Pivot Point by Kasie West

Knowing the outcome doesn’t always make a choice easier . . .

Addison Coleman’s life is one big “What if?” As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It’s the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie’s parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with—her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the “Norms,” or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it’s not.

In one potential future, Addie is adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in school—but she never wanted to be a quarterback’s girlfriend. When Addie’s father is asked to consult on a murder in the Compound, she’s unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which reality she’s willing to live through . . . and who she can’t live without.

Review:

I was really impressed with this one! I thought the plot was pretty original and the writing was really well done. Our lead Addie was likable and easy to relate to. I liked her sarcastic personality. She has the ability when presented with a choice to see how things will play out depending on which decision she makes. The story alternates between two possible futures and at the end she has to decide which path to take. What an interesting superpower! Addie doesn’t abuse her power and up until now has only used it for short time frames. We also have a couple love interests, Duke and Trevor. It’s not your typical love-triangle though and I really liked how it was handled. It was fun to see how these two different relationships play out. I started out on one team and ended up on another. I ended up loving the relationship between Trevor and Addie. Trevor was great, I especially liked when he finally made his interest know. I liked that they had a friendship first and it grows to more. I did like Duke though, and even despite everything, I still like him. I also liked how the stories kind of overlap, things that would happen in one “reality” would happen in the other. As the story progresses a couple mysteries are presented as well, I thought that added some fun suspense to the story. Especially the end, there are a few surprises thrown in that added a lot. I was glad there was an epilogue, it wrapped things up nicely. I’m excited to read the next book!

Content: Clean. Mild violence.

Breaking Point by Kristen Simmons

After faking their deaths to escape from prison, Ember Miller and Chase Jennings have only one goal: to lay low until the Federal Bureau of Reformation forgets they ever existed. Near-celebrities now for the increasingly sensationalized tales of their struggles with the government, Ember and Chase are recognized and taken in by the Resistance—an underground organization working to systematically take down the government. At headquarters, all eyes are on the sniper, an anonymous assassin taking out FBR soldiers one by one. Rumors are flying about the sniper’s true identity, and Ember and Chase welcome the diversion….

I liked this one as much as the first book, maybe a little more. I really like our main characters America and Chase, they have a great relationship. I love how they are totally there for each other and fiercely loyal. And THANK YOU there is no love triangle! There is so much going on in the story and I am just so glad that stupid plot device was not used in this series! Chase is a great leading man. True, he is a bit on the quite site, but I kinda like that about him. He is so sweet with America and understands her so well. He is also very protective of her. You don’t mess with his girl. America is a good heroine. She is easy to like and root for.

This is a little dark though. America and Chase do not have it easy. There is a lot of drama and sad stuff throughout the story. It just seems like one thing happens after another. America and Chase stick together and really help overcome everything that is thrown at them.

I’m not sure how everything is going to be wrapped up in the next book. This one does end with a bit of a cliff hanger. We did get some things resolved, but we’re also left with a lot of questions. I look forward to reading the next book and hope America and Chase can get their happily ever after.

Content: Pretty clean. Mild language and sexual content. No sex scenes, but mild kissing scenes.

The Elite by Kiera Cass

Thirty-five girls came to the palace to compete in the Selection. All but six have been sent home. And only one will get to marry Prince Maxon and be crowned princess of Illea. America still isn’t sure where her heart lies. When she’s with Maxon, she’s swept up in their new and breathless romance, and can’t dream of being with anyone else. But whenever she sees Aspen standing guard around the palace, and is overcome with memories of the life they planned to share. With the group narrowed down to the Elite, the other girls are even more determined to win Maxon over—and time is running out for America to decide. Just when America is sure she’s made her choice, a devastating loss makes her question everything again. And while she’s struggling to imagine her future, the violent rebels that are determined to overthrow the monarchy are growing stronger and their plans could destroy her chance at any kind of happy ending.

 

 

I have mixed feelings about this one. I love the overall story, setting and characters. I think it’s well written and easy to get into. It really is a fun series and I look forward to seeing how everything wraps up in the next book. On the other hand, I absolutely hate love-triangles. I guess I don’t mind if they are a bit more subtle, and I’m sure they can work. It just doesn’t work for me in this book. I’ll get to that in a bit; I think it’s just one of those things I’m going to have to rant about. But first, I’ll stick with the positive. I like that there is still the dating competition going on, I also liked that it has been narrowed down to six girls. I like the dystopian world and how America is slowly realizing more about the world around her and the injustices that are going on with her government. I also like that she is starting to realize that she wants to do something about it and to help make a change. For the most part I love America’s character, I love how kind she is and loyal to her friends. She has a lot of good qualities.

