'm still wondering why she's there. Her part in the story is the only part that really disappointed me.

Lost Voices is very different. It didn't feel overdone in any sense. I liked reading it and I think it was definitely one of the better mermaid/siren books. 3.5 stars,

*** & 1/2 *

Review: Someone Else's Life

Author: Katie Dale

Pages: 485

Publisher: Random House Children's Books

Source: NetGalley (Thank you!)

Synopsis: When 17-year-old Rosie's mother, Trudie, dies from Huntington's Disease, her pain is intensified by the knowledge that she has a fifty percent chance of inheriting the crippling disease herself. Only when Rosie tells her mother's best friend, "Aunt Sarah," that she is going to test for the disease does Sarah, a midwife, reveal that Trudie wasn't her real mother after all. Rosie was swapped at birth with a sickly baby who was destined to die.

Devastated, Rosie decides to trace her real mother, joining her ex-boyfriend on his gap year travels, to find her birth mother in California. But all does not go as planned. As Rosie discovers yet more of her family's deeply buried secrets and lies, she is left with an agonizing decision of her own, one which will be the most heart breaking and far-reaching of all.

Buy the book (Amazon/The Book Depository)

Someone Else's Life was one of those books that completely surprised me. A lot of drama happens in it, so much more than you could imagine based on the synopsis and I got a different story than the one I was expecting. That's not a bad thing. I did think the storyline was really unique and I seldom read book like it.

There's not much I can say about the book without spoiling it, so this review will probably be a lot shorter than usual.

Character wise, I found I didn't have as much of a strong relation to the characters as you'd hope to have in such an emotional story. It wasn't as much a fault of the story than the fact that I have never experienced anything close to what any one of the characters goes through. (I'm so lucky.) They have to deal with so much and I really enjoyed reading about their thoughts and reactions. We meet the characters at a time of great difficulty so the characters all make many mistakes or just show off their imperfections. It's great because they're so real, but at the same time it's a bit heavy to read.

This book is not a light, amusing read. A lot happens that will make you think, and the atmosphere within is very gloomy at times. It shows a part of life that is the reality for some people who have to deal with genetic diseases. Frankly, it was pretty hard to read at times because there was no clear answer to the characters' problems. The situation was a tangled mess, which turned out to be surprisingly reflective of life. The story felt pretty believable. There were some events that were really unlikely to happen, but overall everything that happened has the possibility of happening in real life. That helped with the believability of the story.

I read this book while I was in a pretty bad reading slump. This kind of meant that I didn't read very much or very frequently, so it took me longer than usual to read the book and there was pauses in between reading. That being said, while I did enjoy the concept and how the story was handled, nothing really sparked for me. It may have been my mood while reading but I didn't feel compelled to just keep reading till the end. I wouldn't describe this book as a page turner.

Overall, the story will always stick with me, plus I feel a little bit more educated after reading Someone Else's Life. I think it's a pretty good contemporary read and I like that it informs readers about Huntington's Disease, something I had never heard of before. I liked it, 3.5 stars,

*** & 1/2 *

Review: What Would My Cell Phone Do?

Author: Micol Ostow
Pages: 224
Publisher: Speak
Source: Library
Synopsis: When Aggie Eckhart's family moves from Miami, Florida, to Denville, Alaska, because of her father's job, Aggie feels like a fish out of water. Not only is frozen Denville a far cry from sunny Miami, but she's got no friends, her mother is driving her crazy, and she loses her cell phone within the first monthÑ cutting off her lifeline to civilization. But when an online search for her phone (using the schmancy built-in GPS tracker) reveals that the cell is enjoying life up north much more than Aggie is, she adopts a whole new outlook. No more woe-is-me, now it's all WWMCPD (What Would My Cell Phone Do)? And before Aggie knows it, things are looking a whole lot brighter in this charming, fun, and lighthearted YA romance.

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What Would My Cell Phone Do is fun, snarky, and a good book about being who you are and challenging yourself to be who you want to be.

Aggie is upset (to say the least) with her parents' decision to move from sunny, humid Miami to Alaska. She whines and sulks and acts totally immature- which is relatable. I mean, who doesn't occasionally act childish? Besides that, she's the kind of girl who's happier to stay on the sidelines and in the shadows. Seriously, she won't even buy a red jacket because it has too much colour. I looked at my red coat sadly when I read of her lack of colorful clothing. What Aggie does have is attitude, and she's a great friend. She's not pretentious and while she does make many mistakes, she grows. I could relate to her.

