Blurred Lines by Lauren Layne

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

A New Adult story in the form of a more traditional romance is a refreshing change.  There are no gimmicks, no “mystery” element that isn’t much of a mystery, no deals, bets, or games, and there is nothing supernatural or magical.  Frankly, it’s a relief.  In book world there seems to be a trend of 50 Shades-type fetishism, or a story with little to no plot that is only driven by sexual encounters.  Layne gives us a story that we can become immersed in that is driven by Parker and Ben and the simplicity of their story.

The dual narration is great- Ben is a normal guy whose thoughts and conversations aren’t profanity-laced idiocy masquerading as an authentic voice.  He’s a strong character who is presented well on the page and in his interactions with other characters.  Alternately, Parker is not a wishy-washy girl who doesn’t realize how amazing/attractive she is.  She’s a realistically drawn, independent, confident character who can easily be a fictional role model for readers. 

As usual, Layne’s writing is spot-on.  There are many genuinely funny, laugh-out-loud moments that are characteristic of her New Adult stories.  She definitely knows her intended audience and her characters are always representative of them.  The pacing is excellent, the plot progresses at an excellent rate, and although it seems as if there can’t possibly be a satisfying conclusion for both Parker and Ben, there is never a sense of being forced or rushed.  Nor are there any overly sappy, trite moments that make readers want to gag.    

Blurred Lines by Lauren Layne- Definitely read this one.  You won’t regret it.  Available from libraries and booksellers now. 

Every Last Breath Trailer

I am so excited for this book to arrive at my doorstep.  What?  You're not ready for it?  Quick!  Follow this recipe for a good time.
1.Get copies of White Hot Kiss and Stone Cold Touch by Jennifer L. Armentrout. 
2. Preorder Every Last Breath before you start reading. 
3. Skip eating, sleeping, and avoid the outside world (optional) for three full books.
4. Squeal (or protest) the conclusion with vigor. 

Still not convinced?  Watch this.

Material Girls by Elaine Dimopoulos

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Although I felt this left a little to be desired as far as development, I liked the premise and the dual narration.  The obsession with youth and the disregard for anything that isn't accepted by the masses provides a lot to think about, especially when careers top out at age 17.  Marla and Ivy give readers two very different views of life in a world where you're only as good as the popularity of your next decision.

I don't think it's accurate to call this a dystopian novel, either.  No, things weren't perfect and kids are blatantly taken advantage of by the world at large, but no one's being threatened with death, there is no one character who can do something no one else can, and there is no crazy vision of world domination.  This can be labeled ageist, at worst. 

However, I did like Marla and Ivy.  Some of their character development seemed rushed in places, but I found them both to be sympathetic.  The other characters were also good, whether they were naughty or nice.  Some of them made me cringe and some made me smile, but all were well drawn.
The writing could use a little more tweaking in places to eliminate unnecessary story lines, such as one of Ivy's nymphs being used to spy on her- which ultimately amounted to nothing and was never mentioned again. 

Material Girls was ultimately a good story.  You might be frustrated with the fashion talk in a few places, but the characters and plot provide many topics of thought and conversation. 

 

Material Girls by Elaine Dimopoulos: It's not going to start an uprising to end government tyranny, but it is a good story about two girls who begin to question everything they've always accepted as the norm.  Available from libraries and booksellers now.  

All the Rage by Courtney Summers

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A devastatingly real portrait of the brutality faced by teenage girls, All the Rage will haunt you.  Summers has a talent for relating horrifying events and their aftermath  succinctly and with precision.  Her writing style is flawless and her plots are never as straightforward as they seem.  Despite the fact that she writes stories that are hard to wrap the head around, I am always left with a sense of hope that sentimental books fail to deliver.  All the Rage is beautifully narrated and is not to miss.  Available from libraries and booksellers now.

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

Although there are several elements in this story that are reminiscent of other YA favorites (Red
Rising, The Hunger Games, even Divergent), I feel quite strongly that Aveyard has made Red Queen strong on it's own.  There are many reviews claiming hatred and insinuating minor plagiarism, but can you honestly tell me that you can't see any equal similarities in The Hunger Games, Divergent, and even Red Rising?


Those who have nothing but disparaging remarks for this book are entitled to their own opinions.  I won't tell them they're wrong for not liking exactly what I like.  But we, as consumers of the written word, need to get over this "special snowflake" issue.  Yes, Mare is special.  So was Katniss.  And Katsa.  And Darrow.  And Percy Jackson. So was Jane Eyre, for that matter.  Books, series especially, would suffer greatly were the main character to not be "special."

The writing is strong here: the characters aren't quite what you expect, the plot is propelled by an excellent main character, the pacing and action are on point, and the ending is set up nicely for the next installment. Victoria Aveyard has given us a strong beginning to this trilogy.  I am looking forward to the next piece of it.

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard: Love it or hate it, it's up to you.  But I encourage you to read it because I thought it was great.  Available now from libraries and booksellers.

Seeker by Arwen Elys Dayton

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Seeker is a bit slow and dull in the beginning.  And by beginning, I mean 200 pages or so.  I found the four narrations to be quite scattered from each other and had a hard time drawing everything together in my mind. 

Making cohesive connections between Quin, John, Shinobu, and Maude was difficult for most of the book.  As a reader you have to sort through four pasts leading up to the point of intersection, and then through four perspectives of events after they join to become the same story line.  I had a hard time relating to any of them, but I am a fan of books in which I don't particularly like the characters.  So I kept going.

There weren't really an plot twists that I hadn't already been anticipating.  The writing, however, is solid.  The characters might be hard to relate to, but they are all dynamic, evolving people who push the novel forward.  I do think that Seeker would have benefited from being shorter (i.e., not including every tiny detail of everyone's pasts, making readers wonder when this story is going to continue, never minding where it's going).  I did like it, though.

Yes, I did like it.  The action, when it finally happens, is intense and quickly paced leaving us on a cliffhanger and wondering where the story could go in the next installment.  I"ll be keeping an eye out for the sequel. 

Seeker by Arwen Elys Dayton: Get through the slow parts and it's definitely worth it.  Available from libraries and booksellers now.

Deviation (Clone Chronicles #2) by Heather Hildenbrand

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

 

Honestly, I have mixed feelings about this installment of the Clone Chronicles.  There were parts that were excellent and full of action.  And there were parts that didn't make a lot of sense, story-wise, and were overflowing with cheese-tastic dialog, characters that had been dynamic suddenly falling flat, and a sense of being rushed through the reading.

Ven really irritated me this time around.  She was whiny, irrational, and not herself.  Which sounds odd to say about a fictional person, but it felt almost as if the book were narrated by someone else posing as Ven.  Several scenes seem to be just tossed in for the sake of inclusion rather than any actual pertinence to the story line. 

Regardless, Deviation is still the second part of this series and I feel it necessary to read if only because you'll miss a few important things and might be confused during the third installment.  You might not be a fan of this one individually, but to get a sense of the encompassing plot of the entire set. 

Deviation (Clone Chronicles #2) by Heather Hildenbrand: A must if you're going to read the series.  Otherwise mass chaos and confusion will ensue.  Available from libraries and booksellers now.