Saturday, April 27, 2013

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.

Thursday, April 25, 2013

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.

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

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 Silnį»³.


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.

Saturday, April 13, 2013

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