What I loved about WWMCPD was the writing in Aggie's perspective. It was so snarky and sarcastic with bits of teenage girlishness that I loved. There was some rambling which may sound boring but it managed to capture my attention. Aggie was like a real teenager with her mixture of vulnerability and sarcasm being used to hide issues.

The plot was the only meh part of the book. Honestly, I loved the characters (seriously, Duncan!!!) and the writing but the plot itself wasn't capturing my attention much. Some parts I found very unbelievable (like the romantic interest) and a bit clichéd while others were original. Aggie changes through the course of the novel which is always fun to read about.

Quick comment about the setting too- Alaska was written about so well. The isolation was there but the author didn't really bag on Alaska. Micol Ostow wrote about lots of other things to do- hikes, see the Northern Lights, ski, cross country, dog sleds... Wintery goodness. (Oh, and skiing is fun! I've only done it a handful of times but it's not as hard as the melodramatic Aggie makes it out to be!)

All in all, if you're looking for a fun, light contemporary read with friendship, family, and a good little chihuahua, What Would My Cell Phone Do is perfect for you. 3.5 stars,

*** & 1/2 *

Review: See What I See

Author: Gloria Whelan
Pages: 208
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Library
Synopsis: Kate Tapert sees her life in paintings. She makes sense of the world around her by relating it to what she adores - art. Armed with a suitcase, some canvases, and a scholarship to art school in Detroit, Kate is ready to leave home and fully immerse herself in painting. Sounds like heaven. All Kate needs is a place to stay. That place is the home of her father, famous and reclusive artist Dalton Quinn, a father she hasn't seen or heard from in nearly ten years. When Kate knocks on his door out of the blue, little does she realise what a life-altering move that will turn out to be. But Kate has a dream, and she will work her way into Dalton's life, into his mind, into his heart...whether he likes it or not.

Buy the Book (The Book Depository/Amazon)

See What I See was a short but packed and refreshing read.

The story is about a girl named Kate who is applying to an art school in Detroit but can't afford a place to live so she decides to crash with her famous artist Dad who had left her and her mom. What was special about this story was the relationship between father and daughter, which felt heartfelt.

Kate is a character you can't help but at least sympathize with and at most love. She loves her mom but she's always been curious about her dad too. She's an optimist and someone who plain cares. Kate is selfless and is a character very worthy of respect. I like her. She can be rash, insecure,and she'll make decisions she'll later on regret. She's real.

Like I said before, See What I See is a story about a girl's broken and fragile relationship with her father. I thought it was real and authentic. I hated Kate's Dad sometimes but then I'd love him. No matter what he did though, I always cared for him as did Kate. Their relationship really pulls you in and it's hard not to relate with them.

See What I See doesn't end with a happily ever after. I want to thank the author so much for that. There is pain and there is joy in the ending. It is satisfying and the story is over but there is still hope. As endings go, this one was fairly well done.

All in all, a fast read that's worth it. 3.5 stars,

*** & 1/2 *

Review: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

 

Author: Ransom Riggs
Pages: 352
Publisher: Quirk Books
Source: Library
Synopsis: A mysterious island.


An abandoned orphanage.


A strange collection of very curious photographs.


It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive.

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Presentation is so important in a book. It excites the reader and puts them in a better mood which helps them happily enjoy the story. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children was a good book, but what made it great was the phenomenal presentation.

I wasn't entirely in love with any of the characters. Without spoiling, I'll say that I disagreed with many of the choices made. While the reasoning wasn't beyond my understanding, it wasn't the choice I would have made which made me disconnected to the characters. Jacob was an average character. He dealt with a lot and I feel like I only got a brief look at his character before everything happened. And what I did see didn't pull me in too much. The best part of Jacob was the love he had for his grandfather.

The plot was interesting. There were always surprising twists and I never knew where the story would go. Seriously, there were some shocker moments which I enjoyed seeing as I realized I would never have guessed what would happen ever. The idea is original and quirky so I liked it. There were some plot points I found unnecessary and I wasn't as taken with them (I was frankly a bit annoyed) since they were expected in YA novels. I was not happy with the romance. I wasn't ever really bored but the story didn't live up to its full potential, in my view.