All of that kind of takes a back seat to the love triangle though. Instead of focusing on America’s growth and her feelings about becoming a princess, we’re forced to live through a ping-pong match of America’s emotions. I thought the love triangle was really over the top, it literally felt like every chapter she was jumping from Aspen to Maxon. It got to the point where I was just sick of both of them. It made it hard to root for either and for her. I think there is a LOT of potential for an awesome love story, but it has been tainted by this silly LT. There is so much going on with the other girls, the King, and America learning what it takes to be a princess that we don’t need the LT angle thrown in our face. It was just too much for me. I really debated about giving this three stars, but I do love the rest of the story and I HOPE that the next book will not continue the LT, course I said the same thing in my review for book one.

Overall, the parts without the LT were awesome. I really enjoy the story. I think it’s a fun series and I think a lot of people will enjoy it too. I think most people probably don’t mind LT, so that aspect won’t bother them. I however, am sick of them!

Content: Mild violence. Mild kissing. Mild language.

Eyes of Ember by Rebecca L Ethington

Joclyn is in hiding, hunted by the man she still desperately loves. Ryland is gone. But, Joclyn’s heart desperately begs her to hold out hope. Ilyan. The man who once stalked her, is now Joclyn’s protector, the only thing she has left. He protects Joclyn from the men who seek to end her life, and while she is haunted by dreams where Ryland begs her to break the bond between them. Ilyan trains and prepares her, teaching her everything she needs to know in the hope that one day she can avenge Ryland, if not protect herself from him.  And then there is her father.  The man who has never been there, is suddenly responsible for everything. And who he is has made Joclyn into something she never wanted to be. The Silnỳ.

My Review: This is the second book in the Imdalind series. I don’t really know how to write this review without giving things away. In some ways I liked the first book more, the second book is a bit darker and Jocelyn is going through some tough situations. Even though she is supposed to be super powerful, a lot of the book is spent with her healing and afraid. I would have liked to see her more confident and really embrace all her powers. I also kind of wish her character were older. Which brings me to Ilyan. I have to say, I can see why so many people probably switch from Team Ryland to Team Ilyan, but I’m still on the fence. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a great guy and his personal story is pretty cool and how loyal he is to Jocelyn. I think part of my problem is that he is like 1000 and she is 16. Gross. I just couldn’t get their age differences out of my head. I also didn’t feel a lot of chemistry between them, at least not a romantic one. Maybe I was still holding out hope for Ryland, I loved him in the first book and my heart breaks for him in the second book. While you’re always wondering about Rylands true intentions, a part of me just think he is another victim in his father’s evil schemes. I just missed the Ryland from book one. Which made me hold out on really warming up to Ilyan.

I do like how original the story is. The author has created her own mythology and magic. At times the names are a tad confusing, at least for me, but overall I like the world she has created. I think the next two books take place from a different characters POV, I’m a little nervous about that. Book two ends with quite a few questions and we might not get back to Jocelyn and Iylan’s story for a few books. It seems like jumping to different characters might throw off the flow of the story. Hopefully I’m wrong. Overall, it’s a fun, original series.

Content: Pretty clean. Some violence and mildly disturbing elements.

Kiss of Fire by Rebecca L Ethington

 Joclyn Despain has been marred by a brand on her skin. She doesn't know why the mark appeared on her neck, but she doesn't want anyone to see it, including her best friend Ryland, who knows everything else about her. The scar is the reason she hides herself behind baggy clothes, and won't let the idea of kissing Ryland enter her mind, no matter how much she wants to. The scar is the reason she is being hunted. If only she knew that she was. If only she had known that the cursed stone her estranged father sent for her 16th birthday would trigger a change in her. Now, she is being stalked by a tall blonde man, and is miraculously throwing her high school bully ten feet in the air. Joclyn attempts to find some answers and the courage to follow her heart. When Ryland finds her scar; only he knows what it means, and who will kill her because of it.

Kiss of Fire is the first in the Imalind triology. It has been awhile since I’ve read a YA fantasy book and I thought Kiss of Fire was a fun way to get back into the genre. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the book, since it was free and self published (I could be wrong on that) I didn’t have the highest expectations. I liked our main characters Jocelyn, Ryland, Ilyan and Wyn.

