Ticker by Lisa Mantchev

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

Ticker is a richly imagined world full of marvelous mechanics, excellent character traits, and plenty of mystery and danger.  Penny, the protagonist, is a sassy, unapologetic, determined, and courageous heroine who will do anything to save her family, even at the risk of her own life. 

The setting is wonderfully drawn, letting the imagination run rampant with a steampunk version of technology that would, frankly, be pretty cool to have.  My favorite bit of this technology?  The time-locked bakery boxes, of course. 

Mantchev has presented readers with a fantastic read that we won't soon forget, and will most likely want to read again.

Ticker by Lisa Mantchev: Why are you waiting?  Read it now!  Available from libraries and booksellers now.

A Kiss by the Book by Christy Hayes

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

A Kiss by the Book is a rather predictable, bland story of first love.  Zach and Jenna are written well as the stereotypical jock with a heart of gold and the brainiac who helps with his grades (and then pretends to be his girlfriend to save face in front of his brother and his ex).

All the plot points are hit on pace, there is actual chemistry and character development between the protagonists, and the writing style is good.  It was a cute story with cute characters and a cute outcome.  I will recommend it to others, but for me it was a little flat.  A feel-good read that goes quickly, has one or two obligatory obstacles that are easily overcome, and a solid happy ending. 

While I wouldn't have minded a little more depth to the story, Hayes is leaps and bounds ahead of some writers in the new adult genre.  Nothing feels robotic, none of the characters feel like they're out of place, and the romance is genuine. There is good banter between Zach and Jenna, and a few humorous moments throughout. I will definitely read more of Hayes' work, and be satisfied that at least I will have a solid story with a happy ending, if not a little more punch.

A Kiss by the Book by Christy Hayes: A quick read that delivers a happy ending, with a solid romance in between.  You can hardly go wrong with this one.  Available from booksellers and libraries now.

Seed by Lisa Heathfield

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

Seed is the story of Pearl, who grew up in her own tiny community of the same name.  She loves her home, loves her family, and looks forward to the day when she can become a companion to Papa S, the leader of Seed.  Nothing goes the way Pearl ever expected, and when people from the outside join Seed, she begins to doubt everything she has ever known.

The characters of this story are excellent.  Every one of them, even the ones you'll hate, are developed and presented well.  They will, along with the twisting plot, elicit many emotions from readers.  You'll love some; you'll detest some; you'll want to reach in to the pages and rescue some. 

There are times when the writing seems stilted and juvenile, but that only added to the authenticity of the book.  Pearl is uneducated, unaware of the world outside of Seed, and struggling to learn the truth about everything before it's all too late. 

Some will find this book hard to read.  The themes of child abuse, sexual abuse, and cults are difficult to handle, but Heathfield manages to relay the horrors without overly-graphic detail.  My skin crawled on more than one occasion, and I was relieved when the book reached its conclusion.  Although not a happy ending in the traditional sense, I couldn't help but feel that it was the right one for Pearl.

Seed by Lisa Heathfield: Horrific in its honesty, and will make you want to see Pearl through to the end.  Available from booksellers and libraries March 10, 2015.

Hades by Candice Fox

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

 

Candice Fox gives us a crime thriller that is gripping, horrifying, and brutal.  The hunt for a serial killer is never easy, but Frank's investigation is made harder by his aloof partner and her brother, both of whom are keeping more secrets than anyone can possibly guess.  Interspersed in the current events are flashbacks to Eden and Eric's upbringing by a man named Hades. Through these flashbacks, Fox paints a thorough picture of the Archer siblings' lives, which in turn bleeds into the story as Frank narrates. 

The characters are realistically drawn, imperfect, and can be related to rather easily.  The writing displays a talent for setting disturbing scenes and thoughts, and presenting tense action and awkward human interactions.  The plot is well paced, making it all too easy to ignore everything else and stay immersed in the story. 

You'll definitely want to read the sequel, Eden, when it comes out in August of 2015.  I know I do.

Hades by Candice Fox: Creepy and full of action, and definitely worth reading!  Available from libraries and booksellers now.

The Job by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg

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

The third installment of The Fox and O'Hare series is a good one.  It's not as complicated as the first two, but it has a solid plot, reappearances of the same crazy team, leaves you hanging in a way that isn't annoying.

I have read several reviews despairing over the "plot-driven" tendencies of this series.  Isn't that the basis of a good story, though?  Whacky characters and crazy antics can take you so far.  Without a decent plot we're left with 350 pages of idiocy and lusting after two guys with very little actually occurring.  Fox and O'Hare are the example that Stephanie Plum needs to follow- fewer shenanigans, more focus on busting bad guys.

The Job by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg: Fun, mysterious, and full of action.  Read it, but not before The Heist and The Chase. Available from booksellers and libraries now.

Infandous by Elana K. Arnold

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

Infandous is raw, gripping readers with hideous fairy tales and myths, weaving them into Sephora's life.  Each of these seems unrelated to the overall story, but with each chapter narrated by Sephora, you can see how she is living them, to a degree. 

There are so many angles to this story that pull away layers of love, pain, truth, fear, and acceptance.  It's not a feel-good book that will make you long for the romance of it all.  It is a gritty look at what life is really like sometimes.  Sometimes you have no read choices; sometimes you're thrown into the storm that other people have cast around you and the best thing you can do is try to keep your head above water and get through it.

Arnold gives us an unapologetic look at the dark side of love.  Sephora has secrets that will hurt everyone she loves, but they hurt her most of all.  She can't see a way around the choices she (or anyone else in her life) has made.  And she can't imagine a life for herself that is separate from her mother's.  She does give us the courage to look at horrifying things and hope that they might be overcome, no matter the brusque tone of the narration, or the utter helplessness you feel as more is revealed.  For such a grim book, I was oddly buoyed by it.  I highly recommend you try it.

Infandous by Elana K. Arnold: Fantastic!  Available from booksellers and libraries in March of 2015.

The Ruby Airship by Sharon Gosling

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

The Ruby Airship gives just as much tension, mystery, and romance as its predecessor, The Diamond Thief. The characters are just as richly drawn, the writing is still excellent, and the plot never has a dull moment.

The best aspect of The Ruby Airship was the additional character development. Remy isn't as quite as worldly as she thought. Thaddeus is overly cautious and meticulous, and forgets that he is also young and capable of missteps. But the real star of the book is J, who takes his passion for gadgetry and learning and shines as a Cockney Nutty Professor.

Gosling has delivered a solid sequel to this series, and I look forward to reading the next.

 

 

 

The Ruby Airship by Sharon Gosling: Awesome!  Available from booksellers and libraries now!