The photos were the best part of the book, which is a good and bad thing. Good because they were so interesting and I loved seeing every one of them. Bad because after a while, I kept reading in the hopes of seeing more photos. That kept me reading more than the plot did. Which isn't very good at all. I do have to say the photos were fabulous and it was really cool how Mr. Riggs created such a comprehensive plot from them. It was very creative.

Overall, I liked this book a lot but I didn't love it. I felt off on some parts and that is probably just me because everywhere I look I see glowing reviews of this book. It's very peculiar (come on, I had to use that word at least once didn't I?) and unique. I recommend you check it out and have fun reading it! 3.5 stars,

*** & 1/2 *

Review: The Earthquake Machine

Author: Mary Pauline Lowry
Pages: 326
Publisher: AuthorHouse
Source: E-review Copy (Thanks!!)
Synopsis: The Earthquake Machine tells the story of 14 year-old Rhonda. On the outside, everything looks perfect in Rhonda's world but at home Rhonda has to deal with a manipulative father who keeps her mentally ill mother hooked on pharmaceuticals. The only reliable person in Rhonda's life is her family's Mexican yardman, Jes s. But when the INS deports Jes?'s back to his home state of Oaxaca, Rhonda is left alone with her increasingly painful family situation. Determined to find her friend Jes s, Rhonda seizes an opportunity to run away during a camping trip with friends. She swims to the Mexican side of the Rio Grande and makes her way to the border town of Boquillas, Mexico. There a peyote-addled bartender convinces her she won't be safe traveling alone into the country's interior. So with the bartender's help, Rhonda cuts her hair and assumes the identity of a Mexican boy named Angel. She then sets off on a burro across the desert to look for Jes s. Thus begins a wild adventure that explores the borders between the United States and Mexico, adolescence and adulthood, male and female, English and Spanish, and adult coming-of-age and Young Adult novels.


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The Earthquake Machine is a one of a kind read. It tackles many hard issues and it's much more raw than the type of book I usually read. I still enjoyed it though. It's the story of a girl finding her place in the world and there's a real journey that changes Rhonda.

What really surprised me was how mature the book was. It wasn't exactly dark, but there was a lot of stuff that you don't usually find in YA. Everything was handled appropriately. I don't think anything was overdone just to shock the reader. Rhonda's journey was really interesting.

Rhonda was a dynamic character. She really grew up and got stronger after the death of her mother. In the beginning of The Earthquake Machine, she was quiet and compliant. She didn't live the easiest life but she was still very naive in a way. I could believe her character since I know people like her at my school. People that are quiet and unsure of themselves.

Maybe the events that happened weren't the most realistic (this is fiction after all) but the way Rhonda responded to them felt real. I didn't always agree with her decisions but I was raised in a completely different environment. While Rhonda believed that women had no futures, from an early age I wanted to be much more than a housewife. I also cheered for Rhonda when she wanted more and I adored her bravery. The best part of the book was probably how Rhonda was well written. You could easily connect and understand her character.

I live in Canada where we learn French so I completely missed out on understanding the Spanish in the book, especially when Rhonda visits Mexico, but there were enough definitions that I understood everything written. Mexico's culture was a huge part of The Earthquake Machine and I loved it. I don't really know much about Mexico and a lot of what I heard wasn't very positive so I enjoyed learning a bit more about Mexican culture. The freedom, the sense of community and revelry they have is incredible.

One issue I had with the book was that it felt really long at some parts and it had to be read carefully  (I was reading it on my Kobo though which I'm not used to doing). The writing was great but the book just takes you in so many directions that it feels like the story is really long. So much happens and I guess I'm not used to all that in one book instead of books written in a series model. I wasn't bored per say, but I wasn't always into the book as much as I could be.