I thought the book was well written and flowed pretty well, for the most part. I liked the beginning and was excited when towards the middle things started to pick up. The last half went back and forth for me, at times I got a tad bored. The end was good though and left me wanting to read the next book. I think it will be a fun series. Oh, I also liked that it was clean!

I just have to say it. I am not a fan of love triangles. It’s not super present in this book, but I have a feeling it will be in the next one. I just think it is WAY over done. It seems like every YA series out there has a love triangle now, maybe that is why I have been avoiding the genre. Let’s be original and not use love triangles as plot devices anymore, okay?

Content: Clean!

Similar Reads:

The Emerald Talisman by Brenda Pandos
Reckless Magic by Rachel Higginson

New Blog Design

It was long overdue and with the help of Lori from Imagination Designs, I finally updated my blog. I still need to rearrange my side bar, but overall I am very happy with how everything turned out. With this fresh new look I am hoping to get back into doing more book reviews and updating the blog more often.

Happy Reading!

Second Chances by Melanie Jacobson

After walking out of a thankless job at a prestigious marketing firm, feisty California entrepreneur Louisa Gibson is going into business for herself. Lou's pioneering venture, The Mormon Bachelor, is a reality dating web series sure to be fabulous advertising for her new marketing firm. But shortly before filming begins, the unthinkable happens -- Trentyn, a.k.a. The Bachelor, gets a girlfriend. And Lou needs a new leading man -- fast. Enter Nick, Lou's devastatingly handsome ex-boyfriend. He's the stereotypical actor: shallow, self-serving...and perfect for the job. Despite Nick's attempts to reestablish their friendship and the growing spark between them, Lou is determined to keep her distance. The show must go on -- but what's a girl to do when the Mr. Wrong of the past just may be the Mr. Right of the future?

My thoughts:

I really liked this one. I’ve found a few “reality dating” books lately that have been a lot of fun. I love watching The Bachelor and its fun to read more of the behind the scenes action. I liked our leading characters, Nick and Louisa. They had fun chemistry together. I admit, there were times I wondered what Nick’s motivations where, but I knew this is a HEA type book and was looking forward to seeing how things were going to work out for the two of them. Both really had to make some changes for things to work out between them this time around.

I did think twenty-one girls was a bit much. I think he should have had to date a smaller number of women. I also was confused why they only “aired” about five minutes of each date. I don’t think that would be enough time to really show any of the date or conversations. That five minutes would take up all the mid-date and end-of-date interviews. I think for a web show at least twenty minutes would have made a little more sense. At least to me. There were a few other minor things, but overall I thought it was really enjoyable. It kept me reading and when I did have to put it down to take care of kids, I was always eager to get back to it. Will definitely be a re-read for me.

Everard Legacy by Regina Scott

This was a fun new regency series, one that you would definitely want to read in order. There is an overlapping mystery throughout and you may be a little lost if read out of order. Each book also has a lovely romance that really outshines the mystery aspects. It did feel at time that the mystery was there to help bring the characters together. I read these more for the relationship than for the mystery. The first three books focus on the story of three men, two brothers and a cousin. They all at one point in their lives came to live with their uncle and are very close. They are brought together again when their uncles dies under mysterious circumstances, but also when they find out he had a daughter they never knew about. The first three books of the series focuses on uncovering the truth behind their uncles death. The last book takes place about eight years later, but has strong ties to the first three books. It is probably the only one that could really stand on its own, but would probably be better appreciated if read in order.

Overall, I thought it was a fun series. I liked each of the different romances and thought we were given some very likable characters. It was fun to see the different couples come together. I especially liked the last book, it was nice to see how close everyone was. These would fall under Christian fiction, to be honest, I kind of skipped some of the preaching stuff and all of the prayers were in italics (which were easy to skip). Not that there is anything wrong with that stuff, but I prefer to have good characters without the obvious preaching. It was pretty mild compared to some and again easy to overlook if you don’t like that stuff, but also well done if you do.