The Earthquake Machine is a surprising read that deals with harsh issues in a clear, unpretentious way. Rhonda's journey is inspiring and thought provoking. There is excellent characterization paired with a great plot that results in a very special read. 3.5 stars, since I thought it was really good,

*** & 1/2 *

Review: Fins Are Forever

Author: Tera Lynn Childs
Pages: 272
Publisher: HarperCollins
Source: Library
Series: Sequel to Forgive My Fins
Cover Thoughts: Pretty! I love the colours, and the hair, the lips and especially the eyes are really well done.
Synopsis: On Lily Sanderson's eighteenth birthday she'll become just a girl--still a mergirl, true, but signing the renunciation will ink Princess Waterlily of Thalassinia out of existence. That leaves plain old Lily living on land, dating the boy she loves, and trying to master this being-human thing once and for all. 


 Now that Lily and Quince are together, mer bond or not, she's almost content to give up her place in the royal succession of Thalassinia. But just when she thinks she has everything figured out, the waves start to get rough. Lily's father sends a certain whirlpool-stirring cousin to stay with her on land. What did Doe do to get herself exiled from Thalassinia and stuck in terraped form when everyone knows how much she hates humans? And why why why is she batting her eyelashes at Lily's former crush, Brody? 


 The seafoam on the raging surf comes when a merboy from Lily's past shows up--Tellin asks Lily for something that clouds her view of the horizon. There's a future with Quince on land, her loyalty to the kingdom in the sea, and Lily tossing on the waves in the middle. Will she find a way to reconcile her love, her duty, and her own dreams?


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Fins are Forever flew by. I thought it was a really cute novel but I'm sorry to say I enjoyed Forgive My Fins much more.

Lily has decided that she will relinquish her title as Princess Waterlily so she can stay with Quinn. All through the book you see Lily and Quinn's romance and it's adorable yes, but I felt like I was missing the real Quinn. He fit the doting boyfriend role perfectly but not much else. That may just be me though. All we saw of them was that they were a cute happy couple who made out a lot and supported each other, and I wasn't satisfied.

There were some new characters introduced like Dosinia who I never thought was as bad as Lily made her out to be, at least in the beginning. Dosinia's storyline was a bit too perfect. Does it take just one week to get a happily ever after? I know this series is light though, so I didn't worry too much about it. The other new character, Tellin, was charming and I really liked his addition to the book and the plot. I was rooting for him and I can't wait to read more about him.

The main reason I felt a bit unsatisfied was because of the fact that not too much happened for a while. I got annoyed with Lily constantly repeating how stressed out she was over the SATs and her duty. The plot was also a bit simple. I don't know, it just wasn't my piece of cake.

For all my mentioning the negatives, there were many positives. The writing got me into the story. I never looked at the page number and I was surprised to find out I finished the book because I was so into the story. Lily's little fish slang was cute and as always, I'm really excited to see what happens next.

Overall a nice read that's light and perfect for the beach. 3.5 stars,

*** & 1/2 *

Review: Passion

 

Author: Lauren Kate
Pages: 420
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Source: Library
Synopsis: Luce would die for Daniel. 


 And she has. Over and over again. Throughout time, Luce and Daniel have found each other, only to be painfully torn apart: Luce dead, Daniel left broken and alone. But perhaps it doesn’t need to be that way. . . . 


 Luce is certain that something—or someone—in a past life can help her in her present one. So she begins the most important journey of this lifetime . . . going back eternities to witness firsthand her romances with Daniel . . . and finally unlock the key to making their love last. Cam and the legions of angels and Outcasts are desperate to catch Luce, but none are as frantic as Daniel. He chases Luce through their shared pasts, terrified of what might happen if she rewrites history. 


Because their romance for the ages could go up in flames . . . forever.


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I didn't expect much from Passion at all. The others books in Lauren Kate's series didn't inspire too much confidence in me and the story could have been much better. That being said, there is something that keeps me reading these books.

I was surprised that there were parts I enjoyed though. You can see I had really low expectations. For the first time, I may have actually rooted for Daniel and Luce. At first I thought their love had no substance. I didn't understand why they were together besides having been together forever. After reading Passion, I've concluded that there is no logical reason. They are simply "soulmates" and that should be that. After accepting the fact that they loved each other forever and ignoring the why, the story was much more interesting.

Journeying through the past was much more eventful than it sounded like. I loved the settings and I was so curious about the origins of the curse. There was good pacing as some of the scenes were awful, but in a good way. It made me understand the hardships Daniel and Luce went through. It also made me respect Daniel as a character more. He was pining for this one girl for over 5000 years and he never gave up. That could be incredibly stupid of him but I still admire his perseverance and determination.

The ending left me with hope (again!) that the next book, now the final, would be spectacular. A huge, epic battle between good and evil. The plot did advance and hinted to a showdown-ish event. Whether that will happen and more importantly, whether it will be satisfying remains to be seen. I will read Rapture though. I've gone through three of these books and by now it would be a huge waste of my time not to read the next. Plus I'm just curious to see if anything will happen with Cam.

Overall, I thought Passion was much better than Torment. There was lot of interesting scenes and revelations. Luce's lives were interesting and the story was easy to read. 3.5 stars,

*** & 1/2 *

Review: My Beating Teenage Heart

 

Author: C.K. Kelly Martin
Pages: 288
Publisher: Random House for Young Readers
Source: Library
Synopsis: Ashlyn Baptiste is falling. One moment she was nothing—no memories, no self—and then suddenly, she's plummeting through a sea of stars. Is she in a coma? She doesn't remember dying, and she has no memories of the life she left behind. All she knows is that she's trapped in a consciousness without a body and she's spending every moment watching a stranger. 


 Breckon Cody's on the edge. He's being ripped apart by grief so intense it literally hurts to breathe. On the surface, Breckon is trying to hold it together for his family and his girlfriend, but underneath he's barely hanging on. 


 Even though she didn't know him in life, Ashlyn sees Breckon's pain, and she's determined to find a way help him. As her own distressing memories emerge from the darkness, she struggles to communicate with the boy who can't see her, but whose life is suddenly intertwined with hers. In alternating voices of the main characters, My Beating Teenage Heart paints a devastatingly vivid picture of both the heartbreak and the promise of teenage life—a life Ashlyn would do anything to recover and Breckon seems desperate to destroy—and will appeal to fans of Sarah Dessen, John Green, and David Levithan.

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Initially, I wasn't very impressed with My Beating Teenage Heart. I didn't really care for the story or like the characters. What kept me reading was the emotion the author so successfully conveyed. I had tears in my eyes while reading.

The story is about death and grief. Breckon lost his sister and is struggling. Ashlyn is in this weird in between state where she's watching Breckon and trying to learn more about who she is. Both characters go through a lot, but Breckon's story had me far more upset. I think it was because his was actually happening while all Ashlyn had was memories. The way the characters dealt with grief was raw.

Nothing about this book felt cliché. This book is so different from other books. It feels like a contemporary novel, but there is a paranormal ghost/afterlife element. Ashlyn and Breckon don't fall in love. Ashlyn's identity isn't what you suspect. Breckon has real friends. It was so different in that way.

I couldn't deal with emotionally investing myself too much in this book. I was reading in public so a lot of the time I couldn't continue. The plot isn't exactly fast-paced but stuff does happen. It isn't in my taste but it made me cry. I feel full of contradictions when I think about this book. It's really weird, but I think I enjoy it. You don't have to like every story you read. Sometimes you can say "This was a good story to read" without liking the story. The darkness in the story, as well as the hope makes me happy I read it.

Overall, I recommend My Beating Teenage Heart for those who enjoy emotional stories that promise hope. It's a hard story to read, but rewarding. 3.5 stars,

*** & 1/2 *

Review: Imaginary Girls

Author: Nova Ren Suma
Pages: 348
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Source: Library
Synopsis: Chloe's older sister, Ruby, is the girl everyone looks to and longs for, who can't be captured or caged. When a night with Ruby's friends goes horribly wrong and Chloe discovers the dead body of her classmate London Hayes left floating in the reservoir, Chloe is sent away from town and away from Ruby. 


 But Ruby will do anything to get her sister back, and when Chloe returns to town two years later, deadly surprises await. As Chloe flirts with the truth that Ruby has hidden deeply away, the fragile line between life and death is redrawn by the complex bonds of sisterhood. 


 With palpable drama and delicious craft, Nova Ren Suma bursts onto the YA scene with the story that everyone will be talking about.


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Imaginary Girls was not what I was expecting. It was a haunting story full of creepiness and sisterly love.