Content: Clean

Reading Order:
Book One: The Rogue’s Reform
Book Two: The Captain’s Courtship
Book Three: The Rakes Redemption
Book Four: The Heiress Homecoming

Redeeming the Rogue by CJ Chase

Synopsis:
With a chip on her shoulder and a pistol in her pocket, Mattie Fraser comes to London determined to find answers. What fate befell her brother after he was forced to join the British navy? Military official Kit DeChambelle knows something, she's sure. But can she trust him—or anyone— as a conspiracy of silence surrounds her? Kit knows altogether too much—about the guilt that drives Mattie, and the peril she faces. The battle against Napoleon is over, but for Kit, peace is elusive. In helping this brave, stubborn woman, he may be endangering her further. Especially if she learns about the orders he's received, placing them on opposite sides…

Review:
I liked this one. I thought it was well written and had a pretty good plot. I liked Mattie and Kit; they both have pasts that they are trying to forget. There is a mystery that brings them together and they have to rely on one another to try and figure things out. There were a few twists that I didn’t see coming and I wanted to keep reading to see what would happen next. I thought the Christian elements were okay, not overdone, but also seemed a tad forced. I think I would have preferred if all the preaching had been left out.

The romance part felt a bit unbelievable. I could see them maybe being friends, but by the end I wasn’t sure where all their sudden feelings of love were coming from. It’s only been a few days and most of that time has been spent not trusting each other, so how do we get from total lack of trust to head over heels in love? They are obviously physically attracted to one another, but they have nothing in common. They come from totally different worlds and upbringings. I want a happily ever after and that’s what I got, so I guess I can’t complain too much.

I just have to say, the title and cover don’t really match the book. First, the title would imply that our hero was a rogue. Aside from his habit of drinking a lot, he is a really nice guy. He loves his family, friends and goes out of his way to help those he cares about. So, I’m still not sure where the whole rogue thing comes from, aside from being a catchy title. Second, the cover would imply, at least to me, that the story takes place on a ship. It doesn’t. Owell.

I look forward to reading more from Ms. Chase.

Content: Clean.

Reading Order:

Book One: Redeeming the Rogue

Book Two: The Reluctant Earl

The Dreamer by May Nicole Abbey

Synopsis:
A dream in the night. A leap of faith. A quest for truth and treasure. From term papers and instant coffee to blood-thirsty pirates and buried treasure, Rachel Madera, a gifted university professor, finds herself travelling through time on a journey of discovery and danger, all because of a simple dream. Despite the threat, Rachel is undaunted, certain she holds the keys to unlock the mystery of a Pharaoh’s treasure … and alter the course of history. The only thing that stands between her and peril is Captain Mallory Tucker, a man with a tragic past and intractable moral code. Born of the sea, he is among the leading mariners of 18th century Europe. But the derelicts who make up his crew and the capriciousness of the ocean have taken their toll, and Captain Tucker is tired and jaded. The last thing he needs is a precocious young woman dropping onto his ship and creating havoc. But he’ll fight to the death for her honor, her beliefs…and her love.

Review:
I had my doubts about this when I first started; I didn’t hit it off with our main character Rachel. But, I knew my good friend Deb loved it, so I buckled down and before I knew it I was sucked into the story. I loved The Captain. He was a great lead and he really kept me wanting to read more. I also loved the pirate Captain Fredericks, he was hilarious. I even thought the villain was well done. My only problem with the book was Rachel; I just didn’t care for her. Luckily, as the book progresses she gets better. I did think that she had good chemistry with the captain and I enjoyed their scenes together. I thought it had a fun plot and was well written.

 Content:  Clean.

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Synopsis:
Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee. Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling. Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha…and the secrets of her heart.

Review:
I saw the first five chapters of this were free on Amazon, so I thought I’d give it a try. I was hooked pretty early on and went ahead and bought the book. I had to know what happened with our heroine Alina and Mal. While I love high fantasy books, I always get a little frustrated with all the crazy names and places. I guess it’s a personal pet-peeve of mine, but I did think it was a bit much in this book. There are a lot of crazy names, different levels of Grisha (magic people), places and slang to keep track of. Overlooking all of that though, I did like the story. It’s kind of your typical plot, but with enough original ideas to keep things interesting. I liked Alina, for the most part. I liked her history and relationship with Mal. I liked that they were good friends and depended on one another. I definitely felt potential for them at the start of the book, some things happen though that kind of dampened it for me. There were just a couple things that kept me from really loving the story, probably more of a personal preference than anything else. I think it will probably be a fun series and I can see why a lot of people like it.

Overall, I did enjoy it and it kept me reading. I liked how it all wrapped up, but may be curious enough to read the rest of the series. For full review, with spoilers, visit my Goodreads review.

Content: Pretty clean, mild innuendo. One makeout scene gets a little steamy, but nothing happens. Was pretty violent and dark. I think maybe a handful of swearwords.