I can't say much about the characters. I didn't really like any of them. Not because they were badly written characters and lacked depth and stuff, but because some of their actions didn't sit right with me. Chloe for one didn't have much of a personality without her sister Ruby. Ruby was fabulous but also so cold. I wouldn't be sure whether to love her or to run away from her if I met her. London I just didn't like, no matter how much she went through. The characters were so odd but their interactions so interesting.

The plot of Imaginary Girls is very subtle. Questions keep building up till the very scary realization, and still there are questions. Not all of them are answered. The book is very unique, no one could possible doubt that. The suspense is crazy. Nova Rena Suma lulls you into a false sense of security before she strikes.

The story, while enchanting, wasn't my kind of solid story. There was a lot of events that were seemingly random and nothing made sense until the end where a lot of stuff still didn't make sense. At times, I didn't like the pacing. It felt like nothing important was happening because the plot was unconventional and I had no idea where it would lead. The book didn't hook me in and make me want to finish it right then and there. The story just didn't seem to work for me. I appreciate it as a creepy story (oh, and I'm NEVER swimming in a reservoir so it served as a warning too) but I didn't really love it.

That being said, there was some great writing here that will appeal to many readers. 3.5 stars for this creepy story.

*** & 1/2 *

Review: Hereafter

Author: Tara Hudson
Pages: 404
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Library
Challenge: Debut Author Challenge
Synopsis: Can there truly be love after death? 


 Drifting in the dark waters of a mysterious river, the only thing Amelia knows for sure is that she's dead. With no recollection of her past life—or her actual death—she's trapped alone in a nightmarish existence. All of this changes when she tries to rescue a boy, Joshua, from drowning in her river. As a ghost, she can do nothing but will him to live. Yet in an unforgettable moment of connection, she helps him survive.


 Amelia and Joshua grow ever closer as they begin to uncover the strange circumstances of her death and the secrets of the dark river that held her captive for so long. But even while they struggle to keep their bond hidden from the living world, a frightening spirit named Eli is doing everything in his power to destroy their newfound happiness and drag Amelia back into the ghost world . . . forever. 


 Thrilling and evocative, with moments of pure pleasure, Hereafter is a sensation you won't want to miss.


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Hereafter is another title to add to the list of "nice ghost stories". There's romance, death, and some really creepy spirits.

Reading this book was a breeze. The second I started it I was wrapped into the easy prose. Very easy to get into and to read I was surprised how quickly I finished the book. It's 400 pages or so, but it doesn't feel like 400 pages. The story isn't very complex and is very much a love story. Hereafter isn't a plot driven story, it's driven by characters instead. Which means most of what happens is Amelia's thoughts, feelings, reactions and fears.

After finishing Hereafter I'm not sure what to think of Amelia. I think she's nicer than me and has a better temper to start with but that doesn't say very much about her. She seems like an average girl. Part of the problem is that Amelia doesn't remember her past at all except for brief flashes. So since she can't remember what she has done, and she's a ghost so she has very limited interactions, it's hard to make her more of a real person and less of a character. Right now I think of her as a lovestruck yearning spirit that's on the verge of finding the light.

I said before that Hereafter was a love story and that's partly why I wasn't in love with the book. I like a romance being in the book but not the first or second main focus for 50%-75% of the book. I did like Joshua as he was really sweet and nice and he was good for Amelia. I would have liked to see him in more action though. Maybe more danger? I think the problem is that Joshua and Amelia are in an adorable and sweet relationship. I like more danger and darkness in a relationship. So me not liking it was based on my tastes.

Despite my complaints I did like Hereafter. Some of the ghost stuff was really cool, once you got to the good stuff. The end was interesting and I'm curious to see what happens next. Do I think this book is a must read? Not really. There are lots of cool points to it which is why many people probably will enjoy it. I'm giving it 3.5 stars,

*** & 1/2 *

Review: The Vampire Stalker

Author: Allison Van Diepen
Pages: 272
Publisher: Point
Source: Library
Synopsis: What if the characters in a vampire novel left their world--and came into yours? 


 Amy is in love with someone who doesn't exist: Alexander Banks, the dashing hero in a popular series of vampire novels. Then one night, Amy meets a boy who bears an eerie resemblance to Alexander. In fact, he IS Alexander, who has escaped from the pages of the book and is in hot pursuit of a wicked vampire named Vigo. Together, Amy and Alexander set out to track Vigo and learn how and why Alexander crossed over. But when she and Alexander begin to fall for each other, Amy wonders if she even wants him to ever return to the realm of fiction.

The Vampire Stalker begins as every book lover's dream come true. Your favourite literary crush is actually real? Wow.

I liked Amy. She was your average nice, bookish teenage girl. She had good friends and loved books but did a lot of stuff other than read. She did everything for the ones she cared about. Amy still would stand up for what she believed in though. I thought Allison did a great job with portraying her as a real teenager.

Alexander, the vampire stalker, was hot. I loved reading about how he our Chicago was different from his own. His passion was believable and I overall really liked him. He was brutal at times and a little too perfect for Amy but still a character I liked.

The plot was always interesting. I think this would be a great movie because something was always happening. Near the end things really picked up and I was so excited to see what would happen. I did expect the ending but reading The Vampire Stalker was still amusing. It was readable.

Overall this is a fun read that would appeal to anyone who's ever had a crush on a character from a book. 3.5 stars,

*** & 1/2 *

Review: Haven

*looks around at the tumbleweeds* Best way to explain my absence is I needed a break. I was getting overwhelmed and I needed to take a step back, catch up on my reading and stuff. Anyway, on to the review!

Author: Kristi Cook
Pages: 320
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Source: Library
Challenge: Debut Author Challenge
Synopsis: Violet McKenna isn’t a normal girl with normal teenage issues; she has more to contend with than most people could handle. Violet thought she was just crazy when she had a vivid vision of her dad’s murder. Her life started falling apart when her premonition came true. She’s had flashes of other events too. The problem was nobody believed her until she found a new school: Winterhaven.  


At Winterhaven, Violet finally feels like she belongs. She quickly finds a close group friends and discovers that they too have psychic ‘gifts’—as do all the students at Winterhaven. But as soon as she feels settled she discovers the most intriguing and alluring boy she has ever met, and things quickly go awry. As the attraction between them grows, intense visions of the boy’s death start to haunt her. In her premonitions the secret he is unwilling to share begins to reveal itself. And to Violet's horror, she learns that their destinies are intertwined in a critical- and deadly- way.

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Wow, Haven was a way better read than I thought it would be. I shouldn't be surprised though. I've always had a thing for paranormal boarding schools even though I know they're overdone.

Violet herself seemed very ordinary and a bit boring and unsure of herself in the beginning. By the end of the book though I much preferred her. She was passionate about what and who she wanted plus I started to like her by then. She wasn't my favorite character but as MCs go, she was decent.

Don't hate me for saying this but at the beginning there were scenes that were very similar to Stephenie Meyer's books. There were many ideas from Haven that I'd read of before in other series so I wasn't shocked at the plotline. Happily by the end, Haven made itself its own story. The beginning was a bit slow with the hot and cold relationship troubles but I still read this book quickly. It was a smooth read and it was easy to get wrapped up in what was happening.

After the interesting end I was left with as many questions was from the realm of typical paranormal romance, there were some good ideas that have so much potential. I expect great things from the next book in the Winterhaven series.

Overall another light paranormal read that has huge readability and is entertaining. 3.5 stars,

*** & 1/2 *

Review: Through Her Eyes

Author: Jennifer Archer
Pages: 384
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Library
Synopsis: Every ghost has a story to tell. 


 The last place Tansy Piper wants to be is stuck in Cedar Canyon, Texas, in the middle of nowhere, with a bunch of small-town kids. But when her mother decides to move to the desolate West Texas town, Tansy has no choice but to go along. Once there, Tansy is immediately drawn to the turret of their rickety old house, a place she soon learns has a disturbing history. But it's the strange artifacts she finds in the cellar—a pocket watch, a journal of poetry, and a tiny crystal—that have the most chilling impact on her. 


 Tansy soon finds that through the lens of her camera, she can become part of a surreal black-and-white world where her life is intertwined with that of mysterious, troubled Henry, who lived in the same house and died decades earlier. It seems their lives are linked by fate and the artifacts she found, but as Tansy begins spending more and more time in the past, her present world starts to fade away. Tansy must untangle herself from Henry's dangerous reality—before she loses touch with her own life forever.


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I was pleasantly surprised that Through Her Eyes didn't turn out exactly the way I guessed it would. When you hear "paranormal romance", "ghost" and "new girl in town" you automatically expect the girl to fall in love with the ghost but both girl and boy need to let go. She'll make some friends but not too many and maybe there is another guy in the picture that is the reason why she's still living. Well, yes, Through Her Eyes did have some of those aspects but there were some cool differences.

For example, the ghost never appears to Tansy in her world directly. She sees Henry through photographs or objects he left behind which take her back to his time. Tansy only ever interacts with Henry during memories of when he was alive and still not directly. I liked the creepiness of this method. As Tansy spends more time in Henry's world, her own starts to fade away. I guessed what would happen in the end but it was still creepy thinking about everything fading. Tansy's reaction to that was also believable.

Tansy herself didn't strike me as a completely memorable character. She was nice enough, had an interest in hats and photography, judged people too easily but nothing really stood out about her. I liked her and supported her but she wasn't my kind of character. Her relationships were sweet though, especially the one with her grandfather. Tansy really cared about him. Her relationship with her mom was realistic. They loved each other but had a hard time communicating.

Now we have the love interest: Tate. Cute, sweet, slightly damaged and writes poetry. I liked Tate early on;I expect everyone will. What's not to like? Tansy's on again off again relationship with him wasn't exactly what I wished would happen but due to the nature of these two characters it fit them. I would have liked more of them though.

The problem with Through Her Eyes was that I thought the story was a bit slow. Not very much happened and the conclusion wasn't thrilling enough for me. I was never on the edge of my seat; the story didn't hook me in. It's a nice story with fantastic mood and setting but is 400 pages really needed to tell it? I would have enjoyed more happening. But remember, adrenaline junkie here.

Overall, Through Her Eyes was a good read with an interesting story. 3.5 stars.

*** & 1/2 *

Review: Timeless

Author: Alexandra Monir
Pages: 304
Publisher: Delacorte
Challenge: Debut Author Challenge
Synopsis: When tragedy strikes Michele Windsor’s world, she is forced to uproot her life and move across the country to New York City, to live with the wealthy, aristocratic grandparents she’s never met. In their old Fifth Avenue mansion filled with a century’s worth of family secrets, Michele discovers a diary that hurtles her back in time to the year 1910. There, in the midst of the glamorous Gilded Age, Michele meets the young man with striking blue eyes who has haunted her dreams all her life – a man she always wished was real, but never imagined could actually exist. And she finds herself falling for him, into an otherworldly, time-crossed romance. 


 Michele is soon leading a double life, struggling to balance her contemporary high school world with her escapes into the past. But when she stumbles upon a terrible discovery, she is propelled on a race through history to save the boy she loves – a quest that will determine the fate of both of their lives.


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Timeless was a story of endless love and I really liked it!

Michele's a cool character who's a normal teenager with an awesome mom. When "tragedy strikes" (and while I won't say what the tragedy was, I will say I was upset by it) Michele goes to New York to live with her grandparents. Her grandparents are part of the Windsor line so they're incredibly rich and live in extreme opulence. Michele feels out of place though (which I totally understand). Michele was a cool character whom I do relate with. Some of her reactions were spot on and I want to learn more about her.

Then there's time-traveling which leads to meeting the gorgeous, incomparable Phillip. Phillip is the guy Michele's been dreaming about all her life who turns out to be real. They both have an instant connection and they love each other. The love was pretty quick for me- "the one" after about one date?- but it was adorable. They obviously cared for each other immensely and I'm really interested if they can make their love "forever".

I wasn't sure where the plot was going in Timeless. The end completely surprised me. It was a tantalizing morsel of information that made me gasp, and then I turned the next page to find that it's over. I love and hate those endings. I was surprised how fast I flew through Timeless. I don't even remember checking the page numbers, I just started it and all of a sudden ended up on the last page.

All in all, I enjoyed Timeless. It was a nice, light and romantic read with darker parts. I'm giving it 3.5 stars because though I flew by it, the story didn't reach a level that I call obsessive love which means I won't constantly be waiting around for the next book. I wasn't too emotionally invested in Timeless but that's probably just me. I will eagerly read the next one though.

*** &1/2 *